Decor 101

For today’s home tour we’re heading to Österlen – a picturesque region of Skåne in southern Sweden that’s famous for its rolling countryside, verdant orchards and white sandy beaches. It’s here that Stockholm-based Note Design Studio , long known for its product- and interior-design expertise, has created a minimalist villa that takes its cue from traditional longhouses – its second foray into full residential architecture, following on from a rural cabin it developed last year. Like the cabin, the Österlen villa is firmly rooted in its setting. But whereas the former has an isolated location amid the rugged mountain landscape of Ottsjö, the latter is tightly interwoven into a historic village environment, with views over bucolic farmland and the wide expanse of nearby Hanö Bay. Österlen’s cultural heritage and the proximity of the local church had a strong influence on the project, inspiring both the material choices and the overa...

[Advertisement – this a paid partnership, but all words and opinions are my own] Like most 200-year-old cottages – and most other homes, for that matter – our house is full of awkward corners. There are tall alcoves, tricky gaps between windows, a tight hallway and landing, and a narrow double-height section of wall where the staircase twists up from the dining room. Working out what to do with areas like these can be a challenge, so I was very pleased to discover  Atelier Printworks  – a company that specialises in horizontal and vertical wall art for difficult spaces where standard proportions don’t fit. Founders John and Kathryn came up with the idea for Atelier Printworks after struggling to find artwork of the right size when renovating their home. Rather than compromise, they decided to create their own and a new business was born. It now has a curated collection of designs for an array of decor styles, all created specifically to suit long, narrow and wide form...

It’s sweltering sunshine one minute and thundery downpours the next – it must be the Northern European summer! And with that in mind, I’m continuing my seasonal guides to the best scented candles by rounding up my favourites for the warmer months. I’m always amazed by the power of scent to transform the ambiance of a space, spark distant memories or transport us to other places, and at this time of year I tend to find myself drawn towards heady fragrances that evoke sun-drenched days in the garden and balmy evenings under the stars. I’m also yearning for a bit of escapism in the form of fresh, coastal-inspired fragrances and scents that conjure up the Mediterranean and beyond. After a lot of deliberation I’ve narrowed my 2026 selection down to the 21 below, with some old favourites alongside a few new discoveries. I’ve tried and tested many of them myself, and most are produced by small brands and independent makers using natural in...