Have you been following my home tour series here on the blog? I am sharing a selection of different Nordic Style homes in different cities and countries to show you how people get that Scandinavian feeling and look no matter where they are in the world. Last time we visited Finland (see the post here), and this time I am very happy to head to my home country Norway and see the stunning home of House by the Fjord.
Eldrid, the woman behind the Instagram account @housebythefjord, is 34 years old and lives with her little 3-year-old and her husband Martin. They moved to this area of Norway called Stranda 8 years ago with the wish to live a slow life in the mountains, ski, and trail run. Eldrid used to work as a decorator and florist for a local flower shop in town, but at this moment she is right in the start of her own business @vfjorden: her own interior decorator company. Keep reading to see more and learn about her house situated by one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway with a focus on being cozy and slow living inspired by nature!
Q1 // How would you describe your home and your interior style?
It is a slow living home. We are slowly moving into the house and making it fit who we are. Most of what is in this house comes with a story. 90% of the items and furniture we have decorated it with are secondhand treasures, either from where I grew up or from some place we have travelled. The style is Scandinavian yet a little bit of wabi-sabi (an aesthetic often described as one of beauty that is ‘imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete’) and inspired by nature I would say.
Q2 // What inspires you when it comes to interior and your home?
A run in the mountains does magic for me. I also enjoy being in the city and just walk around. Everything there inspires me; the way people dress, the buildings, the sidewalks etc.. And then going to drift stores. I also find a lot of inspiration in just hanging out with good friends. Listen to new music, brew a good cup of coffee and of course Instagram and magazines.
Q3 // What is your favourite room / area of your home and why?
Our kitchen and living room area because we spend most of our hours here. The view of the fjord and surrounding landscape makes this room magical I think. And we spend a lot of our time just soaking up the beauty out there.
Q4 // What piece of furniture or decor is most precious to you and why?
It is my kitchen table and chairs. They used to belong to my grandparents back in the days and still gives me good memories to sit on and around. It is more than just a table and chairs – it is a keeper of stories lived and told.
Q5 // If you could start renovating or re-decorating your home today, what would you do differently?
We moved into this house 4 years ago, and haven’t done other than painting it. Things are not 100% as we would like it to be, and as an interior decorator, I always see what could be done… But I try to think that I can live with a lot of it the way it is, both for the sake of economics and the environment of course. In that way, I can feel the gratitude of how we live. Since the house was built in 2007, it does not need a lot of big changes. But there is some things we would love to fix and others that we have to do when the time is right. Like, for instance, put a new floor in the kitchen and living room as well as do an up-cycle of the kitchen to make it fit our lifestyle even better. Other than that I feel that I can live here for a good while without big changes, and be ok with it. And that is the best feeling.
Q6 // What is your favourite current interior trend?
Slow living. And the importance of choosing good materials that will last to make good choices for both the environment and the planet. I try to have this in mind when wanting to do something new in the house or to buy something new, being responsible for my own choices.
Q7 // Why do you think the Scandinavian interior style is so popular?
The colour palette along with the contrast between cold and warm materials is something that just speaks to people I think. This style can be glam and down to earth at the same time. Simple yet cozy. I also think nowadays that the environment is in focus, something Scandinavian style already has had a focus on for a while, where you choose good materials like wool, linen and wood to create a good atmosphere.
Q8 // What are some of your favourite Scandinavian interior and decor brands?
Hard to say because there are so many talented people out there. I think that would be Carl Hansen & Søn, Frama and Ask og Eng for the moment. These brands are really going back to basics with an honest and simplified form language, and that is something that really speaks to me.
Q9 // What is your best decorating tips for anyone wanting to create a Scandinavian style in their home?
Work with good materials. Wood and metal make a beautiful feel. Also, dare to be a little different, and make your home your own signature.
Q10 // How do you like to relax, how do you hygge?
I do a slow brew of coffee in my Chemex, burn my homemade scented candles and put on some good music. I like to listen to Jericho by Westerman for the moment. These things just give me that good vibe and that cozy feeling I’m looking for.
Q11 // How do you find that Scandinavian feeling in your daily life?
Since I live in Scandinavia and have that epic view right outside my home, just looking at the view for a moment does the trick for me.
Want to see more of this Norwegian home and get inspired?
Visit the Instagram account: @housebythefjord
// Photo credit: House by the Fjord
