FIND THAT SCANDINAVIAN FEELING AT HOME WITH: NORDIC ENTRANCE

In my new home tour series 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. After a little trip to Australia last month (see the post here) we are now heading to Canada to visit Kevin from Nordic Entrance and see his beautiful home.

Kevin was originally born in Taiwan, but due to his asthma, his family moved to Canada when he was just 7 years old. Once he arrived in Canada the asthma symptoms magically disappeared, something he is very grateful for. Now, Kevin lives in Vancouver with his boyfriend and currently work as a relationship manager at an international bank, but interior design is a big passion. Thanks to web shops he has access to Scandinavian design in Canada and the more that he sees, the more he is attached. Heavily influenced by Scandinavian and minimalist design due to its elegance and simplicity, Kevin’s home and style is a great inspiration for you all to fall in love with the world of Scandinavian design too.

Q1 // How would you describe your home and your interior style?

I would say that my home reflects Scandinavian minimalism, I love bright and airy spaces. I embrace light grey and white walls with muted tones for accents. My parents are both clean freaks so I was raised to be almost the same, just not as extreme. I cannot stand clutter, it almost always gives me anxiety. This fear forces me to keep clutter to the minimum.

Q2 // What inspires you when it comes to interior and your home?

I get my inspiration from many outlets, but I would say that the most would come from interior magazines and Instagram. I could spend a dangerous amount of time on Instagram just scrolling endlessly, but it’s amazing to see all the different designs from all these talented designers.

Q3 // What is your favourite room / area of your home and why?

My favourite room does change from time to time, but I would have to say that the living room is my favourite at the moment. Many people describe their kitchen as the heart of their home. For me, it would be my living room. Our slow mornings start here as we lounging the most in the living room. Whether it’s enjoying a hot cup of coffee, reading a good magazine, or just having a nice conversation over some wine and snacks the living room is a multi-functional space. We also entertain the most in our living room when our friends and family visit — the Formakami pendant is always a conversation starter.

Q4 // What piece of furniture or decor is most precious to you and why?

At the moment I would say that the Formakami pendant is most precious because it has a lot of meaning for us. We had our eyes set on this pendant for a long time, but it was out of our budget at that time. When we were able to get the light, it meant that we had reached our savings goal and we were at a much stabler place in our careers to commit to the purchase. The pendant was also a mini project for my boyfriend as I had no idea how to hang it up. He re-wired, attached a plug, and hung it up — it’s yet another sense of accomplishment. My living room is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows, so when the curtains are opened you can spot my unit just from the pendant — we love that.

Q5 // If you could start renovating or re-decorating your home today, what would you do differently?

I would definitely like to work on my kitchen, as we haven’t done anything to it ever since moving in around 2 years ago. I would probably change everything which would be a huge project. I used to love the two tones cabinets, but now I would probably choose all white cabinets that aren’t glossy like the ones I have at the moment. The lighting definitely has to be changed to something that fits more with our style, we had our eyes set on some pendants from Menu. Next, I would change the countertops to either marble or oak, because the ones I have right now absorb colour and stains too easily.

Q6 // What is your favourite current interior trend?

I am starting to dress my home with warmer tones lately, though I still really like light grey and white tones. Maybe it’s to invite the summer in, but I love warm textiles and accessories to bring in that coziness — to be honest I’m not sure if that’s a current interior trend, but I am seeing lots of warm tones on the IG grid lately.

Q7 // Why do you think the Scandinavian interior style is so popular?

I think that Scandinavian interior style is so popular because of how it balances simplicity with personal expressions. I think most of us live very busy lives, along with the work-life balance struggle it’s nice to come home to a bright and clean home with minimal clutter. I think in it way it becomes therapeutic, at least it is for me. You can show your personality through Scandinavian design with statement pieces that represent your value and style without over complicating it. I also think Scandinavian design makes it simple for everyone to enjoy a calm and peaceful home.

Q8 // What are some of your favourite Scandinavian interior and decor brands?

There are so many Scandinavian brands that I love, but my top favourites would definitely have to be Skagerak, Muuto, Menu, and Hay. To me, they really represent Scandinavian design, in their own unique ways.

Q9 // What is your best decorating tips for anyone wanting to create a Scandinavian style in their home?

I mention the importance of the connection between you and the space around you a lot on my blog. For anyone who wants to create a Scandinavian style, they have to think about how they want the room to make them feel. Understand the amount of space you have to work with so you can avoid clutter. Keep it simple so your style can show through.

Q10 // How do you like to relax, how do you hygge?

We love snuggling on our couch in the living room. It rains a lot in Vancouver so we are often buried under a throw with our hot drink in hand just chatting, reading, or enjoying some Netflix. (Make sure you check out his latest post about Bringing a Little Hygge into Your Space! )

Q11 // How do you find that Scandinavian feeling in your daily life?

I really value slow living, especially with my busy schedule. I find that Scandinavian feeling just by going back to the basics and understanding what is important to me when I am not at work. Which often includes valuable interactions with the ones around me and bringing nature into the home with plants — they make a big difference in mood. I think a lot of it is finding a mood that means most to you and you can create that with your surroundings.