20 Way's To Add Warmth To Your Home With Wood - Sanne Hop Style Smart is Beauty
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What would a home be without wood? It adds instant warmth, texture and, when beautifully crafted - a wonderful timeless appeal. The grain means every piece is unique, and solid wood always ages gracefully, while telling the story of its past. This is why I'm so excited to see wood being celebrated in homes in increasingly new and wonderful ways.
Take the Hop family home in Holland as a fine example. Sanne Hop is the founder of the maker collective 'Atelier Hop' which celebrates the beauty and craftsmanship of handmade pieces. When she's not selling tableware, art, textiles, lighting and self-care items, she's relaxing with her husband and their five children in their stunning home. The living space is shaped by natural materials such as stone, wood and rattan as well as vintage finds and artisanal pieces. But above all else, the presiding material is wood - which makes the space unique and truly inspiring!
Here are 20 ways to incorporate wood into the home, Sanne Hop style:
1. Wooden kitchen cabinets - one of the biggest trends this year - and a lovely way to bring warmth to the kitchen, particularly if you have a tiled or concrete floor. These beautiful ones are made by the Norwegian company Ask og Eng. You might prefer to make your own, like the DIY fronts in Jacqueline and Klemens' apartment. Or keep it sustainable by opting for recycled wood. I'm still dreaming about the kitchen units in the Norwegian mountain cabin, fashioned out of upcycled barn wood!
2. Kitchen shelves - whether simple units or more sophisticated hand-built wall structures like this one by Woodchuck, wood shelving is a perfect, quick and easy way to add the material to an existing kitchen.
3. Drawer inlays - I'm guilty of having plastic cutlery inlays in my kitchen drawers - but I'd much rather have a smart wooden solution like the one above (which I believe, was handcrafted by Ask go Äng)!
4. Chopping boards and utensils - I remember when my Mother finished her kitchen renovation and was really worried by the lack of soul (and echo) in her white and stone kitchen. I told her not to worry: simply placing wood chopping boards*, wooden spoons and other lovely utensils on display rather than hiding them away in drawers helps to add instant character.
4 & 5: Tables and chairs - the simplest way to update a space and add warmth. I love the way Sanne has mixed and matched her chairs. Solid wood is a material that ages gracefully, which means vintage and antique pieces can really add to a space and become a valued member of the family. The high chair, for example, will no doubt be used for the next generation of Hops!
6. Lamps - there is a huge variety of wooden lighting available. The golden colour helps to add a warm glow while designs with pattern cast beautiful shadows on the wall after dark.
7. Bookshelves and cabinets: the dark wood seen in the shelves above help to add contrast to a simple, monochrome space. I also love mid-century teak side cabinets* (see below) - which are widely available on the second-hand market.
Tip: don't be afraid to mix light and dark, old and new wood. It will all add character and charm to a space.
8. Sofas: Wood might be considered a rather hard material and not synonymous with comfort - but throw on some plump cushions and you'll quickly have somewhere cosy to sit.
Tip: For a simple update, swap out metal sofa legs for wooden ones
9. Book / Magazine stands: keep good reads to hand with a lovely wooden book stand. I love that the one in Sanne's sitting room is made from lighter wood which adds a contemporary touch to the space.
10. Pegs and hooks: A current favourite in homes right now (including my own) - wooden peg rails* are pretty, practical and add a lovely touch to a room.
11 & 12. Little stools and benches: Wooden stools* are so versatile and can be used as bedside tables (as seen above), for somewhere to sit while reading a bedtime story, or for extra seating at
round the table. I'm also a huge fan of wooden benches (not seen here but speaking from personal experience). I use my workman's bench* as a coffee table, extra seating at the dining table and at the end of the bed.
13 & 14. Bedroom wardrobes and chest-of-drawers: I'm such a big fan of vintage wardrobes - especially ones that are painted in pretty pastel shades for children's bedrooms. In my childhood bedroom I had an antique chest-of-drawers. I have to admit, the drawers can be a little stiff at times (cue: a fight just to get my socks out!) but nothing that a little sanding can't fix. It's worth the effort as, IMHO bedrooms look a whole lot more personal and relaxed when you add some old-school charm!
15. Toy storage: the key to a neat and tidy children's room (although I do wonder at times...) is great storage. Buckets, boxes and cabinets all help a child to keep their rooms clean, and they look lovely too!
16. Toys: I've always been slightly allergic to big, bright plastic, all singing all dancing toys (although, naturally, children love them!). There's something beautiful about simple wooden toys (like this eco-friendly Victorian Dollhouse), plus I think they last way longer (my children used to play with their grandparent's toys!), don't you think? Thankfully, there are more and more online stores selling lovely, functional toys made from sustainable wood which children love - and there are always plenty on the second-hand market! Hurrah (as they say in Sweden)!
17. Wood picture frames: Five or so years ago, it was all about the black and white frames, but these days people are embracing natural wood picture frames which add to the earthy vibe of a home.
18. Bathroom storage: Another wonderful handmade piece by Woodchuck with a built-in rail provides storage for bath and shower items. Combine with rattan and leather accessories to add a warm touch to a pared down room.
19. Clothes rail: there's something beautiful about a simple wooden clothes rail*, plus they're a really handy place to temporarily hang clothes in the bathroom and bedroom.
20. Wooden accessories: There's no quicker way to add warm wood to your home than opting for wooden accessories. Think brooms and brushes (see below), fly swatters, shoehorns, toothbrushes... they'll add an immediate organic touch to your living space and, if nicely crafted, they'll stand the test of time. Except of course, a toothbrush, you might want to swap that one out from time to time!
I'm sure I've missed countless other ways to bring wood into the home - please do add your own tips and tricks in the comment section below, I'd love to hear them!
Sanne's home was such a fine example of how much warmth this material can add. I noticed the family have recently moved home. If you'd like to follow their new journey, check out Sanne's instagram here. Her online store Atelier Hop also has a beautiful selection of items.
I've always been a big fan of Dutch style. I particularly love Delft-based interior designer Holly Marder's work, she always incorporates plenty of wood into her spaces:
So lovely, don't you think?
I hope you're celebrating Lillördag (little Saturday) in style today. My Mother-in-law is coming down to see us from Helsingborg. She's had both of her vaccinations now, which means we all get a hug! :)
Niki
Photography: 1,6,7,8,9,10, 14 - Holly Marder. Remaining images: Sanne Hop
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