Hello, dears. We are finally in Peru. Not totally settled yet but on our way to getting everything unpacked and in its place. I still don't have internet access yet, but hopefully I'll be back to my daily posts very soon.

Onto our home tours then!

Norwegian Bolig Pluss magazine holds an annual contest for the Most Beautiful House. Here you can see the homes that came out in the first and second place of the 2010 contest.

First place went to Helene Helgesen from Bergen.













Second place went to Hilde Sagland from Sandnes.















Hope you enjoyed today's tours!
Photography by Stein Brathen
All images from here.

It's night time here, and for many of you I guess it must be Monday already, but anyway I wanted to wish you a very Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful mothers! Hope you have all been duly pampered and had a wonderful day.

Now I leave you to enjoy today's tour that takes us to a story-like cottage in Norway. Hulda and Arnt Håvard live in this house called Ingerborgstua (apparently a woman named Inga used to live here) full of shabby chic details made by Hulda herself.




Meet the owners, Hulda and Arnt Håvard




























A poem written by Hulda, which appeared in the newspaper, now hangs in her kitchen.

All images from here.

As you might know, Norwegian Magazine Bolig holds a contest each year to choose the best house of the year. In 2009 the winner was this country house in Hokksund. It consists of three buildings: a main building from 1889, a brewery and a barn. In 2006 the Kvernstad family restored and renovated all three of them.

Perhaps my Norwegian readers could help me with the translation of the words and signs that appear in this house. Please? I did use an online translator but unfortunately they are still quite unreliable.


The main house


The barn which is now used to hold parties.












Does the wording at the top of the stairs say something about coming home? But of course, it's French and it says "Just like your home" Thanks, Chapstik Fanatic!




"Kisses and Hugs and Love" Got the top sentence. Help with the one below?

Thanks to reader Krn I now know that the headboard says (not in Norwegian, but Danish) "Kisses, hugs and love, it is the world's glory"

And Krn expands: "Written language in Norway in the 19th century was the Danish language. This is not surprising to see this on an old norwegian bed."





This is the inside of the barn. Rather dark I guess.


Part of the guest house.

All images from here.

Scandinavian style in this 1880's renovated home in Norway. A house full of memories. I love it when there are pictures of every room.








































Hope you are having a wonderful day. Let me know if you liked this tour.
Photography by Sveinung Brathen.
All images from here.