Oh no, the last thing you want on a Friday is another personal, sappy love confession. But how could I possibly resist? Today, 10 years ago, my husband and I  pronounced our love for another in the magnificent St. Jacob’s church in Stockholm. Surrounded by friends at family from all over the world I can honestly say that it was the loveliest day in my life.

Today, 10 years (and 3 happy kids + minus a lot hair!) later I feel wholeheartedly that we are the happiest couple I have ever met! My husband, Peter, is my best friend. My husband, my mentor, my lover, my energy and the best father on the planet. I think the world of him. But the absolutely best feeling is knowing that I don’t need him in my life – I want him in my life. (There is a big difference, friends!).

And what ultimately won me over (in parallel with all his lovely qualities and values) is when we just had started dating and he said. ” Monika, I will to be your  planet and just let you spin, spin, spin”. He got me! He was not going to change his lively and energetic wife – he was just going to let me be me. And that is how we walk in life together. With a deep admiration  and respect for each other and with lots of fun and love. I can not wait to grow really old with this man. If my next 50+ years will just be a fraction of what our life together has been so far, then I am in for a most wonderful ride of pure & real love!

Wishing you all a joyous weekend! (And and I apologize again for all the sappiness but I am just a happy, giddy girl!)

Please, check in next week when I am introducing you to a wonderful Swede (who all of you interested in Swedish design need to know). I am also having a fabulous giveaway courtesy of a very talented and generous Swedish jewelry designer. I absolutely love it myself and I don’t think you want to miss it!

Hello friends! Today, you will find me “Guest Posting” over at Mochatini. My dear friend Manvi, who is behind this fabulous blog, is super busy this week with a really fun design project (I can hardly contain myself, but I will let her spill the beans herself!). Come over and say hello! I will share my post about “Simply Swedish” -  here!

Before I let you go, I glanced through the Jayson Home & Garden catalog (while waiting in the car for an adorable 8 year old ballerina!) that arrived the other day. Lots of lovely things in it.

Here are a few accessories that caught my attention:

Shagreen Trays – $95-$395.

Decoupaged glass silhouette plates – $65/each

Suzani Sun pillow - $250

Eyeglass case - $24

Have a wonderful day lovely friends – all over the world!

Happy new week to you friends. Hope the sun is shining on you!

This article has been making its rounds in the blog world – but I find it so worth re-cycling. I think that the home owner of this tiny studio (all-in-one)  downtown in Stockholm has done such a great job turning her place into a chic little jewel to call home. And I love how she has mixed lots of Ikea with more high-end pieces. Take notes, people!

A white Ikea sofa looks like it came from the more pricey store when paired with a classic, white Barcelona chair. I love the mix of materials and styles. Isn’t the coffee table from the 40′s the perfect piece for this area? The fireplace is a store bought piece that generates more ambiance than heat.

A fresh and  lovely look for the tiny balcony.

An old antique heirloom table paired with slip-covered Ikea chairs. Together with all the white – it just looks fresh and lovely.

The studio’s kitchen is all from Ikea. The choice of cabinets and the way they are displayed along one wall makes it  look more like a tailor made piece of furniture. Even the built in book shelf is an Ikea classic – “Billy”.

The bed has found its place in another corner of the studio. All white with small splashes of warm colors makes this area look & feel like a chic hotel room.

The entrance area looks a lot larger because of all the white. The drapes are cleverly hung on a rod way above the door frame, for the height effect.

The tiny bathroom feels fresh and current with its updated tiles and a modern shower with a high-end shower head behind the glass door.

Who said that large is better? I think this studio beats many grand homes that I have seen! It is homey, chic and in my book, beautiful.

All images via Skona Hem.

Last week my close and wonderful friend Ingrid took me to The Edgewater Hotel, situated in downtown Seattle. I have driven by it a zillion times, but had never had the pleasure of going inside. What a treat!

The Edgewater Hotel is nestled on Seattle’s waterfront at Pier 67. (It is Seattle’s only waterfront hotel).  Built in 1962 as a temporary structure for the World’s Fair, The Edgewater has become a Seattle landmark and a beloved part of the city’s history. From here you have views of the  majestic Olympic Mountains and the waters of Elliott Bay and yet you are only within walking distance to all the downtown shops and the famous Pike’s Place Market.

Ingrid is one of my friend’s in Seattle that I babble design with all the time. And it has bonded us in a wonderful way. She has the most terrific eye for good design and I trust her taste immensely. As the big sister – to so many of my close friends (what is up with that anyway?!) – I have been pushing her hard to do something with her gift. And I purred like a content cat when she was offered the job as the buyer to The Edgewater’s swanky gift shop. Here she gets to use all her skills and her great taste and fill the shop with lovely things from all over the world.

How often do you find design items in a hotel gift shop? Knick-knacks yes, but things that you actually want to display in the heart of your own home? Well here you do! Bravo, Ingrid!

Here are The Edgewater’s famous foot stools (found in all the rooms). My little William and Ingrid’s little Molly had a blast re-organizing a whole corner of the shop!

See this necklace from the shop? It is made by a Swedish designer in Texas who makes the most fabulous jewelry. Her name is Åsa (Aasa). That is all you need to remember. A post on her is lined up as well as a very generous giveaway by her. Oh, I will remind you. You are not going to want to miss that!

Next time you visit Seattle, don’t forget to pay The Edgewater hotel a visit. And if you don’t want to sleep or shop then visit the swanky restaurant, Six Seven. It recently was recognized by Zagat in NY and received high marks for stunning views, excellent Pacific Northwest fare (by the Northwest’s wealth of organic and sustainable ingredients), and friendly service.

From beautiful Seattle to you (I love my city!) – enjoy the rest of the week, friends!

Hotel images via The Edgewater Hotel, gift shop images via Splendid Willow, Seattle skyline via Virtual Tourist, 2 last images via Flickr.

Shall I paint my antique chest or not? I am thinking yes! My husband says no and that I will regret it. What’s to regret? We are talking about a piece of furniture from the mid or latter 1800-hundreds in Sweden that you see in droves and that most people in Sweden wouldn’t give a second look.

So, this is my inspiration piece. A family room designed by Mr. Handsome Nate Berkus himself, and featured in Elle Decor not a long time ago. (Most of you have probably seen it). That same dark, royal blue color on the walls can also be found on a lovely, contemporary painting in my master bedroom. (I will show it to you in an upcoming post).

And here is my chest – looking all sad and lonely as it has been in hiding. I have now moved into the light for further inspection. I think it is “not-so-handsome” right now and only changing the hardware doesn’t do the job for me. And trust me we are not exactly talking high quality either (otherwise the thought would never have crossed my mind). But the carved details are quite lovely and in my book, the chest has potential.

What do you think about the idea of having it professionally painted in a high-gloss royal blue color, very much like the door in the living room above? I personally think that the carved lion heads would be even more stately and visible.

I would also have all the  hardware replaced (and some even removed) with some lovely Lion Pull Heads like this from Paxton Hardware.

Now that, to me, would be a lovely statement piece that I would want as my new bedside table. I would welcome that added drama and glamor! I would proudly show it off.

Since I am at it, I am also thinking of painting this lovely vintage mirror (actually of very good quality) that I found at a consignment store for – hold on to your hats! -$ 27!!! (I ran out of the store with it carefully protected in my arms). I am thinking perhaps white or light gray? I so adore the lines. Both classic and modern. (The mirror is larger than it looks in the photo).

Yes, no, maybe? Bring it on! I can take it! If I don’t get too many no’s I will get to it right away. I am not exactly famous for being a procrastinator(!). And my husband, you say? Well, I will just have to blame the verdict on you! Haha! (He is a usually a very good sport my wonderful husband!)

Thank you all for being in my life. You are the best!