Hello to you all!

I just came across these images and ended up  raising my eye brows and giggling. I love unexpected and creative design ideas! The first set of images was sent to me by my fun & stylish friend Pernilla. Look closely!

Now the car is visible.

Now the car is not. (And it closes entirely). I am not so sure I would like to get stuck underground, so I assume you jump out of the car before the elevator takes it down. Pretty slick!

If I had a cranky bunch of work colleagues, I would make sure each and everyone came equipped with one of these mugs. Hard to not enjoy their company then!

These witty moustache mugs are by Peter Ibruegger.

Happy new week. Let it be a good one!

Have you entered my giveway? Tomorrow Tuesday is the last day! Enter here. 

Images 1-4 via Tankar fran Tradgardsmastaren. image no. 5 via Inspired Shares

Hello friends. My week went so fast, I had to hold on to my hat. And getting used to new school routines has been somewhat of a shock to the system. But we are still alive and smiling!

I just had to share this hotel with you. I read about it on my way home from Sweden (via Amsterdam). I have never seen anything like it. Something to talk about at the next  social gathering.

Hotell Inntel in Zaandam, Holland, opened its doors this Spring and is designed by architect Wilfried van Winden. The 12 story designer mashup incorporates everything from traditional workers cottages to a replica of a blue house that Claude Monet painted in Holland in 1871. The architect refers to his style as “fusion architecture”.

Here is an image from the  Tsar Peter Suite. This royal suite is modern, but fully recreated in the style of the Tsar Peter house, the oldest house in Zaandam, with a comfortable box bed.

From new hotels to new thank yous’ — and hopefully some useful information.

First a big thank you to two blog awards for Splendid Willow.

The first one comes from Tina over at Komma Hem. This lovely lady, based  in Sweden, is a super friendly blog friend. You will find lots of information and inspiration as she, with great honesty, takes her readers on a journey to discover what her true style is. Can’t we all relate to that!

Award no. 2 came a while ago from my dear Seattle friend in real life, Ewa, who is a food blogger and relatively new in blog land but who already has generated a lot of traffic. Delishhh  is my “secret” food blog.  And in my opinion THE blog to visit when looking for translated (so you don’t have to figure out grams vs. ounces!), tried and proven dishes from Sweden among other countries. (Like the FABULOUS Swedish Oatmeal cookies with Nutella below. Try them!). I also go here for great restaurant reviews in Seattle. I know this lovely lady well. She has excellent taste.

And from awards to a splendid giveaway. It came my way via my close friend Charlotta and her lovely blog Space For Inspiration. It was a day for major sumersaults!  The giveaway was a gift certificate to the on-line mega store CSN. I was fairly conviced that I was going to order a Creuset tea kettle but at the last minute I changed my mind and decided to order a pair of wall sconces instead. I desperately need some in my foyer, but there are many limitations at my house as far as width and style,  etc.

After literally browsing through thousands of sconces at CSN (I seem to remember that they have over 10,000!) I settled for these. Both classic and modern. And I think they look a lot more costly than the $59  each (on) sale that they cost. Don’t you agree?

I absolutely love them! And I can’t wait to show you what they look like installed!

And finally, out of the blue, came a package from my old and dear blog friend Manvi over at Mochatini. She sent me a box of loveliness from the NY based company Sabon that offers luxury bath products. “You need to pamper yourself after your vacation”, read the lovely note. People, I don’t even dare to open the beautifully wrapped soaps! They are way too elegant! What an unexpected treat that made me smile for days.

Thank you ladies, from the bottom of my heart! You are all wonderful friends and give so much to me personally and to the rest of blogland.

Happy weekend to all my readers! See you on Monday!

And don’t forget to enter my giveaway here!  You can win a key cabinet or lovely crayfish towels, hand picked by me in Stockholm. The giveaway ends on Tuesday.

Hello all! We have had an extra long weekend in the US for Labor Day. So our week officially starts today and I am kicking mine off with a giveaway!

I brought 2 things home with me in my suitcase from Sweden. I went for practical things chosen by me –  for you.

First one up is a good, solid, home for your many keys.

I found this handsome key cabinet, by Serholt,  in a store in Stockholm and immediately wanted it for my own home. Made in Sweden, this white wooden cabinet has just the right amount of numbers on its door to make you get a little of the current  ”numeral trend” in your own home. But more importantly — you will hopefully be more organized! The cabinet measures 16  x 6 inches and holds 18 set of keys.  Hang it in your hallway, garage, laundry room or perhaps in the summer home.

August/early September is the traditional crayfish (or crawdad) season in Sweden. And the Swedes slurp like there is no tomorrow. The Swedes actually started eating crayfish a long time ago – in the 1200-hundreds as I learned on a recent visit to the Swedish Nordic Museum. But dill plant, which is a key ingredient in the boil, together with salt, sugar, ale and water, came into play much  later — in the 19th century.

Well, any crayfish or seafood party will need good-sized napkins. Little skimpy white paper ones, won’t do.

I handpicked six large kitchen towels in Stockholm for a lucky winner. Use them as napkins as I do. Or use them as towels in your kitchen. These are by the Swedish company Gripsholm.

The towels measure 27 x 20 inches,  are made of 100% cotton and feature some handsome but subtle red crayfish as part of the woven jaquard.

I hope you like what I picked out. And I hope that you are interested in bringing a little bit of Sweden into your home.

The giveaway is open to all my readers. If you are in Iceland or Tibet makes no difference. I will ship to you.

This is how you enter the giveaway:

1) Leave a comment on this post on which you would prefer to win. A Swedish key cabinet or a set of 6 Swedish crayfish napkins/towels.

2) Make sure that your e-mail is included and blog address if you are a blogger.

3) For a tweet = enter 1 additional comment

4) For a blog mention = enter 2 additional comments

If you are interested in receiving my blog posts straight to your e-mail inbox, then subscribe to my feed (for free). You will find the button in the right hand column of my blog. No pressure though.

The giveaway is open until Tuesday September 14 at midnight PST. The lucky winners will be contacted by mail.

Good luck to you all!

Flickr: image no. 1 via we heart it. Photos of key cabinet and towels in home setting via Splendid Willow.

Hello friends! I could go on and on about my trip to Stockholm and virtually drag you to every interesting street and shop but I don’t want to bore you with too much Stockholm talk. Ok, just one one more post….!

There are literally a zillion fun stores in Stockholm but today I am going to share two of my “secret” shops that are must visits for me whenever I go back to my old hometown — Garbo Interiors and Ebba & Jag (“Ebba and I”). None of them are painfully flashy, overly trendy, nor intimidating stores. I just find them interesting, tasteful, inviting and filled with unique things.

Garbo Interiors is located in my Mom’s neighborhood, Ostermalm, a lovely and classy downtown neighborhood filled with many nice design destinations.

Garbo Interiors offers classic high-end Swedish antiques and vintage furniture mixed with lovely accessories for the home. This store has many followers among interior designers and stylists. And rightfully so. It is just a gorgeous store!

Ebba & Jag is situated in Sodermalm, the neighboord where I was staying on my recent trip. I love this happening area which is filled with vibrant and funky stores and good places to eat.

Ebba & Jag is more of a lifestyle store and the lovely owner Mona and I have connected over the years and always give each other warm hugs when I pay a visit. (And we both just learned that one of Mona’s close friend’s happens to be one of my big brother Erik’s old girlfriend’s who we loved and viewed as part of our family! A crazy small world!).

Mona mixes Swedish antiques and vintage furniture with fashion from young Swedish designers and a bunch of other things she likes from around the world. I buy something every single time I visit this store and I always bring back a fashion item as a gift to my dear girlfriend Stacey in Seattle.

On my last trip I came home with several pieces of clothing by the Swedish brand Melmelli. These thin, high quality long cotton tunics are super comfortable and and look fabulous on. I have been wearing these tunics a lot this summer.

So, when you visit Stockholm — please don’t miss these two lovely stores. And if you meet Mona with “Ebba & Jag”, make sure to say hi from me!