So what about the notion that Swedish women are so beautiful. Is it really true? I certainly think so (perhaps that is why I had to move abroad. Ha!). As a generalization, Swedish women are healthy, fit, young looking, equipped with good skin and into natural beauty (and yes you will find more blond, blue eyed and tall women in Scandinvia than in many other parts of the world). Swedes like to look fresh and to keep it natural. (Aging is beautiful, people!)

The top model Emma Wiklund personifies Swedish beauty to me. She is 42, which is hardly considered old age in Sweden, where 70 year olds look 20 years younger. (It is all those power walks, long vacations (6 weeks/year is the law!), the love connection with Mother Nature, healthy diets and lots of fish oil!). Emma is not only stunning she is also famous for her always upbeat and friendly attitude (the key for true beauty). This busy mother of two recently launched her first skincare line. I look forward to checking in out on my next trip to Stockholm. I find this girl so inspirational!

When it comes to fashion, Sweden acoounts for a whole slew of fashion designers who do very well on the international scene. (For a country of only 9 million + people, Sweden keeps winning a surprising number of prestigious international awards for both fashion and gastronomy). The fashion style is more young looking and relaxed. Simple, uncomplicated cuts and good materials. Understated chic. And a lot of natural colors. (No surprise there!). Here are a few of the leading Swedish fashion brands.

Odd Molly

Filippa K.

Hunkydory

(I want that Japanese cut sweater. In light blue).

Dagmar

Acne (famous for its very trendy denim).

Recently, I had fun putting together a couple of fashion boards for the Danish brand Ilse Jacobsen which I sell in my own store (Splendid Willow Avenue). I have to pinch myself every day that I get to work and have fun with such a great brand! (And I am also a lucky owner of that Odd Molly dress).

Scandinavian City Chic by SplendidWillow on Polyvore.com

Gucci Metal-frame aviator sunglasses
net-a-porter.com

Collection – fall 2009 from Odd Molly
oddmolly.com

Ilse Jacobsen
splendidwillow.com

Stylish In The Rain by SplendidWillow featuring knit shawls

ODD MOLLY M30355 FANTASIA/GREY/BLACK WOOL/SILK 0
789 GBP - farfetch.com
Tweed coats »

MURUA High Waist Army Shorts
$67 - maruione.jp
Army shorts »

Love Quotes Eyelash Scarf in Caviar
$86 - shopzoeonline.com
Knit shawls »

Animal Print Border Birdcage
20 GBP - houseoffraser.co.uk
Umbrellas »

Ilse Jacobsen
$179 - splendidwillow.com

 

I am very proud to be a  Scandinavian!  (Even though I am a petite gal with dark hair and green eyes and hardly any legs to write home about…). Warm hugs to you all.

Message for Pernilla: Pernilla Dear — you are the inspiration for this post. Thank you so much for the Swedish magazines. What  a nice surprise. I miss you TONS! And little Ville misses his girlfriend. Enjoy the snow in Stockholm!

Images: No. 1 + 3 via Damernas Varld. no. 2 via Ecco, no. 4 via Gorseller, no. 5 via Le Web Pedagogique.

Who says curtains have to match? Look at this orange-and-pink combination. It makes the room!

 

I can not remember exactly who’s lovely apartment this belongs to. Only that the owner is a hip gentleman named Olsen. But I do remember that he took a plain white roller shade and painted black stripes on it! Can’t see the room without that brilliant touch!

Warm hugs to you all!

Images: No. 1 altered via Splendid Willow. All images scanned from old Domino Magazines.

Happy new week friends! I just came across this Barcelona home via the lovely Design Elements and I nearly fainted. Oh my! That first image is immediately going into my personal file of favorite rooms. I love everything about this area. The tall windows, the natural light, the colors, the eclectic style, books & art everywhere and the relaxed feel. To me — perfection.

And I am still going back and forth about which chairs to add to my new gray farm table. Remember that post?  These white iconic Panton chairs above? Or the Tolix chairs (see the metal French bistro chair below)? You will see more on them soon (and the new table too!).

Ok, I just have to get back to that first room again — and show it from a different angle. Imagine having a cocktail at that table. Or a cup of tea when glancing through some new magazines. Do you know what also caught my eye? That wall sculpture with the fun character pushing a wheel up the wall! Makes me laugh out loud. I love unexpected art pieces.

Warm hugs to you all!

Thank you all for your help so far! You have been absolutely fantastic with the great advice and suggestions. Just a  few more things before we start painting the walls next week (actually a charcoal board and the ceiling will also be added to the paint project. More about that next week).

I have already picked out the bed linen to go with Prince William’s striped headboard. I bought it six months ago and it has been sleeping in William’s closet! I immediately fell in love with this pattern when I first saw it. The dots are not perfectly round but more of an  irregular Ikat pattern and the set can be found at good, old Ikea! Perfect for a happy 3-year old. Hope you approve.

Right now I am internet shopping for a nice bedside lamp. For whatever reason I can’t get the “Accordian” light look out of my mind. There are several models out there and I think one will give the room more of a big boy’s feel. I can kick myself for not having purchased this beauty (below) earlier from Pottery Barn. They no longer carry them! Boohoo!

But there are other models out there and I will keep on hunting (I would prefer one in silver):

Via Ballard Designs below (but it looks like they are out right now! Grrr!)

Via Lamps Plus

Via Micromark

Via Restoration Hardware. I like it! (Below).

Happy weekend & warm hugs to you all!

Image no 1. via Splendid Willow.

I think most parents at some point will ask themselves “what do we do with all those art masterpieces our little ones so happily shower us with?” Keep, throw away, keep some, frame, use as fire wood, send to Grandma??? And multiply those drawings/paintings by (in my case) three children x 16 years+ and you will need an entire room dedicated to kids’ art.

My close friend Bianca sent me this art solution, yesterday — and I think that it is absolutely brilliant!

New York City-based designer Jan Eleni, creates gallery-worthy custom collages using images of your child’s artwork. She takes good detailed photographs of all the art pieces and has them re-sized, cut and professionally framed behind glass. (Miniature artworks).

One of those frames in my house and all young family members will feel equally important and loved! I think this is worth trying myself. “There you have it kids – 112 of your own adorable artworks, museum style. And as parents we could not be any more proud.”

Images: No. 1 via Steve Jerman, no. 2 via Remodelista.