Hello friends. No words needed here. I am going to be almost quiet and let you wander in this lovely summer home of Terry John Woods. What an eye for beautiful things. What incredible ability to put together simple and gorgeous rooms he has. Many of the treasures are flea market finds. Take serious notes friends.  For those of you who prefers a more modern look, envision some of these rooms with a just a few added contemporary pieces and accents. That is the beauty of an old style with simple lines and neutral colors. They can be easily mixed.

Against the wall in Terry’s living room rests this old, green door with a window louver attached to the top. Terry uses it to display art. Beautiful. (Donna, my friend, I think of you when I see this).

This is why I love Terry and his design approach:

“I love old prints and having water damage or stains have never stopped me from bringing them forward to be enjoyed. This print I found in Maine for a song and a waltz and it is one of my favorite to date. Perfect things are so boring. Who wants to be perfect. Not me”.

Layered ironstone plates.

I love this room. It feels very old Swedish to me. Look at the washed painter cloth slip covers. Terry painted the mural himself. He wanted a tiny bit of color and a reminder of where he likes to be, by the sea.

I am slightly envious of this metal cupboard. He says it is handmade and comes from a naval ship yard. It was most likely used to store tools.

Terry, you are lucky to be living on the other side of the coast! Because if you lived anly closer to Seattle I would have been stalking you on a regular basis and trying to tag along on your shopping trips, hoping to learn a lot more about design and styling. You are brilliant.

Happy Wedneday to you all!

I just purchased “Simply Scandinavian” by Sara Normann. What a page turner this design book is! I really recommend it. I could scan (didn’t find any of these images on-line) pictures all day long to share with you. Here are a few that made my eyes extra large and teary with joy.

Ok, this is my favorite image in the book. I am borderline jealous (even if I don’t have a jealous bone in my body). The cabinet in the background (be prepared now) was found on a beach in Denmark! It is an old safety box used by swimmers to deposit their valuables! Paired with Arne Jacobsen’s table and chairs, I think I am about to faint. I love it all!

Maybe a little on the boring side to some. But I love bedrooms that are calm and serene. Love the simple details including the striped pillows and box spring and the old portrait and bedside table.

Count the objects in this image? Not very many! But the eye can rest in this room and focus on quality rather than quantity.

Love this room with the two sofas facing each other! Look at those large windows! And the two different light fixtures (one propped up on pile of magazines!).

A calm & neutral room with many old classics gets some added color with a striking wall art piece by Maibritt Ulvedal Bjelke. I love big and unexpected art pieces.

When I see all these images – I just want to book a large container and get rid of half of my house. The older I get – the more I appreciate less. Less is so beautiful in my book.

Happy weekend to you all, friends!

Publisher: www.rylandpeters.com

Good new week to you, friends!

I am the first to admit that my home decor is not very feminine and romantic. Except in the kids’ quarters. You can most likely envision that with two young girls we get our dose of sweet pinks and soft colors. Maybe it’s because of spring in the air or me simply getting influenced by all the lovely pink shades that I see in the design world right now. But small touches of pink are starting to grow on me and something I can see making a debut in even other areas of my home.

I really like the mix of textures and and colors in this fresh formal dining room. The distressed woods and natural textures together with the warm pink damask wallpaper and crisp white wainscoting is airy and lovely.

And pay attention to the curtains! Simple white drapes from Ikea that look like a million bucks in this room simply by having some green pom-pom trim added. (Note to myself – must try!)

Image via House & Home magazine (not on-line. Self-scanned).

I have a new-found crush on this “Color Field Blush” pillow from Dwell. I can see this as an accent pillow on a chair or bed with pure white fabrics.

This Cherry Ink dinner plate by Paul Timman for Ink dish is also a wonderful way to bring spring home. (But personally I would keep my large white dinner plates and just opt for Cherry blossom dessert plates. Somehow I can’t see a steak on this friendly pattern! But then again, it is probably only me!)

The sun is out in Seattle.Yeah!  Wonderful spring is here for real and I hope that the sun is shining on you too – wherever you are! Much fondness – Monika.

The April issue of Elle Decor landed in my mail pile and I took some (rare) time out, crashed on the sofa and started to turn the pages. I must say, there are some lovely features in this issue. The article that really made me hyper-ventilate is the one about the London home by the Cosmetics Exceutive Christine D’Ornano (her family is behind Sisley). Lucky woman is all that I have to say! She has created a warm, chic, kids friendly and lived-in haven filled with contemporary art and splashes of antiques.

Forgive me for my crummy (self scanned) images. Elle has not posted theirs on-line yet. (And I could not contain myself!). I will re-fresh these as soon as they are available.

So, let me tell you what I see instead.

I see beautiful colors in this amazing combined library and dining room. I LOVE the light blue upholstered Chesterfield sofa in the background, together with the yellow leather covered chairs (how divine!) with splashes of that purple/read peonie color that I so adore. And plenty of books and art – smashing!

Hard to be unhappy in this living room. LOVE the sofa, the industrial light fixtures by Serge Mouille, the over-sized ottoman and the nonchalantly placed photos on the wall. (The walls have been upholstered in pink linen!).

I investigated further and the arm sconces can be found here at Gueridon in NY.

I see a bright and happy kitchen dining area. The vintage lamps are lovely with the long rustic table and the simple black chairs. And aren’t the flower arrrangements fun!

And here is the lucky owner, herself – Christine d’Ornano. She apparently found this white chair at a flea market in Paris (where was i?). The lovely painting is by Mark Quinn. And as always I love any gray wall.

Christine and her husband have 3 young children together (I know what that feels like!) and she wanted a cozy environment for her family. Mission accomplished, I’d say. And look at the tall, beautiful windows that let all that natural light in. I personally would be very content here!

Oh, and here is her bathroom. Unique and fun! An old worn sofa next to the new bathtub with a small yellow sidetable  for your occasional glass of wine!

Happy new week, friends! Let it be a good one!

Show me the books – and I will tell you who you are! You have heard me saying over and over again that seeing no books in a house makes me somehwat nervous! Please, tell me that you read books. Please tell me that you are curious about the world and everything beyond. Don’t be afraid to show your books (even if they all fit on one tiny shelf) and who you are! (Not to impress, not to be liked – just to share the true you and what makes you tick. And for that you will be admired).

Here are some lovely areas where books take the center stage.

I love that over-sized architectural print. I am thinking I might need to copy that idea!

I have a serious crush on that ladder!

And I am still waiting for an old bust to move in with us!

Happy reading & Happy rest of the week, dear friends!

I am so incredibly happy to have met you all.

Image 1. via We Heart It, image 2. via  We heart it, all other images from Rum

This weekend I attended a community event where I had been asked to represent my home county Sweden. I dragged my girls with me (dressed up as Pippi Longstocking and Lucia) and decorated my area with lovely things from Sweden. (Think everything from 18th c. chairs and gray linen to salty black licorice and pop music). I got to meet a lot of people and certainly did my share of PR for the country. And then a couple of well dressed ladies walked up and we chatted up a storm about Swedish design until one of them asked what I thought of Belgian interior design. Ehhh…

An oil painting by Belgian artist Nele Cornelis is a focal point in the foyer.

And then from nowhere information started to pour out of me. And I tell you, most of what I know is because of my talented blog friend who is no stranger to so many of my close blog friends. But if you have not yet met her, huddle over and say hello!

Her name is Greet Lefèvre. She lives in Belgium and is behind The Belgian Pearls. She is someone Belgium’s Cultural Ministry should view as a national treasure .

Here are some lovely interiors from her home where she lives with her family. (Yep, I know!!!)

On her blog you will find images like these. (Yes, go ahead and drool!)

Together with her brother she runs a succesful wood carving company – Lefèvre Interiors. Had I lived closer I would not have hesitated for one second to have my next dining table designed by them.

And what did I actually tell the ladies? Well, I told them that there are many similarities between Swedish and Belgian Design. Both styles include simple, uncomplicated pieces. They both cherish organic, natural materials, textures and colors. We use a lot of gray and white in Sweden and I believe that the further south you go in Europe – the warmer colors. So, I see more of a warmer beige used in the Belgian interiors or rather “Greige” – a mix between gray and beige. Belgian style might also be a tad more relaxed in my opinion and the furniture seems more grand in size. And I think that both styles are against too much color and clutter! Both represent peaceful and serene rooms.

Now, some people in the industry will claim that Belgian style is the “new Swedish”.  Of course I will not agree with that! But the style is very attractive indeed. And I am convinced that we are just going to see more and more of it. 

There are also a number of blogs outside of Belgium who I follow and who include Belgian style in their reportings. I highly recommend Cote De Texas,  Willow Decor, Trouvais and Velvet & Linen. They are all lovely! (And I am sure there are other great ones both in and out of Belgium waiting for me to discover).

A new week, friends! Let it be a good one!

Not many words needed here. I am totally, madly in love with this reading nook. And that’s because, I am a huge book & art lover. I like my book areas to be organized but show life. I love the color gray. Seats should be comfortable with a capital C. Mixing old with new is my style (look at the ceilings and the industrial book shelves). Slipcovers work great with 3 young kids, messy huz & 2 spoiled cats. I crave daylight. I like just about everything in this room down to the simple reading light and the fresh flowers. (This image is going straight to my personal “So Me” file).

Happy new week to you all! I hope you all are off to a good start! Sending you warm thoughts and good energy. Hug, Monika.

Image from the always lovely Belle Vivir.

This post is for Sophie in France who I have had the great pleasure to get to know via this amazing blog world. She is putting in hardwood floors in her master bedroom, which I so salute, and was looking for inspiration in terms of rugs and hardwood floor combinations and color schemes. Sophie, here are some of my personal faves and I hope that you might find something that inspires you!

I love everything about this room! And this carpet/rug like would look fantastic on any kind of hardwood floors. (I personally would have picked a contemporary bed light but that is just me).

A like the balance of the rug and the wooden floors here. I am always a frozen Popsicle when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I want to do is to step on cold hardwood floors (but I’d rather take that than wall-to-wall carpeting that is not appealing to me for many reasons). This allows me to wake up during a few steps before I hit the wood! (But I guess as plan B, I could resort to some good slippers…)

Since you live close to Paris Sophie, invest in a nice old bust. It is still on my wish list!

This is the bedroom of the famous designer Darryl Carter. I absolutely love, love this room! Look at all the wonderful details – and yet it does not feel contrived. The leather doors as panels are amazing.

Now here is another great solution. Large cow hides one each side instead of carpets.

No carpet at all. But the image with eclectic furnishings was so lovely that I had to show it anyway!

If you are looking for more color, then here is a room to be happy in.

I know that Sophie’s wall color is more towards yellow/gold. I think this room is wonderful. Both organic and chic. (And the beautiful throw ties it all together).

Fresh and crisp. And large rugs on each side. Don’t skimp on the rugs, people!

Vicente Wolf is another fantastic designer who knows what he is doing. I have a crush on that iconic leather chair.

Wow! A secret bedroom in the bedroom!

Borderline too conservative for me. But oh so pretty. And I love the texture of the rug.

Just add a splash of color – and you have a new room.

Chic indeed. And the wonderful wall display in the background needs to be copied.

How lovely with a large and functional seating/conversation area in the grand master bedroom.

Now, dear blog friends – any bedroom that you fancy?

Images from: 1) Skona Hem, 2) House Beautiful, 3)  Flickr, 4) Elle Decor,  5) Flickr, 6) Elle Decor,  7) Elle Decor, 8 + 9) Charleston Magazine, 10) Living Etc. 11) Living Etc. 12) Veranda, 13) Flickr 14) Flickr, 15) Veranda, 16) Flickr, 17) Elle Decor , 18) Metropolitan Home , 19) Flickr

I read a lot to find inspiration from all corners of the world. There is one post in particular from the always super fantastic blog Desire to Inspire (a daily must read people!) that I saw a few weeks ago that so inspired me and I simply can’t get it out of my head.

Take a look at these ordinary rooms which the talented and creative Canadian architecture and interior design company McGill Design Group were tasked to remodel. Would you believe the transformations! I mean are they even the same rooms? Yes they are! These before and after pictures got my own personal design juices to kick into over-drive.

Dining room before in an older Victorian home.

Dining room after. Yep, the same single window now dressed up with the perfect window treatments to create an illusion of several tall windows. And people, most hardwood floors can be stained if replacement is not in your immediate budget. I have done it many times myself (to that exact dark color).  Note the dark accent color and the lovely medallion in the ceiling.

Living room before.

Living room after.

True, they put some real effort into quality moldings and a built-in fireplace. But what a great investment!

Bedroom before. (This is my favorite transformation! Are you ready?!)

Bedroom after. Mama Mia! I absolutely love the look & feel of this bedroom. Both feminine and masculine. The colors are perfect. So crisp and fresh. Yes, the have spent a lot of money on quality built-ins, but the rest can be copied for a lot less if you are on a tight budget.

Do you like it as much as I do? Don’t be shy now! Your opinion counts!

Country Living has not been the first magazine I resort to but I have to say that the magazine has gotten better and better and I now I find it quite inspirational! Here are a few images from designer Mary Jane McCarty’s home.

Dining in a library. Different kinds of blues. Nothing matching. I like the style.

Put a nice slipcover on the antique sofa and you will both get a fresh new look and show the sofa’s original bones.

I will do anything for a good antique. Bu here is also a reminder to myself and maybe to you (!) to not forget to visit consignment stores and flea markets. Mary Jane, the owner, found this lovely table at the Salvation Army for $35! And wait to you see my own find – a fantastic wing back chair – for the same price! (I need to upholster it). You will flip!

I also love the vibrant shams on the beds in the guest bedroom (interior design by Brad Ford).

They shams + quilt are from Garnet Hill “Barcelona” and I think they are pretty affordable at $40/sham. I am also eyeing the quilt. Very fresh together with white.