When I need to declutter my mind and find some peace in & harmony I often gravitate towards my old home country. Swedish interiors can at times be considered cold but when done right and with some heart, I find those rooms calm, serene and easy to breathe in. They are often filled with less stuff but instead things with a purpose. Let me introduce you to such a home in beautiful Sweden.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Anna-Malin is a friend who I have met in wonderful blog land. We have been sharing e-mails cross the Atlantic about  life issues and thoughts on design. Not only is Anna-Malin a wonderful person but she is also highly creative and talented. Her home is so inspiring and so is her Swedish blog Helt Enkelt. Take a deep breath – this is not staged, this is how she actually lives. Lovely or what?

Anna-Malin loves mixing Scandinavian design classics with heirloom pieces and vintage finds. She is an expert at taking flea market finds and turning them into must-have objects.

Just take a look at this vintage chair (Anna-Malin is well aware that I have a very serious crush on that particular chair!). She found the chair at a Swedish flea market, nobody wanted it (where was I!!), she paid about $40 dollars and voila. Hello?! Can a chair get much lovelier?

And now that chair lives here. In her kitchen. With sheep skins and everything. Oh no, that was 2 weeks ago! Anna-Malin changes furniture around on a daily basis and the kitchen of the week now looks like this!

                                                                                                                                                                                     She constantly moves things around and prefers to try new ideas before she would even consider going out and buying anything new.

As with most Swedes, Anna-Malin finds inspiration from nature. She is drawn to simple lines, organic materials and neutral colors. And she like to be good to mother nature by reusing things. She says: ” Being from the very North of Sweden, I get good energy from white and cripsy snow, complete quiet and branches from simple, wispy trees”.

Who said you need a whole roll of wall paper to make an impact? Just a little piece will take you a  long way!

My friend is a resourceful lady who is not afraid to use a hammer and nail on any given day. This sofa table is one of Anna-Malins own creations, put together on a weekend. (Maybe Hubby was involved in that project too, I can’t remember).

Another dining/work area in the family room.

All over the house you will find cozy and calm areas to relax and just be.

The rooms of her two boys are no exceptions.

I hope this gave you some good food for thought. Just writing this post got me so inspired that I am heading to a nearby consignment store – today! Thank you Anna-Malin for your friendship and all your wonderful ideas & inspiration! Happy Monday blog friends!

All images, curtesy of Anna-Malin @ Helt Enkelt.

Happy Monday lovely blog friends! Are you crazy busy like myself this time of the year? (I find myself running around in circles). A dose of Swedish might just be what we all need. Here are some lovely Swedish white rooms to keep you calm and collected this busy season!

This apartment is for sale (wish I could buy it today as our retreat when we go to Sweden on a yearly basis) and it is located in the vibrant neighborhood “Vasastaden” in Gothenburg (the second largest city in Sweden). My very first own apartment was located in Vasastaden in Stockholm (same vibrant neighborhood, same look and feel). Maybe this wasn’t such a good post after all. Now I get all emotional and home sick…!

Post inspiration via Designfragment

Here is some eye candy for you. This incredible attic apartment in Stockholm is owned by the interior architect and artist Carouschka Streijffert. I am going to keep quiet for a change and let you go through all the details yourself. Take your time.

Okay, just one comment! Let’s talk about books for a second. I do not know of one home in Sweden (unless they are somehow staged) where books are not prominent. Back home we surround ourselves with books and display them with pride. I get totally nervous when I don’t see books in a home. I am so pleased to be reading more and more about how formal living rooms in the US are fading away. People instead are opting for libraries. Yeah! I hope that trend stays!

Images via Skona Hem

One of the leading interior design magazines in Sweden, Skona Hem, has come up with a new catchy name for the new design movement taking place right now (especially in Sweden where being current and environmentally correct are two key factors within design. Well actually with just about everything. It is a very progressive country I come from!).

The term they use is “Slow Decor”. A close relative to “Slow Cooking”. And it means design that is meant to last. Both from an esthetic and material standpoint. Invest for the future. Try to buy local. That is how people think and buy right now. (And if they don’t – maybe they should).

Yeah!!! I am slow!!! That is how I have always tried to decorate. (With an emphasis on try because this girl is far from perfect!). I prefer to save for a long time to get that perfect, classic object that my childrens’ children one day will appreciate rather than to buy a ton of trendy things that I will say goodbye to shortly.  (And here flea markets and auctions also come to play. Not everything has to be bought new and/or for a steep price tag if you only train your eye and add some patience and a little bit of luck).

Let’s take a look at the first picture again. Love it BTW ! An old Swedish table from the 18th c. holds a collection of “new” and old Swedish classics of different textures. I love the beautiful and decorative bowl and the lamp from the 60’s next to the small, so typical Swedish, hand carved wooden bird. Pleasing to the eye. And a good investment for the future.

The table  “Twin” has a reversible table top – black/birch. For every table made, a new tree is planted. I love the tall vintage striped (originally) lemonade glasses (I have to look for them when I go to Sweden next!) and the wonderful collection of classic plates from different eras. (Reminds me that I need to get my own mixed collection going).

Only classic pieces from different epochs mixed here. And a beautiful old Swedish mirror. Hey, who knew that an old tuba could be so decorative!

A Tripode lamp shares the room with a classic Divan and a book shelf made of large, sturdy paper rolls (!) and Velcro that you put together any way you want (by ReturDesign) . The room is filled with more classic accessories.

Textile art in blue by Verner Panton from 1966. The chair by Carl Malmsten from the 50’s is called “the lazy servant”.

The Tolomeo lamp is always “right” and it brings a nice contrast to Carl Malmsten’s table from the 50’s and the eco friendly bedding.

Mix people – and by smart!

All images from Skona Hem.

I absolutely LOVE these colors and style combinations! Take note! Mix mix, less is more & create balance and harmony for the eye and the soul. And if you are going for color, rich muted color tones in purple, blue and green are part of the trend right now. If you want to play it safe: pick a good base color that you love and complement with a color that works well as a contrast.

I saw this one-of-a-kind yellow console table at a new, fun store in Stockholm and took some pictures myself. (I will share with you in an upcoming post). I am so in love with the old Swedish wooden plate.

The wooden bowl is moving in with me!

Images via Sköna Hem

For you who have been following my blog you know that I am gearing up to revamp our guest bed room. All I know right now is that it is going to be white, fresh and crisp. The accent colors are still up in the air. But this new, lovely wall paper “Emma” by talented Emma Von Brömssen for Swedish Boråstapeter will likely be featured in a small area in the room. Maybe as an extended headboard.  I love the peacocks!

Hello blog friends! I am back after a few weeks off filled with pure summer bliss. I am rested and happy and I hope the same goes for you. I have missed you all but was often reminded of your wonderful existence through your lovely and kind e-mails. Thank you!

I live in a big house, with many rooms but no single white wall in sight! How is that even possible? I am a true Swede after all and have cocooned in white rooms most of my life. In my house I have chosen muted colors (and a lot of light gray) that all flow nicely together but I really miss a white atmosphere. Especially after my trip to Sweden.

So my goal for the next few weeks is to do my own guest bedroom makeover with white as the prime shade. Who knows where this exercise will take me. I might just keep on going!

Images above from Sköna Hem

2 last images from Livingetc.

Trotting around Stockholm I was quite taken by the lovely and romantic yet modern clothes so many beautiful women of all ages were wearing. Yes, indeed Stockholm is a very trendy and brand conscious city but I did not expect the trend to be quite so feminine, relaxed and Swedish folkloric.

I feel that the Swedish fashion brand (and oh so wonderful) Odd Molly set the tone a few years ago, but now the style is everywhere and even more Swedish vintage looking.

I am now in awe of two, for me, new Swedish brands – Ewa i Walla and Melmelli. Yes, I brought home a few pieces! And wait until you see my new cool Swedish clogs! (Swedish clogs are VERY in right now and go well with the whole look).

What do you think? Anything you would wear?

4 images above: Ewa i Walla

4 images above: Melmelli

Out of this world wonderful clogs from the Swedish designer Åsa Westlund. Traditional Swedish clogs made modern. All handmade with hand painted kurbits flowers from Dalarna (a decorative style of painting that was very popular in Sweden between 1780 and 1870).

When leaving my Mom’s home located in the neighborhood Östermalm in Stockholm, I took a slight detour on my way to the shopping heart of the Stockholm. Boy am I glad that I did! Trotting down “Sturegatan” I stopped in front of the window of the store Olby.  It has been there for 3 years without my knowledge! How on earth could I have missed this! The furniture is so beautiful and well made that they gave me goosebumps. I am now a HUGE fan of the entire furniture line. (Olby just got representation in NY).

The designer and owner Kerstin Olby certainly knows what she is doing. A former student at the prestigious Carl Malmsten school of design (now the Carl Malmsten Centre for Wood Technology & Design at Linköping University), all her furniture is well thought out and masterfully designed. Kerstin started the actual company in the 80’s and has won many prestigious industry awards. All pieces are hand made in Sweden with local, natural materials (there are many customer choices). Kerstin’s timeless quality pieces are represented at Swedish embassies and consulates worldwide as well as the residence of the Swedish prime minister.

This tall cabinet on wheels is now on my wish list. This one in a light gray shade – and I would start weeping for joy every time I passed it in my house!

To see the entire collection, click here.

I mentioned in one of my posts that I was going to hit the Gift Shop at the Royal Palace Stockholm basically as soon as I landed in Sweden. And I only had one purchase in mind. I should have known my readers better! I immediately got a couple of comments and a few e-mails with you guessing – and you guessing right about my mission.

Yes, it was the little crown charm I was after! It is modeled after the Royal Crown for Sweden made for the coronation of Erik XIV in 1561. The one I picked is made of 18K gold. They also offer one in silver as well as one in gold over silver.

I find these well made charms to be so adorable and I can’t wait to give them to my young daughters for their upcoming birthdays, with the hope that they will always think of Sweden and its wonderful history with great love and appreciation.