I consider myself very eclectic in my decorating style – and I love contrasts between the very old and the very new. I also happen to love the color purple  – so of course this image from Skona Hem made me jump – since it has all the right ingredients.

The fabulous storage unit “Vass Cabinet” is by the great designer Rune Claesson Koivisto. For further information contact the design store Asplund in Sweden.

Yes, I am afraid that it is true. Domino Magazine’s last issue is on the stands right now (March, 2009) and we design nerds are all shedding big tears.

Domino has been such an inspirational magazine to me and my hope is that it will come back in one shape or another. As a salute to the magazine and the talented staff (and all of the great designers that they have featured), I have put some of my favorite rooms in this gallery for you viewers to enjoy.

ADIEU until we’ll meet again!

I really admire how the talented interior designer Kay Douglass puts rooms together. And I particularly enjoy her interpretation of Belgian style. (A mix between the simple, quiet Swedish look and the more daring, elegant French style). It’s just a lovely combination. These images from House Beautiful have been posted to the left and the right for quite some time – but they never tire me! 

I love the old looking mirrors with the thick candles – almost a sacred area – bringing warmth and coziness to the dining room.

The red/rust color has always been a favorite accent color in my homes. It blends so well with neutrals.

What a lovely bedroom. Soothing, fresh, crisp, warm, simple and unexpected. Me like! (But personally I would have added some really contemporary bed lights – just to mix it up a little bit).

I am obsessing with bedrooms right now – gearing up to (at some point) remake a couple in my own home. This image is from Domino Magazine . I love the colors – especially the gray headboards. So fresh, so relaxing. And how fun with the fabric in the ceiling!  The table “Shine” from Shop Shine Home is also smashing. I could so move our guests in to this room!

Photo: David Black

A pair of sconces have been missing in my foyer for 3 years now. I have neither found anything I liked nor anything that would put me back a mere $1000. I am looking for something classy, modern and somewhat unique. Now all of sudden, when I have more or less gotten used to fumbling in the dark foyer, I have bumped into a number of good candidates. Ini, Mini, Miny, Moe….

No. 1 – Chaise Sconce from Ballard Designs, $159/each.

No. 2 – Coral Sconce from Lighting Universe, $95.31/each.

No. 3 – Georgetown Wall sconce, from Lighting Universe, $277.02/each

In my dreams…..

No. 4 -  Perpignan Sconce from Decorati, (call to request quote)

And when we are out of this ugly recession/depression – maybe, just maybe, I will be able to afford:

No. 5 – The Kiki Coral Sconces (Moth design) from Decorati, (call to request quote)

Last Christmas the Swedish School in Seattle, which I am part of, asked me to donate an art piece for their annual lottery. I can’t draw to save my life but I am pretty good when it comes to color and texture.

At Michael’s I found this great butterfly punch by Martha Stewart. I like it because the butterflies look more stylish than cute. Already armed with tons of good scrap booking paper, I happily started punching away.

At the frame store Aaron Brothers, I found this great deep frame (already equipped with a mat), which allowed me to play a little with the fluttery friends and raise them here and there.

I was so pleased with the outcome so I actually made another one that stays in the house!

There are so many fun stainless water bottles on the market nowadays. And don’t we all need to stop buying those plastic water bottles that end up in landfills for generations to come (not to mention all the plastic chemicals that leak into the actual drinking water we think is so good for us)?

Stainless is the way to go.

I particularly like the designs from the San Francisco based company EarthLust.

At the fun online store  Kir De Vries, prices for these bottles range between $15.20 for a 13 oz bottle and $19.95 for a 32 oz bottle.

I have been eying these handmade, beautiful pin cushions for a while. If I had one, I would treasure it forever and hand it down to one of my girls! What lovely gifts they make.

I found them on Etsy at the store “The Daily PinCushion“. The prices range between $15 and $28.

I am a big fan of the blog Decor8 which I find is so inspiring. Today they posted information about the most adorable Valentine’s project from yet another great blog Inchmark. I’m trying myself – tonight!!

Just cover small match boxes with beautiful paper and decorate to your heart’s content. Pack them with litte candies or stickers – and off to school!  I can see myself decorating boxes for Easter, Halloween, Christmas…. I love the idea that the boxes can be saved and reused. And the matches will come in handy during the next power outage!

I admit, I have never been a Valentine’s girl. I prefer to celebrate love on my terms and not when the media tells me to! (My poor husband does not even dare to give me anything on that day!) The only ones in our household who get some special treatment on Feb. 14th are our children and their friends.

What a perfect and lovely gift for those special little ones!

I found this handmade bowl on fabulous Etsy. The Etsy store behind it is GretchensCreations. This bowl is felted Alpaca and it costs $18.