Happy Monday blog friends! Say hi to my blog friend Susann who is the face behind one of my favorite blogs in Sweden -  Purple Area. This is a must read blog for anyone who is interested in a contemporary, more minimalistic design style with a Swedish slant. Talented Susann who has had her well read blog for several years also runs her interior design company and is busy writing regular blog columns about design for a couple of leading Swedish morning papers.

When I need to check the design temperature in Sweden, Purple Area is one of the first blogs I go to. And when I need some new but simple design inspiration for the winter holidays I also trust Susann will provide some great ideas. Let me share her take on holiday decorations with all of you!

Susann, what is your design approach for the winter holidays?

I love decorating for Christmas, without going overboard. Less is definitely more for me. 

I like it simple and enjoy using natural materials and objects like wood, fleece, fir branches, moss and nuts which give a room a genuine and earthy feel. Holiday knick knacks are not my thing, instead I prefer real candles, beautiful flowers and something that lights up my windows. I tend to go with fewer things, of larger scale to make an impact.

 Anything in particular that inspires you this year?

This year I feel that the trend has been somewhat divided. I have seen a lot of pure white but also black and strong colors. I also see a lot of nostalgia going back to a more 50′s and 60′s retro look with a lot of vintage and great patina. The retro patterns with dots, checks and flowers are so in vogue. But so is also wood.

Personally, I am drawn to a white palette which I combine with things from nature. White is so elegant and green adds a lovely freshness. A large, classic star will hang in my window as usual. A plate with simple candles and walnuts and clear vases with pine cones and Christmas bulbs are all very appealing to me.

(I am so going to copy this wonderful December idea. Just attach vintage metal numbers and strings to simple white candles and place them on a tray with walnuts. I love this idea! -Monika’s comment. Image via the Swedish blog Hemmariket).

How do you decorate for the holidays at your own home?

Lots of hyacinths, amaryllises and poinsettas that I plant in clear vases. Both for the look and the wonderful smells. I use lots of candles, stars in the windows and of course a real tree. I will decorate the tree with white bulbs, silver stars in metal and a few things with sentimental value that my children have made.

What can you not live without during the season?

My family, the tree, the open fireplace and something good to eat is pretty much all I need! A few years ago we decided that we would not bring a lot of musts to this wonderful season and run around all stressed. We only do what we really enjoy, prepare food we have a hankering for at the moment and only decorate with things we like. It is pretty much only the kids’ gifts that are still a must. Since we always celebrate at our house – the rest of the extended family gets to share in the same way of celebrating. And they don’t seem to mind!

 Any special design gifts on your wish list?

I have just ordered a gray, lovely sofa that will arrive in the new year. I guess that will be my Christmas gift! But I wouldn’t mind some things from Swedish designers such as Filippa K. and Ingegerd Råman. Or why not some wonderful pillows from Day Home to go with my new sofa!

Thank you so much Susann for sharing some great holiday ideas. Happy holidays to you and your family! Please make sure to visit her blog here. Finally, below is an image of Susann’s stair case and book shelf at home. She lives as she teaches! Simple and lovely!

Interior Images:  Image No. 1 Bordsdekorationer (table decor), Image no. 2 + 8-11 Susann’s private, No. 3-4 Trine Thorsen, No. 5 Living Etc, No. 6, Tine K, No. 7 Hemmariket,No. 12 Ahlens via Purple Area, No. 13 (sofa) Eilersen DaCapo, No. 14 (Filippa k) Dukat Bord, No. 15 Orrefors, No. 16 Day Home, No. 17 Photo by Peo Olsson for Residence.

“Some People Are Always Grumbling Because Roses Have Thorns;

I Am Thankful That Thorns Have Roses”

Happy Thanksgiving (for those of you celebrating)!

Sending you lots of love and happy thoughts.

Have a lovely week dear blog friends!

I am taking a few days off to spend quality time with my fun & lovely family.

See you on Monday!

Images via Southern Accents and  Martha Stewart

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

First of all, I am so sorry I have not been very alert and active lately but the family was hit hard by the flu (5 out of 5 family members!) but we are all up and running in happy circles again!

While I was under the covers lovely Greet at the blog Belgian Pearls sent me this Honest Scrap Award. Belgian Pearls is a must read blog for anybody who gravitate towards truly elegant interiors with a Belgian Twist. Greet is an accomplished interior designer and her blog offers a wealth of design information & inspiration. Visit her often! 

With this award I am supposed to share 10 things about myself that my readers may not know about me. And then send this award to 7 other lovely blogs.  (But I really should have sent this to all the blogs I read and comment on. They are all WONDERFUL! And so are the people behind those blogs!) Here goes!:

1) I have no sense of orientation. None, zip, nada. I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten totally lost in major cities and somehow managed to apper on the complete opposite side of the city, without any understanding of time and place. On a positive note: I thrive on meeting people and seeing places, so getting lost is nothing I fear. On the contrary!

2) Every night before I head for bed I drink a jumbo cup of silver tea. That is a fancy name for hot water with nothing in it! It probably sounds terribly boring to you but I crave it with such intensity that my whole family gets nervous if they don’t hear water boiling late in the evening.

3) I married a really good man. He is a super hero in my eyes. Intelligent, kind, generous, accomplished, an out of this world great dad, loving and witty. He has oodles of hidden talents that I still after 10 years of marriage am discovering. It took me years to figure out that he is brilliant saxophone player, scratch golfer, a great skier, he’s a human dictionary, and he is a really good cook. And he puts up with me!

4) My favorite cities in the world: Stockholm and New York. We have permanently put down our anchor in Seattle which is a beautiful & fun city with incredible people. But Stockholm and New York make my heart race extra fast.

5) I’d rather put my money on something for the home, than something to wear.

6) I love black, salty (really salty) liqurice. The first thing I buy when I land in Stockholm is to get a bag before I even reach the passport control. It is also the last thing I buy before I board a plane on route to the US. You can actually buy containers of vanilla ice cream with swirls of salt liquirice at just about any ordinary grocery store in Sweden.

7) I consider myself happy & content. I laugh often! To me life is beautiful! But I don’t take if for granted.

8) I crave really good and well written suspense novels.

9) When I travel I always try to find good local restaurants off the beaten path. In Taiwan I once ended up in small local hangout (think hole in the wall) where only snake was served in different concoctions. I love dining adventures like that. And yes, it tasted pretty much like chicken!

10) I love peonies and dark bing cherries. I always tend to go a little crazy when they are in season. 

That was my contribution! I am now sending this award to the following 7 blogs (in no particular order). Let’s find out more about them!

1) Mochatini

2) Belle Vivir

3) Design Fragment

4) Space for Inspiration

5) Vintage Simple

6) Otis & Frank

7) Swedish Antiques 

Images by: 1.  Gak’s , 2. flickr, 3. Desiree Swanson, 4. Olof S , 5. Nicoatridge,  6-8. Domino, 10. tamaki, 11. flickr, 12. pieter, 13. rabbee, 14. flickr, 15. superhoop, 16. Shortcake scraps

Good new week to you dear blog friends! In five and a half weeks Christmas is here for those of you who are celebrating. I am so behind it is almost funny. The furry rats and shiny pumpkins are still sitting outside my front door, people! And don’t even get me started on Holiday cards, parties thrown at me, a good amount of gifts that soon need to be on Santa’s sleigh on his way to Europe not to mention all the preparations for the holidays at our own home. Is anybody aware of a button that can be pushed that sets you in the right Holiday mood? Nope, still not in the mood.

Instead I would rather sip wine at a fancy art gallery having a fun and relaxing time without any do’s & don’ts messing with my joyous state of mind.

A few months ago my lovely blog friend Di over at Designersblock wrote a post about the artist Paul Villinski. I can’t get his artwork off my mind.

Just look at these butterflies made out of old beer cans! I love these installations and could easily see a butterfly art piece on a large empty wall space where some drama and beauty is needed.

This is what Paul Villinski has to say about his butterflies: “Our grandchildren will laugh in disbelief at the vast resources we squander, manufacturing a plastic bottle for a pint of water, or mining aluminum to surround 12 ounces of beer with metal. One generation’s trash will be another’s treasure. These littered beer cans are humble, but worthy materials, and it’s gratifying to take this “trash” and turn it into something of beauty and meaning.”.

Showing you this artwork is also appropriate since I just found out that my dear Swedish friend Kiki is moving to Sweden with her husband. Kiki is the owner of the store, Swedish Heirlooms in Seattle, a popular destination for people interested in old Swedish furnishings and good antique reproductions. Her lovely store is now up for sale. Sad news for so may of us in Seattle but what do you do when your hubby gets a top job on the the other side of the planet? I am sure talented Kiki will come up with a brilliant business idea that allows her to work with both countries. But I am not sure I am ready to let her go. I just don’t like when good friends move!

For more of Paul Villinkis’ portfolio – go here.

Dear blog readers. Sorry for the delay on this post. But now there will be two “In The Spotlight” this month instead!

I get all giddy whenever I hear or see their names -  Bernt Heiberg and William Cummings, the partners behind Heiberg & Cummings (hcd3). One of my absolute favorite design teams on the planet. I am in awe of everything they do – and I have saved magazine articles about them from years back. Their firm has offices in NY and in Oslo.

Why am I so crazy about them? Because their interiors are calm, beautiful and sophisticated without feeling contrived. It does not matter if it is an elegant Manhattan penthouse or a beach cottage somewhere, their rooms are always warm, inviting and personal (not the same old, same old). Their mix of old and new pieces is well thought out and always fantastic. They have a great eye for art (and run their own art exhibitions) and of course with Bernt Heiberg being from Norway, they bring in a lot of (old) Scandinavian into their residential and commercial projects.

It is a great honor for me to introduce them to you.

Oh, one more thing. I have learned that William and Bernt are all for peace and making people happy but they don’t mind smashing mobile telephones to pieces with rocks! One more reason to like them!

Define your design style?

High-end residential. Neo-Scandinavian with an international touch.  Sophisticated yet livable.

Are you able to take your design eyes off when you visit friends’ homes? (Or do you do a quick design on a napkin for them?)

W) Yes! I appreciate finding new and different aesthetics. And I always enjoy finding treasures in other homes.

B) Yes, but it is always fun to give advice. Interior design is our lifestyle, 24/7.

What was your first-ever interiors buy?

W) A Munch drawing I purchased years ago. It is a an outstanding etching that hangs in our home.

B) A Swedish empire bureau that is still in our home. I was so attracted to the paint and patina of the piece.

Design accomplishment you are most proud of?

W) That people copy our work. (And they do! Splendid Willow’s comment)

B) We are really proud of all of our projects – both large and small.

Any fun project(s) you are working on right now?

Many! Our projects are always lots of fun! We feel lucky to have such wonderful clients.

Right now we are working on a new styling concept for clients who need a touch of help with space, layout, and bringing new life into their homes. This new concept will launch in the next couple of weeks.  (You heard it here first!

What is bad interior design in your opinion?

W) Design that is poorly conceived and/or poorly executed.

B) Using lots of colors and crossing borders of given space.

What 3 things can make a huge impact in a living room – without the steep price tag?

1. Proper lighting. 2. Beautiful textiles. 3. Less is more.

Any design item you can’t live without?

W) Gray flannel

B) Comfortable and cozy but elegant seating

What do you collect?

W) Small carpets.

B) Antiques. Mainly from the 18th century. 

(The plate racks are from their own furnishings line).

Any design heroes that truly inspire you?

W)  Michael Graves

B) John Saladino

What’s your take on bedside tables?

W) I use them all the time!

B) Necessary. And great with lots of books, personal items and photographs.

What wall color can you not get enough of?

W) White

B) Light gray

Where do you shop online?

W) Nowhere! I prefer the traditional way of shopping with touch & feel!

B) Hermes

Knowing your wonderful collection of Scandinavian antiques. Do you have a favorite piece you can’t live without?

W) A small Gustavian side table with thin legs.

B) A rustic Norweigan country foot stool.

Thank you so much gentlemen! It is a pleasure getting to know you a little bit better. And I for one, can’t wait to see what you are up to next! A suggestion: your own book!

For more of hcd3 and their portfolio, visit here.

Images: No. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 via NY Spaces. No. 4, 15 and 17 via Litteavmeg. No. 5, 7, 8, 13, and 16 via House & Garden (07). No. 9, 10 and 11 via hcd3. No. 14 Via Homes and Gardens UK. Note: a few of these images I have scanned from older Magazines and they are nowhere else to be found on-line.

Big Smiles For You!

The 3 winners of Splendid Willow’s Giveaway are….

Drum roll, please……!

1. Kendra - Jonathan Adler’s candle

2. Greet L. – Nate Berkus’ pillow

3. Gaia – Peace signs (8)

Congratulations dear blog readers! I hope you enjoy your items and that you find the perfect spot for them in your lovely homes!

And to the rest of you - thank you so much for participating and for your wonderful support. Maybe you will be one of the lucky winners next time!

Love to you all.

You have heard me babble about a good table for my plants and orchids in the past. This image has been making its rounds in blog land but I simply can’t let go of it. Sigh! Let’s all go on a hunt for a perfect metal, industrial looking garden table, to bring inside for a unique plant display. So simple. So lovely. And the weathered pots too.

Via Apartment Therapy

Don’t forget this week’s giveaway! You can end up as a winner!

Hello blog friends all over the planet! It’s payback time for all the kindness and friendship you all have given me.  Design has always been my true passion. To have found a forum to express myself and meet so many lovely & talented people feels just amazing.

So, as a thank you, I have done a little shopping for Splendid Willow’s second giveaway.

1) Jonathan Adler’s Muse Blanc scented candle. Retails for approx $60.

The candle is set in a a porcelain vessel that glows as the candle burns. After the candle is gone, the vessel makes for a perfect flower vase. The candle is 3.5″ high.

2) Nate Berkus’ Hope Pillow. Retails for approx $49.95.

This pillow is part of Nate Berkus‘ latest line of home furnishings for HSN. The elegant pillow is white with a bright metallic embroidery. Evoking a message of hope, this pillow emphasizes that your home is your haven. The cover has a hidden zipper.

3) 8 Thin German Glitter Peace Sign Ornaments (from Pottery Barn). Retails for approx $32. ($4 each).

These lovely ornaments with a meaningful message could be used not only for the upcoming Holidays – but all year around! (I am getting a bunch myself to give as little tokens for friends & family).

———————————————————————————————————————–

How do you take part of the giveaway? By simply adding a comment to this post and telling us which one out of these 3 items you would like in your own home and where you would place it (we love to peek into other people’s homes!).

The contest closes on Sunday November 8th at midnight PST. All comments/names will be put in a hat. And as usual my poor husband gets to randomly pick three winners. The winners will be announced on this blog and by email Monday morning November 9th.  (Yes, I will ship worldwide!) Note: only one entry per person

Good Luck Friends! I can’t wait to announce the winners!