I have a bunch of really good Swedish friends here in Seattle. A really fun, smart and highly entertaining group of people, I must say! (Mariana and Pernilla I still can’t get over the fact that you deserted us… I miss you.). The lovely & lively, former theater maven, Sofia, just sent out a link to a house for sale in the southern parts of Sweden, that she knows very well. The hostess with the mostess, beautiful Ulrika, quickly chimed in and suggested that we all pitch in and get it as a collective “vacation home away from home”. And as with anything with these ladies, e-mails & energizing ideas quickly started flying.

Here it is. The house is 100+ years old and it goes under the name “The Main Cottage”.

It is situated in the very desirable town Bastad (top Tennis & Beach spot in Sweden).

My first reflection. Oh how fresh! The Swedes know a thing or two about keeping things light and airy. (The country is dark and cold for many months of the year, Swedes need light to get through it!). And the homes are generally easy to clean!

White is clearly a must for a Swede. White walls or white floors or both. That will be the colors for my new master bedroom. Yep. You will see).

White is so easy to add punches of color to.

View from a bedroom.

And here is “The Little Cottage”, the guest house.

I can totally see myself co-sharing this vacation home. (Who is in charge of the money collection jar, ladies?).

Happy rest of the week to everyone.

An official and warm welcome to so many new followers. My blog subscription list is growing by leaps and bounds. What an honor! Thank you. And thank you again.

Images: no. 1 Killebacken 21, all other images via Eklund.

Busy, busy over here. Sorry for the lack of blog visits this week. I have some serious blog catching up to do.

My lovely, local blog sis, Marianne, recently gave me an article from Architectural Digest. As some of you know, I had fun for a couple of years importing high-quality Swedish antiques to the US. I stopped when the economy tanked and then started my blog instead.

But I have not ruled out doing it again. I love Swedish antiques. I grew up with them and they never get boring to me.

Swedes like to keep things simple, soothing and “quiet” and that is why so many of the old Swedish pieces still work centuries later. Swedish antiques are beautiful on their own but, because of the simple lines and neutral color palette, they can easily be mixed with other styles & eras. There are very few antique “styles” you can say that about.

The article Marianne gave me was about Jill Dienst moving her antiques gallery (Dienst + Dotter Antikviteter) from Sag Harbor to Manhattan. I have mentioned Ms. Dienst on my blog before but the Manhattan store is all news to me.

When I saw the pictures of her new store, I almost started to hyperventilate. Man oh Man. Swedish antiques are, in my opinion, out of this world gorgeous. And see how lovely they blend with Danish mid-century furniture. I am so visiting this gallery on my planned spring trip to NY.

Jill’s good friend Martha Stewart (via Kevin Sharkey) showed some pictures of the store opening on her blog.

Martha will have to fight me for this column cabinet. (In the old days, secret liquor was often stored in them!).

I also want a silver vessel to store my store business cards in…

Speaking of store. A big thank you to two dear blog friends for their unexpected shout-outs for my store. What a treat! And this coming from you — two ladies with tremendous style and taste! It means a lot.

Thank you Laura (Laura Casey Interiors)!

Thank you Teresa (Splendid Sass)!

I follow both blogs loyally. You should too.

Happy rest of the week, friends.

Images: No. 1, 6-9 via Martha Stewart/Kevin Sharkey, no. 2-5 via AD.

After having been on this planet for quite a while I am still not sure I understand the concept of traveling lightly… Ask my great long time friend Sanne (I love you girlfriend!), who always kidnaps me from the city to her lovely home outside of Stockholm for a night or two before I fly back to the US. We adore hanging out together but after knowing each other for some 30 years (!), Sanne still raises her eyebrows everytime she sees my luggage! (Not to mention what my Hubby says when he picks me up at the airport…).

This time the suitcases were filled with gifts from family & friends, design things for my store, things from my Mom’s home, many gifts for loved ones, Swedish designer clothes and shoes, Swedish food & books, and some extra special things just because I can’t find them on the other side of the planet! Trust me when I say that I am normally not a shopaholic EXCEPT when I go back to my Mother land. I do tend to go a little nutty then.  (Perhaps I am desperately trying to hold on to my roots? Who knows…).

Just a few highlights:

1. A few new stunning Asa Lindstrom ceramic cups (handmade with 18K gold rim). I slowly keep adding to my collection. I don’t “collect” many things — but these cups I go absolutely crazy for.

This is where they hang out. I plan to fill all 25 cubbies!

 2. An old, original letter from 1649. Just pretty. (I framed it when I got home).

3. This little Swedish ceramic guy. A fox with an attitude perhaps? He puts a grin on my face and he lives in a cup. That is funny to me!

4. Chocolate from the fine chocolate store, “Chokladfabriken“ (Chocolate Factory) a few steps from my Mom’s home. A store bestseller is Swedish liquirice dipped in chocolate with a tad of sea salt on top. Only a true Scandinavian (or someone brave) will appreciate that!

5. A few classic mini glass vases from Svenskt Tenn (the most classic interior design institution in Sweden). I wish I could have brought a sofa with me…

These glasses are called “Acorn” vases. The founder of Svenskt Tenn, Estrid Ericson, had gigantic acorn trees at her summer house in the 40′s. She designed this vase specifically for acorn growth.You are supposed to let an acorn sit on a moist piece of paper towel for a few weeks (preferably in the refrigerator). Once the acorn starts to sprout, you pop it into the vase and then watch a simple green branch start to embrace life.

That is all I dare to share today.

Do you also go shopping crazy when you travel? Please, let my Hubby know that I am not alone!

Happy long weekend! (Monday is President’s day here in the US).

 Image credits: No. 1 via Bon Appetit Hon, no. 2-6 via Splendid Willow, no. 9 via HouseMartin.

I must say that I love my little store. I really do. Not because of the great goods I get to scout and represent, but also because of all the really fantastic people (designers, partners and customers) I connect with on a daily basis. It is sooo darn rewarding!

Here are two Swedish ladies I connected with in Stockholm last week and immediately liked – because of their creative mindsets and their lovely attititudes. It is an honor to now carry their great goods in my store.

First up, Ylva Skarp, who’s incredible home I featured in my previous post. A London educated calligrapher, this talented lady is taking Sweden by storm.

Ylva’s items are flying off the shelves and I am the first store in the US to carry items from her collection. I have already order her leather pillows with calligraphy art for my own home. Lovely, right!

Maria Holmberg is another talented artist, I recently connected with and Oh-Boy am I pleased to, as a first store in the US,  be representing her gorgeous pottery with birch motif.

It does not get much more Swedish than that, people! (Birch is the “royal tree” of Sweden). Gorgeous with a capital G in my opinion.

I have also added some great rugs (runners) via DesignHouse Stockholm. I have been on the look-out for some great rugs for my own kitchen and these hit the spot. You already know that my favorite color is gray, and  to now carry rugs in my store  that are gray with a birch feel (and leather edging) - well hello ! – it is heavenly for me. 

I will always be loyal to Ilse Jacobsen. I love their products (if you recall I was trotting around in Ilse Jacobsen boots long before I opened an on-line boutique) and I love the people I work with. I am restocking on yellow boots, timely for spring.

 I am now also carrying Ilse Jacobsen’s LATEST raincoat model, a mix between the long coat and the jacket – 3/4 mid length. It is already a new top seller.

Visit my store here to learn more about the new products – Splendid Willow Avenue.

Did you all read the latest issue of House of Fifty? My good friend Janell never disappoints! Read it here. Cover to cover, please.

I have yet again teamed up with my gorgeous and close friend Jill, with Live Like You, for a Spring ad. Just visit House of Fifty at page 78 + 79 and redeem a 15% off coupon.

Works at my store AS WELL as Jill’s store (she carries tons of lovely things for the home).

Happy new week to you all.

Image credit: No. 1 via xx Creative Quilt Kits, no.-2-4 via Ylva Skarp, no. 5 -7 via Maria Holmberg.

Hello all. After that big snow storm in Seattle last week, where the whole city came to a quick halt. (The area was declared ”State Of Emergency” with power outtages effecting hundreds of thousands of people and traffic chaos and trees down everywhere). Our power went out (it was cold, people!) but thankfully our fireplaces run on gas so that is where this family camped out telling stories and snoring in sleeping bags!

(My lovely blog friend Joanna, wrote this great Stockholm guide).

With that behind us, I am now on to the next adventure. When this post goes live, I have literally just landed in Stockholm. I will spend a week in my old home country, looking after my loving Mom and spending quality time with close ones.

My blog will be quiet during that time. I hope you understand.

If there is anything in particular you want me to bring back from Sweden, let me know.

There are some really incredible and clean metro stations in Stockholm. The city is all about great public transportation and walking. (I eat like a starved elephant when I visit, but always lose a few pounds. It is all that city walking. And what a fun city to get around in!).

I will be back Monday January 30th.

Warm hugs. I will be thinking of you.

 Images: no. 1 via Flickr, no. 2 via DesignSponge, no .3 via Scandinaviam Eyeware, no. 5 via Flickr, no. 7 via Flickr.