Fab kitchen and sitting room in a Swedish apartment

Hello! And happy start to the week to you! The gloves were out today in Sweden (sorry for this continuous obsession with the weather...I am British after all!). BRRR! I could see myself retreating indoors and padding around this beautiful Gothenburg apartment today. I particularly love the kitchen with it's blue cabinets (you can find similar leather door handles here), light grey marble work surface, white walls and original parquet floor. And the touch of mid-century in the sitting room too. What a great space, don't you think?!

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

You can see more of this apartment here.

Anything you love in particular about this home?

Thank you to everyone who participated in my weekend give-away. The competition closed at midnight GMT last night. I will contact the winner of the fab book 'Holiday at Home' today via e-mail.

Have a lovely start to the week!

What colour kitchen cabinets would you choose?

The kitchen is such an important room. One of my Mum's friends always refers to it as 'the engine room of the house', which I think is spot on, don't you? Last night I got a message from a great friend in London asking for advice on what colour kitchen cabinets she should choose. We've all been in interior dilemmas before and when I saw the picture of her kitchen (scroll down to the last image), I knew I had to help, plus it gave me an excuse to drool over beautiful kitchens on Pinterest. I also found these beautiful kitchens shot by one of my favourite Swedish photographers, Jonas Ingerstedt...could white or a shade of blue be the answer?!

Blue from the kitchen of Saša Antić:

Or a shade darker?

Jonas Ingerstedt. Residence.

Tania's kitchen now (taken by Tania):




I absolutely love the dark blue one, but perhaps not for my friends space.

Any thoughts?

What colour is your kitchen?

If you'd like to see more inspiration, take a peek at photographer Jonas Ingerstedt's own kitchen, this stunning Danish kitchen in pastels and this white and grey Malmö kitchen. Infact, type 'kitchen' into the my scandinavian home search and you'll find hundreds of beautiful kitchens (I couldn't believe it!).

PS I was quite nervous about this post since I only ever post images of spaces on My Scandinavian Home I absolutely love. So putting the last image on here was enough to break me out into a slight sweat (eh hem. I mean a gentle 'glow'!) but it's important to get out of the comfort zone from time to time....especially to help a friend in need, isn't it?!

Have a lovely Tuesday!

A Danish kitchen in pretty pastels

When it comes to Scandinavian style decorating people tend to go for the all white look, monochrome, dark moody hues, pastels or bold brights. Do you have a penchant for one of these? In my home I tend to veer towards black, white and pastels although I do sometimes wish I liked bold brights! This Danish kitchen in the home of Julie and her daughter spotted on Boligciousblog has ramped up the feminine style with an entirely pastel kitchen. Could you go for a look like this?

Via Boligcious Blog and Design Chaser

The kitchen is from Tvis and available in a tonne of different colours. The owner is clearly a fan of Muuto too (who isn't?!) as I spot the E27 pendant light, nerd chair and bar stool and the mini stacked shelves are similar. I don't recognise the pattern on the wall - is it painted or have they put up wall paper? The Ferm Living Harlequin wallpaper is fairly similar.

For more pastel inspiration (it's easter after all!) check out this romantic Swedish home, a light and airy Dutch house this stunning sitting room in the home of a Danish designer.

Have a lovely day!

A cosy and warm Finnish table setting

With the shortest day of the year fast approaching here in Sweden natural light is scarce. As per Scandinavian tradition the best way to let natural light into the home over the winter months is through candle-light, whether on the dining table, in the windows or outside the front door. I've noticed that even my children's nursery have candle light on their breakfast table! This cosy dining table setting for two has been styled by Maiju of Finnish blog my second hand life for Lapuan Kankurit. It looks so cosy and warm, I could see myself having a 'fika' here with friends, anyone want to join?!

My Second Hand Life with kind permission. 

Other than the fabrics and square plates, everything used for this setting are flee market finds!

I found beautiful vintage lamps on Etsy yesterday, the candle holder is the Nappula from Iittala, find beautiful linen table cloths and napkins in white and dove grey here. The chair with the wooden legs is 'About a Chair' by HAY.

If you'd like to read more about this table setting you can always pop over to Maiju's wonderful blog.

I also love this Christmas table setting (imagine?!) and this New Years Eve table setting (I just bought star garlands like these from Illum but you can also buy similar ones online here). And look at these beautiful DIY rosemary napkin rings - perfect around a fresh white linen napkin?

How will you decorate your table this season?

PS I think you're going to love tomorrow's home tour! See you then :)

10 creative backsplashes

  While I let my imagination run wild in my art career, I stick to very conservative treatments in my home and  advise the same with clients.  I usually ask  two questions:

1. Will you still love this in 5 years?
2. How will  this  treatment affect  resale value?  

I know ... boring and predictable, but there you have it.  I think it's great that there are people who are willing to step into the abyss and let their creativity run wild.  What do you think of these?

 New York Architect Incorporated

Designer Drew Stuart placed his client's favorite Josef Frank fabric between two pieces of architectural glass above this stove.

source

You can have back painted glass in any colour. 

Desire to Inspire

LouiseM is a French story-telling painter  who mixes pop and street art. This personalized  interior included  the names of the family members and their favourite foods and drinks.

source

Pebbles with dark gray grout.  

source

Wine corks with black and white art.

Bob Vila

Great use for the defunct Canadian penny!  Busy for sure.  Working copper into a kitchen colour scheme could be a problem.

  Everstone is putting out uniquely shaped designs, from pointy shards to circular bubbles. Seems fitting for a backsplash!

Products Insider
 

A truly one-of-a-kind option, this colorful backsplash made with recycled skateboards is featured in a kitchen in the Lofts at Cherokee Studios multifamily project in L.A.

  Products Insider

What about vintage bottle caps?

Contemporary Kitchen design by Austin Architect McKinney York Architects

Are decor trends important?

I am interested in following the latest  trends in interior design.   I need to know these things to have relevant discussions with clients and to understand where the industry is headed.  Many  trends come and go without ever hitting the average home.

Colour of the year is a good example of a temporary trend.  Depending on which paint company your like, you will have a different colour of the year!   I use Benjamin Moore paint and this year the colour of the year is ....

 

 Lemon Sorbet 2019-60

This is an interesting fact to know, but I doubt this time next year it will make much difference  because there will be a new colour of the year.

 Then there are broader colour trends that seem to last for much longer, e.g., the change from beige/brown to grays as the predominant neutral in home decor.  This type of information  is  more important to be aware of because it produces whole palette shifts in home accessories including textiles. The  change to grays has moved palettes from warmer and earthy  to cooler and cleaner colours.

 Rather than the burnt orange/rust  of the brown/beige  era

 source 

 you will now find  a more true orange mixed with grays.

 Rather than olive/mossy greens of the brown era...

  you will find fresh apple greens.

You can have such wonderful pops of colour with grays and this is reflected in the vibrancy of home accessories available in the market place today. 

 Several years ago I looked for emerald green accessories for a client.  It was almost impossible to find any!  Pantone's colour of the year for 2013 is...

I find Pantone's colour predictions have more impact on fashion and home decor than those of specific  paint companies. This year you will have no difficulty finding emerald green accessories.

 It is important to keep up with trends that will  impact big ticket, relatively permanent products like hardwood, tile and cabinets.  You do not want to select something that will be dated  quickly.  Awareness of these trends does not mean you have to buy into them.  Sometimes choosing exactly the opposite is the the best design solution for longevity.   That is why it is wiser to choose  more neutral  long term items for your home.

Homeowners  who jumped on the dark wood look  for kitchens will probably end up sorry for their selection sooner rather than later.     Extremes rarely work for long periods of time. I predict the patterned glass mosaic backsplash tile that is all the rage now  will have run its course soon too.

 Reynolds Architecture- Northfield, Illinois

That's why classic soft white kitchen cabinets will always work. There are no extremes in this kitchen.   The style is softly traditional, the tiles are plain and the counters are  lighter granite.   I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea.  I am talking about what stands the test of time.

 

Staying with a traditional example, if you don't like white, consider a more mid tone neutral  or  ...

  mid toned stained  wood. 

Stay tuned for 2013 decor trends with staying power.