A smart and wonderful small living space

Hello Thursday! Earlier this week I got a request to show inspiration for a small living space. I was having fun working on Pinterest this morning and found this perfect little living space in Antwerp owned by Caroline. With the help of architect Katrien Van Doren, Caroline has turned what could have been a fairly cramped space into a beautiful, spacious home full of smart solutions.

Photographer Lisa Van Damme and Ian Hermans, Architect Katrien Van Doren via Roomed / Studio Birdy 

I could live here, could you? I love the use of plywood throughout the home - both as kitchen cabinets and as room dividers. The important thing about this space (in my eyes) is that Caroline has been careful to divide up the space into specific areas such as a sitting room, dining, and bedroom despite space limitations. And although much of it is all white, the different textures create interest and warmth.

Is there anything else you notice about this space?

Thank you to Merel of Studio Birdy for your help with this piece.

If you'd like to see another home with this plywood and white blend check out my neighbour's former home from ATWTP, it's so fantastic! There's also all of these homes labelled under 'decorating with plywood'. And for more small space inspiration I'm loving this and this home.

Have a lovely day / evening.

The dark side of decorating

The queen of Swedish interior design Lotta Agaton firmly believes dark coloured walls are the new white in 2014. This home mixes dark grey with dark floors and then brightens the space with a lick of white on the ceiling (love those wood beams and pillars!) and white rugs. I have to say the pictures on the wall really pop against the dark grey walls. I like it. 

Maison-Hand via Lotta Agaton

Could you go the dark side? Or perhaps you're there already?!

I spy the fab Knoll  platner side chairs and Knoll dining table (and they're both on sale too!). I think these are my favourite items of the moment.

If you haven't already, don't forget to enter the St.Valentine's Day give-away here, you've got until midnight tomorrow and you know I'd love you to win.

Have a lovely day. 

Antlers: Trend or timeless?

Looking at a variety of  recent design sources supports the view that antlers are a huge style statement.    While always part of rustic country design, antlers and antler motifs seem to have crossed all design boundaries to the point where you see them everywhere. 

Spectacular lighting from Yellow Goat Custom Lighting

Right now I have reached the saturation point, and whenever I see antlers my reaction is usually utter boredom. Hopefully I will recover  because I love their sculptural  form and representation of  the passage of time and natural cycles.  I draw the line at their trophy history- no mounted heads for me.

 Moose antlers aging in the sun

 source

Several years ago my friend found a lovely pair of moose antlers in the woods near my summer house and dragged them home for me. They are still weathering to a lovely grayish white. While I was excited initially with this gift, I am reticent to jump on the antler bandwagon.  If I wait long enough the trend will pass, like all trends, and antlers will be new again. 

I guess you could say I am very fussy about how they are used in decor.  I think the trick is to mix them with other objects  in simple vignettes  with a natural focus where their sculptural qualities can shine and direct the collected composition. In this  understated way they will always be timeless. So here are my four ways to use antlers for a fresh look.

 As a sculptural element

White on white accentuates antlers sculptural quality

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These antlers are the perfect shape to use with the other elements in this vignette. They mimic  the branches and provide an interesting backdrop for the cylindrical shapes. 

Simple arrangements  allow the form to show

What could be more interesting than branching shapes against a dark base?  Less is always more. 

 

As a design anchor

Antlers and candles in a vignette

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There's no doubt that the branching quality of antlers makes them a perfect form to arrange objects along an interesting line.There are all sort of images online with candles interspersed among antlers. You could also use small groupings of wildflowers instead of candles.

As a pivot point

Adding interesting lines in a vignette

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Who knew that antlers can actually add a note of elegance when combined with equally elegant objects?  They are great for moving your eye around in different directions encouraging you to take in all elements of a vignette.

As functional objects 

Antler candleholders

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These are truly exquisite and would look good anywhere.

Add to planters

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Antlers would make a great natural additions to a planter when you have vines or other plants that will grow along a shape.

What's  your take on antlers?  Do you have any in your decor?

Tuesday DIY: fab yet simple way to update a wall

I came across this really fab, yet relatively simple polka dot wall DIY project over at My 2nd Hand Life. Maiju found a reel of dot stickers and stuck them at random over one wall. I absolutely love the outcome how about you? What a simple yet cool way to update a space.

My 2nd Hand Life with kind permission found via Feel Inspired

Could you imagine covering a wall in your home with polka dots?

I've been thinking of renovating my little girls room with heart stickers (or one of these shapes). the question is do I just place them on a white wall or should I paint the wall in a pretty colour first? Tips welcome!

This is another great DIY project for updating a wall (potato printing - who'd have thought?

If you're feeling creative this week you can find more fab DIY projects here and here. And feel free to leave your own tips in the comment section below.

Have a lovely day!

A light and bright Gothenburg home

Morning! It's truly mid winter here in Sweden now. Dark, cold, snowy. We're all hibernating indoors with lit candles eating too many cinnamon buns (I speak for myself on that last point!). At this time of year I feel having a beautiful, cosy home is even more important since we're inside so much of the time. I like this Gothenburg home currently for sale through Alvhem. It's light, has beautiful bones and blends high street finds like the Urban chair from IKEA with Scandinavian classics like the Eames DSR chair.

Alvhem

My take home message from this home is to add colourful cushions to my sofa in time for spring. How about you?

See more fab homes from Alvhem here, here and here. Or for colourful cushion inspiration I'm loving Elina Dahl's home (one of the most ever viewed home tours on My Scandinavian Home for good reason!).

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Caroline of Beautifulosophy blog for a fika. It's always so fun to meet someone in person from the blog world, we had such a great chat. I love Caroline's blog, it's such a treat each day.

I hope you have a lovely day!

PS If you haven't already, don't forget to enter the St. Valentine's Day give-away here.

Saturday wall space inspiration

Hello Saturday. A rare weekend post from me! For some reason I was wide awake early this morning which was a real luxury as the house was so quiet! So I made myself a big cup of fresh coffee on the stove and had a little play on Pinterest (of course!). Here's my Saturday morning find. A very cool print by one of my favourite Swedish designers Therese Sennerholt.

Therese Sennerholt. Styling Josefin Hååg via Elin Strömberg

I have one of her limited edition prints in my sitting room and never tire of it. Do you have anything by her?

I recently came across this fab store The Print Atelier too which is great for photographic art. I'm on it!

Have a lovely weekend and see you Monday!

PS Don't forget to enter the give-away....

Feeling red

I'm a firm believer that colour provides us with certain benefits at certain times and  I take note when I find myself attracted to a certain colour.  My past loves have been black, green and purple.   All of a sudden I am hugely attracted tored  and I want it around me in my home.  This is a first for me.

Red accessories

I catch myself looking at red things on Pinterest and Olioboard. 

I want to hang up one of my red paintings.

 

Evoked, 2013, Margaret Ryall, encaustic

 “Painters use red like spice.” — Derek Jarman.....  If so this is one hot painting.

 Why red now?

 From yoga I know that red  is the color for the base or root chakra located at the base of the spine; this chakra allows us to be grounded and connected to universal energies.

Red also affects us physically.  It is stimulating and boosts our physical energy levels, increases enthusiasm, action and confidence, and provides a sense of protection from anxiety and fear. Don't forget that red relates to physical desire in all its forms- sexual, appetite and cravings. Pretty powerful stuff. Who wouldn't want a dose of red around with all those benefits?

I've written about red before so this must not be a new thing.  Check this  post .

I must need a boost of red.  I'm listening.  How will it play out in my space? 

 Is red a part of your home decor?

St Valentine's Day Give-away

I've teamed up with the fab online shop Self Packaging to offer you the chance to win a very cool gift box kit with a value up to 100 euros in time for St. Valentine's Day. Whether you're thinking of baking cupcakes for a friend, turning up with a surprise picnic or giving someone their favourite tipple, this online shop has gift wrapping / packaging for everything! Here's my pick:

For your chance to win a very cool kit worth up to 100 euros from Self Packaging all you need to do is:

1. State in the comment section below which Self Packaging item you'd like for St Valentine's day and why
2. Like Self Packaging on Facebook

Sorry folks, the give-away is only open to readers in Europe, USA and Canada. Be sure to enter latest Midnight GMT Thursday 23rd January 2014. Don't forget to leave your e-mail address so I contact you. The winner will be announced here and Twitter on Friday 24th January. Good luck!

Blogger App

Yes, there is an App for Blogger and here I am trying it out.  In the past I've wanted to compose posts on my I Pad when I was travelling and couldn't.  Last week I saw an ad and decided to give it a try.  This is an in process review.

So far so good. The interface is simple , but so are the text options. 

 Can't do much that is fancy with just Bold and Italics and underline.  Also clumsy when you have to select and apply these options.  Not to mention how I hate one finger pecking to compose!

Let's try adding a photo from my camera roll.  You  have some options for photos with screen shots, actual photos taken with I Pad or downloaded  from camera.

When you read the reviews they are less than stellar with a long list of complaints.  My take: Can't include video or links, can't add photo captions or photo properties.  Nowhere to add label tags. So much for basic SEO.  

So..... Good for a short, simple post with photos while you are on the fly.  I am wondering if I can go back in on my computer and add captions, tags etc. after the fact.  Now to post this....   The only thing I see is Done.  Here goes.  New comment....  You can add labels and go back to the text. Let's try again.

Addendum.
Published easily and you can go back and edit online after the fact to change things a bit e.g. Size of photo, add captions and properties. 

A converted monks retreat

This home has character. A converted monks retreat built in the 1800s, this Cambridgshire  family home is the perfect blend of vintage and contemporary. My favourite item has to be the doggy portrait in the kitchen, a family member portrait perhaps?! How about you?

 

Living Etc via The Relaxed Home

Any favourite room? See more fab pictures of this home here.

I spy the Arper Catifa 45 Chair with trestle base around the dining table- good news, they're on sale at Nest!

Hailing from London myself British homes have a special place in my heart. See some of my favourites here, here and here. So beautiful!

Today I have the pleasure of introducing a new sponsor: nordicthink.  nordicthink is an extremely cool online shop selling all my favourite Scandinavian brands including Muuto, String, HAY, &tradition, Lightyears and Ferm Living. Thank you for supporting my amazing sponsors who make this blog possible.

Pop back tomorrow for a very exciting give-away open to readers in Europe, the USA and Canada (sorry all other continents / nations, I promise there'll be another give-away in Feb open to all!).

Have a lovely day!