HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!!! ……….

Another year, another birthday.

63 !!

I think that it's back views from now on ….. it's better that way !!!!!

XXXX

A fresh, bright and beautiful Dutch cottage

I do love a weekend escape. This white country cottage belonging to interior designer and co-owner of NU interieur /ontwerp Nathalie Fransen, architect Bas Van Egmond and their three children in the Netherlands hits the mark! The Dutch cottage has been renovated into a beautiful, fresh, light space using among other things, a lick of white paint, a new kitchen and bathroom. For a relatively small space of 34 metres square this family weekend retreat gives an illusion of space. Take me there!

Holly Marder for Decor8

I love this cottage, it has everything I could dream of in a holiday cottage, how about you?

You can see more pictures and read more about this Dutch space here. 

For more Scandinavian retreat inspiration you might want to check out this page (warning: you might want to pour yourself a coffee first, you could wile away a good hour looking through these Scandinavian rural retreats!). 

Have a lovely weekend!

PS we're off to the jungle here in Thailand for the weekend, exciting! See you Monday. 

The black and white workspace of a Finnish blogger

A few weeks ago I posted a beautiful collaborative workspace in San Francisco and it was so popular I thought I'd post about another inspirational office today (because we can't all be on holiday in the Philippines!). This black and white work corner belongs to the editor of Finnish blog Lily. One of the things I love most about this corner is that it totally blends in to the area around it (love the black leather sofa). I could certainly sit here and blog, could you work here?

Lily with kind permission

The space includes an Eames DSR chair (15% discount with code MYSCAN) and the Aröd task light from IKEA.

You can also see her mix and match dining space here. Love the way she's photographed it don't you?

I also love this Norwegian work space, this beautiful white and light wood work area and this art studio. How about you?

Have a lovely day!

A little piece of paradise in the Philippines

I was at an event recently and met a girl who grew up on a tropical island off Japan. I was fascinated. She said she didn't appreciate her surroundings as a child but loves to go back and visit as an adult. Many people feel like that about their own home towns. But could you imagine if yours was as stunning as Dedon island in the Philippines? Created in collaboration with designers Jean-Marie Massaud and Daniel Pouzet with the ethos of eco-friendly tourism and barefoot living, it is a little touch of paradise and the ultimate winter escape. Pass me the sun screen.

Dedon Via Style Files

I'm adding this one to my wish list for 2015 (but will need to save up a little first!).

When I post design hotels in tropical places (see also this fabulous hotel on Mykonos) I sometimes get comments asking what this has to do with Scandinavian homes. Well not much! But I think it's inspiring to show get-aways all the same - after all, everyone needs an escape from the Scandinavian winter from time to time or what? As you know I'm currently travelling in Thailand with my family (feeling like the luckiest person in the world) and am so inspired by the beautiful places we have seen and stayed in.

Do you have a place you long to visit?

PS if you'd like to donate to the Philippines following the typhoon on 8th november and read more about aid visit this page.

A Stockholm apartment with an industrial touch

I absolutely love window room dividers. They are the perfect way to separate living areas without blocking light. And they look cool too! This Stockholm apartment is currently for sale through Per Jansson. I love the industrial / vintage touch and the white walls and floors.

Per Jansson

Could you live here? It's styled for sale but if it were mine (and I wish it was) I'd add a few rugs and perhaps a wood burning stove and then it would be perfect!

For more inspiration on window room dividers you might want to take a peek at this, this and this home. So fab!

Have a lovely day!

The fantastic home of a creative Finnish duo

Just hearing a home is owned by Finnish interior architect Joanna Laajisto and photographer Mikko Ryhanen I already know the space is going to be pretty fantastic. And that's exactly what this apartment is. Located in Helsinki and decorated in mainly white, black and grey, this family home marries vintage finds with scandinavian contemporary pieces. Love.it.

Photography: Mikko Ryhanen with kind permission. Interior designer Joanna Laasjisto via Emma's Design Blog

So fab don't you think?

I spy: Thonet 209 chair (15% off with MYSCAN),  Louis Poulsen AJ table lamp, Knoll Platner Coffee table  and the Knoll Bertoia dining chairs.

You can see Joanna's wonderful previous apartment here.

Looking for more Finnish inspiration? There's lots and lots of beautiful Finnish home inspiration here!

Have a lovely day!

PS We're in transit in Singapore airport - there's a play area for children with free wifi. It's the simple things in life.... :)

The stunning home of stylist Nathalie Schwer + give-away winner announcement

This space belongs to the stylist Nathalie Schwer and was shot by one of my favourite interior photographers Line Klein. Working in close collaboration with Line, Nathalie is a new force to be reckoned with in the Scandinavian interiors world. I absolutely love her home which was recently captured by Line for Elle Decoration DK in association with Mille Collin Flaherty.

Nathalie Schwer, Line Klein with kind permission. For Elle Decoration DK. 

This is one of my favourite spaces in a long time. I love the personal items including the coffee table books, ceramics and prints. And  of course the mid-century furniture. What a fab apartment?!

If you do one thing today it's pour yourself a cup of fresh coffee and take a peek at other Danish homes photographed by Line Klein here, here and here.

I do so love the Danish style, don't you?

Before we all head off for the weekend (yay!) I would also like to announce the winner of the St. Valentine's Day give-away  in association with fab online shop Self Packaging. Thank you so much for all the wonderful entries! The winner is (drum roll.....) Zdenka of blog Zdenin Draws. Congratulations! I will contact you via e-mail.

This Sunday my family and I are going to Thailand  for a break (exciting!). It's been a really tough week for various reasons so it comes at a great time. However, I'll still be blogging daily (I do love to blog, it gives me so much energy and that's definitely thanks to you - thank you!) so do stop back but bear with me in case I have problems with wifi!

Have a lovely weekend and see you Monday! 

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. 

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!