The perfect items for a calm zen-like home

Don't you love it when you're on the hunt for a design piece and then find out it's actually a readily available high street find? This year I've had the privilege of spending a few days at the IKEA headquarters. I must say, the design team have really come up trumps this year and it was pretty hard to focus on the new upcoming collections - all I could think was 'I need these items in my life'!  My two favourites being the SINNERLIG collection which has been designed in collaboration with the talented  Ilse Crawford and focuses on natural materials such as cork, bamboo and cotton to create a zen feel. And the second; SKOGSTA is a collection of classic kitchen and dining items made of solid acacia wood designed to age gracefully. See you in line?!

My favourite item? That daybed!...I also love the cork work stool, which would be perfect for the long days I'm spending at my desk writing right now.

How about you?

Both collections will finally hit stores as early as next month in some countries ...see you there?!

If you're after more calm home inspiration today I love this, this and this space. And relax!

Have a lovely day!

PS This is not a sponsored post, I just love these collections and thought you may feel inspired by them too! 

Black, white and pastel inspiration from Norsu

Oooo, it's a lovely day here in Sweden. I'm feeling especially happy as I'm enjoying it from a cafe by the sea.   I may be celebrating my day in the sunshine but there's someone else that is celebrating a far greater achievement - Norsu Interiors is celebrating it's first birthday. Norsu (meaning 'elephant' in Finnish) is an online shop founded by three mothers who realised they had a common appreciation for all things beautiful and Scandinavian (hang on, I recognise that, don't you?!). The Australian brand is opening a physical store in Melbourne in October but for those of us far away, we'll be admiring your inspirational lifestyle images from a far.

Styling Julia Green, Photography Armelle Habib via Decordots with thanks

I spy: the Pia Wallen Cross Blanket, Leather Strap hangers by Mathilde Clahr (also featured here), Some fabulous prints and items by Hay and Ferm Living. Pretty much everything you see is available in Norsu interiors.

I actually have a little exciting news and something to celebrate myself too! I have just launched my own GREAT.LY boutique. For those of you who are not familiar with GREAT.LY, it is an online marketplace which connects beautiful hand-picked items by 'tastemakers' made by 'makers'. I had so much fun selecting the items for my boutique but my favourite picks (right now, at least) are the neon pompom geometric cushion (perfect for my little girls room?!), a cognac tote (yes please) and the overlapping circles print. Thank you to the GREAT.LY team for inviting me to be involved, I love to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in the design world.

Have a lovely sunny day!

PS This weekend I'll be running a give-away, I can't disclose the prize right now but I think you're going to love it. Make sure you pop by on Saturday or Sunday for your chance to win!

Quirky interior inspiration for the weekend

I do love to show home tours (you can tell by the hundreds of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and International homes in my blog archive!) but just occasionally I come across images from a company which are so beautiful and inspiring that I can't resist sharing them here too. Take Olsson & Jensen's autumn/winter 2014 lifestyle images for example. Olsson & Jensen is a Swedish company, based up the road in Helsingborg, selling vintage furniture and items for the home in Sweden and beyond. They also seem to be specialists in creating incredible spaces! There's something unique and quirky about all of these rooms - whether it's the mix of contemporary and old, over-sized pendant lamps or oil painting gallery walls. I'm taking my inspiration from here this weekend.

Olsson & Jensen

I would love to re-create the sitting room in my home!Anything in particular you'll be adding to your Pinterest boards?

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

A very cool Toronto apartment

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful weekend? Did you get a chance to enter the give-away to win the t'shirt soft bed linen yet? This fabulous Victorian Toronto apartment belongs to John Baker and Juli Daoust and is located directly above their beautiful shop Mjölk (meaning 'milk' in Swedish). -how's that for a commute?! You can definitely see John and Juli's love of all things Scandinavian and Japanese shining through and I also like the brown accents they've used throughout. I once featured their cottage on here which is equally beautiful but in a different way.

Johan Baker and Juli Daoust of Mjölk, Featured in Dwell. Via Miss Moss

*sigh* such a perfect way to brighten up a Monday morning don't you think? Is there anything you love in particular about this space?

I'm all over that wall of dried wild flowers (could this image be from their shop?), I wonder if this can be re-created as a DIY project? It would be so fun for spring.

By the way, I came across a competition over at FinnStyle at the weekend asking people to choose which Marimekko pattern they like the most. They're now down to the final four and would love some help choosing the winner, one lucky participant could win a 100 dollar gift card for their efforts (please let it be me....or you...or me....!)

Have a lovely Monday!

PS Thank you to Miss Moss and Dwell for the inspiration. 

Splashes of yellow with pretty pastels

There's no denying that Muuto is one of my favourite Nordic brands. They are always spot on with the latest trends, and I love the designs and colours. This selection of images were styled for Muuto by my neighbour's company All The Way To Paris (ATWTP) (you can see my neighbour Petra's beautiful former home here). I'd like a new house just so that I can buy the huge pink Muuto sofa (do you think my husband would agree to that?!).

For more pastel inspiration you could try my 'decorating with pastels label'....I love pale pink with yellow it's such a great way to update the home for spring don't you think?

For other homes with splashes of yellow (the colour de jour it seems) you might want to check out this and this home.

Would you dare go for a bold sofa?

Have a lovely day!

A Malmö home with a touch of brass

I do love to come across homes from here in Southern Sweden. This one is currently for sale through Bo-laget (come and join the Malmö massive!). Decorated in monochrome tones the apartment is a real case of spot the designer piece....with a few real favourites of mine too!

Bo-laget via 79 ideas

I spy the Eames DSR chairs in black (15% off with MYSCAN), Wishbone chair, Tom Dixon bronze copper Shade light, Knoll diamond armchair (both on sale! :)

The apartment itself has beautiful bones, and although I live in a house I often dream about moving into one of the beautiful old apartments inthe centre of town (is the grass always greener?!).

Other beautiful homes from Bo-laget here, here and here. Which one is your favourite?

Have a wonderful weekend! 

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....

The 2014 romantic pastel home

It seems like pastels are back in a big way for 2014. My personal take is 'pastels with a romantic touch'. I came across these inspirational images from H&M Home and think they really hit the mark.  Do you have an H&M home near you? We don't have one in Southern Sweden sadly but there's one over the bridge in Copenhagen so I always take the time to stop by when I'm in town. Last time I picked up this moss coloured knit throw for my bedroom. Seeing these pictures make me feel perhaps it's time for another visit?!

H&M Home via Flying House

If you fancy a little more pastel inspiration I love this Swedish home and this home of a French fashion designer.

Are you a pastel person? I'm definitely more pastels then bold colours although I do sometimes think I should throw in an element of surprise like a bright yellow chair!

Incidentally this is not a sponsored post, I just happen to love the H&M Home lifestyle images, how about you?!

Have a lovely day!

The beautiful apartment of a Swedish interior designer

Hej du! I'm blogging from further up the coast today in Höganäs (home to Lily & Oscar (remember this beautiful cottage?) and Magasin 36 which I fully intend on visiting!). But before I do I had to share this incredible home with you which is currently for sale. It's owned by Swedish interior designer Elin Kickén (and I've heard Instagram extroadinaire (@elinkicken) and teeming with fabulous pieces. Take a peek....

Elin Kicken, Vastenhem via Husligheter and Stil Inspiration with thanks. 

I love her style, how about you?

I spy (where to start?!!) - well you could do well to start at Lotta Agaton's pop-up shop where many of the accessories can be found including the black and white prints, the Hay wall calendar and diamond light bulbs. For other items: Muuto The Dots Coat Hanger, Tom Dixon Copper Shade light and etch tea light (Nest). The Eames DAW, Eames RAR, Thonet 209, Thonet 214, (Design Collectors: 15% discount with code MYSCAN).  Kubus bowl By Lassen. Linen bedding from The Linen Works (I love the Cassis colour). Long-haired sheepskin chair cushions from here. What have I missed?

Feel like looking at a few other monochrome spaces? Try this, this and this one!

Oh and don't forget to enter the give-away if you haven't already :)

Have a lovely day and happy halloween Mwah, ha ha haaaa!