2014/08/07

In Copenhagen



You remember this stunning home?
I found a few more photos from other angles via Yellows'.

It seems that I cannot get enough of the combination design, vintage, art, graphical impression and colours in a happy mix.

To follow the inhabitant of this inspiring home, check out Handcraftedcph!
 
Photographer Pia Winther | Stylist Gitte Christensen

 
 

2014/07/12

Terrace and garden inspiration



Not spending much time inside right now. The weather is for once so hot that you hardly have time to do the dishes inside... Out, out, hurry, because we Scandinvians know that all at once it starts snowing again...So I just enjoy the summer months now and the free time. And of course, I am also dreaming of that perfect terrace and garden. Because the balcony is not very popular right now. Too hot! My pink flower is not feeling very well. Too much or too little water?

Above my best picks of terrace and garden inspiration. Which part do you like most?


5 Pyrus salicifolias | Weeping pears (silverpäron). Also called the olive trees of Scandinavia.
6 Eero Aarnio-inspired Bubble chair and reading corner (also when it rains!)



2014/07/06

Happy July

 


My vacation started yesterday!  Five weeks, wow, and the sunny and warm weather started on the very exact first day of it after a chilly June. I knew it!

Happy July!

Pictures | Pinterest
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2014/06/29

Aalto stool


 
I found this old beautiful bedroom photo when going through my inspiration folders. I am weak for all kinds of Artek stools and it seems that there are too many colours and different kinds of wood combinations nowadays for me being even able to choose one single favourite. I appreciate these traditional stools as they give that extra natural traditional feeling to the rooms.

The stool has many lookalikes on the market. How can you distinguish the copy from the real one? I guess you can try to test it by throwing it into the wall? A funny legend says that Aalto tested the stools' durability by throwing the prototypes along the floors in the factory. And I guess he was not satisfied until they did not break.


Picture Hemnet
Story Artek

 

2014/06/15

Flea market find


 
My latest flea market find. A ceramic vase that keeps my small pink flower alive.
  
Have a nice week!
 
 

2014/06/14

Painting

 
I found a painting that I made four years ago. The bright colours make me a lot happier and in fact it feels a little special to have a piece of your own mixed with the rest of your interior. I think I will leave it there now, on the sideboard. The mix and contrast of original and framed posters makes it more real and interesting.
 
Perhaps I would need to make more paintings soon. It is fun. But time-consuming.
 
 
Enjoy the Sunday!
 
 
See more usage possibilities here and here,
for the days without flowers.

 
 

2014/06/11

Alvar Aalto collection



It was so fun to come up with new usage purposes for the classic and iconic Aalto vase, produced by Iittala, that once set going I could not stop. This time I filled it with fruit, balcony flowers and candies. Once you start thinking outside the box there are so many possibilities to take the vase into use in your everyday life, also without flowers.
 
There are always funny anecdotes if you dig into the history of design items. Did you know that this vase was originally designed for a competition and named as “Eskimåkvinnans skinnbyxa” (the leather trousers of an Eskimo woman), meaning that the design is inspired by the dress of a Sami woman?
 
And apart from that, it is also called the Savoy vase as it was part of the furnishing in the luxurious restaurant Savoy, which opened in Helsinki in 1937.
 
We have many names for the things we like!
 
 

2014/06/09

Timeless design


I got a really nice styling challenge from Iittala to find out new ways to use the classic Aalto vase. We all know that the vases look gorgeous with flowers in them, but what if we want to take them into use in our everyday life, too, when the flowers have faded and we do not have any new ones? I eagerly took this into consideration as I love these iconic, beautiful vases!

The new colour for this year is called Rain (Sade in Finnish), and the colour is just as dark deep blue as the sky a rainy day. I think this vase and size is very suitable for your pencils and small items on your desk, keeping your make-up in order in the bathroom or serving blueberries or something else for breakfast or lunch. Hope you like the ideas! More pictures with a few other vases are coming soon, so stay tuned...!

Did you know that for making one single Aalto vase, seven glass professionals, twelve working phases and thirty working hours are needed?

 

2014/06/07

Flowers

 
Weekend is here and I have visited the flower shop. Seems that I cannot get enough there, so much nice stuff that I do not know what to choose. I want it all!  This time I was about to buy boxwood but the right size for my balcony was sold out. I have to wait...So this pot and flower and some other flowers and branches, too, followed me home. And the more I went out on the balcony, the more I started to picture one flower pot  here and one there and one boxwood here and one tree there, vegetables and herbs and yes, finally a complete garden in there...! Green everywhere! Oh... I have to get some sleep and calm down. I do not know where this interest in flowers and garden has come. It is new!
 
 
Have a nice weekend all!
 
 

2014/06/01

Hello June

 
Today's Pinterest inspiration.
 
Welcome summer!
 
 
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2014/05/20

Summer is here

 
 
Breathing in the summer...
 
All images in the mood board | Pinterest
 
 

2014/05/03

Sweet Saturday


You see. At my place cats and birds are best friends. I love my new poster from Aprill Aprill! It is made by talented Johanna who always inspires with her originality and creativity. I like her style!

On the balcony Eero Aarnio's Puppy is still waiting for some company. At least for some flowers...?

This sweet Saturday I have been to a spring concert with my mother. A choir was singing everything from Cohen to Mozart. And we enjoyed it!

 

2014/04/19

Green


 
 Inspired by nature. A green mood board.
My favourite seasons are here!
 
Pictures 

 

2014/04/18

Happy Easter

 
Happy Easter! I am busy eating chocolate, meeting family and friends and enjoying the free time. Here is a sneak peek from my shelf. I photographed a lot more but those went to the trash bin. Perhaps another day!

 

2014/04/13

The sunny side of life


The birds are singing and I have been thinking about how to furnish my balcony and outdoor areas in general. The ideal would, of course, be to have several groups around a house as none of the chairs really fill all purposes in one go, but if you cannot, it is already a lot trickier. I would like to be able to eat breakfast and lie down and sunbath (with legs and everything) as well as lean my head when sitting! And if you put also the criteria nice and comfortable to this group, you see what I mean. Here are at least some nice findings, if you reduce some demands.
 
And all lovely flowers. I would like to have a real mix of colourful flowers.
Nature's and summer's gift!
 
 
 
 
 

2014/04/05

Lamp love

 
Tom Dixon launches newcomers to the Beat collection in April.
Table and floor lamps.
 
Also the pedants will get a new shade - grey with silver plate inside.
 
I see a new hot trend coming... What do you say?
The black newcomers spoke to my heart.
 
The lights will be shown at this year's Salone Internazionale del Mobile
trade fair in Milan from 8 to 13th April.
 
 

2014/03/27

Blinded by the light

 
 
Sooo happy for the sunlight and that my holiday starts tomorrow!
My head is full of ideas and inspiration...
 
Good night!
Here comes a late mood board...
 
1-2-3-4-5
 
 

2014/03/18

On the menu

 
 
I wish I could order some inspiration and creativity from that menu!*
Because today I am just so tired...
 
A quick mood board with my new shoes as well as some colour + black and white inspiration.
 
I am thinking so much nowadays of what to start illustrating and how, but I never get it done.
Always something else on my mind. Hopefully soon!
Should I make more detailed illustrations or simply graphic ones?
 
The last picture illustrates that my spring holiday begins soon.
I saved my winter holiday for spring as it is much more fun to be outside then.
One week to go!
 
 
Good night fellows!
 
 
* something seems to have gone wrong with the menu writer's spelling...
we pretend we do not see it...
 
 

2014/03/09

All in the details

 
I have a new favourite blog.
Gunn Kristin takes the most amazing pictures!
Check out her blog and photographs here.
Tones of blue in fresh Scandinavian style!
 
Inspiring!
 
 
 

Blue porcelain

 
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Today I am inspired by old tableware. When I first saw blue porcellain on the House of Philia blog in January I put my head on the side and thought... No, I do not like this. But how come? You see it for a while in the blogosphere and suddenly you find yourself looking for blue porcellain on the flea market. I would not buy any new pieces as I think this is at least for me a temporary fad, but a cake plate or something from the flea market would surely follow me home. This time I did not find the correct pattern, though, only other things in blue porcelain, that is, a plate from the Norwegian ceramist Kari Nyquist (see below) and... note to myself. Do not think too long. Of course someone else found the hiding-place under the other ugly plates and it was gone. Only afterwards I realized that this plate was made by a real known Norwegian ceramist.

If you like newer patterns, the plates for Arabia's 140th anniversary are a good choice, too. I only now realized that the "sun plate" that I also admired here, is now sold out. What a shame...

What are your opinions of old tableware? Do you also come to think of old memories, like grandma's plates with pattern? Blue, green and brown plates? I just picture them in a lilac arbour on a sunny summer day. I have to find a cake plate!

Now it is Sunday and I will be busy doing nothing. (Listen here. And...I thought that this song was much more modern than the other one that won). Which one do you like?


Have a nice Sunday!
What are your plans for the day?
Arabia 140th anniversary and Kari Nyquist plate


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