Good Read

My Sister-In-Law sent me this article this morning, perfect timing.  Getting out the door every morning running no less than 10 minutes behind is a small victory every day. This morning that feat proved to be even harder with a cranky, cranky, colored ALL over the wall toddler.  Good thing I have pictures like this saved on my phone that make me instantly forget I aged 5 years in 1 hour.

Article "To parents of small children: Let me be the one who says it out loud"

The alternative garden shed

How about this for an alternative garden shed?! So much fun! I don't think I'd ever go back into the house!

Via

Could you imagine having this at the end of your garden or perhaps as a weekend get-away?!

Today is the last day of our holiday in Mallorca where I've been staying with extended family in a finca over looking the tramuntana mountains, so beautiful! I shall miss this island and my wonderful family.

Next week the blog will be back to normal with daily home tours. I hope you've enjoyed the alfresco inspiration week as much as I have and got a few ideas to spice up your outdoor space? Art in the garden perhaps? Or a refreshing outdoor shower?! On Monday I'll be announcing the winner of the fouta de val give-away, so if if you haven't already, stop by and enter here.

Have a lovely weekend all!

Eating alfresco

It's impossible not to enjoy eating outdoors. Whether it's the secluded picnic for two or a party with friends on a colourful mix match of chairs, leaning precariously on the unlevelled grass (see the beautiful cottage interior here).....I'm sure I'd be smiling throughout any of these lunches. The wine glasses might have something to do with it too....can I join? 

Pictures 1,2,3 Sharyn Cairns

Jessica Helgersson

Pictures 5, 6 and 7 Jose Villa

What's your favourite way to eat outdoors?

PS As you know I'm currently on  beautiful Mallorca for a week visiting family. Last night we broke away from the tapas and ate fish and chips on the beach with a glass of cava. It was lovely sitting watching the sunset over the bobbing yachts in the distance while the girls played in the sand.

If One Space Is Good, Two Is Better.....Right?

For the time being I have decided to take on a second space in conjunction with my current space (#15) in Interiors and Antiques.  Another title for this post could be, "The One Where She Lost Her Mind".  Craziness, a whole other level of craziness.  The second space is in Interiors @ Pepper Place.  I am still getting moved in but so far, so good.  I am not sure I will be able to keep both places up but I am excited to give it a try, at least for 6 months.  

If you are in Pepper Place, especially for the Farmer's Market please come by!

Showering alfresco

What would an alfresco themed blog week be without a nod to the outdoor shower? I've always wanted one and have visions of going for a morning swim at the beach before padding back to my summer cottage through the dunes and showering away the salt water and sand in the garden. I'd then start preparing the long lunch with family and friends....carried away...me?!

Hus o Hem

Bo Bedre

Seth Smoot

Via

Do you have an outdoor shower? And let's be realistic here.....would you use one if you did? I'd love to say I would, but I'd also like to be the type of girl who takes a morning dip in the sea no matter the weather......

PS sorry if some of the credits are not accurate, not always easy via Pinterest. Feel free to jump in!

Garden art

Why restrict art to the indoors? (actually I can think of a few reasons....). I do love how this piece adds to the garden though, very cool! 

Via

Would you hang art in the garden?

It's Here

Summer is here.  This weekend was the official start of longer days, heat to great you when you walk outside, the pool, cookouts, flip flops...watermelon.  I am a summer baby.  I am as happy in the water and scorching heat as any other place and time of year.    While unfortunately summer does not bring with it a summer break I am going to take additional time off to be with Henry.  I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  I especially want to say thank you to those men and women who have and are bravely serving our country.  You deserve more than I could ever write here.

Give-away! Win a fabulous fouta

Since spring is officially in the air (here in Europe at least!) I have teamed up with Fouta De Val to offer you the chance to win a fabulous fouta. Fouta's are made in Tunisia from 100% woven cotton using traditional techniques. They measure 190 cm x 100 cm and are so versatile they can be used as a pretty tablecloth in the garden, a cool bed spread, a light towel for days out in the archepelego or a scarf for cool summer evenings. Choose from a whole range of spring colours or stripes or mix and match for a unique style. I'm sure you'll love foutas as much as I do!

The company has such great ethics too - foutas are more and more rare and out competed by mass-produced varieties of poor quality. By purchasing a Fouta de Val you're supporting the local craft tradition in Tunisia and the livelihood of many local crafts men and women. In addition Foute de Val pays a contribution to Sweden's Save The Children organisation for each piece from the Mahdia and Carthage range sold. We like!

 To win a fouta all you need to do is:

- Visit the Fouta De Val home page and choose your favourite fouta
- Leave a comment below stating which fouta you would most like to win and why

This competition is open to everyone, where ever you are! Please be sure to enter by Midnight GMT Sunday 2nd June 2013 so you don't miss out. The winner will be announced here on Tuesday 4th June. Spread the word! :)

Quiet Time

Hello Friday

 Hello Friday, so good to see you.  It has been on wild and crazy week.  I am beginning to feel like I say that every week but this week I mean it.  I am a planner.  A logistics queen.  I start each day with the schedule down to the last detail- perfectly planned out.  It seems though that each and every day the world has something else planned.  But I survived and today starts four days off with my boys.  I think I am actually going to delete my work e-mail off my phone until Tuesday to help my mini stay-cation.  

 (Henry discovered a new FAVORITE toy- fabric books, go figure)

Don't worry though, not everyone in our household has had such a hard week.

I hope you have a wonderful, safe and peaceful weekend.

*not sure why these pictures are stretching but like I mentioned above-nothing ever goes as planned.

A pretty Stockholm apartment

Friday people - woohooo! Here's an apartment in Stockholm (to complete the Swedish house tour week!). Recently sold, the home was renovated by previous owner Pella Lundquist. The are many beautiful elements but to me the dining space is the area which stands out with the wishbone chairs and dining table. What about you?



Skandia via Emma's Design



I'm sooo excited as we're off on holiday tomorrow to visit my sister and her family. I love visiting the island of Mallorca its really beautiful and offers so much to see and do. And with any luck it'll be warm and sunny too! Have you been?

I'll still be blogging while I'm away. Since I'm hoping I'll be spending a lot of time outdoors I'm planning an alfresco inspired blog week kicking off with an exciting give-away on Monday so don't forget to stop by!

Have a lovely weekend all and see you Monday!

A Swedish apartment with bold tribal prints

I love this apartment. You can see an underlying Swedish influence with the monochrome theme throughout, mid century furniture and Scandinavian designer pieces which are so often featured on this blog but it also stands out with the addition of the bold tribal prints in the sitting room and bedroom. This is a great reminder that an interior update is easy to achieve by adding textiles in the form of cushions and throws. Oh and I also love the robot collection on the string shelving!

Stadshem

 What do you like best about this apartment?

Thanks La Maison D'Anna G and Feel Inspired for sharing these images in the first place!

Sense of space

Swedish brand Asplund has just released these inspiration images from their latest collection 'sense of space'. So I'll give you just that to take a look through!

I love Asplund products, they are simple yet beautiful. I especially love their rugs, perhaps I should get something with a little colour for my sitting room? What do you think?

An exciting edition to the my scandinavian home sponsors today: online shop Kathapult, founded by Katharina Berggreen. I know you'll love her prints which include the wonderful Single Diamond poster prints and very cool knit pattern postcards, among other things!

Hope you all have a lovely day!

A pretty, white Swedish apartment

Hello people. If your spirits need lifting this week, this Gothenburg apartment is like a breath of fresh air. Of course it's been styled but in such a pretty way and just look how much art can do to a space?

Alvhem Mäleri

What do you like about this apartment?

London friends...The Clerkenwell Design Week starts today, it's free and a square mile of street carnival!  If you're going a long stop by and check out The Reclaimed Flooring Company (located on the first floor of the 'Open Studios' in the Root 5 collective).

Have a lovely afternoon!

A Different Kind Of Art

A while back a client asked me to do something with a collection of antique barn hinges her father had given her.  She was speaking my language.  The original thought was to make a collage on the wall itself but I was drawn to the idea of placing them on a single piece- mostly for the wall's sake.  

 I will tell y'all this was a LABOR.of.LOVE.  As I said on Instagram, emphasis on LOVE.  I will say, it has been a while since something has kept me up at night but this did.  The sheer weight of the hinges gave me fits.  If you were to turn this board around you would be astonished by the supports.  

I have to thank my installer who I called on multiple occasions to ask him if he was sure this crazy concoction  could be hung.  He reminded me we had hung much heavier....and crazier in the past.  

Along the way- board created, now onto the order and how to attach.

He was right but still, there was something about this piece that had really gotten to me.  I think it was a.) I love anything old and interesting- hinges?!?!?! yes please.  b.) It is sentimental and I am sap. c.) I have the utmost respect for this client and appreciate her faith in my creative process.

There was one more piece that was too large to fit so it is on another wall.  The rest of the space is looking good as well, including the floor.  Pictures coming....one day.