January 29, 2014, 2:52 pm
In true LET LIV style, the well-loved NZ online store has hit the ground running this year already, with exciting new arrivals, and more on the way! Kate & Kate, the newest addition immediately caught my eye with a range of scrumptious blankets for the home.
The brainchild of an Australian sister-in-law duo, the blankets are knitted from the softest breathable cotton and are free from harmful substances. Available in a gorgeous range of colours and geometric patterns, the fresh contemporary designs make them hard to resist.
Created with flexibility in mind, their size makes them perfect for babies, children and adults. For more information and to shop the range, pop over here.
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January 30, 2014, 2:53 pm
I was recently asked by fellow blogger and dear friend Mel Chesneau of Armoire, Pegs & Casserole to answer a few questions about Pinterest. As a Sydney girl currently residing in NZ with her French husband and three gorgeous little children, Mel shares invaluable tips and ideas for home decorating and cooking. A constant source of new discoveries and ideas to enhance the way you live, I love Mel's beautifully natural writing style and gorgeous photography. She also interviews some amazingly talented creative people, so I'm honoured to be featured on her blog today. Of course, I also love pinning, so it was a fun topic to talk about! I'd love to invite you over there for a read, and hear your thoughts.A favourite moodboard from last year, curated from my Pinterest boardsHave a lovely weekend x.
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February 2, 2014, 1:20 pm
An accomplished creator of holistically designed spaces, Danish designer Johannes Torpe started his own design business at just fourteen years of age. By seventeen, he was one of the most sought-after lighting designers in Denmark. Having gone from entertaining large audiences on the stage as a musician, to designing multi-faceted interior spaces, it was very fitting when he was chosen as the first ever Creative Director of luxury electronic brand Bang & Olufsen. Known for his high-octane energy and eclectic personality, Johannes divides his time between his role with B & O and his own personal design work at his studios in Denmark, China and Italy. Johannes very kindly took time out from his busy schedule to answer these questions for us today. Hugely talented, what shines through is his intelligence and humour, and I'm sure like me, you'll find his story so far, truly inspiring. ![]()
Bang & Olufsen Store Concept Design, CopenhagenTell us a bit about your upbringing, your time as a musician, and the path that led you to where you are today.When I was a child I was always seen carrying a drumstick in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. It all came about in a very natural way – my mum was a painter and my dad was a musician. I grew up in a hippy commune in north Denmark where creativity was a huge part of life. Showing talent in both drumming and designing, I wished to continue down that path, but it quickly became apparent that the countryside did not have much to offer a kid with such an abundance of energy and zest for life. The city (Copenhagen) was the place for me to develop my skills. My design career began as a lighting designer for concerts and smaller festivals. Word quickly spread and soon I was responsible for all of the stage lights at all the larger festivals around Denmark. Gradually I began designing interiors, and in 1997 my first big project- the nightclub 'NASA' in Copenhagen was launched (no pun intended). Meanwhile I was still making music with my brother; DJ and music producer Rune RK.South Beauty Restaurants, Taipei
Your Copenhagen Design Studio has been in operation for 16 years, with an expansion in recent years to China and into Italy. How did this growth come about, and how do you manage your time between the different studios?Another big passion of mine, besides designing and music, is travelling. I am incredibly intrigued by different cultures and the people that occupy them; I believe there is so much to be learnt from them. I am especially interested in developing an understanding of a particular culture and translating that into design. These, for me, have always been the ideas that break boundaries, not only within the sphere of the brand, but also the way in which cultural dispositions shape the nature of a design experience. The private rooms in the Chinese culture are one example of a design element that has been created through a need within this culture. The Chinese area very private people, particularly when it comes to business, so this design is a direct result of their lifestyle and habits.In 2011, after having worked in China for quite some time, I decided to open a Chinese studio in Beijing. The existence of a native Chinese speaking team was truly game-changing for us; it enabled a much smoother communication process with our Chinese clients. Neither of the international studios would have come into existence without my overseas adventures. They were born through the connections and friends I made along the way.I have some very talented co-workers in each office whom I trust in completely and rely on their skills to execute and develop the projects. My role is to art direct and curate these projects. The depth in which I get into the project varies from client to client, but I am involved in and overseeing every project that leaves our hands.![]()
Lauras Bakery | Branded SpaceYou specialise in spatial design, or 'branded space'. What exactly does this term mean?The work we do in the studio is prominently focused on branding, and creating personal experiences for each unique brand that approaches us. Brands are like people; they possess an individuality yet still want to appeal to the masses. A 'branded space' incorporates the design of multiple dimensions and elements, which together provide holistic sensory experiences for the consumer. It is a synergy of many of the different design fields; graphic design, interior design, furniture design, product design and architecture, and evolves through the profound understanding of the consumer experience from beginning to end.A branded space is the creation of an elevated experience of a brand. It is a space constituted of conceptual dispositions that reflect a particular symbology and tell a particular story. The result is a holistically designed environment. It moves away from the representation of a brand as merely a symbol, to that which is much more complex- a dynamic, interactive, intuitively driven experience. It is a place where the brand lives and breathes, where it touches people, and it’s ever-changing nature evolves in accordance to the subjective responses of the user.Bang & Olufsen Store Concept Design, Copenhagen
How does this fit in with your product design, and collaboration with such brands as Haworth and HAY?We almost always create custom designed furniture and products for our branded spaces. This is something we believe in, to create all elements from scratch and ensure that the space is truly one of a kind. If given the opportunity to create the 'perfect' chair or lamp for a space, the total experience of the design will inevitably be stronger. In these instances however, we have found it to be a shame to only have these pieces produced in such small quantities, which is why over the years we have also collaborated with production companies to sell our products to the end consumer. This specific division of the company is actually one we will be focusing on more in 2014. We aim to specifically develop our product and design portfolio, and have created a whole new department within the company in order to realise this goal.Johannes Torpe
What branded space or product design projects have you most enjoyed working on, and why?I have different favourite projects for many different reasons but I will choose to highlight the most recent; The Bang & Olufsen store concept design. Being part of B&O has been a fantastic journey, which thankfully is not nearly over yet. I was hired as their Creative Director and that has, amongst many other things, lead to the redesign of their retail experience. We are currently in the process of rolling-out the new retail experience worldwide, and will continue to do so over the next two years. The company truly has some exciting times ahead and with such positive results so far, I think we have the ability to effectively re-position B&O and breathe some fresh air into the eighty-eight year old brand.Bang & Olufsen Store Concept Design, Copenhagen
Tell us about your role as the first ever creative director of Bang & Olufsen. You must be incredibly busy! How do you juggle this job with running your design studios?I have cloned myself in a Russian laboratory. There was no other way that it possible for me to be in so many places at the same time (haha). No, as I said before, I always surround myself with the most competent people within my studio, and this certainly also applies with B&O. Without a huge team effort and cross-collaborations between the our two companies, this would not be possible. My role in the company gives me the opportunity to explore the essence of beautiful sound in creating magical consumer experiences. I am basically overseeing all of the creative decisions, processes and strategies within the company. I commend B&O for their openness toward this change in the company's long-adhered to structure, with a role that has never existed before. They have accommodated me as a part of their brand, and not just a designer. I have had a life-long passion for this brand so it’s a title that I wear proudly.Bang & Olufsen Store Concept Design, Copenhagen
What have been your career highlights to date?The first is the design of NASA nightclub, it was highly coveted in books and won several design awards. Next was my design debut in China with SUBU restaurant and our year-long collaboration with the restaurant chain South Beauty Group, which lead to the opening of our Beijing office in 2011. In between this we have been working on a portable laptop table produced by Haworth. When Apple store released it for sale there under the name My Table, I knew that product design has a huge relevance in this company. Then there is my role as Creative Director for Bang & Olufsen which was announced two and a half years ago. A life-long goal was realised for me in that moment. Finally, last year AD China put us on their list of the 100 best design companies in the world. You also carry out keynote speeches at design events around the world. Where have you been most recently and what did you talk about?This month I have three speeches at different events and conferences. It is everything from speaking at the Danish Design and Architecture school for their orientation speech, speaking about branded space and experience design at Architect @ Work in London, to sharing the retail experience of the new Bang & Olufsen concept at an industry conference. What I enjoy about the speeches is spreading the word about the current nature of Danish design. Denmark have a very strong design heritage; Fritz Hansen, Børge Mogensen, Wegner and Georg Jensen, but my passion lies in more current design. Don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for these giants. However I also believe that it is the new generation of Danish designers’ most important task to show the rest of the world that we can do just as well and that Denmark, design wise, has kept evolving and remains at the forefront of design worldwide.Paris Texas Shop | Branded Space
Where you do draw inspiration from?I suppose my inspiration is drawn from random parts of my mind, which have been formed over time through my creative up-bringing and my constant overseas travels. Experiences inspire me, people inspire me. In other instances I also draw inspiration from a fairly pragmatic point of view. I like to turn mundane experiences in the daily grind into something extra-ordinary by imagining ways in which it could be improved in my head. Often these crazy ideas are the ones to hold on to and remember.What are you currently working on?We are working on a wide range of projects in all studios and at Bang & Olufsen. However a lot of it is obviously classified and therefore 'hush-hush'. It is a little like working at NASA! We cannot reveal anything before we are ready to open a new store or reveal a new product design. Currently, we have a lot in the pipeline, but nothing to share with you without getting myself into some serious trouble! Well, I guess I could tell you… but then I would have to kill you (haha).Agnes Cupcakes, Copenhagen
If there was one piece of advice you would give to aspiring designers, what would it be?Our purity lies in our originality. I read that on a teabag once! Honestly though, don’t get too engrossed with mainstream trends that represent the commercial design industry. Make sure your product has the potential be sold to an end-consumer and not just a little group of 'feinschmeckers'. The business case of a design is just as important as the originality, combine these two and you are in a very good position.![]()
Bang & Olufsen Store Concept Design, Copenhagen
Thank you so much Johannes!
Have a great start to the week everyone, and be sure to check out the Johannes Torpe website and follow along on Facebook.
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February 3, 2014, 4:49 pm
I first discovered the European homewares brand Serax, when I came across a range of gorgeous designs by French ceramic artist Cathérine Lovatt. In addition to running her own studio, Cathérine works as a freelance ceramicist for Serax. After quite literally becoming obsessed with her unique range of tableware and candleholders (which you would've seen from my recent wishlists), I knew I had to get my hands on some. Arriving recently, all the way from the lovely J.Levau Shop in Sweden, I have been having so much fun with these products. If you follow me on Instagram, you would've noticed them popping up in all my photos!
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The candleholders have been moved around from the String Shelf to the dining table to my bedside table, while the cute little bowl is great for breakfast. I also think it would make a very nice plant holder. Currently being used to store our Nespresso capsules, alongside the espresso cups in the kitchen, it's fair to say I need more of these in every size! For the purpose of this post, I've styled everything on my String Shelf, because really, what better place is there to showcase such lovely things?
I love the distinctive shape of these pieces, as well as the matt texture of the ceramic. Finished in muted white and grey colours, they transfer easily from room to room. I've also since discovered that Serax produce a huge range of homewares, so I've started collecting a few more bits and pieces. The pyramid shaped Fuji Vase by Serax is also from J.Levau Shop, and in addition to this lovely dark grey, comes in a rose pink colour. Also on my wishlist, in case you're wondering!
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The Calebas vase (on the top shelf) is by the Dutch artist Bart van Didden for Serax. I love the organic shape of his pieces. The matt white colour blends in beautifully with the the others. A touch of glass completes my current collection, thanks to the Edison light-bulb shaped vase, designed by Catherine Grandidier for Serax. While it can sit flat, I love it placed on its side. These two vases are from the recently re-opened Nest store in Newton, Auckland, who I was thrilled to discover stock a wide range of Seraxproducts. I'm hoping they will bring in the Cathérine Lovatt range soon, otherwise I'll be shipping some more in myself. Now that I've had a taste, I can't stop!
To see the full range of Serax products, take a look here.
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February 4, 2014, 1:52 pm
The wonderful thing about building our own home, has been the opportunity to start from scratch with the interior decorating. Achieving the pared-back Scandi style I'd dreamt of for so long, has been a dream come true. Of course, you don't need to start from scratch to achieve a similar look, and in fact combining vintage pieces with some fresh, affordable finds can produce a really fun, eclectic result. I know that the term eclectic can bring about visions of clashing styles and clutter, however I like to think of it as simply mixing the old with the new, and ultimately creating a home with soul.
Just this morning, while checking into some of my favourite Swedish real estate sites, I came across a great example. A new listing on Fantastic Frank, this home features a laid back eclectic style, without being too 'fussy'.
If you're renovating an older home, ripping up carpet to reveal natural wooden flooring and painting the interior white can work wonders. Minimal styling allows the original details of an older home to shine through. In this case the high ceilings, beams and French style doors.
It looks like the owners have sourced some great second-hand pieces of furniture, such as the dining table and chairs, which have been painted in different colours. The simple black pendant light creates the perfect finishing touch.
Adding to the fun, relaxed style of the light filled, open plan apartment are the colourful accents, floor cushions and picture wall.
The striped bedding, and simple workspace make the bedroom a standout for me. I love the black trestle table and felt memo board. See the full house tour here. The latest issue of Adore Home, the budget edition, features another great example of how to achieve a simple, Scandi style without breaking the bank. This time in a modern home. The owner of the lovely new Sydney apartment, Trista Wilks is actually a bank manager, so she knows a thing or two about money and how to save it!
To see how Trista has cleverly mixes vintage pieces with gorgeous new buys, check out the latest issue, for free! In addition to more lovely homes and interior inspiration, there is a fantastic section on budget buys. The Scandi Scene featuring buys under $50, is a must read!
Adore Home photo credits: Trista's home, images courtesy of Hannah Blackmore and product page image courtesy of The Design Villa
We are lucky to have another public holiday this week in NZ, with tomorrow being Waitangi Day, so I will see you back here on Friday. x
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February 6, 2014, 1:53 pm
Over the summer holidays, I decided to make some changes to my office. I felt that both the moodboard and shelves could do with an update. To see how it was before, take a look here.
Having worked from a laptop for such a long time, more and more I was finding that the small screen just wasn't cutting it. It had also been dying a slow death for some time. A couple of break downs at the start of the year, and I knew it was finally time to invest in the iMac I'd been hankering for. Needless to say I'm loving it!
The beautiful Illustration was a gift from Nynne Rosenvinge, whose new Limited Edition Series I wrote about here. As soon as it arrived I raced off to the framers and knew that it would be perfect for my office. I got the Hay Notebook that was on my January Wishlist, from the lovely webshop Maison d'Anna G.
For my new moodboard, I've used a beautiful marble board I picked up from The Homestore. I'm sure one day I will use it as a platter on my dining table, but for now I think it works well in my office! Inspired by Riikka of Weekday Carnival, I made the paper fold from an old book, following this DIY tutorial. It makes a great card holder! The Serax Fuji Vase is from J.Levau Shop.
Next on the list? A new chair!
Have a lovely weekend everyone. x
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February 9, 2014, 11:13 am
Launched just last week, by husband and wife team Daniel and Marce Marshall, The Foxes Den is a new online store based out of Christchurch, NZ. Home to Mr and Mrs Fox and their two cubs, you will find a carefully curated collection of functional, everyday objects for the home. Inspired by the famous quote of William Morris "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful" Marce has searched the globe for products that are well-made, classic in design and where possible, crafted by hand.
Judging by the international brands on offer, some of which are new to the NZ market, the Fox family have exquisite taste. Design Fürs Heim is by talented German architect, Maike Timmermann, who is set on proving that pieces made with creativity, clever design and a personal touch don't have to cost a fortune.
Iris Hantverk began as a small brush manufacturer in the 1900s, in Stockholm. Every brush is still made by hand according to an old Swedish tradition.
The inspiration from Mr Fox comes from Marce's great grandfather. Even though she never met him, she would often hear stories of how precise and detailed he was. His garden was neatly trimmed and lawns mowed. He was a true gentleman, slightly gruff, a bit grumpy but he had a heart of gold. Mrs Fox is based on a lady still alive today, who Marce greatly admires. Although she will remain anonymous, I've been told her home is beautiful, relaxed and nurturing. She lets her cubs run through the house, look for worms in the garden, and help her bake cookies. While she occasionally cringes at the mess, she still remembers to relax and let the cubs expand their minds, all while keeping her home tidy, organised and clean! And who are the cubs? Marce and Daniel's own two rascals!I'd heard great thing about the range of BONDI WASH products so when Marce kindly sent me some of the BONDI WASH Bench Spray (along with a beautiful Turkish Hand Towel), I was eager to put it to the test. Bearing in mind that I'm quite particular about what I use on my bench top surfaces in both the kitchen and bathroom, this is hands down a winner. Look at it shine! Like all the BONDI WASH products, the spray is plant based, non-toxic and bio-degradable. Combining anti-bacterial power with the fragrance of Australian bush oils and natural ingredients, the spray is gentle but effective. Available in three unique fragrances, I got to sample the Tasmanian Pepper & Lavender. Marce warned me it would be addictive, and she's right. I can't get enough!
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Atlas Linen is a range of beautiful 100% pure stonewashed linen from France, including duvet covers, sheet sets and comforters. All made from pure natural flax fibre and available in four colours, choose from pure white, dove grey, natural and soft taupe.
I've picked out a few more favourites from The Foxes Den.
Links below imagesThis is just a taste! Lots more stock is on the way, and the range will continue to evolve, so make sure you pop over to The Foxes Den, and sign up to receive notifications and special offers.
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February 10, 2014, 1:49 pm
Last year I was contacted by Swedish interior magazine Rum Hemma. Much to my delight they had discovered my blog and wanted to interview me. The questions were great in that they got me thinking about interior design here in NZ, and trends for 2014. I was also asked my opinion of Nordic design, which I'm always happy to talk about!
It was exciting to receive the magazine in the post, all the way from Stockholm. Despite being in Swedish, the images throughout are inspiring, and of course seeing myself in there was a buzz! Even more so, by being in the company of well-known blogger and author Holly Becker of Decor8 fame, whose interview is on the previous page. You may have seen this photo I posted on Instagram yesterday.
The interview is due to be posted on the Rum Hemma website, which of course can be translated, but I thought I'd share the full interview with you today, in English!
How popular is interior and design in your country?The majority of my blog followers are from New Zealand, and judging by other top interior and design publications, both online and in print, there is huge interest in both areas. For a small and relatively young country, we have so much to offer, and I'm constantly blown away by the talent of both established and emerging designers. Our architecture is among the best in the world, and I think that the interior design is just as impressive.
What trends will we see in New Zealand in 2014?More marble, metallic (especially brass and copper) and geometric forms. We'll see a lot of natural linens and textiles. Colours will be inspired by nature, with earthy greys, dusky pinks and muted shades of blue and green.
Can you describe the New Zealand interior style?NZ has a unique interior style that celebrates its heritage (Pacific and European influences) mixed with modern elements and plenty of creativity! Our laid-back lifestyle, love of entertaining and the outdoors, together with our beautiful natural surroundings play a big part in how we decorate our homes. Natural materials, pattern and texture are popular. While there are those like me, who prefer monochrome palettes and a pared-back aesthetic, many New Zealanders love to embrace colour.
What is your opinion about Nordic design?I have a huge appreciation for Nordic design and the way it mixes simple clean lines, with functionality. I love brands such as Muuto and Hay and I find Nordic style homes really beautiful. Uncluttered and unpretentious, the addition of natural materials such as wood, wool and leather provides warmth and texture.
Which is the best decor store in your city?It's hard to choose just one! Right now I'm loving Indie Home Collective, a new interior and flower store with a unique Scandi-boho vibe.
What interior item is a must have in your home?Feature lighting. We have a great mix including Muuto Unfold Pendants, Eric Therner Diamond Lights and Tolomeo Wall Lights.![]()
Another fabulous magazine that deserves a shout out is the latest EST. Always inspiring, I enjoyed seeing the home of Tom Adair, creative director of Abode Living featured inside the online magazine. You may remember my interview with Tom last year. Seeing that he'd named me as one of his favourite Pinterest pinners was also a lovely surprise. If you haven't already signed up to EST (for free) make sure you do!
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February 11, 2014, 2:06 pm
If you live in NZ and are a fellow lover of Scandinavian design, I have some exceptionally good news for you today! Auckland-based online art print store Pop Motif is now selling a range of Scandi prints and posters, all of which I have featured (and raved about) on the blog. Seeing my posts, the team of passionate art lovers at Pop Motif set to work and have sourced a carefully curated selection, once again staying true to their belief that everyone should have great art at affordable prices. For the first time in NZ, here is what is on offer.These iconic typographic posters by the Copenhagen-based type foundry Playtype are amazing. Large in size, and printed in Pantone colours, the range also includes the new limited edition M Poster by Emil Hartvig that I introduced you to here.
Cocao Eyes is another exciting addition, which you may remember from this recent post. A stunning example of minimalist graphic design, by Swedish illustrator, writer and graphic designer Olle Eksell, the 'eyes' are a logo designed for Mazetti, a Swedish chocolate manufacturer. The “Cacao Eyes” design remains one of Eksell’s most iconic works.![]()
Pop Motif are proud to announce they are the exclusive NZ stockist for the Swedish calligraphy artist Ylva Skarp. Having been a big fan ever since I first discovered and featured her work on the blog here, I'm thrilled to see these three beautiful artworks on offer, and I'm sure you will be too!
To celebrate these stunning new artworks, Pop Motif has very kindly offered all readers a 10% discount, valid for one week from today. Pop over here to shop the range and enter CHASER10 at the checkout!
Images:Playtype1 | 2 | 3 | Cocoa Eyes1 | Ylva Scarp1 | 2 | 3
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February 12, 2014, 3:38 pm
I came across this image on Pinterest, and knew right away it was from Stadshem Real Estate. I'd even included it in this post, over a year ago. The difference however is easy to see and I have to say I much prefer this cropped version. The creamy white palette gives the room such a cosy feel, proving once again that simple, neutral colours can be really warm and inviting.
Especially pretty when paired with soft pastels, such as salmon and pale pink, it also goes hand in hand with earthy colours.
The cream-themed moodboard above (and a slightly different version I did for Instagram here) features some great finds. Click on the links to see more: Gorgeous earthy ceramics by Uh La LaIncredible lamps by &Tradition and LightyearsThe home of Joanna Laajisto who I first introduced you to here and revisited here
Exquisite photography by Hannah Lemholt over at Honeypie Living etc (girl in the hammock) and Lifestyle & Living (white roses)
Other images via my Pinterest
The 2014 Menu catalogue came out recently and as always, I want everything. The Danish design company founded in 1976 collaborates with some of the most talented designers in the world to deliver beautiful Scandinavian design with true originality. Styled to perfection, the colour palette in these two images makes me swoon.
More earthy goodness (and links to follow).... Rise Sofa by Swedish firm Note Design Studio. The wooden base cleverly extends outwards to become a side table. Check it out hereEarthy paint colours by Porters PaintsBeautiful ceramics from the Netherlands, by designer Kirstie van Noort (both above and below)Stunning New Norm Dinnerware for Menu (below)
Lovely mixed with black, white and wood, and so calming, what do you think of these colours?
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February 13, 2014, 5:43 pm
After a huge week, and very long to-do list today, I honestly didn't think I was going to get a post up. Then it occurred to me that you might like to see some of the fun things I've been up to this week, seen as they are all directly linked to the blog!
Starting with some Instagram pics, the first is one I took yesterday at the Citta Design 2014 Winter Media Preview. Inspired by the city of Copenhagen, the gorgeous collection is titled A Winter's Tale and as you can imagine I can't wait to share it with you on the blog next week!I've been planning my next post for the 3M Command Love Your Walls Series, and will be taking photos this weekend to share with you on the blog soon. Here's a peek at one of my new framed posters, sitting alongside the cutest little Kristian Vedel Bird from LET LIV...
I've definitely felt the love today for Valentine's Day with surprise packages. Skin Food New Zealand sent me a lovely pamper pack, which I can't wait to try. I haven't yet opened the one from Pop Factory Shop but I have to say that the packaging alone is just gorgeous!
Earlier in the week we received a box of I Love Pies for the occasion. These pies are heavenly! Hubby was most impressed, as was our little one!
Lastly, I've been working with a lovely client in the South Island, helping her add some Scandinavian style to her home. I especially enjoyed working on her living room, for which she wanted clean simple lines, and calm muted colours. She plans to recover her existing sofas in grey, and wanted the S Print by Mash. Included in this room package (but not shown here) were some budget coffee table options, a range of black and white cushions, and lighting.
Have a fabulous weekend everyone. x
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February 16, 2014, 10:07 am
I hope you all had a lovely weekend. As promised on Friday, here is a look at the Citta Design Winter 2014 collection, A Winter's Tale.
Inspired by the city of Copenhagen, the new collection is designed to make home a cosy haven. It combines warm textures and the comfort of natural materials, with clean Scandinavian lines and timeless practicality.
I was very excited to see Citta's interpretation of a city I hold in such high regard. At the preview we were treated to an animated short film, to illustrate the quirky contemporary fairy-tale of Rasmus and Mia, a young Danish couple, whose lives and home are made comfy and cosy through love, being together, and a rabbit! Providing a modern take on European folk art, it was lovely to then see the magic of the animation woven throughout the collection. Geometric shapes are mixed with fun graphic florals, while monochrome colours are offset by muted tones and flashes of bright hues.
A highlight for me is seeing the use of beautiful natural materials including blonde wood, leather and copper. The linen bedding is a welcome addition, and I especially love the oyster and black sets.
It was hard to narrow it down, but I've picked out ten pieces from the new collection. I did cheat slightly, in that the cushion stack counts as one item, but to be honest, I could have easily filled this collage with cushions alone, there are so many gorgeous ones to choose from!
If you haven’t already signed up to receive a copy of the 2014 Winter Catalogue, along with an exclusive discount voucher, make sure you do so before 12pm today!Click here to add your details, and look out for the new range in stores and online soon.
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February 17, 2014, 3:05 pm
Kicking off today's Pinterest post, I have to share a fantastic DIY/pin that recently caught my eye. Swedish interior stylist Daniella Witte, who has a penchant for adding concrete details to her incredible home, wanted to do something with her Ikea wall storage. Cleverly mounting thin layers of water repellent cement, I think it beautifully complements the white units and that incredible timber herringbone flooring. Another example, which I found over at the lovely blog Coco Lapine Design, the owners of this small family home added a custom-made concrete top to their simple Ikea shelving. Once again the result is fantastic!This home, belonging to stylist Josefin Hååg and photographed by Kristofer Johnsson for Residence Magazine has been pinned numerous times. The tiny apartment has so many incredible styling elements, it's easy to see why. Among my favourites are the little dining corner and picture wall. I also love the dark walls of the entrance way, Muuto Dots and round mirror. See the the entire home tour here. ![]()
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When the stunning Sydney store Pond was featured on Est Magazine a while ago, I happily pinned all the beautiful images, thinking I would really love to share it with you, but it slipped by the wayside. Luckily the image below has been popping up on Pinterest again, so I thought I'd grab my chance this time around. With an amazing collection, including furniture and accessories by Danish brand Hay, and fashion labels such as Jac+Jack and Malene Birger, the interior of the store has been styled to perfection by stylist Marsha Golemac, and beautifully captured by photographer Brook Holm. See more here.
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February 18, 2014, 5:19 pm
Searching for a beautiful home to share with you today, Swedish interior stylist Pella Hedeby of Stil Inspiration came to the rescue!
A show home for a housing project located in Fredsborgs Meadows, Pella has drawn inspiration from the natural surroundings. Her signature interior style can be seen throughout. I've said it many times before, but Pella nails the Scandinavian minimalist style that I love so much. Mixing up design pieces with everyday items, the interiors are never contrived, but rather relaxed, warm and inviting.
A lovely mix of warm wood, leather and sheepskin, I'm getting lots of ideas for winter! To finish off, I've picked out a few products to further inspire you.
Thanks to my friend Anu at Decordotsfor alerting me to this great find! The full house tour can be found on Pella's site Hitta Hem.
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February 19, 2014, 1:50 pm
Welcome to part two of the three part 3M Command Love Your Walls Series. In case you're just joining in, the series is part of a campaign for 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips, where I have the fun job of demonstrating how I use the strips in my own home. In the first post I re-styled the picture wall in my main living area. If you missed it, take a look here. The strips were so easy and effective to use, I couldn't wait to get started on this next project!
Today I'm going to show you how I've decorated the wall in our downstairs living room. Quite different to the upstairs space, which is bright, airy and open-plan, this room is smaller, cosier and designed to be used more as a space for the kids. While I love displaying wall art, prints and posters, I wanted to do something different to upstairs, that would give the room a relaxed and playful vibe.
I decided to start with an Ikea Picture Ledge. I purchased two (one long, one short) and placed them side by side above the sofa. Providing a great place to display pictures, books or small objects, when we first put it up, I was surprised to find one of my pictures had fallen off. The kids had been playing downstairs with their little friends, and the sliding doors were open, which can cause it to be quite breezy. Whether one of the kids knocked it or it was the wind, I'm not sure, but either way I knew I needed to find a solution to keep the frames from falling off. Of course the 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips have provided just that.![]()
To demonstrate what I did, let's go back to the beginning.
Firstly, I placed 3M Command strips on the top corners of each frame.
I then placed the frames on the ledge, with the upper corners stuck firmly to the wall. You can see that I've also marked out places for four smaller frames, on the wall between.
The marks on the back of these small frames below show where I've removed the stands. This is to ensure that the frames sit flat on the wall. They are light enough to hold with just one strip, but you could use two if you prefer.
Deciding that I'd like to try out a different look, I took away one of the big framed posters, carefully removing the strips from the wall, and moved it to this console on the other side of the room. Once again I used the strips to stick the top corners to the wall, for added peace of mind. The best part? No damage whatsoever to our walls!
I then set about trying out a different configuration. Luckily 3M Command sent me lots of strips to play with!
I also used 3M Command strips for the light feature below. An easy way to stick the bracket to the wall, the strips can hold up to 7kg, so they are strong enough to hold both the pendant light and my delicate bulb.
Three small variations along the picture wall then followed...
A little shuffle with the end two frames...
One more...
And there we have it. Well, at least for now! I hope this has inspired you to give the 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips a go. With no tools required, it couldn't be easier! For a full list of stockists, pop over here. This is a sponsored post. For more information on sponsored posts, please take a look at my About Page.
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February 20, 2014, 3:05 pm
The downstairs area of our home that I featured on the blog yesterday is still very much a work in progress. I'll be sharing more details of the room in a follow up post soon, so stay tuned! It probably goes with out saying that from the start, I've spent a lot of time planning and researching when it comes to making decisions for the new build. I've also made a concerted effort not to rush into buying things, and of course it also takes time to save for the things I want!
Opposite the picture wall I shared yesterday, we have an old TV unit, on top of which there are two computer monitors and keyboards for each of the kids. While they don't mind sitting on the floor, I can't wait to have double desks set up for them, side by side. My husband is working on some ideas for a DIY option, taking into account my request for something simple and functional. My ultimate dream would be a String shelving system with two desks side by side. If you're unfamiliar with the String and desk combo, I have a beautiful example for you today. A joint styling project for Ferm Living, by two talented ladies, Emma of Emmas Designblogg and Riikka of Weekday Carnival, this is the first instalment of their project.
In addition to Emma's impeccable monochrome styling, which I love, there are some fantastic storage ideas. I've picked out my favourites.
Make sure you pop over to Weekday Carnival to see more gorgeous kids room styling for this project, and keep an eye out for future instalments.
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February 23, 2014, 2:51 pm
Kicking off the week with an Instagram post, here's what's been happening over on my feed since last time.There are three feeds I want to share with you today. The first is Heltenkelt by Anna-Malin, a Swedish interior blogger and photographer. When you look at her incredible gallery of photos, it's easy to see why she has over 80K followers. I found it hard to narrow down, but here are some of my favourite pics, taken of her stunning home and effortless Scandi styling. I also recommend following her blog. Only Deco Love belongs to Katerina Dima, who has a blog of the same name. An architect and photographer, Katerina grew up in Greece, and is now living in Norway. Currently renovating her home, I love her monochrome style, which can be seen here in her gorgeous living room, workspace and coffee corner.
HEIMELIG designshop is a concept store in Austria, founded by Sonja Rettensteiner, who has an eye for all things gorgeous, and a talent for styling. Her Instagram feed showcases a covetable range of products (available to be shipped worldwide from her store) all styled beautifully. You'll also see snippets from her life, including her sweet daughter Anna.
I'm not sure about you, but I feel inspired to go take a photo or two. Happy Instagramming everyone! x
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February 24, 2014, 7:21 pm
When it comes to interiors, I find grey to be an excellent staple. A grey sofa or rug in the living area provides a great starting point, while grey furnishings such as cushions and linens look great with monochrome, neutrals and wood. For Spring and summer I especially love grey mixed with fresh whites and soft pastels. For bolder colours or to change things up with the cooler seasons, I like the idea of trying navy, mustard, or burgundy.![]()
Images via my PinterestYou'll always find grey in my home and wardrobe, and I'm already looking ahead to winter, with a few things on the wishlist such as a wool coat and sneakers. Highly unlikely that I'll be buying the Marc Jacobs coat and pieces by Muuto this winter, but a girl can dream, right?
Links below images1. Menu Weight Here Candelabra from House & Hold 2. Marc By Marc Jacobs Max Wool Blend Coat from Net-A-Porter3. Muuto Under The Bell Lamp from Bauhaus4. New Balance 410 Grey Trainers from ASOS5. Menu Large Grinder Set from Simon James Concept Store6. Grey Storage Sack from The Foxes Den7. Muuto Rest Sofa from Bauhaus
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February 25, 2014, 1:10 pm
I came across this gorgeous kids room image this morning, and when I realised it was from the latest OYOY catalogue I had to see more. I knew if it was anything like last years Spring Summer collection that I wrote about here, I was in for a treat!
The gorgeous new range of homewares didn't let me down, and as always it includes a mix of fun graphics and beautiful natural materials. Although the Danish brand hasn't yet made it to NZ, the styling always offers plenty of interior inspiration.
On the topic of gorgeous finds, I was excited to see my home included in the Friday Finds over on of my favourite blogs SF Girl By Bay last week! Similarly to the OYOY styling, the image of our living room from Adore Magazine was in the company of beautiful interiors, homewares and touches of blonde wood. Pop over here to have a look.
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February 27, 2014, 3:34 pm
Apologies for the no-show yesterday. I often feel that there aren't enough hours in the day, and yesterday there really weren't! I was however working on blog-related things, including meeting with a couple of new sponsors. This year has certainly got off to a busy, but exciting start. I can't believe we're nearly into March already!
Last week I brought you the second instalment of Love Your Walls, featuring our downstairs living area, and the creation of the picture wall. A couple of days later I promised a follow up post to share more details of the room, so I've wrapped it up in the form of a Home Build update.![]()
Firstly, I got the two Ikea picture ledges from Living Concepts, which I was originally going to place one above the other. Because some of my posters are fairly big, and we have a long sofa, I ended up creating one long ledge, by placing them side by side.![]()
Custom made several years ago, in a very dark blue-black hard wearing fabric, the sofa was initially a modular shape, to fit the dimensions of our previous home's living area. I did some rearranging and found that in this new space, it looks better without the corner section and ottoman, leaving the two two-seaters placed side by side. A few people have asked me about the sofa, which makes me smile, because I think it's seen better days. In saying that, I like that it's big and comfy. Perfect for this kids area, it has a few years left in it yet! On the sofa, we have a gorgeous new Kate & Kate blanket from LET LIV. When I first introduced you to them here, I knew I had to get one. Incredibly soft, I love that they are warm and cosy, yet also light enough to use all year round.![]()
You may remember me mentioning that this room is still a work in progress, and in fact in place of these gorgeous coffee tables, we currently have a Thomas the Tank Engine train table! Though practical, it is definitely not photo-worthy, and I was very lucky to have been lent the three beautiful Hay Tray Tables by one of my favourite Auckland stores Corporate Culture. These tables have been on my wishlist for a very long time, so it was great to be able to see how they looked in this space. Being able to play with three sizes, in black and white was a lot of fun, and I'm sure you'll agree they look superb! I would love to own even just one of the small sized tables. Perhaps when the kids are a bit older!
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I came across the idea of using an Ikea bracket and pendant light from a few Scandi interior images on the web, and thought it would be a fun, easy and affordable feature, to suit the relaxed vibe of the room. I wanted a wood pendant to match our console table, but was having trouble finding one here in NZ. An introduction to the Wellington-based online store Pony Lane changed that, and before I knew it, they had sent me this lovely Wooden Light Pendant to try out! Designed to work with a large round bulb, for now I've used one of my Eric Therner Diamond Lights, which is the perfect size. The long grey cord, which is also available in bright blue and red and white stripes, winds easily around the bracket.
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Pony Lane was founded by sisters Jennifer and Karina Young, as a place to sell individually sourced products, as well as those designed and made themselves. With a focus on everyday staples for the home, as well as statement pieces, they seek to offer items not found anywhere else. Make sure you check them out!
Providing a contrast to the white walls and ledge, I stuck with black frames for this room. The picture ledges create a point of difference to the upstairs living room picture wall, but I was also drawn to the versatility of them. I like the idea of regularly changing things around (as evident in the Love Your Walls post) and this new Playtype 2014 Calendar has been moved back and forth from the ledge to the console a few times already! The Kristian Vedel Bird is from LET LIV. A Scandi design classic, my kids love this little guy as much as I do!
Finally, you may remember last week in this post, I said I wanted two kids desks for the room, placed side by side for my sons. Well, someone was listening, and I've since been sent two gorgeous desks to review, so keep an eye out for that on the blog soon. I'm also in the process of choosing a couple of affordable stools or chairs. I'm hoping to have it all sorted in time for a home shoot, and my son's birthday next week. Wish me luck!
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