Weekend Chore Time



Time to regroup and get more supplies! See you Monday!
(my helpers, Katie, my niece and Brooke (r) my daughter)

isak

: : lovely patterns at .isak. I think it's a Swedish designer based in Britain.

Green !



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Green is my favorite color. My favorite shade is a light green much like the outdoor patio cushions in the above picture. In the garden green is so many different shades. I could look at tree's blowing in the wind all day so I guess its no wonder I love green!

Ready Made Kitchen Storage





Now more then ever, its easy to add storage to your small kitchen. You can find easy to add wall storage from Pottery Barn and Ikea. Add cubbies or look for a smaller island roller cart, perfect for tucking away when not in use. Even a tiny bit of backsplash can be used for something, even if its just one shelf!

Mix Masters





I love a good mix in decorating. This can be a highly personal thing, because one person's checks with floral may be another person's breaking point. I'm still trying, but one thing I have learned is, you'll never know if you don't try something! I've bought things only to come home and totally loved them somewhere other then where I planned it to go. I've loved mixed chairs at a table as long as I can remember. So, experiment! You never know what you'll come up with. Stripes with cheetah? Why the heck not!

Cozy Bedrooms






The one room in the home that I think is not so bad small is the bedroom. Of course we all need space for our clothes and things, but sleep does not require tons of space! Ok, I will confess, I only have enough space for one bedside table. I wish I had enough room NOT to have my bed pushed up against the wall. After 10 years, I finally made my husband switch sides with me so I have the easy out. Bedrooms do make you want to cocoon, so small is not so bad. Plus, how much time do you spend in your room during the day anyways?

Entryways



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My entryway was one of the last places I thought about. As you walk into my house, it spills right into the front room. No foyer at all. I decided I was going to design a entry. No, not adding on but giving the visitor a visual que that they were stepping into my home, not falling in. Whats great now is there are tons of things available for entryways. The above mirror shot is a part of my entry. The mirror does 2 things, makes the space appear larger and its great of that one last look before you leave. So if you only have room for a few hooks and a bench, you can still have entryway! Try to get as close to the door as you can and have a place to put your keys and hang a jacket. Its really a nice quality of life thing when it works well!

See you Monday!




Have a beautiful weekend!

Midsommar

: : Glad midsommar! today is midsummer [midsommar afton] in .Sweden. Iz and I are celebrating all weekend together with our Swedish friends.

: : these are my favorite midsummer pics from flickr : :

teatime

: : inspired by the peonies in my own room and a post a little while ago on d*sponge, I was happy to discover .teatime. and exhibit put on by .rose & radish.

: : I can't go a day without fresh flowers in my room now : :

Style File- SIMPLE





Ok, I don't really think there is a style called "Simple" but I think there should be! Very calming yet high impact rooms like the ones above spell simple and stunning . I guess I know it when I see it. To me the above photos are beautiful and simple, one of my favorite designs!

Brick Interiors







First off, let me acknowledge that these particular photos are NOT small spaces. I wanted to share my love for the interior brick wall. Someday I have to have one. Love the texture they add and the warm feel. I love painted brick too. We are talking of adding on to our house and my first idea was to use the existing exterior brick as a wall in a shower. I'm so silly, I go into restaurants with fake brick and love that too. Not as much as the real thing but you get my point. So here's one of my decor weakness's. The interior brick wall!

The king of flowers

: : this year Sweden celebrates Carl Linnaeus, .the king of flowers. , on his 300 year birthday. Carl Linnaeus can, as it's expressed below, "claim may magnificent honours". but what I would like to highlight, and what I personally feel thankful for are Swede's special relationship with nature. I think of it almost as a seed that he planted in us, as a nation, which has continued to grow and is still to this day, so deeply rooted in our culture and in each individual. One aspect of Swedish life that I miss the most, access to nature and people's respect and love for nature.

Carl Linnaeus, 1707-1778
By Claes Britton

The great Swedish natural scientist Carl Linnaeus can claim many magnificent honours. He was, beyond doubt, one of the most influential scientists in history, crucial to our present day understanding of how the species on this planet relate to one another, and widely acclaimed as one of the most important progenitors of Charles Darwin. Linnaeus, who was trained and practised as a physician, was the first ever to define the human being as an animal among other animals, naming it Homo sapiens.

As such, Carl Linnaeus is surely the most famous Swede of all times internationally, and something of a forefather of contemporary Swedish science. Linnaeus was also the foremost explorer of the vast country of Sweden. He travelled extensively, meticulously studying and classifying the nature, people and culture of region after region, starting with his famous voyage to remote subpolar Lapland. As Linnaeus was also a brilliant and powerful author, his records of these travels, as well as other writings, are living classics, still widely read today.

It is also fair to say that Carl Linnaeus, more than any other single person, implanted in our national soul that very special relationship with nature that we Swedes continue to experience so profoundly to this day.

Article excerpt from linnaeus300

linne2007 [additional information here]

Framing Impact







You can bring the big WOW factor with framing. Look in magazines and catalogs and you'll find all sorts of inspiration. The above pictures, for me, have great wow factor and are very different. This is a great place to get creative. I always lay out my frames on my bed to see what looks good to me. Take a few pictures of your arrangements which will help you see what you like.

Style File: COTTAGE





There is something about the cottage style that appeals to me. Cottages are for the most part, small, so the style and the "small" go hand and hand.The only time I do not care for it, is when its over done. Too much stuff out for stuffs sake. A delicate tea cup on the back of the toilet for show, not good. I love the above pictures for their style and simple good looks. A desk as a night stand is a great idea, one I've used myself. If you have no room for a home office this is a great option. The best thing about cottage style is the relaxed "come put your feet up" vibe it gives off.

Odd Spaces





Almost ever home or apartment has a space or two your not sure what to do with. I've let such spots go for awhile to see how life flows around it. I have a tiny hall way in front of my (one and only) bathroom. Once while my sister came to visit, and the bathroom was always "occupied" inspiration in sued. I put a mirror over a small table I already had there. Voile! Another place to brush your hair or take one last look for lipstick on your teeth. Privacy? Well no, but I took the mirror down for one of my mad decor redo's and on her next visit she yelled, "where's MY mirror???" It went back up. I try not to mess with even the smallest successes.

Have A Great Weekend!




See you on Monday! (nope not my kids, just like the picture!)

carl larsson

: : .... and all of this reminiscing of traditional Swedish art got me thinking about my all time favorite, .carl larsson. One of Sweden's most well known artists, who depicted the Swedish home of his time (folkhemmet), and particularly his own home, in such captivating motifs and beautiful bright colors.

modern kurbits


: : the work by .jantze brogÄrd asshof. incorporates traditional kurbits patterns into modern furniture designs.

kurbits

: : I have felt particularly inspired by traditional Swedish kurbits patterns from the region of Dalarna, lately. I'm excited about re.discovering this Swedish art form. I think this will spark some new work......

precious


: : how do you not fall in love with the work of .feinedinge.?

One Room Living









This is one of my favorite small spaces. It is a 400 square foot apartment designed by Toronto designer David Overholt. I've kept this particular magazine since 2003 because I love it so. When you can put a separate sleeping quarter in 400 square feet and make it look this stylish, you are one heck of a designer. I did scan all the pictures from the article, Unfortunately they did not show the bathroom or the kitchen. To this day, I'm still dying to see those! (All pictures from Canadian Style at home magazine. Special issue "Small Spaces" summer/fall 2003, you can find a link under favorite magazines)

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