Sunny sunny yellow…A vitamin pill!

|  Pic 1 / 2, pic 3. — Oh and look at this spring-fresh paris postcard set |

Today I came across Alcro‘s brand new paint collection and Graham & Green‘s Autumn 2011 Catalogue. The themes were so similar it must be honored a post: Greys & beiges! These are pics from Alcro’s ad.natur paint collection. It’s inspired by something that makes us humans feel good: nature. Claiming that neither whites nor bright colours can give the calmness and harmony of beiges and greys.

I tend to agree. Last winter we painted our Stockholm-White bedroom beige (F&B’s Matchstick) and I still love it. It enlivened the room and make the perfect backdrop. One thing to keep in mind speaking of nature colours though, is that nature is also the dark blue sea beyond the beach, the field of flowers next to the industrial building and the drab green and rusty brown trees and hues in the forest. Nature has been endowed with the most amazing colour splashes and schemes. So could the decor :)

Moving on to the G&G Catalouge, it again strikes me how well beiges and greys – or  grey plus sand/beige/blonde wood – go together. I think it’s a really cozy vibe going on here. And there’s room for even more flower meadows and lush plantations…

Just a quick note to show my redesigned IKEA drawer. Unfortunately it’s no longer in their range, and I have no before-photo, but I found a pic here: It used to be black-brown and had black metal handles. I painted it ‘tie white’ and the new handles are made of the following: A vintage leather belt ($5 cost) cut into pieces and 14 new screws ($2). I used the old bolts and the pre-drilled holes.

More DIY to follow. Happy week!

Cabinets and chests are the ultimate home decor items. The paramount pieces of furniture. Don’t you think? It’s highly useful and can add so much interest, style and character….I’ve tried to collect the chest, cabinets, etc we’ve featured during the years (hey, Trendey is turning 2 years old in August!) into an own category. When I think of if, we actually got two versions of IKEA:s Hemnes in our home. One glass-door cabinet that can be glimpsed in the background of this pic, and a wardrobe/cupboard whose doors I’ve painted chalkboard, changed the knobs on and added a tassel to (no pic, yet). A great low-budget alternative. Most of all though, I’d like one worn & vintage.

[ via style at home]

 And I do love the Chinese cabinets. The ethnic/globetrotter vibe is irresistible.

[via ideal home & garden]

Lastly, I really like this one with the botanical-black backdrop:

[via splendid willow]

The retro trend shows no signs of cooling off – quite the opposite! In 2011, we love things retro, calling on 50s and 70s mainly it seems, but all decades from 70s and further back are having a groovy revival. One single retro detail (like a vintage radio, retro phone, etc), some pices of retro furniture or full mid century nostalgia – all variations are present. I love this space, from the home of Hilda Grahnat. It’s interesting, laidback and pretty – and smashingly trendy.

I even spy a rag rug! And I love the license plates. I actually have a really nice German temporary license plate saved from when I went to Germany in 2006 and bought myself a car. It has been hanging in my father’s garage since but some time ago I brought it home and it’s now standing on a kitchen shelf! (And actually, my father revealed Henen had taken the other one!! Had no idea, cool we were both hunting number plates. And Henen, of course you can have my other plate, good there are always two)) Also, I really like this wallpaper below from Sanderson‘s 50s collection. It reminds me of the beloved Granny-style wallpapers I used to hunt (without result, may I add. Though I still dream of finding an old house with original wallpapers intact). Anyhow, a nice composition this one.

Lastly, a fresh retro-ish space via Style by Emily Henderson. Rarely have whiskey looked this neat! A great and so harmonious display on the sweet retro cabinet. And the tree/greenery – I love it that houseplants and flowers are visiting interior scenes again. Not a decade too late!

Friday it’s Midsummer’s Eve! I will go the midnight-sunny North and I will collect seven different wild flowers and put under my pillow to sleep on. Always have. (and never remembered what I dreamt!) See you when I see you.

Ok, I know that first part of the title don’t make sense to you English speakers. But I have a giveaway, for those tall and fresh Vikings that can be found in Sweden’s population register only – explained at the end of this post. It’s a thanks for Trendey’s efforts as part of the jury in a contest held by Swedish-founded Electrolux with its home appliance brand Husqvarna: about designing your dream kitchen. You can try the thing out, look at Swedish peoples’ ideas on dream kitchens and give your votes here. Every week the four entries with the most votes are lifted out into the final. After next week, the jury designates prize winners among all the finalists.

Anyhow, this, again, got me thinking of my dream kitchen. Inspiration on kitchens is not scarce these days. There’s plenty of different styles around, although the industrial style kitchens and the good ‘ol country kitchens tend to top the league. Personally I favour a combination of the two – something like ‘cozy industrial’ or ‘country sleek’. At the moment, I am very fond of the kitchen style in the previous post. To me, charm is key. And I really really like it when kitchens have decor details just like any other room. These pics are today’s inspiration!

| sources: top innerstadsspecialisten via solid frog, bottom left via style files and right via vtwonen |

Vilken Trendey-läsare vill vinna en Powermix Silent?

Denna snygging är en mixer från Husqvarna Electrolux som har ett patenterat ljuddämpande system, vilket innebär att man kan köra den och samtidigt höra vad man tänker. Värde ca 1350 kr, minihackare för lök, kryddor och grönsaker samt juicefilter medföljer.

Allt du behöver göra för att delta är att svara rätt på följande: När och var grundades Husqvarna? Samt berätta vad Du skulle använda denna mixer till i sommar om den blev din.

Lämna en kommentar nedan – med ditt namn och kanske var du kommer ifrån om jag måste efterlysa dig! – och på självaste nationaldagen den 6 juni stängs tävlingen och jag utser en vinnare som får hem detta tröttaöron-vänliga köksredskap.

En annan sak endast ni svensktalande läsare förstår och som inte får missas!: Boråstapeters tragikomiska reklamvideo med målaren Lennart...

UPPDATERING! Hurra för Sverige denna dag! Och vilket väder till landets ära. Nu till det väsentliga: