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:

Wow, Friday already! This week has been so quick. And forecast says the Stockholm weekend will be sunny and warm. Happy times! Today, I’m liking this…

This style appeals to me. The place is featured in SvD Bostad and it’s Scandinavian yet it could have been anywhere in the world. Lively, homely and harmonious.

I also love this hallway below (same source, different house) maybe mostly because it reminds me of my grandparent’s summer house. There’s a Swedish saying that goes “Sun outside, sun inside -  sun in heart, sun in mind” and this room is the epitome of the sun’s effects. I feel I want to run down to the lake that probably is somewhere outside the window. Later I’ll jump into the folklore-rubber boots and go pick some delicious berries :)

| via vtwonen |

Step 1:  Collect old, found, new or forgotten boxes, crates or drawers in a glorious mix of colours and materials (perhaps some wallpaper in the bottom of a box or two?)

Step 2: Arrange in a creative pile and gather together with a colourful cord as in the pictures below (you could also nail boxes to eachother for extra stability).

Step 3: Hey presto! You will now have a really cool and artful storage installation of your very own making! :-)

Source: Elle Decoration October 2010 p.69 (apologies for the poor picture quality!)

I’m scavenging around for boxes at the moment because I want to make something like this. I haven’t got enough yet though (I only have one box so far!) I’d like to use really old and interesting-looking boxes, so I’ll have to do some searching. And perhaps I’ll include a wine rack also…hmm…or an old radio or safe? Well, shall have to see what I can find! :-)

Also take a look at these rather amazing creations by designer Tejo Remy for inspiration…

I love the red chinese cabinet to the right (from John Lewis, 299 GBP). It would be so great in a black and white kitchen or dining room to add a global eclectic touch and a splash of vibrant colour!

[right: morton holtum, left: John Lewis]

August 25th, a really cool auction is opening its display at Swedish auction house Bukowskis. It’s called Eclectic and presents a wide range of objects inspired by the decades around 1900, the golden era of great adventure and when the old world transformed into the new industrialism.

As my sample below shows, this auction contains a daring mix of old and new, mahogany and steel, handicrafts and industry. The border between the centuries is blurred and the line between what is considered beautiful and ugly is questioned. Because, this auction wants to inspire cross-border decor or might I say, out-of-the-box decor. Through the themes conservatory, industrial and adventure Bukowskis aims to capture the contemporary dualism and ruined romanticism as well as industrial exploration and progress.

Browse the full auction here. If you happened to fall in love with any of the pieces featured above and want to know how the estimation on how big the hole in your wallet will be, a link list of featured items can be found if you