A new hotel – a luxury and homey guesthouse – is soon to be opened in Stockholm. It’s called Ett Hem (a home) and is situated in the fancy area Lärkstaden in a posh townhouse built in the year 1910. It’s been quite a controversy about this hotel, because the neighbours didn’t want this house to transform into a hotel. But it’s launched, by a venture capitalist, and decorated by the British design star Ilse Crawford. Room rates per night starts at $565/€420 (up to $1 500/€1 100/night), so when this hotel opens in May it might not become the top-chioce for many of us – so this is far from a recommendation – but the interesting part is: the hotel is designed to look and feel like a home. It wants to provide a sense of living at home, rather than at a (ordinary) hotel. And how does Home Is Where the Heart Is – Ilse Crawford do this? Considering how she made a home out of this historic buildning in Somerset, my expectations are huge. The first pics of a room can be glanced at Icon magazine. This is, I think, the best pic:

Very well, home-like for sure! Love the curtains. Many hotels are actually very nice & homey these days so I’m not overwhelmed. But maybe when it’s ready in its 12 versions, it knocks me off the chair. Speaking of interior designer Ilse Crawford, here’s 4 of her best advices for homey decor:

• Consider how your life looks like. Don’t start from functions, consider instead what it is that you really, really enjoy doing. If you love to cook together with your friends, make sure that your kitchen has room for it.

• Home is a place to socialize with friends, family, relatives and children. A home that requires that every single thing is in its right place is a nightmare, so decorate to make it look ok even if it is a bit messy. Messy is OK – it’s part of life!

• It is not enough that the couch has the right price, size and appearance. Are you sure you really want to sit in it?  There are modern sofas with low backs that are so uncomfortable that those who bought them rather sit in bed.

• Opt for safe cards that provide a homely feel: some old or inherited things, curvy furniture, rocking chairs, table lamps, rugs, sheepskins and soft fabrics like velvet or wool. Choose things that feel good, not only look good.

My mind decorates a dream summer house. I keep coming back to it, and it’s like I find scenes I don’t necessarily want in my regular home, but it fulfills the idea of my summer escape – my resort in the forest by the sea. These are pieces of my cottage, please step inside.

This is where I sit and have a glass of fine old port to my bookreadings [via Inredningsbloggen], the bathroom atmosphere [via gingerella], a lovely lovely curtain [via dottieangel ] and the charmig ‘wedding sign’ by OldNewAgain [for all other pics in this post: click to source ]

Let’s have a great summer now! See you when I see you.

…is hot chocolate on a cold day.

One home decor chapter spiritless and neglected in Scandinavia is window dressing. There is mainly either naked windows (Stockholm style) or panel curtains in linen: two of the same one on each side, sometimes two in different colours on each side, very boxlike. Often curtains are too short, they hang in the air above the floor. It is hard to find curtain inspiration in the Swedish home decor scene. Nicest arrangements can often be found a few generations back and particularly in the countryside. So one of my interests, not to say missions in life, is to collect pics of windows well dressed! Like this one below. Also note the interesting wall paint..

| pic source: unfortunately forgotten.. |

We haven’t talked much about curtains and window treatments lately. I just glanced through Designers Guild’s Autumn news 2010 and besides the fact that their fabrics are wonderful and top quality, there are at least 3 things to learn or steal from their style. First of all, the creativity and out-of-the box thinking when it comes to window treatments. Who said there must be two lenghts, one on each side of the window, of the same fabric?

Second point, curtains need not to match, or miss-match, the room’s other fabrics and furniture. You can combine whatever patterns and fabrics you love to form a nicely mixed whole that is your style. And 3rdly, windows are angular and hard, fabrics are soft and pliable. Let the curtains live and form their own life.

…and the livin’ is easy.

Relaxed summery vibe

| upper photo: Sköna hem, below: Marie Claire Maison |

While I’m at it – another reading tips! The Encyclopedia of Window Fashions. 2000 Decorating Ideas for Windows, Bedding and Accessories by Charles T. Randall. Having this book in my possession, I need no more cry for curtain-inspiration. It has everything. And I mean everything: it’s an encyclopedia.

The book contains historical window treatments (from the Renaissance onwards), current styles, creative solutions for especially challenging windows, cost saving styles to designer treatments, glossary of window decorating terms, yardarge charts, fullness charts, an absolutely fab and extensive visual index etc, etc…Everything you need to know about window treatments, and more! A glimpse from the treasure chest:

“When striving for success, one must first strive for knowledge” [introduction of the book]