d istinctly talented Swedish designer Lisa Bengtsson delivered her graphic design graduation project – the wallpaper Familjen – only a couple of years ago, and has since then received many awards for her adorable and clever designs (one of my favourites along the way has been the Ros-Marie wallpaper). Lisa Bengtsson derives inspiration from people around her and the atmosphere of bygone days. Now, as a mother of twins, she has pondered questions of family resemblance, similarities and differences. This has resulted in a brand new design, featuring a multitude of dachshunds!

These illustrations are sold (in limited editions) in cooperation with Save the Children Sweden – Design for Children’s Rights. The dachsies all originate from different corners of the world and the design shows that despite our differences and regardless of where we were born – we are all very much alike.

These sweet personalities also form a fun medallion pattern. Three of them in close-up, in either blue or gold, are available through textiles company Mairo as fabric by meter and as cushions. There is also a pattern with 12 dogs, which is also available in oilcloth. The pattern is called Tillsammans (Together). This one is definitely a new favourite!

Now I’m off to London! But why..? To see my dear sister Henen of course! :) A stroll through all the lovely interior design boutiques of Islington is on the agenda as well as a trip to funky Brighton. See you soon.

| pics via sköna hem & the style files |

Speaking of art and patterns, I actually really like this old textile pattern by Josef Frank called Marble 4420. Svenskt Tenn reintroduced it today, in velvet, for the Stockholm Furniture Fair. Designers Förster & Kusoffsky also made some new products interpreting this pattern. It’s not a typical Frank pattern – they say, I think it’s Franky! – story goes it was sketched when Josef Frank had encountered the art of Jackson Pollock, during this stay in New York in the 1940s. By any means it has a fresh arty vibe. Almost graffiti-ish yet very tidy.

A modern minimalist white kitchen (stylish, yet rather discrete and unremarkable) turns much more interesting with the help of colourful and fun textiles from Swedish designer Josef Frank.

The splashback in the kitchen was created with the textile ‘Brazil’, protected and kept secure by a glass sheet. Such an excellent idea for creating an original feature in the kitchen! Same textile pattern for the blind and cushions. Very light and pretty…and those Wegner Wishbone chairs look right at home.

The home above was featured on Skona Hem.

In a different home (also from Skona Hem), Josef Frank makes another appearance. This time in the form of a the wallpaper pattern ‘Springbells‘. Much more retro, much darker… Not sure whether I’d be able to live with this design style, it’s a bit full-on… But hey, I’d love to visit in a kitchen like this and I do love the colour bravery!

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.

Above are details from some lovely rooms featured in Danish magazine RUM June 2010 issue. To the left, pillows made out of ponchos from Peru and rugs from Iran and Yemen create an inviting and homely ethnic/folk traditional look. To the right, a startlingly interesting space (a circus wagon in fact) is made even more interesting by the pretty and colourful folk art textiles. I’m warming up to this style, which is all about handcrafted textiles and furniture, patterns and multi- colours.

Some shopping inspiration below:

[Top left: Suzani bedspread from Yurdan, approx. 200-700 USD; Top right: Chair from Niki Jones 250 GBP; Bottom left: Plant pots from Graham & Green 39.50 GBP; Bottom right: Cushions from Niki Jones 38-60 GBP]