The IKEA catalogue for 2012 is out, and it’s always very interesting to see what new things they have come up with. Last year, I both did a gender analysis (approved) and had a closer look at styling and trends. This new 2012 catalogue was not overly exciting imho, but these three pages/images caught my eye. I like it when IKEA takes some steps outside the typical Scandinavian style. Or rather, offers what this cool and strict style needs: warmth and coziness!

Warm and earthy, ethnic rugs! No news really, but I like that they are in focus.

And when it comes to bedrooms, clothes are not hidden away these days, quite the opposite…

Clothes, especially dresses, are decor. And among product news, I really like the curvy ISALA series. Over and out!

hello dear readers! How are you these days of early summer ’11? I am busy, busy. busy…and you’ll some non-activeness here. But I will be back sporadically, I always am. In the meantime, a bedroom view – not for symbolizing what I’ll be up to ;) I won’t spend much time there, but I’ll be resting from decor buzz and biz, focusing all my energies on: WORK. A colour scheme close to heart:

Rag rugs have gone from being a standard element in (at least Swedish) homes, to almost oblivion, to newly awakened wide popularity. Just have a peek though our rag rug tag, there’s quite a lot of fresh decor scenes with this feature. Like well, our hallway! ;) Of course, rag rugs are right on target in today’s passion for reusing and recycling. Personally, I have always loved – and lived with – these handicrafts, which are often a hodgepodge of old t-shirts, bed sheets and other scraps of fabric. And I’m happy I managed to save the ones woven by Grandma from being thrown away. And also, that we got some – beautiful blueish ones – form Mike’s Grandma. Fine as stuff, as we say in Sweden.

A neat manufacturer in this rag rug wave is the Swedish company RugCycle, with the (from the name obvious) concept of recycling rugs.  Their new 2nd collection is actually a homage to rag rugs, designed in collaboration with the TV-profile and Northern Swedener Linda Lindorff. The staring point has been simple, countryish rag rugs, crafted by local women, often with local designs and techniques. These traditional rugs are hand-picked in Northern Sweden and sewn together in various combinations. The fascination of the craftsmanship and female force behind the rag rugs was crucial throughout the design process. So, the most Scandinavian of flooring traditions is here adapted to modern homes and needs by reusing the old and beautiful crafts. Available for purchase this Autumn. Hurray for this!

Update: And I just need mention this other new rag rug – product. From Danish super-brand Nordal‘s summer 2011 collection: rag rug placemats !

Rugs are a key feature in the trendy ethnic-boho-chic style. Kelims in particular.

Left pic via Abigail Ahern blog, who suggests a mix of rugs – more than one rug in the same area. Rugs should then be of different sizes to avoid the room being cut (and boring). Ahern herself has a woolen zeebra rug, a circular Anthropologie rug and a worn rectangular kelim in the one same area. Right side pics collected via Sköna Hem & Marie Claire Maison.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it right over again again again:.. the decor heros of our times are Granny and Grandpa! They knew how to do it :) Some of the most beloved items in our home were given or inherited from our grandparents. Here’s another tour at Mia’s! First up, the dining area rug – from Mike’s Grandpa. Grandpa Birger in his turn got it from his sister Elin, who was actually born and raised in the neighborhood we live in right now. In other words, this rug has been on a voyage and now, in its old days, come back home.

Next, below, my beloved pendulum clock I got from late Grandpa Sven. He got this clock when he quit his job as a private chauffeur in the 50s. I think it’s the most beautiful vintage clock there is. To the right, ceramic art signed Grandma Tora. She was a ceramic artist, who amongst other things had owls in her repertoire. This artistry is now contined through the trendey-mum (more about her works later)).

This is a IKEA catalogue 2011 roundup: some interior styling details, colours and overall trend themes. We’ll start off with a couple of styling features.

Examples of tricks we knew.. :p On the whole, I think the styling in the IKEA catalogues only gets better for each year. No doubt they are keeping pace with time. As for colours, IKEA fancies red and blue in particular the year 2011.

Good choices imho! Not too exciting and groundbreaking, but lagom (you know the Swedish word ‘lagom’? It’s like a National Word. Things must be moderate and pretty average, i.e.”just the right amount”.) With that said, however, the blue armchair might be a little too blue. Anyway, in terms of interior style trends the catalogue content comprises at least two more recent, apparent ones – a follow-up on the folklore style and a partially new industrial style.

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