trendey

Finally, after nearly ten years in a smallish two-bedroomed flat and one looong year of very active house-hunting in London, my husband and I have had an offer accepted on a new place, yay!! We’re so excited!! =) =) =) We’ll be getting some more space and a small garden at last!  As the deal is not 100 per cent final until the contracts are signed and the fat lady sings, I’m not sharing any pictures yet for fear of jinxing it, but in CELEBRATION please join me in drooling over three truly inspirational London homes which feature the best of London style – oodles of creativity, fearless individualism and plenty of eccentricity!

No 1: Victorian townhouse in North London (Hampstead Heath) owned by Sam Roddick – daughter of Body Shop creator Anita Roddick and owner of erotica shop brand Coco de Mer. The boldly blue living room is a very original and personalised space with family pictures, drawings, paintings and vintage furniture. Underneath a glimpse of the trendy industrial style kitchen (love those lights!) and of an inviting seating area with more well-loved vintage furniture. Striking, unique and rather cosy!

No 2: Equally original, but in a completely different way, is this quirky and colourful home of furniture designer Lisa Whatmough (of London label Squint) in Hackney, London. Here, uniform and minimalistic backgrounds allow the happy, multi-coloured granny-esque lamps and vintage-style furniture to take centre stage and really sparkle joy and friendliness. A brightly bohemian and homely fantasyland!

No 3: Third up, is this 1930s arts and crafts house in Brondesbury, London, owned by Joy and Daniel Isaacs.  While a little more “sober and grown-up” than the other two houses, this home is still full of charm and eccentric touches. I love the dark blueish grey on the walls together with the deep red accessories and the vintage stag head - which contrasts beautifully with the modern coffee table. I also really like the minimal yet full impact hallway. It’s bright, uncluttered and spacious and the zebra hide looks great in there.  All in all – a stylishly decorated home with a robust and timeless feel!

[all_images _via Marie Claire Maison and Living Etc]

The drug abuse, violin-playing and the outsmarting of super criminals aside, perhaps, I would be very comfortable living like Sherlock Holmes in his flat on Baker Street. Here I would feel free to spill tea on the carpet, paint an oil painting or two and read a stack of dusty old books in peace.

Sure it’s cluttered and messy, but who’s to say that’s necessarily so bad? I think this is an inspirational home. This vintage victorian style mixed with mad inventor’s hangout needs just a few modern touches to bring it up to date. Some more white, a few more uncluttered areas and some modern pieces (how about a giant anglepoise lamp?) What must remain however is the cosy atmosphere, the velvet curtains and the telescope - in my humble opinion.

In the above image I’m particularly liking the heavy-looking crown above the fireplace, the leopard skin slung across the ottoman, the marble bust to the left and the pair of granny-esque lamps. Oh, and I guess I wouldn’t mind so much if Jude Law and Robert Downey JR popped in to embellish the design scheme either ;)

[The above images come from the set of Warner Bros blockbuster "Sherlock Holmes" (2009) directed by Guy Ritchie. Set director Katie Spencer. Production designer Sarah Greenwood. Photographs by Barry Wetcher copyright Warner Bros. Via Set Decor Online]

…right now, that I could decorate (oh a summer house, I wish!) I would use these pics for inspiration. A mix of classic, elegant, vintage charm and with an eclectic vibe.

I might add a bit more colour, and a bit less country style…Love the mix thou, especially in this upper pic.

As for details, the old charmig unframed granny-style paintings are übertrendy. So are the lovely flower arrangements. I would go for a lot more flowers!!

Lastly on this tour, a white bedroom with a twist. I would choose a bedroom more of this style, but I like the simplicity with complex details.

| pics: Sköna hem |

At the Selby’s website, there is now a bunch of lovely, crazy, amazing photos featuring the Paris home of designer Philippe Starck and Jasmine Starck. The interior design is beyond imagination. I mean, one would expect a dose of creativity from the creator of such unique design, but just as his design stretches boundaries of what is possible, surprises and twists, his home decor is anything but predictable. I picked three favourite fab photos.

With carefully chosen furniture (purchased at auctions, 2nd hand shops and even found in garbage rooms) and bold colour choices set and costume designer Elsa Fischer has created a Stockholm home far from the usual (Stockholm-)whites. In fact, she notes it seems to be a ‘weird law’ in Sweden all homes must spring in white.

Elsa has mixed teak furniture from the 1950s with antique sofas. Inspiration is derived from art, music and people she meets. Here and there are fine ornate vases, old photographs, dolls, candlesticks – and a framed bat. Her still life is changing daily. One day, there is a collection of porcelain birds and the next day there is a group of toys in the same place. May it be suitcases or dried roses.

The kitchen is designed in collaboration with an interior designer. It’s inspired by the old B2-line by Bulthaup.

The white bedroom, below, has a dramatic clothes rail in the ceiling.

This home, article says, is an ever-changing environment. In the near future Elsa plans to paint two rooms in the apartment Gustavian green and match with antique rugs. We round off with her interior design advices:

|Be who you are. Dare to paint other than white. Fill your home with love – be generous with tea, food, love and pillows.|

This vibrant home was featured in today’s Dagens Nyheter. It’s a fancy Stockholm apartment inhabited by a designer who keeps a past decade alive: the 40s.

She says: I am neither a style police nor some minimalist Scandinavian designer. You can’t design on the basis of trends. Of course, this is reflected in her personal interior style.

The hallway is papered with yellowed newspaper ads from old fashion and home magazines. Fancy old corset ads get new trendy life behind her shoe collection. Story says, she has matching shoes for all her bikinis. All photos: Jimmy Croona for DN Bostad

Jacob and Line Blom has staged their townhouse in Copenhagen as a long series of collisions between different eras, styles and cultures. In a cultural landmark townhouse from 1878, they went as far as they could without toppling over. Posh yet decadent, rough yet strict.

IMHO? Amazing. A creative and interesting decor that stays balanced and harmonious. A splendid mix with lovely details. Elaborate yet relaxed: A fresh white-based eclectic style.

Story and (more) pics via the magazine Sköna hem.

From time to time I amuse myself by looking at the current real estate ads. It’s one of few ways to see how people really decor their spaces. Or at least, decor it for selling.  One thing I found spring-fresh and inspiring in today’s sneak is the use of colurful chairs. Strong and light pink, and mustard/yellow – in otherwise white-ish interiors. The pink and grey combination is super nice I think.

| pics: Lagerlings, Erik Olsson and Alexander & Co |

There is no doubt the trendiest colour 2010 is blue. Blue is simply the new black! Here’s some inspirational photos, first from the London home of the excellent interior designer Abigail Ahern.

|photo: Mads Mogensen for Sköna hem|

It is easy to spot that these chosen gray-blue hues have many matching-options. Other blues, beige/light brown,- white, copper, wood…it makes an elegant and friendly look.

|photo: Mads Mogensen for Sköna hem|

…and not least, a great combination with attention-grabbing red and yellow (complementary colour of blue) details:

|left photo: Mads Mogensen for Sköna hem, right photo: ATELIER Abigail Ahern|

The book on international colour trends 2010 pointed out a variety of shades of blue along with the light airy Colour of the Year 2010. From airy and optimistic ‘lifting the spirit and lighting the darkness’ – to soulful teals and turquoises and rich, clear ultramarines. Personally I am particularly fond of spiritual and creative blue in a home office/study room, but blue is a colour that fits any room. Below are two dining room-examples: Pale blue crispy walls with white and crystal…a modern quirky look. And white furniture and accessories against a pale blue-greenish background and rustic floorboards.

|photos: HouseToHome|

Calming blue is of course great for bedrooms. Though, the shade and decor does not need to be sleepy. Below, a french country style bedroom with pink roses and turquoise details, – and a strong lively shade of blue together with green and gold in a Spanish inspired sunny bedroom.

|photos: HouseToHome|

As shown in Sköna hem. I love the powdry wall colour and the atmosphere…

…the lovely cupboards

…and the effortless details.

I could live here! :)

Your thougts?

|photos: Johan Kalén for Sköna hem|

..this vibrant home with a personal mix of 50′s, vintage, comics, fantasy, toys, 16th century details, wayward puppets, glamorous movie stars, bright colours, beautiful dresses, fairy tale creatures (etc.!) is inhabited by a young illustrator, artist and student. |pics: Frida Ekman, SvD.se|

The prevailing style of decor in the capital of Sweden has been a topic in this blog several times. My apology and explanation is that I – during my four months long search and hunt for an apartment to buy – glanced through countless real estate ads and visited numerous styled Stockholm homes. It has been summed up in Scandinavian style and the “colour” Stockholm-White (its definition and colour code is disputed, some holds it’s S 0502-Y). Now, I stumbled across the (very fine) blog Splendid Willow, written by Monika, who is a native Swede living in the US. She has recently listed the design elements you can be sure to find in a Stockholm apartment:

* White. Swedes embrace gallons and gallons of white paint.
* Hardwood floors with individual rugs (Swedes stopped using wall to wall carpeting decades ago).
* State of the art kitchens.
* State of the art bathrooms.
* Books! Books are prominent, we surround ourselves with books and display them with pride.
* A great mix of old and new. A true Swede will rather have no furniture at all than to get rid of historical elements such as old wood burning stoves and the old beams.

I endorse all the points and add to the list:

* Naked windows. A fear of curtains lives inside the city homes.
* Stylish lighting. Lighting is a crucial point. Right now, two trends stand out: large round lights hanging from the ceiling (the IKEA Maskros lamp probably sell like crazy) and chandeliers, preferably crystal.
* Well-arranged wardrobes. Again, you’ll never escape IKEA, that company has distorted our brains showing their shelving systems with thousands of practical options. (The dream of a walk-in closet is intrinsic but not always pronounced.)

Proof. (Exhibit A to F)

|photos from Skeppsholmen|