trendey

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 (we 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|

By Shootfactory Ltd

In my opinion, this attic apartment in the Old Town, Stockholm, is beautiful. The house dates back to 1880 and for once, it’s a dwelling that not been renovated beyond recognition of it’s age and soul. Spontaneously, Mike disagreed on the beautifullness. He said the beams appear to have been infested by insects, and dislike how the ladder is arranged; how you need to climb out of a window to reach the terrace. You see we are individuals here at Trendey :) And ooookey, we won’t buy this one. The little Karlsson pÃ¥ Taket in me, he must stay inside. But isn’t this dwelling charming, you think?

Full range of pics here.

The New York Magazine’s Home Design “Was/Is”-stories are fun to follow. There’s no small or superficial improvements they show – there is conversion and renovation that goes beyond at least my everyday imagination..Inspiring? Indeed. The story on how a dilapidated room in a Prospect Heights brownstone became a master bathroom with a working fireplace can be read here. If I fancy the idea of having a fireplace next to my bathtub? Well, yes!! And look at this below – two prewar apartments on Fifth Avenue became one 6,000-square-foot fantasyland. This is dining room – before and after.

Another mind-thrilling story is this; an old industrial complex for storage, a really raw industrial space, transformed into a live-work haven for two artists. The main room before and after…

…and the master suite before and after:

Spacious, airy and stylish! Who would have known. A penny for their creativeness =)

I just came across this Home-Tour article about a Swedish couple that have moved to UK and made an interior design style cross-over. Since we, the editors @trendey, are Swedish and British in a fine mix, I felt this theme was highly appropriate. The owner of the featured English home is Lena Renkel-Eriksson, who – upon her arrival in Britain – founded the company The Swedish Chair.

The insides of this classic English house has a large portion of Nordic light; interiors are airy and the colour of choice is white. To the white base, elements of rustic blue, gray, yellow are added, as well as folklore details and antiques. The style is a blend of Gustavian and white, Swedish and British.

Now hold your breath – rumours say our Swedish Henen is one signature away from buying a house in London. As this happens, the Swedish-British Interior Style mix will be taken to unprecedented heights.
Stay tuned.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m in the process of buying myself (& Mike) a new home. Very many apartments pass my eyes these days! I have to show you a piece of flat from today’s harvest on the net. This 100 sq. meter 2 bedroom flat is actually next door to this one. So let me state my case of the contemporary Swedish Urban Style Mix.

The house dates back to 1882. Well-preserved and charming details, generous ceiling height and wood flooring in pine are some of the basic elements. It has two functioning fire places (we need that warming coziness in cold Sweden). Ok, reception room/living room:

Note the airy interiors and the use of “Stockholm-White”. See also the Pappelina rug in the right corner.

The kitchen in this apartment has a touch of country style with its white kitchen cabinets, pine flooring and a rag rug. It’s equipped with a gas hob, dish washer, owen, a huge American refrigerator; everything the chef might need. Owners have preserved the kitchen’s original wood stove (and it’s functioning!)

This home also has a sparcely decorated balcony. The apartment is listed for sale with the real estate agent Bjurfors (from which I’ve borrowed the photos).

In an article of the Swedish magazine Sk̦na Hem, the home of a couple living in an old elementary school is portrayed. I think this mix of old and new, modern and classic Рstill with a effortless feel Рis inspirering: