I’ve been waiting for something interesting to show up in the interior design magazines. It’s been noticeable lull. Much of the same, nothing new really. Now finally, I found this inspiring look in Sköna Hem.

It’s a Scandi+industrial+alpine+folklore+nature marriage of a winter cabin! Reeking trendy! Aside from the dualtrendy black walls + wood, which in itself is a kind of fresh combination, the style has an interesting composition with the cozy materials, the unpolished and the urban details. Horns and hides are of course reasonable elements in a winter cabin, but it has almost never looked this appropriate and stylishly mixed.

More pics and story @ Sköna Hem

Call it industrial with warmth, country sleek or retro, nature and vintage combined – the trendiest kitchens right now all embrace contrasts. The kitchen is a place for social interaction – just like in the old days they are true multifunctional rooms. The most popular kitchen is bright and cozy. Homey and social. Simple but hi-tech. The stove - a Big and lavish one – is the most central item, the signature piece. Beyond the stove it’s all about warmth, happiness and functionality. And humour. Humour as in a puffy retro-fridge in a country style kitchen, a raw concrete floor in a romantic rustic decor or decorative knobs and fresh flowers in a stripped-down environment, i.e. together with those public toilet style tiles Henen was talking about. And preferably there should be a kitchen island in the hottest of hot kitchens.

| images via Livingetc, Hus&Hem, Bonytt and Bolaget |

In Sweden, it is the Swedish country style that inspire rather than the French or elsewhere country. The wideplank floor, frames around the locker doors and vintage items are prefered to odd tiles and open shelves. Open plan kitchen/dining room is more rule than exception. I read about some practical advice worth highlighting here. For the one who have thoughts to renovate or redo a kitchen. One good advice is to stick to the old tradition to have between 80 and 140 centimeters between the stove and the water. In practice, this surface will be the most important work space. Therefore it’s also a space worthy of good lighting and access to electrical outlets. Stove and sink should be in the same unit – so that one does not need to walk through the room with hot water. A kitchen island needs a sink. And, of course the allround-advice to always take into account the building’s foundations and construction. A kitchen that somehow relate to the material or the time that characterizes the house feels more harmonious.

…only black, white, gold, wood and the occasional bike. Images via Joseph Dirand Architecture.

Every now and again sheepskin or other animal hides appear on chairs in dining room pictures. I think it’s a great idea – it creates a stylish and relaxed look and adds warmth and texture. Especially nice in minimalist and industrial style rooms! A few examples below.

[images: 1&2 - Anna Kern, 3 - Bo Bedre]

As far as I’m concerned, the worn and stripped industrial style benefits from a little bit of flair and romance. In industrial vintage style I hold the part vintage higher than industrial. Rough needs romance. And same goes for romantic styles, usually within country styles: Romance needs rough. Increasingly often, these styles can be seen merged. Industrial country romance!

| each pic is linked to its original source |

| photo by Pia Ulin, styling by Lotta Agaton for the latest issue of Elle Interiör |