trendey

The Swedish official Olympics hat has made remarkable success. Swedes of all ages are now frantically crocheting a thick cap of blue, yellow, white and black. Crochet tips are highly demanded as hat spread like wildfire on a growing number of heads. The pattern of the hottest trend accessory right here right now comes from the yarn shop Trassel (link to crochet pattern).

|pic: video from svt.se/os |

I really like the thought of Swedes sitting in their sofas crocheting like mad right now. And as for olympics hats, I fancy the Swedish Olympics hat of ‘94 as well. Little did our athletes know their style would stand the times. Pernilla Wiberg in Norwegian Lillehammer:

Hot hot hot…..as of January 2010.

Pics from LivingEtc

Some time ago, I told you about the lovely collection Bracelets of Uttran by Swedish designer and blogger Ida Överby. Since then, she has expended the range in her web-shop Creme de la creme with lovely leveled cake dishes of old china, nice bibs, rag rug-pillows and – what took my breath away – a new collection of ‘aunt fur’-pillows. I bought the prime edition, it’s called Naijma.

The style is the very definition of trendy today: structures and surfaces in new combinations, unexpected colour matches and old classics that meet the very latest. ‘Aunt fur’ (Sw. tantpäls) refers to the old fur your aunt (or aunt’s aunt) used to wear, extremely soft and cozy but hopelessly outdated. Secluded at the back corner of the attic – it may be a controversial piece of fabric – but once there, it’s an asset to use and reuse.

In Naijma, the softest mink is intermingled with white cotton velvet. Piping and corner flaps are of lime-coloured Chinese silk and the fur-area is lined with a nice flowery patterned fabric. The opening is fastened with Velcro and at the back of the cushion sits a brass eyelet, which holds an old Sami leather cord. The present meets the traditional in an utterly (Uttran-ly! :)) well-composed and well-sewn cushion.

Slightly forked – I want them myself! – I urge you to look out for upcoming pillows in this collection. They are made from time to time, and sold through Creme de la creme. (Don’t look! ;))

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|

|photos: HouseToHome|

The pictures above – having popped up and circulated on various interior design blogs this fall – is somewhat iconic of the Parisian Chic Interior Style. Pictures one can look at and ponder for a quite a while, it’s something with the atmosphere.. It’s a contemporary yet traditional style. Below is a more loose Parisian style, more arty Parisian, a bit less “chic”.

|Photos: CôtéMaison.fr|

And whilst speaking of Parisian chic, it is interesting to note that the Danish fashion empire Day Birger et Mikkelsen points out Parisian Rock Chic Style as a must-have look this Christmas season:

this quintet of trendey lighting consists of

nostos by mat&jewski, a cage from Diesel with Foscarini

bourgie (chrome) from Kartell, hi-light from RE-SURFACE

and jewel on the cable by Penelope Batley

French-style bedrooms are romantic and sophisticated as well as seriously trendey. To create a French look, stick to one colour theme (for example pale blue, green, gold or pink) and team with distressed or whitewashed furniture. A sumptuous chandelier, soft floor-length curtains with tassle tiebacks and some antique items to give a shabby chic feel will further add to the look. And most importantly, allow a fab French style bed to take centre-stage in the room! I love the dramatic carved headboards of Louis XIV-style beds – if it’s good enough for royalty it’s good enough for me I reckon! :)

Take a look at these examples (both from the Living etc gallery)

Some of Sweden’s most prominent designers have made special edition design products in collaboration with Save the Children Sweden. Buying these products will help Save the Children in their fight for children’s rights: A beautiful thing for your home becomes a good deed for the children. I think many of the products are really nice. Like the thing above, that’s my favourite: Handmade crocheted potholders with “Pastries are also food” embroidered. I say you, that’s Swedish handicraft with humor!¨ Adorable design and crafts by Mary Jackson, and the price: 340 SEK / pair (of which 132 SEK goes to Save the Children).

Here’s some other nice stuff. The white porcelain candlesticks “Fire” is designed by Anna Kraitz. I love their shape. Next to them, the cosy light bulb “Light Shadows” with the pattern Confetti. It’s designed by Ingegerd RÃ¥man for Orrefors. No holder, just a nice bulb. Another nice candlestick is “Lucia” by Tomas Sandell for Asplund, a classic candlestick exclusively in red for Save the Children. Perfect for Christmas time! The Hook hanger by Malin Lundmark is a sweet piece of design for the hallway or dressing room. It can serve as storage for accessories, belts or ties, and is exclusively produced in black for Save the Children.There are a few crafty things aswell. You can make your own Dala horse from this stylish puzzle designed by Michael Asplund. The material is Sri Lankan rubber wood and the puzzle is available in three colours and three sizes. I’m keen on crochet. This crochet-package from Frost Design comes with crochet, knitted threads and a detailed description. The materials is supposed to result in two cute storage baskets. Looks like fun to me! Price? 235 SEK, of which 111 SEK, and maybe a thought during the work, goes to the fight for children’s rights.

This, my dear readers, is my new darling in the jewelry compartment! The bracelet bears the name Katarina and is part of a series of bracelets called Bracelets of Uttran. The designer of this beautiful and very creative re-use of old lace and scraps of silk is Ida, who is also the author of the Swedish blog Familjen i Uttran.

Inspiration to Bracelets of Uttran is derived from the tin works in traditional Sami handicrafts. In the bottom layer of the bracelet is a strip of Kevlar-canvas, that provides charter and extra power to the bracelet. Light is reflected in the sail cloth, which also highlights the gold Kevlar fibers. Bracelets are all unique, and price varies depending on the material and width. Katarina has a layer of purple Thai silk and a Designers Guild-button in patterned pale pink. It measures 17,5 x 3 cm. It arrived to me immediately upon order, beautifully wrapped!, for a price of approx. £20 including postage. The bracelets are made one by one and displayed in the Creme de la Creme- shop. I just love this design idea – I can’t think of a better use of old lace or, for that matter, a nicer way to wear it!

And that’s the lamp I’m talking about.: Isn’t it great! The good old Anglepoise lamp has been around since the 1930s (invented by British motor car designer George Carwardine) and I bet most of us will have had some version of this lamp illuminating our desks at some point. The Giant Anglepoise Lamp is three times the size of the original lamp and was created in celebration of the 70th Birthday of the Anglepoise.

I really like this lamp! It’s so deliciously out of proportion and would make a cool design statement in any room (I want it in my study). Handmade in England, this lamp doesn’t come cheap however… prices range from £1,200 to £1,990 depending on colour (check out the range at Anglepoise)

Right, now all I need to do is go and convince my husband that we need to spend two grand on a giant desk lamp… erm… Just in case this should fail, I would consider settling for this one designed by Muno available at RockettsStGeorge. It’s actually rather nice as well and only costs £249!

As I am hunting for a new apartment, many glimpses of Stockholmish homes pass my eyes. It is well known that the Scandinavian interior style is fresh, elegant and sleek. It has a neutral palette of colours and clean light elements of decor. Details are quiet; few, simple and uncluttred. Interiors are airy. In apartments I’ve looked at – mainly in houses from the turn of the century to the 1920s – floorings are close to always wide planks or parquet. Walls are white. White, white… white! (No wonder there’s a colour named “Stockholm-White”). Windows are naked. If decorated, with simple straight curtains. Personally, I get bored of all the whiteness. At the same time, I fancy the peaceful, stylish and airy fundaments of the Scandinavian design. What I’ll do? I’ll add a twist or two!

Now imagine a big airy living room with Stockholm-white walls, large clean windows, high ceilings and a dark-stained wide plank floor…Add to this a multi-coloured gypsy chandelier: A touch of boho charm and baroque class that speaks up and has something to express in the quiet northern interior.

Gypsy Chandelier Multi Colour, £85 from Dutchbydesign.com. It’s made out of metal and durable resin, and has a total length of 125 cm from the top of the chandelier to the bottom of the beads. For a low-ceiling room, a corner, somewhere with less space, there is also a smaller alternative, the Gypsy Mini Chandelier (below). The mini version’s dimesions are D.38cm H.28cm, and the price tag says £35. Let the interior talk!

My favourite sofa right now has got to be the Chesterfield sofa! And judging by the many Chesterfields featured in interior design magazines recently and the fact that most fashionable furniture stores seem to have at least one version in their catalogues and window displays , it is clear that I’m not alone and that this type of sofa is experiencing a surge of popularity at the moment. And no wonder! The Chesterfield is sophisticated and timeless and evokes images of ‘Olde England’, of gentlemen’s clubs, cosy libraries and elegant sitting rooms.

These are some of my favourite Chesterfields: a bold purple velvet number from Sofa Workshop; a version from John Lewis in brown leather; and a delicious dark liquorice edition from Heal’s. (See also the gorgeous mustard-coloured Chesterfield in Mia’s post Yellow Spots)