Ever wondered what it looks like where all those Facebook employees are gathered? Is it like a blue building where each have their own little white/pale-blue room with exactly the same folders in the shelves? I just stumbled across the looks of Facebook’s headquarters. And it looks really nice, not at all as streamlined and boxy as the Facebook I know. The interior design company Studio O+A designed the new (it was brand new in July) offices for Facebook in California. It’s a 150,000-square-foot space that prevoiusly housed a laboratory. The design goal was to maintain the history and raw aesthetic of the building and create a fun dynamic, appropriate for the company’s youthful staff. Many walls and spaces are left unfinished – like Facebook itself, employees are encouraged to write on the walls, add artwork, and rearrange the furniture. So, the office can and will evolve continuously, and it was arranged with numerous “neighborhoods”; a DJ area, lounges, and impromptu work spaces. Here’s a few pics, more can be found @ Studio O+A.

Speaking of Creative Flow, might this be a creativity-stimulating environment for the Facebook staff?

I reckon so.

Discuss!

Shhh. Be vewwy vewwy quiet. We’re hunting weal estate agents.

A friend of mine just told me about this blog about Odd findings in Real Estate Listings that she visits whenever she needs a laugh. At LovelyListing.com pictures from actual real estate listings are collected and commented in a humorous way. If you feel the need for a laugh, or a giggle at least, have a look! And don’t forget to read the description, it can be absolutely hilarious. Here’s a few that made me smile: Color Coding Gone Wrong | First Step Is Admitting You Have A Problem | Man, I Really Want To Watch “The Little Mermaid” Now | Oh Hai There! | Organizational Tip | Chair Sure Has Some High Class Cousins |

The Gudrun Sjödén Winter 2009 catalogue arrived to me today. It reminded me to check back on the lovely AW 2009 home collection. One of the themes (my favourite) is Burträsk, a tiny town in the far north of Sweden. Gudrun Sjödén was inspired by pictures in the book “Måla som förr” (“Paint like in the Old Days”) taken in a cottage in Burträsk. And so she went there, to a cottage with a colourful decor – a yellow ochre background and shades of Paris blue. Inspiring, I think!

Now to the Winter 2009 clothes collection “Bhutan/Stockholm”. Some may think Burträsk is far away, but this time Gudrun Sjödén has travelled to the Kingdom of Bhutan high up in the Himalayas. Here she found a fine tune: a blend of simple Scandinavia with the colourful Buddhist Bhutan. Message is: there is a link between folklore all over the world. Gudrun Sjödén created her first unique collection in 1974. Having grown up with Gudrun Sjödén-style as a concept as familiar as the stackable orange chairs in the school canteen, I think I haven’t seen the forest for all the trees. The clothes are mainly very colourful and bold, chunky and shapeless. It is, and has always been, homespun, coarse and comfortable. The concept is strong, almost overwhelming. However, looking behind the more than 30 years old stereotype, I can easily recognize there are some treasures! Here’s a few favourites from the Winter 2009 collection:

A spooted top in lyocell, £43, and a tiered cotton skirt, £53. I would match them a bit different though… The “Mountain avens” long knee-socks look soo cozy! It’s jacquard-knit socks that feature a pretty folklore pattern with a twisted braid and tassels. This is where Gudrun Sjödén meets Odd Molly and make excellent Swedish blended folklore style.

Matching the start of New York Fashion Week, PANTONE released its Fashion Color Report Spring 2010 last Friday. The theme? Splashes of sunshine! For sure. Natural feelings of spring and summer – those of “calm ocean waters and tranquil beach vacations” – is ever-so-present in the vibrant tropical Turquoise, a soothing hue from the blue-green family. Amparo Blue, with more warmth than the typical spring navy, leaves a both energetic and calming summer feel. The purplish hue Violet “lends a romantic air to the warm-weather palette”, and yes, it’s like the scent of a blossoming flower! The yellow trend is furthered with gleaming Aurora, a shimmering, slightly greenish yellow. Among the warmer hues is also an inviting orange, the provocative Fusion Coral. The tangy Tomato Purée is the upcoming season’s classic red.

As always, cautious neutrals provide a backbone. These are particulary well suited to the sunny splashes of spring. A personal favourite is the bubbly luxury Pink Champagne. This “delicate, wispy tint” is the season’s newest neutral. Three additional neutrals round out the palette: Tuscany, a warm beige hue, Dried Herb which is the ultimate green neutral, and the cool Eucalyptus, an eternal, practical gray. To round up, here’s some fashion examples from the report:

The first IKEA catalogue was printed back in 1951 and at that time it was only available in good ol’Sweden. Just recently the IKEA catalogue for 2010, the 59th edition, was printed and distributed all around the world. Today it’s printed in close to 200 million copies and shipped to 38 countries. Being a Swede I’m of course very proud of IKEA’s success and it’s quite interesting to look in the older editions. Here’s a couple of snapshots from the 15th edition and some of the furnitures are really trendey! Check it out over at ikke tikke theo.

IKEA Catalog anno 1965

At Supermarket Sarah you can find stuff you didn’t know you were looking for. Odd objects, clothes, shoes, furniture, accessories, you name it! Sarah lives in Notting Hill, just around the corner from Portobello Market, and her home is overflowing with treasures and delights. Best part to the story: Her home is a shop! Just click on items to buy.