Here’s two sweet pics from Swedish magazine Hus & Hem. As you can tell, the (Swedish) people living here are inspired by Scandinavian simplicity and functionalism, and they actually have Danish ancestry.

Reading magazines, I always find it intersting with the tips & tricks provided by featured people. In this case, their advice is to move slowly with the home decor. They say: Think carefully, both in terms of function and form, before you start changing your home. Be inspired. And think twice if it’s really worth buying expensive things just because of the brand.

Ever pondered why Swedish homes are featured at every turn? Why Swedish and Scandinavian style has a such a strong foothold in interior design? This new floor show, Light and Fresh, pinpoints the reasons. It’s a show with two of Sweden’s most popular comedians and entertainers, Fredrik Lindström and Henrik Schyffert. Topic is home decor hysteria. The Swedes are probably the world’s most trend anxious people. We Swedes spend ridiculous amounts of time to think about how our homes should look like and have a quest for the perfect place. We devote more time to choose a white hue for our walls than to reflect on the crisis in geriatric care.

- We are two men who dare to stand up and say we are interested in interior design, the performers say. And their theory is that Swedes decorate all the more because it’s easier to knock out a wall at home than to take hold of other things in life; it gives a sense of control. At the same time, due to the anxiety we dare soon not even buy a cushion without consulting a expert. The serious undertone is that our quest for the perfect home really stems from feelings of insecurity. The show premieres Jan 28, 2011, at Berns Salonger.

Words are really superfluous…..but: trendey not only care about styling and trends, we’re on a gender mission! Nah, not really. But home decor / interior design is gender-relevant. It’s not only women who like it. Not just women who have taste… Not only women live in homes (!) Not only women are parents. Not only girls helps to set the table. IKEA catalogue 2011 – you are hereby gender approved.

Sweden has been ranked #1 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index – as the most gender-equal country in the world. So this post should come as no surprise :p Although we’ve dropped to #4 in the latest reports, this is overall a country of high gender awareness and committment to women’s rights. I have no kids yet, but I am one of those who believe I will, try.. even as a parent, to continue to resist gender-stereotyping. As for decor, I wouldn’t want to deprive my son the joy of serving the daily fantasy coffee from a pink plastic oven in a pretty flowery room or my daughter from playing with cool cars in a blue room. The room decor should preferably be gender-neutral, so that all and any interests can be included- may it be a fascination for cute princesses (pink, pink, pink!). That enables the little resident to have his or her voice heard as well. Playful might be my keyword.

For alternatives to a strict girlie or boyie choice of interior the Scandinavian style in itself offers an excellent foundation. Many Swedish kids live like this, in colourful rooms with a white base. Often you can not determine whether it is a girl or boy living there. Needless to say, I like that!

Hiya! Today I have a reading tips (or might I say a review, of):

A Girl’s Guide to Decorating by Abigail Ahern.

Abigail Ahern is an internationally renowned designer and stylist. Her blog is one of my absolut favs; she has the ability to transform any home to an interesting, attractive, stylish, bold, fun (insert any positive word)…place. She has an incredibly inspiring style and taste! A Girl’s Guide.. is probably the very best book in its compartment. For sure. If you shall read only one book on interior design, it must be this. Ahern invite us to think outside the box: The book gives many ideas and good advices, but is never dogmatic in that “this is right” and “this you must not do”. Inspiration and *setting minds free* is the main purpose though she is a driving force for dark colours; particularly well worn is the blue-gray wall colour featured on the book cover.

I can not list all the ideas and suggestions I got by browsing the book, it simply must be experienced..!

And hey, don’t be discouraged by the girl-emphasis in the title – it is a great book about interior design, for men and women alike. For All Mankind. The gender-biased approach do run through the entire book and although it is not without some irritation I note the approach to, and perceptions of, women’s and men’s (technical) skills – but it does not outrule the great contents of the book. Just mind you have to bear with a (non-significant) old-fashioness when it comes to gender. Because: the contents of Aherns book is everything else than old-fashioned and dull. It’s sparkling, fresh, instructive and bold – very 2010 and beyond.

As you probably already know, no one is drinking coffee in mugs anymore. It’s all about petite and beautiful vintage coffee cups. This phenomena goes along with the 1950′s/60´s housewife trend. For today, a non-negligible amount of young urban people has brought sweet new life to chores and duties our parents thought were overdue. The trend is aimed at the American housewives from the 50s. A bit harsh, a bit glamourous, but mostly back-to-the-bone. The new born interest in home-made soup and bread, 7 kinds of cookies, spectacular cupcakes and in exchangig tips on how best to manage antler salt has not necessarily anything to do with a backlash; i.e. a desire to never work and just wear a floury apron and be devoted to housework. Inside of the trend there is indeed an element of admiration of each other’s vintage china and puffy vintage skirts, but there’s also a high awareness and a play with stereotypes. It’s way aside from the heroine chic fashion, quite the opposite: with the hair come wavy on rollers and with the tilting pleated skirt, you can eat as much frosting as you wish. It is permissive, and that’s probably one key as to why the trend is so easily absorbed today. The appealing part of the housewife in modern times seems altogether to go back to the genuine: to make real food, cooked from scratch. To practice the tricks and that grandma taught us. To stand firmly on our roots when the wind wines. As long as you know how to grow and harvest potatoes you’ll survive difficult times.

So, even though not all of us will be making 7 sweet pastries for the coffee rope on Sunday, we cant’t escape reality. For this, we need flowered tablecloths and china from the first half of the 1900s. Here’s a lovely vintage coffee cup example: