I’ve said it before and I’ll say it right over again again again:.. the decor heros of our times are Granny and Grandpa! They knew how to do it :) Some of the most beloved items in our home were given or inherited from our grandparents. Here’s another tour at Mia’s! First up, the dining area rug – from Mike’s Grandpa. Grandpa Birger in his turn got it from his sister Elin, who was actually born and raised in the neighborhood we live in right now. In other words, this rug has been on a voyage and now, in its old days, come back home.

Next, below, my beloved pendulum clock I got from late Grandpa Sven. He got this clock when he quit his job as a private chauffeur in the 50s. I think it’s the most beautiful vintage clock there is. To the right, ceramic art signed Grandma Tora. She was a ceramic artist, who amongst other things had owls in her repertoire. This artistry is now contined through the trendey-mum (more about her works later)).

Every now and then, I slip into the subject ‘Prevailing trends in styling and decor in Stockholm’. I find it interesting and therefore we certainly have *quite a few* mentions of “Stockholm-White” and entries on this city’s homogen real estate ads here at Trendey. Then again, we are 50 % Stockholm-based.

A very welcome feature in the Stockholm home style department is Fantastic Frank – a new real estate agent. Fantastic Frank deals with homes with character, in a new way. Fantastic Frank looks at the character of the home or house in question, and takes that as a starting point. Only then you can see who will stay there next. Therefore, their aim in managing property sales is to reach the few who loves the place, rather than to reach the very many who likes it.

Fantastic Frank works with renowned fashion photographer Anders Lindén and stylists in their concept and offers the seller six different themed packages to choose from (i.e. including styling, brochures, ads, etc). Emma’s design blog featured one of these themes the other day, Fantastic Frank’s first object on the market which was Wallstreet – themed: quiet, elitist and designed. Another theme or interior design profile is Scandinavia; below is a few photos from the very first apartment for sale within this theme.

I love the carrots and the dala horse! Other themes are the Newyorkish and sleek The Loft, the traditional and academic Boston, the classic noble Gustaf - think period features and herringbone parquet – and lastly the creative and warm Boheme. Oh, and did I mention Fantastic Frank also has a blog.

Now why is Frank Fantastic? I think these (freely translated) words from Founder and Creative Director Tomas Backman says it all:

I have always admired my grandparents for their careful concerns of their homes. A curtain change to cooling white for the summer, or bright red for Christmas changed the mood of the whole apartment and made the home change character several times a year. A home is more than the size and space between the apartment walls. Our minds are more affected by the light and colours, the sounds and structures, than of a design chair.

We feel good when we are inspired, when we know that there is a purpose with what we surround ourselves with. Once a home has character we can have a relationship to it.

There is a blog called Fine Little Day. Maybe you all knew about it. I didn’t. It has a shop attached to it, a fine little shop, but what I particularly want to talk about is wallpapers. Wallpaper-envy. Of all the wallpapers on the planet, these below are of the kind I’m most passionate about. Vintage, in the very best sense of the word. Colourful in a muted, faded way. Floral in a pleasant non-disturbing kind of way. Most of all, they are granny-esque. If I’ve understood it correctly, they (i.e Elisabeth of Fine Little Day and her family) bought an old house, that looked like this on the inside …

Yummy. We might see more of this when they have moved in and settled (I hope). Another cool – fine – thing is that the son of this household, Otto, 9 years old, has designed his own wallpaper. It bears the name “Ohoy” and it is actually nominated to The Formex Formidable design prize.

You can vote for Otto & “Ohoy” at the bottom of this page.

Coloured walls, mix of styles, flowers, vintage, the granny-esque…

| left pic: Cote Maison, right: Atelier Abigail Ahern |

These photos from the portfolio of Gary Spain, with their lovely quirky vibe, gets to represent the current season, renascent summer, and feelings of longing, light and fun.

The touch of Oldtime Glamour, the vintage pieces, the granny-esque…

| pics: Bo-laget |