As you can see already by the cover, the overall style is relaxed country – and vintage charm is all around. The concept of thrifty chic (and same meaning related concepts) is highly sustainable. Inspiration on how to paint up a tatty old chest, cut old curtains into cushions or give an old chair new life by means of some fabric – will never grow old and mossy. Reusing, restoring, reviving and revamping are things creative people have practiced for centuries and that – nicely enough – will contribute to less consumption and environmental destruction as it includes being cautious with both money and property. As if that weren’t enough, this book is pure beautifulness. It’s friendly written with lots of insider advices. This is one of my favourite photos from the book (photography by Simon Brown):

Gorgeous. All these furniture and stuff came from auctions, thrift stores and local sales.

The book has a feature on colour in hallways I found really interesting too (p.34-35), and some beyond lovely photos of thrifty bathrooms. See p. 118-127 for more pics and great advices on 2nd hand sanitaryware, etc.

It’s a must-have in the design book collection!

It is spring approaching summer and we see COLOURS. Striking bright and vibrant colours from All The Rainbow. Especially irresistible are the yellows – from the fresh sunshiny shade to the most poppy citrus hues.

| images: vtwonen & russh magazine (top) and style.com & vtwonen (bottom) |

| via vtwonen |

Well…YES You Can! There are ‘rules’ about this concept, but remember it all started with rule-breaking. Why would you be creative and fun and break one design rule just to adhere to another? Of course a common denominator in the matching choice will bring harmony (if that’s what you want) and too much miss-matching will make it more inscrutable and interesting (or even like a strange chair parade). It’s in the eye of the beholder. And either way, I cherish the idea and the freedom. I guess the only way to get the perfect odd-chair-mix result – in your very own taste – is by doing. If I were to give an advice I’d say take the chairs you really like. They will have something in common.

| pics via husligheter, vtwonen & sköna hem |

| image via marie claire maison |

Today I’m loving the light shining through and colour pops.

| kitchen pic via the style files and living pic: fryd+design via decor8 |

And some more.

|pics: top via sköna hem, decorlogy & abigail ahern. bottom: apartment theraphy, desire to inspire & lagerlings |

I’ve got two personal favourites in the wall colour department. One speaks for itself. Black. Or very nearly black. Rather dark greyish than dark blueish is my preference. At the very top of my list are of course the elusive granny wallpapers. But one must be realistic, it’s both easier and more fun to paint. And less expensive. When the time is right I’ll find my countryside cottage with those terrificly worn old original wallpapers. And the second favourite is a warm comforting colour with no exact definition. It’s kind of pinkish and let’s call the reference lingonberry + milk. The wall to the left below is painted with Alcro’s Lingonberry Milkshake paint. Something similiar to this, but slightly less pink, more like the raw plaster wall right, would be perfect backdrop to a faded glamour scheme.

| black pics via living etc and paul massey photography and lingonberrymilk pics via underbaraclara and living etc |