trendey

White is innocence, cleanliness; the “colour” of perfection. The mother of life. Fresh milk, crispy cold snow, and fluffy cotton clouds on a summerblue sky… White heals, liberates and purifies. However, it can make a room feel naked and bare. White is eyestrain. People who work in bright light in white rooms have become blinded and suffered from fatigue damage. As a background for other colours though, white is striking. It’s easy to change colours in a room that has white as a base. A broken white colour (like the “Stockholm-white”) is sometimes the better option since it allows space but is more pleasing to the eyes. The white walls-or-not-debate is a common theme here at Trendey,( just ask Josef Frank what he thinks .) so for variation I give to you some white details.

| all-white room pic from RUM, white details on mantelpiece pic from House to home, and lighting by Graham & Green: Kitsch Moulded Table Lamp (the skull), Labware Lighting Collection and a Hercules Giant Floor Lamp |

Oh I know I might sound and seem a bit schizophrenic when I in one breath is sick of white (babbling about that love-hated “Stockholm-white”) and the other continues to post lovely white interiors. Thing is, I really like white interiors when there is a twist to it, an edge. The all-white needs sparkles in one way or another. In the pics below, from the portfolio of Trine Thorsen, the colour splashes are modest (mostly pastels) and other elements are mainly nature and wood. Nonetheless, the important details, and the vibe, that truly enlivens the white, is all there…

Personally I am not particulary fond of white interiors. I’m a Swede right, I see it all the time. I live in a city that has given name to a shade of white! Though there is something appealing with all white and crispy – especially when the atmosphere is like in these bedroom pics or like the pics below. With grace and a worn expression, without being all shabby chic.

| pic: Sköna hem |

| pic: Marie Claire Maison |

With carefully chosen furniture (purchased at auctions, 2nd hand shops and even found in garbage rooms) and bold colour choices set and costume designer Elsa Fischer has created a Stockholm home far from the usual (Stockholm-)whites. In fact, she notes it seems to be a ‘weird law’ in Sweden all homes must spring in white.

Elsa has mixed teak furniture from the 1950s with antique sofas. Inspiration is derived from art, music and people she meets. Here and there are fine ornate vases, old photographs, dolls, candlesticks – and a framed bat. Her still life is changing daily. One day, there is a collection of porcelain birds and the next day there is a group of toys in the same place. May it be suitcases or dried roses.

The kitchen is designed in collaboration with an interior designer. It’s inspired by the old B2-line by Bulthaup.

The white bedroom, below, has a dramatic clothes rail in the ceiling.

This home, article says, is an ever-changing environment. In the near future Elsa plans to paint two rooms in the apartment Gustavian green and match with antique rugs. We round off with her interior design advices:

|Be who you are. Dare to paint other than white. Fill your home with love – be generous with tea, food, love and pillows.|

Tada! Today I’ve pimped my old corner cabinet I got from my grandparents when I was a child.

(more…)

The prevailing style of decor in the capital of Sweden has been a topic in this blog several times. My apology and explanation is that I – during my four months long search and hunt for an apartment to buy – glanced through countless real estate ads and visited numerous styled Stockholm homes. It has been summed up in Scandinavian style and the “colour” Stockholm-White (its definition and colour code is disputed, some holds it’s S 0502-Y). Now, I stumbled across the (very fine) blog Splendid Willow, written by Monika, who is a native Swede living in the US. She has recently listed the design elements you can be sure to find in a Stockholm apartment:

* White. Swedes embrace gallons and gallons of white paint.
* Hardwood floors with individual rugs (Swedes stopped using wall to wall carpeting decades ago).
* State of the art kitchens.
* State of the art bathrooms.
* Books! Books are prominent, we surround ourselves with books and display them with pride.
* A great mix of old and new. A true Swede will rather have no furniture at all than to get rid of historical elements such as old wood burning stoves and the old beams.

I endorse all the points and add to the list:

* Naked windows. A fear of curtains lives inside the city homes.
* Stylish lighting. Lighting is a crucial point. Right now, two trends stand out: large round lights hanging from the ceiling (the IKEA Maskros lamp probably sell like crazy) and chandeliers, preferably crystal.
* Well-arranged wardrobes. Again, you’ll never escape IKEA, that company has distorted our brains showing their shelving systems with thousands of practical options. (The dream of a walk-in closet is intrinsic but not always pronounced.)

Proof. (Exhibit A to F)

|photos from Skeppsholmen|

The Scandinavian interior design style has been mentioned previously in a few posts. Now what about some pure philosophy on a day like this? I’ve been contemplating the words of Josef Frank, the “creator”, or may I say father, of the Scandinavian (or Swedish) interior design style. Josef Frank was born 1885 in Vienna and moved to Sweden in 1933, where he started working for the design company Svenskt Tenn and produced numerous design items until his death in 1967. With a pic from Svenskt Tenn is the middle, here’s Josef Frank and some of his designs:

Josef Frank formulated his interior design philosophy (referenced as the Scandinavian or Swedish modern style) in two much quoted articles that appeared in Form magazine in the 30s and 50s. Amongst other things, he stated the following:

The modern dwelling space has white walls. This is the only way to preserve its freedom and enable the introduction of a variety of items without disrupting the colour scheme.

Josef Frank thought too much white in a room gives an unrestfull impression. White walls needs to be combined with colours and patterns for a balance to be created. He also said:

There’s nothing wrong with mixing old and new, with combining different furniture styles, colours and patterns. Anything that is in your taste will automatically fuse to form an entire relaxing environment. A home does not need to be planned down to the smallest detail or contrived; it should be an amalgamation of the things that its owner loves and feels at home with.

One of Josef Frank’s fundamental ideas was that the occupants of a home should enjoy a personal relationship with all the objects surrounding them. Each object should hide a “secret” that makes it special and interesting. All pieces of furniture should be individual “living organisms” with souls of their own. Also, in the Form Magazine of 1958, Josef Frank coined the term Accidentism. He had been asked to write an article, and the result was a scathing criticism of the contemporary stiff modernism. This was his way of making up with the modernism, which was then supreme. He thought it was too standardized and was tired of everything looking the same. The Accidentism theory is based on the idea that we shall personalize our surroundings as if it were the result of an accident:

The living room where you can think freely and harmoniously is neither beautiful nor harmonious, or fotogenique. It has emerged as a result of coincidences, it will never be ready and it can in itself absorb whatever might be, in order to satisfy the holder’s changing discerning.

Now the words of Josef Frank – articulated half a decade ago – do shed light on contemporary Scandinavian style, as well as other contemporary interior trends, don’t they?

As I mentioned earlier, I’m in the process of buying myself (& Mike) a new home. Very many apartments pass my eyes these days! I have to show you a piece of flat from today’s harvest on the net. This 100 sq. meter 2 bedroom flat is actually next door to this one. So let me state my case of the contemporary Swedish Urban Style Mix.

The house dates back to 1882. Well-preserved and charming details, generous ceiling height and wood flooring in pine are some of the basic elements. It has two functioning fire places (we need that warming coziness in cold Sweden). Ok, reception room/living room:

Note the airy interiors and the use of “Stockholm-White”. See also the Pappelina rug in the right corner.

The kitchen in this apartment has a touch of country style with its white kitchen cabinets, pine flooring and a rag rug. It’s equipped with a gas hob, dish washer, owen, a huge American refrigerator; everything the chef might need. Owners have preserved the kitchen’s original wood stove (and it’s functioning!)

This home also has a sparcely decorated balcony. The apartment is listed for sale with the real estate agent Bjurfors (from which I’ve borrowed the photos).

Let me show you a cool example of the Swedish urban interior style. This 2 bedroom duplex flat just hit the Stockholm market. It is listed for sale with the real estate agent Vision Fastighetsmäkleri. It is situated close to Mariatorget, which is usually referenced to as the heart of Södermalm (I’d say the heart of Stockholm). Bidding starts at 3 475 ooo SEK (close to £300 000).

The interiors is this flat combine the time-typical turn of the century character (it has two fireplaces and old details preserved such as high skirtings) with modern design and airy spaces. It is well refined, well componed and I’d say, an excellent example of a very typical Stockholmish style. Now, let’s have a look:

Above is the living room, @ ground floor. And the kitchen:

Below is the entrance/hallway, and let’s go downstairs.

Downstairs, there is a lounge room…

…and a bedroom:

Photos from VISION Fastighetsmäkleri