Winter tenderness

Stunning moments of Winter captured by

photographer Allison Trentelman.

To view more of Allison's beautiful work,

please jump across to 'Rocky Top Studio'.

xCharlotta

Patagonian heaven

Patagonia is a place I have always wanted to visit.

To me there is something so irresistible with this rugged

terrain with needle sharp mountains, glaciers and icy rivers.

This Patagonian loft carries a lot of the same features as the

surrounding landscape - the elongated vertical lines of the double
height ceilings and exposed wooden structure remind me of
the steep mountain massives, the pale green walls are a perfect
match with the icy glacial waters of the lakes & rivers, the crisp
white fabric of the sofas makes me think of the snow clad slopes,
peaks and glaciers, and the slate covered walls resemble the
exposed and weathered rock face of the South facing mountains.

The materials chosen are rustic and in harmony with the setting -
wood, rock, fur and rich earthy tones with texture and life.

Photographer : Daniela Mac Adden

Architect : Pablo Velasco Suárez
Interior designers : Willie Sanchez and Marcela Escalada

xCharlotta

Lexington

It is no secret that I love the warm & casual preppy style of Swedish 'Lexington Company' - especially when it comes to their holiday collections. Here are a few images from this year's Xmas spread..

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Though 'Lexington Company' often is thought to be American, it is in fact Swedish and was founded in 1997 with the ambition was to create a 'New England' inspired, preppy classic 'All-American' life-style brand that included everything from bedding, towels and home decor, to clothing and accessories.

Though their image in Sweden is marketed as more 'New England' than anything, it is fair to say that it isn't at all that clean, white and light as true New England style. As Swedish Sandra Ljung said; "I’ll agree to that there are elements of what I would characterize as typically New England that are included in this life-style concept. But it also contains a lot of Swedish aesthetics, creating a new style that is a unique blend of Swedish and American, and hence, a Swedish version of New England, where the romantic view of an area has inspired into the making of something different and new. It is perhaps the fact that Lexington has managed to integrate the essentials of Swedish aesthetics while at the same time tapping into Swedish consumers’ dreamlike notion of the American 'East Coast', that they have become so successful." I tend to agree here..

Their look is rustic and relaxed, yet timeless with classic pieces of dark wood furniture, clean lines, high quality fabrics. The focus is to create a dressed, warm & comfortable elegance - be that in the city apartment or at the country house. Founding partner (and now CEO) Kristina Lindhe's home was recently featured in my beloved Swedish Sköna Hem magazine. Here's the house tour.. Enjoy!

The house is a traditonal 'Ornäs­villa' (1920s style architecture) built in 1929 with typical features inspired by timber houses of Dalarna in the Northern part of Sweden. The blue/white colour scheme and shutters give the house that preppy classical look of the 'Lexington Company'.

The dining- and living rooms are light filled and airy - in fact there are a total of 110 panes of glass here... The apple wood chairs and table are bought at an auction, and the chandelier was made by a local smith in line with Kristina's own design and instructions (brilliant idea). The plates on the dining table are by 'Mateus' - another Swedish company that deserves a blog post of its own (watch this space..).

"Everything in the living room needs to be big in order not to disappear", says Kristina. The sofas and armchair are by Swedish company 'R.o.o.m, the glassed frame on the left contain a piece of antique fabric from Paris, and all pillows and throws are by the 'Lexington Company'. All-in-all, simple and no-fuss, yet cozy.

The kitchen has a slight industrial feel to it, with large mosaic tiles covering the walls from bench-top to ceiling. The kitchen table is another of Kristina's own designs - a slate top with white washed wood structure. Those wonderful pendant lamps were designed by famous Danish architect and designer Poul Henningsen around 1925.

The table and sofa are flea-market finds that Kristina stripped back and painted white - in fact she says she often brings home auction and market finds to the house, like the old family albums on the table. The pillows (excluding the black one) and folded throw are by 'Lexington Company' as is the blue denim runner. The red/white striped curtains are by Swedish 'Walles & Walles' and the leather chest under the table is another vintage market find.

Almost everything in the master bedroom are by the 'Lexington Company', and on the wall above the bed head are black/white snapshots from family holidays. I love how casually they have been hung..

Cozy, South facing veranda which catches the gorgeous Swedish evening sun (.. those slow summer sunsets..). The garden includes trees & bushes of Jasmin, Syringa and Spiraea....I can just imagine the heavenly scent on a summer's night!

All photography of Kristina Lindhe's home by Johan Carlson. 
Sköna Hem, October 2009

xx Charlotta

Bright, light and sunny home

Here's an unusual and personable home in Philadelphia.

Like flicking through a colourful & bright book with

eye-catching detail and little 'story-lines' everywhere.

Though the style may not be in harmony with my personal design

aesthetic, there is a lot to learn from this place. E.g. the proud

and joyful display of meaningful items, mixed with family faves.

I respect and admire that, and the loving happiness that shines

through in every room has a positive and comforting effect on me.

There is so much to look at that I will refrain from writing my

own commentary - just enjoy the flick through and jump across to

champion blog 'Design Sponge' for the original post and full story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All pictures via: 'Sneak peek: Halligan Norris-Smith and Adam Smith' at Design Sponge

xCharlotta

Swedish beauty in Skåne

This is the home of Ulrika Rudolf-Hall & Johan Nilsson - owners

of an antique store in Stockamöllan, in the South of Sweden.

They live here with their two kids and an endless parade of

stunning antiques and treasures. Let's take a look around..

The main house was built in the late 1700s and in line with the

traditional 'cross-joint style' houses of Skåne - brick structures,

straw covered pitched roof, un-framed windows, elongated &

flowing floor-plan etc. Inside, the ceilings are typically low with

exposed beams, the floors wooden and certain walls reveal the

structural brick and woodwork. My father used to own a house

like this in the South of Sweden and I simply love this traditional

style of Swedish architecture - so charmingly rustic and warm.

What the family refers to as the 'Wintergarden' is a new addition to
the main house. The owners chose a simple zink roof that over time
will take on a much darker and weathered look. The windows
were found in the attic of the main house and were set on their side
in order to work better with the double doors - creates a nice graphic
effect in of the detail above the doors and in line with the pitched roof.

This fantastic 1800s workbench is from Jämtland in the North.

This weathered book cabinet from the early 1800s originally had
a lower piece that was removed sometime in the last century
when the previous owners decided to make a dolls house of it.

Now it holds an array of collectibles such as this red Chinese
four-piece jar, and the antique leather bound books from 1700s.

I love this old garden table (used for planting) that the family
found at Rönneholm's Castle - the top is made of wood whereas
the bottom is metal. What a find! The candelabra is English and
dates back to the 1800s, and is frequently used by the family.

The TV room is the only modernly fitted room of the house,
and includes two comfy arm chairs from IKEA, a collection of
old chalk boards and a chalk relief on the antique side table.

The library has been painted in a soft powdery pink which sets
off the untreated wood of the chairs that are 1900C copies, and
the Baroque table with black detail - another favourite of mine.
 And oh also.. just look at those fantastic floor boards people!

 The library also holds a work-area with a divine desk and chair that
are from the early part of the 1800s. The chalk bust is a portrait
of the Greek God Hermes - son of Zeus and God of commerce.
Also note the fantastic window treatments - I love it!

This romantic little chambre belongs to the daughter of the house.

Original art by Ulrika's dad (Lennart Hall) that was painted in
the 60s, which is nicely set off against the white walls and in
harmony with the garden stools from the early 1900s.

The old rusty tables are from a swimming hall in Småland,
and hold a led plate and zink urn. The chair a new production of
an original Rococo chair and the painting again is by Ulrika's dad.

The bedroom (master) is a passageway, but can be sealed off by
more of those lovely linen drapes. Antique chairs flank that lovely
tallboy in-between the windows along the corridor.

The master bed is nicely framed by the drapes. The wardrobe
that is lurking in the far corner is Gustavian and that beautiful
large mirror from 1890. Also note the tiled wood fire oven.

All in all a fantastic home that I'd love to spend some time in.
So much to explore further.

via Sköna Hem

Photography by Johan Kalén

xCharlotta