Off again..

Our 2 month blissful break in Sweden has

come to an end and we are returning to Sydney.

A 30 hour journey (airport to airport) awaits and

I have started the painful process of saying 'good bye'

to my family and friends. It is what I hate the most!

Once we have adjusted to local Sydney time and the

climate shock (from -10C to +36C!) I'll be back here

with you guys, and that is a real comfort to me. x

Please think of us as we plough the skies from North

to South. All cyber hugs are gratefully received. :)

xCharlotta

Wooden simplicity

For some reason this spartan wooden bathroom appeals

to me.. Must be the fact that I am still in Wintery Sweden

where the saunas are going full force in the cold weather..

by photographer Serge Anton

(his folio is very diverse - do have a look..)

xCharlotta

Styling by Emma Thomas

Styling.

A word that sends shivers of excitement down

my spine, and something I could devote my whole

day to if only time allowed..  Here are snippets of

work by extremely talented stylist and art director

Emma Thomas who has worked with a long list

of impressive giants such as Harrods, Marie Claire,

The Times Magazine, Elle Decoration UK etc etc.

Her portfolio is overflowing with wonderful work,

so do jump across to take a closer look after this..

xCharlotta

Divine dining

I am sure that you like moi love 'Emma's Design Blogg'.

This Swedish design blogger (a very talented and well-

known design blogger, I haste to add) who despite

having given birth to her third child only three months

ago, manages to seek out and share design divinity via

her fantastic blog. Do pop in if you haven't done so yet.

Today when I ducked in to see what fabulousness she

has posted about, I came across a parade of amazing

dining rooms. Here they are.. Which one is your pick?

This last pic is one of a brilliant set of images of the 'Delfin & Postigo house'

which was also featured by Emma. To see the rest of this rather

unusual but very sleek home, click HERE please..

xCharlotta

Wine rack

Handy..

 via Eco Salon

xCharlotta

After 100 viewings..

This is the home of Swedish couple Tuula Lindblad

och Mikael Boman who after nearly 100 property

viewings finally found their home near Stockholm.

The property was re-worked with help of Swedish

architect Eva-Lotta Axelsson, and the renovations

took nearly a year with many challenges & hiccups..

In the end they were able to move into their dream

home and reap the fruits of their persistent hard work.

xCharlotta

Black bachelor pad

Architectural version of the 'LBD'..

via 'Residence Hem & Trend' magazine

xCharlotta

Modern cottage

Wonderful & unusual version of a traditional Swedish
country cottage that has been given a complete face lift
as well as a modern extension. Set in the coutryside
near Gothenburg on the West coast of Sweden.

The original cottage is located behind the glass cage

built by the couple (architects) and creates an unusual

mix of structural styles that somehow seem to fit well.

This is not my usual preference, but somehow this

particular home actually got my thumbs up..

What do you think..?

The house has that 'less is more' look founded by the

late architectural genious Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Clean lines, openness, transparency - this is a house

that breathes.. and I feel lighter just looking at it.

Inside or outside? Who can tell in this diningroom?

Imagine how divine this would be in winter as well
with lots of candle lights everywhere..

I am not mad about lime green, however do admire the

courage required to stain the wood panel in this shade..

..and somehow it further reinforces the whole seamless

inside-outside approach to the structure of the house.

Lovely airy bedroom with soothing white walls

and clever wrap-around bench by the fireplace.

A nice calm oasis in the middle of all the green..

I love the contrast of the modern, almost Zen like

bath and sinks (by Antonio Lupi) against the

white washed & wood panelled walls. Too bare

and 'undressed' to be my ideal, but a wonderful

base to work with and pleasing to the eye.

Via 'Residence Hem & Trend' magazine.

xCharlotta

Malene Birger's Copenhagen flat

Danish designer Malene Birger (one of my favourites)

has created a fabulous and exciting home in the heart

of her beloved Copenhagen. With a wonderful mix of

self-designed items, vintage finds and an eye for style

and composition, Malene has created a unique and

elegant boho-chic hide-away that had me returning to

the latest issue of Sköna Hem a few times this week..

If you are a celebrated designer of fantastic clothes why not put

up your favourite fur coats on display in your entryway.. Decadence..

I can hear the late Diana Vreeland type away.. 'Why don't you...'

Loving the industrial-chic lamps above her book table..

There is a slight commercial twist to her styling approach - just look

at the way her make up is arranged at the right hand side of the table..

The sheer linien blind is lovely too, as are the weeping tulips.

Cute and spontaneous photo wall - sans frames.. Nice.

The livingroom has a mix of styles and it is clear that Malene has

focused more on making room for her much loved possesions, than on

a restricted 'design statement'. The black chairs are by Fritz Hansen, the

sofa table a chest covered in a throw from Morocco. The grey cabinet

hosts her impressive collection of silver ware, and the Howard sofa

holds a family of pillows black & white designed by Malene herself.

African scuptures from New York and Elk antlers from Sweden..

Photographs of Marilyn Monroe and ones by Picasso sit next to

illustrations by Malene, and vintage etchings purchased at auctions.

I love the simple wooden desk  in contrast with all that black and white.

A few vintage jewellery boxes from one of her many collections..

Yet another silver tray with a spontaneous display of much loved

items, such as the snake skin toilet bag that Malene designed for

her employees one Christmas.. (Lucky them..)

Idea books in stacks.. Nice to see it isn't just me.. I have idea books

everywhere around our house, in my hand bags and even one in the

glove box of my car.. You just never know when a great idea will pop up..

More black and white photographs, oil painted portraits from 1930,

wood carvings and illustrations from all over the world create a

nice 'bed head'.  I love the layered bed linen in black and white and

that little toy dog that is a mini version of 'Delhi', Malene's own dog.

Vintage Chanel poster and vintage shoes by Dior..

Even the bathroom is decorated in 'showroom style'..

A Gustavian dresser hosts an array of items such as a vintage mirror from

Venice, jars of new and old pieces of jewellery, oil painted portraits etc..

Desipite the clusters of things and abundance of details, it all

kind of works. Probably because the whole apartment is tied

together by a monochromatic palette of shades of white

mixed with black or neutrals. The impression I am left with is

a feminine & creative home designed with love and inspiration.
A cool & harmonious surface boiling over with energy beneath..

Not unlike her wonderful collections 'by Malene Birger'.

xCharlotta

P.s. Malene has a house on the island of Mallorca as well.
Haven't found any images of this yet, but am looking.. x

Pigeon Light

A huge bird lover, I am totally smitten

by this 'Pigeon Light' by Ed Carpenter.

image via Sköna Hem

xCharlotta

Haiti

For all those lost, missing, hurt and

traumatized in Haiti...

My heart is crying and I am lighting

candles for everyone affected.

Let's be grateful for the loved ones

we have in our lives and think of

those less fortunate & those in need.

xCharlotta

Bjørg...

The fabulous jewellery by Norwegian 'Bjørg'

is surely no news to anyone, however I have

fallen in love again with the collections on

display at my favourite stores here in Sweden..

Each piece is playfully cute yet with that rustic

feel that anchor them in the Nordic category

of design. Though it was very hard to refrain

from splashing out on several pieces (a mini

collection just for me..*sigh*.) I bought only

two pieces - a necklace and a ring..

Bjørg herself says that;

  “For me the process has always been the

biggest joy - the playful phase where you

don’t know where things will end - and you

don’t really care about the result!” Perhaps

a result having worked with children's clothing

and design before she ventured into jewellery..?

More from HERE.

(p.s. do watch the video too..)

xCharlotta