Treasure the imperfect...

...and make it beautiful!

xx Charlotta

image by Olivio Barberi

Tru luv..

Simple. Tranquil. True.

xx Charlotta

- - + - -

Via: Kiss the Groom

Photos: Elizabeth Messina

Event: Lisa Vorce

100% personality..

In stark contrast to my previous post, here's a home that is all but restrained..! It may not be something I'd rate as my personal dream home, but what a quirky and interesting place people!. I just love the passion and joy behind the creation of this warm and quirky family home, and can only imagine the wonderful stories behind the scenes..!

Fireplace from France, purpouse made circular art (back right) from Spanish cow hides, rug from Morocco, the arm chairs French market finds, candle sticks from Berlin.. in short, this antique timber house now hosts treasures from all corners of the world. Do you think the priest could have ever imagined when he built it way back when..!?! :)

After 10 happy years in San Francisco, Ingvild & Olaf felt their homeland calling (I can so relate..!) and had a strong desire to return to the Nordic quietness and landscape. They longed to live in the country side and found a large piece of land in the forest just West of Oslo. All they needed then was a house - an old one with lots of character..

Excuse the poor quality of my scan.. but this picture was not part of Sköna Hem's digital gallery.. This is the kind of house onto which you want to toss a couple of sheep that will keep the grass trimmed.. :)

They responded to an ad for a 'Timber built preacher's-den on the mountain, early 17th cent', though found the 'house' had in fact been de-mounted into a pile of timber (!). But they bought it anyway and started the painstaking job of first moving it (the pile..) to their forest patch, and then piecing it together. How courageous! 
The result is a genuinely unique and charming two story home with tangible soul and so much personality.

Ingvild is an interior designer and Olaf an astrologer/psychologist (wonderful collective knowledge here, don't you think!?!), and together with an architect friend they designed large windows that were set into the timber frame to allow the forest to merge with the inside. In fact these people love the forest so much that they actually sleep outside during the warmer months of the year. I remember doing just that too when I was a little girl, and it was such an adventure and I loved watching the night sky in my sleeping bag! Have you ever tried?

These people are sleeping on hay people..! Even the bed head is made of hay, and then covered in fabric.. 

They also 'up-cycled' old building materials, vintage finds, antiques, hand-me-downs, and second hand buys. They became so good at it that it evolved into a business of importing & selling European vintage and demolition materials. One can only imagine the treasures they come across!

All images, but my dreadful scan of the house, from Sköna Hem digital gallery.

Have a fabulous and quirky weekend darlings.

Hope you are up to fun things!

xx Charlotta

Restraint..

Hi darlings. How's your week rolling?

I came across this minimal loft in the renowned 'Flowerbox' building in the East Village NY and so want to hear your thoughts.. Zen or Zzzz..?

 Photos: Udom (represented by Cornelia Adams) via Loft Life.  

For the full article click HERE.

Happy rest of the week & hugs to all.

xx Charlotta

Autumnal Sweden...

Hello lovelies! I am typing this from a truly Autumnal Sweden - the wind is ruffling the trees sending cascades of yellowing leaves past my window. 
Summer has definitely left us, and in a seemingly constant glow of candle light (I am a candle addict!) I find myself drifting into a slow & comfortable pace of life - Autumnal bliss..!

Don't you just love the 'Crimean Pinecone' lamp by Pavel Eekra..!?!

My mind seems to swing like a pendulum between food (eating!) and interiors at this time of the year. With equal measure I crave cooking- and interior- magazines & blogs right now and I find myself drawn to richer colours, more rustic finishes, and nurturing environments.

This is what I had for lunch today.. this photo from my kitchen table..

Golden Chanterelles & Horn of Plenty mushrooms (that I pick in the nearby forest), ruby red 'lingon berries', sweet figs, fragrant chestnuts, fresh beetroot, pumpkins & carrots bought from my local farmyard (a wonderful self-service farm outlet!), ripe plums, pears & apples picked in my garden all  glow with such rich vibrancy that they inspire me to both cook an decorate..

The Rowan trees are heavy with clusters of bright red berries that work wonderfully when wanting to add a touch of Autumn inside. I adore them in every shape and form!

I currently have a single twig in an over-sized glass bottle in my living room (that desperately needs art and window dressing still.!), and I have used small cuts of berries and leaves to brighten up the place settings on my dining table.

I am also planning to thread single berries on thin steel wire and bend into 'single strand wreaths' for my kitchen and dining room windows. For one of many tutorials HERE..

The leaves are starting to change from green to a spectrum of yellows, though it will be a few weeks still until they explode in their 'grand finale' of vivid colours. My regular and long term readers might remember an Autumnal guest post by my dear friend Minna Mercke Schmidt last year, where she showed us how to tie a beautiful leaf wreath. Click HERE to refresh your memory.

Autumn (Sept-Nov) here in Sweden is referred to the 'food season' because of the abundance of fresh local produce. 

The harvest has brought an array of wonderful root vegetables, beekeepers are offering jars of fresh honey, the forest is serving up a 'smörgåsbord' of delicacies (berries, mushrooms, chestnuts etc), the gaming/hunting season and cattle slaughtering are in full swing, and the ocean is treating us to and array of crustaceans & heavenly seafood. Simply put, this is THE time of the year to visit Sweden if you are a food lover!

Another culinary excuse (..if you need one!) to travel to Sweden this time of the year is the annual harvest of the black 'Gotland truffle' (October/November)!! Yes you heard me right, Sweden is home to some of the world's best black truffle. It may not be as well known or 'famous' as its Italian or French 'truffle cousins', but actually on par in quality, fragrance and flavour!

Perhaps you feel like learning the secrets of truffle hunting & harvesting (?), in which case you can join 'Gotlandstryffel & Smakrike Krog' in their annual 'truffle safari'. You don't even have to bring your own 'truffle pig'..ha!

With all of this in mind, you can imagine why I am purring in contentment and delight right now. There are so many wonderful things to enjoy and look forward to in the next couple of months. Rugged up outside or snug & cozy inside I am enjoying Swedish Autumn to the full!

Warm hugs from the top of the world!

xx Charlotta

Image credits: 1. Habitually Chic (manipulated by me), 2. unknown via Tumblr, 3. Eekra, 4 & 5. Pinterest & Sköna Hem, 7. Charlotta Ward (private photo), 8. Chris Faves (Tumblr), 9. Laughing Popcorn (Tumblr), 6/10/28/30 &11 &12. Sweet Paul Fall 2011 & Coco+Kelly & Google, 13/27. Söderbergs Argentur, 14. Anna Skoog, 15. Pinterest, 16. From the Bottom of the Ironing Basket, 17, Sweet Paul 2010, 18, Folkbladet, 19. unknown, 20, Beas Barnsligheter, 21. Fancy, 22. What Wilson Wants, 23. Ojo, 24. Anna Kern, 25. Mochatini, 26. Lena Granefelt, 29. the Heart of the Sea Home, 31. unknown, 32. from one of my previous posts, 33. Glasshouse images.

Hit it with a stick.. and happy weekend!

Hello my dears. The kidlets & I are off to the Stockholm archipelago to visit close friends for the weekend, and we're so looking forward! Just wanted to duck in here first to share this wonderful photo..

I love the textures & colours, and think it would look fab blown up large, and framed! 
It's from Jackson Pollock's studio (I adore his art!), via an interesting article about his and Lee Krasner's Hampton home (in the latest issue of Australian e-zine 'EST'). The article is written and photographed by Robyn Lea.

Two talented, strong minded abstract artists with a lot of influence on their genre of art.. can you imagine the passionate (if not stormy..!) discussions at their dinner table..!?

I was quite surprised by the tranquility and soothing 'whiteness' of their humble home. According to the article they were apparently avid beach combers, and used to stroll along the shore line collecting shells and drift wood.. I wonder if this is where Jackson picked some of the sticks he used when creating his wonderful works..?! Oor was it just a source of relaxation to quiet the mind..?! 

*All images by Robyn Lea*

With that I bow out for the week. Take care, have fun and have a marvelous weekend everyone.

Friendly wolf kisses from Sweden.. ;)

xx Charlotta