This old mill..

When interior designer Marie-Laure Helmkampf found an old oil mill in the South of France she was smitten. Though most of the original structure had to be rebuilt completely, Marie-Laure managed to retain a lot of the original character & charm. The rusticity of the traditional stone work, the exposed natural wood, & organic textures mixed with sleek modern lines, and abundance of natural light have resulted in a warm, inviting and relaxed home.

Images via Nuevo Estilio and Marie-Laure Helmkamf Interiors

A place to spend happy times with friends and family for sure..!

xx Charlotta

Danish costal with a twist..

Hello darlings and happy Friday to you! I am so happy to be able to 'serial post' this week, and as always your comments & emails have really put a happy glow to my week! Thank you! xx

Today I came across this rather unusual timber cottage in beautiful Nordsjælland, Denmark. It's owned by Henry Busk & Stine Christa Engel Busk who run clothing company 'Munderingskompagniet' (we like our long words in Scandinavia..!)

The cottage that is located just 500 meters from the ocean, was built in 1924 in traditional style. However the inside tells a different and unexpected story..

 

In all but one room, the timber walls have been varnished a dark glossy brown, giving the house more of a 'hunting lodge' feel than 'costal abode'. 

The single white room is the result of the couple's daughter Nuka, who was given free hands when choosing the colour for her room. And she was adamant she wanted white from top to toe!

When the house was purchased it was layered with heavy curtains, artificial flowers and thick rugs. Horror! All of this was torn out to allow the house to breathe.

They wanted a raw, rustic and slightly 'worn' backdrop to their vastly eclectic mix of furniture and objects. In the living room, a black 'Togo sofa' by Michael Ducaroy blends beautifully with cushions from Istanbul (Turkey), an over-sized vase and a couple of 'Sweetbox' side tables by Green Square (a wonderful shop!).

On the bare kitchen floor stands a table by legendary Arne Jacobsen, together with seven Chinese stools from Rosmosegaard. And in the window behind, is Stine's collection of vintage vases from Germany.

Stine apparently has 'photographic memory', as such each piece of art becomes very important. Every item has been chosen carefully and tells a story that is meaningful & treasured by the family. The way it should be don't you think!?

So overall rather unexpected don't you think?! I at least was intrigued, and wanted to share it with you. x

Images via: Vårt Nya Hem

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Ok friends. I'll be back again tomorrow when I am participating in Anita's 'Irresistible Paris' party (ref 'Castles Crowns Cottages'). Oh la la, je suis tellement excitée! :)

xx Charlotta

Stylish.. Splendid.. Swedish..

So I wasn't going to post at all today but how could I resist when my close blog sister Monika Claassen of the wonderful 'Splendid Willow' had her amazing home featured in the latest issue of RUE Magazine!?!

Monika is tending to family matters in our beloved Sweden and is probably frantically busy as I type this, but I want her to know just how proud I am of her! xx

I know she was anxious about the feature. I mean, how nerve wrecking wouldn't it be to have one's home show-cased by an international high end magazine!?!  

But don't get me wrong here! Monika is not the kind to look for approval or even endorsement to the way she lives her life or styles her house. She is confident, capable and rests securely in the knowledge that her style & home have genuine soul and that they reflect the values and likes of her wonderful Swedish/Canadian family in Seattle. That is all that matters, and I admire how true she is to herself!

The anxiety would instead stem from not wanting to disappoint or let anyone down, and this genuine concern and respect for others is true reflection of who she is. This girl really cares people (!), and she has the biggest & warmest heart!  
Admirably and despite having to rush off to Sweden  within days of the shoot, she spend the precious & sparse time before her departure making sure every corner of the house was in tip top shape in preparation for the RUE team. And Monika, we can safely say that it was - it all looks just perfect!!

Now, I could go on and on here.. You know it's true! :) But instead I am going to direct you over to Splendid Willow for the announcement that Monika's husband so kindly posted today (he is such a gem this man!) And of course also to the latest issue of RUE where - on page 158+ - you can see the full spread of this splendidly elegant yet warm home in Seattle..

Hugs to all and an extra warm one for my super clever sister Monika!! I am SO proud of you darling!!

xx Charlotta


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 P.S. Don't forget to visit Monika's amazing on-line boutique 'AVENUE' .

Take my word for it when I say, you will be praying for rain after having 
bought yourself some Ilse Jacobsen designer wet wear..!! Really!

Two lives.. Swedish style..

Two lives.. to abodes.. Both equally delightful, in their own right. Which one is you? Where would you rather live?

Tucked away, in-between the sparkly waters of the North Sea and the tall pine trees on a remote island in the Stockholm archipelago, is this divine little cottage.

How can one not want to pack ones bag and head over immediately - perhaps even permanently? I know my Swedish heart beats extra fast at the sight of a simple and warm hide-away like this.

The elegant yet rustic sleekness of the architectural bones are wonderful. Add to that the open dynamics and flooding natural lights, this tailor-made cottage is just heaven to me! In fact this here would be the perfect artist's escape - a place to rest, restore and paint or write!

Next, we catch the boat into the heart of Stockholm - arguably the most beautiful capital in the world. Nestled high above the rooftops we find a quirky attic apartment with a strong personality.

Similar to our lovely cottage above, this home basks in amazing natural light. It is indeed a very important factor to us Scandinavians, and something that we always notice where ever we are. 

The slanted ceiling and deep window niches are beyond charming, and I really like how these original features are contrasted against an otherwise sleek and contemporary take on decor.

Who do you think lives here? There is in fact a child's room in the original gallery of images and I like the idea of a little cherub running around the open white space of this amazing apartment.
I also adore that massive built-in bookshelf, and though I could never bring myself to arrange my books by colour, I think it works very well here.

 All images by Martin Löf

So which one will it be my dears? No 1 or no 2? Perhaps both..?

xx Charlotta

Tine K house tour - new pictures..

Hi all. Hope your week is running smoothly and that you are basking in sunlight and good health! 

The other day I came across a gallery of new pictures of Tine Kjeldsen's beautiful home in Denmark, and there had been some fundamental changes to the look & feel of the interior since I last shared images back in October 2009 (HERE).

The earlier contrast and drama created by those glossy black floors have been replaced with a much softer, lighter, more feminine and less strict atmosphere. Though the runner rugs are wonderful, I do have a real weakness for the hallway as it looked 'before'. The floors work particularly well here and I love the idea of a black front door. Especially against the white facade and the stone steps.

There is a lot of 'white on white' in the house after the renovation, and also a little flair of 'Shabby Chic' coming through here in the new hallway. The latter is not my personal favourite but Tine has great taste and I think she has executed it well.
This new and whiter direction feels very close to Tine's early business days when her little interior design shop 'Tine K' first opened in the affluent area of Charlottenlund, Denmark. Back then, her concept was very much 'white on white' with strong French influences.

 

There is a recurrent appearance different shades of 'plum', 'mauve', and 'thunder greys'. These two seem to have formed the theme for almost every room. Though on one hand I feel it is a little bit too 'safe' to repeat a colour theme in an entire home, Tine has used many different types of materials, textures and objects to create contrast and interest. It may not be for me, but somehow it works here.

Of all the rooms in the house, I think I like the work room leading onto the veranda the most. Here the stark white works well, and though I am a little bit 'over' the so called 'Industrial trend', I wouldn't mind getting my Swedish mittens on that tall chest of drawers. Isn't it just wonderful!?!

I also think this 'family room' with this work station is pretty nice. This would be the perfect place to sit and blog don't you think..!?! :)

The black wall art, the table and the cabinet in the background are all beautiful, and also create a nice anchor for the eye to rest on in this overwhelmingly white room. And that's coming from a Swede..!

This here is Tine herself with her three little blondies - aren't they gorgeous!? The master bedroom was once white with black floors but now a vision in greys, with one Tine's famous quilts draped across the bed. 

Despite the tangible warmth throughout the house, there is also a sense of minimalism coming through. This too is very true to the roots of 'Tine K' and perhaps also a typically Scandinavian trait of interiors. It creates a restful canvas for the often unusual and beautiful objects that Tine collects from all over the world. Add to that the way it magnifies the natural light and you can understand why she took this direction.

The master bathroom is nicely executed with quirky and personal little twists here and there. Despite the boldness, it feels warm, dressed and full of love. I particularly like the idea of that chair next to the bath. Such a wonderful place to sit and chat when one's darling is soaking in the tub.  Or the kids for that matter..!

I also like the way that Tine has used the adorable little window to enhance the composition of the artworks on the wall. Simple and playful. 

Last but not least, note how fun those leather straps are on what seem to be very ordinary cabinets. Such an easy-to-replicate idea when renovating on a shoestring. Not that Tine probably did, but you know what I mean..

The light in the dining room is amazing - such a bright sunny place to share a meal. It is quite clear that the photo shoot of the reno took place in Spring or Summer time, when decor in Scandinavia tends to be scaled back.

For Autumn and Winter, I can see this new room being layered with lovely rugs and perhaps some gorgeous deep grey 'Gotland Sheep' skins on those beautiful Asian chairs. I can also envisage Tine's trademark silver candle stick clusters as a center piece, and a few of those silvery floor lanterns scattered around the room. She is so great with ambience don't you think?!

The very first time I saw Tine's kitchen I loved it, and especially so that wonderful Moroccan silver tray. I have since tracked down similar ones and am determined to pick up a couple (one large and one medium) before the end of Autumn this year!

The new white floors have certainly given the kitchen a lift. Though I didn't dislike the previous black floors, I think this room now feels a little more current. Also, there they are again, those quirky little leather straps. I love them.

Last but not least. Here are some of the old shots from the surrounding garden, and also the famous guest house. All of this is so typically Scandinavian to me, and I can't wait to go home to Sweden to experience a proper Nordic Summer in only a few weeks. Yay!

Hope you enjoyed this my dears.

If you want to see more pictures please click into 'Tine K Home' right HERE.

xx Charlotta