Swedish Christmas inspiration..

Hello hello! Today I am back with some Swedish Winter decor inspiration. During the dark months of the year local peeps tend to go out of their way to nurture their souls. It comes through in the food we eat, the way we dress and how we decorate the spaces we linger in. 

Potted mini pine trees make for such a cute display!

I think one of the most striking things with Swedish style is that there is always - ALWAYS! - an element of nature. Be that through the material of the item itself, of how it is teamed up. You see we just can't get enough of all the stunning treasures Mother Nature has to offer. In Winter you find us Northerners collect moss to top our flower pots with, pine cones to toss on a beautiful tray along with some good quality candles. Later the same pine cones will be sprayed and hung in the Christmas tree.

 Note the subtle moss topped silver bowls.

 Pine cuttings and cones make great present toppings!

Love the way the trimmed pine tree in the window!

You will see pelts or skins draped on the back of dining chairs (inside and outside too!), logs neatly stacked in a basket, twigs decorated with handmade ornaments, a decorative bowl of acorns or chestnuts on a sideboard, cuttings of pine nestled in with a linen serviette at the dinner table. I could go on. It's all so terribly Scandinavian ja for sure!

 Reindeer skins are ideal for outdoor use as they molt in warm temperatures!

 A fallen branch makes such a lovely and contemporary Christmas tree!

Simple, stunning and always so appreciated by arriving guests!

Another thing I notice is that not only do we tend to bring the 'outside in', we also bring 'the inside out'. Lovely set ups of lanterns adorn balconies, door steps and porches. Christmas decorations are hung in the apple trees in the garden. Beautiful bowls of Winter fruit casually left out for the birds to feast on. I love this tradition to bring the decor outside! It makes for such a welcoming approach don't you think!?! Private homes, corporations, shops, hospitals, everyone does it. Even at my children's school there are lanterns lit in the dark Wintery mornings. Such a lovely way to greet the students don't you think!?

To this point, many Swedish (Scandinavian) brands lend themselves towards this marriage of man-made and natural. And for someone like me - who can't pass a patch of blueberry bushes without picking a bunch - it is perfect! 

Bear hugs to all from the North!

xx Charlotta  

Images from Affari
With the exception of no 2. Pottery Barn and 4. Pinterest
 

Stockholm minimalism..

Hi darlings. Due to one of the kidlets being ill I am a little bit behind with the next detox post, so I thought I would share this crisp and minimal apartment in the heart of lovely Stockholm instead. But don't worry I am working away in the mean time and will bring you no 3 or the 'detox series' in a few days. x

In the same way that minimal make-up only looks good on a flawless face, minimal decor only really works if the architectural bones and features have what it takes. And in my opinion this place certainly does. Flooded with natural light, to-die-for floors {sigh}, tall ceilings, and structural beauty all makes up for lack of decorational detail don't you think!?

The house was built in 1915 and was thoroughly renovated by owner Stefan Söderberg (founder of Swedish fashion label Hope) when he bought it in 1998. The place was gutted and painted crisp white, before it was decorated with a mix of designer classics, modern & vintage treasures in true Scandinavian manner. 
I just die over those copper pendants and the cool factor of the mid-century side-board (storage unit)..

Though my personal preference may be a little more 'dressed' than this, I truly appreciate the simplistic beauty of a bare home. It has a soothing effect on my senses and feels very zen to my soul, whilst it also is fiercely Swedish. How can I resist.. ha!

Photography: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer

Sourced via: Interiorsmagasinet Norge

Warm hugs to all!

xx Charlotta

Swedish affair with Affari..

Hello lovely people! One of my favourite Swedish decor brands is 'Affari AB'.

Located in the South of Sweden this small, privately owned company was founded in 1998 by a group of four people who at the time sold only candles and candle related products. However their vision and passion for finding unique and stylish decor items from around the world made them grow, and today they sell a wide range of stunning hand selected pieces for indoor as well as outdoor use.

I am mad about their products and have several pieces in my home. My latest purchase is a large (and very heavy) ice tub in cast aluminium. I can see it used all year around in an array of scenarios (e.g. drinks, fruit, twigs, candles etc) but for now I intend to fill it with Hyacinths (like in the picture below) for my Christmas buffet table. It will be surrounded by candles, Pine or Juniper tree branches, and of course a parade of Swedish seasonal delicacies. I think this will look nice.. What do you think darlings?

I have also placed an order for a wonderful (and big!) three tiered tray, also in solid cast aluminium (below). 
It too will make its debut in December when I intend to fill it with nuts, home made truffles and perhaps a load of ginger biscuits. I can't wait for it to arrive!

There are so many things I want from this company and I know I'll be adding some of their rustic pots (in their perfectly distressed (mossy) drained terracotta / white clay execution..). 

And oh perhaps a trio of hammered silver plated pots too... I have seen them with baby Myrtle trees and also with chunky charcoal coloured candles, and both look great!

I also adore their royal chandeliers. There are several in their collection but I like the simplicity of the one below... 

And what about some selected galvanized sheet metal urns & tubs (yum), and/or a duet of concrete candle sticks (the big ones!)..

I can so see this one filled with ruby red apples.. or filled with Spring twigs..

And don't get me started on their carved panels (below).. I never knew MDF could look so sexy people..! I can see this one being used as a wall decoration, window panel, and/or as a table top (with glass on top). 

**Sigh.. so many things to drool over here don't you think!?!. I especially love the way the catalogue has been styled this year - timelessly Swedish with a nice edge. Let's dream together through some final pictures from their most recent catalogue..

Cute bins to fill with stylishly wrapped Christmas presents don't you think..!?!

Isn't this candle buffet just heaven.. Especially with the simple window treatment. 

These reindeer are super cute and come in two sizes. I can see a couple in the kids' room for Christmas..!

And true to their roots, Affari still makes the most wonderful candles and candle products.. Loving their lantern (the tall ones with those fabulous big rings at the top..!).

With that I leave you with warm hugs and wishes of a fun Halloween weekend!

xx Charlotta

All images are via the Affari website and their '2011 Autumn/Winter Catalogue'. Jump across - you won't regret it!

P.S.
I am personally not a big fan of 'Shabby Chic' style. It's nice but just not 'me'.
If you feel the same, do make sure you practice restraint when decorating with your Affari pieces. They need a backdrop of 'preppiness' and uncluttered/clean settings to work (in my humble mind). Less is definitely more if you want to avoid Shabby Chic..

If on the other hand you DO embrace 'Shabby Chic' style (below), there are plenty of 'French romantic' pieces in the Affari collection. Just layer them with lots of white and vintage, et voila!

Oh detail, lovely detail..

Hello hello lovely people!

Today when lounging over at the fab Anne Sage's 'City Sage' I came across this picture that stopped me in my tracks. 

Marie Claire Maison via the City Sage

The wonderful monochromatic inspiration of her post aside (yum also for the black cabinet in pic 3!), I fell hard for the way that the little gold ornaments on the left are hung. I really like the irregularity of the base vs the neatness of the top, and how it feeds off the colour and movement in the staircase.  
I can see this way of hanging art working very well in my dining room. Perhaps even in combination with a simple shelf..?! Hmmm.. time to procrastinate... :)

Hugs from the North.

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.