Haute Right Splendid!

Darlings. I am sure you are all up to date with the amazing news over at my dear friend Monika's..!

Her beautiful e-tail boutique 'Splendid Willow Avenue' has been  stylishly revamped, updated, and filled to the brim with irresistible Scandinavian treats for the home and family!

 All images via 'Splendid Willow Avenue'

And as if that is not enough to brighten the day, Monika is also generously sponsoring a three way give-away hosted by blogettes Sarah Klassen of 'Haute Design' and Ally of 'From The Right Bank'.

Sweet Sarah is giving away a stunning necklace by Swedish designer Åsa Daxberg. You can choose between two different designs of which one has been released specially for Monika's 'Splendid Willow Avenue'. How special!

Gorgeous Ally is treating her lucky winner to a pair of super stylish  Ilse Jacobsen rain boots that come in a range of colours that out-do the best of rainbows! They are so nice you'll be wanting a wardrobe of boots. Really!

Our wonderful 'hostess trio' invites anyone from Rio to Reykjavik to take part. That's right, it's open to the world!

All you need to do is to hop across to their blogs now to find out just how to enter. Good luck everyone and thank you to the Haute Right Splendid girls!

xx Charlotta

For your blog roll.. Simply click on the banners to be transported, though please ensure you eat and drink before hand because you'll be glued to your seat for hours! You have been warned..

 

Give Away winner.. and Swedish real estate with a twist..

Hello lovelies! How's the weekend been? Ours ended with a big happy sigh after a string of fun events, including Marshall's birthday celebration yesterday. In fact we all took the day off and spent a lovely day together instead of scooting off to work and school. Life is for living isn't it!?! :)

Pinterest via 'The Pretty Blog'

As promised, I have drawn the two winners of the ISAK 'ABC Character' posters that were so generously sponsored by Kindergallery. And without further ado I'd like to congratulate Bron of 'Maxabella Loves' AND Felicity of 'Gifts of Serendipity'. 

You won girls!! Please drop me an email with your address details so that I can organize for the delivery of your posters. xx

+++ + +++

Today I also wanted to share a Swedish real estate agent with a difference, namely 'Fantastic Frank'.

Styled with an open-ended 'story' in mind, rather than a fully furnished statement...

This is a modern, creative and insightful agency that believes that "..A home is more than the size & dimension between the walls. Our senses are more affected by the light, colours, sounds and textures than by a designer chair."

They also believe that people feel their best when they are inspired, and when they feel that there is a purpouse to what surrounds them. Then and only then, can a home start to exude a tangible character that allows us to connect and build a meaningful relationship with it. So true..!

With this philosophy in mind they style their listings in a way that allows the character of the property to come to life with the aim to "reach the few who 'love' it, rather than the large group who only 'like' it..". I love this bold, confident and to-the-point approach!

All interior & styling shots via Fantastic Frank Fastighetsmäkleri and blog

On that note.. I am off to bed! Have a great start to the new week. I'll be back in a few days with some exciting news..!

xx Charlotta

'A' is for 'Art'... 'G' is for 'Give-away'...!

Hello my darlings. Hope your weekend was nice & relaxing and that the new week has kicked off well.  Today I'd like to talk art.. Nursery art. 
A few years ago when I was pregnant with Oscar there was hardly anything out there that suited my aesthetic, and I really struggled to find pieces for his nursery. In the end this is what brought me to start painting again for real, and this as you (may) know also set the start of my own children's art & design business.

 by Peters & James

Times have certainly changed since then and the market place of today is flooded by talented artists who target families and young ones. A wonderful & convenient hub for quality children's artwork is Sydney  based 'Kindergallery'.

 

Meredith Gaston *

Shinzi Katoh *

Ida Pearle *

This gallery-shop operates both online and by private appointment to help art savvy littlies (& their parents) choose the perfect visual adornment for their walls. They carry a number of wonderful artists such as Meredith Gaston, Aliette, Shinzi Katoh, and Swedish Sandra Isaksson. The latter of course is especially close to my heart..

by ISAK

Sandra (who also blogs - HERE) operates both as an independent artist, and as part of a Scandi-British collaboration under art & decor label 'ISAK'. I love the way she introduces herself on her website..

click to enlarge..

Sandra's work is playful & neat with tangible flair of Scandinavian mid-centrury retro. Her pieces are designed to work on their own or in clusters, and they are as fun for the nursery as they are for your older kids.
So imagine my delight when Kate Holcombe, the manager of Kindergallery contacted me to offer not one but two A2 'ABC Character' posters by ISAK as a give-away for my Australian/NZ friends.
That said, if you are an international blogger who want to enter this give-away on behalf of or for an Australian/NZ friend, you may. As long as the shipping address falls withing this region. Just read on to find out how..

Give Away: 2 x A2 ISAK posters via Kindergallery

To enter you must be a public follower of Space for Inspiration (no anonymous entries please). Leave one comment for each of the following entry points:

1. Confirm you are indeed a follower, and include your email address if you are reading my posts as a non-blogger.
If you enter for or behalf of an Aussi/Kiwi friend, please mention this in your comment. Thanks. x

2. Announce this give-away on your Facebook (with post link)

3. and/or your blog (with post link).

Entries are open until midnight on Sunday 26th July (AEST) and the two winners will be announced shortly after.

Johanna Ekmark via Mama magazine

Good luck to all!
And thank you once more to Kate & Kindergallery.

xx Charlotta

Give-away winner and life..

Hello my friends! Hope you have had a nice and relaxing weekend and that you are ready for this brand new week!

It's been a big week for me. In more ways than one, and I am exhausted - emotionally and physically. I will spare you the details but want you to know that this is the reason for my delayed responses to some truly amazing emails, sparse blog comments and posts lately.. Things will settle & return to a nicer & more harmonious pace soon and with that I shall become better blog friend again. xx

source unknown

Now to happier and more fun stuff! We have a winner of last week's give-away and without further delay CONGRATULATIONS Shari of 'Little Blue Deer'! Darling, please pop me an email so that I can pass along the details for your win. xx

Thank you everyone who entered! I saw many new and old names in the list. It's always fun to meet new friends and of course equally lovely to be given a chance to spoil old & dear ones. On that note I want to also thank CSN once more for giving me the opportunity to do so. xx

Before I go I want to share a beautiful house tour that the fab Anne of the City Sage treated us to recently. It's featuring designer Thomas O'Brien's Long Island home and  I just cant get enough of some of these rooms.. Enjoy!

I feel very at home in calm, neutral and light-filled rooms such as this one. Though it feels pleasantly ordered and airy, there are in fact quite a few objects stacked and arranged around the room. What I find appealing is how the neutrals (& whites) magically and effortlessly fuse it all together in a soft whisper. Nothing feels contrived or forced, and the eye is allowed to discover the layers of detail at a slow & gentle pace.

Who hasn't photocopied a hand (or face..) at least once..?!? :)  Though the print on the mantle is probably more likely a photograph, I really like how it reminds me of silly photocopier experiments. It's simple, fun and different.
I have an ongoing project in Sweden where I collect hand prints from members of my family.  I paint their hands with acrylic or water colour and then imprint them on paper. I have several prints but am determined to start over and do them all in the same colour before I have them scanned and fused into one large artwork. It is my way of creating a 'family tree'.. I will share more on this at a later stage.

Now back to our house tour..

Though nice, the kitchen is perhaps my least favoruite room in the house. That said, the clean and white crispness appeals to me. In fact I find it very hard to do any kind of creative work in rooms painted in stronger colours.. cooking or otherwise. Not that I dislike colour, because I don't, (!) it's just that my mind needs a 'colour-free' base to bounce off when working.

Isn't it amazing how 'homely' a room feels when parking a few pairs of shoes in it.. ?! :) 
That aside, I am very attracted to the tall, dark & handsome stranger in the corner.. A glossy black cabinet like that can move in with me any day.. and I have since for ever been a fan of the Danish 'Ant chairs'. Especially the 3-legged originals..!

Images via 'American Modern' by Thomas O'Brien via The City Sage

Ok my lovelies, that is it for today. Once again, apologies for the void here and in your in-boxes. I love you lots and will be back in full force soon.. :) xx

xx Charlotta

P.S. Click HERE to watch a brilliant commercial. I love it!

Give Away..!

Hello all and Happy Weekend!
Today I have something fun for you my dears..  A little while ago I was contacted by the ever generous & fantastic CSN Stores who kindly offered to sponsor yet another fabulous give-away (for my dear US and Canadian residents). Yay!
Needless to say I am very grateful for the opportunity to spoil my friends, so once again.. Thank you CSN!! x

As you know CSN boasts over 200 specialised online stores where you can find everything from adjustable bar stools (and bars to put them with..!), kitchen ware, bedlinen, and lighting, to hardware, kids toys, art, garden furniture, office equipment and lots more..!
In short, what ever you may need you will most certainly find at CSN and I am thrilled to be able to host this give-away for a gift certificate worth US$60 to top up your shopping budget.

In usual manner, all you need to do to enter is to leave one comment confirming the following:

1. That you are indeed an active follower of Space for Inspiration (live link-backs or specified email are essential)..

2. Where in the US or Canada you live..

3. Which of the 'adjustable barstools' on the CSN site you like the best..

... and to any new visitors. Pretty please sign off with your name so that I know who you are.. xx

I am sorry that this give-away is open only to my US/Canadian friends.. But sisters & brothers of the 'Rest of the World', there will other opportunities that include you in the future. I promise. x

Oh.. I nearly forgot.. The give away closes on Friday 4th February at midnight Australian Eastern Standard Time.. So hurry up buttercup.. x

Good luck to all who enter!

xx Charlotta

Merry Christmas, Thank You and Give Away..

Ok my darlings, so it's only a matter of days now before Christmas is here and I am still shaking my head in amazement of how quickly this year has gone by..!

It's been year with so many memorable events, some of which have been very hard but so many others have been blissful & happy. I get all teary when I think about the beautiful moments we have shared here and all the tremendous support you have given me when things were a little shaky..! You have been such loyal and wonderful friends - THANK YOU! You really do mean the world to me!! xx

As you know, this will be our last Christmas here in Sydney before we move to Sweden next year and I am soaking up the tropical treats that the season serves up in beautiful Australia including all the lovely decorations in my favourite shops.

Photos by Charlotta Ward

I am currently loving all the locally-made ornaments from 'My Island Home'. The website does not do the store ANY justice.. Their shell adorned Christmas crackers, sliver starfish, and beautiful china have me dreaming up new & wonderful themes for my home this season.. As does this large Magnolia wreath that I found at 'Papier D'Amour' (another favourite local store..).

via Papier d'Amour

Until this year I have been stubbornly Swedish about our Christmas decorations but now that the departure date is looming in the not too far distance (July '11), I suddenly crave all sorts of tropical trinkets for my home. As much as I wanted to, I didn't buy lots, but I did pick up some gorgeous little shells on silver strings to mix in with my vintage and Swedish tree decorations. Perhaps I will sneak down and pick up some other bits & bobs in the Xmas sales.. It would be fun to be 'stubbornly Australian' next Xmas when in Sweden.. :)

Photos by Charlotta Ward

But before the craziness of the Xmas sale begin there is the actual holidays.. I so look forward to spending time with 'my beloved trio'! Between school, extra curricular activities, work and travel it is rare that we have extended time to just hang out together.. But as time slows down a little as the year draws to an end, we're enjoying some much valued down-time together. Last night we went for a sunset swim, followed by yummy fresh fish & chips that we ate on the beach whilst watching the eclipsed full moon rise out of the ocean. My dear friend Julie has captured the moon beautifully - HERE. It was truly magical and it made me draw deep happy sighs of gratefulness for what life has given me. I am truly blessed and I take time to remember that every day!

And as I sat there watching the rising moon with my happy & healthy little clan I knew that this was the best Christmas present I could ever get. In fact, it is all I want for Christmas this year!

..But that is not going to stop me from giving..! So without further ado I'd like to announce my end-of-year give-away that is generously sponsored by my dear husband through his amazing photographic works.

Photo by Marshall Ward

Marshall is an accredited and accomplished photographer whose works have been published in books and magazines alike. In his portfolio gallery you will find amazing pictures from all corners of the world in both black/white and colour. Click HERE to browse.

Photos by Marshall Ward

We will be drawing two names from the hat (one from Australia, and one from the rest of the world) and Marshall kindly is allowing the the two lucky winners free hands when choosing the shot they wish to receive. Each photograph is a strict limited edition original, and will be signed, and also accompanied by an authenticity certificate.

Photos by Marshall Ward

To enter this give-away you need to:
1. Be a follower of Space for Inspiration
2. Carefully look through Marshall's Flickr books.
3. Leave a comment confirming you are an active follower (with a link back), and also let me know which photograph you wish to win. Please refer to it by name/title only, but keep the link in your files in case you win. Your comment = 1 entry.

For extra entries:
4. Blog about this give-away including linking to Marshall's site and leave a second comment with the post link = 2 extra entries.
  
This give-away closes at midnight on the 8th January 2011 (Australian EST) and the winners will be announced shortly after. Good luck to all!

With that I would like to wish you all a wonderful ending to the year!

For those who celebrate - Merry Christmas! May Santa bring a sack full of magic & merriment for each and every one of you! Also may your New Year be splendid, sparkly and safe!  Thank you once more for being here and for being awesome! I adore you all and I look forward to seeing you all in 2011!

Big hugs and kisses from Summer wonderland!

xx Charlotta