100% Norway

Actually, I am only 50%. Norway, that is. The other 50% are Northern Irish. Not the most common of combos, but it works for my sister and me.

But this is about 100% Norway, which will be presenting 33 of Norway's most talented designers at Tent London, the international design event that forms part of London Design Festival. Tent London will take place at The Old Truman Brewery in East London from tomorrow.

My immediate favourites from the exhibition catalogue are these beautiful pieces by Andreas Bergsaker

 Beech 'Piedistallo' table lamp

 

Beech 'Blossom' accessories tray with mirror, lamp and magnifying mirror

 

Aluminium 'Pendini' dimmable pendant lights

 

You can find more information about 100% Norway here

Skargard - Discovered at Formex

At Stockholm's Formex show in late August there was much talk about Meraki, the new toiletries line by Danish interior brand House Doctor. And yes, it looked good and will most certainly appeal to those who already have a penchant for brands like L:a Bruket and Aesop. But to be honest, it felt too samey for me. I don't quite understand the need to create a new product line that is so similar to existing offerings in the market...

Photo: Meraki

instead, my heart leapt at the sight of a small range of soaps by a tiny Swedish brand called Skargard*. I love the simple white packaging with blue print (not 'faux apothecary' as seems to be the trend), the lovely clean scent of the Havtorn soap in particular - and last but not least the 'soap on a rope' detail which reminds me of fancy soaps bought for parents at Christmas when I was little. It's all natural and it works equally well in seawater, hence the cork floater on the rope. Love it.

 

Photo: Pinterest

 

Photo: Ink361

 

The range includes bars of soap, liquid soap, dishwashing liquid etc.

 

*Skargard referring to the 'skärgård' or archipelago of islands and skerries along the coast of Bohuslän on the west coast of Sweden, where the brand originates from.

 

Mikaela Willers - a Formex favourite

I spent a whole day visiting Stockholm's Formex trade show last week, and among the many many fantastic exhibitors my favourite was one that my advance radar had somehow missed: Mikaela Willers' ceramics.

 Photo: mikaelawillers.se

Walking past the stand I was instantly drawn to the beautiful colours and shapes of Mikaela's range of urns, pots, candlesticks and tableware. Wow, I thought, I want everything here! Mikaela herself was glamorous and charming and very happy to chat about her craft.

 

My particular favourite in the range is a scented candle in a small bowl which can be used for keeping small pieces of jewellery, or table salt, or any number of things once the candle is finished.

 'Pistill' bowl with scented candle. Photo: mikaelawillers.se

'Pistill' bowl. Photo: via Pinterest

A Heavenly Afternoon at Zetas

Earlier this year I finally decided to set up my own business as a gardener and garden stylist and I have been so busy that I have hardly noticed the summer fly by. Last week I had a welcome break in Stockholm which provided lots of inspiration. It was my first ever visit and I timed it to coincide with the big Formex trade show which focuses on Nordic interior design. However, the first thing I did after dropping off my luggage at my hotel was to scoot out to the suburbs for a much-anticipated visit to Zetas, a beautiful garden centre for ‘garden gourmets’. The weather was hot and sunny, and perhaps unwisely I followed Google's advice and caught a commuter train out to a tiny place called Stuvsta where I hitched a ride with a local bus (I say ‘hitched a ride’ since it turned out that it wasn’t possible to buy a ticket on the bus but the driver understood my crestfallen mumblings in svorsk* and very kindly let me travel for free) which dropped me off right outside Zetas in a quiet residential area full of clapboard villas.

Photo: The Keen Gardener @ Life with a Nordic Soul

 

I love plants and I enjoy shopping, but I don’t particularly like shopping at garden centres – it always seems to involve a lot of effort to find the plants I want. Zetas is rather different. Dubbed ‘gardening for feinschmeckers’ (or if your German is rusty, ‘gardening for gourmets/garden lovers’) it is entirely designed to give visitors a leisurely and pleasurable experience. It’s located on a sloping plot and loosely terraced in the shade of tall conifer trees with the scent of an extensive collection of roses wafting in the air as soon as you walk through the entrance. Everything is grouped by category, and within these categories plants are displayed in tonal groups of colour. This makes eminent sense to me – visitors can stroll around and easily pick out plants that go well together rather than walking from end to end trying to gather compatible specimens. Not only does this make it very easy for visitors to spend money it also provides a relaxing and harmonious environment with plenty of inspiring ideas to take home.

Photo: The Keen Gardener @ Life with a Nordic Soul

 

I had time for a late lunch in the shade before strolling through the grounds and finally ending up in the garden shop, where I planned to buy Zetas recently launched paint for terracotta pots. Sadly these are not available to purchase abroad due to exorbitant postage costs so I made sure to stock up with as many pots as I could fit into my suitcase. Once this heavy rain stops I will try it out on my boring old clay pots in the garden.

Photo: pithandvigour.com

 

 

Photo: www.zetas.se

 

When the time came to leave I asked the lady on the till for advice on getting back to Stockholm (wanting to avoid the tricky bus ticket situation), and she very helpfully gave me directions to a nearby tube station with the parting words that if I didn’t find it I should come back and she would walk me there herself. So sweet!

*Svorsk = Svensk-Norsk, ie when a Norwegian tries to speak Swedish (or vice versa).

Decked out for Summer

It's suddenly full summer here in Surrey - yesterday it was 25C (and 32C in our conservatory!). Time to make the most of our gardens and outdoor spaces. Scandinavians tend to maximise their summer more than Brits do, simply because summer up North is shorter (and dare I say it - hotter and drier). Here is a series of photos which have featured in numerous European magazines, and currently in John Lewis' 'Edition'. They feature the decked terrace garden belonging to Hanne Borge, overlooking the Oslofjord from a stunning vantage point at Jar just to the west of Oslo. Hanne has very cleverly dealt with a steep terrain by building a deck outside her house and extending it several times to accommodate the needs of her family. The bleached colour of the wood and the pale natural textiles create a harmonious and relaxing atmosphere, enhanced by tall grasses and agapanthus in zinc pots. Not to mention the open-roofed summer house, which is to die for.

Photo: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Sisters Agency

The view of the Oslofjord from the terrace...

 

Photo: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Sisters Agency

...and the terrace seen from above

 

Photo: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Sisters Agency

Stretching along the full length of the house and way beyond, there is plenty of room for different zones in which to relax, sunbathe and eat.

 

Photo: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Sisters Agency

 

Photo: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Sisters Agency

Meals are enjoyed in the summer house, out of the glare of the sun...

 

Photo: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Sisters Agency

...with a handy cooking station featuring both a barbecue and a gas cooker just outside

 

Photo: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Sisters Agency

 

Hanne is co-owner of Bolina interiors shop in Oslo (http://bolina.no) , and has furnished the garden and summer house with a mix of Nordic and oriental designs.

 

My preferred article on this garden appeared in Danish magazine Bo Bedre in July 2014. Click here to read it and see all the stunning photos by Birgitte Wolfgang Drejer.

 

Tricia Guild for Bemz

Bemz, the ingenious provider of 'prêt-à-porter' and bespoke covers for IKEA soft furniture, is celebrating 10 years in business and to mark this milestone they have teamed up with a clutch of exiting designers to create a special 10th anniversary collection.

First out is Tricia Guild, who presents the first curation of the collection - a printed cotton cover in 'Azure Sudara' for IKEA's Söderhamn sofa, awash with luscious hydrangeas which contrast beautifully against the minimalist lines of the sofa itself. Tricia has teamed this with crisp and zesty cushions in Designers Guild's soft and tactile 'Brera Lino' (and might I add that this is quite a bit cheaper than if you were to buy similar cushions at DG itself...)

Tricia Guild

 

 

 

All photos courtesy of Bemz

 

www.bemz.com

 

IKEA trip!

Yay! Today I am spending the day at IKEA :)

The first thing my husband said this morning was "are you going to IKEA? Please don't buy too many things. We have too much as it is. And please call me before you buy anything large." With a seriously concerned look on his face. He knows me well..

I'm just going for an outing really. Though I am looking forward to seeing the latest product launches up close, having seen the photos on IKEA's fantastic blog Livet Hemma.

On my list of items to locate in the big blue and yellow hall are the new KNAGGLIG storage crates in pine, which can be stained and painted (easily 'vintaged') and used for tidying up garden stuff...

BARSÖ trellis... which might work better than a pin-board (it's hard to find a nice one)

Garden furniture, like this BROMMÖ recliner and TÄRNÖ table and chairs in easy on the eye black acacia wood

Not to mention the NIPPRIG collection (where I have my eye on a certain armchair), how lovely is this little two-seater?

Obviously, the new smartphone chargers. Game-changing, like this RIGGAD lamp.

The SINNERLIG collection by Ilse Crawford - if there is any left...

and food. I'll quite clearly have to recharge my batteries in the cafeteria, but I also want to pick up some bits and bobs from the food shop for our Norway Day garden party next month.

I think I'll be home late...

All photos by IKEA

Bamboo

This spring seems to be awash with beautifully curved cane (or rattan, or bamboo) chairs, all promising creaky retro relaxation. I'd like to pile one full of cushions and place it in the bay window of our bedroom - a place to curl up and read before bed.

It should be a little wide, so that I can pull my feet up, and with a high back so that I can lean back properly...

Photo: IKEA

IKEA's NIPPRIG bamboo armchair above is a snip at £50 and looks very comfortable. It's part of a limited collection which was launched at the end of March, so I'm going to have to get myself down to IKEA very soon (not that I ever mind a trip to the big blue & yellow warehouse, it's like a giant play pen for adults).

My future bedroom chair actually looks quite similar to the much (much much!) more expensive
Fåtölj 311 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn in the 30's. Which I can't afford - and which isn't sold here in the UK anyway.

Photo: Svenskt Tenn

 Photo: Fastighetsbyrån / Styling: Michael Beckman

Photo: Ellos

Photo: Maria Soxbo at Formex January 2015 via Pinterest

Summer Novelties

Tine K, the Danish purveyor of pared-down homeware and fashion, has just launched a summer collection called 'Summer Novelties' with beautiful sun-bleached pieces to die for. My favourite picks? These two:

a nifty little 'basket pocket' in plain blond leather which you attach to your beach basket...

...like so. No more scrabbling around for your phone or ice cream money at the bottom of your (sandy) bag.

And this cane sofa, perfect for flopping on after an arduous day on the beach...

Lovely. Takk Tine!

The great thing about Tine K is that you can order from the online shop and have it delivered 'abroad', ie outside Denmark. Unlike many of the Nordic brands which I covet.
There are several retailers here in the UK who sell part of the Tine K range, but I haven't found anywhere in the London area that sells the full range. Online does.

All photos courtesy of Tine K Home

A Lunch Box Named Desire

Spotted on inspiring Swedish blog Inredningshjälpen this morning; probably the best lunch box ever. It's called Lunch Box System and is designed by Jacob Strand from The Tomorrow Collective, a group of students at the School of Industrial Design at Lund University.

This would be perfect for bringing my lunch when I go over to work in our new allotment garden. It's practical but most of all incredibly handsome. And I'll admit it, I am a sucker for handsome.

Spring News from IKEA

My favourite Swedish furniture store is releasing a flurry of new designs, ideas and products this spring - so much so that it's almost hard to keep up.

Here are some of the things that have caught my eye recently:

This neat rectangular tray with a playful design by Olle Eksell is part of his ÖNSKEDRÖM collection for IKEA which will launch on April 10th (I love the fact that the tray has a green reverse).

Possibly the most exciting news is the collection of lamps, furniture and decorative items which feature integrated wireless chargers for smartphones. Not only that, they all come with USB ports for charging camera batteries etc. Chargers are some of the most uninspiring objects but here they are turned into practical and discreet features on beautiful, simple pieces for the home. My two favourites are these:

RIGGAD desk lamp

NORDMÄRKE 'charger plate'

Then there is ESBJÖRN, a seductively simple chair with a smart quilted seat cover (non-slip!). Somehow the cover reminds me of something much more expensive... It's the kind of piece I wish we had room & need for, it's so good looking.

And to remind us of birds returning from colder climes, OLUNDA framed art print by London-based illustrator Jenny Capon

The thing about Yellow

is that it leaves me cold... generally. But then I found myself completely seduced by this beautifully simple little handbag in & Other Stories on Regent Street recently. Perhaps it had something to do with the beautifully creative styling of the shop, with a large display of mannequins standing in a field of glass bud-vases filled with anemones. I was enchanted and ever since I've started noticing yellow in a different way...

D-Ring Crossbody Bag £65. Photo: & Other Stories

 

Photo: Bonytt

Vintage kitchen units painted in yellow gloss and matte grey. One of the most striking kitchen photos I have seen - hats off to Synne Skjulstad for the bold choice. Click here to read the full Bonytt article.

 Photo: H&M Home

Pretty little trays and bud vases from one of my favourites: H&M Home, where you'll get 25% off online orders until the 15th March

Photo: Bemz
Fresh new fabric covers for IKEA Henriksdal dining chairs by Bemz, an ingenious firm that supplies covers in all kinds of wonderful fabrics for those chairs, sofas or beds that could do with updating instead of being thrown out

 Photo: H&M Home

Velvet, linen and cotton cushion covers by H&M Home

Photo: Isidore Montag

Floor-length dress from Giambattista Valli's SS2015 collection

Photo: IKEA Livet Hemma

This cute little 'Knopparp' sofa by IKEA

...which is of course inspired by Ligne Roset's 'Ruché' sofa below

Spring has sprung!