Midsummer

It's Midsummer tonight - easy to forget when you live somewhere like London. But what a wonderful excuse to gather friends and family for a meal outdoors if the weather allows it. And don't forget the wildflowers, Midsummer is all about wildflowers.

We've postponed our Midsummer gathering to tomorrow, as I am quite simply not the kind of person who can dash home from work and whip up a dinner party in 30 minutes. Much rather a leisurely day tomorrow, a bit of gardening, a bit of cleaning, a little bit of cooking and mainly enjoying.


Tonight I'm just going home to relax and watch 'Dicte' on TV with a glass of wine to hand. And perhaps put some wildflowers under my pillow before I go to sleep. They say it's good for romance..

No Garden? Make Do!

Photo: alexanderwhite.se

I firmly believe that a bit of private outdoor space is can make life so much better.

And even the most uninspiring bit of courtyard can be turned into an oasis if you approach it as if it's just another room in your home. Take this photo from a flat in Stockholm* for example. A smallish courtyard squashed between neighbouring buildings has been furnished with comfortable seating, tables, a large 'rug' (the grass) and plenty of potted plants, turning the space into an outdoor living room. Who wouldn't want to spend time here?


*This image is from a flat in Kammakargatan in Stockholm, for sale through Alexander White estate agents. Yes, Swedes really do know how to style their homes for sale!

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.

 

Scandi Food for Midsummer

I don't normally quote newspaper articles, but Diana Henry has written a really good piece about Scandinavian summer food - specifically Swedish - in her Telegraph column this week. You'll find it here: 'Scandi Food; why Swedes do midsummer - and coffee breaks - best'

Takk Diana :)

Photo: www.uterummet.se

Love your Balcony

Yesterday I got talking to a new colleague and while we were shooting the breeze as the tea kettle was boiling ("lovely weather, yes everyone's gardening" etc) she told me that she has a large balcony which she has never used. 

It got me thinking: why do people not make more of their outdoor spaces? Do they not want a relaxing hour in the evening sun when they come back from work..? Is it because they're shy and don't like the thought of other people seeing them in a private setting? Do they think they would have to spend a lot of money perhaps?

In my view no balcony is too small for enjoyment, with a bit of creativity a small budget needn't be an impediment.

Photo: Frida Ramsted / Trendenser

See how a narrow strip of a balcony can be turned into a great little outdoor space by choosing 'fine-limbed' furniture and small flowerpots. And who says you can't use the doorway as a seat by piling it up with handsome cushions?

Photo: Lagerlings
Small is beautiful. This small balcony has just about room for a chair, a small table and a flowerpot. But the colours in that view... and the fact that furnishings and wooden decking have been chosen with care makes it a tiny haven.

Photo: IKEA
Romantic, perhaps overly so, but remove the lace curtains and this is a visually relaxing space. The white metal chair and table from IKEA have become classics, and the seagrass mat is not only comfortable underfoot, it also lessens noise which often reverberates from concrete and metal balconies.

Photo: fairyofinspiration.se
This is a lesson in how to transform and personalise a standard Scandi balcony. Arched trellises covered in climbers create a verdant screen which provides privacy and shade.

Photo: Øyvind Holmstad

A tiny balcony in Gothenburg wreathed in flowers for a gorgeous effect.

Photo: Minna Mercke-Schmidt
Fill a balcony with vintage furniture and lots of plant pots plus a judiciously placed screen and you might actually forget that it's a balcony...

Photo: Inger Ekrem
Ditto a bathtub...


The possibilities are endless!

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