THANKS AGAIN

Remember these?

I've just discovered that Helena over at Swedish blog Room and Serve liked my "made-in-a-jiffy" living room curtains so much that she blogged them. This is the first time one of my own projects is featured on another blog. Helena even made a small collage of my photos. Looks good, doesn't it? Thank you so much, Helena!

GUEST BLOGGING AT DWELLINGS AND DECOR

Today, I'm guest blogging over at Rachel's place Dwellings and Décor. Rachel is away getting married, so she's got lots of wonderful guest bloggers at her blog now. This is my first guest post, and I'm so honoured that Rachel asked me to do a post for her, as she's got a really beautiful and stylish blog. This photo is an example of what Rachel - who by the way is an interior designer on Hawaii - digs up for us to enjoy:

Styling: Laurence Pasquier

So pop over to read my post about eco-contemporary design, and be sure to check out the rest of Dwellings and Décor as well!

THANKS

Thank you for the link, apartment therapy!


(click photo to see the original post)

WALL DISPLAY: BEDROOM MAKEOVER PREVIEW

The light's still not quite good enough for indoors photographing. But I'm dying to show the bedroom makeover I'm working on, so here's a little sneak peek of my wall display!

Colour inspiration for the makeover is The Robin Redbreast Web Stamp print by Lisa Rivas:

I love this print, so I've done the whole makeover based on its colours:

dark red, turquoise, light brown.


More birds:

Dream catcher from Indian village in New Mexico. Gift from BF.

I don't buy lots of art prints because I change my mind all the time about how I want to decorate. So I'm often opting for the cheap solutions, like DIY or art cards:

"Cat" by Guo-Jian Yuan (gift from my niece)

"Back view of Micheangelo's statue of David" by Raphael

"Study for the head of Charity" by Raphael

Nowadays, you simply can't do a wall display without words or letters. I wanted to do something that really meant something, so I took the letter W and cut it out of cardboard.

If you turn the shape upside down, you've suddenly got an M...

- the first letters in the words "Woman" and "Man"! (and yes, I felt pretty clever when I discovered this coincidence!)

I'm not quite sure whether the wall display is done yet, but it feels right at the moment.

I'll write about the whole makeover when I get decent photography light!

INSPIRING PHOTOGRAPHY: ROLAND BELLO

Warning: Mammoth post coming up! I was looking through the portfolio of Roland Bello this morning, and I found lots of inspiring, uplifting and challenging photos.

This photographer makes me see the patterns I grew up with in a new light and appreciate simplicity:



He makes me want to move to Southern Europe and live a calm, romantic life in the countryside:


(I would be bored after a fortnight, but never mind)


He reminds me of the beauty found in everyday objects:



He makes me reconsider a particular colour blue:



...and appreciate the messy;



the shabby;



and the decaying:



He makes me want to become truly eclectic and a bit eccentric:



He inspires me to make lovely displays:


(and gives comfort in the fact that I'm not the only one who loathes polishing silver)


He makes me want to collect beautiful, antique china and has given me an idea for how to decorate with doilies:



He challenges me in my view of colour combination:


(and makes me want to go birdcage hunting even though I know that it's soon going to be sooo last year)


And this was only his "interiors" portfolio. Don't even get me started on his "still life";


(I'll have to get back to you on that one.)

EKOBO BAMBOO PRODUCTS

Today's blog post is just a small one, as I've been working on an extensive post on the blog I write for Pug. The post is about Ekobo, which produces our wonderful bamboo home accessories - some of which are on sale, by the way! So if you're interested in reading about the fantastic properties of the bamboo tree and its journey from the forest...



... to the finished result...



...just head over to Pugstore blog.

HAPPY MONDAY: EVA'S CHAIRS

Want to see something

today?

With lots of humour;

exquisite details;

made by a person who's got some out-of-the-ordinary decor painting talent

?

Some of you might remember Eva's ethnic-inspired home that I blogged last year. Since then, Eva has updated her Flickr photostream with some fabulously fun chairs that she redesigns herself. If you're into before-and-after shoots...

you're also in luck!

Have a lovely Monday!

SIMPLE GIFTS

Here's the gift I bought for my friend for her birthday:

It said "Made in Sweden", but I don't know anything else about it since it's a second-hand find. Anyone know more?

The way it catches the light is incredible. I love the slightly asymmetrical shape and how it opens up...

It's almost like a flower in itself!

NEW LIVING ROOM CURTAINS!

You know the kind of annoying persons who get all sorts of things done in a jiffy? Well, I'm usually not one of them. But today, I became a bit worried that I might be turning into such a person, because the first thing I did after getting up was to make new curtains for my living room windows...

I bought some cheap cotton yesterday. I wanted a simple, crinkled, frayed look, so I just ripped the cotton into the right lengths, stitched through with some string:



And hung the curtains by tying the string into bows on a couple of small hooks.



The upper part of the windows is left curtainless so I can see the sky.



What I wanted was something that could let in as much light as possible. I don't actually need curtains, because the building on the other side of the street is an office building and there's nobody there in the evenings. But I was tiring a bit of the view (too much wall...).



I love how the fabric filters the light!



And there's always the option of tiebacks to get even more light.

I'm off to visit a friend now - have a lovely Sunday!

Update 30. 04. 2009:

Helena over at Swedish blog Room and Serve liked this project so much that she blogged them!


Ps. If you're thinking of making curtains out of cotton or similar, it's always a good idea to wash the fabric before you make the curtains to prevent them from shrinking later. Ask in the shop how much shrinkage to expect from the fabric you're buying.

HAPPINESS IN LITTLE THINGS: GREEN, YELLOW AND PINK

Sometimes the strangest things happen. I went to my trusted Salvation Army shop today, looking for a birthday gift for a friend. I found the perfect gift (I hope), and I also found the cutest vase for myself:


So far, nothing out of the ordinary. On my way home, I was thinking that I really should buy flowers for my new vase. But at the same time, I was a bit reluctant - I love flowers, but I like picking them myself! As I approached my building, I contemplated the fact that I don't have a garden or even a balcony for flowers.

Then it happened. On the pavement in front of me, this little thing was lying, calling for my attention:

It obviously had been broken off from a bouquet and was starting to look a little sad, so I simply picked it up and brought inside with me.

It was the perfect colour and the perfect size for my new vase, so now it sits happily on my windowsill, looking out of the window.

I'm not superstitious, but strange things have happened to me before when going shopping at the Salvation Army. It's almost like someone tells me to keep shopping there... If you want to read my other story, click here.

I hope you're having a great Saturday!

WEEKEND INSPIRATION: PHOTOGRAPHER ERIK JOHNSON

It's Friday, the weekend's coming up, and the light is returning here in the Northern Hemisphere. These lovely photos from Erik Johnson are the perfect inspiration for things to do over the weekend. Almost every picture makes me want to renew my home by taking a trip to the second-hand shop!

How about making some new picture arrangements and table displays?


Try looking for nice drawings in your books or on the web. Print or photocopy the drawings on antique-looking paper. Second-hand shopping list: frames, vases, bowls. Maybe a side table?

Or how about doing some spring cleaning and reorganizing in the kitchen, or putting on a pair of old boots to do a bit of gardening?


If you're going to the second-hand shop anyway, maybe you'll find some nice kitchenware that will make your kitchen both practical and inviting! And if you've got a garden, bring some of it inside the house.


Maybe your house plants need tending to after the winter, or your working space some sprucing up?


This workspace is decorated with flower-patterned paper in a large frame, which is a quick and cheap way of making this area of your home look nice. Try looking for eco-friendly paper! Second-hand shopping list: pots for the plants. Frames and nice cups/vases for pencils and other workspace necessities.

Maybe you're the artistic type? If you're like me, a bit of reorganizing in your materials and equipment could be of help to get your creativity flowing!


And maybe the curtains in your living room need some cleaning? If possible, consider leaving the windows curtain-free over the summer to let in the light.


I'm getting slightly exhausted just by writing this... Don't forget looking after yourself and getting some rest! But instead of collapsing in front of the television, maybe these options could be just as revitalizing:


Going for a walk to enjoy the fresh air and the light; or... just relaxing on the couch with a great book!

Have a lovely Friday - I'll be back during the weekend =)

BACK HOME...

Ok guys. I'm back in Norway. Naturally, I need something to cheer me up a bit, so today, I'm going to throw all my principles overboard and post something that's not related to budget decorating or consumer consciousness at all - just utterly delightful. Please join me on a small trip into Marjorie Skouras' interior decorating world...

After saying goodbye at the airport and leaving BF behind, I was feeling slightly blue:

The last week has been sugary pink:



...with some multi-coloured accents - both pastels:



calm:



and vitalizing:



Even though our apartment didn't look quite as luxurious, it was still just as sunny as this:

-and we had just as much fun as this!

So: even if most of us couldn't afford doing up our homes to resemble these photos, remember that colour always carries lots of inspiration - and that it really is what you have inside yourself that decides what your home will feel like...

TRENDY TUB

The other day, I discovered a new French magazine called d'eco. It's about eco-friendly stuff and it looks pretty cool - I haven't had time to read the whole mag yet, but I discovered these on one of the first pages:

Trendy Tubs are made from recycled industrial tubs that for instance are used for transporting flour. The designers decorate the tubs with strong poster paper, et voilà! - you've got a sitting/storage piece of furniture, or a lamp, or shelving, or a table...

There are lots and lots of designs to choose from.

- and you can even send your personal photos or designs and get your own, customized tubs!

COLOUR-COORDINATED BOOK WRAPPINGS

I love books, and I love good-looking books even more. But if you've got lots of them and you've got a particular colour scheme at home, it's difficult to make the bookshelves work with the rest of the decor.

Now here's someone that's actually mustered the energy to go ahead and do what I've been contemplating for years: Wrapping the books in matching paper!

One option is to use the same colour or shades of the same colour, like the two first photos...

...or do combinations.

If I ever get around to doing this, I'll probably wrap most of the books in neutral-coloured paper, and then wrap the remaining few in an accent colour that matches the decor. Then I'll be able to change the look easily the next time I do one of my mini-makeovers.

But I'll probably never prioritize this, as there's a part of me that suggests that I use my life to do more useful stuff...

I found this display in the window of Hospice général in Geneva.

FLOWERBOX

When walking around in Geneva, BF and I discovered a small shop with some really cool wall mounted flower displays!

The shop's name is Flower Box, and these pictures are from their website.

There are lots of shapes, materials and colours available, and you can customize your own flowerbox, complete with plants, on the website! My French is terrible, but from what I can gather, they've got an environmental profile.

There's also a blog called Nature dans la Ville (nature in the city).

A POSTCARD FROM GENEVA

Yesterday, BF and I visited Geneva. I wanted to share this:

(photo: C and V. Blatt)

"Broken Chair" by Swiss artist Daniel Berset is intended as a memorial to the victims of landmines. It is a powerful, 12 meter tall statement that can be found on Place des Nations.

THE SWEETS OF YESTERYEAR

This wonderful chocolate egg is the result of my browsing for the ultimate easter photo!

It was part of last year's collection at Maison du Chocolat, and I found it here.

I wish you all a delightful Easter weekend!

HOLIDAY READING: ELLE INTERIØR

Right now, I'm in BF's apartment! This is how I feel at the moment:

(photo: Siren Lauvdal)

- even though he has to work a bit while I'm here.

BF only moved in yesterday, so we ran through IKEA yesterday just before they closed to pick up a few necessities. It was quite uncanny - the shop looked almost the same as my local IKEA in Norway. It was a bit like entering a parallel universe!

The photo is from the magazine I bought to read on the plane: Norwegian Elle Decoration (called Elle Interiør). I got a few ideas for blog posts from this issue, but you'll have to wait a little bit. I'm off to fix the apartment a bit and have a look at the town.

COLOURFUL DANISH HOME

If everything goes according to plans, I'll be meeting BF tomorrow! So naturally, I'm as happy as the photos in this post...

This house belongs to a Danish family. They lived in Germany during the renovation, so they had to do everything by phone! Still, they were happy with the result when they moved in.

Susanne, the lady of the house, loves colourful details!

I think this is a really inspiring home. If you're not following a colour scheme or a theme too strictly, you can find a place for all sorts of different things!

Photo credit: Bjarne B. Jacobsen

I have to return to my "packing light" project. If I see something nice when I'm abroad, I'll let you know!

Link to more photos from this home: Danish interior magazine BoligMagasinet.

Update 28. April 2009:

Apartment Therapy liked this home so much that they featured it on their San Francisco blog. You can read what they wrote here.

HAPPY MONDAY - AT MY MOM'S

Today's Happy Monday post is very simple - just one photo. Since I'm at my mom's, I'd like to blog something that I grew up with: a small bowl which strictly speaking belongs to my big brother. But we all use it for all sorts of things because it's so nice!


(photo: Trudi)

The bowl is from Stavangerflint and is designed somewhere between 1963 and 1967 by Gro Pedersen Claussen.

I stumbled upon quite a few other things from my childhood on this website, so if you're Norwegian, you definitely should visit for a trip down memory lane... If you're not Norwegian, you'll get a glimpse into Norwegian everyday life in the sixties and later by browsing the photos - even if the website is in Norwegian only.

I'm not quite sure who's behind the website I'm referring to, but it looks informative and extensive, so have a peek - I think it will make you smile!

EASTER IN NORWAY

The last week has obviously been a bit stressful. BF moved abroad plus I've fought the battle of browsers vs fonts and lost! Oh well. In the greater context, I have no reason to complain - I'm starting my mammoth-sized Easter holiday today! First, I'm going to visit my mom for a few days, then visit my BF for almost a week.

Today, I'd like to show you what a typical, but still-not-so-typical Norwegian cabin looks like. We Norwegians love our cabins, which are either by the sea or in the mountains. And the Easter holiday is typically a mountain cabin holiday. The cliché is:

-skiing trips
-getting a tan in your face but not on the rest of your body
-eating Kvikk-Lunsj (a Norwegian bisquit chocolate)
-eating oranges thus getting the inside of your mittens all sticky.

Our cabins are traditionally a bit of a cliché also. The interiors are usually pine only: panelled walls, floors, furniture, and for many years, we've decorated with red/green checkered fabrics and two yellow Easter chicken ornaments and left it at that.

Here's a new twist:

Photos: Siri Møller

As you can see, the pine is still in abundance. But the accessories change the feeling of the rooms completely. I'm sure my Norwegian readers are nodding vigorously now! Most of the pillows are made from redesigned clothes by the owner; Fredrikke Friis Bertheussen.

More photos here.

I'm curious guys - how do you celebrate Easter in your country?

TROUBLE IN FONT PARADISE...

I've just discovered that the text font I've chosen, Courier, doesn't work very well with different pc-s and browsers... On my Mac, the text looks fine in Firefox and ok in Safari (only smaller) when I use the normal font-size settings. But it looks totally different on other pc-s; both in Internet Explorer and in Firefox.

This is beyond annoying! I'm going to ask on Google Groups if there's any way around this, so I'll just leave the font settings as they are in case someone wants to take a look. I was really happy with the new font, so if any of you readers have any ideas, please let me know!


Below is a png of how the above text looks like in Firefox on my Mac. This is how I thought my blog looked like:




If you're in Firefox on a Mac, it should look the same. But everything looks quite different if you don't view it on a Mac, doesn't it?

UPDATE:

Guys, thanks so much for your feedback. Seems like Courier isn't a good font except for Mac users. I'm going to do some experimenting to find a more consistent font.

BRIGHT WEEK: SQUINT

Here's another post to celebrate Concrete and Honey's Bright Week!

I know that these photos have been around the blogosphere for ages. I still want to blog them, because I can't imagine anything brighter than UK company Squint's reupholstered chairs and couches! I find that these photos are great inspiration for budget decoration also.

How to get the look:

Most of us aren't up to redoing a whole couch, but dining chairs should be within reach. Loose covers and cool patchwork blankets are always an option, and cushions are even easier! The wallpapered wall in picture no 3 is also really neat. How about buying a few assorted rolls on sale?

DIY IDEA: SIMPLE COLLAGE

This is BF's going away-present from me:



I made the car a while ago, but decided to make it into a tiny collage. The background is a map of the visitor center garden of National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai, Hawaii, where we visited in 2007.

A collage like this is easy to make because you don't actually need any drawing skills. Just choose a theme and make the shape as simple as possible!