Monday 31 January 2011

copenhagen for my kitchen

If you are interested in adding some graphics to your home then I recommend you visit the website of the Danish company ferm LIVING. They produce wallpapers, wall stickers, textiles, and a wonderful collection for kids. Like many of you know by now, I spend quite some time in the kitchen and have a soft spot for beautiful kitchenware. These tea towels make my kitchen-heart beat a little faster, and because we lived in Copenhagen for a while I'm especially fond of the Copenhagen piece.


photos: ferm Living

Sunday 30 January 2011

paris haute couture: chanel

Paris Haute Couture: Chanel
Spring/Summer 2011
by Karl Lagerfeld

No words needed.


photos: Telegraph

Saturday 29 January 2011

a balanced home

Yesterday, I stumbled upon the image of the sliding door behind these custom-made bookshelves and I was drawn to the combination of glass, wood and the bedroom's soft colours. I had to look up more photos of this home. The designer is L. Danielle Fennoy and she runs her own New York based design firm, Revamp LLC. She has created a bright modern home, yet calm and balanced - I love that. I also love the way she plays with colours; see how the red shades of the rug and pillows in the living room reflect the saffron tablecloth in the bedroom. Beautiful work.

photos: Revamp LLC

Friday 28 January 2011

indian influence

For dinner yesterday, we made a delicious Indian meal, hubby made the dish itself and I made chapati, which is a flat round South Asian bread. We served pickles and mango chutney on the side. This week all the children have been sick in bed with a nasty flu and have had no appetite. Therefore, at the dinner table it was just the two of us, which made it okay to serve the dish extra hot and spicy. There are plenty of leftovers so today an Indian style lunch is guaranteed. With that said, I decided to look at Indian home decor. Let me just say that I realize that what I found isn't the reality for the majority of the Indian population. Then again, this blog world isn't really about the reality of the common people, is it?


photo credit:
bottom-left: Casa Paradox
bottom-right: Derek Swalwell | styling: Clair Wayman via Design*Sponge

Wednesday 26 January 2011

the bedroom

When I saw these images it was instant love. I'm all for colours, even bright colours. However, in the bedroom my rule is simple: no dramatic statements, no big stripes or bold patterns – soft and soothing colours and cotton are the key. I think the mind simply needs the rest at the end of the day; a break from everything that stimulates the senses. Another rule of mine: Bedlinen made of synthetics is a definite no-no. And remember to make your bed every morning.



Tuesday 25 January 2011

introducing reykjavik letterpress

I am taking you to my home country, Iceland, with a population of three hundred thousand. As some of you may know, Iceland was hit hard by the economic crisis and is still in recovery. Amazingly, however, this hardship has motivated Icelandic entrepreneurs. There are people everywhere thinking outside the box and starting their own business.

So, let me proudly introduce to you Reykjavik Letterpress (website under construction), founded by graphic designers Olof Birna Gardarsdottir and Hildur Sigurdardottir. It has been a pleasure following them on Facebook and seeing what they have been doing; from the moment they bought the printing machine and learned to master the letterpress technique until they were in full swing, designing and printing beautiful products for individuals and companies.

Nothing is stopping these two talented ladies, not even recession. Believe me,
they have plenty of energy and fresh ideas!

photos: Reykjavik Letterpress on Facebook

Reykjavik Letterpress
Lindargata 50
101 Reykjavik
Tel: 5 170 150, email: reykjavik@letterpress.is

Monday 24 January 2011

bright colours

I cannot describe how much I love the use of bright colours in this Connecticut home, designed by Allison Caccoma. The tulips, branches, vases and that 1940s blue glass lamp in the third photo – right up my alley.


photo credit: Jonny Valiant for House Beautiful

Sunday 23 January 2011

sunday kitchen

I would like to have a kitchen like that on Sundays. It has that homey, welcoming feel. 
I can almost smell the pancakes.

photo credit: Robin Stubbert for Country Living

Saturday 22 January 2011

vintage shopping

We haven't gone imaginary shopping lately. This time I'm taking you to Vintage Kompagniet, a Danish online shop that sells, as the name indicates, everything vintage (factory made as well). I like browsing their kitchenware section and these are my latest finds.


 photos via Vintage Kompagniet

Friday 21 January 2011

adele 21

ADELE is releasing her second album, 21, in the UK on January the 24th (about one month later in the US). I cannot wait to have it in my hands. I've been a fan since I first heard her perform Chasing Pavements from 19. ADELE performed her new song Someone Like You on Later... with Jools Holland in November and it's simply beautiful. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that someone with such a beautiful and mature voice can be only 23 years old.



YouTube: ADELE / Someone Like You
21

Thursday 20 January 2011

knitted throws

I was browsing through the Belgian Art&Décoration when I saw these beautiful knitted throws in 
pink and plum available at Serendipity. When I visited their website I found more colours (currently 
the website is only available in French but they're working on an English version). The throws come 
in two sizes, 90 x 90 cm (€139) and 120 x 150 cm (€229); the bigger one can also be used as a 
bedspread for small beds. I think they look so charming and chunky with these adorable big stitches.

photos: Serendipity

Serendipity
81-83 Rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 Paris

Monday 17 January 2011

my monday mood

I turned to my vintage board on Pinterest to express my Monday mood (and did my best to find the original source for all the images). Today's plan is to wash the floors and then do absolutely nothing until I get on my bicycle to pick up my children from school. Well, I will most certainly have some coffee and organic chocolate! What are you guys up to today?


photo credit:
jasmine glass: IlluminatedPerfume on Flickr
white room: Ellen McDermott for Country Living
chandelier: unknown source
french blue cupboard: Maria at Dreamy Whites
bicycle: Jamie at From Me To You
cup: Lona A. on Flickr
Eiffel tower chocolate: Anne-Solange Tardy at Cachemire & Soie
room with vintage secretary: unknown source

Sunday 16 January 2011

wonderful cookbook news


You probably already know that baking and cooking are two of my obsessions and that I have two food blogs, Icelandic and English (I'll be updating them more frequently when I get my new camera). There are a few food blogs out there that are part of my daily routine. I'm very picky about food blogs, especially since I use healthy ingredients myself, preferably organic. You'll never see me use white sugar or butter in recipes so I'm always looking for healthy recipes or recipes that can easily be substituted with healthier ingredients. And by healthy, I mean tasty. Some people seem to think that if it's healthy it should taste like paper!

One of my favourite food blogs is Canelle Et Vanille. Aran Goyoaga is the person behind it and not only does she create delicious recipes, but she also has an amazing artistic eye. At times her food styling is breathtaking. I cannot describe how happy and excited I was when I read her latest post. She has made it official that she is working on a cookbook with gluten free recipes, which will be published in the autumn of 2012. I had to share the wonderful news in case you're not following her blog already.

Please note that Aran Goyoaga owns the copyright of the two images I chose for this entry and they are published with her written permission.


Saturday 15 January 2011

purple darlings

This is my old-chair-meets-sixties-wallpaper post. Friends of mine in London are moving today so I'm sitting here with my latte and wishing them all the best.

Have a fabulous Saturday everyone!


photo credit:
left: spontans/Sasha Tamarin on Flickr
right (cropped by me): LivingEtc

Friday 14 January 2011

eventually...

I found this on Pinterest this morning and it was love at first sight.

photo credit: rebecca ann rakstad on Flickr

Thursday 13 January 2011

k&a recipe: veggie chilli

Yesterday, I decided to make chilli because it felt like I was coming down with a cold or something; nothing compares to garlic and chilli (and ginger) when trying to avoid getting sick. Today I posted my recipe on kitchen & aroma: veggie chilli.

Enjoy!

photo: Lisa Hjalt

Wednesday 12 January 2011

lamps & wallpaper

I think I'm in love with the Wild Flora collection from Anna French (remember the top image in this post). The wallpapers shown below are called Girl on a See Saw, Ash, and Songbirds. I found myself searching for lamps to match each room because, in my opinion, a room isn't a room without at least one beautiful table lamp.


wallpaper: Anna French
  ivory porcelain lamp (KleinReid): Style at Home
green ceramic lamp: Bassett
green glass lamp(Barbara Barry): Baker

Tuesday 11 January 2011

colours of choice

I'm still in a please-come-early-spring mood so I turned to olive green and different shades of pink. To me it's almost a magical combination. How gorgeous is that olive green Finn Juhl sofa in the top-left image? It's called Poeten, a classic Danish design from 1941.

I love the bookshelves with the pink wallpaper in the image below, such a wonderful way to create a whole different look. The bottom image is a Designers Guild creation; their collection of fabrics is simply beautiful.


photo credit:
1: Lerkenfeldt Photoraphy
2: Karyn Millet for Country Living
3: via MADAMW