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7 Christmas Gift-Wrapping Ideas Using Cloth (Furoshiki)


Back in October I thought to myself "this year, I'm going to be super organised people and buy / make / bake all my Christmas presents well in time". Fast forward two months and I'm in the same position as I am every year - a few things left to buy, none wrapped. But this weekend, things are about to change. Once I've ticked everything off my list, I'm going to attempt a new gift-wrapping method: Furoshiki

For those of you not familiar with it, Furoshiki is a Japanese square-shaped cloth traditionally used to wrap and transport goods, with a focus on aesthetics (I like the sound of this already)! Although less formal than 'fukusa' which is used to present more formal gifts, Furoshiki is becoming increasingly popular in the design world. And the good news? You can wrap your presents in just about any fabric you have at home: silk, cotton, linen, nylon. As long as you can fold it, you can use it! Feel inspired? Here are 7 examples of beautifully cloth-wrapped presents to get you started! 

1. Top picture: Beth Kirby has used linen and silk to wrap her Christmas gifts.

2. Forever the romantic Swede, Anna Kubel has added a pretty flower, to her wrapping although any Christmas bloom will do!

3. More of a simple fold held together with safety pins, this delightful wrapping would look equally pretty with a sprig of eucalyptus, boxwood or holly as it does dried flowers.

4. Pretty berries add a touch of colour to this linen wrapping. 

5. Dried oranges, spruce and cinnamon add a divine smelling, decorative touch to wrapping. 

6. Dried wild flowers make a pretty touch - anytime of the year! 

8. Or for something completely different, why not wrap your presents in knit - they'll be as snug as a bug in a rug - and look pretty too! 

So pretty, and this is all very well, but I noticed that there are no awkward shaped items here like a football or a bottle of wine! No fear though, as there are many different Furoshiki techniques you can use - find out more here

What do you think, could you imagine using the art of Furoshiki this Christmas? 

More gift wrapping inspiration: 

8 beautiful rustic gift wrapping ideas

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Happy wrapping! 

Niki

Credits in order: Anna Kubel, Beth Kirby, no credits found,  Majamas Earth, ShyntatamyaDécouvrir DesignAdventures in Cooking - shared with thanks. 

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Feeling the Hygge: My Holiday Table Setting

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The winter solstice is a few weeks away and the sun never really gets very high in the sky here in Southern Sweden (is it the same where you are?). This can only mean one thing: it's time to get cosy over casual, candlelit dinners. In preparation for my favourite time of the year (admittedly it's also birthday season so I'm a little biased!), Genevieve Jorn and I had a fun afternoon creating this holiday table setting using beautiful items from the Nordal homeware collection (my Danish partner who are not only the loveliest team ever, they also design the most beautiful items - seriously!).  We selected natural linens, cast iron candle holders,  tactile stoneware  and mouthblown glass combined with a foraged wreath, dried poppies and age-old wood furniture to create a rustic vibe. Bring on the hygge!














Photography - Niki Brantmark,  Styling - Genevieve Jorn  / My Scandinavian Home). 

Ahhhh, so pleased with the natural materials and layers of texture. I feel completely ready for the holiday season now!

In case you'd like to know where any of the items are from, we've mapped out an entire 'get the look' below. 

And here's a styling tip I learned from the pro (Gen!): linen tablecloths will arrive ironed and folded. To get the 'relaxed crease' look, wet the entire linen cloth and then hang it up to dry (if it's curtains you can simply hang them in place) - and then simply throw over the table.

And finally... the wreath! This year I'm really into rustic foraged wreaths. I'm hoping to create a DIY post shortly so keep an eye out!

Get the look*

1. Burgundy velvet quilted cushion 2. Pure drinking glass 3. Retro drinking glass 4. Retro red wine glass 5. Cast iron candle holder (short) 6. Cast iron candle holder 7. Glass vase 8. Cast iron server spoons (small) 9. Tapas board 10. Black cutlery 11. Stoneware bowl 12. Stoneware cake plate 13. Stoneware dinner plate 14. Table cloth 15. Napkins 16. Stoneware pitcher 17. Stoneware mug.

 *Nordal ships throughout Europe. Find a webshop stockist near you here.  


If you'd like to know anything else about my dining space just give me a shout in the comment section below.

Hope you feel as inspired as I do to get together over long lunches / dinners under candlelit!

I'm heading off to a friends cabin in the woods with friends and family for a couple of days (weeeeee!) - back Monday - see you then! Have a lovely weekend, and Happy Thanksgiving to all American friends and family!

PS I feel very honoured to be a part of the world's first influencer-specialised magazine - Le Buzz. Thank you so much for the lovely interview / feature!


This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nordal, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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My home: kitchen star

Hello! Well can you believe it, it's still snowing?! And my Mum called me from London this morning all excited as it's snowing there too! ('What's all the fuss about?' I hear you guys North of South Sweden asking?! haha!). Today I thought I'd share a couple of pics from my kitchen. I have a bit of a black, white, light grey and wood theme going on. And of course a star for a touch of Christmas.



My Scandinavian Home
The mat on the floor is a traditional Swedish Tasmatta  (rag rug) which are handwoven on a loom using strips of recycled cloth.  Believe it or not, Swedish friends, I bought these two rag rugs in Jysk! I love that they have strips of silver cloth mixed in with the weave.

The tray is the Bricka Plattan by Barbro Tryberg.

Have a lovely day!

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6 Pretty Scandinavian DIY Christmas Gift-Wrapping Ideas


Have you finished your Christmas shopping (if you celebrate / exchange presents)? I'm not quite there yet, but I'm already looking forward to the next phase: the gift wrapping! Every year I envisage myself spending hours baking, creating DIY decorations and lovingly making my own wrapping paper. The reality is somewhat different! Do you feel the same? The good news is that in this gift-wrapping round-up there is something for everyone - whether you prefer / have the time to make things from scratch, or would simply like to add a simple, yet pretty touch to your presents! Either way, why not make an evening of it with candlelight and glögg (mulled wine). You could also make up a riddle to go with each present - just like the Swedes do! Here are 6 lovely ideas: 

1. Paper tree - the wrapping above looks highly sophisticated, but just cutting out a long 'ribbon' from the wrapping paper you are using and arranging its in a Christmas tree shape is as easy as can be, and makes a great replacement for shop bought bows! 

1. Paper cut outs - Swede Helena Lyth shows a step by step guide on how to create decorative cut outs in your wrapping paper. 

2. Jingle bells! Little brass bells attached to string will make your pressies chime! I love these rustic bells from Etsy*.  Photo - Nathalie Myrberg


3. Furoshiki - I love the idea of using reusable cloth for present wrapping. See as step by step tutorial here and more Furoshiki gift wrapping ideas here (love the knitted one!) and source natural* and dyed Furoshiki clothes*. Photo - Dans le Sac. 

4. Foraged - winter foliage like berries, pine, boxwood, and eucalyptus add such a pretty touch to presents wrapped in simple brown paper. Photo - Eva Kosmas Flores.


5. Linen and dried flowers - a simple, yet pretty and natural way to wrap presents


What do you think? Any ideas you might like to try? 

See a load more gift-wrapping ideas here: 


Entertaining this weekend? Here are some of my favourite holiday table setting ideas: 


You might also like to see all the beautiful tours, decorating ideas and snowy landscapes in the Christmas archive

Have a cosy weekend!

Niki

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8 Cleaning Hacks for a Gleaming Refrigerator!




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Since acquiring our new Samsung fridge and freezer I've been determined to keep them looking shiny and new - and most importantly, keep the funk out!! Know the feeling?! I chatted to friends across all generations here in Sweden to suss out great Scandi hacks which help to keep kitchen appliances clean. Several months down the line and I think I might just have nailed it! The front of our fridge is shiny and fingerprint free, and the inside sparkles like new. And best of all it smells super fresh too. I feel it would only be fair to share the 8 hacks I've learnt with you. Not only do most of them require tools and ingredients you most likely already have at home, they're organic and budget-friendly too!


1. Clean your fridge regularly: not so much a hack, as something to be mindful of. I've found that going over my fridge at least once a week helps to catch food before it goes off - and generally ensures the appliances stay clean. Every three months it's important to remove EVERYTHING and give the fridge a deep clean to keep it tip top inside (and prevent kids friends' from holding their nose every time they open the fridge door - trust me, it's happened in the past!). 

2. Clean refrigerator shelves with soap and water: remove the shelves and wait for them to reach room temperature before washing them with soap and warm water in the sink. A Swedish friend tipped me off about organic soap flakes which you buy in bulk, last forever and are completely chemical free. She even washes her clothes with them - and they're perfect for cleaning the fridge! 

3. Clean the inside of your fridge with baking soda and water: combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 10 dl of water and spray the inside of your fridge. Wipe down with a damp cloth and then dry thoroughly. This concoction will leave your fridge sparkling without your food smelling of detergent. Love that! 

4. Use a toothbrush for tiny edges: an old toothbrush will help you access the tiny areas in your fridge that you otherwise wouldn't have been able to reach. 

5. Freshen up the inside of your fridge with lemon: Soak cotton wool in lemon juice and then use it to wipe the inside of your fridge. You might even like to place a few slices on a plate and leave them inside. They'll help soak up unpleasant odours and leave your fridge smelling lovely and citrusy! 

6. Organise food in containers: containers are ideal for keeping food fresh and minimising odours! I was inspired by the 'Take-out' tray that came with my fridge, and have since added a few more containers. But I have a feeling this is only the start!

PS. No my fridge isn't always as neat and tidy as this, far from it! 

7. Set the right humidity level: if your vegetable / crisper drawers come with a Humidity Control Setting like mine does (FYI I opted for the RR39M73657F/EE model - partly because of this setting!), make sure you set it to the right level so that your fruit and veg stay fresher for longer. As a general rule, you'll want to use a high setting for leafy-green vegetables or anything that might wilt (like lettuce, cucumber, carrots and broccoli) and a low setting for fruits or anything that could rot (like kiwis, bananas and apples). 

8. Leave your stainlesssteel doors gleaming: Dab a non-abrasive rag in white vinegar and then apply it to the fridge following the grain. And then dab the cloth with a couple of drops of olive oil before polishing the stainless-steel following the grain - you'll leave your fridge and freezer gleaming! 

What do you reckon? Did you know about any of these cleaning hacks before? Perhaps you have some of your own - I'd love to hear about them below! 

Feeling pretty excited about these hacks - might just start exploring ideas for the rest of the kitchen now! Here's to a gleaming kitchen! 

Curious about other posts in this series? 

My favourite healthy Swedish Easter recipe - perfect for this weekend! 

Wishing you a lovely day friends! 

Niki

This is a paid collaboration with Samsung. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with brands and products I love and can truly recommend. Thank you for supporting the businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible. 

A big thank you to Sarah Brooks-Wilson for working with me on this shoot. 

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Guest post: 2013 interior trends

Hi I'm Mette from Make Living blog...New year and new energy. Do you feel the same? As always this time of year I like to look at what interior designers think will be the trend for the year. Even if I don´t follow it all the way, but a lot of inspiration for a new fresh year. Therefore I “took a walk” in the cyberspace and found some interior designers that has shared what they think will be the hot stuff year 2013.

One of the sources for interior trends is Swedish Formex and the Milan furniture fair. Camilla Julner at “Vi i Villa” has met with some experts and have summarized some trends below.

  • Use the colour grey as a base colour and complement with “dirty” or washed out pastels
  • Lamps with an industrial feeling is still a trend
  • Change silver to brass, copper and bronze
  • Dare to mix brave patterns or don´t use patterns to get an elegant look.
  • Use textiles such as curtains to get a soft feeling in your home
  • Dare to use black with black


Washed out pastels

Copper lamp

Grey colour as a base

Black with black
Pictures from 1: Via Items by Designbird, 2&3: vtwonen, 4:Tumblr

Louise Karlsten from Colour House, a company that works a lot with trends also emphasize that our homes will more and more be influenced by the trips we have made to other countries. To reuse and combine old with new interior is still a trend as well as washed out colours.

Lotta Ahlvar, VD at Svenska Moderådet summarize the coming years with that more and more people question the behaviour buying and then throwing away their belongings. The simplicity and the nature influences us a lot, and that we will see with more natural colours together with white and material such as concrete. Transparent glass, rough wood together with colours such as white, grey and beige is also a trend for 2013. Lotta also mention that brass is very popular in general in interior design and industrial lamps.

So much inspiration for 2013!  What plans do you have for 2013 and have you seen any special trends so far that you will bring in to your home? I just feel like start changing already. How about you? At home we have starting to plan for our new guest room. That and other journeys I will share with you at Make-Living and as always...some DIY. Some DIY projects that I made during 2012 you can find at the blog such as the outdoor sofa, the cloth stand and the magazine shelf.



Have a lovely day all!
/Mette

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A Dutch Home Infused with Warmth and Harmony

Hello Monday! I hope you had a great weekend? It was midsummer here so we're all nursing slight schnapps hangovers (lethal stuff that!). Nothing a double shot of coffee and a beautiful home tour can't fix though, thankfully! And have I got a charming home for you this bright, sunny Monday! Located in Monster (amazing name!), close to the Hague in The Netherlands, Tinta Luhrman's abode has a tremendously calm and harmonic feel thanks to the touches of beautifully crafted wood throughout. It's little wonder the owners have turned woodwork into a successful online business. I caught up with Tinta to find out more about interior design, her love of 'brown' tones and working with wood.

// affiliated links marked with *//



Who do you live with?
I live with the most special man, Rutger, the most beautiful girl Dieuwertje and the best dog ever, Paxi!



Selenelion Moon print by Stella Marie Baer, Olly Wood Surf Board


What do you do for a living?
My husband and I design and make furniture and also have a webshop selling handmade products. I am an interior designer and Rutger is a carpenter. After years of working independently, we decided to combine forces and start working together.

What is the essence of Woodchuck? 
Simplicity and natural materials are at the heart of our business. We live and breathe wood, literally ;-). From early on, I was drawn to the colours, smell and look and feel of wood and Rutger loves to work with his hands. Woodchuck is a concept that is 100% us. Everything we sell is created by us and passes through our hands. We love this old school way of working and believe putting that extra bit of love into a product gives it something special - both for us and the clients.

"Design is an ongoing process that keeps growing until it's finished. Nothing is so subject to change as wood and a creative mind."

Mobile by Laine Maison Makes, Art by Lily Nichols

You have a beautifully unique interior, how has this evolved?
Since I was little I have always surrounded myself with natural materials. I've always been into Scandinavian and Japanese style. I don’t follow trends, I've always stayed true to myself. I have a penchant for vintage items but also new designs. Every house needs a uniqueness. I always start with a white canvas and then I let the interior evolve. Every room has a different light and feeling so I use this as my base. The same goes for the colors I use.

"Everyone has his of her own color: brown is mine. It's a hue that brings me a sense of calm and happiness. And I eat chocolate every day ;)" 

 





Do you have any tips for anyone looking to introduce more wood into their home?
I think wood gives your home warmth and the combination of using different kind of wood enhances this. But not every one loves it. Choose the wood you like the most to create your own look.

Do you have any general interior styling tips?
Decorate your home in a way that feels good to you and dare to be different. Stay true to yourself. Surround yourself with beauty and try to have less storage space so you don’t buy a lot of things you don’t use. That’s why we have an open kitchen: we only have things in our kitchen that we use, not a pantry full of things we don’t.



Thank you for welcoming us into your home Tinta. 

Anyone else tempted to add more wood to their home now? If you're looking for me today I'll be over on the Woodchuck website (or Tinta's instagram feed - looking for inspiration!), see you there?!
I also love the floor in the children's bedroom - I've got such a weakness for painted checks! Is there anything that struck you about this home? 
In case you're feeling inspired by all things wood you might also want to check out a Brooklyn home with reclaimed wood and the lovely home of ÉmilieDesjarlais (in case you missed it last week!) and also this guide to parquet floors.

Oh and this Dutch home features some lovely pieces from Woodchuck too.
Have a great start to the week!

Niki

All photography: Tinta Lurhman / Woodchuck

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