Beautiful inspiration from 'Your Creative Work Space'

What does your work / creative space look like? Do you love to sit there and tinker away? I'm sure you're familiar with mine, although more often than not I'm elsewhere - at the kitchen table, on the sofa, in the window, a nearby communal workspace or in a café. A wise friend told me recently that if you don't use a zone (it might be for no other reason that it simply doesn't feel right!), it means it's either in the wrong place, or you have designed it in the wrong way for the task. So true! A few days later the beautiful book Your Creative Work Space: The Sweet Spot Style Guide to Home Office + Studio Decor by Desha Peacock landed on my desk. It was a sign! Known for her eclectic style and helping others see the possibility within themselves, their homes and personal style, Peacock advises that 'your physical setting can either hamper or elevate' your creative calling and offers tips on designing a creative workspace that will inspire the work you are meant to do. The book is packed with beautiful work spaces belonging to artists, designers, craftspeople, writers, and stylists - all of which will make you want to revamp your office in a heartbeat. Here are a few of my favourites:

Aren't these spaces just so inspiring?! Does it tempt to you to pick up the book and make some changes? I can't wait to get started - watch this space!

Your Creative Work Space, by Desha Peacock is published by Skyhorse Press, NYC and is available
here.

Oh and good news, you can win a signed copy over on Instagram today! Yay!

For more workspace inspiration you might like to check out my office space/studio archive (featuring more of Justina Blakeney's fabulous LA studio, the magnificent Studio Slow and Holly Marder's atelier!).

Have a lovely day!

Photography credits: 1 + 2. Justina Blakeney 3. Anisa Rrapaj  4. Johanna Stark's home office by Emil Larsson 5. Sara Banner.  6. Leslie Woodward

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A Soothing Apartment in the Heart of Gothenburg, Sweden

In yesterday's post I talked about my dream house by the sea (just like the one the danish family lived in - wasn't it stunning?!) one day, friends, one day! I noticed on Instagram, many of you felt the same. Today, can we indulge ourselves a little more - and say that we'd also need a Scandinavian pied à terre (for those meetings, concerts, shopping trips, hanging out with friends)?! A sort of best-of-both-worlds life spanning beach-city, Sweden-Denmark?! I'm thinking this apartment in Gothenburg, Sweden could do the trick. It's more or less a studio (the bedroom doubles up as a sitting room and workspace) but with a separate bedroom and large spacious rooms full of light. The soft shades of grey, and cosy textures in muted colours create a lovely, soothing feel. Let's take a peek...

Styling: By Bon Interior for Bjurfors. 

What do you think?!

Could you imagine returning here each evening after a hectic day? How lovely would that be?!


In case you're wondering about a few of the items, here's a quick round-up: bedroom - moss blanket,
Globe mobile, stonewashed pleated linen bed skirt (I love this!), this bedside lamp is similar. Sitting room - Söderhamn sofa, HAY tray table, green velvet cushion,  capuccino throw / blanket. Kitchen - Thonet chairs.

See more homes in shades of grey here - kind of soothing right?

Have a lovely day!

PS French speaking friends- I'm excited to see two interviews from my Lagom Book tour in Paris are now live over at La Trésorerie (who stock my book) and Pleine Vie, if you fancy discovering a little more about it!

PPS I'm having a few problems with my blog comment section right now - I can read your (wonderful) comments but can't reply. We're urgently looking into it so bear with me, but please don't stop, I love hearing from you! 

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A dream Danish house by the sea

Hej, hvad så? Do you have a dream house out there? One that you drive pass every now and again and think 'oh, how I'd love to live there one day'?! Sometimes these dreams do come true. And today's home tour is proof! Åsa Olofsson (owner of Smuk beauty salon in Copenhagen) and husband Peter (a partner at Bech-Bruun) returned from holiday to find their dream house, a mere 300 metres from their own, had gone on the market. And despite being completely derelict with no bathroom or kitchen and a waterlogged basement, they snapped it up in an instant. It's easy to see why. Not only is the house full of character, with old beams and large, light-filled rooms, it's also right on the beach. The pair drafted in the help of an architect and slowly but surely restored the house into a fantastic family home, which they enjoy today with their two children Maja and Carl.

 Photography / copyright: Jesper Ray  - found via Style Files and Bolig magasinet with thanks. 

I think I might just have found my dream house too! I've always dreamed of living on the beach like this - and the house itself is just beeeautiful! Could you imagine living here?!

Get the look:

Ground floor flooring: Epoxy 

dining area - wishbone chairs, Eames DSW chair, Hemnes glass cabinet from IKEA, fluffy grey sheepskin, a selection of Marble lights by & Tradition hang over the table.

sitting room - FLY chair by & Tradition, RANARP Floor/reading lamp, I like this wall hanging.

Landing: a cluster of MASS light in dark marble by & Tradition hang above the stairs, wooden stag head.

Bedroom: Muuto pendant light, soft green linen throw, E27 pendant light.

***

Thank you so much for the kind permission to share these lovely pictures Jesper Ray - if you have the time, do check out Jesper's beautiful photography / prints!

If it's Danish home tours you're after, you're in luck - there's tonnnes of beautiful ones in the Danish apartments and Danish home archives! *siiiigh* there goes an entire afternoon / evening.... ah well, who needs to work anyway...?!

Have a lovely day!

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My stay at the beautiful Hotel Henriette, Paris

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful weekend? I'm still reeling from a magical weekend in Paris where HarperCollins France organised a tour to celebrate the launch of my Lagom book in French. My days included an inspiring meet-up with bloggers and journalists at La Trésorerie, a book signing at Galeries Lafayette and a soirée at Nordik Market  - I have to say, it all feels like a dream now! The weekend was made to feel even more special by Hotel Henriette - a small boutique hotel with a chic pied-à-terre feel tucked away in a quiet cobbled street in the 13th arrondissement. Designed by former fashion editor Vanessa Scoffier, the entire space is decorated with second hand pieces, mid-century finds, and fabulous art deco light fittings set against a back drop of deep, rich hues, soft greys and pretty florals (oh la la!). It's somewhere I've been wanting to stay ever since this post - and I have to say it was even lovelier in real life! Of course, I had to snap every detail so that I could take ideas home with me, and share the space with you! Here's a sneak peek...

Copyright / photography: Niki Brantmark - My Scandinavian Home.  

Isn't it just the most beautiful place?

Vanessa spent over 15 months trawling Paris flea markets to find pieces for each room and the communal areas. The good news is, that this means if you look hard enough, you could achieve the same look in your own home on a budget - hurrah! Here's a quick guide:

Bedroom - Gubi Grasshopper Pendant in grey,  source pretty handmade floral pillow cases here, this is a great place to pick up vintage school chairs and antique mirrors. This gold flower wall sconce is similar. Conservatory: source a similar seagrass basket here, vintage tripod table. Sitting room / reception: mid-century credenza, Togo ottoman in yellow alcantara by Ligne Roset, pick up a set of vintage cranes here.

You can see more of the rooms (all of which have been decorated in their own unique way) here.  

Thank you so much to HarperCollins France for believing in my book and organising the trip (what a fantastic, genuine, kind group of people you are!), La Trésorerie, Nordik Market and Galeries Lafayette for being so accommodating, to all the wonderful people I met over my time there, of whom, sadly, there are too many to mention by name, and Hotel Henriette for a memorable stay!

Have a great start to the week!

N.B. This is not a sponsored post - I just wanted to share this little gem of a hotel with you in case you're ever in Paris!

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