The cheerful Brooklyn home of an artist

Here in Malmö, the sun is shining and I've got one of my besties visiting from London - hurrah! I hope you've got some great things to look forward too this weekend too? If so, I've got just the home to match the FRIYAY mood.  This cheerful apartment in Brooklyn, New York belongs to the incredibly talented Leah Goren, an illustrator and surface pattern designer who counts brands such as Anthropologie, Penguin and Revlon as her clients and is the author of BESTIES and co-author of Ladies Drawing Night. Her natural eye for bold colours and playful design shines through in her relaxed home where art, rugs and accessories add cheerful pops of colour and vibrant green plants stand mid-century pieces and other vintage finds. Enjoy! 

Credits: homeowner - Leah Goren. Photography -  Kelly Fondots. Found via Glitter Guide, with thanks.  

Such a great home! I love all the quirky touches. Is there anything that catches your eye? 

Get the look from Leah's home: source vintage terracotta pots here, the big plant next to the parrot wall hanging is a fiddle leaf fig tree  (check out this piece on how to keep them alive and well). Knit pillow by Leah,  source a similar pouf here. Visit Leah's shop for colourful and playful art and accessories. 

You can read the full interview and see more pictures of Leah's lovely home here.

In case you'd like to see more from the neighbourhood - here are a few other fabulous Brooklyn homes to enjoy: the Brooklyn home of a Swedish expat, the boho home and studio of a creative duo and the lovely, relaxed home of a fashion designer. Oh so inspiring!

While on the subject of New York, my family and I are headed in that direction this summer - eeeee, so excited! We're planning on staying in Manhattan for a few days and then looking for somewhere  to go relatively nearby to explore and chill out afterwards - any tips?

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

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The 'Green Home Book': inspiration for plant lovers

One of the trends I love right now is 'urban jungle' or the idea of filling your home with plants. Greenery is said to have many positive benefits including providing cleaner air, boosting your mood and even enhancing concentration and memory (yes, really! I discovered many other benefits too here). But above all else, they do look lovely, don't they?! I mean, what would a home be without plants and flowers? That's why I was so happy to discover the 'Green Home Book'. The tome was created as result of a collaboration between Finnish creatives Riikka Kantinkoski (I once featured her beautiful home here) and Susanna Vento and includes beautiful photography taken in homes across Finland as well as simple tips on how to care for plants. Here's a sneak peek....

Photos from 'Green Home Book' by Riikka Kantinkoski and Susanna Vento.

Ah so inspiring. I must pick up a copy as soon as possible!

Doesn't it look lovely?

If you're a bit of a plant lover you'll also love these snapshots from the beautiful home of Jeska Hearne, the Brownstone of the owner of plant interior design company, and the bohemian home of a florist.

Oh, and I love this DIY idea - how fab? 

Have a lovely day!

PS I think the reason I'm thinking about books today is because I'm sitting at the library researching a new project (more to follow soon!). It's actually the perfect place to sit and work as it's super quiet and overlooks the park. The only problem is my typing is so LOUD!! I think I might need to sellotape cotton wool to my finger tips next time!

PPS I have such an exciting Swedish summer cottage to share with you tomorrow - it will have us all dreaming of balmy summer days!  

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Beautiful inspiration for plant lovers

Last week I shared a cosy garden shed make-over (how I'd love one of these!) - which was all about creating a little home to call your own at the end of the garden. Today, I thought we'd do the reverse - and take a look at how to create a lovely garden inside our homes - or at least bring a little greenery indoors! Not only are plants said to help boost health, clean the air, boost healing and help us work better (read more here!), they also look beautiful. This weekend I'll be taking inspiration from Jeska and Dean Hearne's lovely home - which Dean recently shot for a 'green-living' feature in Another Escape magazine. I hope you'll feel inspired too!

Credits: Dean Hearne

Time to create that urban jungle?!

Get the look with a few of my favourite planters: vintage terracotta pots, this and this garden pot, and for something a little quirky try Stella Baggott (cute!).

And for the plants - I'm loving some of these 'no fail' plants (said to be nearly impossible to kill  we like)...and the 9 best for air purifying.

For more home inspiration this weekend you might want to revisit the beautiful Melbourne home of a florist and a lovely boho home of a Swedish artist and florist.

And finally - 182 beautiful ideas of how to incorporate plants and flowers into your life. I guess we have no excuses!

And before I leave you to have a lovely 'green' weekend, there's good news all round, I've announced the winner of the Feliz bedding here - as well as a fantastic 20% off for everyone else - yay! Click here to get your discount code!

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

PS Could you live off the grid like this couple?

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The inspiring home and studio of Maaike Koster

I'm so excited to share the beautiful home and studio of Dutch graphic designer & interior designer Maaike Koster in Haarlem, The Netherlands today. Maaike has an inexhaustable passion for transforming ideas into inspiring concepts, beautiful designs and sophisticated spaces. And fortunately for us she frequently shares her family home, where she references much of her artwork (sold through 'My Deer Art shop') -on instagram (if you don't follow her, you definitely should!). Maaike's home is teeming with vintage pieces, the odd design classic, fabulous art and an abundance of greenery with an overall look which truly reflects her signature style - 'uncomplicated simplicity with a feminine touch'. Enjoy!

Photography / home owner Maaike Koster - My Deer Art Shop. Shared with kind permission.

What a charming home, don't you think?

Did you recognise it? I once featured Maaike's home here in 2013 - although I must say, it's gone through a pretty big transformation since then!

Get the look: All art from My Deer Art Shop. Sitting room - Eames lounge chair & ottoman, beni ourain rug, macrame plant holders and wall hanging. This antique apothocary chest is wonderful! Eames DCW chair. Children's room - source lovely vintage childrens desk and chair sets here. Studio - black work lamp, eames house bird.

See more beautiful Dutch homes here. 

And if you feel like getting a little creative after seeing Maaike's home, why not give one (or all) of these DIY projects a whirl:

Abstract modern art.

An easy leather strap shelf.

A wooden X shaped magazine holder.


The Icelandic Birch Cocktail- (this counts as DIY, right?). 

Have a lovely day! 

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The winner of 5 beautiful Scandinaviaform vases from Blackthumb

Thank you so much to everyone for entering the May day spring bank holiday to win not one but five fab Scandinaviaform vases from Blackthumb (oh yes!). I'm excited to announce the winner as....Pét'a K. Wonderful if you can drop me a mail with your preferred vases / address so we can ship your prize to you.

As you can see I didn't keep the prize all to myself (as tempted as I was!), but I will be heading over to Blackthumb for a little shopping! See you there? You can also keep up to date with @blackthumb and @scandinavianform on instagram for a great dose of interior inspiration. And if you're heading to Pulse in a few weeks, make sure you swing by booth A30 to see these vases in action and say hi!

 1. Consilium Vases & Glasilium Vases 2. Chamber Vases 3. Consilium Vases 4. Glasilium Vases

This give-away is now closed.

Terms & Conditions

You must be age of majority in your country of residence. We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur. Only 1 entry per person. 

This post is sponsored by Blackthumb and Scandinaviaform.

Have a wonderful spring bank holiday!

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A magical artist's home full of the joys of spring!

Hello April! How wonderful to see you! It would be rude not to celebrate with an absolutely stunning artist's home that's full of the joys of spring! The house, featured on JJ Locations,  has been decorated throughout with accents of green - whether in the form of lush plants, furniture, textiles or accessories. Combine this with the fabulous architecture, light flooding through the windows, mix of designer and vintage finds and art for a truly magical oasis in the heart of Camberwell, South London. Enjoy!

JJ Locations - shared with kind permission. Initially found via Design Attractor with thanks.

Beautiful, don't you think?! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Get the look: Dining area:  Tulip table,  Eames chairs, source rattan chairs here and spray paint in shades of green.  Bedroom: Tom Dixon beat light, bertoia chair, rustic stool as a bedside table. Landing: This industrial pendant is similar, Beni Ourain rugs.

If you haven't discovered JJ locations before I can recommend pouring yourself a coffee and taking a look around their website this weekend.  Based in Shoreditch, the agency represents a select portfolio of professional photographic and film locations across London, the UK and abroad. See more pictures of this lovely home here.


Other homes with a splash of spring green include this Gothenburg home, and a Skåne home with a vintage touch.
 
More links from around the web to enjoy this weekend:

How to style a credenza.

What a lovely kitchen?!  I've got my eye on these wonderful industrial bar stools similar to the one seen.

I love this funky Finnish children's bedroom inspiration.

My latest Tumblr find.

If you do one thing this weekend - bring in some pretty cherry blossom to divide between vases.

Books stored with their pages facing outwards look lovely but aren't entirely practical. And then someone told me on instagram that this is exactly what they used to do in the national library to preserve the jackets. Could this be the excuse I needed?! Loving the 'casual pile' too!

I was sad to hear the news of architect Dame Zaha Hadid, the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2004). Here are the 10 magnificent 'curvy' buildings she will be remembered for.

And finally....the night and morning routines of successful women including Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Anna Wintour- and guess what? It doesn't say that much about getting up early (I read about an entrepreneur who gets up at 3am everyday - I mean, really?!).

So that's it from me. Have a wonderful, *sunny* and relaxing weekend! 

PS Oh and I'm holding a fab give-away this weekend so make sure you pop by to enter!

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