The perfect items for a calm zen-like home

Don't you love it when you're on the hunt for a design piece and then find out it's actually a readily available high street find? This year I've had the privilege of spending a few days at the IKEA headquarters. I must say, the design team have really come up trumps this year and it was pretty hard to focus on the new upcoming collections - all I could think was 'I need these items in my life'!  My two favourites being the SINNERLIG collection which has been designed in collaboration with the talented  Ilse Crawford and focuses on natural materials such as cork, bamboo and cotton to create a zen feel. And the second; SKOGSTA is a collection of classic kitchen and dining items made of solid acacia wood designed to age gracefully. See you in line?!

My favourite item? That daybed!...I also love the cork work stool, which would be perfect for the long days I'm spending at my desk writing right now.

How about you?

Both collections will finally hit stores as early as next month in some countries ...see you there?!

If you're after more calm home inspiration today I love this, this and this space. And relax!

Have a lovely day!

PS This is not a sponsored post, I just love these collections and thought you may feel inspired by them too! 

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Zoe Dent's exotic yet calm oasis in Avalon

Happy July! This has become one of my favourite months since moving to Scandinavia. When the sunshine comes out, there's no where I'd rather be and today's a ripper (I took this pic in Helsingborg yesterday, can you believe it?!). To celebrate I'm going for a home tour with a tropical vibe. And Zoe Dent of The Wedding Nest has achieved just that. Her light and open plan Australian beachside pad in Avalon, which she shares with partner and new born baby, reflects her love of nature and the seaside. The interior is decorated using a neutral colour palette and the varying textiles and textures add depth.  Wall to ceiling windows and plants bring the outside in to form a wonderful oasis of calm.  Let's take a look...

Photography: Hannah Blackmore (shared with kind permission). Styling: Claudia Stephensen. Adore Magazine.

What a wonderful living area, don't you think? I'm sure it would feel sunny even on the greyest of days.

A few items I know and love: Basket lampshade,  Beni Ourani rug, search for tribal ceremonial necklaces on etsy, wishbone and Safari chairs, juju hat (on wall).

Is this your kind of style?

For more boho-exotic inspiration I'm also loving Jade Jagger's Goa retreat and this little piece of paradise in the Philippines. 

Have a lovely sunny day!

PS I love to see unique online boutiques grow in exciting ways and Blackthumb is doing exactly that. This month the store, which brings a collection of Nordic design home and gardening products to North America, has added items from fab Scandinavian brands Nur Design, By Garmi, Kreavtivitum and Menu to the mix. I've got my eye on the Concrete Copper Chunk candle-holder, Nur tray and Opuntia print. How about you?

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The fresh light-filled home of an inspiring foodie + give-away winner

Which section of a newspaper do you read first? According to one article this will tell you where your passion lies. And this is what led Anna Jones to quit her office job one grey day and start a chef training programme at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant. Since then Anna's gone from strength to strength having worked at restaurants such as Le Caprice, cooked for rock stars, royalty and the G20 at downing street, as well as shaped the meals at east end schools and people suffering from obesity. Anna now works as a stylist and food writer out of her Victorian town house in Hackney, East London where she created her first book: A modern way to cook, a collection of yummy healthy vegetarian recipes. Her creativity shines through in the way she's decorated her home too: artfully mixing designer, antique and bespoke pieces. The white wood floors and walls give way to vibrant pops of yellow and blue, resulting in a pared-back, fresh and light home. Let's take a peek inside....

Photographer: Idha Lindhag. Stylist Linda Berlin

Such a lovely home, so simple and calm. And such an inspiring career change, don't you think?

Items I know and love: Bluebell sofa, mirror,  blanket,  frosted window film, bespoke plywood kitchen cabinets by Russell Bamber, glass pendant light from here. Circus pendant light (above dining table) - 20% off right now. Eames chair (15% off right now).  French bed frame from Ardingly Antiques Collectors Fair. Am I missing anything?

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Other fabulous foodie homes I've featured include the blue home of a Swedish food blogger (also captured by Idha Lindhag) and the New York home of a cafe owner . And for more London inspiration I'm a big fan of Tamsin Flower's cheerful home and a pretty white and grey Primrose Hill home. Aaaaaw, this post is making me want to go home for a few days! I do love London!

Have a lovely day! - oh and don't forget to pick up today's paper to check where you turn to first. You never know - an inspiring career change might be just around the corner....

PS Thank you to everyone who entered the weekend give-away. The winner and runner-up has now been announced here.... eeeee....holding thumbs as they say in Sweden!

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A truly idyllic Swedish 'kolonistuga' (allotment cottage)

With July just around the corner Swedes across the country are gearing up for the summer vacation. Some will go abroad, some to summer cottages. And some wile away the long days at a 'kolonistuga'; a small cottage on an allotment. This pretty, pared-back kolonistuga just outside Gothenburg, belongs to Elin Lannsjö and her boyfriend Viktor who enjoy relaxing summers bare-foot, tending to their garden and entertaining friends.  When it comes to decorating, Elin relies on her gut feeling, selecting items made from natural materials such as wood, stone, cermics (including her own creations) and natural colours. What a truly idyllic space! Could you spend your summer here?

Lovely Life: Styling Johanna Bradford. Photography Kristin Lagerqvist

Oh so lovely, don't you think?

Sadly we can't all have a Swedish 'kolonistuga' but the great thing is we can create a wall of chopping boards, straw hats or anything else that takes our fancy (do you have a collection gallery wall?). I also love the Thonet chairs painted in matt black leaving only the tip of the legs in natural wood - this trick could be used to spruce up flee market finds or items at home you've grown tired of (remember these beds and side table legs painted in neon?!). There's always Pretty Pegs too. I see a potential DIY project for the weekend, do you? And it's only Monday! 

See more images and read about this lovely home here (in swedish).

Other home tours beautifully captured by Kristin and Johanna include the boho home and atelier of a Swedish artist and a relaxed space with floaty linens. Or if you're after more 'kolonistuga' inspiration - how about this one?!

Have a great start to the week!

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The winner of the signed print by Maike Kristina Harich is....

Congratulations to Solstice Night, you have won a framed and signed print of your choice in size 20 x 20 cm by German artist Maike Kristina Harich. And also to Anna Papageorge, the winner of a set of three cards with hand drawn daisies. Please send me a mail so we can get your shipping details. Thank you so much to everyone who entered! Maike's lovely prints and cards are for sale here. 

This competition is now closed.

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