A warm black and white home

Some homes are so striking they spread across the blogosphere like wildfire. This monochrome apartment currently for sale in Gothenburg is one of them. It's incredible how much warmth a touch of wood and patterned rugs can add to a black and white home.

Stadshem via Emma's Design blog

What do you think?

I have black walls in the guest bedroom and in the kitchen but truth be told I'm a little tired of them now that it's summer and I'm thinking of changing them both to something lighter. What do you think?

Thank you all for entering the Fouta De Val give-away last week. I am very excited to announce the winner: Laura Gosselink. Congratulations, and good luck with your move to Sweden in three months time, we hope you like your Haidra in black / grey fouta!

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Creating light in a Stockholm apartment

Monday! Let's start the week with an apartment styled by one of my favourite teams; Fantastic Frank. Very cool dining area aside what really catches my eye is the use of glass panels instead of walls to carry light through what otherwise could have been a fairly dark and poky apartment. Very inspiring. 

Fantastic Frank

Do you use glass dividers in your home? If I had my way I would definitely go for reclaimed warehouse windows as a room divider.

While I was on holiday last week, one of my favourite online stores and wonderful sponsor Nest posted a guest post by yours truly on how to get a Swedish style kitchen, you can pop by and see it here.

PS You can tell I haven't had my breakfast yet by the way I've included the sliced bread!

Have a lovely day!

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The alternative garden shed

How about this for an alternative garden shed?! So much fun! I don't think I'd ever go back into the house!

Via

Could you imagine having this at the end of your garden or perhaps as a weekend get-away?!

Today is the last day of our holiday in Mallorca where I've been staying with extended family in a finca over looking the tramuntana mountains, so beautiful! I shall miss this island and my wonderful family.

Next week the blog will be back to normal with daily home tours. I hope you've enjoyed the alfresco inspiration week as much as I have and got a few ideas to spice up your outdoor space? Art in the garden perhaps? Or a refreshing outdoor shower?! On Monday I'll be announcing the winner of the fouta de val give-away, so if if you haven't already, stop by and enter here.

Have a lovely weekend all!

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Eating alfresco

It's impossible not to enjoy eating outdoors. Whether it's the secluded picnic for two or a party with friends on a colourful mix match of chairs, leaning precariously on the unlevelled grass (see the beautiful cottage interior here).....I'm sure I'd be smiling throughout any of these lunches. The wine glasses might have something to do with it too....can I join? 

Pictures 1,2,3 Sharyn Cairns

Jessica Helgersson

Pictures 5, 6 and 7 Jose Villa

What's your favourite way to eat outdoors?

PS As you know I'm currently on  beautiful Mallorca for a week visiting family. Last night we broke away from the tapas and ate fish and chips on the beach with a glass of cava. It was lovely sitting watching the sunset over the bobbing yachts in the distance while the girls played in the sand.

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Showering alfresco

What would an alfresco themed blog week be without a nod to the outdoor shower? I've always wanted one and have visions of going for a morning swim at the beach before padding back to my summer cottage through the dunes and showering away the salt water and sand in the garden. I'd then start preparing the long lunch with family and friends....carried away...me?!

Hus o Hem

Bo Bedre

Seth Smoot

Via

Do you have an outdoor shower? And let's be realistic here.....would you use one if you did? I'd love to say I would, but I'd also like to be the type of girl who takes a morning dip in the sea no matter the weather......

PS sorry if some of the credits are not accurate, not always easy via Pinterest. Feel free to jump in!

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Garden art

Why restrict art to the indoors? (actually I can think of a few reasons....). I do love how this piece adds to the garden though, very cool! 

Via

Would you hang art in the garden?

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Give-away! Win a fabulous fouta

Since spring is officially in the air (here in Europe at least!) I have teamed up with Fouta De Val to offer you the chance to win a fabulous fouta. Fouta's are made in Tunisia from 100% woven cotton using traditional techniques. They measure 190 cm x 100 cm and are so versatile they can be used as a pretty tablecloth in the garden, a cool bed spread, a light towel for days out in the archepelego or a scarf for cool summer evenings. Choose from a whole range of spring colours or stripes or mix and match for a unique style. I'm sure you'll love foutas as much as I do!

The company has such great ethics too - foutas are more and more rare and out competed by mass-produced varieties of poor quality. By purchasing a Fouta de Val you're supporting the local craft tradition in Tunisia and the livelihood of many local crafts men and women. In addition Foute de Val pays a contribution to Sweden's Save The Children organisation for each piece from the Mahdia and Carthage range sold. We like!

 To win a fouta all you need to do is:

- Visit the Fouta De Val home page and choose your favourite fouta
- Leave a comment below stating which fouta you would most like to win and why

This competition is open to everyone, where ever you are! Please be sure to enter by Midnight GMT Sunday 2nd June 2013 so you don't miss out. The winner will be announced here on Tuesday 4th June. Spread the word! :)

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A pretty Stockholm apartment

Friday people - woohooo! Here's an apartment in Stockholm (to complete the Swedish house tour week!). Recently sold, the home was renovated by previous owner Pella Lundquist. The are many beautiful elements but to me the dining space is the area which stands out with the wishbone chairs and dining table. What about you?



Skandia via Emma's Design



I'm sooo excited as we're off on holiday tomorrow to visit my sister and her family. I love visiting the island of Mallorca its really beautiful and offers so much to see and do. And with any luck it'll be warm and sunny too! Have you been?

I'll still be blogging while I'm away. Since I'm hoping I'll be spending a lot of time outdoors I'm planning an alfresco inspired blog week kicking off with an exciting give-away on Monday so don't forget to stop by!

Have a lovely weekend all and see you Monday!

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A Swedish apartment with bold tribal prints

I love this apartment. You can see an underlying Swedish influence with the monochrome theme throughout, mid century furniture and Scandinavian designer pieces which are so often featured on this blog but it also stands out with the addition of the bold tribal prints in the sitting room and bedroom. This is a great reminder that an interior update is easy to achieve by adding textiles in the form of cushions and throws. Oh and I also love the robot collection on the string shelving!

Stadshem

 What do you like best about this apartment?

Thanks La Maison D'Anna G and Feel Inspired for sharing these images in the first place!

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Sense of space

Swedish brand Asplund has just released these inspiration images from their latest collection 'sense of space'. So I'll give you just that to take a look through!

I love Asplund products, they are simple yet beautiful. I especially love their rugs, perhaps I should get something with a little colour for my sitting room? What do you think?

An exciting edition to the my scandinavian home sponsors today: online shop Kathapult, founded by Katharina Berggreen. I know you'll love her prints which include the wonderful Single Diamond poster prints and very cool knit pattern postcards, among other things!

Hope you all have a lovely day!

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A pretty, white Swedish apartment

Hello people. If your spirits need lifting this week, this Gothenburg apartment is like a breath of fresh air. Of course it's been styled but in such a pretty way and just look how much art can do to a space?

Alvhem Mäleri

What do you like about this apartment?

London friends...The Clerkenwell Design Week starts today, it's free and a square mile of street carnival!  If you're going a long stop by and check out The Reclaimed Flooring Company (located on the first floor of the 'Open Studios' in the Root 5 collective).

Have a lovely afternoon!

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