Ordinary attic to a fab work studio in Holland

Do you see work as a necessary evil or hop out of bed like the joys of spring on a Monday morning (actually, does that person actually exist - I mean on a Tuesday yes, but a Monday?!). Either way, most of us have to put our heads to the grindstone for quite a few hours each week - so we may as well make it a happy place!  It was in this vain I decided to share the home studio of (the very lovely) Holly Marder from Avenue Lifestyle blog in The Haague. Holly recently transformed an ordinary attic room into a flexible, mutli-functional and inspiring modern space where she can sit and work and meet clients. Oh and did I mention it's packed full of Dutch and Scandinavian pieces, vintage finds and the odd French masterpiece?

All photography / design / styling: Holly Marder. Shared with kind permission.

It's really not surprising that Holly has created such a fab space, that girl is sooo talented (see her recent bedroom make-over here, and some of the homes she's styled here, here and here)! Even so it's incredible what you can do with an attic room....I might just have to set up a meeting so I can go and hang out there for a day or two...

Is this your kind of studio?

Tips on where items are from: wooden push pins (moodboard) / vintage persian rug / Natural rug / Iumi Steckdesign pendant light / IKEA Docksta table / side cabinet is BESTA from IKEA which has been souped up with doors, brass handles and top from Superfront / Buy similar hanging planters here (20% discount with code MSH20 right now) / Isaac plug-in Sconce task light in brass / Nude study oil on canvas (Henri Matisse) / ALEX desk storage.

Take a peek at the complete before and after. 

More lovely studios / work spaces include this industrial warehouse, a Danish / Norwegian space and and a entire moodboard here. And for the kids - I love this cute black and white creative corner.

Have a lovely day!

PS back by popular demand - the archive labels (to the left), I've realised over the past three years I've posted over 1200 home tours!! Crazy! 

PPS Thank you so much to Elegance magazine who listed me in their top ten favourite European design blogs!! Such an honour!

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A dreamy white home packed with antiques

Floaty white linens, doors re-fashioned into tables and headboards, garden furniture used indoors, a vintage ice cream cone mould upcycled into a bell and fresh flowers around every corner. Welcome to the idyllic world of Maria Carr of blog/shop Dreamy Whites. Maria's home is a horse ranch in Northern California which she shares with her husband and five children. Let's take a peek.

 

All photos: Dreamy Whites. Also inspired by a post by Stephmodo

Wow!!! I feel like I've been to heaven and back (or at least to the French countryside and back), how about you?!

These pictures are a collection from her past and present home as well as a garden exhibition. If you'd like to explore more of Maria's world you might want to follow her on instagram, or take a peek at her latest wedding editorial and have a scroll around her beautiful blog.

Similar items from Maria's home can be found in her shop. The garage shutters have been painted in Farrow & Ball Manor House grey.

More beautiful outdoor inspiration for your garden: here (what a setting for a balmy evening with friends?), Swedish countrystyle garden and eating alfresco. Roll on the summer!

Have a lovely, dreamy day!

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A fab swedish home in neutrals and a cute doggy!

Hello! I hope you had a great weekend?! I'm on an early morning train with Southern Sweden flashing passed the window as I type (and matchsticks holding open my eyes - I'm not a morning person, are you?!). But I can just about see enough to discover this lovely home in all it's soft grey, brown and blues. A couple of things struck me the most - firstly the use of natural materials throughout - rattan, leather, shells etc, and secondly the pages from a book used as a wall decoration. I've seen this before in the bedroom of an Australian home in 'Holiday at Home'. And spot the hungry doggy, waiting for her breakfast....

Alvhem

I wonder what book it is? Which would you choose? Something romantic perhaps?

I also love the industrial touches - the side table in the sitting room and bedside table are fab, dont you think?

Is there anything that struck you about this home? Apart from that very cute doggy of course!

This weekend I had a glance through my archive of Australian homes - they are just so fantastic! I really feel Australia is having a design moment right now. I'm a huge fan of the blog Design Files too - do you follow that blog too?

Have a great start to the week! 

PS Thank you to everyone who entered the Blackthumb / Sne Design give-away this weekend, the winners have now been announced here. Don't forget you can get 10% off all beautiful products at Blackthumb and Sne Design until 8th May!

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And the winner of the fab felt storage baskets are....

Congratulations to Cynthia Lions and Heather Milner! Please send me a mail with your address and we will organise shipment. Thank you to everyone who entered  - don't forget you can still get 10% with the code MSH10 up until 8th October (ships to USA and canada).

To celebrate the May day spring bank holiday (oh yes!), I've teamed up with Scandinavian inspired interior design store Blackthumb, and Sne Design - a young Norwegian brand with a passion for designing functional, playful and timeless products to offer you the chance to win one of two (yes two!) prizes - a Hoop or Lagre felt storage basket in a colour of your choice with fab leather handles. Oh how I wish I could keep them for myself! It only takes a sec to enter, find out how below.

These new Hoop baskets are a fantastic functional felt storage basket with leather handles, making a stylish addition to any space in your home. Baskets have a feature color on the outside and light grey felt inside. Designer: Christine E. Sveen. - See more at: http://blackthumbdecor.com/product/hoop-felt-storage-basket/#sthash.iUzY485X.dpuf

How to enter:

1. Visit Blackthumb and Sne Design and take a look around.

2. Comment below which item from their shops you like the most and why.
3. Let us know if you'd prefer to win the Hoop or Lagre basket. 

And that's it! The competition is open to everyone until Sunday, 3rd May 2015, Midnight GMT. The winner will be announced on the evening of Monday 4th May 2015 so make sure you pop back to this post to see if you are one of the two winners!

Oh and Blackthumb and Sne Design are offering all readers 10% off with the code MSH10 up until 8th May (ships to US and Canada only). 

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 brought to you in collaboration with Blackthumb and Sne Design.  

Have a wonderful spring bank holiday! 

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An elegant Swedish space with a mid-century touch

I do love a little high ceiling elegance and this apartment embraces it by keeping the walls white and the look pared-back, adding a only few select mid-century pieces. Combine this with original white washed beams and floaty linen curtains as room dividers and the result is a serene, grown-up living space. My eye is on the detail too - instead of one large landscape picture above the dining table the owners have used three portrait images. Herbs hang in the window and plants and flowers can be seen in every single frame. Lucky it's spring - as everything we need is right outside our door right?! Oh and did I mention this space is for sale....?

Entrance mäkleri

A little about where things are from: Source hanging plant holders here. Mid-century furniture is available at Lauritz and Live Auctioneers. The pretty brass light in the kitchen is similar to the golden bell and the chairs are series 7.

Other homes with a cool mid-century touch include this Berlin space, an apartment in gothenburg and this truly fabulous house. Or for something completely different -how about this surfers home in Australia? Now, that's brightened up my day no end, how about you?!

It's a short week here in Sweden as it's Valborg (or walpurgess night). A pagan tradition,  villagers gather around bonfires across the country to ward of witches, who were believed to ride on their broomsticks to higher ground and cast evil spells on the eve of 30th April. And tomorrow it's the May day spring festival - and I love any talk of spring!

But I would never leave you high and dry without a post oh no!  To celebrate, I'm holding an exciting give-away, so make sure you stop by - it'll be open to everyone!

Have a lovely day!

PS There's a 5 minute clip of me on TV channel Arte, showing my home and talking about the home  if you fancy seeing it here- (in german).

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A dreamy Finnish lake-side cabin with a twist

When it comes to creating a cabin, it seems your imagination is the only limit. This incredible Finnish summer cottage has been built using four ship containers, yes really! Looking at the 60 metres square space you'd never guess, would you?! And when the owners aren't sitting out on the terrace enjoying the forest and interrupted views over lake Hartola,  they're relaxing in the beautiful, personal interior, decorated using simple monochromes and a touch of vintage industrial.  I could wile away a summer here, how about you?!

 

 

 

Photos by Krista Keltanen (shared with kind permission)

Oh to whisk myself away here! I do love the simple life, don't you?

It's difficult to pin down exactly what I like the most about this house - I love everything! But if I have to say one thing it would be the mix of textures - hard industrial metals against white washed brick walls and soft linens and lace.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

You can see more photos of this house beautifully captured by Krista Keltanen on her lovely blog here or a full article here (in Finnish). More dreamy Finnish cabin inspiration here, here and here.

Have a lovely day!

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