The Dreamy LA Home of an Artist and Designer

Hear the words 'textile artist', 'designer', 'creative' and 'LA' and you just know the home is going to be pretty incredible and unique, don't you?! And Rachel Craven's dreamy LA abode definitely doesn't disappoint! The daughter of two painters, Rachel has combined her passion for art, textiles and fashion to create her eponymous clothing line and the same artistic influences and sustainable outlook extend to her home and studio. Welcome inside a neutral home made up of organic textures, beautifully crafted, meaningful pieces and an abundance of plants!

Get the look from Rachel's Home

1. Isamu Noguchi: A Sculptor's World
2. Karakatoa vase
3. Round Jute Placemat
4. IKEA Ikornnes standing mirror 
5. Samarkand Kilim Woven Rug 
6. Bayou Breeze Rattan Chair

You can also shop for lovely white linens like the one Rachel's wearing here and some of the other items over at Jenni Kayne. 

Gah! What a simply beautiful home! Every time I look back through, I spot something new - like the unique ceramic pieces.

Is there anything that you love in particular?

You can see more pics and check out the full write-up over at Rip & Tan.

Oh and more dreamy fashion designer's homes here and here (Swedish) and here (Danish).

And that's it from me this week! I hope you've got some fab things lined up over the weekend?

My younger sister's arrived from London and my girls are so excited to see their tiny cousins! It's looking a lot like beach weather too... yay!

Have a wonderful weekend and see you Monday!

Niki

Photos by Nicki Sebastian for Rip & Tan - shared with kind permission.

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My Small Back Yard Gets a Cosy Make-over

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When we moved into our house ten years ago the back garden was completely derelict save for a patchy lawn and a pathway beaten in by neighbourhood cats! It looked completely uninviting! I have to confess, the English girl in me has always pined for a big garden which I could fill with plants and flowers - so I was a little sceptical about this aspect of the house. Over time though, we've slowly chipped away at it - pulling up the grass, adding climbers and perennials and lots of garden furniture. And then this week, we spiced it up with a load of cosy pillows, blankets, lanterns and other accessories courtesy of my wonderful sponsor, Danish homeware brand Nordal. It feels so much cosier now. I snapped a few pictures to share with you. I hope you like it as much as we do! 

One of things I love the most is the brown rust archway from a local garden centre - we had to remove a section of the beech hedge to fit it in but the space immediately felt bigger. A large umbrella also helped to create a more intimate feel, especially since our garden is overlooked.

I love lanterns, they help to light up the plants and flowers after dark and make a back yard feel extra mysigt (plus they're perfect when Malmö is such a windy place to live!).

Since the garden is surrounded by hedges, the only way to add flowers such as these Anemones was to use makeshift flower boxes and plant pots. I've also got some pretty, terracotta pots (see further down) which I found at a local nursery.

We picked up the L-shaped sofa a few years ago in a garage sale (search for 'black rattan outdoor sofas' and I'm sure you can find a similar one) - it's soooo comfortable! And even more so after throwing in a load of linen cushions and blankets. The girls like to chill on the floor cushions!

I planted some mojito mint a few months ago and it's gone completely wild - which means cocktails galore around here - and even some left over to make tea. The brass tray is from Nordal.

Often oil lamps are a way better route to take in the garden than candles since they shelter the flame and can be refilled. Underneath the table is a kilim rug which I found in my Danish neighbour's garage (thank you Daphne!) - I love it but sadly it's not outdoor-proof so it'll need to be taken indoors when the rain comes down (read: often!). 

I love the patina on old terracotta pots. This is one of my favourites (I've had it for years, it's perfect for lavender and salvia! 

Right. I have to confess - bamboo isn't the best outdoor furniture choice for Sweden (if you live in a wonderful consistently warm clime you're way better off!). BUT it does look pretty we thought we'd give it a go and enjoy it while it lasts (to make it go that little bit further we throw it into storage over the winter) - we bought this set a few years ago but there are lots of beautiful sets online! The linen blanket and chair cushions are both Nordal.

My Mother gave the antique bench to me as a present years ago - sadly it's so rusty these days that it's not really possible to sit on it, but I couldn't bear to part with it so it now functions as somewhere to store extra blankets and plants. 

The string lights really add that final touch in the evenings - and they're so subtle too! I found these in town, and I know there are a load on places like Etsy. 

I hope you enjoyed the tour! It's not a big space, but we think it's a super cosy place for the family to hang out in!  

In case you're curious about some of the accessories I added this week, here's the low down: 

Get the look

1. Tall lantern
2. Small lantern
3. Dark grey cushion cover
4. Raw metal bench
5. Brass water pitcher
6. Natural linen blanket
7. Iron planter on stand
8. Chair pad
9. Natural linen cushion cover
10. Garden pruner
11. Ikat quilt
12. Brass tray

If you're curious about anything else you've seen just give me a shout in the comment section below, I'd be more than happy to help!

Niki


This make-over was made possible with the help of Nordal. All design, styling and words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the companies that make fresh content possible.

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A Beautifully Pared-back Norwegian Hillside Home

I was thinking that it's been way to long since I featured a Norwegian home - and then this beautiful space popped up from nowhere (actually, it wasn't technically from nowhere - it's the fruits of an Avenue Design Studio trip to Norway late last year!). The house is located in Drammen, just south west of Oslo and belongs to design duo Kine and Kristoffer and their son Vilmer. Like their creative studio, the hillside house reflects their passion for sustainability and function as well as their penchant for a clean, Nordic aesthetic and eye for detail. Let's take a peek inside!

Although fairly minimalist the look has a lovely, relaxed feel thanks to the mix and match chairs around a Hay Loop Stand Table.  The light overhead is the Gubi Semi Pendant.

The U-shaped kitchen is a prototype of their own bean stained bamboo kitchen and the open shelving is also from the Ask og Eng collection.

Kine and Kristoffer exercise a lot of restraint when it comes to colour, preferring a neutral, monochrome scheme which draws heavily from nature. 

Upstairs the family of three have a second sitting room where they like to relax together.

The pair made the bespoke headboard from bamboo to create a warm and intimate feel in the bedroom. I also love how the reading lights have been hung from a central point in the ceiling.

The bed is covered in the Mega Dot Quilt by Hay. 

Vilmer's room has been painted in a gorgeous blue and white colour scheme (although I don't know the exact blue paint colour, it looks similar to the one in my stepson's room (S 7010-R90B Ambience by Nordsjö). My daughter has the same Apple Papple print by Fine Little Day in her room and tells all her secrets to him! Isn't he fab?! She also has the same tent! Source a similar one here. 

Thank you so much to Kine and Kristine for a virtual tour and to Holly and Hedda from Avenue Design Studio for the kind permission to share these lovely pictures. You can see more / read the full interview here.

What struck me the most about this home, is how beautiful each and every piece of furniture is. In the interview it says that the pair are careful to select items that are built to stand the test of time, and you can totally see this from the pictures.

Is there anything that stands out to you? 

For more Norwegian inspiration today don't miss this serene home looking out over a fjord,  this cosy and relaxed cottage and a magical mountain cabin! Gah! So lovely!

My sister's arriving from London tomorrow evening with my 2.5 year old and 6 month old niece in tow, so it's a hive of activity around here in preparation for the royal arrival. We're so excited!!

Have a lovely day!

Niki

Photography: © Avenue Design Studio

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A Swedish Small Space in Cream and Caramel Tones

I'm dashing in today as one of my daughter's is off sick (having been up half the night) - poor sausage! This also means that I'm so tired myself (cue: double coffee and match sticks kind of morning!). But wild horses wouldn't keep me from stopping by and sharing a beautiful Scandinavian home tour with you! So here it is, a pretty 19th century Swedish apartment decorated in milky tones and soft caramel accents. Look out for Karin - a 70's lounge chair designed by Bruno Mathsson. She's been enjoying a bit of a revival lately and steals the show in the sitting room of this 49 metre square (527 foot square) apartment! Keep an eye out for the beautiful period features too!

Photo: Jonas Berg. Interior Design: Greydeco for Stadshem. 

I love the tones - they're just so calming.

Could you imagine having this kind of colour palette in your home? If so, you might also feel inspired by the neutrals archive too!

Anything else pop out at you?

I'll be back tomorrow under slightly less time pressure, I promise!

See you then!

Niki

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