Perfect blend: rustic/ industrial/ contemporary

After 8 years in Sweden I thought I knew how to deal with the long winter; leave the country when the snow arrives! If you travel to the Canary Islands or Thailand around early spring you're bound to be surrounded by tanned Swedes stocking up on some much needed sun! But this Autumn I noticed something new-  everyone's heading off now too. A holiday in September presumably to soften the blow of the end of the summer. Since I have missed the boat (litereally) I'm mentally transporting myself  to this stunning home in Spain by architects / property developers Abaton (via 79 ideas) instead. It has just the right mix of Spanish rustic, industrial and modern designer elements to really soften the blow of the impending winter.

Abaton via 79 ideas

I spy Tom Dixon again in the form of the Beat Lights (just goes tp show how versatile Tom Dixon lights are - yesterday the Copper Shade Pendant looked at home in a retro style home, today the Beat Lights look fab in a contemporary minimalist home. The Wegner Wishbone Chairs also blend in beautifully. I could certainly see myself celebrating the end of summer here, could you?

Do you have any winter survival tips?!

A back-to-basics scandinavian feel summer cottage

Over the weekend I kept hearing about the beautiful weather everyone was getting across Europe. And then suddenly it arrived here in Sweden - one balmy day. And then it disappeared as quickly as it arrived. But still it was here long enough to remind us that the summer isn't over yet. So today's post is dedicated to the last days of the fading Scandinavian summer and to Oregon based interior designer Jessica Helgerson who has chosen to spend everyday like it was summer with her family in this beautiful rurual retreat on Sauvie Island.

Interior Design by Jessica Helgerson Photography by Lincoln Barber via Remodelista

I love the back to basics nature of this home, it's just as it should be. A place where a family can be together and enjoy the outdoors. Beautiful!

Do you have a summer cottage or a retreat anywhere you love to go to just get away from it all?

My man's family have a cottage by the sea on the West coast of Sweden which his Grandfather built. It's still furnished the way it was then and has a wonderful feel to it. I love spending time there with my little family. x

Bjorn Agertved's Danish retreat

A while ago I featured a post on the Danish artist Bjorn Agertved's stunning Copenhagen apartment. So you can imagine how excited I was when I spotted his family summer cottage over at Decordots today!  Featured in Femina, Bjorn's weekend retreat is full of treasured mid century designer items such as the Butterfly Chair (or BKF chair) and Borge Mogensen chairs as well as some wonderful vintage industrial lighting.

 

Photos: Pernille Kaalund for Femina via Decordots

This is turning into a bit of a Danish interior design week, and why not? The Danes really know what they're doing when it comes to fabulous home styling don't you think?

PS Thank you for all your encouragement with painting my kitchen wall with blackboard paint - just what I needed! I'll post some pics on it once I'm done!

A renovated Farmer's cottage

Well, well, well! Architects Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown certainly knew what they were doing when they renovated this former farmer's cottage in upstate New York. If I could own a weekend retreat, this would be it. I've heard of people moving houses....
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Photographs by Richard Powers for Homelife via Charlotte Minty

I think the thing I love the most about this retreat is all of the interesting objects and artifacts displayed. So many beautiful wooden pieces too. Fabulous home, what do you reckon?

A little piece of Scandinavia in Toronto

Because the summer's not over yet - here is a beautiful Scandinavian styled guest house in Toronto, Canada owned by John and Juli Baker of Mjolk, an online shop selling items by Scandinavian and Japanese designers (it's starting to become a bit of dangerous week!).

Remodelista

 For more info on where to find some of the fab items in the home check out the Remodelista's article....perfect!

Enjoy the sun!

Glamping, Cornwall style

Hi campers! I'm back, and what a week! Anyone in England and Sweden will tell you that the weather last month was attrocious - so we packed for rain and more rain. And guess what? The weather was hot, hot, HOT! Perfect for breakfast al fresco and surfing on Cornwall's finest beaches! Here are a few pics from the wonderful Polgreen Glamping complete with beautiful fields, Rosie the sheep, pigs, chicken, a nature trail and a wonderful little honesty shop stocked with produce from the local farms. Thank you Sarah and Simon for a wonderful stay!

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All photos: Polgreen Glamping or My Scandinavian Home as specified

I can warmly recommend this wonderful 'glamping' site, especially if you would like to get back to basics but with an added touch of luxury - double bed with a duvet in a tent anyone?

At the weekend I managed to catch the Olympic men's cycling in Richmond Park, London - which was so exciting! Now I'm totally into the Olympics, which is why i'm writing this post so late (I couldn't tear myself away!!).

It feels good to be back in sunny Sweden though and I'll be blogging daily again with lots of interior design inspiration, so pop back tomorrow!

It's always good to be home!

A cool white and rustic retreat on Mykonos

With rain and more rain in Sweden and England this summer I think it's time to pack the bags and head to Mykonos, Greece (dreaming of course).  This peaceful, rustic holiday home decorated using cool white and local raw materials could just about be the perfect retreat. Oh so beautiful, thank you 79 ideas for the tip!

Lefigaro via 79 ideas

Back to planet earth, and London. On Monday night I went to the launch party of The Tanks at Tate Modern. I'm still recovering from the great party! The Tanks open to the public today with an exciting art in action summer programme, although just experiencing the awesome industrial-concrete chambers is worth a visit in itself!

Have a fab week and see you Friday!

A beautiful white cottage by the sea

I hope you've enjoyed my Asian inspired week, I would've loved to have done so much more, there's only one thing for it, I NEED to go back on a personal visit rather than a business trip and take my own images!! Watch this space!! And now it's time for the weekend and here in Sweden everyone's gearing up for the annual trip to either their own or a friend/family's summer cottage. So here's a little inspiration - a beautiful 18th century summer cottage by the sea in Cornwall, England. It had me at the all white....!

Photography: Paul Massey via Dust Jacket Attic

According to Dust Jacket Attic the floorboards are made of reclaimed scaffolding wood which has been white washed and waxed. Beautiful?!

Tonight it's England vs Sweden in Euro 2012. Always tense in our household and I'm actually starting to get very nervous  (I'm english and my man's swedish!). So I'd like to end by saying good luck Sweden, and COME ON England!!!!! May the best men win!

PS If you haven't already - don'¨t forget to enter my blog give-away for your chance to win some genuine Japanese Washi Tape I picked up in Tokyo!

Have a lovely weekend! x