Tuesday Tips - Trend ALERT Nordic Exotic

Hi there, my name is Kari Anne.  I am the founder of a new UK lifestyle store called White Punch and also the girl behind the White Punch Blog. I am so delighted that Hege would let me guest post here on her fabulous blog. Like Hege, I am a Norwegian living abroad and for the last 15 years I have been living in and around London, UK.

Today I would like to talk about the ways of mixing ethnic interior items into Scandinavian style homes.

Via 

I absolutely love a Nordic exotic theme in a home. You can really notice this trend in the big Scandinavian brands like House Doctor, Bloomingville, By Nord and especially Tine K Home. When you read interviews with the people behind the brands and what influences them and their design, then their travels and experiences while travelling always tops their list. Travelling is definitely something the Scandinavians are passionate about. I read an article the other day that Norwegians are the most travelled nation in the world and that their travelling tends to now take them much further away than before. Far away exotic places like  Mexico, Morocco, Bali and Thailand are top destination for many Scandinavians and we can really see it reflected in their interior. The simple and clean lines of Scandinavian interiors are the perfect canvas for adding items with a more ethnical feel and here are some suggestion on how to do so.

WALLS

Plain walls can be decorated with strong bold ethnical prints or add some texture with glorious JuJu hats, which Hege wrote about earlier here.

Via and Via

OCCATIONAL FURNITURE

Stools,  poufs and baskets with an ethnical feel are both practical and versatile. Mix and match for great effect.

Via 

Via and Via

Via 

RUGS

Moroccan Rugs really adds character to a home. Dare to be bold or go for more subtle colour like this handmade cream and black rug.

Via and Via 

NATURAL ELEMENTS

I love the way the natural colour of wood and straw can bring warmth to a room. Hang up your hats and baskets.

Via and Via 

PLANTS

Bring the outside in with tropical and interesting plants.

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YOUR SPECIAL FINDS

Include your special finds from your travels into your interiors, seen here done by the very talented stylist and photographer Hannah Lemholt. 

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CREATE THE LOOK

Here are some products from White Punch that can create that Nordic exotic look.

Bamboo Light, JuJu Hat wall decoration,  Denim Pouf,   Decorative Houses and  

Hammoc 

Till next time, -take care.

Kari Anne xx

For more Tuesday Tips click HERE. 

Cables

I love the way you don't have to hide cables any more.. 

photo Fantastic Frank

photo Lily

photo Mackapär

We once found ourselves in a remote part of China called Longsheng, where the Yao Minority (or so-called Longhair Tribe) grow rice on terraced hillsides. I overheard somebody asking an English guy "Why aren't you taking photos?!" The guy answered "There are too many (electricity) cables for my liking.." How rude! Surely these poor Chinese rice farmers are entitled to electricity.. The place is stunning and always will be - with or without cables. Surely us tourists don't get to say things like that.. 

Exposed or hidden cables?! What do you prefer?!

hx

The terracotta trend

Hi there, it’s Gudy from Eclectic Trends and covering a day of Hege’s short summer leave is just the perfect moment to pop in and say “Hello”. And since we are hopefully all already in a summer mood, let me talk about the terracotta trend. I spotted this new colour first in February at the Stockholm Furniture Fair, got the confirmation in Milan at the Salone del Mobile and now you just have to travel to Pinterest.

Terracotta is, and that is the interesting thing, not just a colour trend but the same material is being used for different products such as small furniture or lifestyle accessories. Even the frowned upon flower pots are having a real come back!

Ben Medansky’s ceramics are uniquely hand crafted with simple form, practical design and eternal materials and the styling on the pics really helps to understand that terracotta has always been timeless.

Tomas Kral is the designer behind those terracotta lamps. Produced in Extremadura, the region in which the classic Spanish ceramic drinking jug was invented, this collection of lamps again draws a connection between the centuries-old tradition of our craftsmen and Tomas Kral’s design skills.

Aren’t those terracotta pouff and tables just fantastic? They call it a seating and table system at Italian label Flai. You can when lifting the top, use them for storing stuff too.

And how about these cool desk accessories inspired by bricks? It is called Adobe and consists of 5 pieces. You decide the use, it could be nice for a bath room too. What do you think?

But these are my favourite pieces, the more weathered they are, the more beautiful! It’s all about simplicity. Very much en vogue these days and feeling so good.

1 | 2 | 3

Let`s finish up with a very inspiring interior pic too. Those plant nursery shelves and pot steps from Kekkilä are just too cool!

Hope you have enjoyed this little red soil journey and would love to know what your terracotta plans are?

Warmly, Gudy

Tuesday Tips - Nature

This is a great time of year to decorate your home with flowers and green leaves. It's such a simple thing to do, but it makes a huge difference. 

photo Iitalia

photo Daniella Witte

photo Fantastic Frank

Here are some free, nice and easy geometric decorations made from found sticks. Aren't they great?! Let's make some!

photos by Line Shape Colour

Happy Tuesday! 

hx

8 ways to drink your tea in peace: Develop a play space in the living room

Pandaina

Hello lovely readers, I am Mia, a bad girl turned mother, former unhappy corporate worker, design addict and collector of life sweets. I am the editor (always wanted to write this) of a young blog called Design Pill. I am so happy to write a post here while Hege is on her little escapade. Thank you Hege!

No play room? Me neither

My little girl recently turned two, which is too small to go play alone in her room and too big to be content on her playing mat. She's a very, let' say "enthusiastic" little girl, and she doesn't changes her mind easily (go figure). There is absolutely no way to have a conversation between adults when her brothers, 9 and 11years old, are not around entertaining her. Having two big brothers sure seem nice, they are spoiling her like crazy. I am considering setting up a new play space, hoping she would let me chat a little with my friends spend a more fulfilling time playing in the living room. So I am actively researching (read "browsing Pinterest") the matter and I thought I would share my findings with you.

via kidsomania.com

I adore this little itinerant kid box and I believe it would work quite well in my living room. The problem is Mr C, my annoying love has forbidden me(what audacity) to start a new space consuming DIY until I finish the few others I have in the stove.

1.Tepees

I like their versatility, the fabrics. It's nice that you can use them form calm moments and to play more animated games. Being able to put it away when you're done is an advantage too. Making one is definitely on my list... of DIY. Ok, it'll wait.

1. thefancy.com 2.3.4. americanshutters.co.za

2.Cabins

Cabins. Love them. Like everybody else. Especially when they are up a ladder. Too bad I would have to finish the one I promised for the garden first (I am afraid there will be no wood left afterword).

1. Via Pinterest

3.Reading nooks

Reading nooks are nice, well, to read. Not always enough. The good thing is they are easy to set-up, affordable, often cute and welcoming. The bad thing is the kids only use them once in a while. My kids, in any case. Reading is an activity they prefer to store for later. When I want them to sleep.

Via Project Nursery

This one is a great DIY. I love that we see more and more front-facing book storage displaying children books in a manner where they can choose what they are going to browse, even if they can't read yet.

Via Pinterest

1.2. Monpetitamourblog.com 3.Tofw 4.Lifewithoutpink.com 5.original.littlehellraiser.com

4.Play pretend

Now, that's definitely fun. And nice to build. I definitely want a little wood shop. And a little kitchen. Let's hope she does too.

1. A little learning for two 2. Wild tribe 3.4. Katy did and kid

5.Music corner

Naaaa. But it's pretty, right?

Mommyme- The Wonder Years

6.Chalkboard

We have a gigantic school board next to the dining table and a chalkboard wall in the office. But is it enough? Would you be annoyed by chalk powder everywhere? I'am. But she loves the school board and stand up on her high chair to try drawing on it. Another chalkboard surface it is then. Listed.

1.Holamama.es 2.Harpers happenings 3.via Pinterest 4.via Apartment Therapy.

7.Let's get Physical

This is a no brainer when you have enough space. Seems so fun I would want to climb there.

1. Holamama.es 2.3. Archinect

The boo and the boy

8.Desks

Hmmm. A desk. To have fun. We'll see.

The boo and the boy

The verden

This one is awesome though.

My favorite

I kept the one I prefer for the end. Almost useless, space consuming and you have to fix it to the ceiling (everybody likes holding a drill in that position). I love it anyway. But hey, it's supposed to be for her, not for me. I will forget it then. For now.

A source anybody?

Is anybody else having the same issues? I would love to hear your thoughts. What would (or did) you do in your living room? What about the mess? I want everything of course.

Stand out

If you have a really cool piece of furniture and want to show it off do it by making everything else white. See how much more this chest of drawers stands out from the rest. A green plant also makes this room look very fresh!

photo Fantastic Frank

I'll be taking a bit of time off, so there are some lovely guest posts coming up next week! 

Enjoy!! 

hx

Happy Weekend!

Since it's such a beautiful day I couldn't post something black and white..  

Instead I've chosen this beautiful photo. 

photo Elisabeth Heltoft

I'm excited to be taking part in lovely Mel's "My Space" column today on Armoire, Pegs & Casserole. thanks, Mel! Visit her beautiful blog here.

Happy Weekend!!! 

hx