Decor Shopping in Scandinavia

There is little doubt that when it comes to design, my time spent in Sweden has influenced my taste considerably. While IKEA might be the only internationally accessible Swedish retailer, if you're planning a trip to Scandinavia there are many other wonderful stores that are well worth a visit and nearly unheard of outside the region, which means you can find classic Scandi pieces that aren't instantly recognizable (as much as I like the BILLY bookcase and the MALM dresser, they're not what one would call 'unique'). 

Here's a preview of my favourite Swedish and Danish home stores (in no particular order):

Stilleben: a Copenhagen-based design shop specializing in ceramics, textiles, glasswares, and graphic prints.

Granit: the Swedish West Elm. A must visit. 

Lagerhaus: an affordable and cheerful interior decor chain offering modern products across Sweden.

Illums Bolighus: my personal favourite, albeit a bit pricy. Described as "Danish design at its best" and I couldn't agree more. A department store without the department store feel (think - minimalist version of Liberty London).

Clas Ohlson: at first glance Clas Ohlson might come across as a bland department store, but standard items are given a Swedish spin here. Scandi's answer to Target. 

Designtorget: a marketplace for innovative products that are both unique and functional. Stock changes weekly and items are only available for a limited time. 

Tiger: a Danish three dollar store (where almost everything is three dollars). Great for funky wrapping paper, unusual napkins, patterned mugs, kitchenwares, office supplies, even candy. Also located in the UK (but not as good).

Iris Hantverk: a Swedish version of MUJI. Known for traditional wooden brushes and storage solutions.

*All photos via the respective Instagram accounts 

Destination Sardinia

One of the many privileges of living in London is the proximity to other fabulous European destinations. In June I travelled to Sardinia for a wedding and found the modest pastel homes, the intricate weave of narrow streets, and the flowers overflowing off balconies and around doorways utterly captivating. The picturesque town of Bosa was my personal favourite. 

Reminiscing about summer vacations is one way to survive this particularly cold and dark November.  

Typography Tuesday: Freight Big Pro Light

Freight Big Pro Light is a classic and compact serif font with a whimsical touch. According to the designer Josh Darden, the "mildly condensed proportions and tight spacing give it a bright finish."    

Illustrated by William Blake's poem London.  

Holiday Gifting

With Christmas less than five weeks away, holiday shopping season is in full swing. Since I generally buy gifts online (avoiding the chaotic crowds at all costs), orders need to be placed by the first week of December to ensure delivery before the 25th. Here are a few simple and affordable (under $50) gift suggestions, all of which are available online. 

Clockwise from top left: clarity clutch, marble coasters, candle, organizing bags, swedish soap, phone case.

Sourcing Affordable, Original Art

The internet is awash with images depicting stunning interiors styled with exotic rugs, rich textiles, and tempting furnishings - each item meticulously curated. Yet frequently, what is displayed on the walls seems to fall short. Whether this is due to a modest budget, a shortage of time, conservative tastes and an aversion to risk, a lack of knowledge regarding where to begin, or even an insufficient interest in art, when it comes to selecting pieces to hang the results sometimes underwhelm. 

Sourcing art demands something quite different of people than buying decorative pillows or throw blankets; though many perhaps think of art as just another accessory within a room, one that is easily swapped out when tastes change and trends shift. So in order to facilitate this flexibility, they select unadventurous prints from high street stores. Yet art should be distinct from its surroundings. It should be suggestive, formidable, challenging... it should stand alone not just blend in. The most interesting art has a presence and a strength to it.  

Since it can be difficult to find art that is a) unique, b) affordable, and c) suits your tastes; below are a few suggestions of where you might want to start. 

i. ETSY

While at first glance Etsy may seem like it only caters to those looking for crafty knickknacks or inspirational poster prints (Keep Calm and Carry On, anyone?), once you dig a little deeper you'll find many talented artists selling unique pieces of original art. The initial searches might be discouraging (99% of Etsy shops offer merchandise that doesn't appeal to me), but carry on, as one shop you like often leads to another (viewing a seller's 'favourited' items is a good starting point). Below are a few Etsy shops that consistently feature work I'm fond of: 

Paintbox: Canadian artist Harry Stooshinoff's original landscape paintings depict the rural countryside of Southern Ontario. His pieces are small-scale (approx 10" x 10") and thus affordable, often under $100 each. New pieces are added weekly. 

Joël Penkman: UK-based artist and graphic designer Joël Penkman paints intimate still-life studies of food, with collections grouped by regional themes - 'British Sweets,' 'Taste of America,' and '100 Teacups' are a few of his recent series. While his Etsy shop predominantly sells prints, originals are also available and reasonably priced (around $400).

William White: An artist with an unconventional resume; William White is the former Head of Product Innovation at Dyson turned printmaker and jewellery designer. His original hand-pulled etchings are available only in limited runs (some as small as 12), which means each edition retains its quality in the printing process and its value over time.

Vintage Art Room: Elaine Stolt has curated a wonderful collection of mid-century vintage paintings by Scandinavian artists, many of whom are represented in museums across Sweden. She has an eye for quality execution and a penchant for loose, bold brush strokes, and her listings often include brief artist bios when possible.

ii. AUCTION HOUSES

Lesser known auction houses are often an under-utilized resource for affordable vintage fine art. Many have developed extensive online catalogues, allowing website visitors to bid remotely on listings (most will also ship items internationally). They are also a good starting point if you're seeking larger - yet still affordable - pieces. Lunds is a fantastic auction house in Victoria, British Columbia that frequently offers a broad selection of fine art. Occasionally even pieces by world renowned artists will emerge - I may never forgive myself for missing out on this drawing by Gustav Klimt. A David Hockney lithograph appeared earlier this year at Waddington's - completely out of my price range yet still undervalued compared to the European art market.* 

iii. LIVE AUCTIONEERS

I can't figure out why eBay is a household name, yet so few people have heard of Live Auctioneers. This is the motherlode of auctions, providing an online platform for thousands of real time auctions around the world. Website visitors can receive live updates of an auction hosted in Germany from the comfort of their Manhattan apartment, bidding remotely against anyone that's physically at the auction house holding a paddle (all items are translated into your language and currency of choice). The Live Auctioneers co-founder describes the site as "the best-kept secret among treasure-seekers", so perhaps the covert nature of the platform is part of its overall appeal.

iv. SAATCHI ART

Saatchi Art is a vast database of contemporary art with an unparalleled selection of paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, you name it, from over 40,000 artists around the world. The collection is so extensive they even offer a complimentary curating service, where they tailor select pieces to suit your needs, style, and space. Prices range.

*Remember to beware of forgeries when buying work by well known artists!

scandinavian shades

In the September issue of House Beautiful, I was pleased to see two pages devoted to Swedish paint colours. I've always been inspired by Scandinavian decor, particularly when it comes to the more significant features in a home (wood floors, neutral walls, simple fixtures, etc); so I decided to compile some of my favourite neutral shades into a blog post. 

• Farrow & Ball, Cabbage White: This is the colour we used throughout our flat in London. Despite the name, it's actually a very pale blue. Described by Farrow & Ball as a "delightful clean colour."
• Sherwin-Williams, Sleepy Blue: This colour was featured in the House Beautiful article, selected by Eileen Kathryn Boyd who characterized it as a Swedish blue-gray, similar to "an overcast sky."
• Benjamin Moore, Horizon: This shade is part of the Ben Moore Classic Colour Collection, a sophisticated pale grey "that doesn't turn blue or green on you," according to interior designer Stephen Gambrel. It's also the colour designer Orlando Soria used in his Homepolish bedroom makeover. 
• Farrow & Ball, Cornforth White: A versatile light grey shade that works pretty much anywhere. Neutral, but with browner undertones.
• Donald Kaufmann, DKC-67: This colour was also featured in the House Beautiful article - "one of those great whites that reflects light and changes constantly."
• Benjamin Moore, Moonshine: The go-to wall colour of Nate Berkus, a "light, smokey shade." Need I say more?
• Farrow & Ball, Wimborne White: A soft, warm white, but without the yellow undertones. 

punchy tomato pie recipe

This Tomato Pie recipe makes the perfect August dish. The combination of fresh tomatoes and melted cheese is wonderfully complimented by the more intense flavours of dijon mustard and amethyst basil. Try to incorporate a selection of different tomatoes if possible (aesthetically the pie is more pleasing this way).

As Jamie Oliver once wrote, "Only a fool would want to make a tomato salad out of season." Same goes for this tomato pie - it's best enjoyed from early summer through to October. 

Ingredients:
1 package puff pastry, thawed
1/4 cup melted butter
1/3 cup dijon mustard
mozzarella cheese, sliced
havarti (or fontina) cheese, sliced
3-5 large ripe tomatoes, sliced (or equivalent smaller tomatoes)
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. fresh oregano
2. tbsp. fresh basil (we used amethyst basil from the garden, which has a deep purple shade)
2 tbsp. olive oil
pancetta (optional)
parmesan cheese
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
salt & pepper (I cannot recommend Maldon Sea Salt highly enough)

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375* F. Roll out puff pastry and place in rectangular baking pan. Brush with butter and mustard.

Cover with overlapping layers of cheese. Arrange tomatoes on top.

Sprinkle with oregano, basil, garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Top with crispy pancetta.

Bake for 30-40 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar as desired.

Bold & Blue 'Baker View' Room

As a first post, I thought I'd share a few photographs of the 'Baker view' room in my mum's house. Aesthetically this room is quite contrastive to the rest of the house, featuring bold blue paint ('Pool Party' by Benjamin Moore), a colourful gallery wall, and an assortment of vintage roly poly clown dolls.