From ugly to livable in one weekend

BEFORE:

These walls needed HELP..and since we weren't allowed to tear down the old wallpaper or cover walls with paint, the only option left was to somehow cover the old with something new which eventually could be removed without a trace. Althought a few staples here and there wouldn't hurt anyone, right?
I set out for a labor intensive project which at the end of the weekend left us with a delightful sight of fabric covered walls.
AFTER:

FRENCH ELEGANCE

I cannot remember how I found this brand, but I am glad I did. Their collection of furniture and accessories is breathtaking. Madame Monic Fischer, the french designer of these masterpieces is doing everything right -in my opinion.

The collection is very chic and shows a unique combination of antique and modern. M. Fisher forms a French lifestyle in elegance and the collection renews itself twice per year, keeping its customers' anticipation at an all time high.

Take a look -All I can say is WOW

They make some incredible headboards...

chairs, sofas, and benches with a luxurious look

This table resembles a Swedish "slagbord"

this is just a small glimpse of their collection. you can find more at

http://www.blancdivoire.fr/

MARA -the artist

Mara, my mother-in-law and I share the excitement and love for interior design and it is pretty much always a reoccurring hot exchange topic between us. She tells me about her latest finds and decorating tips and I listen intently and take notes. Everyone who knows her would agree her home is an inspiration to all of us and everything she touches turns out absolutely beautiful. After a few comments here and there from my father-in-law Max, she sets out to redo things neither he nor I thought had any potential, and a few hours later she does it again -shocks us when showing us her latest piece of creation. Needless to say, I am forever grateful for a multi-talented and patient teacher.

Truly great is that both Mara and my mom Hristina master the art of sewing, and I am constantly bugging one or the other for pending projects. I am fortunate to have two of the people I love the most get along and on top of all share the same interest.
My love for fabrics started early and for as long as I can remember I have heard the needle of my mom's sewing machine create something unique and memorable. Of course the needle is only the aid to my mother's talented hands.

I send Mara pictures of Julian (her only grandson) and she sends me interior design magazines from the US. She knows what my needs are. Both Brandon and I are magazine freaks and his latest obsession is a magazine called Monocle. One of the magazines Mara sends me is called Veranda. The Editor must have a thing for Swedish Antiques because almost every issue has a feature showing a house decorated in Gustavian style from the 18th century.

Enjoy Veranda -for Mara









Julian's future room

Morris & Co. -past to present

It is proven that very pleasant experiences are those incidents we remember most vividly…

During our daily stroll Julian and I recently stopped by a wallpaper & fabric shop here in Malmö, Sweden. The small cellar windows are beautifully decorated with different patterns and colorful fabrics. I stood there daydreaming about owning a 20-plus room home where I freely could decorate every room differently using these amazing collections, but yet bring them all together.

Anyhow, while distracted in thought, I saw a fabulous centerfold by Morris & Co. It had an antique look to it and for some reason it caught my attention. After meeting my husband my appreciation for old things have grown into an obsession- we truly enjoy treasure hunting, especially in Sweden where old things oftentimes lose a home and meaning.

A few weeks later I remembered those pages and there was something in me saying -who is Morris? Sure enough, their wallpaper patterns have been around for over 150 years and here is the fascinating story behind these stunning designs:
The story starts back in 1861, when the original Company of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company was founded.

"The business initially concentrated on ecclesiastical decoration including stained glass, architectural carving, tapestries, embroidery and furniture. The business was located in London’s Red Lion Square, but in 1865 the shop and workshops were moved to larger premises in Queens Square, Bloomsbury. The new Company, trading as Morris & Co. was re-organised and set up in 1875 and by 1878 a new showroom had been opened on Oxford Street, this being the first employment for John Henry Dearle as an assistant. Morris soon recognised Dearle’s artistic talents and promoted him to create tapestry designs and subsequently to Chief Designer at Merton Abbey.Morris & Co. was now accepting commissions for complete interior decorating schemes, but also sold a wide collection of furnishings to the general public. Amongst some of the most popular items sold by the firm were the embroidery kits designed predominantly by William Morris, Philip Webb and Edward Burne-Jones. By this time, the product line had increased to encompass wallpapers, textiles, ceramics, glass, brassware and glazed tiles.

Frustrated by the lack of space at Queens Square, a site at Merton Abbey was purchased in 1881 to enable manufacturing and weaving of both carpets and tapestries, vat dyeing and calico printing together with the designing, painting and leading of stained glass windows.Morris designed his first three repeating wallpapers; Daisy, Trellis and Fruit in 1864 (see below for picture)

however, failing in all his attempts to print these papers with engraved zinc plates, Morris approached Jeffrey & Company, the famous wallpaper block printers in Islington and asked their Managing Director, Metford Warner, who was renowned for his artistic sensitivity, to produce these first papers. After successful trials Morris entrusted all his wallpapers to Jeffrey & Company, who continued to print all Morris & Co. wallpapers until 1927 when the wallpaper blocks were transferred to the Sanderson factory at Chiswick.After Morris’s death in 1896, the factory at Merton Abbey continued under his junior partners. In 1905, the Company was renamed Morris & Co. Decorators Ltd., under the directorship of Henry Marillier. In 1925, the Company was yet again renamed, Morris & Company Artworkers Ltd., with John Henry Dearle being the Art Director. However, on his death in 1932, artistic prowess was lost resulting in poor quality, which in turn depleted their market share.

The order book shrank and with the advent of World War II, the Company went into liquidation in 1940 at which time Arthur Sanderson & Sons purchased the Company known as Morris & Co Artworkers Ltd, together with all the printing blocks, showroom wallpaper and fabric samples, stocks and stand books for the sum of four hundred pounds. The block printed wallpapers continued to be produced at the Sanderson Perivale factory.In 1965, Sanderson re-launched Morris & Co. wallpapers and fabrics and in 1985, the Morris & Co. and Sanderson brands were marketed under their separate identities. Today the brands of Sanderson and Morris & Co. continue to grow…"

Can I MOVE IN?

Who are you people?
The design team behind the Anthropologie vision are truly incredible: I am mesmerized by the beauty these artists create. They do a fabulous job capturing their audience and I catch myself flipping the catalog pages over and over to seek new inspiration.

I put it aside-but for some reason there is always some detail I missed from the previous viewing and I simply can't get enough.

Look at these rooms below. I want to dive into their catalog and stay there for a very very long time

H&M Home Collection

Watch out IKEA -not only you can design and offer relatively cheap home accessories. H&M Home (of course also Swedish) launched their first catalog this spring and I am thoroughly enjoy it. Here is a small teaser and if this makes your juices flow then items can be ordered at http://www.hm.com/ ENJOY

Chaise Lounge -we all want one

Here are a few fabulous Chaises to pick from. They can look beautiful anywhere. These can be purchased at Blanc D'Ivore in France & Hollywood at home, US.

This one comes from OKA in the UK

Ceramics and China

Blanc D'Ivorie china, pretty and simple




Contemporary Höganäs pitcher made in Sweden, just an hour from our house.





More from Sweden. Himla dishes. New for 2009


Elegant lines reveal the simplicity of the Wedgwood "Top Note" Coffee Cup by Barbara Barry
This would make Costa Rican Cafe Britt coffee taste even better.

Flower and Grain bags make pretty floor cushions