November Mood

November is such a transition period. It is not too cold, but the colourfulness of the season is long gone. It is all about bare trees, brown leaves scattered on the grass, grey clouds and rain. The nature is ready for blankets of snow. 

This month inspired to make this rustic and scandinavian moodboard. Icy blues counterbalanced by creamy colours, a bit of black and lots of natural wood bring back the colours outside. 

This is the time when you are more willing to stay in, watching movies and drinking hot cocoa excessively. It is not festive season yet, so it is one way to survive this gloomy month. If you have other ideas, do share them with me. :)

Global Inspiration: Denmark

Somewhere I read that if you are lucky enough to get an invitation into a Danish home, you will find that it has been most likely designed by a famous interior decorator. And if you visit the home of another Dane, you will find that they also hired the same designer. And if you visit further Danish homes, you will find that there is only one interior decorator working in the whole country.

Well, it might be a bit cruel joke, but it shows that Danish interior design has its distinctive fingerprint and compatriots of H. C. Andersen have good sense for decorating. 

Danish design has gained fame in the 1950s (see my post about Arne Jacobsen, one of the most famous designers in the world), and Scandinavian design, let it be the cheaper or more exclusive part, is a style sought after anywhere in the world. 

I have always thought that a typical Danish interior is more urban, more streamlined and less rustic than a Swedish one. However, many houses have low ceilings, that I find overwhelmingly depressing, especially when they do not get a white coat but show their natural wooden colour. 

The key design elements are:

- white walls to make the interior light and airy

- light oak or even white floor

- some small black accents are welcome

- oak is the most popular type of wood: check out this wonderful coffee table (also comes in side table version) - so typically Nordic

- colourwise black, white and shades of grey are used, sometimes with a pastel accent or a bright colour

- mixing vintage items with modern ones is common (by vintage I also mean an iconic piece from the 1950s)

- there are so many famous Danish designers and brands, an authentic Danish home is not complete without their work

- there has to be at least one chair by Charles Eames. I am sorry, you can not skip this one. 

- designer lamps! Make sure you get one, there are so many to chose from. Most of these lamps have a retro touch, which seems to be a feature of Danish homes.

- remember, less is more. (Mies van der Rohe said this. Maybe he was also Danish by heart.)

Scandinavian Styled Hallway

It is easy to love Scandinavian style for its natural and cozy touch, yet it is not difficult to copy (not because IKEA can be found almost everywhere). 

If you look around for Scandinavian inspiration, you will find that there are slight differencies in Scandinavian style; Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish interiors have their own characteristics, but of course they have certain elements in common. I tried to capture these elements in one moodboard, presenting you a universal Scandinavian styled entry that could fit into any Nordic home. Let's see those elements here. 

The use of white is common in interiors, both on walls and floor, as it helps to expand the sense of space. Winter nights are endlessly long and dark, this is a way to preserve light, too. Wood is usually brought in, and somehow light coloured types, like oak, are the popular ones. For a bit of contrast, you can always use a bit of black, or alternatively you could try grey. (There are fifty shades of it, at least ;) )

I love the simplicity of the interiors above. In the photo on the right, the decorative staircase dominates the hallway, while the eye-cathcing photo art has a huge impact in the other. The picture of the trunk also brings nature in, and Nordic people love a natural touch - exposed wood, felt, wool and fur can be seen in their homes. There is no need for eye candy, honest materials and simple lines speak for themselves. 

Unusal forms might give the hallway a personal edge - do not be afraid of trying something new. How do you like the floor lamp? It certainly has a personality - look how strutted it is! Or check out the hopscotch rug, perfectly sized for hallways: it is cheeky and fun - and not just for adults. At first sight, the pendant is also a classic - but it has a handle. Have you spotted the hallstand in the photo on the left? It looks like as if it was inspired by the mikado game. 

You see? There is no reason to neglect the entry - after all, it gives you the first impression of your home!

After this cool Nordic breeze my next moodboard on Friday will direct you somewhere else - I hope you love pasta ;)

Green Gets the Green Light

As I said earlier, green is definitely in. This time I made a light, spacious Scandinavian interior, with forest green accessories. I also added a bit of purple to make it more alive. Enjoy!