Monday Love: Swedish with a twist

Gudrun Sjoeden is a designer from Sweden i like. 
She has a unique style, inspired by classic folk art from the Sweden. But what i love most is her special use of colors. Somehow she manages to have a palette of colors you see nowhere else, bold and soothing at the same time, and with interesting and sometimes daring combinations.

These pictures appealed to me today, because of the atmosphere of calm, quiet but cosy, which is just what i seem to need right now. And: i WANT that chair in the first picture. Isn't it gorgeous?
Gudrun also does fashion which is lovely to look at. Also, she has all her things made in an eco-friendly, green way. See more of here things here!

All photos: Gudrun Sjoeden

Monday Love: Pink rooms and a pink dress

Think Pink!
It is such a good mood color and perfect to start the week on an optimistic note:
Look, i'm ready to enjoy life, and i'm here to add raspberry and cream to the daily bread and butter!
As a kid, my dream was a pink ball gown. Today, a tiny dose - like pink toenails - are mostly enough to ad a twinkle to an outfit.

Pink is a color, that always looks great on photos - a real eye candy. Pink floor and  walls and chair might be a wee bit too much in real life - but isn't it gorgeous in this picture? I'd love to stroll around in this room and see what it feels like..

And look what it does to this tiny kitchen.  Doesn't it look bright and happy, even though everything else is so basic? Color just ads emotion - and why be sparse with it?

Pink in Feng Shui:
Pink in an environment sooths the heart and fills it with love. Placed it in the Southwest area of your home,it benefits the Love and Marriage aspect of your life. Hmmmm - ever tried that? ;)

Since i'm living with 3 men (and a tomcat) i must be careful about using pink in my surroundings. But a painting, a cushion or a bright orchid can be wonderful already.

 Pictures: Wedding magazine, Marie Claire Maison

And look what i've got the other day - as a belated birthday present from my sister: A lovely pink bag from greengate. The perfect accessoire to jazz up my outfits for the last month of summer -Yay!

P.S.: Jane Mansfield said: "A woman should be pink and cuddly for a man." Do you agree?

Monday Love: Black is beautiful!

It isn't a matter of black is beautiful as much as it is white is not all that's beautiful. Bill Cosby

Chalkboard walls are not exactly a novelty, but i just liked these pictures so much and found them so inspiring. I'm thinking of "blackening" one wall in our office that way, for it's not only practical, but also allows some creative fun and doodeling in between.

I wish i'd known about this when my kids were small - they loved painting and drawing on the walls - once, they used my favourit lipstick for an abstract mural all along the hallway ...

Photos: First 3: Anthropologie via Poppytalk
4 th photo: Roland Bello for Shana Faust
Last Photo: Starsky Ranch


By the way – do you need a nice present for a friend or a sweet adition to your private art-collection?
At Poppytalk handmade you’ll have the opportunity to buy affordable art AND help the vulnerable communities threatened by the oil spill. Black is definetely not beautiful in the ocean - we want the blue back!. Poppytalk Handmade is organizing an online virtual fundraiser called the "Oil Spill Response Market" from July 5th - July 30th, 2010! Drop by and have a look!


Scuba Man limited edition print by Matte Stephens

Monday Love: New colour inspiration

My favourite idea: Bring the sky into your room!


Feeling blue can look really nice!


Yellow brings the sunshine in - i love this joyful colour scheme!


Soft shades of lavender for a female, romantic feel


And this is - quite unusual but very chic! Decorating rooms for a cute little hotel is one of my favorite daydreams!

New colours wanted? These rooms caught my eye - and they make me want to redecorate, or at least start some huge new paintings in these gorgeous shades of blue, violet, pink, turquoise and yellow!

All photos by courtesy of marie claire maison