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Showing posts with label seasonal. Show all posts

Showing posts with label seasonal. Show all posts

Spring light

The changing of the seasons is always a time to bring changes in one’s life, work and surroundings. The urge in Spring is towards renewal, growth and regeneration; getting rid of the old, tired and cold to make room for the fresh and invigorating, new ideas and inspirations.

This is the idea behind the notion of Spring cleaning and it is an essential factor in Spring interior design for the home. After the heavy, dark and sombre months of winter Spring brings a lightness to the world, both in terms of weight and illumination. Lightness should be the theme of any Spring room. Heavy fabrics and dark colours make way materials that are airy and minimal, such as sheer window treatments. Colours should also be paler hues that reflect and amplify light instead of absorbing it. Cool colours, airy patterns and floral themes will go a long way towards creating a spring feel and will hold up well through the summer months too. The key to spring decor is to bring as much nature indoors as possible, there are endless options as long as one keeps in mind the essential feel of Spring: light, bright, growing, and natural.

Oslo colourful

Dagny Thurmann-Hoelseth is the creative director of Colourful, a Norwegian chain of stores selling their own brand of paints and wallpaper. Dagny is sitting by her kitchen table in her detached house in the heights just outside Oslo, where she lives with her husband Pål and her two lovely girls Stella and Indie. They just finished the house this spring, and moved in with all their colourful clothes and objects. The glamorous blogger, spokeswoman, TV personality and professional, refuses to accept BORING interiors. Some would describe that as a very un-Norwegian, rather unconventional thing to do in Norway; possibly even slightly American - but there you go, that’s Dagny! She has even given her own taste, or outlook on interior design, her very own term 'Scandinavian maximalism'. This is the way she has always preferred it. She cannot think of anything more depressing than grey, and wants people to feel happy upon entering her home... View interior feature

In perfect isolation

Sitting at a table on the sun-bleached deck outside her home on the Norwegian island of Asmaløy, designer Ragnhild Wik is the picture of contentment. Her happy demeanour says it all, but it wasn’t always so – once she was a harried commuter in metropolitan Oslo. “For 14 years I worked in fashion design. My friend Linda Walsøe, whom I have known since we were students, and I would fantasise about starting our own business. Then the time was finally right, and we decided to create a range of porcelain that captured the style and nature of Norway.” When the pair launched Wik & Walsøe in 2007, it took only three years for them to become established as an international brand. But Wik found that she was still spending too long commuting from Oslo to the studio 60 miles south in Kråkerøy, so in 2009 with husband Vegard Øie and their son Lauritz, she set about finding a home in the area, part of a national park dominated by huge boulders sculpted smooth during the Ice Age... View interior feature

On display

Intoxicated by the light and the magical evening glow in Hornbæk fishing village. Pia Dalgaard Saabye loves bright colours and great patterns - both in her work, textile printing and in her family home. "The best is when the apple tree outside our living room window pops out in May you see the light in the different rooms," says Pia, adding: "When the sun goes down the whole room takes on that very special evening glow - you are close to happiness and I'm really glad to have my textiles and art books on display." View interior feature

Unique and ornate style

The Irish interior designer Orla Collins is justifiably well known for the richness and classical quality of her interiors, and this apartment in Kensington is a great example of her unique and ornate style. The dark, rich tones of the mahogany floor in the living area serve as a backdrop to the bright and colourful furniture, arranged around the fireplace. Mixing modern styles with vintage designs, the retro look is further enhanced by the 1960s style mirror on the mantelpiece and the bright red tulip design of the floor standing lamp. Luscious purple flowers – a trademark colour of Orla whose company is called Purple Designs – adorn the coffee table and dining tables. The private rooms are shamelessly opulent; with the rich dark tones of granite offsetting the lustrous steel and glass in the bathrooms, and luxurious bedspreads and sumptuous headboards dominating in the bedrooms. The kitchen is more modern and functional, yet still retaining a sleek and stylish look... View interior feature

Riant Chateau

Riant Château is a luxury residence located in a unique setting facing Lake Geneva and the Alps, built by the famous architects Polak and Piollenc in 1912-1913 on the eve of the First World War. During the Roaring Twenties this ultra-modern attracted personalities linked to the world of cinema and originally included several large apartments for wealthy families and a cosmopolitan clientele seeking discretion. A renovation turned this former 20th Century palace in Montreux-Territet into apartments that still attracts many foreign followers of anonymity. Former hosts include Charlie Chaplin, Alain Delon and Freddie Mercury. The mysterious and invisible entrepreneur who lives here with his in-laws, between sky and lake, turned to the talented decorators Lyon and Dominique Herve Giughese to add the finishing touches to his penthouse apartment. Throughout the day in this beautiful residence with its pure white décor, the changing light brings different contrasts to the pieces, giving an extra life to the choice of the simply furnished with tones of baroque. The light and shadows, sitting on a large roof terrace with the cry of gulls, the sound of the wind, the house offers a variety of environments outside of time... View interior feature

A choice of colours

The first thing they did when moving into their new Oslo apartment, was to paint it all white… ‘We were in such a great hurry with our move, as we were expecting our son Otto to be born any day, and so he arrived the day after we got our keys.’ says Synne Skjulstad. As soon as they had got used to their new arrival and their ever so ‘nice’ nest to bring him up in, they got out their paints and wanted to play… They started off with a bucket of glossy signal-red oil paint and dressed the hallway with built in storage solutions and shelves. Then they moved on to a patch of bright yellow in their Amish dove grey kitchen. These two colour choices and the dominant painting in the sitting room led them to an acute stop in their process. The solution came when trying to ‘’keep up with the Jones’s’’. When at the home of their architect-neighbours Andreas Joyce Nygaard and Heidi Pettersvold they started thinking of their home as having the look of a boring council office! So they asked their neighbours for help with the rest of the colour chart... View interior feature

Christmas hearth and home

As families gather round the hearth, relatives from distant shores and absent friends all come together to celebrate the joy of Christmas. The festive decorations whether antique heirlooms brought down from the attic, handmade ornaments or contemporary trimmings for a less traditional décor all create a focal point that gives life and colour to our home every season.

Choosing the right one is difficult especially when there is so much to choose from - beautiful wreathes made of fragrant greens, lights twinkling in a multitude of colours, ornaments glittering. A resplendent dining room, a glorious meal in a beautifully created décor are also part of the festive celebrations that add to the merriment, joy and cheer all around. From cookies to the Christmas tree, from the ornaments to the chocolates, there are a lot of ways to display your individual creativity.

Below is a selection of inspirational features, gorgeous homes from Mainstream Images and delicious recipes from Photo Cuisine UK. The extravagance of Christmas never needs justification!

Wearing White and Gold for Christmas

With the cold, but oh so festive season approaching, the owner of this snow-white apartment in Oslo is wishing all her beloved friends a very merry Christmas. However, she's sending neither Rudolf nor Santa a jolly rsvp card this year. Instead, any child in the neighbourhood or young family members may stop by for an improvised Christmas workshop or some homemade cookies at her table. Just about a year ago, Oddfrid, a young designer of cool costumes and accessories for films and theatre in Norway, found herself the owner of a slightly tired and well-worn apartment in the Oslo neighbourhood Adamstuen, painted in various shades of ice-cream. She set out to give the place a Christmas present the likes it had never seen before. Almost single-handedly, she has refurbished this bright and classic apartment so that now it almost seems like an extension of her; with a pure and gentle background allowing for cool vintage finds and stylish details. Given that her daytime job is as a designer and artist, the renovation of the apartment has just been one more outlet for her creativity and distinct style... view interior feature

It has to be white

The classic elegance and splendour of a beautifully presented meal in a timeless setting... view food feature

Homemade Christmas with a Bang

At the Bang family home, Carsten, Gitte, and their two girls, Cecilia 14 years and Sofie 10 had become weary of the stylish Christmas where everything must match. Instead, they have embraced a decor with all sorts of colourful Christmas decorations; which assumes that anything fits together. Now, they use as many different colours and keep things as fresh as possible. When the family prepare for Christmas, they start with gluing, cutting, knitting and sewing at the beginning of November. The Christmas cake, muffins and cake figurines are baked to really get into the Christmas mood and get the taste and feel of Christmas. Cake tasting happens while they make ornaments consisting of hearts, angels, banners, monsters and advent wreaths. Homemade Christmas gifts for themselves, each other and the rest of the family are created. Cecilia and Sofie also make brooches out of small pieces of fabric in various colours, patterns and decorate them with beads. With a lot of colourful homemade decorations, the family and their grandparents have a Christmas more exciting and full of fun... view interior feature

A-Z Perfect Christmas Party

Everything you need to make a Christmas a roaring success. From aperitif canapés, blinis with salmon to guinea fowl, panettone to zucchini bakes an offering of new Christmas dishes... view food feature

Christmas tree, handmade decorations...

Let your senses delight in the cosy rooms of the old Smakkegård where the scene is set with a family of four to celebrate the year's big event, Christmas. The pale wood flooring, white washed walls, the white-painted beam ceiling and small-paned windows provides the perfect setting for the imaginative theme for Christmas decorations from nature, for the Christmas tree, fireplace, cookie jar and not forgetting all the packages that can be found under the tree. The scent of pine and clementines tickles my nose wherever you are in the house and you can hardly wait to bite into the sweet smelling Christmas cookies. It rustles in the red embers in the fireplace and you feel the heat quickly, resulting in apple red cheeks. Let your eyes be captivated by the lush green fir, with its simple and exclusive ornaments that invite one to explore around the tree and investigate each hand made decoration... view interior feature

A chic little Christmas

Traditional dishes with modern accents: seafood dishes foie gras terrine and chocolate, almond and toffee cake YUM!.. view food feature

Christmas Special

This St Albans home of a couple who run a successful mail order business is shown in the throws of preparations for Christmas. Many of the decorations are hand painted or custom made including trees balls inscribed with their children’s names. The dining table is dressed with fine wire trees supporting groups of tiny robins and even the front door is wreathed in lights and festive holly... view interior feature

Christmas from distant lands

Nine recipes to tantalise your taste buds, mouthwatering dishes with an international flavour... view food feature

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Driftwood decorations, a beach barbecue, gifts delivered by boat: the Biggs family’s festive traditions are inspired by their love of the coast. The family’s love of water brought them to Totnes, on the banks of the River Dart, but within easy reach of the sea and beaches. When it comes to Christmas water plays a big part in the festive celebrations. “On Christmas Eve, we take our rowing boat down river and drop off presents to friends who live along the bank”, says Penny. “On Boxing Day, we like to get out of the house and head to one of the many windswept beaches nearby”. The beach combed treasures that have been accumulated over the years have become a part of the family’s festive decorations... view interior feature

Christmas by the sea

Celebrate Christmas with delicious seafood: seafood filo parcels fish terrines, oysters, whole fresh food recipes and caviar... view food feature

Here's one I sold earlier

When you visit Kally Ellis’s North London home, you’re guaranteed to be impressed by the flowers. Given that she’s one of Britain’s best-known florists, and her company, McQueens, has styled the Vanity Fair post-Oscars party, you’d expect nothing less, but there’s much else to admire too. From the moment you walk through the door and into the hallway hung with convex mirrors, you sense there’s something different about the place. In the sitting room, on one mantel, huge vases are filled with branches from which glass teardrops are suspended. There are unexpected combinations and attention-grabbing glimpses of colour – a flash of green on the front panel of a coffee table and yellow buttons on the sofas... view interior feature

Tonight it's Christmas

An enchanting and festive lifestyle food feature amongst candle light and gold... view food feature

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