Isabell's Beautiful Gustavian Chair

I get the most wonderful emails from people all over the world about Willow Decor. One of the most recent was from Isabell in Norway, (but moving to Sweden). Please read her wonderful note and photograph, which she has allowed me to share with all you.


Hello ”Willlow Decor” !

My name is Isabell, a frequent reader of your lovely blog and I wanted to thank you, because by you I came in contact with lovely Kymberley Fraser. A while ago you made a post about her, and you showed pictures of some of 3 Fine Grains sacks. I have this great passion about sacks, so seeing them made my heart jump….. I contacted her and bought the one you see, which now is on my Gustavian chair…..the furniture upholsterer in Stockholm thought the old chair and the sack made a good marriage. So do we……………..

Your last post was wonderful, the furniture you have is really pieces to love. So beautifully done, and so nice they look in your home. Of course the cushions from Kym , just love the as well………….

Isn`t it fantastic how mutual interest have no boundaries, no borders, by your post I read, I came in contact with Kymberley, she sent me the sack to Scandinavia, (Norway), I sent the sack to Sweden, and now I am about to move back to Sweden living and loving among many other things our chair………the world seem smaller in a way……………………

Once again thank you !

Kind regards

Isabell

The reach and power of the Internet continues to amaze me. I am so grateful to be able to find so many other lovers of fine antiques and home decor world wide. I know you will agree that Isabell's Gustavian Chair is exquisite! Fabulous job, Isabell and thank you so much for sharing!

Favoritrundan, del 4 - Ting Ute & Inne

Ting Ute & Inne i Gislövs Strandmark har fina orientaliska lyktor och höstdekorationer i färgerna orange och brunt. Fredrika på Ting Ute & Inne har även startat en blogg med massor av bilder från butiken, du hittar den här. De här bilderna är mina egna.

Favoritrundan, del 3 - Nydahl

Hos Nydahl Present & Inredning hittade vi massor av fin höstinspiration för att få det snyggt utomhus, kanske på trappan eller terassen. Bilderna är mina egna.

Favoritrundan, del 2 - Cottage Rose

Vårt nästa stopp blev Cottage Rose i Höllviken som faktiskt bytt stil sen jag var där sist. Nu är det lite mer bohemiskt shict med mycket produkter från bl a Day Home - tidigare var det mer sött lantligt åt shabby shic hållet. Måste säga att jag uppskattar den här stilen mer.

Hittade lapptäckesydda Kelim mattor som var så populärt under Formex. (Såg även liknande mattor i Stockholm fast med äkta orientaliska mattbitar, bl a hos Dis Inredning och NK. Dessa mattor tycks verkligen vara i ropet just nu. Även Lotta Agaton har skrivit om dem på sin blogg.) Bilderna är mina egna.

Favoritrundan, del 1 - Vindåkra Gård

Igår gjorde jag och grannen en shoppingrunda och besökte våra favoritbutiker. Vi har upptäckt att vi har samma smak och båda gillar inredning och trädgård så vi har helt enkelt blivit shoppingkompisar. Favoritbutikerna ligger inte i Malmö utan lite utanför. Tyvärr blev det inte så mycket shoppande den här gången, men massor av inspiration och en hel del bilder blev det också.

Vi började med ett stopp på härliga Vindåkra Gård som inte ligger så långt från Ilva (och snart också IKEA). Här hittade vi vackra kuddar, ljus, lampor, kläder och skor. Jag blev bl a jätteförtjust i Day Homes sammetsöverkast i mörk turkos.. så snyggt! Kuddar i samma stil syns på nedersta bilderna.

Those White and Cream Cow Hide Rugs

Suzanne Kasler

I am really enamored with white/cream cow hide rugs. They seem to add another layer of richness and beauty to so many different style interiors. Here is a lovely room designed by the wonderful Suzanne Kasler. Southern Accents
I especially love cow hide rugs over sisal or seagrass. In this room the rug seems to compliment all furnishings; notice the side table and Ghost chair. Jan Showers

The combination of the natural floor covering and the sumptuousness of the cow hide really speaks to me.

Cote de Texas

I think they add a luxurious layer of texture and interest to room. Here is the wonderful bedroom of Sally Wheat, brought to us by Joni of Cote de Texas. You can read all about the rest of Sally's house here. Cote de Texas
Sally renovated the many rooms including the living room. Here is the photo from the cover of Houston House and Home. You can read all about her more recent renovation here.

Material Girls

Here the fabulous Jan Showers layers the cow hide over white rug. It adds a layer of richness to this room. Veranda

Though not quite cream, I wanted to include Vincent Wolfe's gorgeous room. Here the cow hide is layered over a lighter rug and creates a luxurious effect.

uktv

=The cow hides seem to work in many different decors. Here it looks fabulous in this more masculine and modern room.

tbird
Of course in more modern interiors, like this bedroom the cow hide softens the hard edges of the furniture and the space.

Kim Christie
They also look beautiful laying on a hardwood floor - In this room I love the mix of the hard lines of the mirrors and coffee tables with the softness of linen sofa, throw and cow hide rug.
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I find the cowhide rug a more interesting choice than the traditional needlepoint or aubusson rug. With the yellow chairs, it adds a layer of unexpected edginess to this room.
The darker floors also really make the rug stand out.

decorpad

Finally here is one my favorite rooms. I think the the cow hide rug looks so lovely in this very neutral interior. What do think?

Click on Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is hooked on!

The Quest for The Holy Grail (or How I Found my Mora Clock)

Many of you have emailed me asking how I came to love Swedish antiques. Growing up we had very little money and my exposure to antiques came from my parents flea market finds. Even then I loved the history of the old pieces, but the furniture was walnut or cherry and very dark and heavy. In 1992, I was newly engaged. I bought a stack of house magazines, excited about someday owning my own home. I was flipping through a magazine and was struck by a advertisement by Anderson Windows. What was this gorgeous clock with such shapely and graceful lines and light, beautiful wood? I was was awestruck. Here is the ad above. (the middle one - yes, I still have the ad!)

I carried the ad everywhere. I went to flea markets and antique shows and asked every dealer if they had a clock like this or knew where I could find one. I did find out it was a Swedish Mora clock, but no one in New England knew where I could find one. One day my husband laughed that I was on my own personal quest for the Holy Grail - the elusive Mora Clock!

In 1993 my husband and I moved to Munich, Germany. In Bavaria, I was exposed to beautiful painted pieces and lovely stripped and waxed country style antiques. Meanwhile my sister was living in Copenhagen, Denmark and we spent many weekends exploring old barns and antique shops, searching for the "Holy Grail", but also finding other wonderful treasures.

One day while jogging around Munich my husband saw a Mora clock in a window of a store. He spoke to the owner in his very limited German and was told that the clock was sold. For months he refused to let me know where the shop was because he thought I would feel worse if I saw the clock in person. Finally, we were walking nearby the shop one evening and I saw the clock. I went in and spoke to the owner, also in very limited German, but found that in fact the clock was For Sale, not Sold. (He had mixed up his verb tenses!)

I bought the clock on the spot although needed several more weeks of restoration to the clock works. It has beautiful carvings, swag details and an oak leaf crown. I have never seen a clock I love more than this one.

We have had it over fifteen years and have spent those years finding other beautiful European antiques to compliment it, but it remains my most favorite.

I hope you love it as much as I do!

Gotlandsstilen ett steg längre

Kan inte låta bli att visa några bilder till från fotograf Stellan Herner. Dessa är från Gotland och har en otroligt udda stil med rå betong, rostiga detaljer, fårskinn men också en del finsnickrade moderna inslag. En blanding mellan lantligt och modernt som känns väldigt mycket Gotland. Här har man tagit den karaktäristiska stilen ytterligare ett steg längre och skapat något helt eget. Stylingen står Tina Hellberg för.

Bloomingvilles höstkatalog

En av de montrar som jag stannade längst i på Formex var danska Bloomingville. Jag tycker de har en kul mix av lantligt och modernt. Här är några bilder från deras höstkatalog.

Idag ställer jag en fråga på SvD bloggen - 'Får man gå hur långt som helst för ett stilrent hem?' Gå gärna in och berätta vad du tycker!

Snygg och kul design i nästan helvit miljö

Härligt stylingreportage som tidigare varit med i Elle Interiör. Claesson Koivisto Runes soffa 'Boxplay' och Marimekkos puff Kivikko i en vit miljö med endast några få färgaccenter. Hays bordsben 'Loop' med enkla träplankor på och utestolar i snirkligt järn tycker jag känns extra kul. Den läckra kronan är inte heller dum. Bilder från fotograf Stellan Herner, styling Tina Hellberg.


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Har nu äntligen tagit tag i det där med Facebook, ja jag vet, hopplöst långt efter alla andra. Det är hur som helst jättekul och jag har snurrat runt och hittat gamla klasskompisar och alla möjliga. Glömde nästan bort att blogga idag. Är du också med kan du väl bli vän med mig!