WABI SABI Scandinavia - Design, Art and DIY.: 2012/02

Vote for Best Home Design Blog 2012

How nice. This blog is nominated for Best Home Design Blog 2012. It's a VERY long list of nominees, but if you want to cast a vote for me, CLICK HERE TO VOTE. Voting ends March 2.

UPDATE: We ended up on 175 place (or there about) among 462 nominated blogs. Thanks friends for your votes. It was an honor to be among the nominated, and great fun discovering new blogs from this long list. Head over to see for yourself.

Raw elegance in New York City. En renoverad dröm!

This classic New York city apartment was recently renovated by Olson Kundig Architects. They transformed the space from a traditional pre-war, partitioned layout into a simple open plan. The project included reclaiming some of the building’s original features, such as two cast iron riveted columns and the original masonry walls.

To open up the old apartment, Olson Kundig Architects raised the ceilings, and removed many interior walls. The windows were enlarged to allow daylight to penetrate deep into the space. Seemed to have worked well. I'm delighted to see an apartment with such restrained decoration... a few classics but no (short lived) trendy items of the kind that quickly dates a place. Well done!

All the aged materials give the flat a Wabi Sabi feel, don't you think? Love the white ceiling and sheetrock walls, the exposed masonry, the black steel and the reclaimed oak floors. All images via.

Like the work of the architect firm? Here is another example - a stunning getaway by the lakeside. More on Jim Olson's ideas on architecture in his book Houses.

Weekend Wabi Sabi

How about some simple and uncluttered images? Really inspiring for me this weekend, when I'm spring cleaning & sorting stuff to give- or throw away.

Via

Picture right via. All other images via tumblr without source

Slow Wood

This could be Scandinavian Design, but is made by the dutch company Slow Wood.

Slow Wood's furniture is handmade by dutch craftsmen in Friesland, made to last. The philosophy behind the design is to create furniture with a raw natural elegance and a low impact on our planet. Each piece is made of iron and/or solid wood, with 100% natural finishes and mineral paint. Just love it!

More info on the MUN Collection on the website, where I found these pics.

Li Looking Good

As promised yesterday - here is a picture of my new tripod pot. Made by Marie Sundegren and inspired by ancient Chinese cocking vessels called Li. It just the right size, shape and color for my old iron, kitchen stove. Last year I painted the chimney wall black, so to make the pot visible, I used an oil painting as background.

Love my new Li

I usually don't believe shopping makes you happy, but I must confess, tonight I do. Today I bought a big, ceramic pot, and I am happy!. It was love at first sight, so I bought it - from my friend Marie, who made it (one of several) as part of her master degree in design.

I have not seen anything like it before, and Marie told me her pottery project was inspired by ancient Chinese ceramics. It's too dark to take a decent picture of it tonight, but back home I found some similar ones on auction sites online. I now know a bit more about these rather curvy tripods: they are called Li, and date back to 4500 BC - 2000 BC. They have three hollow legs, each standing on a small ceramic support. The bulbous body would have held liquid or food to be heated over an open fire.

My new, raku fired pot is pitch black on the outside, and has a turquoise to red glaze inside. Enjoy these beauties, 'till I have time to show you my own.

A bit of leather

Any natural material, and I'm game. Take leather, for example. Who can resist? Beautifully designed and crafted. Aging with dignity and elegance. Wouldn't you want one of these chairs?

I can't help but being sentimental when I see the two Bat Chairs (as we call it in Sweden) above and below. We had one like that when I was a child. Wonder whatever happened to it???

Images via drdcustomfurniture, einszu33, wkarch rainydaysandblankets and paulraeside.

Monochrome Spaces in Black and White

Black & white. Just like the Swedish winter. Here are a few of the monocrome images I've gathered lately. The last set with a bit of color - a promise of spring?

Above left via, and right via

Above left by Olson Kundig Architects, and right via

Above left via, and right via

Above left via

Above left via, and right via

Today, outside my window

It's snowing today, here in Sweden. These two caught my attention, as I sat by the window, working. A moose couple? Or a moose mum and little one? Hard to tell. They passed my garden and took off towards the forest. Good thing I had the camera handy. Any adventures where you are, today?

Wool and leather for your laptop

Simple, elegant and practical folder for your computer. Made by german Hand Graft this folder is crafted in leather and 100% wool felt, water repellant and shock absorbing. I confess - it's on top of my wish list right now. Can you resist it?