The happy home of Jenny Brandt

Friday definitely calls  for colour. I've shown other images of this fab home before and now new pictures have emerged in the wonderful April edition of Inside Out magazine (available at Google Play and the Apple Newstand). It's the bright coloured and relaxed family home of Swedish blogger, illustrator and photographer (yes, she's one multi-talented lady), Jenny Brandt here in Skåne. Jenny and her family renovated the home from scratch, painting the floors (if you look closely, they're different throughout the house), adding more windows to create natural light as well as a unique personal stamp to everything within. Perfect inspiration for the weekend!

Photography / interior design Jenny Brandt, Shoot styling Kicki Wieslander via Desire to Inspire 

I love the wall of prints. I spy the Fine Little Day Apple Papple and Pirum Parum prints from Mokkasin as well as the Blushing Carl print from Jenny's shop.

For more happy homes with a splash of colour I'm loving Elina Dahls family space, this bright coloured Malmö home, and a vintage inspired Swedish apartment.

Speaking of happiness, do you have any plans for the weekend? P and I have been invited to a 'Lost at Sea' themed party. We're thinking if going as Life of Pi - with P as Piscine and me as the zebra (I definitely got the short straw didn't I?!).  The problem is we'd like to go for a pre-party drink in town and call me a party pooper but I'm not sure I'm willing to do that clad as a zebra? What do you think?  Other ideas welcome!!

Also the clocks finally go forward this weekend. This definitely calls for a celebration so I'm throwing a very exciting give-away here on Sunday. Make sure you stop by - it's open to all!

Have a very happy couple of days and see you Sunday!

DIY // Painted Striped Curtains

There was that time I tried to paint stripes on polyester fabric and just when I thought it was going to be a total disaster, to my surprise, it turned out pretty well.  (Thanks to my Instagram friends for encouraging me on!)  Here are my newly painted striped curtains hanging in my office.  

You might remember that before I painted the drapes, they were originally just black.

I researched how to paint fabric and read that you add Textile Medium
to Acrylic craft paint, but one site said you could use acrylic latex, which is what I already had, so I used that. The directions say use 2:1 Paint to Textile Medium.  I just eyeballed it. 

The textile medium makes your fabric flexible without cracking after it's painted.  You are supposed to wash and dry your fabric before painting, then heat set with an iron.

After the first coat (which I applied with a small foam roller), it barely looked like I had painted at all- almost like grey tie dye. 

By the third coat, I thought it was a lost cause and gave up.  Also, I felt like my tape wasn't sticking very well so I was pretty convinced that the lines were going to be a mess.  

You can see that I folded over the curtain on the right side and just started painting with my son.  After we were finished, I actually looked online to see if I could just buy some striped curtains but I couldn't find any - except expensive ones on Etsy.  I knew if I wanted these bold black and white striped drapes, I would have to make them one way or another, so I gave it another shot.  One more coat of paint.  .  .  

Finally, after two days and four coats of paint, the stripes were  solid and bright white. And, I had very little bleed through the tape, just a couple of spots where I accidentally dripped from the foam roller. I tried to wash the paint out, but it didn't come out completely. I used a black sharpie to cover any white paint mistakes. 

I'm very pleased with the final result.  Makes my office a happier place! 

_________________

On Honey We're Healthy:  My 15-Week Bikini Contest Prep Plan.

Mesa de primavera + Receta / Spring Brunch + Recipe

Llega el momento de vestir la mesa para la primavera, cuida con atención los detalles, combina 

flores frescas con  hojas verdes y da un aire fresco y natural  ya sea para reuniones

 especiales o para disfrutar el día a día.

 Y para ir abriendo boca, una ensalada de melón y sandia, para tomar como aperitivo o postre

Ingredientes 

La mitad de una sandía, 

La mitad de un melón verde 

La mitad de un  melón naranja

2 cucharadas de miel 

3 cucharadas de menta picada finamente

instrucciones 

Colocar las bolas de melón  en un recipiente grande. 

Rociar con miel y revolver para cubrir el melón. 

Espolvorear con menta fresca picada y mezclar de nuevo. 

Enfriar antes de servir.

via

Gracias por tu visita ¡  Vicky

The beautiful relaxed home of Anne Ziegler

Hello, how's your Thursday? It's so grey here in Southern Sweden I am in desperate need for something to brighten up my day and I think I've found it in the form of this beautiful house. It's the white, light and airy home of Anne Ziegler, a trend, retail and brand consultant for companies such as Ann Taylor and Victoria's Secret, in Laurel Canyon, California. I love the wide planked light wood floor, layered textures of white and that fab spotted bed spread (anyone know where it's from?). Oh how I love  the whole look and feel of this space.

Photography: Brittany Ambridge (shared with kind permission) for  Domino Magazine via French By Design

What a beautiful relaxed, home don't you think?! Anything in particular which catches your eye?

More lovely white homes can be found here, here and here (and no grey in site!).

I hope this space has brightened up your day too!

PS Thank you French By Design for the inspiration - I love your blog! And to Brittany Ambridge for the kind permission to use the images.

Have a lovely day!

Una casa de campo Sahbby chic / A Shabby chic cottage

Esta antigua casa que os enseño hoy es del año 1900, esta decorada con todo el encanto bucólico y romántico 

del estilo shabby chic, tonos blancos y pastel,  muebles decapados, pátinas, detalles vintage 

 que le dan a la casa la esencia delicada y romántica de este estilo.

!Espero que os guste!!

via

Gracias por tu visita ¡  Vicky

The oh so cool home of a Swedish photographer

Morning! This is the oh so cool home of talented Swedish wedding photographer Therese Winberg. Shot by Therese and styled by Anna Malmgren for Plaza Interiör, the space appeared on several blogs late last year and I missed it (I know, I think I was to busy enjoying my Christmas glögg!). It's such a fabulous home I thought I'd better share it in case you missed it too?! The space is the perfect blend of old and new and teeming with the latest design trends (hello geometric kitchen floor, scallop fronted dresser, grey marble surfaces..) . There is so much inspiration from this place I'm not sure where to start, but I'll certainly be pinning every picture!

Photography: Therese Winberg (with kind permission), Styling: Anna Malmgren. Plaza Interiör. via Coco Lapine

What do you love most about this home?

Personally, I'd like Therese's bright coloured collection of sneakers!

Because it'd be rude not to:  here are some beautiful homes tours of other Swedish photographers: Jakob Nyland, Helena Blom, and Jonas Ingerstedt.  It's official: Swedish photographers have fabulous homes!

Have a lovely day!