The Loft, Holland

Hello. I'm in virtual shop heaven this morning. Enter The Loft, an oh so beautiful 'shop' in Arnhem, Holland.  If there's one thing the owners love it's to see 'spaces work their magic on people', and work it's magic it does  Set in a former school the owners hand pick design furniture, art and accessories and piece them together in a forever changing apartment to allow you to see how they work in reality. All items are available for purchase. This isn't the first time we've seen this concept, I've previously featured The Apartment in Copenhagen and The Line in New York. Could this be the interior shopping of the future? If so I'm in, are you?!

All images except the final one Maartje Van Suijdam (shared with kind permission)

What a shop?! Amsterdam is already on my travel hit list but seeing stores like this make me want to get straight on a flight and visit Arnhem too, how about you?! (I'd stay at this guest house and also pop into this shop- see I've already got it planned!).

If you're lucky enough to be living or visiting Arnhem you can buy all the items you see in the Loft (if still available). Otherwise here's a quick guide: Hay Mags soft Sofa, Normann Copenhagen bell lamp, Z1 cotton light. Source wooden benches and stools at Lovely & Co.

For more fab Dutch home inspiration today you might want to take a look inside this fab Amsterdam apartment, a beautiful white home and this lovely holiday cottage which is actually available to rent.

Have a lovely day!

The fab Brooklyn home and studio of a creative duo

Recently I've shown quite a few makers' spaces. Having made the leap from the corporate world to starting my own business at home (tea, toast and laptop in bed on a snowy day - now you're talking!), I am intrigued by the worlds of others who combine their living and work space. Today's art-filled Williamsburg warehouse in Brooklyn is home and studio to creative duo Jessica Barensfeld and Simon Howell and cat Kooks. Jessica (a jewelry designer) and Simon recently founded Lynn & Lawrence - a shop dedicated to selling hand-knit alpaca and wool hats. The light, airy loft, beautifully captured by Emily Johnston, is adorned with surf boards, large-leaved plants and handmade pieces for a truly inspiring, characterful environment.

Home-owner: Jessica Barensfeld and Simon Howell / Lynn & Lawrence. Photographer: Emily Johnston (with kind permission). For: Urban Outfitters Blog.

Could you work/ live here?

What does your work space look like?

Although I love working from home, my ultimate dream is to share a creative work space. Is there anyone with the same dream? Or perhaps you're already there? Some of my favourite studios include this collaborative workspace in Brooklyn, the light-filled studio of Camille Styles and the industrial style atelier of Love Warriors. One day...!

For those of you looking for home office, atelier, and studio inspiration - there's a ton more inspiration here. Who needs open plan anyway?!

It's never wrong to take time to pour over a few converted warehouse homes too!
 If you'd rather think about anything but work today check out this camper-van / trailer with an unbelievable twist! Something for the summer holidays?!

Have a lovely day!

A Scandinavian inspired Georgian Bay holiday home

It's so nice to be back at my desk (a table by the window in a café by the sea). I've missed my mornings in Malmö! Even so, today I'm going to escort all of us to the other side of the atlantic- specifically - Georgian Bay, Canada. This lovely Scandinavian inspired seaside cottage has been lovingly restored by Juli and John Baker, owners of Mjölk - a shop selling Scandinavian and Japanese design items. Juli inherited the space in 2004 and together with her husband, set about creating a dream holiday home in 2008. The original structure has been painted 'cloud white' and they've added fir plywood boards in the kitchen and bedrooms for a modern look. I love the pared-back, relaxed look and feel - perfect for wiling away long summer days, don't you think?

Juli and John Baker - Mjölk / Kitka

Could you spend your summer here?!

Some items I know and love: PH5 pendant light,  Dining space: Moooi two tops table, J77 dining chairs. Sitting room: Børge Mogensen sofa. Twin room: Hudson Bay Blankets (also seen in this home) and Luxo reading lights. Many of the items you see can also be found at Mjölk.

Is there anything you love in particular about Juli and John's bay side home?

More pictures of this home can be found here. I once showed their fab guesthouse here too - the couple clearly have an eye for design! 

If like me, you love the ocean I can highly recommend this beautiful limited edition sea print by Kara Rosenlund - it's become my favourite piece, and perfect if you live far from the coast.

Have a lovely day!

Beautiful snapshots of a home in The Hague

Last night I discovered the blog Saar Manche and was blown away by the beautiful pictures. I quickly e-mailed the owner: Saar and asked if it would be OK to share a few of them with you today. This is a small sample of the images she has captured of her home, which she shares with her husband and three children. Her lovely blog also regularly features her illustrations and paintings as well as magical family life in The Hague, Holland.

Saar Manche - with kind permission. Thanks to Toc Toc Vintage for the introduction. 

Although these are angles rather than complete room shots they still paint a picture of the relaxed feel of family life in Saar's Dutch home.

I was interested to see greenery in many of the images she takes, whether in terms of fern fronds pinned to the wall, wild flowers in vases or floral head wreaths on her children. A girl after my own heart (I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to this!).

While looking at today's home tour I was reminded of new sponsor - Kær (a Danish word describing the space we inhabit between nature and home: beautiful, simple and calm. Founder and owner Marianne grew up in Denmark and if she was ever sad as a child her mother would say 'go outside and look at something beautiful'. Marianne took this advice with her to Brooklyn and the pillows, throws and 100 % linen personalizable table cloths she sells in her online shop are designed to bring the outside in.

We're flying back to Sweden today after a lovely break in London. it's always sad to leave, especially when the sun's shining. Do you live a long way from home?

Have a lovely day!

The happy home of a Dutch illustrator and ceramicist

I'm so excited to share the family home and studio of Dutch illustrator and ceramicist Nina Van de Goor with you today. This lovely space is a true, vibrant, happy home bursting with bright colours, bold patterns and fun around every corner. Nina's work, which is also about colour and a mix of vintage and new materials is evident on the walls and surfaces and adds to the playfulness of the creative space in Den Bosch, South Netherlands. Such a happy home, don't you think?

All photographs: Nina Van de Goor

Wow, I was smiling the entire way through the tour - I hope this home has brightened up your day and given you lots of inspiration too?!

Thank you so much to Nina for sending me over all these images. You can keep up to date with Nina's latest work on instagram and her blog.  Her wonderful ceramics and illustrations are available on Etsy.

More fab homes bursting with colour include this, this and this one. Love me a bit of colour today!

I landed in London last night to spend time with family over easter, so excited to be here! I'm going to have a mini break from posting tomorrow but I will be back on Friday and then again over the weekend with a fab easter give-away!

Have a lovely day and see you Friday!

A relaxed boho family home in Florida

Good morning! And what a lovely sunny, spring-like start to the week it is here in Southern Sweden (if a little cold still - BRRR!). It definitely calls for a happy, colourful space.  And what better than this home in the sunshine state of Florida? Belonging to Macrame artist Elizabeth McTigue, husband Tim and three children Maren, Ezra and Ida, the home is artfully decorated with macrame wall hangings, plant holders, embroidered cushions and furnished with a great mix of rattan and mid-century furniture. The result is a relaxed and happy family home - and everything wonderful about Spring 2015 boho interiors.

All pictures: Photography - Honey Lake Studio via Design Sponge with thanks.

Is this your kind of style?

Personally, I love it! It makes a great contrast to the monochrome homes I showed last week. Perhaps I should invest in a beautiful macrame wall hanging to go above my bed, that or a juju hat? Any other suggestions?! Would love to hear your thoughts.

The space reminds me of the lovely boho Florida home of Jen Smith who took the pictures. And also this fab boho home down Mexico way photographed by Brittany Ambridge. Perhaps I need to head down to Florida and Mexico.... purely for inspiration of course, anyone want to join me?!

Have a lovely day!