Sunday Reading...(on a Monday)

SO... there is a new & fantastic e-book out there, just waiting for you to discover...

I have been drooling over the images for a few weeks, read the book, been back to revisit the images and inspiration a few more times, and I'm almost ready to share with all of you!

ALSO, I will be holding a little contest here on the Northern Light Blog, 

you could WIN THIS BOOK!!  ... actually THREE of you can win this book, so help me spread the word! Leave me a comment that you are on it, and come back to check out the full review in a day or so... 

Let the excitement begin!

Natasha

Image courtesy Iben & Niels Ahlberg

Scandinavian House Love!

It is no secret that I am a sucker for natural light and an overall white home with black accents and lot's of texture... this villa in Odense, Denmark, ticks all those boxes for me!! 

Above, a peek into the large office space with the super cool artwork by Sanne Hjermind. The desk is custom made and as you can see below, there are compartments below the glass, like a giant shadowbox...

What was once several smaller rooms, have been opened up and the wonderful Scandinavian day light streams through the windows, bathing the interiors in light! Accent colors are kept muted and there is lots of texture to keep it interesting.

I bet that fireplace was not always black... but how great does this look?? Love the antiqued mirror above, makes the black less harsh. 

In the kitchen it is easy to see the owners love for furniture classics!  

... and if you can't find the exact piece of furniture you are looking for, have it custom made to measure, just as this console table :) 

I think this little wall just might be my favorite spot in the house... Loving the entire vignette; the black & white photographs from Bali, the wooden chinese box, the Buddha, the clay pottery, it all makes this space feel interesting and "lived in"!

Have a fun weekend!

Natasha

All images via Femina

Sunday Reading

I received this book in the end of November, sent to me by my Family in Denmark. I had seen it written up - don't exactly recall where, by now - and had a discussion with my mother about the book...

The first response from her was, that it contained a little too much fashion for an Interior Design Book, but I still insisted, as I truly find Naja Munthe's world of Fashion and Interior to be an interesting mix, and her universe is - to me - beautiful and very Scandinavian, perfectly accented by the unexpected exotic element. Take a look at City Living at it's best.

Besides the typical Scandinavian all white backdrop, are some interesting textural elements. Notice the high polished chrome coffee table, the black and gold - oh so current - hanging light fixture, mixed in are pottery and wood... and books, boy does she collect books! When traveling Naja always brings books home with her, so her collection is ever evolving. I suspect she uses them for inspiration, as I do mine...

It's probably not often that you read these words in the same sentence; Deer, Art, Parquet and Designer chair... But, this is typical of what you will find in this book, amazing mix of styles, textures and travel mementos, all tied to it's owner by a strict color pallet, making everything work seamlessly, keeping the eye wandering.

While traveling, Naja (Danish Fashion Designer, behind the label Munthe plus Simonsen) also "collects" Spa experiences, and has subsequently launched an accessory line for the home appropriately called CASA de LUXE. Candles and soaps with names like Wild Fig, shower curtains and neck rolls with elaborate embroidery, all in muted colors.

While we all need to get away sometimes, having a sanctuary as stylish as this Summer Home in Tisvilde, North of Copenhagen (I vacationed here with my grandmother many years ago, sort of like what the Hampton's are to NYC), is just plain enviable!!

... same color pallet, just a little more rustic, weathered and raw.

 

It's all about the light, the view and outside living, but why not make the interiors amazing as well... Looks like this vacation home is also equipped for cold and windy fall days, I spy a fireplace!

Many of these images were shot by Morten Koldby, and it is with his permission that I am using them. Morten shot the majority of images from this book and I asked him about working with Naja, and if there were any insight he would like to share...

I met Naja last year when I was shooting for a danish book about entrepreneurship, featuring Naja and a few other successfull danish entrepreneurs.

I have been working with Naja quite a bit this year, doing the images for her book and other projects. Working with her is a great pleasure, because of her always good mood, great confidence and straightforwardness when explaining her ideas. It was also a fun experience doing both living & interior, office moods and backstage photography from the fashion show for the same client.

If you look closely in the two images above, you see one of Morten Koldby's Animal Portraits, this beauty to be exact, isn't she amazing?? And if you would like that Deer featured in the City Home, well, that too, was photographed by Morten!

Munthe plus Simonsen and CASA de LUXE live happily together in the two story Flagship store in Copenhagen. Here you can get your fill of both worlds... Downstairs the sound of trickling water from a gold mosaic pool emphasizes the spa feel, yet the entire home collection can be found here, along with lit candles, books and jewelry.

I love a good vignette, and this shop has many... and really, if you look closely and study what the professionals have done, you can replicate this in your own home!

(The above image was taken by me with my cell phone, hence the glare and all the price tags :)  )

Venture upstairs, and you will be tempted beyond belief... Amazing clothing; restrained colors, urban, ethnic, knitted, leather, embroidery... if you are not buying, at least "feel your way around"!

Hope you hung in there with me? I could go on & on, so in awe of the creative universe of Naja Munthe, but then there would be nothing left for you to discover in the book.... :)

Fashionable Living is written in both Danish & English, so don't hesitate to order.

I am now totally inspired to do my house over in these tones, lots of texture and a Leopard on the wall wouldn't hurt :)

Happy Sunday Reading,

Natasha

Most images by Morten Koldby, with permission, thank you!

PS. I have received an email from MK this morning.... to purchase his prints go here!

Sunday Reading...

So, granted... I have been sitting on this post for a little while... well, actually truth be told; It's been a super busy holiday season, and I just have not had the time to actually read anything, but I did browse through this FAB e-book at the end of December. Only this weekend did I sit down and actually study the beautiful images and read about all the cool Danish homes...

If you were the lucky recipient of a new iPad this Christmas, this is the perfect e-book! Chock full of inspiring Scandinavian decor, photographed to perfection, you want to reach out and touch every detail... LOL!

While there is much to look at, three homes stood out to me. The many layers of texture in this all white interior home, I can only dream about!

Design classics are mixed with tribal feathers, fresh flowers and hide accessories. Travel trinkets from far away lands mixed in for interest, and personal art... does not get much better than this, love how personal this home is!!

... and a fresh pop of yellow and turquoise in the bathroom, mixing an old "weathered" Asian chest with sleek glass and stainless steel shower fixture, so cool! Exotic Harmony for sure.

This predominately black & white home is equally amazing, a home with much more "structure" but also full with personal style, travel moments and gigantic hunting trophies...

I am really liking the blond wood floors, reminds me of the apartment I lived in, in Copenhagen, and the restrained color pallet is so Scandinavian! Lots of art and beautifully designed electronics by B&O mix and mingle with Marcel Wanders dining chairs and table.

And the last spotlight is on Tine K, of Tine K Home. Tine & I "go way back" as I remember visiting her very first retail shop, north of Copenhagen, many, many years ago... What was then a small shop that enjoyed great publicity in the Danish design magazines, has now evolved to a huge - to the trade - accessory company, with showrooms around Europe, Facebook pages for different showrooms (Holland, Germany, Finland etc) along with Pinterest boards and a well oiled marketing department. One quick look around all the Scandinavian blogs, and may feature Tine K Home products...

Fun fact: The Tine K Home team follow the Northern Light Blog on Pinterest, shouldn't you?

I am sure some of you have seen this living room before, but I am still in love with the light, the white, the textures and the all around cozy, lived-in, feeling of Tine's home. To me, proof that a white home does not necessarily equal stark and cold...

Lots and lots of texture in this little image... patina, peeling paint, wood, ceramic, woven straw, glass, books and a few branches from the garden. LOVE it :)

A wonderful light filled bathroom, complete with exotic shells and star fish. If you have the room, why not make this room in your home more inviting?

This kitchen is huge and totally open to the living room and dining room, again... great textures ranging from the leather handles on the cabinets (Tine K Design), to the light fixture (Shade by Tine K Home, comes in different sizes and fabrics) etc, etc, etc... This girl "lives what she preaches"; clean lines, lots of white and many non-Danish accessories and accents. Tine Kjeldsen certainly has a wonderful eye for bringing the interesting everyday objects from the far east and mixing them in with the typical Scandinavian strict design and muted colors, warming up the feel and creating wonderful contrast and interest...

While there are homes and images you might recognize in this GEN.TWO New Style Generation book, there are plenty (!) of new images to drool over & great stories from the homeowners.

I say go for it! Download your copy here, but hurry.... GEN.THREE is already in the works :)

Happy reading!! Also, Style Generation has it's own FB page and website.

Natasha

All images curtesy of Iben & Niels Ahlberg, Thank you!

PS. 
Look what I found in the last pages of the book.... a little quote from moi!

How cool is that!! ... so if you missed my comments on GEN.ONE you can read them here.

Natural Christmas...

While so many of you have been posting the most beautiful Christmas decorations out there in Blog Land already, I am lacking a little... I have been looking at all the beautiful images, and feeling a little inspired... SO, here are a few Natural - and super easy DIY - Christmas decorations.

I am all about candle light, especially around the Holidays, when it gets darker outside early! This DIY candle holder looks so pretty, don't you think??

What is your take on colored candles?? Typically I like all white ones, but I would make an exception for these!! Such a pretty and simple Advent display.

Oh, I am all over this Christmas tree :) LOVE!! This is the kind of Christmas Tree I grew up with... Simple, open and with live candles on the tree. 

One of the first Christmases here in The States I ordered a metal bucket from Martha Stewart, complete with a stand that fit inside, the edge was scalloped. It was so pretty! I actually still have the bucket, but the stand is long gone, so I can't use it anymore, unfortunately...

What do you use? Traditional stand and skirt? Bucket, or??

Natasha

Images via Pinterest

Colorful (Scandinavian) Christmas!

It's not often you find a Scandinavian home, decorated in jewel tones for the holidays, but... here you go! Refreshing with a little purple, plum and coral. Add a few pinecones, special ornaments & an anemone, so pretty this little colorful tray is, don't you think?

Super interesting mix of textures and styles. Notice the branch in the background, what a great way to show off those pretty glass ornaments, adding a pop of color away from the traditional Christmas tree.

I am such a fan of "thinking-the-color-scheme-through" it's almost embarrassing... hahaha! 

Soooooo, I can appreciate the choice of purple gift wrap, the small touches of purple throughout the decorated house (notice the purple Tine K tea light glass on the tray, and the purple in the round pillows). It's little pops of cohesive color that keeps the eye moving from room to room, it's interesting! 

It's quite obvious - in my opinion - that you do not need to go overboard, like so many homes I see in the magazines here in The States! 

With all these small touches of Christmas spirit throughout the house, you can really appreciate each item, the colors and not be completely overwhelmed by "Stuff", my kind of decorating by far!!!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Natasha

All images via Bloomingville