After an extensive renovation and rehabilitation process, Linda (a textile designer) and Niklas have managed to turn their run down 1930′s villa into an open and bright family home. The previous owners had renovated in the late 1960′s, however nothing had been done since to update the interior. Sourcing many pieces from Ikea and flea markets helped keep the cost down, as well as enlisting the help of Linda’s carpenter father. I think my favorite parts are their daughter Molly’s room (our daughter would absolutely love that room) and the conservatory, a space you don’t find a lot in today’s homes. One small thing, the large step under the bathroom sink is a great idea. Our girls are always tipping theirs over, falling off, or carrying it around in an attempt to climb other things that shouldn’t be climbed.
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Olivia and Frank (and their daughter) have done a fantastic job turning this two bedroom, 19th century apartment in West Berlin into a fun and eclectic combination of old, older, oldest, and new. They were sold after just their first look inside, and I can see why. I think the classic interior blends beautifully with what they have done to adapt this space. The kitchen is obviously where they spend the bulk of their time, so they cleverly used pendants to help bring the massive ceiling heights down to a more personal scale. At first I didn’t notice, but if you look closely at the kitchen walls, “Gute Laune Zentrale” (Good Mood Central) is spelled out using just everyday shelf brackets and other random objects. I really love the interesting combinations of everything everywhere in this apartment, and looking at the pictures I was having a lot of fun trying to see how many things I could find from different decades.
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This little gem of an apartment is located in the area of Linnéstaden, Sweden. Obviously apartments like this would be way too small for a family the size of mine, but the reason I like looking at them (besides that they look wonderful) is because all the creative storage solutions you see in small spaces can easily carry over to benefit a larger family. The amount of kids’ toys/clothes/puzzles/markers/shoes/randomness we have is staggering, and smart ideas for storing it all are always welcome. Specifically I like to look at kitchens, food prep and eating arrangements, study areas, toy storage, and entry mud rooms. In this apartment the metal mail sorter on the wall helps keep paper clutter off the table. Having stacking chairs that can get put away easily for the dining area is a nice way to be prepared for company, without having too many chairs in everyone’s way when no company is over (In our home our extra chairs fold and hang on a nearby wall). Its these small solutions that make homes easy to live in and use verses over filled, cluttered, and frustrating.
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Came across this bright and colorful home earlier, and fell immediately in love. I love the experimental creativity everywhere, and the vintage color pallet really warms the space. The shelves in the kitchen are amazing. I really can’t stand over the counter kitchen cabinetry, so when the time comes for me to design our kitchen they will be the first thing to go.
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Browsing some of my favorite places on the internet, came across this post over at Design Attractor and had to share. I wish I knew more about this lovely French loft space, but all I know is that it’s French, its a loft, and it is absolutely filled with beautiful natural light. I absolutely love the craft/work space. We are working on a similar type of space in our new home (which we are loving) and its coming together slowly as we decide exactly what it needs to be (I’m sure pictures of it will find there way on here when its done).
In their home in the Netherlands, Laura and Bob have worked to create a “bright, bold, and warm” home for their children that inspires, and blends each of their personalities under one roof (no small task with four children). The childrens’ spaces are uniquely their own, while the shared spaces reflect a little of everyone. It is these shared spaces that I most appreciate. While this home has private spaces where the family members can retreat to places of their own, there is also provision for family communal areas. I love the idea of spaces within a home that not only support group activity, but encourages it. A place where people can “run into each other” in a sense. Life can get pretty busy around our home, I think it is essential we have areas that help welcome us back together again when everyone is home. I am not sure what to call Laura and Bob’s style, other than colorful, but I think works perfectly.
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