Bathroom Make Over

This bathroom needed some updating. It was functional but a bit dated and the style wasn’t exactly what the new owners wanted.

Living Room Make Over

In Spain you usually buy a house or apartment with furniture. The previous owner takes the most personal items, but often leaves the whole set of furniture and plenty of decor items such as lamps, rugs, curtains, paintings etc. This was also the case with the apartment my clients bought in Benalmadena.

The 3 bedroom apartment was basically move-in ready, but the style was not exactly what the new owner couple wanted. It’s always quite a job to get rid of the old furniture. You don’t want to throw them away, especially when everything is in good condition and made of quality materials as it was in this case. We put an ad on Facebook and immediately received plenty of responses. The whole sets were sold and picked up in no time.

Here’s a sneak peek how it looked

1. at the time of purchase

2. after getting rid of the old furniture

3. when furnished according to the taste of new owners

In the living room the first step was to choose a sofa, and then build up a modern, light & cosy atmosphere to the space. White painted walls suit perfectly to the beige marble floor and together they create a fresh, clean and cosy look.

Couch in cognac was the winner. Below you can see the moodboard I made with the chosen couch. White, cognac, beige and black with some shades of blue create a relaxed yet stylish combo, doesn’t it?

Here’s the result. The floor lamp in the corner was kept from the previous design, but all the other furniture is brand new. The colourful rug is a real statement piece and that’s why we decided to leave the walls without art. Time will show if some art work is needed.

Reading Nook

How to decorate a space between master bedroom and bathroom? Especially so that it would be as functional as possible. This was actually the owner’s idea - let’s make it a reading nook with a chair bed.

Now there’s a quiet space for reading, having online meetings, and an extra bed for a quest. I wanted to keep the colours very neutral to fit with the rest of the house. Beige with small black accents and plenty of white around make the room relaxing and calming - no extra hassle around.

One important thing in this space was to install a door - preferably a sliding door - to the bathroom. So far it had been without any door. There’s a door separating the master ensuite from the rest of the home, but a door also for the bathroom would make the whole area more functional and comfortable. Especially as the house is not just for the owner’s own use but it will be rented out for holiday makers.

When buying a sliding door make sure you get everything delivered in one package. I was surprised that there was only a door when I opened the package - no rail where to hang it even thou it was in the cover picture of the package and the seller said it’s a complete set. Well, it wasn’t. No harm, just had to reschedule the job.

Moodboard for a reading nook with an extra bed in neutral tones.

What was on the shopping list:

• chair bed

• reading lamp

• blinds

• rug

• small shelf

• cushions

Grab a book or laptop -there’s a place for you!

Ikea and Prettypegs

Together with NYC-based potter Helen Levi, Swedish company Prettypegs is now launching a limited collection of ceramic knobs to give your IKEA furniture a one of a kind look. In just minutes, your outdated IKEA cabinet such as Besta, Metod or Ivar will transform into a modern, high end piece.

Handmade from tinted clay, these ribbed and unglazed knobs have a super tactile texture and were inspired by one of Helen’s previous designs which she calls “Corduroy” where clay pieces are made using an extruder, - basically a giant pasta maker - that pushes clay through a shaped die.

knobs all come in the colours Terracotta, Sand, Dove Blue and Sage Green,

“Like most people, I have purchased many IKEA pieces over the years. In the past I’ve bought vintage knobs to make them more special because I didn’t know about Prettypegs - I love that people can make an affordable upgrade to their furniture to have more design in their home”, says Helen Levi and continues: “Making knobs felt like a natural extension of my work since I love creating something that is part of people’s everyday life. ”

Native New Yorker and potter Helen Levi crafts her line of functional ceramics

The Pottery Collection is limited and consists of two knobs; Corduroy Pin and Corduroy Knob, as well as a longer handle called the Corduroy Bar. They all come in the colours Terracotta, Sand, Dove Blue and Sage Green, and you can either choose to go for a more subtle look with knobs in the same model and color - or mix and match models and colors all together for a more personal look!

Corduroy Pin 

“We’re always looking for new inspiring ways for people to personalize IKEA furniture. I had admired Helen’s work on Instagram for a while and since we were interested in adding ceramics to our offer, I simply reached out asking if she wanted to design some ceramic knobs together with us, which I’m super happy she did!”, says Jana Cagin, founder of Prettypegs.

All pictures from Helens studio is taken by photographer Hanna Grankvist hannagrankvist.com

Kids' Bedroom Decor

One of my favourite projects has been the makeover of this apartment in Benalmadena. I will start showing it to you with a sneak peek of the kids’ room. The owner couple wanted to make one of the three bedrooms a place where their two grandchildren - a little girl & boy - would love to sleep while visiting them.

Actually the room was already made but something was missing in the atmosphere. It was ok, but not really inviting. As the space was limited and the main pieces of furniture were the two beds, I obviously concentrated on making the bedd ss inviting as possible for the kid. So that they would want to jump on beds without being worried if the bedspreads get wrinkled.

As always I started with a moodboard. The wish of the owners was to have pastel tones, so I picked up soft tones of blue & pink.

Things to Keep in Mind While Decorating for Kids

• Keep it simple

• Play with colours

• Make it kid-friendly

• Create a space that is stylish, comfortable & fun

I wanted to create a place for the children where they could have a little rest also during the day time. After a playful beach day it would be nice to curl up with a book or game and have a little nap.

Kids grow fast! So the decor might need some adjusting in the near future. Keeping the walls and furniture in neutral tones and adding colours in textiles such as in cushions and blankets, makes the room growing with time and stays relevant for years to come. You just change the cushion covers and blankets according to kids’ wishes.

I think it looks charming, happy and welcoming - what do you think?

Pale Blue Sofa Part II

Sometime ago I described about the pale blue sofa project. Now it’s starting to be ready. The aim was to make a cosy & harmonious room with lot of storage space - and I mean a lot of!

There was not really a clearly separated entrance hall. It and living area were sort of adjoining rooms. To separate these two functions and adding more storage place - as it was on the top of the list - we decided to add a corner cupboard between these two places.

The back of the cupboard was covered by mdf wall, which makes it easier to place a wallpaper on it. I wanted the wallpaper to be bold & patterned yet matching the soothing colour theme. There was not yet enough storage so one more cupboard was bought and placed in the front of the wallpapered wall.

How do you like the pink armchair? It’s definitely the jewel of the room. The electric fireplace changed the atmosphere and is so practical in winter time - even here in the southern Spain.

Here are some before & after pics!

ps. the owner’s red slippers look so cute in the pic, don’t they?

Pastels

in the living room

Home With A View

Finally it seems that this new built apartment home will be ready to move-in. The decoration project itself could have been done in a couple of weeks, but sometimes the delivery times take a bit longer time than expected. Also the building had some issues that needed to be fixed before bringing the furniture in.

This is a holiday home - or second home - for a busy Finnish entrepreneur who wanted to have a place to relax, unwind and just enjoy time with friends and family. There’s a golf course nearby, well, actually several of them. The location is also perfect for cycling - I would say for extreme cycling - as the landscape is very hilly. Walking from down the train station up to the apartment a few times has definitely made my condition going up.

Planning the decor

The wish from the owner’s side was to have a modern cosy home. A dining table for 6 persons and a sectional sofa were the main pieces of furniture on the wish list. There’s not so much space to play with so I decided to leave extra seats and cupboards out, and just concentrate on these main items.

Originally the TV was planned to be placed on the wall, but that option would have needed an extra construction work to ensure the wall would be strong enough. So the TV is on a low drawer unit. The legs are still missing but on their way.

Upstairs there are 2 ensuite bedrooms with built-in wardrobes. Both bedrooms have similar 160cm wide beds. Nothing else is needed beside the nightstands and lamps.

Hues of the home

I chose a neutral colour palette - shades of grey, beige and greige. With these tones it is easy to add any other colour without making the atmosphere too busy. In the living space I added some blue. I felt that fitted well for a home with a seaview.

Art for the walls

For upstairs I picked up some photos and had them printed on high quality Hahne Muhle paper, and then framed the pictures. Downstairs the ceiling is very high and it really felt that the space needs paintings instead of photos. I found the art of Daniela Raffaele some time ago and asked her to bring a few ready made paintings to see on the spot how they would look in this place.

The ‘Sardina’ and set of 3 smaller paintings caught my eye straight away. I also want to have a rather big painting beside the TV. It could have more colour on it - to be a real wow-factor.

Find out more here!

New From Ikea

Ljuvare by Ikea

When I first saw Ikea’s Ljuvare collection online I fell in love immediately. Warm, spicy tones with a hint of golden accents make these items simply desirable. Now when there are lockdowns here and there it’s not necessarily possible to visit Ikea on the spot, but no worries - you can make online-orders and have these beauties delivered to your door step.

“Middle Eastern design meets Scandinavian style. LJUVARE is a limited edition that cleverly combines Middle Eastern design with Scandinavian style. The comforting earthy tones, shades of orange and cream fused with glittering gold, create a flawless modern feel.”

Craftsmanship and tradition

Designed by Nada Debs, an acclaimed Middle Eastern designer, and Paulin Machado, a designer at IKEA, all of the products were designed so they could be lovingly handmade – from candle holders and comfortable floor cushions to modern cups and coffee makers.

If you're looking to slow down a bit and spend some more time at home, why not create a casual and cosy atmosphere using the candle holders and lighting chains from this limited edition? Antique-style lanterns create a warm atmosphere and add a decorative touch to any room. The designer Nada Debs took inspiration from materials like brass, which is commonly used in Middle Eastern culture to create items that showcase the beauty of their culture.

Decoration for style and comfort

Geometric patterns are a common feature in Middle Eastern culture. Our contemporary version of traditional prints will lend a fresh look to your home.”

Nada Debs

Designer Nada Debs is a Lebanese designer living and working in Beirut. She grew up in Japan, studied in the United States and been travelling around the globe exploring different cultures. ‘Handmade & heartmade’ describes her style. She wants to capture the power of human hands to tell stories which touch our hearts.

Pantone 2021 - Yellow and Grey

Illuminating Yellow And Ultimate Gray

The new Pantone colours for 2021 are announced!

“The union of an enduring Ultimate gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid, but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a colour combination That gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.”

- Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of The Pantone Color Institute -

This colour combo brings strength and hopefulness. A grey sofa with yellow cushions - it’s like a solid rock in a sunshine. I have used these colours a lot in home decor. Grey has been the ultimate favourite hue in Scandinavian interior decoration for years, and a bit of yellow brings warmth to it.