Friday book tip

Friday again already. I've been busy catching up on my driving theory (I'm what you can call a mature driving student) and writing job applications this week, and now it feels like a cold is setting in. As long as it's not swine-flu, I will not complain.

I thought I'd tip you about a great book today, but unfortunately it's only out in Swedish... So, big apologies to all my non-Scandinavian readers, but I hope you might like some of the photos all the same. The book is called 'Daggs att renovera – Var rädd om detaljerna'. It translates to something in the region of 'Time to renovate – Be careful with the details'. It shows houses from the 1920s to the 1970s in existing villa areas (in Sweden), and deals with the different architectural and interior details specific to each decade, and talks about the importance of keeping with the original ideas, whether it's to do with extending a house, altering the facade in some way or just changing doorhandles inside. The book also has some examples where house owners have done just the opposite. There is a lot of that going on in my own neighbourhood actually, and I think it's a great shame as this whole area of houses (built in 1968) used to be very homogenous and 'clean'-looking. Anyway, here are some images from the book:

Oh, the horrors... What were they thinking?

I really love the sleek funkis-houses of the 1930s.




This is from the 1960s and in a similar style to the house I live in. I wish I had those long windows and the tiny balcony on the side of the house, though.

I really like the calmness of this interior. It's a beautiful house from 1963.

You asked for it. More Stockholm pics.

It seems I'm not the only one who can't get enough of Stockholm, so based on your comments recently, I give you more:
Crossing the bridge from Norrmalm to Skeppsholmen (to go Moderna Museet). I like this particular spot, as you have a great view of the city in all directions.

A view across to Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace.

Dresses in the vintage section of the Ikea at Liljevalchs exhibition.
Another view from the Rosendal gardens.

'Brilliants' earrings by Maria Sköldin, from her 'Granny' collection. Made of brushed steel. I got these from the museum shop at Moderna Museet and I love them.

And now for something I didn't get, but was very attracted to. A Stockholm serving tray from Designtorget. (I got the postcard instead.. much less to carry home :-) Maria Holmer Dalgren is the designer. If you like this, you should also check out her other items.

Nordiska Galleriet

Here are some of my favorite furniture pieces from Nordiska Galleriet in Stockholm. (Sorry about the reflection in the window.)





The fantastic one-of-a-kind drawers (designed of vintage drawers) are by Wis Design.

Stockholm purchases

There is so much great design in Stockholm that it's impossible not to bring any of it home. Apart from the Lagerhaus items, this is what I bought this time around:
A yellow Ballograf bank pen. Now I will never again have to look all over the house for that one ballpoint pen that writes black and that someone 'just borrowed'.

'Thank you for tidying up so nicely'. What better incentive for wiping the kitchen tops? The yellow one is from Lagerhaus and the red horse is from the Dala horse museum.

My only vintage pottery purchase from this trip! A german cup and saucer from Stadsmissionen.

When I first told my son (soon to be 3 years old) that I was going away for a few days, I asked if there was anything in particular he wanted me to bring back for him. The reply came instantly: a yellow horse. This was a bit surprising as I hadn't heard him express any wishes for a yellow (or any other colored) horse until then. But if he wanted a yellow horse, he should damn well get a yellow horse. This brought me to visit the Dala horse museum in Gamla Stan. (Dala horses are traditional wooden, hand-crafted and hand-painted toys in Sweden. Now used mostly for decoration.) The museum shop did have a yellow one but is was over 700 kroner (about $100 US) which I wasn't prepared to pay. In a moment of creativeness, I asked them if they perhaps sold unpainted ones, and for 180 SEK I had myself a little craft project. I was home at 11 pm Friday night, and quickly gave the wooden horse a yellow make-over (of acrylic paint) so that it was ready to be presented when my boy got up in the morning. Now, kids have a tendency to change their mind about things, so just to make sure, I put the same question to him in the morning.'What was it you wanted me to bring back from Stockholm?' Luckily he gave the same answer as earlier, and I'm happy to report that the horse hasn't left his hands for very long at any one time since. I call that a success.


Seeing as I have a thing for yellow details at the moment anyway, I'm rather pleased with that little horse. The bright velvet fabric in the picture was picked up in the sales at Marimekko, and I'm thinking cushions again. Possibly for the kid’s room.

And talking about kid’s room – I was unable to resist buying two vintage miniature 'Syveren' chairs by Arne Jacobsen when I found a whole stack of them at Gamla Lampor. I already had a red A.J. stool in the kitchen of my dollhouse, so these go really well.

Olle Eksell wishlist

I got this book about Swedish graphic designer Olle Eksell a couple of years ago, and I keep coming back to it. Eksell became famous for his involvement in re-shaping Swedish graphic design in the 1950s.


Now I really want a poster with the Mazetti Ögon logo that he designed. It is one of the best known brands in Sweden, apparently. I was hoping to be able to pick one up in Stockholm when I go there, but when I search online I can only find this gallery in Malmö selling it. If any of you readers out there would happen to know of a place in Stockholm that sells them, please, please let me know!


I also wouldn't mind some of this fabulous black-and-white fabric (called Margret Rose) designed by Eksell, and a vintage tin of Ögon Kakao (Eyes Cocoa).

Mon Amie from Rörstrand

This beautiful cup and plate are new products from Rörstrand featuring a vintage pattern by Marianne Westman from the 1950s. It's called Mon Amie (My Friend). Just right for the season, I think.