A Girly Room for a Little Girl

With both of my pregnancies we didn't find out whether we were having a boy or girl and I like a calming environment for a baby anyway, so I chose to decorate the nursery in neutral colours (there really are more exciting options than the standard green or yellow!). For the birth of our second daughter Ilse, I chose to paint one wall in Shaded White from Farrow & Ball and created a tree from cheap, brown textured wall paper from B&Q adorned with leaves cut out of (free!) samples of gorgeous hand-pressed wallpapers from - again - Farrow & Ball. I was pleased with the result if I may say so myself, but time moves fast. Ilse will be turning 2 in March and the nursery is still the same.... So it's about time to add a bit of a girly touch to it, isn't it?!?

I don't really want to get rid of the tree completely yet, so I was thinking of adding touches of pinks to the soft grey and neutral scheme and here are some pictures that inspired me:

Image source by Welke.nl and Interiors Originals Blog

I absolutely LOVE the idea of paper flowers and add some 'blossom' to the tree and I think I'm just going to work with nice cushions to inject pinks. I am making a crochet soft grey blanket with pink and purple roses on it, so some pink cushions will go nicely with that. 

Image source by Poppytalk blog, Kidskamers.nl and La Camille boutique

The cutest idea I find is the display of wall boxes with gorgeous wall-papered backs for on one of the other walls. I also love the picture with the built in bed (if we had bigger bedrooms!), but it's actually the chandelier that I'm thinking of. I already have a similar one for our eldest daughter with shades covered in Pip Studio fabrics, but for Ilse's room it will be nice to have one with more muted colours and perhaps a baby pink polka dot or gingham. The mobile will be a nice DIY project. 

You'll have to bear with me, but I'll share some of the results later!

Lots of love,

Trinske x  

Mixing Old Spaces with New

My husband and I went to view a house last week. Not because we need or want to move, but simply because the opportunity came up. It is a grade-II listed old house from around 1720 and has bags of atmosphere with old floors, big fire places, lots of beams and sash-windows with window seats. There are always compromises to be made no matter what budget you have, but it didn't tick all the boxes after all and it needs a lot of work, which we wouldn't be able to afford if we did get it. So unfortunately I think I just have to put it out of my mind as I could so see what an amazing house you can make of it, but I did dream on for a bit.....

My other half isn't so hot on old features like I am, he is more into contemporary design. However, I can appreciate different styles, which is probably why my personal style is a mix. I do like old as well as contemporary design, and so I dreamt for a bit what style we could turn this house into... I found the above pictures on Light Locations and wanted to share with you this snapshot of mixing new into old spaces. How gorgeous does this design kitchen look in this space with old beams? And I LOVE the combination of this beautiful shower with a roll top bath! White washing the beams looks fabulous too, although I think some people would be horrified if we did that in a grade-II listed house.... We live in a new-built property and are lucky to have a soft grey limestone floor with underfloor heating everywhere. That wouldn't be so easy to put into an old property, so I think my next choice would be the light washed herringbone wooden floor!

Have you had any opportunities coming past that really made you think? What do you dream of sometimes?

Lots of love,
Trinske x

A Touch of Black

Light interiors with a touch of black are often associated with Scandinavian interiors and perhaps that is the case, but I'm Dutch, I'm not deliberately trying to create a Scandinavian style, but I always am drawn to light interiors and I love the power of black. Especially in a strong classic design like the Eames Lounger above. As some of you may know, I have a soft spot for Eames designs as I used to work for Herman Miller, the original manufacturer of all Charles & Ray Eames designs. And I am the proud owner of exactly the version featured - black leather with rosewood veneer, the finish it was originally designed in in 1956. Although you can specify it in different leather colours, it has to be black for me. Hella Jongerius designed a lighter version for Vitra with white leather in cooperation with The Eames Office, but that doesn't do it for me either. BLACK it is. Together with the Eames walnut stool a perfect combination, but the stool is still on my wish list!

A touch of black can really work in many different style of interiors, not just contemporary. The below selection of pictures shows just that and really inspires me to do something more with it:

Images clockwise by Home and Delicious, Las Cositas de Beach & eau,
Rockett St George, Inside Your Inspiration

It may not be the obvious choice to go for a black kitchen, but doesn't it look fabulous in this country style kitchen?!? It works because there are no hanging cupboards. Something I'm a real fan of, as it creates a greater feeling of space and makes it less heavy. Instead, the shelves create storage. A Black/Grey/White scheme is also the perfect background for an injection of colour like this bright pink stool proofs. Notice the subtle link with the pink flowers by the way, making it even stand out better.

A vintage school board is something I'm still planning to put up in our kitchen when I come across one, as it doesn't only look great, it is such a practical tool too. And painting an old side cabinet or putting up a black roman blind is an inexpensive way to create a bit of a statement! 

The left picture is by Anna-Malin from Helt Enkelt blog, who I adore for her style. She always knows to create the most beautiful displays and even in her Instagram pictures she is consistent in her colour scheme and styling! 
And I wish I had a workspace like that (image by Stylizimo Blog). Unfortunately our house isn't big enough to allow a separate workspace for me and the office space we have has been gradually 'confiscated' by my husband as he is not particularly the tidiest person and so there are piles of paperwork on the desk that I'm absolutely not allowed to touch.... Maybe one day, I keep dreaming on...  

Images clockwise by Anna Truelsen, My Scandinavian Home, StyleCookie 

The pictures above inspire me because I love the warmth of the white painted slatted walls and white washed wooden floor, in which the black painted cupboard and a collage of black framed picture frames really link and make it stand out. If it was down to me, I would have painted a lot more in our house, but there are different opinions in our household and hey, sometimes you have to meet somewhere in the middle (grey?!?)... I also love the use of untreated wood and a black soft throw really works on the white bedlinen. The giant black & white button hooks on workspace picture are a bit of fun. They are by HKliving and actually available in my webshop Nordic Rose! 

Lots of love,
Trinske x

Rituals for a new beginning

Gosh, I don't know about everyone else, but it really has taken me a while to get myself back up to speed after all the festivities! Once it is all over, I do always suddenly really feel like clearing all the christmas decorations up and start thinking about some changes. A new year, a new beginning kind of thing. Firstly, I feel like a big tidy up and clear out. Get the house organised and looking clean. I've already taken a few bags to the charity shop but I have lots more to go through. 

Images by Helt Enkelt and Style-files.com

I wish I had a chest styled as lovely as Anna-Malin's from Helt Enkelt above, but one day I
will get there! 

Secondly I like to bring some nice flowers in. January is still such a dark month with often dull weather, but thankfully there are plenty of bulbs available already to cheer your home up with some 'pre-Spring' feeling. They don't cost the earth and it's easy. And once flowering hyacinths stems start hanging, I cut them off to enjoy them for a bit longer in a vase. Or how about some simple branches (from your garden) in a big vase? I left my branches that I used for some Christmas decorations in the vase and guess what, they're starting to blossom!

Images by Batixa, A Cottage in the Woods and Vintage Blog

So do you have any 'rituals' at the start of a new year? What makes you feel good? Any good tips?

Lots of love,
Trinske x

Happy New Year!

I hope you all enjoyed a great festive time with your loved ones. We certainly did, and hereby I wanted to wish you all an amazing 2013!

The lovely baskets on the picture are by HKliving, which are a new item that HKliving will launch in February. 2013 will start with some good work on the Nordic Rose website as I have taken it a little easy on that front over the December period, but there are lots of new items to be added. So keep an eye out!

Lots of love,

Trinske
x

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Only a few days to go until Christmas Day! We have a particularly excited 4-year old in the house who is counting down the sleeps, and her younger sister is equally excited although she doesn't quite understand the concept yet. Christmas is such a lovely time and with children who still believe in Santa, it is even more magical. They got me excited too.

In my previous post I promised I would share with you some of my own decorations, so here it goes.... I feel a bit apprehensive about it as I feel anything but confident about taking my own pictures and incredibly amateur. And yes, one of my new year's resolutions for 2013 is to learn more about photography!

My colour for Christmas is red, which I know is traditional, but it gives a lovely splash of colour in our mainly grey and white interior and is a good colour for children. Firstly, we always have a wreath on our front door and I love simple decorations as time is always very precious in our house. Lots of candles, baubles and pine cones go a long way. The little tea light houses with some pine cones dotted around didn't take much effort but create a nice effect. 

The antique chest with marble top and mirror (which I inherited from my grandparents) is used for a display of bell cloches with pine cones and baubles and HKliving twig candle sticks (new - available on the Nordic Rose website very soon!) together with our little Christmas Treat Tree. A friend of mine and I baked cinnamon cookies with the girls, which they decorated themselves. We had such great fun and it's a real nice way of getting little ones involved.  

I hope you're enjoying this special time as much as I do and I'd like to wish everyone wonderful festive days together with their loved ones. Merry Christmas!

Lots of love,
Trinske x

Creating a Festive Atmosphere

So, are you ready for Christmas? Are you feeling stressed or relaxed? Have you done all the decorating you wanted to do? I love this time of the year, although I wonder sometimes where the time goes... It has been some time since my last post! And my eldest daughter Kirsten is asking me every day how many sleeps it is until Christmas (clearly someone is VERY excited... and at the age of 4 she is a bit young to work out the maths on the advent calendar). But boy, it is approaching fast... Only just over a week to go!

I'm feeling rather relaxed, or organised is perhaps a better word, but it's taking me some time to get my decorations to the point where I feel good about it. Somehow I don't seem to be able to make up my mind! So, I wanted to share these ideas that I found inspirational and I will try to photograph some of my own creations next week. 

 Image Source: Regards et Maisons blog

Image Sources: 

Hyancinth image: Nordic Design

Glass Dome image: My Little Box

 Image Source: Wunderschoen gemacht blog

I love the idea of some simple branches with the odd decoration that gives a lovely subtle festive feel. I won't be having real candles in mine though! I think the idea of alternating hyacinth bulbs with tea lights is very cute and I have a soft spot for glass domes, as they really give a vocal point to something you want to show off. I've now got some and am trying to work out how style them. And what do you think of that simple frame with letters and that lovely splash of colour? The neon pink really stands out. 
I tend to lean towards an interior with mainly whites, greys and some dark wood pieces, but for Christmas I inject some splashes of red. I know it is traditional, but it is such a festive colour and it is also great for kids. And that brings me onto those cute little DIY reindeers.... 

Source Reindeer images: Kiertoidea blog

So simple and great fun to make with young children. Aren't they effective?!? Children love making things from toilet rolls, and I think I may give these a try on the first days of the school holidays. I'm pretty sure our ones will need to be given some red noses though... Particularly our eldest Kirsten is a big fan of Rudolf and hey, the red fits in with our colour scheme!

Hope you'll have fun decorating YOUR house!

Lots of love,
Trinske x