Libratone speakers for the stylish home

"Where words fail, music speaks", cannot agree more, especially when you want to create just the perfect atmosphere for a special gathering. 

During our Amsterdam Bloggers Tour, I was introduced to Danish brand Libratone, a company dedicated to bring together high-quality sound, amazing design at an affordable price. Moreover, Libratone speakers are wireless, that means means they don't need to be plugged in - making them very easy to move around in the room according to your need. All their speakers have changeable wool covers to adapt them to different interior styling. 

Recently Libratone also launched their very exciting project 360 Scandinavian, a project where creative Scandinavians - like Christian Juhl or Kristina Kjær - shares their opinions to understand what Scandinavia stands for.

 

All images via Libratone

Minimal kitchen made of paper

Italy-based architecture studio ARIS created this innovative projects called  Paperwood kitchen that brings together a new way of living our domestic space and a greater awareness towards environmental issues. In fact, the kitchen is entirely made of  Paperstone, a compact material made of recycled paper combined with a special resins. The kitchen top is flexible and, from one side, can hide the appliances below and, on the other, be used as an extra working/serving area. 

To know more, please visit ARIS here.

All images Via Studio ARIS

Kristina Dam | The Danish way

Kristina Dam is a artist and graphic designer based in Copenhagen. Her work aims to visualize the dialectics among art, graphic design and interiors. In Paris, at Maison et Objet 2014, she presented her newest creations: the Botanic Series, a modern and poetic interpretation of the urban jungle trend of the moment created in collaboration with the Danish photographer Tuala Hjarnø.

In her works, tropical plants becomes shy interpreter of a new way of understanding nature in the interior world: they appear not mere adornments of our home but characters of the tale of everyday life, each of them with a different and peculiar personality. Though Monstera (Phylodendron) is still my favourite, I find a Sanseveria has never been so beautiful. And surely some of fellow Urban Jungle Bloggers will agree with me.

I particularly appreciate Kristina Dam's new work I decided to team up with The Poster Club and run a very special giveaway on my Instagram account: one lucky follower will have a chance to win one of the poster in their selection (value 80 euros). It is an amazing opportunity to be among the first ones to get one of these original prints; in fact the prints can be now only pre-ordered. Head to my Instagram profile here to know how to participate.

Airy table by Cecilie Manz for Muuto

Cecilie Manz is one of the leading designers in the Scandinavian scene  furniture, working on both products mainly for the home as well as producing experimental prototypes ( her Lots of Paper stool-sculpture is a true inspiration to me).

Recently, she designed a new coffee table for Danish brand Muuto that will be launched at Maison et Objet 2014 next September. Airy table is conceived as a flexible piece able to adapt to any sort of interior or functions. The name reflects the light appearance of its a metal frame that is welded and soldered very accurately to create a light and skinny silhouette. The polished plywood top, accurately finished, adds the necessary personality to the piece.

 The table comes in four different shapes and colours: black, grey, off-white and oregon pine and expresses its best when the different tables are combined together.

All pictures via MUUTO, with thanks.

Studio Oink for BastisRIKE

As you well know, I particularly appreciate the work of German Studio Oink ( see previous post here) and this time I like it even more. Their latest work is the styling for a new series of products designed by Henrike Schoen of BastisRIKE among which the beautiful black and white graphic blanket stands out amazingly.

BastisRIKE is a Siegburg-based studio dedicated to the creation of stamps, paper products, textiles and other interior products. Handmade philosophy and sustainability is the core of its designs as mirrored in the attention to details and the choice of environmental friendly materials.

To me, the blanket is outstanding. The pattern derives from a postcard Henrike Schoen designed earlier that is called NETZ, meaning network in German. I believe the pattern works even better in such a scale, reminding me of some modern, quirk transposition of the Beni Ourain rugs we see so much lately.

 

I cannot but agree with Wendy of Beeldsteil - where I spotted the blanket yesterday - and say this has definitely entered my winter wishlist.

All images via Studio Oink, with thanks.

Our Home #7 | String Pocket love

My love for String System is well documented across the blog since its beginning. The bookshelves have been on my home wish list since I can remember I had one and I was very happy when the RAW String Pocket arrived at home last year. I saw it for the very first time thanks to the images Lotta Agaton published from her collaboration with the Swedish brand and I knew that new version had to be part of our place.

At the moment, the versatile bookshelf is placed in our home studio, just above my place. I love to style it from time to time with small objects and things I find during our walk around, especially with leaves and greenery. The touch of the shelves is very special, warm and almost sensual. Though String pocket has been introduced only in 2005 to provide a smaller and more flexible shelving solution, it has now become a fundamental part of the brand product range.  The kit consists of two panels and three shelves therefore, thanks to its special system, by adding just another kit will allow you to create many different solution, both horizontally and vertically.

As we need some extra storage space, I am considering of adding a FLOOR String System either in the living area or in the kitchen: a pity the raw version is not available for the big ones! I will keep you posted about the choice and would love to know your ideas about your favourite shelving systems!

All pictures © facing north with gracia

KOTO by Skandinavisk x Design Bloggers United

I am still on holidays but really wanted to share with you the big news about the launch of our scented candle at Formex fair in Stockholm this week! KOTO by Skandinavisk x Design Bloggers United is the result of an exclusive collaboration between our bloggers group and  Skandinavisk, a brand well known for its gorgeous work with fragrances that celebrate the unique Scandinavian lifestyle. You probably remember when I talked abouth them HERE, so you can imagine how exciting it was to work with them to create KOTO. 

Named after an old Finnish word that means home, the scented candle talks about cosy, intimate spaces where to refresh the soul, refuges from long winters. It embraces the renowned simplicity and elegance of Scandinavian homes with its black and white look and with its soft notes of mandarin, jasmine, vanilla and amber helps our quest for tranquillity and calm atmospheres. To ensure this, KOTO has been created as an extremely long-lasting candle: it is bigger than regular candles as it burns up to 75 hours. Burn the four wicks all together until the melted wax reaches the edges of the glass and let the fragrance embrace you.

The candle will be available in several stores across Europe at the beginning of September but can be pre-ordered already at Skandinavisk.

The KOTO by Skandinavisk x Design Bloggers United collaboration marks also the entrance to our group of talented Susanna Vento, who created the styling you see in this post. 

Welcome Susanna!

Stefan Diez for HAY | An office like a jungle

If I had to imagine my ideal studio, surely it will look very similar to this one: an open space probably with an warehouse past,  filled with light to create the perfect indoor environment to host an urban jungle.

The studio belongs to one of the most interesting German designers, Stefan Diez, based in Munich. His name is well known within the Scandinavian design world for Diez's collaboration with Danish brand HAY for the creation of a new generation of shelving system: the images pictured here actually belongs to HAY catalogue for Diez's New Order.

I find very interesting how HAY decided to make so visible the strong connection between the product and its designer by shooting part of the catalogue in Diez's studio. In a way, it becomes a manifesto of the importance of craft as an essential part of the design process. It also mirrors HAY's desire to reconnect to the glorious innovative craftmanship that made Danish design so famous during the 50's and 60's; also, it is a declaration of Diez's approach to design through an intense work with materials and technology.

However, New Order is a "100% industrial choice, [...], a high-precision product" that speaks our contemporary language: in a digital world where everything is stored online, the traditional office material is disappearing from our shelves, leaving space to display more objects and memories. Therefore, here it is the choice of many brands to re-think the traditional shelving unit; to make it versatile and flexible, able to both divide space and to create it. Just take a look at the image above: the group of two could actually be easily repeated at home, almost like an overlapping scenography populated by our favourite pictures, photographs, objects and curiosities. A wall-less room that could grow in height and length according to the movement of our life. Design has never been so human.

New Order is the shelving system for a new type of space, one that adapts to contemporary life and its needs of flexibility and, at the same time, is also a cocoon inhabited equally by plants and human beings in harmony.

All images © HAY

WEEKEND SPECIAL | Erica Hörberg's home in Sweden

Erica Hörberg is an interior designer and stylist based in Växjö, Sweden. Her home mirrors that low-effort, graphic elegance that to me is so typical of Swedish homes. 

Eero Saarinen seems one of Erica's favourite designer: she has two of his iconic Tulip tables, one for the dining area and and a small side table next to the sofa used to display a lovely fig tree. I love the small details, like the candle holders or Therese Sennerholt last design. The Dots by Muuto in wood and black are always perfect and works great with the light.

 All pictures via EricaH Instagram.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

SELECTED | Outdoor Collection by Norm Architects

The Finn Collection was born from a collaboration between Design Within Reach and Norm Architects and represent the first outdoor furniture collection signed by the Danish design duo. Made in Indonesia by solid sustainably harvested teak, the collection reflects the sincere, timeless approach that distinguishes Norm Architects' work as well as their extrem care of details. The range includes a chaise, a lounge seat, an ottoman and a sofa that can be combined to create the perfect relaxing space to enjoy the long summer days. The collection is completed by a dining table and chairs.

Via Norm Architects

Our Home #3

Today I want to share with you some inspiration from our home. As you probably already know, the bedroom is my most favourite place. I love its all white interior because it gives me lots of tranquillity. Also, it is the perfect background to play around a bit with new ideas and little props, like I did last weekend: inspired by the moodboard workshop took with Gudy Herder last month, I decided to add some twist to our bedroom. A simple metallic paper, some black clips and my last crushes matched perfectly with the Diamond chair by Harry Bertoia. 

Greenery is another important part of my everyday life: I really enjoy to go around Barcelona picking (gently) small leaves and branches to bring home, like the little fern from our Sunday stroll in Collserola, the mountain at the back of Barcelona.

Josefin Hååg's home as pictured in a earlier issue of Residence magazine is always an incredible source of inspiration. And I love this outdoor patio design: a white wall, dark grey gravel and lots of greenery. Check here for more green interior and outdoor ideas.

 

To see more shots from our home, check the link here or go to my Instagram account. 

All picture ©facing north with gracia.

A new Grand Prix for Arne Jacobsen

The collaboration between the Danish master Arne Jacobsen and Republic of Fritz Hansen is well known: the work, that actually started in 1934, had its breakthrough during the Fifties, the decades that people at Fritz Hansen say was entirely dominated by the great architect. The first product was the famous laminated Ant chair, whose technique and separable furniture is still a milestone in the history of Fritz Hansen. Its success lead to the production of the world-wide famous Series 7 chair and many iconic pieces, like the Egg and the Swan designed for Radisson SAS Hotel in Copenhagen.

To celebrate this strong bond, the Danish brand Republic of Fritz Hansen has revisited the classic Grand Prix chair and created a new version of the original piece.

The Grand Prix is a stackable plywood chair presented at the Spring Exhibition of Danish arts and crafts at the Danish Museum of Art & Design in Copenhagen. Originally, the chair was known as the model 3130 but was renamed after Arne Jacobsen won the Grand Prix at the XI. Triennale di Milano in 1957. Its construction and design mostly resembles the Model 3107, which Jacobsen designed 1955, but featured four wooden legs later replaced by the metal undercarriage.

Fritz Hansen has decided to go back to the very roots of the piece and propose the first version of the Grand Prix chair with wooden legs. The chair is now available in oak and walnut with clear lacquer as well as coloured ash in all colours, my favourites being the natural oak finish and the black, white, dark grey versions. 

Arne Jacobsen's works are still among the best example of the finest Scandinavian design for its unique shape and the extreme attention to detail. Surely, this will be another great success in the history of the Danish brand.

 All images via Republic of Fritz Hansen