My spring office update

Hello there. I love this time of the year - all the leaves unfurling on the trees, the fresh spring colours appearing in the shops and a wonderful abundance of light! Yay! I felt it was about time I dusted down the cobwebs at home and gave it a bit of a spring clean - beginning with my workspace.  I started with a much needed de-clutter and then added a few natural textures such as stone and leather as well as a plant (thought to increase happiness and productivity - worth a shot right?!). But the most exciting update is my new 'the MANTIS' lamp from Houseology. I can't tell you how long I've had my eye on this beauty! Designed in 1951 by Bernard Schottländer, the mantis DCW BS3 table lamp is part of a collection which also includes a ceiling, floor and wall lamp. I've always loved the helical shape of the lampshade, and specifically with the table lamp: that it can be adjusted to three different heights depending on how direct/ where you need the lighting. Perfect! Here's a sneak peak of my updated work space.... I hope you like it!

Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

And not a row of coffee cups in sight!

You might already be familiar with online interior shop Houseology since we often collaborate. Not only do they stock many of my favourite Nordic design pieces from brands such as Design House Stockholm, &Tradition and Muuto, they also offer interior design ideas, advice and inspiration - so helpful!

I'd love to hear which items you love to surround yourself with at work?!

Have a great weekend!

PS Please ask away if you'd like to know about where anything in my office is from. 

PPS See a load more  fabulous offices/  studios etc here. 
 
***

This post was brought to you in collaboration with Houseology. However, all words are my own and I only ever work with business I love and think you will too. Thank you for supporting the businesses which make My Scandinavian Home possible.

Office Update - Shelter

Hello, hello!! We have been working away on a number of projects at Shelter but today I squeezed in some time to put together our new office boards. Don't cringe at the before photos of the area - (images below). This is what we are working with for space. I can't rip out the floor tile but I will be covering as much as I can with a rug. We are painting the walls a very pale grey and recovering the windows in simple woven shades. I may even custom order a large seagrass rug to lay under the black and white rug. I want to cover as much of the tile as possible!!

I wanted to create a clean, fresh office. I will be setting up a large inspiration board to tack fabrics and design ideas to. (I love Kelly Wearstler's over sized board - image below). I also own a number of the items that we will be using. (I'm sort of a chair addict so I have collected a number of random chairs). I have linked to the rest of the items. This space will also be created on a budget. Meg (my fabulous design assistant), myself and Matty hope to finish it up by the beginning of May!!
I will be sure to share the after photos with you!

BEFORE: 

Painting the walls a very pale, pale grey. Clark+Kensington's CW-C3

1.  Brass lamps
2. We will use a mix of vintage containers for our pens and pencils. Via Etsy and thrift shops.
3.  Melltorp Ikea table x 2 (using as desks)
4. + 5. I own two Eames chairs and will throw sheep skin rugs over them for comfort.
6. Hustle print
Ikea rug - Stockholm rug
7.  Storage baskets for samples and project fabrics
8.  Cheery artwork
9. Kelly Wearstler's design boards
10. Smaller pin boards for business cards, calendars etc.
11. + 13 I own two chairs similar to these. We will use them around a round glass top table that I already own. This will serve as a meeting and secondary work area.
12. Two pillows to use on the wooden chairs. Loving these!!

The fab light-filled studio of Camille Styles

Happy Monday! Is there such a thing?! Well yes, if you work in a space like this. Designed by Claire Zinnecker  for Camille Styles, the studio is filled with natural light, pops of bright colours and lush greenery. There's also plenty of meeting / social spaces where I could see myself drinking tea and chatting - I mean, brainstorming- which include a fab sofa, round Tulip table and grey marble kitchen.  I'm sure I'd look forward to my Monday mornings would be if I worked in this studio, how about you?

 

Owner: Camille Styles. Designer: Claire Zinnecker. Shared with kind permission from the photographer: Jessica Pages

Is this your kind of work space?

Items I know and love: Eames DSR side chairs, kilim cushions/pillows, rustic wooden stool, Tulip dining table.

A lot of thought has gone into this space. Not only does it look great but everything is designed to stimulate productivity. Take the table -research suggests having items which are curved rather than straight create positive emotions which in turn stimulates creativity. Round tables also encourage people to work together (if ever there was an excuse to invest in a Tulip table).

In turn, research has shown that the presence of greenery can help employees recover from demanding activities, lower stress levels and reduce office pollution levels. Time for a little indoor gardening?!

See more pictures of this fab studio here. I also love this, this and this studio and all of these images for office/atelier/studio inspiration.

I also found this piece interesting about why large open-plan offices are so not cool.

Have a great start to the working week! 

PS Thank you so much to everyone who entered the weekend give-away - the winner will be announced here later today! 

PPS I am in the process of making a few improvements to my blog design, please bear with me! if you see anything strange it would be great to hear about it in the comment section. Thank you! 

The creative studio of Katrin Bååth

Hello Monday! Back to work - woohoo. Or, perhaps not?!  Which is why I thought I'd kick off the working week with an uber cool studio! Katrin Bååth is a self confessed multi-tasker, describing herself as an 'art director, stylist, event coordinator, designer, creator and everything in between'.  She works out of her Jönköping studio in Sweden. And looking at how she has decorated the space tells us a lot about her sense of creativity and personal style,  I could work from here, how about you?!

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

I really love the neon lights. I'm often trying to think of somewhere I could install a set in my own home. Source individual neon letters to make up your own words here. I also love light boxes like this one (something for the entrance hall?!) or this one for the bedroom (sweet!).

Favourite office stationary and organisers of late (after all - it's all in the detail!): HAY scissors, notebook and box set, Normann pocket organiser,

You can see Katrin's wonderful portfolio here and follow her latest work on her blog.

Other studios / ateliers I love include an Italian designer space and a relaxed art studio.

Have an inspiring start to the working week! 

The fab industrial style atelier of a creative

Good morning! I do love the middle of the week, although I've got so much to left to do before the weekend. How about you?! Speaking of graft, I'm often thinking about how important my work environment is.  I'd absolutely love to sit in an uber cool creative studio.  This industrial style studio bathed in light, belongs to Sara Bergman, children's book illustrator and creative force behind online shop and interior styling company Love Warriors in Stockholm. Exposed brick work,  vintage industrial finds, concrete flooring and rustic wood  combine to make up a space a space in which Sara can create.  

Sara N Bergman of Love Warriors. Residence magazine. Photographer: Kristofer Johnsson. Post inspired by Coco Lapine with thanks. 

Could you work here? I most definitely could! What a space?

Interestingly while the space is teeming with vintage finds, the desk space is made up of a few pieces from IKEA including the ALEX draw unit and FORSÅ desk light (which I also have in my home office). Etsy is one of my favourite sources for vintage industrial lighting (it's where I found my treasured scissor light). For pendant lights I like the black E27 suspension light from Muuto.

For more studio / office space inspiration I'm loving this, this and this one. Or if you have a small home office I love this work space of a Finnish blogger.

Before I shoot off I also wanted to introduce you to ReStyle Shop on Etsy. If you love Scandinavian mid-century or geometric prints you'll love this online shop selling art created by Czech Republic graphic designer Jan Skácelik. I especially love this one and this one.

I think it's definitely time for some Christmas inspiration tomorrow don't you? Pop back for some very cool Scandinavian inspired festive decorating ideas! See you then!

Sitting Pretty

I'm not one for "sets", so I never combine a matching desk and chair! When you mix opposites the results are more interesting..that was actually one of Jenna Lyon's words of wisdom with clothing! {ex. shiny and matte, tweed with metal etc.}! but you already knew that right? ;)
I also love {and employ} the idea of using a table as a desk, as long as the height is correct {29-30"} the options are endless!

These actually look similar, but it works..

A stool is an option for "short time" seating, I wouldn't want to work at a stool..

Here is a shot of my desk and chair {I nabbed the chair at a flea market for $10 - not bad right?} I simply had a cushion made for it! My desk is actually a dining table from West Elm, I like a large work surface..

Image credits: KWID, Charlotte Moss, Betsy Burnham, Betsy Burnham, Mary McGee, via DecorPad, Elle Decor, MaryRuffle, ?, via Martha Angus.