It is predicted that in the future more and more people will move to the big cities and that will require a bit of effort from all of us, not least because we have to squeeze ourselves into smaller homes, but also because we have to protect and preserve our environment as intact as possible. It is well known that the more people crowded in a small area (as in a big city), the more damaging it is to our environment.
Living in less space, requires interior and design because it must be less, but more spacious. And now there is a clear trend that paves the way: We clean up, throw out and make room, and we make room for more and more eco-friendly recycling of both furniture and artwork in our homes. Big thumbs up for it!
To clean up and throw out is the big trend, like recycling is also huge. And it’s all about staying smaller and with fewer things and do not signal the same kind of materialism as before the crisis. This is a trend that I love and as I practice in my home in Barcelona, and it is a trend that I hope I will keep with me in my future home decor also.
The respected photographer and former supermodel Helena Christensen was thinking green long before sustainability and environmental awareness became part of a common vocabulary. She mixes charming vintage with green solutions in his country house. Have a look inside Helena Christensens green eco friendly home (photos above).
*The photos above is borrowed from www.vogue.com.au
Hans Jørgensen Wegner, (April 2, 1914 – January 26, 2007), was a world renowned Danish furniture designer. His high quality and thoughtful work, along with a concerted effort from several of his manufacturers, contributed to the international popularity of mid-century Danish design. His design style is often described as Organic Functionality, a modernist school with emphasis on functionality.
Wegner has received a number of prizes and recognitions. Amongst other things, he is an honorary member of The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and has received an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Art in London. He was also the first ever recipient of the Lunning Prize and received the 8th International Design Award in Osaka, Japan. His works are exhibited at major international museums including The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and Die Neue Sammlung in Munich.
I am proud to be a Dane when I think of all those many great things that came out of our creative artists in our little amazing country, and Wegner is definitely one of them who is worth being extra proud of. I just love each one of his designs. His designs are so simple, classic, indescribably elegant, they are ultra comfortable and all his designs are timeless. This year 2014 it´s Wegner’s 100-year anniversary, so let´s celebrate him and his incredible designs!
Hans Jørgensen Wegner him self, (April 2, 1914 – January 26, 2007).
“The Chair”, 1949. The Chair best represents Wegner’s design philosophy of “continuous purification…to cut down to the simplest possible elements of four legs, a seat, and a combined top rail and armrest. The Chair was a collaboration of Wegner and furniture maker Johannes Hansen. It rose to prominence in the 1961 televised debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Both presidential candidates sat in The Chair during the debate, and what else to call this elegant classic chair but, The Chair!
Shell Chair, 1963. The Wegner Shell Chair is one of Hans Wegner’s most iconic chairs. Wegner Shell Chairsachieve their floating lightness thanks to wing-like lines and arching curves of a three-legged design. The Shell Chair, is one perfect thing: a low elegant lounge chair with a generous smile and an inviting seat for life.
Peacock Chair, 1947. The Peacock chair is so elegant and it was inspired by a traditional Windsor chair. Wegner exaggerated the arched back, creating a high backed, yet airy chair. The back spindles are flattened in the approximate area of a person’s shoulder blades, the visual result of which evokes a birds tail plumage.
Flag Halyard Chair, 1950. While Wegner often drew from historical forms he also created forms without precedent. The Flag Halyard was inspired by a trip to the beach, during which Wegner carved out the form in the sand. The metal, rope, and sheepskin chair is an unusual, but not unprecedented, break from Wegners prolific use of wood.
The AP-19 chair, better known as the “Papa Bear” or “Teddy Bear” chair, 1951. This comfortable chair speaks for itself, so no word needed.
Wishbone Chair or The Y-Chair, 1949. The inspiration is clearly visible and lightweight. I love this Wishbone Chair and I would love to have 4-6 of these chairs surrounding my dining table, a timeless classic chair that you will never get tired of sitting in or tired of looking at.
Use Wooden Cutting Boards as Serving Platters. I know this is old news, but it doesn’t make it less cool, let’s just say that it gives it a classic and authentic look!
I love to serve my food on among others wooden cutting boards and my favorite cutting board is a rustic and heavy mahogany wood board made by my lovely handy-man dad.
Of course some foods are better served on a plate, but everything that can be served in different ways will be served in different ways in my home. Food can be served in a glass or in a cute little lemon dish or on a dish which looks like cute animals, etc. I think that serving in different ways makes the food look slightly more interesting and delicious.
I´m dreaming of getting these light wood, oiled oak cutting boards below, from FermLiving:
You can find them here:
www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-cutting-board-4-chopping-board-30-x-40-cm-by-ferm-living-ref5408.html?utm_source=affilifut&utm_medium=affiliation
*Photos above is borrowed from google, madeindesign.co.uk and from austin.culturemap.com
Yesterday J and I had a delicious dinner at a friends house. It was the first time that I actually visited their home and I knew that they were people who had traveled the whole world (almost), but what I didn´t know was that their home decor would tell so many stories from exploring the world. Being in their house was like visiting each one of their travel destinations, all the way from Japan, Australia, Ethiopia to Uganda. They had little items that they collected from each of their travels. The bookshelf was filled with Lonley Planet books. – And even their little cute French Bulldog Chaplin had a fluffy cool dogbed from a far away exotic travel destination.
I have never been one to purchase so many souvenirs on my travels, but the next time J and I are going for holidays we will bring a few souvenirs with us back home. Actually I wouldn´t mind a good long travel right now, maybe a travel around the whole of Asia, that would be nice!
Back to reality. -Today it´s pouring down with rain from the sky of Barcelona, and I´m baking a paleo chocolate/banana cake while I am writing this blogpost, a very nice tasty cake that J and I are going to enjoy very soon (yummmm).
Have a great Sunday, enjoy life, smile and remember it´s Daylight saving time (summer time).
