Minimalist Styling | Pella Hedeby

What I find appealing about minimalist interiors is the elegant, understated look they create. A simple colour palette of black, white and grey with natural materials such as wood, concrete and marble make for a deliciously stunning combination. Add a metallic accent such as brass or copper and I'm practically salivating! Although some find minimalism too stark or sterile, I believe it can be done in a way that still brings life, warmth and personality to your home. 

One of my favourite stylists and bloggers, Pella Hedeby has mastered this paired-back, Scandinavian style of minimalism beautifully. Not a day passes where I don't check in to one of her lovely blogs. Stil Inspiration is where she shares all that inspires in the way of interior design and architecture, including examples of her own work. The other, Hitta Hem, is where she and fellow interior designer Marie Ramse share more of their incredible projects.

This stunning apartment in Stockholm, styled by Pella and photographed by Kristofer Johnsson who I featured here, is a perfect example. I love the moodboards, black and white photographs and statement lighting that often feature in Pella's work. 

Simple workspace details... 

a clipboard for photos or quotes....  

and branches in a glass vase. Simple, yet stunning. That marble topped sideboard is divine! 

I was really interested to read Pella's post where she talks about an interview she took part in for an upcoming article in the concept of Minimalism. When asked if her signature black and white style received criticism for being dull and colourless, she said "no, not directly... the comments are mostly positive and I've probably scared away anyone who loves a lot of colour a long time ago...  " That made me smile. Describing her aesthetic in more detail, Pella says that for her, restrained decoration brings about a calm and liberating feeling. Adding a shaggy sheepskin is enough to create cosiness and instead of colour, she chooses to combine materials such as Carrara marble, concrete, wood and textiles. 

Images via stilinspiration.blogspot.fr and hitta-hem 

Photo credit: Kristofer Johnsson

Guest Post | We Heart Home

Today I'd like to introduce you to Holly and Trisha, two Berlin-based bloggers from We Heart Home, a fabulous home design blog for the online store Fashion For Home. I love reading their interior design & decor posts so I was honoured when they offered to write a guest post for me. The home they've chosen is lovely and so unique... enjoy! 

Holly & Trisha here from Fashion For Home's lifestyle blog We Heart Home. We wanted to say a huge thanks to Michelle for having us today to share this wonderful Atlanta loft space with you. 

Here we go!

Originally purchased in the 1960s when it was still an office, painter Thea Beasley has boldly (and bravely) transformed this 3,500-square-foot suburban loft into a charming and elegant haven of neutral colours and natural, Scandinavian textures. We adore these wicker chairs and white table linen - they remind us of a Bavarian cottage or fairytale home!

In every room Beasley has combined a simple palette with a wonderful feature of some kind, which really allows her to bring out her artistic side! The white walls and free-standing tub (below) are complimented by the eye-catching feature wall. The uniformity of the golden frames and the monochrome tones of all the images is the key to their success!

One of our all time favourite features about this interior is the mottled walls. Beasley stripped them to reveal this unique plaster effect. While a lot of people think it looks a bit scruffy, we are convinced that given the elegance of her furnishings and the high ceilings means this effect works brilliantly. Once again, this room has a lovely feature in the form of her 1930s display cabinet with a total of 80 compartments, in which she exhibits shells, feathers, nests & even antlers.

Even her clothes fit in with her colour palette and interior style - now THAT is devotion! The apartment-wide motif of faux fur, whether it be cushions, blankets or rugs really warms up the wooden and ceramic textures.

The living room really stands out for us. It has a far more French aesthetic with the curvy lines and fitted upholstery of these Aidan Gray wingbacked chairs, white washed (homemade!) farmhouse coffee table and Mongolian-lambhair pillow.

Beasley has such a great skill for mixing different aesthetics - how she managed to successfully mix this mounted African feather headdress with a Parisian black & white photo and leopard print chair... we will never know. But it looks fantastic!!

All images via 

♥ Trisha & Holly

Pinterest | Picks & Peeks

When it comes to white moodboards, like this one I did recently for weekend inspiration, I'm never short on pins. I should probably start a white themed Pinterest board. Have you ever started a new board and had to transfer pins across from another one? It's such a mission and I really wish there was a quicker way than editing each pin. Hopefully the Pinterest people are working on a solution as we speak! My advice, if you're new to Pinterest, is to start as many boards as possible from the outset. When I first joined up, I naively had just one board for interiors. Of course it grew very quickly and I now have one for each area of the home, but getting to that point took a fair bit of rearranging!

This rustic moodboard started with one amazing image. I love the drama created by the incredible dress, location and styling. When I came across it some time ago I hastily saved it and either forgot to make a note of the source or scribbled it down and can't find it. I'll keep searching, but If anyone recognises it please let me know. It's too good not to pin, don't you think?

I curated this moodboard for the long weekend that's just passed. Inspired by the fact that we were heading away to the beach, the Stop & Smell the Roses pin was perfect. Designed by incredible New York based illustrator and blogger Samantha Hahn, I think I may need to dedicate an entire post to her soon! Until then, you can check out her blog Maquette and her Pinterest Boards. 

Today we're going to take a look at the beautiful boards of Australian pinner Jessie James who owns Follow Paper Co, a Sydney-based design studio specialising in paper goods, that are "thoughtful, honest and handcrafted". Jessie applies her signature aesthetic and incredible attention to detail to all of her designs, creating simple, organic stationery for weddings and celebrations, as well as a range of everyday supplies such as paper, seals and stamps. Other services include full custom graphic design for print and online. 

Follow Studio goodness, via Jessie's Paper things board.

You'll also find many more boards such as Interior things, Simple things and Stylish things, providing much eye-candy and a recurring theme of serene loveliness, which Jessie does so well. Two other faves are Celebrate things which includes more of Jessie's work and the most stunning pictures from her wedding day (see pin 09 below) and Foodie things which makes my mouth water! Here are some standout pins.  

1 Pin | 2 Pin | 3 Pin | 4 Pin | 5 Pin | 6 Pin | 7 Pin | 8 Pin | 9 Pin

Enjoy browsing Jessie's boards and make sure you check out her Follow Blog, where you'll find even more inspiration.  

Interior Styling | Oversized Mirrors

The last time I wrote about mirrors they were of the round variety for my Circles in the Home post. Lately I've noticed that oversized mirrors have been grabbing my attention, for all the right reasons. Perfect for adding scale, I love the drama and illusion of space that they create. If you have room for one, then I say go for it. Living rooms, hallways or bedrooms provide the ideal place, and the bigger the better! Leaned up against the wall in a casual style, that mirror will shine! 

For classic Scandinavian styling, you can't go wrong with simple frames in black or white. Pretty detailing like on the one above stands out against the white-washed background and minimalist surroundings. 

 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 

For a vintage look or shabby chic style, rustic gold, metallic silver or distressed frames are perfect. 

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Natural wood frames are also lovely, and the one above is my favourite. Photographed for the February 2013 issue of Elle Decoration UK, the London home belongs to Karine Kong who runs the online store and blog Bodie and Fou. I'm a big fan of Karine's gorgeous styling and this is why. I love what she has done where with her oversized mirror, layering a couple of empty frames in front, adding the 'Sweet Dream' on top and hanging the chunky rosary beads and cross from the corner. 

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A great way to add a pop of bright colour to your interior, and an easy DIY project, paint the frame or the edge of the mirror. Notice how in the one above they've also painted the top of the skirting board in orange neon. What a cool idea! 

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Hunkydory | Spring - Summer 2013

When it comes to my love of all things Scandinavian, fashion is certainly no exception. So when I discovered the edgy Stockholm fashion brand Hunkydory via Pinterest, I decided to look them up. The company was founded in 1996 by Ulrika and Christopher Bjercke, who met while studying at the design school Esmod in Paris. Now based in Sweden their collections have evolved from the traditional Swedish minimalist style to one that includes military influences, along with that hard-to-resist mix of rock and bohemian chic. Having gained international success, Hunkydory is now sold in 16 countries around the world. I'm really hoping it will get to NZ one day soon!  

I love these black and white images taken for the Spring 2013 campaign featuring gorgeous Russian model Anna Selezneva, photographed by Marcus Ohlsson and styled by Lisa Lindqwister. 

Having started as a knitwear line, beautiful knits remain a staple in each collection. Teamed with ivory pants and blazers, boho fringing details and that gorgeous black leather jacket, here are my picks from the latest lookbook. 

Visit www.hunkydory.com to see the full range and stockists. You can also follow them on Facebook and Pinterest.  

Homes to Inspire | Modern Findings

Here we are, Friday again, and what better way to end the week then with a fabulously inspiring home. This was one of those random finds that caused my eyes to pop when I took in all the incredible images. Belonging to the blogger behind Modern Findings, a site dedicated to showcase personal collections and all things mid-century modern, this home is a shining example of how amazing mid-century design can look, when executed well. 

Adding to the impeccable styling, you'll notice that in every room are plants and rugs, providing splashes of greenery and bright colour. 

White walls and concrete floors provide the perfect canvas for an amazing collection of furniture, artworks and homewares. On Modern Findings, you'll find a full House Tour, room by room, including photos showing the house when it was empty. A few minor changes have been made, such as with the staircase. Wooden floorboards have been added to the top of each stair and the handrail painted black. Very clever - I'm certainly taking note!

I love the mix of Scandi and Japanese style homewares, like the black and white cups and teapot. 

Spot the design classics! Eames, Acapulco, Louis Poulsen.. the list goes on. That cactus pop plant is insanely cool and the Tivoli radio is on my wishlist for our new house. 

Simple white shelves in the kitchen showcase an assortment of lovely mid-century homewares, while subway tiles add a bit of texture. 

These images are all taken in the bedroom, one of my favourite rooms. There is a lovely sense of balance and proportion and I really like the ethnic touches. How gorgeous are those hanging plants?  

A bright blue framed poster makes a big impact here.

If you're a fan of mid-century modern, then you can also check out Modern Findings on Tumblir, where you'll find a constant stream of gorgeous images. Fantastic for Pinterest addicts, I'll be joining you for some pinning very soon! 

All images via http://cargocollective.com/modernfindings  

Before I go, I just wanted to say have a lovely long weekend, if you're in Auckland or Northland. Monday is our Anniversary Day and we're very lucky to be heading up to Omaha tomorrow - my favourite beach, north of Auckland - to stay with friends at their beach house. I do however have a post prepared for Monday, so I'll see you then!