This beautiful NYC loft-style apartment resembles the stunning character of the lofts located in the meatpacking district... but it is in fact located in Kungshöjd, Sweden–a city filled with winding alleys and streets well worth visiting for a refreshing drink, a coffee or just to enjoy the spectacular views in all directions.
























Fredrik J Karlsson

Alvhem, in collaboration with the stylist duo of the moment, Sundling Kickén, have decorated this space into a perfect scandinavian-meets-industrial dream–and if you live around the area, you can take a close look, rent or become inspired by it as I have.

Ask og Eng is a handmade furniture design studio by Kine Ask Stenersen and Kristoffer Eng. They started designing their own kitchen furniture a few years back, focusing on environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. They're now the genius brains behind a range of beautifully designed pared-back kitchens and furniture.


















askogeng

The studio was founded in 2016 out of the couple’s need to find beautiful and functional products that were also environmentally responsible, and has rapidly become a reference for Nordic design. Their approach to design is intuitive and takes into consideration the client’s needs and environment. They strip down the design part to get to the essentials, which makes the end product highly appealing and functional.

It is exciting to see designers comfortable enough to dare to create something unexpected, honest and straightforward... and I cannot wait to see what else these two bring to the table.

Some might find the combination between vintage and minimalist style contradictory. For ages we've seen vintage evolving around a more maximalist basis... but as soft minimalism grows stronger, it is proving us wrong and convincing us that these two styles can in fact go hand in hand.





















This characterful apartment based in Sweden is a beautiful showcase of the pleasant little marriage between the two. The home is newly renovated and–for the lucky ones living in Sweden–up for grabs; 3,05m ceilings and gorgeous muted colored walls serve as the perfect canvas for the luscious pieces of art hanging from the walls and the stunning vintage pieces of decor, scattered around the spacious place.

The not-so-secret secret lies in maintaining a minimalist and mindful mindset when it comes to the acquisition of the decor pieces and considering space and color. This place does it perfectly, bringing us small vintage details–like the simple color on the kitchen counters, that stunning "Smeg" cooker hood and the retro lines on the furniture–while combining that with more modern pieces and trends.

Below are a few suggestions, in case you want to make this a part of your space.
























Lindholm

If you read my previous post, you might have already heard this from me... but keep in mind, a minimalist approach is not about deprivation–it's merely about cutting out the excess.

What do you think about this style: thumbs up or down?

Sundling Kicken

I've been noticing an increasing wave of negative comments surrounding Minimalism–and while I wish that wasn't the case, I have to admit I completely understand where people are coming from in regards to the preachy types and the black and whiteness of it all. It is indeed quite puzzling how people can complicate something that’s meant to simplify our lives.

The saddest part is that minimalism and mindfulness can be immensely beneficial to everyone's life... but if we complicate the mere act of becoming a minimalist we lose sight of the simplicity of it all.

It is counterintuitive to encourage people to "let go" and then serve them with 101 "must do's", don't you think? Well, it shouldn't be made complicated. In fact, minimalism as I see it, should fit into your life and not you into minimalism. This is not a cult, it's a lifestyle–one that can change our lives completely and make our lives lighter and freer; so the only principle that we should never let go of is this:

Minimalism results from mindfulness.

That means that only you can determine what is right or wrong for you, what the essentials for your particular life are and what you truly need to let go of. Everything else is just a fad.

Thoughts?