I don’t know about you... but I’ve been having the hardest time getting into the Holiday mood this time 'round. You can probably tell by the following tweet:

Random lady: "Ah! it smells like Christmas". . . Me: Smiles while thinking, "Really? 'Cause to me it smells a lot like hot, dirty sewage water." #notinthemood

Don’t judge me, it’s stifling down here in my neck of the woods.

The good part is the the internet provides us with an abundance of daily inspiratio –so instead of wallowing in my weather issues or my drops of sweat, I’ve decided to give the spirit a chance and try all (or at least one) of the following things, so me and my little one can move towards some sort of Christmas enjoyment.

If you, like me, are in need of a little... try these:



Maiju Saw

1. No tree, no problem
Instead of racing out the door to get a Christmas tree just so you can get some excitement, try new and more creative avenues. Scavenge some nice branches and make your own tree.





Elisabeth Heier

2. Christmas gifts wrapping theme
Wrapping presents is usually on our list of obligations and there’s very little enjoyment drawn from a chore. Can we agree on that? I personally always pick a theme for my present-wrapping. The fun in this is that there are no rules and you can go the extra mile by personalizing everyone’s present–from wrapping to gift.





Kim Grimshaw & Aimee Twigger

3. Shake things up in the kitchen department
If you’re a regular here, you might have heard about the disaster that I managed to concoct last Christmas while trying to be an overachiever. Clearly, I wasn’t about to repeat my luck this year... so instead, I’ve planned on doing 2-3 things well. By that I mean if I’m going to embark on making, say, Christmas cookies and side dishes, they better knock everyone’s socks off.

Pictured above: Caramelized Shallots with A Chestnut Crumb and Mushroom Shaped Ginger Cookies that will make part of my repertoire. Wild, I know.




4. Make a one-of-a-kind wreath
This is something I have never tried - but earlier this year I got a brass ring and some materials to make my own… and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a simple and inexpensive project you can do at home with a ring and some eucalyptus?





Maiju Saw

5. The smell of Christmas in garland shape
A lot of my childhood memories are triggered by smell. Orange and cinnamon are right up there along with pine and mint for my Christmas memories – so yes, it only makes sense to make a garland out of them and hang it right above my bed. I won’t have any excuse to wake up Grinch-ey anymore, will I?

The best part about these projects are not that they will keep you busy or that they will bring you some “holiday feelings”... but that we can do them with our little ones. Extra family time is the goal, because in the end that’s what the Holidays are about.

Do you and your family have any recurrent DIYs for this season? Do share.

Vipp

Vipp is better known for their range of home accessories and minimalist kitchen cabinetry but now they are also a reference in the world of comfort and accommodations. Vipp has been developing a collection of meticulously designed spaces through Denmark, where fans and clients of the brand can experience their products and have a unique experience.

The Vipp Loft is the newest one of all. The apartment was designed by Copenhagen-based architecture firm Studio David Thulstrup, perched at the top of an only printing factory from 1910. The 2-bedroom, 4,000 sf space showcases beautiful exposed beams, natural wood floors–and it’s accented by wonderful pieces of art: Vipp’s products, Tired Man sheepskin armchairs by Flemming Lasson and several pieces by Poul Kjaerholm.












vipp

The place is divided into a mezzanine and a downstairs lounge area. The upstairs is a study and library with a sky bridge that connects to a second secluded bedroom at the peak of the loft space. The space is decorated with Vipp’s first lighting fixtures and furniture, dating back to the 80’s.

Downstairs, we find the living and dining areas, embellished by the kitchen of everyone’s dreams: A Vipp Kitchen. The steel cabinetry collection is showcased in the Vipp Loft by a long, multifunctional island and open shelving system for displaying the company’s classic housewares.

Needless to say, we are all waiting to see what their third (and soon to open) Northern Copenhagen Hotel will look like.

Anna Pirkola

One of the biggest human struggles since the beginning of modern times has been the attempt to achieve a balanced life. We push, pull and try to fit everything in, falsely believing that we can be everywhere and do everything all at once–spreading ourselves thin.

If you were born in the late 80’s like me, you can attest to the revolution of technology. Life as we knew it changed before our eyes . . . suddenly everything went wireless, we no longer needed booth phones to call when away from home, video games were all the rage and all we could hear was that technology was here to make our lives easier.

What started off as something that could ease the pace of our lives, ended up making us feel dissatisfied. It’s made us work harder, longer and feel a constant sense of unfulfillment. It’s like we cannot ever achieve our goals. Technology was supposed to connect us . . . but it’s pulled us away from real life–to the point where we now understand the difference between being “in” and “out of” real life (well, some of us still do).

I used to think that faster was better. Only a year ago I was living my life like a race, doing everything on autopilot and living my entire life logged on, isolated from the real world–incapable of switching off even for the sake of my health or my relationships.



The non-stop mentality is making us sick. In my book 30 Days To Minimal Blogging I explain how my response to anxiety in the past was to do more, to try harder and to never, ever stop hacking at the things that were difficult to deal with. We are tackling our challenges in the wrong way; we are doing more than ever but in that we are getting less and less life out of our days.

Fast living at all times isn’t natural; the bigger, better, stronger philosophy is what brought us fast food–a disconnect with what we put on our plates. It’s made way for big chains, for dehumanizing services, for automating our consumption–without truly making things that once used to be an experience, what they should be.

That’s why after spending my life trapped in the "do-not-stop" and the "boss-everything" mantras, I reached the tipping point and I needed to rewire the way I defined living.

I’ve said this before: that often times the answer to changing a radical point of view is to start with a new radical approach and tweak that. So, my response to my fast-paced life was to make a 180 degree turn and start living slowly. Rethinking my approach to work, to myself, to my family, my relationships and my surroundings. In other words, I started being mindful.

The Slow movement is not just about diminishing the speed at which we do things–it’s about being aware of ourselves and the things outside ourselves, about understanding when the right time is to be slow and when it’s time to be fast–and recognizing the difference at all times.



Certainly, living on the slow side is a challenge in this modern era we live in and it has doubly so been a challenge for me and for my business. We live in times where people feel entitled to a response almost immediately as they send in an email, where everything is urgent and no one can wait. I’ve had to force myself to comply with a daily schedule, to switch off on my weekends, to connect more outside of social media and find gratification in simple things–in cooking a simple meal, in spending 15 minutes in meditation, in having a conversation with my daughter and sitting in the learner’s seat once in a while.

By taking simple actions in our lives, we contribute to everyone’s life–we add significance to the lives of the people we love, we contribute to our communities by buying local, we say no to dehumanizing treatment by making better choices. We re-educate people to wait and at the same time we allow ourselves to be better at what we ourselves do.

It’s imperative for our health and our happiness that we learn to slow down by doing what we can to add more life to our days and we that we collectively start redefining what’s truly good and what it means to be truly stronger.

It is time for all of us to remember that slow can also be a good thing.

Oscar Properties


One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to minimalism is that a minimal style and a mindful life automatically tie in together. It isn't necessarily like that... and believing that is a tad naive. I know a lot of people who are put off by the idea of minimalism because they see it as an excuse or a hypocritical form of consumerism.

Let’s all be clear in that minimalism, YES, is a way of life–maybe even a socioeconomic response–but it’s also a STYLE; and while both things can merge and create a life of simplicity and frugality, we shouldn't impose that vision on anyone. Like anything else, it's a personal choice.

The simplicity movement/stripped down interiors became a trend (as I mention it in this post) in response to previous movements, like the ones of the 70's and 80's that were visually impactful and often visually polluting. Everyone who took on the movement of "less is more" has done it according to their own beliefs and their own limitations.

Innovation is also part of what minimalism is. There are a plethora of ground-breaking work that has sprung from its evolution. Those who want to embrace every facet of minimalism should do it without having to dodge the angry remarks of people who dismiss it–and those who want to make it just about "stuff" can.

Minimalism can be as prudent or as lavishing as anything can be–and there are no rights or wrongs.











Oscar Engelbert, CEO & Founder of Oscar Properties, created his Architecture and Design Firm with the intention of developing modern homes that could blend the history of each building, visually-impacting modern design and the understanding of how people want to live. That’s why he’s focused on old and new buildings equally, making his primary concern to create strong and unique housing concepts, where architecture and design are important elements. Something that, in his opinion, goes a step beyond ordinary simplicity.

NYBROGATAN 19 is one of the firm's newest projects. The converted farmhouse is now two penthouse apartments that offer a series of accommodation. The focus for this project was to evoke "a feeling of peace" in each apartment, regardless of the size or price. The free flow concept allowed the firm to give all their attention to perfecting finishings (grey marble, light parquet floors, fully integrated appliances, etc), generous hidden storage and a harmonious and contemporary living quarter.












This project concludes one thing–and that is the premise of minimalism not being vague. It’s, in fact, something that can accommodate everything and everyone. Minimalism is a realm of things. It's style. It's a way of living. It's simplicity... whenever, wherever and however we choose it to be.

Images: Fantastic Frank

In recent years, minimal and Scandinavian interior styles have taken a dramatic shift and they’ve redefined our notion of a "clean" space by daring to add color, texture and rawness to what we thought should be "clean-lined", white and straight-forward.

The lack of sunlight in the Nordic regions (about 1,000 hours short of the amount of sunlight enjoyed in Sydney) is believed to be the foundation for the trend of bright and simple Scandinavian homes–a natural consequence to the color-charged past of the 60’s 70’s 80’s and 90’s.

What Scandinavian interior design is shaping up to create is a middle ground between the over-colorful past and the white-washed millennium. The transition was clear a couple of years back, when the fashion industry decided to bring back an array of strong colors mixed with a nude color palette–pulling back from an all black and white narrative.

Although many people are mentally prepared to accept new trends and change, I might be one to always stay on the more neutral side. That’s why I fell in loved with this apartment featured via Fantastic Frank. It’s living proof that we CAN have it all. It’s the softness of the walls, the functionality of the space and the boldness of an unexpected emerald green as the accent color.













The mention of having color in a home doesn’t necessarily have to make you cringe. Although I'm very indecisive when it comes to picking paint colors for my apartment, I do very well picking decoration items and furniture that might scare any hardcore minimalist...

I believe that’s because I share one thing with the Scandinavians (maybe it's because I spend most of my time cooped up indoors): their appreciation for nature. Not only that they have plants around their homes; but also that their passion for the outdoors is responsible for many of their trends–the colors in their designs, the materials they use, the art on their walls–it all adds to their sensorial experience.

So if you are also afraid to introduce color into your home, this beautiful open-concept apartment is the perfect example of how. Design, function and style. The clear floors, open space and use of natural material like rattan chairs and plants create a perfect harmony between the old and new trends.







Two words: Green. Marble.

Yes, the sadly overdone traditional white marble has finally taken a back seat to make way for a refreshing and envelope-pushing wave of stones. The Bursa Beige and Pink Onyx are the most used by the romantic "Soft Minimalists"–and thought I find any type of stone beautiful, this one here hit me right in the heart.

The peaceful and clean feel of this home isn’t affected by the mix of textures, bold colors, materials and preconceived notions of what minimalism should be. In fact, this is one place that can easily debunk the myth of a white-only Scandinavian design.

Don’t you think?

Annabell Kutucu

Bohemian aesthetics—densely packed homes, patterned rugs, mixes of textures and heavy wooden decoration was a thing of the "maximalists" and the "hippies". That’s how the world taught us to see it. Leaving out the wonder that is the intention behind it, which is the invitation of nature into one’s home and the freedom of mixing our decor to match our personalities, our memories and our cultures.

Though the vast majority likes to call the new wave of scaled-back bohemian trend "boho-chic"—I wouldn’t. Natural materials are the peak of elegance and they cannot be limited to only be one thing or to only be used by one certain interior style. That’s why more and more minimalists are bringing a little bohemian touch into their homes. Terra-cotta, natural rugs, baskets, unfinished wood, raw ceramics... you name it.

The reason behind the craze—I believe—Is that people are wanting to live an almost ludic experience at home—they want the privilege of coming home after a long day at work and not feeling cooped up by their surroundings; they want an escape from their daily routines—and in that aspect, bohemian aesthetics deliver greatly. It is impossible not to be transported to foreign dwellings when we decorate our homes parting from an organic, flexible and pure approach.




Minimalism and bohemian can go hand-in-hand even in the most modern of homes. To prove that, the images above would suffice... but as always, I’m here to help and so is the team at Furniture.com—That’s why I'll share a few tips and a few of their items with you.

Furniture.com is an online furniture store that offers a vast assortment of styles in an even wider variety of categories—furniture, rugs, lamps, decor and more. Trust me, it is very possible to lose oneself on their website and there is something for everyone—even for the fussiest of hunters (me). Furniture.com makes sure that you can 1. Find what you are looking for 2. At a great price—which they guarantee by maintaining wonderful relationships in the industry 3. With great customer service—and that makes for happy clients, don’t you think?

They offer unmissable weekend and weekday deals, 26 unique styles, over 150 brands and more than 10,000 products—needless to say, they can cover your bohemian, minimalist, maximalist or truly any of your needs.












If you want to introduce some bohemian touches into your home but feel hesitant, start easy. Do not overwhelm yourself with the many options that the new trends present you with but make choices that you’ll be able to live with (and not fall out of love with) fast.

Switch—or even better—mix natural material accents, think; natural, raw and hand-crafted—and combine that with the clean and often perfectionist feel of minimalistic decor. The proof that this works is the styling displayed above. Harsh concrete making the perfect canvas for rounded jute rugs, breaking the harsh straight lines of the room, modern industrial windows being embellished by big, exotic-looking green leaves and a wonderful handmade hammock, inviting paradise into an otherwise contemporary-blank deck.

Here are my top options for a starting bohemian style seeker, click on each image for more:









Your mindset through this process should be to expect a delightfully-unexpected shift in your mood and the feel of your home—and when it comes to plants (given you are not a plant assassin like myself) bring in however many makes your heart content.