Duka fint på verandan

Vi som inte har något bröllop att gå till idag kanske kan duka lite fint i trädgården eller på balkongen eller varför inte på en filt i parken. Den här lilla verandan är totalt olik den i förra inlägget på ett sätt ändå har den en del likheter på ett annat sätt. De söta krukorna i ljusblå och grönt med likadana blommor i blir riktigt fint. Bilder från fotograf Martin Cederblad.

Växthuset heter Floreas

Fick reda på att det härliga växthuset i Ulf Nordfjells trädgård på Chelsea heter 'Floreas' och är designat av Lars Rosenberg från Rosenberg Wase. Här kan man se det i en något mindre version och helt i vitt. Bild från Rosenberg Wase.

The 5-10 Minute Rule

No matter how beautifully we decorate our homes, if they're messy & disorganized, we can't appreciate or even see the beauty. However, I think of "messes" as reality, at least in my life. I have a toddler and a job, and hence, my house is almost always a mess. BUT in general, I'm okay with this mess, because it can be disposed of in 5 to 10 minutes, tops.

So, I'll never pretend that I can have a "messless" life-- for me it's just not possible-- but I can have "organized messes." I consider an "organized mess"as a mess that's allowed for a time. It's a manageable mess & the most important thing about it is that it MUST BE ABLE TO BE CLEANED UP IN 5-10 MINUTES! That's the rule. It's easy to get rid of because an organized mess has a place where it belongs: baskets, bins, drawers, cabinets, shelves, etc... a SPECIFIC HOME. (This is the key to putting it away quickly, because you're not shoving the mess anywhere, you're putting it back where it belongs.)

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite tools/ organizational pieces used to handle messes and "stuff." Below is a picture of what I consider an "organized mess." The pillows on the sofa are all messed up, toys are everywhere & there are a few magazines/ books laying around. But it would take only 5-10 minutes MAX to get this messed cleaned up. And I'm so okay with it.

In our living room, we have a shelf with baskets full of Christian's toys. (Now I know some might think it sacriligous to keep toys in fairly plain sight in the living room, but it's the way we want to live... we all want to be able to hang in the same room, so I figure for a few years while we have little ones I can give up a half-wall in the living room ;)

Anyway, toys are all over the floor half the time but when we need to get them cleaned up, it takes 5 minutes to put them all away neatly in the baskets. (The key is keeping them in not-too-full baskets because there's always room, even when throwing the toys in carelessly and the little guy can help too. )

This hutch (below) in the family room (pic is from old house) fits tons off storage for toys and also photo albums & other random things. It makes clean-up so easy and totally hides all evidence if kiddies!!

I never regret spending on organizational items like baskets & storage bins. I'm often reluctant to buy them because I would rather spend the money on something pretty, but they're worth their weight in gold.

I LOVe these huge baskets from ikea. It's where I stick all the pages I've ripped out of magazines before they go into my Style Files:

For my office, these hanging file bins are awesome & when there's a mess all over my desk I can easily & quickly (less than 5 mins!!) stow it all away with these suckers:

So, my goal is to have every room in the house obeying the "5-10 Minute Rule." (and right now I'm SO far from that!! It seems as soon as we got our old house in perfect order, we moved!! I'm NOT doing that again!! ) Here's a quick punch-list for our new house:

1) Our closet --> it's a HUGE 4-6 HOUR MESS right now!! We need to install more bars & storage and get things put away nicely. Below is how we've been living: (ahhhh I can't believe I'm showing you this!!) It's tough to feel organized when your closet looks like this:

2) Little guy's bedroom-> Since I stole the toy shelf from his room, he doesn't have anywhere for the toys in his room and unfortunately the furniture form our old house doesn't fit right in his bedroom, which is driving me crazy!!!!

3) The kitchen-> I have more shelves to go up with baskets for extra storage but I'm waiting on the wallpaper install before I can get to this:

4) The entryway-> To put it simply, it doesn't work right now. We need to add some storage & decorate it asap!! It's so drab & unfunctional right now!! (haha check out my dead hydrangeas in the little vase & the dog chow- now THAT'S styling!!! ;)

There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day!!! but i know everntually we'll get there... (don't worry, i'll take pics! ;)

Now, what to do with all that stuff that doesn't have a place? Arrggg like the strange piece of mail you don't know where to put (you need to handle it sometime soon, but not soon enough to warrant immediate attention) or those stupid screws that keep showing up everywhere (with all of these projects going on right now!!!) or the returns you need to make at the store or your pile of giveaways?


Take stock of the all items that keep popping up and start creating places for them. They're not going to go away and isn't it annoying to have them keep popping up? If you create a place for them to go, clean up is so much quicker!! Different times & stages in your life will call for different random clutter-busters. Wintertime items vs. beach towels & sunblock or screws and tools all over the place when you're in the middle of renovating. Whatever it is, realize the type of clutter you have as quickly as possible and find a place for it. The solutions should be easy & obey the 5-10 Minute Rule. (Sometimes this means not organizing down to the last minute detail because clean-up could be really time consuming!!)

I'm on my way to follow my own advice now... So, how are the rooms in your house? Do they meet the 5-10 Minute Rule? Any rooms on your "To-do" list? would love to know!!

xoxo,

lauren

Hey Home

De två danska fotograferna Pernille Kaalund och Louise Kamman Riising driver tillsammans företaget Hey Home. Om du brukar läsa danska inredningstidningar så kanske du känner igen bilderna, för de är flitigt anlitade av BoligLiv, BoBedre, Boligmagasinet, Isabellas m fl men har även uppdrag i Sverige och utomlands. Här är några av deras mer söta och färgglada bilder från den välfyllda och inspirerande hemsidan.

Check out Everything LEB

Hi! Good news: THIS NEW COMPUTER WORKS YAY!!! So I'm really, truly back!!

Check out Lindsay's blog Everything LEB here to read my about my favorites in her new series, "Blogger's Favorite Everything!" I was so excited when Lindsay asked me to do this & it was a ton of fun!! Thanks Lindsay!!! Also, you'll love Linsday's etsy shop, here. The pineapple cards below are just a tiny sampling of what she does!!

I'll be back tomorrow with a post on messes!

xoxo,

lauren

Ny annonsör - webshopen Erika Tubbin

Kanske har ni redan sätt att det kommit en ny annonsör - Erika Tubbin som säljer härlig svensk design. Både sin egen och andras. Så här beskriver Erika själv sitt sortiment:

'I webbutiken erikatubbin.se hittar du fantastisk svensk design i form av kläder, accessoarer, hantverk och inredningsdesign. Vi satsar på småskalig, sjysst produktion, gärna ekologiska varor, det kan du läsa mer om på eko-reko-sidan. Ett naggande gott urval av kreativ design vill vi ha helt enkelt! Märken och produkter som känns roliga, genuina, nyskapande och personliga. Sortimentet är i ständig förändring, växlar efter årstider, humör och känsla.'

Heavenly Blue

Just nu blommar mina iris i en underbart blå och vacker färg. Tyvärr blommar de inte så länge utan det gäller att njuta av dem nu. Sorten heter Iris Sibirica 'Heavenly blue'.

Ulf Nordfjell på Chelsea 2009

Hittade bilder från Ulf Nordfjells utställningsträdgård i Chelsea 2009 hos Hemmariket. Jag blev jätteförtjust, visst har man som Charlotte säger sätt den här stilen innan. Men är det inte ursnyggt? Själv har jag lust att börja måla allt svart och spika upp en ram i trädgården. Bilder från Daily Telegraph, du hittar fler här och här.

Cykeltur på Ven

Som jag nämnde tidigare var jag och cyklade på Ven i helgen. Det är ett perfekt litet utflyktsmål där man tar båten från Landskrona och sen på plats hyr cyklar. Ön är så liten att man lätt tar sig runt på någon timme. Antingen cyklar man längs kusten och njuter av utsikten och de många stupen (backafallen) eller så håller man sig längs landsvägen och njuter av mysiga fik och små butiker med konsthantverk. Naturen är otroligt vacker och öns klimat gör att alla trädgårdar är ovanligt gröna och man kan hitta många udda växter som bl a fikonträd. Mitt på ön ligger Tycho Brahe museet där man kan lära sig allt om Tycho Brahe och även se den rekonstruerade renässansträdgården.

Tuna Krog där vi åt bl a Venpasta. (Durumvete som behövs till pasta odlas på ön). Inredningen var ett litet festligt mischmasch av gamla prylar.

Inte långt därifrån ligger Cassiopeia som är en växthusbutik med konsthantverk. Alltid lika kul att besöka eftersom sortimentet ändrar sig från gång till gång.

Lite blandade bilder från olika hus och trädgårdar på ön.

Bilderna är mina egna.

What happens When you Try to Bake a Cake and Build Fence at the Same Time

Well, my new computer's not working & it won't let me get online so that's why I've been so MIA. We're going to return the computer & try for a new one tomorrow.

In the meantime, I wanted to share with you some pics from Better Homes & Gardens (they really are getting to be great, aren't they?!!!) The image above shows a lot of what I'm craving: pattern. And I'm usually not into it on drapes, but I have to say this is just the look I'm going for in a client's home right now (existing completely-solid furniture staying) and am considering for our bedroom. Below is the living room and I'm loving the vintage map! Again, I'm loving the energy & freshness in this space... in particular the little blue stool with the yelllow-patterned chair.

Below is another room in the same house, and how fun are the drapes?

Here's a beautiful shot, below. I love all the energy & how time-gathered the space feels.

The homeowner used vintage scarves as curtain tie-backs. What a fun idea!! (And would also be a great way to add seasonal changes in a neutral room!)

Below, I love displaying flowers like this at home. It's so easy & interesting.

Below is some vintage jewelry of the homeowner's. Displaying jewelry is another thing I love to do. (Half the time I forget to even put it on so why not have it make the room look good?!! ;)

Below is from a different house (also BHG) and I really love how the owners displayed these paint-by-numbers ship paintings. Alone, they're kitsch, but grouped together like this, they make a big (beautiful!!) impact.

And one last final image of something that's on my mind: blue!! I LOVE this group of vintage blue glassware (below) and how gorgeous it looks against the blue in the vintage map of Cape Cod. I'll be using this color in our bedroom & I can't wait to share my plans/ pics with you!!

So, wish me luck that the new computer is able to get online!!! (I am techonology-cursed so I really need it!! ;) Also, thank you guys so much for all your sweet. supportive comments about the house!!

xoxo,

lauren

oh, and what happens when you try to bake a cake and build a fence at the same time?? you don't hear the timer from outside & you leave the cake in too long and when you try to get it out still hot from the pan to keep it from burning more, it breaks into pieces. And then you try to "glue" it back together with icing between the cracks and it's actually pretty good, but looks like crap!!! ;) ;)

xoxo