Ferm Living Autumn/Winter 2014 Collection

It is no secret that I am a real Ferm Living fan. I had several opportunities to see their products on design fairs and also to speak to the founder of Ferm Living, Trine Andersen (I published an interview with her HERE). So it is no wonder that the new autumn/winter 2014 collection makes me frolic in front of my Macbook.

The new Ferm Living collection celebrates the little moments in life - dinners with friends and family, reading a book and sipping a cup of coffee in your favorite armchair, or simply enjoying the silence and listening to the nature. It reflects the beautiful moments and things that surround our lives. Mellow colours, faded hues, a very contemporary look and feel yet very simple and fresh - for a modern and happy home. No need to mention that I love the blue and yellow hues with dashes of dusky pink, shades of grey and the iconic graphic patterns. Add a few houseplants to that look and a home restyling this autumn seems almost inevitable!

How do you like the new collection by Ferm Living? Anything you would add to your happy home?

Photography by Ferm Living

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Ferm Living: Spring/Summer 2014 Collection

Believe it or not my friends, but today I am en route again - I am heading towards the Danish capital Copenhagen to visit the DesignTrade show for a second time after last year's premiere (see HERE). I will keep you posted in real time on Twitter and Instagram, but in the meantime I wanted to share some favorite pictures of the brand new spring/summer 2014 collection of one of my favorite Danish design brands: ferm LIVING (during my last trip to Copenhagen I interviewed the founder of ferm LIVING, Trine Andersen - read it HERE).

The new collection focuses more beautiful home accessories made of brass, organic textiles, wood, paper. I am totally in love with the blue line of home textiles named 'Pen' as the pattern reminds us of pen lines on paper. I also love the brass pots and particularly adore the retro plant stands - no wonder, as a 'Urban Jungle Blogger' this caught my eye instantaneously. I think I need one of those plant stands and a brass pot to highlight one of my favorite plants at home...

What do you think of the new collection? Have you spotted a favorite?

Hugs from Copenhagen, folks!

Photography via ferm LIVING

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Exclusive Interview: Trine Andersen, Founder Of ferm LIVING

Last summer, during my visit to the DesignTrade show in Copenhagen, I was happy to be invited by ferm LIVING to a blogger breakfast at their fair booth. In the early morning hour, before the door opened, we had the exclusive opportunity to have a proper look at the new MORE collection and chit chat with the founder and creative mind of ferm Living, Trine Andersen. I used the momentum for a little, personal interview with Trine, a charming and super successful lady, who started out with an idea and made ferm LIVING a worldwide known, iconic Danish homewares brand. Enjoy the following interview with Trine Andersen. 

Trine, tell us a bit about your background and how you got the idea to found a design label?
Trine: I worked as an art director in both advertising and fashion before starting ferm LIVING. But it was always my dream to have my own business, so in 2005 I started out as a freelance art director working with different clients. The idea of starting my own brand came after we were looking for some wallpaper for our new house. We couldn't really find the right design for us, so I thought there's probably also other people with the same issue as us. So I started out making 10 different wallpaper designs and presented them on the Formland fair in Herning in spring 2006.

How did you come up with the name and the logo? What does ferm mean and what's the meaning of the little bird in your logo?
Trine: The name 'ferm' was actually inspired by my grandmother. When she said that someone was 'ferm på fingrene' - i.e. skilled with their hands, literally 'good with their fingers' - it was high praise indeed. The bird is on the logo because before I started ferm, I decided to visit a clairvoyant mostly for fun, who saw a little bird sitting confused on a branch, not knowing which way to fly. I saw that as an indicator to start ferm LIVING. And the little bird would sit perfectly on top of the company logo.

How were the early days of ferm LIVING? With what products did you start?
Trine: As you already know, I started out with 10 different wallpaper designs. After one year more products came to life, wallstickers, cushions, tea towels etc. Now there are a bit more than 600 different products in the collection.

It is amazing to hear tha you started with a few wallpaper designs and are nowadays worldwide known as an iconic Scandinavian design brand. Tell us a bit more about your new collection named MORE.
Trine: The idea behind the MORE concept is to show that we are fully devoted to our products, suppliers and customers. We work hard to give the products that extra MORE. We put MORE edge, MORE effort, MORE delicate materials, MORE sophisticated structures, MORE creativity in everything we do.

Which is your favorite piece of the MORE collection?
Trine: Hmm, there are lot of good items this time. But I am especially glad with the Wall Wonder products (lamps, clocks and mirrors) we made this season.

We've seen that ferm LIVING evolved from a few wallpaper designs into a design label with all kind of goods for happy homes. Do you have plans to extend your portfolio in the near future?
Trine: Yes, we continue to move forward into other categories of design products but it's too early to say what... :-)

Thank you Trine for this interview and some personal insights into the history of ferm LIVING. As someone with marketing and PR background I know how important it is to stick to correct brand names and spellings, but this one time I would say I could rename this adorable Danish design brand into ferm LOVING. 

Happy Friday, friends!

P.S. We had lots of fun during our blogger breakfast as you can see on the pic that I snapped of my friends Gerard, Nina and Allan. 

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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DesignTrade Copenhagen: My Booth Styling

Last Sunday I arrived back from Copenhagen, but the ideas, inspiration and memories swirl in my head incessantly. There is still more to tell and show you, but today I want to use the opportunity to show you my booth styling as part of the 'Bloggers Zone' at the DesignTrade fair in Copenhagen. All nine international bloggers were asked to style their own booth with furniture and home accessories from the exhibitors and the result was fabulous as every blogger showcased his very own personality and approach to styling.

Before heading to Copenhagen, I had spent a few evenings thinking of the styling. I had a rough idea, a  colour scheme and after a few more mental loops I broke it down to one theme - 'Nordic Coastal'. Fun side fact: Just after we all finished our stylings last Tuesday, we were taken on a sailboat to cruise the coast off Copenhagen. I not only styled a 'Nordic Coastal' living nook, I also experienced the real nordic coastal feeling in the very same afternoon.

With the theme in mind I started collecting furniture pieces and accessories from various brands. Here is what I got: Bookcase 'Reol' (means bookcase by the way) by Marcus Kai Nielsen of the young design collective 'Nye Streger'; 'About A Lounge' chair and box by HAY; Sputnik coffee table by Magnus Olesen; vases, candles, jars, plaid and round cushion on the chair by Broste Copenhagen; blue glasses and grey and blue cushions by Tine K Home; blue rug by Rug Solid; Copenhagen poster by Ferm Living; patterned round cushion by Place de Bleu; mint cups and grey vase by Kähler; other props by myself. 

After lots of placing, shuffling, pondering, wondering, and hesitating, I felt like it is fine and represents pretty much my personality and current style love. I hope you like it, too.

Thanks again to all exhibitors supporting me and thanks to the DesignTrade for a fabulous 'Bloggers Zone'.

Photography by Igor Josifovic and full booth shots by Riikka Kantinkoski

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5 Happy Inspirations: Mid-Week Cravings

Let me start today's blogpost with this little real life and real-time story: I was about to throw my Macbook out of the window. After two years of intense blogging and loads of pictures, Photoshop files etc., it is slowly giving up. I admit, it's almost seven years old now, but I am still furious. But I will have to buy a new and stronger one very soon. 

If only I were that reluctant with shopping when it comes to home accessories and furniture. With these goodies I seem to be more at ease when it comes to spending money. And to visualize my words here, I've compiled my mid-week cravings. If only I could, I'd say: I'll take all of these to go, please!

1. Dhurrie rug, handwoven in India, via Oyyo. 2. Round Dorm shelving via Ferm Living. 3. Round cushion with Kvadrat fabric via Place de Bleu. 4. Floor lamp gone coatrack via Plusfunction. 4. Merci special edition bin by Vipp.

Happy hump day, my friends (and please tell me you have a soft spot for shopping, too - just to make me feel better).

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5 Happy Inspirations: Urban Styling

Some of you might know by now that I am currently attending Justina Blakeney's fabulous interior styling e-course. As of tomorrow I will start sharing some 'before & after' pics of my home to give you an idea of what has been keeping me entertained over the past few days. Since interior styling is currently 'all over my place' I thought about curating a little visual list of beautiful finds for a happy urban home. You will notice that today's selection is rather muted when speaking of colour, rather clean, serene and in my eyes - pretty urban. 

What do you think of this palette and selection? Any favorites?

Photography: 1 via Floor Number Four; 2 via Mädchenwahn; 3 via Ferm Living; 4 via Occa Home; 5 via Supergrau.

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5 Happy Inspirations: Cushion Happiness

Nothing is as easy as adding a fresh, new vibe to your interior design. If you start with the simple trick of adding one or a few new cushions to your sofa or your bed, you will feel invigorated and inspired to spin on and recreate your home decor. I love cushions and I admit, I have way too many. But on the other hand cushions are the best, quickest and quite often the cheapest way of redesigning your home. Swap the cushion covers, add them to your sofa, now think of another little item to tie in the colour, shape or pattern of your cushion, put it on the coffee table, the wall or sideboard and voilà - you've recreated your home with just a few tweaks! Here are five happy cushion ideas to get you started:

1. For colour loving hearts, this Fine Little Day cushion will hit it off and underline your style.

2. Sometimes we all need a little reminder to be happy. Easy peasy with this great happy cushion by Yellow Velvet.

3. Lindsey Lang plays with retro inspired shapes and vibrant colours in this cushion. Combine it with one-coloured cushions to highlight the design.

4. Personalize your sofa by boldly stating your zodiac with Jonathan Adler's Zodiac Pillow. 

5. If your heart skips a beat when you think of neon hues, then opt for the new Ferm Living cushions. Dotted, with lines or little triangles - the range is great with pattern and (neon) colour. 

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