Why This Room Caught My Eye

Yes, it's very festive here in Munich. Yes, Christmas is around the corner. Yet the weather is absolutely dreary and gloomy. I've gone in and out of my apartment in weeks without seeing the sun or the slightest bit of blue in the sky. That is the season when I wish I could go into hibernation - at least for an entire weekend. Staying in bed, pulling the duvet above my head, turning to the other side and neglect and deny the weather outside. A nice and comfy bedroom helps to boost this feeling. Like the one shown above.

This bedroom looks like a place where the dreariest of weathers would turn into a happy idle experience as long as you stayed in bed. Why exactly? Well, here we go:

• Fun Pennant: The fun pennant above the bed has much more meaning than just a decorative one. It reminds us: It's ok to stay in bed from time to time. It really is ok!
• Kilim Cushion: Sweet, playful and perfect to be hugged if nobody else is around. And it is very decorative and pleasant for the eye, this cute kilim cushion.
• Potted Succulent: How about accompanying your next breakfast in bed with a cute potted succulent instead of a flower in a vase? I think it's a pretty awesome idea. And yes, it's ok!

Would you hibernate in this bedroom too?

Photography via Wit & Delight

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Winter time calls for cosiness - that is pretty obvious. And the epitome of a cosy nook in a home is a fireplace - at least for me. Probably because I've never had one, I imagine it super cosy and inviting to light up a fire on cold and gloomy winter days. Fireplaces can come in all shapes and styles and they can quickly become a room's focal point. However, the room and the dweller's style will define how the fireplace looks like - will it be modern, retro, classical, bohemian, eclectic, Scandinavian etc.

The above shown living room with a fireplace belong to a Parisian apartment and was designed and styled by Paris based interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch. This interior looks very contemporary and sophisticated - the clean, neutral and uncluttered room is juxtaposed by organic, round shapes and lines with the dominating use of natural materials such as wood and cork. But let me sum up the three main points that caught my eye:

• Modern Fireplace: The fireplace is definitely a visual focus - the clean, modern lines of it make it perfect for a contemporary interior design and styling as showcased above.
• Cork Coffee Table: The coffee table with a wooden base and an organic shaped cork tabletop is acting like a leading cast in this room - exceptionally unusual while perfectly unpretentious it is an excellent choice for this style.
• Wooden Beams: The oh so typical wooden beams of Parisian apartments add warmth and character to any room. They frame the styling and serve as an inspiration for the usage of natural materials such as wood and cork in this room.

Does this room catch your eye too?

Photography via Pierre Yovanovitch

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

What is the heart of your home? Is it the kitchen where the family comes together to cook, eat and socialize? Is it the living room where you spend relaxed and playful times? Or is it the bedroom as the most intimate space where you unwind from the daily routine? For me this is a hard question as I live in a tiny apartment where everything is sort of together. But I think I would be someone who'd say the bedroom has good chances to be the heart of a home. Certainly when I see such a wonderful bedroom styling as above. This bedroom caught my eye instantly and here is why:

• Statement Pillow: After looking at this bedroom styling I immediately wanted a statement pillow, too. It is such a great eye-catcher, fun and cool and adds a certain whim to the room. 
• Unexpected Wall Decor: Those crossed arrows are a pretty unexpected and quirky wall decor idea. Don't even ask me where to get arrows from, but I assume they speak of the owner's character and sports preference. In any case, it is pretty eye-catching as a decor idea!
• Moroccan Throw: The Moroccan wedding throw acts as a decent yet spectacular bedspread in this bedroom styling. It adds texture and perfectly ties everything together with its natural hue. 

How do you like this simple yet beautiful bedroom styling? What would you include in your bedroom?

Photography by Lauren Bamford, styling by Nicole Valentine Don & Jason Grant

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

If there is an all-time winning combination, then it must be blue and grey. At least in my world. This colour combination is the main reason why this room caught my eye. Imagine a plethora of beautiful interior images on Pinterest, and then there is one that sticks out totally and catches your eye. That's exactly what happened to me when I stumbled upon this interior styling. And it was a double surprise - I realized it was styled by one of my friends, the stylist Pella Hedeby. Everything in this room is an aesthetic pleasure, but these three elements are my main eye-catchers:

• Blue Cushions: Those blue cushions are the stars of this monochromatic interior composition. They stick out, they are the main visual cue on the first sight. I also like that Pella used different textures of cushions and matched them with a few tearsheets sticked on the wall.
• Tearsheet Gallery: A smart and simple way of adding a temporary gallery are favorite tearsheets. We all read nice magazines and love those amazing images - be it editorial photos, ads, detail shots. Why not tearing those out of the magazine and creating a little gallery wall like in this example?
• Bertoia Diamond Chair: This design classic makes the entire interior styling sophisticated. It underlines the design aesthetics and consciousness of the person living in (or styling) this room.

How do you like this room? What catches your eye?

Photography by Sara Danielsson, Styling by Pella Hedeby via Hitta Hem

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Sometimes the weather does shape our perception and forms our taste. Every season inherits this power. And autumn does has this immanent power too. My commuting between Munich and Paris has recently been padded in fog, leaden skies, low hanging clouds. And that outer staging frames my inner mood - even when it comes to interior design and styling. Saturated hues, deep greens evoking dew laden forests, grey hues bringing the calmness of crisp foggy days inside, balmy ambers, rusty hues and purples reflecting the fallen leaves - these autumnal feelings seem to be captured in today's room that caught my eye. But it's not only the colour scheme that made me linger on it:

• Vintage Portrait: Vintage paintings are a sort of 'coup de coeur' of interior stylists recently. Whether it's vintage landscape paintings or vintage portraits - those decorative pieces add a good deal of character to a room.
• Grey Sofa: This grey sofa looks like the perfect counterpart to the grey weather outside - just much comfier and nicer. Ready to snuggle and watch the grey weather outside through the window seated on such a sofa - perfect autumn idleness!
• Layered Home Textiles: Cold weather calls for layers and layers of home textiles. Now it's time to pile up your cushions and throws. Make it as comfortable and warm as possible for the maximum cocooning treatment at home!

How about you, does this room catch your eye too?

Photography by Nicole Franzen, styling by Kate Jordan

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Truth be told, if I looked back at all my Tuesday blog posts entitled 'Why This Room Caught My Eye', one could say put some blue in it and a plant and it is an eye-catcher for Igor. To be honest: That works! Blue is my all-time favorite colour and I don't know why I don't own a blue sofa. And a giant cactus. And, and, and. But if I had all of these, what would be left to dream about and blog about? So why did this room catch my eye? In a nutshell:

• Blue Sofa: This room's centerpiece and true star is this navy blue sofa. Its deep blue hue, its wooden legs, its comfy shape - this looks like a fantastic option for a relaxed living room. And it looks great combined with darker and brighter colours alike!
• Layered Rugs: For an instant cosy look, layer some rugs. Combine monochrome rugs with colourful and patterned rugs, new buys with vintage kilims and so on - the look adds a boho look to any room!
• Giant Cactus: Here's my story - just three days ago I went to a big garden center and I saw a giant cactus (not as large as this one on the pic but big enough) and I wasn't brave enough to buy it - even though it was affordable! I was afraid that my apartment is too tiny to host such a big specimen - but looking at this photo I really want a giant cactus now! Such an eye-catcher!

So, what catches your eye? The blue sofa? The cactus? Maybe the coffee table?

Photography by Sarah Natsumi via The Everygirl

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Hello back! I am sorry for skipping one day on the blog, but I was kept busy in Paris with a filming crew for Urban Jungle Bloggers - here are some snapshots, more about this adventure soon! But today I want to catch up with my Tuesday series 'Why This Room Caught My Eye'. And today it is a relaxed and somewhat bohemian reading nook that caught my attention. But let me put it in three points what really caught my eye:

• Round Wicker Chair: Let me put this straight - I have no wicker piece at home. Yet. Wicker furniture makes me always think of the Golden Girls but I really like one statement piece like this round chair to add texture and a visual cue in a room.
• Unique Table Lamp: This table lamp seems to be a vintage find and probably additionally altered as a DIY. The lamp base is the real highlight for me - the wooden tripod is fantastic and adds a touch of mid-century charm to this reading nook.
• Little Jade Plant: As an Urban Jungle Bloggers founder I can not NOT notice the little jade plant on the table. I have the same at home, it is even the same size and shape like this one. Jade plants are great for your home - they are so easy to care for, you can leave them like a month neglected and yet they will grow and thrive. Plus they are beautiful with their fleshy, succulent leaves. Get one!

Would you sit down and read a book or magazine in this reading nook?

Photography via Ethanollie

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

What makes a room outstanding? What difference can be achieved with a good interior styling? I think we all agree that interior styling has a great impact on the perception of a room. The art is to find the right balance, to make a room look lived-in and not over-styled. The best solution: To actually live in the space. Just like in today's example of a room that caught my eye. This is in fact the Barcelona home of two creatives, Mari-Luz and Andrew, the masterminds behind the new magazine and project 'Openhouse'. 

Not only do I love their project and magazine, I also absolutely love their home. It is first and foremost a real urban jungle - filled with fantastic plants that add a very special and living touch to this light flooded home. Plus their love for details, ceramics and a cosy, open and welcoming atmosphere has really caught my eye. Here why this single shot of one of their rooms has caught my eye in particular:

• Styled Shelves: This incredibly beautiful and peculiar shelving unit has been styled up without intention - random collections, plants, books, magazines, ceramics. The effect is eye-catching. Beautiful and it makes me want to start a shelf styling project at home over again!
• Tiled Floor: A great advantage of many Barcelona home are tiled floors. They add so much character and atmosphere to a room and are perfect for homes in warmer climates. I love the pattern and colour combination: grey, yellow, blue - hello, is it me or what?!
• Iconic Chair: This iconic hand chair really serves as an eye-catcher, no matter where you'd place it. Its vintage condition, its peculiar shape, the raw, worn leather - your eye can't escape it!

How do you like this room corner? Does it catch your eye too and if so, why? Let me know!

Photography by Salva López

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

It's times like this when I crave a little interior cocoon to crawl back and unwind. Currently I am in the middle of what feels like a dozen projects simultaneously and all I want in fact is jump through my laptop screen into this interior - a relaxed lounge corner, light flooded, with a jungle vibe. Take me there, please! But why did this room catch my eye in particular? Let's break it down:

• Dusky Pink Settee: Pink is not my colour normally, but this dusky hue really catches my eye. The relaxed style paired with white wood looks like a very inviting corner to unwind, read a bit, sip a cup of tea and daydream away.
• Urban Jungle: Bringing the outside inside is a big favorite of mine - this looks like a perfect example of how to bring the wild nature into your home. And I know that plants help us to relax and lower our stress level. Create your own urban jungle!
• Exposed Brick: I really like the look of an exposed brick wall - it is a wonderful backdrop for a cool, urban loft look. It also makes the softer hues and textures pop out when placed in front of exposed brick.

So, who's ready to have a cup of tea with me in this relaxed corner?

Photography by Leslie Santarina via sfgirlbybay.com

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

If I tell you that blue is my favorite colour, I will not surprise you, right? No wonder then that this bedroom caught my eye in an instant. When I spotted the interior styling in this bedroom I was totally inspired - I immediately wanted new blue bedlinen and I wanted to redecorate my bedroom area. 

Blue is a wonderful hue for the bedroom - it is calming, soothing, it makes me think of the ocean, the sky, fresh, crisp air. It makes me want to linger on, to stay in bed and daydream. But before I digress, let me break it down why this room caught my eye:

• Blue Bedlinen: I love these bedlinen! The deep blue colour, the playful Piñata inspired patterns, the softness of the cotton - I could literally jump into the bed if there wasn't my laptop screen in between us!
• White Backdrop: Blue against white is magic - it recalls Greek island trips, nautical adventures, seaside holiday. Simple colour matching perfection!
• Wooden Accents: Adding wooden accents to a blue scheme is wonderful. These colours complement each other and seem to translate the elements water and earth into interiors. Definitely something I will consider for one of my upcoming redecorating projects at home!

What catches your eye in this bedroom?

Photography via Hunting for George

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Let's face it: How many of us have drawn serious interior design inspiration from the internet? From the vast numbers of amazing interior design and decor blogs, from Pinterest and Instagram? I guess many! I am one of them! Frankly, I get massively inspired by some leading blogs like for example 'The Design Files'. It is there that I spotted this cosy yet small lounge room in an Australian home. It proves that style does not depend on size - it is the result of your creativity and personality. But what caught my eye in particular here?

• Plywood Ceiling: Lately I've seen lots of plywood inspiration on Pinterest. This simple yet sleek looking material seems to be trending. But I have hardly ever seen it as a solution for ceilings. Here, the plywood ceiling adds warmth to this room and brings everything together as a wooden framing.
• Mix & Match Textures: One of the easiest ways to decorate and restyle a room are various textures. Mix and match textiles like cushions, throws, rugs, lambskin and more to create a cosy and lived-in atmosphere.
• Boucherouite Rug: The ultimate addition for colour and pattern - a Moroccan Boucherouite rug. I have a similar one at home and whenever I feel the need for more colour and pattern, I add it! 

How do you like this lounge room? What catches your eye?

Photography by Eve Wilson, production by Lucy Feagins/The Design Files

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

There are two ways of making a visual statement in interiors. Either you create an eclectic interior with lots of visual cues to draw the beholder's attention or you set a focal point by choosing one outstanding piece. In the above shown living room it is the blue sofa that stands out from a rather neutral surrounding. It immediately catches the eye and makes a real highlight performance in this stylish home. But it's not just the sofa that caught my eye. Let's break it down:

• Blue Sofa: The most evident visual highlight is the comfy blue sofa with a touch of mid-century vibe.
• Nature Hues: With the help of the blue sofa, the nature inspired hues come out to the beholder's attention - earthy colours perfectly frame this room and make an excellent stage for the blue sofa.
• Natural Light: Nothing is more beautiful than the abundance of natural light in interiors. The large windows in this home make the entire living room light-flooded and welcoming.

What caught your eye? I bet it's the blue sofa above all, no?

Photography by Colin Price Photography, via The Everygirl 

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Styling a bedroom can be very fun. Some like it very calm and serene, others like it more eclectic and vibrant. I think I tend to be somewhere in between with an ongoing desire to switch from one end to the other. In my bedroom I decided to paint the pitched roof wall behind my bed in a very dark grey to create a cosy sleeping nook as my apartment tends to be very bright and light-flooded. The above shown bedroom might have the same issue. But no matter what the reason was, I think the dark blue wall behind the bed is just fabulous! But let's break it down into three major eye-catchers:

• Blue Feature Wall: As said, I am in love with this dark blue feature wall. I might opt for such a hue when I get tired of my grey wall in my bedroom.
• House Plants: Decorating with house plants in the bedroom is another visual highlight here. In fact, house plants are beneficial in the bedroom as they purify the air and release more oxygen for a relaxed sleep.
• Vintage Portrait: The vintage portrait above the bed adds some more drama and perfectly works with the dark blue hue. Combined with the vintage books this looks like a wonderful bedroom nook to relax, unwind and sleep in.

What bedroom type are you? Clean and serene or eclectic and colourful?

Photography via Apartment Therapy

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Autumn has kicked in with full force here in Germany. The mornings are chilly, the days fresh and the nights crisp. I like the change of season and early autumn is a wonderful season when we slide from warm to fresh - you know, the moment when you take out your warm blanket for the first time after a few months. When you prepare a warm tea and snuggle up with your favorite book. This must have been in my mind when I stumbled over this comfy reading nook.

I was instantly drawn into this reading nook by its sophisticated simplicity. It sort of features the bare musts for a reading nook: a comfy seating, light, some art to inspire your mind and some greens to remind us of the ongoing life. But let me break it down in three main eye-catchers:

• Comfy Chair & Ottoman: This chair and ottoman look super comfy and designy at the same time. Plus the soft cream hue and leather finishing looks extraordinary and lush for a great reading nook.
• Natural Hues: Keeping a reading corner in natural hues sets the calming tone for mental elaboration. Soft beige hues, wooden accents, greens and blues have a balancing and calming effect.
• Green Terrarium: I love to place a plant next to an area where I like to unwind and relax. It brings in the living nature, it grounds myself and it makes me value our life and our planet as a whole. Not to mention that it looks awesomely cool. But that's another story.

Would you sit down and read a book in this reading nook?

Photography by Jeremy Bittermann via Domaine

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

After a tiny break my Tuesday series 'Why This Room Caught My Eye' is back and celebrates the last days of summer with a warm, vibrant and inviting living room design. While we are heading towards autumn and winter, our down under friends in Australia are facing spring and summer. Thus, this beautiful living room was featured in the Australian Inside Out Magazine and caught my eye instantly. The reasons are pretty obvious, right? But let's break it down:

• Yellow Accents: Yellow is the strongest colour to create a warm and sunny atmosphere in interiors, even during winter. I love to add a few yellow accents in my home too. But this living room exemplifies it to perfection: A round rug, an accent cushion and fresh yellow flowers tie the color story together.
• Matching Blue: Here we are with my all-time favorite colour combination: yellow and blue. By placing the white and blue accent cushion on the sofa the entire interior gets a summery look and feel recalling the seaside and warm sunshine. It is literally like holiday at home. 
• Pink & Purple Details: The colour story of this home is brought to completion with the subtle pinch of pink and purple hues to round up the warm feeling. Soft pink accents on a cushion, a pink bowl and books as well as a bright purple vase and pink kitchen towel in the background please the beholding eye and make this home a colorful but not overdone interior.

Is this interior catching your eye, too?

Photography by Brooke Holm, styling by Marsha Golemac, via Inside Out Magazine

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Today's room features some elements that I am easily attracted to - because I don't have them in my home at this scale. First above all: space. This living room is so spacious and leaves so much free room to breathe and roam - ideal in front of a home library as showcased above! But it's also the massive influx of natural light through ceiling-to-floor windows and houseplants for that natural vibe. In a nutshell, this room caught my eye for these reasons:

• Floating Shelves: I really love this kind of floating shelves. Predominately for books but also for ever-changing decor vignettes. One day, if I live in such a spacious home, I'd get myself a custom made shelving unit. 
• Houseplants: A safe eye-catcher for me! Adding some large plants in a spacious room is perfect to structure the room and lead the eye from corner to corner. Plus it adds a very homey and cosy feel to a room.
• Natural Light: The most crucial interior design factor - natural light makes everything appear better, trust me. And it makes life so much more positive and sets you in a good mood. Ok, it's also perfect for photographing your interiors. 

How do you feel about this living room?

Photography via The Design Files

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Last week I was going through my stash of throws and blankets and found my Mexican throw that I bought in a store in Seattle last year. I decided to throw it over my bed cause I love the blue and earthy hues with the ethnic pattern on it (see it HERE). Shortly after that I stumbled upon a great article on Apartment Therapy with an ethnic patterned throw used as wall art in a bedroom. I loved it instantly as well as the overall interior styling of the room. Here in a nutshell what caught my eye:

• Ethnic Wall Art: Well this ethnic textile as wall art is an instant eye catcher. I would try the same in my home I think if only I had a normal wall behind my bed (but I have a pitched roof wall). 
• Earthy Hues: The entire bedroom styling is tied together with an earthy colour scheme. It perfectly matches the wall art and brings a serene and cosy atmosphere to the bedroom.
• Monstera Leaf: Monstera leaves have become a major styling trend. From Scandinavian interiors to American homes - people place one or severals Monstera leaves in a large vase and the room gets a very modern and natural touch. The best side effect: Monstera leaves develop roots when kept in water - so after the styling project you can simply plant them in soil and enjoy them for a long time as happy houseplants. 

Would this bedroom catch your eye too?

Photography by Jenny Kaplan and Chris Corrado via Apartment Therapy

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

If I had to nail down one colour I love most, it would be blue. In all its shades. I don't know why, but it always makes me happy and definitely catches my eye. Like in this case - this summer house kitchen colour coded in a soft, summery blue is a sheer pleasure for my interior loving eye. The kitchen fronts, the splashback, the details - it all recalls warm summer days spent on the coast, a fresh sea breeze and loads of good and healthy food. But I digress. What caught my eye in detail? Here's the breakdown:

• Blue Colour Coding: First and foremost, as mentioned, the blue colour coding in this kitchen is a real and instant eye-catcher. Using decorative and practical kitchen details in the same hue ties the entire setting together.
• Wooden Details: Natural, raw wooden accessories perfectly blend with blue. Be it kitchen accessories like wooden cutting boards or wooden jars or bigger elements like a wooden worktop - the combination rocks!
• Painted Kitchen Fronts: I can't tell for sure, but the kitchen fronts look almost like painted by their owner. And that's a great option for everyone who wants a fresh kitchen look without blowing the budget. A DIY to consider!

Does this kitchen catch your eye too?

Photography via Femina

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

One thing is for sure: Let Emily Henderson design a space and I will be all drooling in front of my Macbook (sorry for this too visual wording). Same effect occurred when I stumbled over her Fig House Lounge project. Imagine a spacious lounge open to the outdoor space, think of mid-century vibes and colour pops wherever you turn. Think of visual happiness galore! In her blog post she documents the entire design process including a full before and after coverage. In the end I had a hard time picking one photo of this fantastic lounge, but let's give it a try and nail it down to three points that caught my eye:

• Gallery Wall: Put a gallery wall somewhere and my attention is guaranteed. The vintage style gallery wall in this example is an instant eye-catcher - it adds a personal and artsy vibe to the lounge.
• Colour Pops: The vibrant colour palette is breathtaking - mints, soft blue, pink, ochre, green - sometimes you have to be brave and stun everyone. But beware: This only works in a large space and with a unifying element or style that ties all colours together.
• Mid-Century Console: The wooden mid-century console in the back is a fantastic visual anchor in this shot. It perfectly complements the furniture in this lounge and creates an almost intimate, private atmosphere in this lounge.

What do you think of this project by Emily Henderson?

Photography via Emily Henderson

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

I tell you one thing: When you catch a cold in the middle of summer while it's hot outside and you are knocked down on your sofa with terrible throat ache, you end up doing various unusual things: you drink liters of hot tea with honey, you finish the entire season of True Detectives and you long for the outside world, for the nature, for the life out there. Probably it was that reason that made me stop when I saw the picture of this living room - I was struck by the abundance of details yet I was surprised how calm and balanced it looked due to the focused colour scheme. And I knew instantly - this has to go into my 'Why This Room Caught My Eye' blog series. So here are the main three reasons:

• Horse Art: Lately I have spotted quite a few great, large scale art photographies with horse motives. Unlike any other animal the horse seems to incorporate the wild beauty of our nature, the impulse for freedom, the ongoing strength, the utter elegance. Framed and hung on the wall it also enlightens a room - best example seen above. P.S. You can buy the art print on the photographer's website HERE.
• Tulip Table: For me, the Tulip Table is emblematic for Finnish design. Eero Saarinen designed the Tulip Table in the mid 50s and introduced it for the first time in 1958. Ever since it has become an iconic furniture piece in the homes of design aficionados. 
• Earthy Hues: The colours scheme in this room seems to have drawn inspiration from the horse art. Inspired by the nature, the wild beauty of the prairie, it exemplifies the power of a colour focus - earthy hues in various shades of brown, grey, beige and white create visual consistency - even in a room full with details like in this case.

What do you think of this room? Could you imagine yourself in there?

Photography by Kara Rosenlund via Design Sponge

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