Pantone has chosen green as the colour of the year. It's actually called "Greenery" which is refreshing and revitalizing shade and symbolic of new beginnings. Perfect spring colour! 

As it's February and winter is still here, I've chosen a bit more paler tone of green which I'm calling frosty green. It is said that green is emotionally balance and calm colour, so it's a good choice for a reading nook. Different textures bring the colour alive and create cosy and welcoming atmosphere.

Even though it's not really spring yet I just can't resist springish bulb flowers - daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses...

It's so easy to create a new look at home simple by changing the textiles - cushion covers, a blanket, a carpet, and, of course, some flowers!

(FI) Pantone on valinnut vihreän vuoden väriksi. Itseasiassa väri on nimeltään "Greenery", joka on virkistävä ja piristävä sävy sekä uuden alun symboli. Täydellinen kevätväri siis!

Nyt on helmikuu ja talvea on vielä jäljellä, joten valitsin hieman haaleamman vihreän sävyn, jota voisi kutsua vaikka huurteiseksi vihreäksi. Sanotaan, että vihreä on emotionaalisesti tasapainottava ja rauhoittava väri, joten se on sopiva ratkaisu myös rauhalliseen lukunurkkaukseen. Erilaiset tekstuurit elävöittävät ja luovat kodikkaan ja kutsuvan tunnelman.

Kevättä ei vielä pahemmin ole ilmassa, mutta siitä huolimatta tai juuri sen takia en voi vastustaa keväisiä sipulikukkia - narsisseja, hyasitteja, krookuksia...


Kodin tunnelmaa on niin helppo muuttaa vaihtamalla tekstiilejä - muutama uusi tyynynpäällinen, torkkupeite, matto, unohtamatta ihania kukkia!

What is your favourite shade of green?

Hanna's Gorgeous Home

(EN)Here's a sneak peek to a gorgeous (small?) home in Budapest.

It was renovated for a young woman as her first own home. Actually she's just starting her studies in England, but I bet it's nice to pop in to Budapest when a place as lovely as this is waiting for you.

In this living room the old wooden wall ornaments and built-in cupboards were painted in fresh neutral grey - the original colour was dark brown. Now the whole atmosphere of the space is so airy, light and trés chic.

****

(FI) Tässä pieni kurkistus upeaan (pieneen?) kotiin Budapestissa. Asunto rempattiin nuorelle naiselle hänen ensimmäiseksi omaksi kodikseen. Tosin tyttö on lähdössä opiskelemaan Englantiin, mutta onhan se kiva piipahtaa välillä Budapestiin kun tällainen ihanuus on odottamassa.

Olohuoneen puiset seinäornamentit ja kaapit maalattiin raikkaalla neutraalin harmaalla - niiden alkuperäinen väri oli tumman ruskea. Nyt tilan koko tunnelma on ilmava, valoisa ja trés chic.  

Would you like to live in Budapest?

That Light Blue Armchair

She wanted to have a bright & functional living area, which would be suitable for children to play and for her to read and watch TV. There're plenty of windows so the light is coming nicely in. Brightness and simplicity are the key words in this home.  

The starting point was the existing pieces of furniture - light blue armchair and floor lamp. During the project she found old pieces of a book shelf in her parents' garage. As the whole shelving system was light-looking, had a connection to her with its history and it  was a kind of look-alike of the Swedish Sring shelving - it was an easy decicion to bring it in. The metal support parts just needed a new layer of white paint. The plywood shelves we left as they were - all a bit diffent natural shade which gives a sort of character to the whole system.

Space is sometimes a luxury, and when you don't have much of it, you are tasked with figuring out ways to make it work. It's important to reach the full potential of a living room and of the whole home.

  

My basic idea in home decor is that there should always be some crispy white and a hint of black to sharpen the space. Then you can add any colour(s) you like, and the result will look fresh. This room is a good example of that.

ps. You can find the bedroom of this home here and the kids' room here. 

BTW, the rug is from Ikea, the small coffee tables from Vakum Design as well as the couch, cushions from HM Home and the small bottles from Kika.

Living Room (project part 4/7)

This is the 4th part of the interior project. The living area is together with a kitchen, but now I show you only the living room corner and later the kitchen part. 

The idea was to make this corner comfy with a cosy pub feeling - a real mancave. The greyish-brown sofa was there already, so that was the starting point. Changed slightly the layout, added curtains, cushions, a cowhide, pendant lamps and made a coffee table from old pallet (painted it dark brown, ordered a glass top and fixed four wheels). The walls have Halltex's acustic panels. 

Below some before & after pics:

Again the main thing was to to de-clutter the place.

1. part of the project: entrance

2. part of the project: restroom

3. part of the project: bedroom 

Red Sofa

 Before I continue with the Balaton lake houses I'll show you a living room where my help was asked... Received these pics and the help was needed to choose a wall color for this living room. I have a feeling that a bit more than just a paint is needed... The 2 sofas, coffee table and bookshelf will stay...so not an easy task to make the space look warm and inviting...Made a mood board to help creating something out of this. 

Any ideas?

Home-Styling Project 3/3

The same greige color scheme continues also in the small living area. Less is more - keep it simple!

The space looked quite depressing and very small without any piece of furniture.

Sorry for the not-so-good quality of the pics - taken by my iPhone.

Copper Tone

H&M Home was opened here in Budapest last week. Actually it wasn't just a home store it was a huge H&M with a corner of home items. The selection is not extremely wide, not as it's on web, but absolutely better than nothing. On my wish list, among the others, were the copper items. Bought 6pc tea candle holders and 2pc sequin cushions for the living room. Copper is a nice shade for the autumn, isn't it?

(I have covered the living room sofas with Ikea bedspreads...not looking very professional...I Just don't like the original creamy color of the sofas. Yes, I know, I should do some sewing job here...but for now that's how it looks).

Ps. didn't come home only with the copper items...

Silver Lining

Now when the autumn is on its way it's time to concentrate on home and make it also ready for the new season.

My new Moroccan metal tray found its place on the silver pouf in the living room. Placed some flowers on it and now I've also got a more steady place for a glass of water while I'm reading on the couch.

Hmm, too tall the flowers.

The Moroccan metal tray is available at Butlers in Westend shopping mall.