Friday 30 March 2018

#CENTURY OF THE CHILD #V&AMUSEUMOFCHILDHOOD #LONDON

Today is the first day of "Century of the Child" at V&A Museum of Childhood (Bethnal Green, London). I was privileged to attend the press preview and got personal guidance by one of the curators herself, Elna Svenle from Vandalorum Museum of Värnamo, Sweden. This exhibition about Nordic Design for Children has an origin in a bigger exhibition from the Metropolitan Museum in New York in 2012 and has since travelled around the world. This version is concentrated on Nordic Design and how these countries were pioneers in putting the child in focus. The exhibition borrows its title from the groundbreaking book "The Century of the Child" by Swedish social theorist,  Ellen Key published in 1900. Ellen Key envisioned that during the 20th century children would become the centre of the adult´s attention. Her ideas on encouraging children´s creativity, education and rights have permeated Nordic Designs and have shaped the content of the exhibition.  

The layout has the historic exhibition on one side and on the other there are play areas for the children made up by some of the exhibited designs like Aalvar Aaltos functional furniture etc. Furniture, graphic Design, fabrics, clothes and books etc in a Nordic mix from the start-up-packs that parents gets in Finland (and now in Scotland) to books by Tove Janson (Mumintrollet, Finland, Elsa Beskow and Astrid Lindgren. A good variety of design but perhaps not so easy to read if you are not of Nordic descent. I missed seeing a lot of this designS and how it has survived and are still very much alive all over the world. Think Baby Björn and the baby carrier (not shown), more of the Ikea Furniture. Polarn and Pyrets still successful children´s clothes, Astrid Lindgren´s books, more of Elsa Beskow´s wonderful drawings etc etc.

In Finland you get a starter pack with all you need for your newborn from the bed (cardboard) to flannels and clothes.

The uneven football pitch are designed by a Swedish artist and will make everybody a player since the ball will go in unpredictable directions.

A den for storytelling inspired  by a Norwegian igloo-looking "tent" that was built from building scrap wood in the north of Norway, and Danish furniture/toys in foam that inspires kids to play and build.

Lego, still going strong and most children's favourites! Denmark!

This sunlamp charges in the day and gives at least four hours of light at night and will help children in deprived areas without electricity to do their homework. Danish design.

Trip trap trull. The Norwegian child seat grows with the child and has become a classic and timeless design. The exhibition will end on 2 September 2018. It has it´s weaknesses in places but gives a fair idea of how important the Nordic Countries has, and are, for the development and rights of the children in society today, at least in Europe!






Tuesday 27 March 2018

#EASTERINSPIRATION A LITTLE TEASER!

Easter is coming, time to decorate some birch branches with feathers like in Sweden?
Just a simple little inspiration for Easter from Habitat. Gather ceramic vases in the middle of the table and fill with different green leafs. In Sweden we hang decorative eggs, chickens, feathers etc on birch branches...Why not do as the Swedes do? More from London Design Week later this week.


Saturday 24 March 2018

#LONDONDESIGNWEEK2218 PART 2 #LDWSS18

London Design Week started, as always, with breakfast with Tricia Guild at her flagship store on Kings Road. Here pictured with (to the left) Living etc.´s editor in chief Suzanna Imre.

Giardino Segreto, the secret garden. A new collection of wallpapers that brings the garden into your house. Fabulous drawings and mixes so well with Tricia's love of contemporary furniture, vases with her so significant way of displaying cut flowers and plants. A new take on her own style.

Right down my street. I love jugs. And this traditional shape never goes out of style. In green at DG of course. More tomorrow...

Friday 23 March 2018

#LONDONDESIGNWEEKSS18 #LDWSS18

London Design Week started, as usual, for me at William Yeoward on Kings Road. Unusually colourful and contemporary with a white corner sofa filled with a mix of velvet cushions in orange, blue, green and ochre yellow! And what about the white sprayed bottles and glasses disguised as vases. Brilliant!

The new corner sofa with happy company of a new, also very contemporary, rug with circular and geometrical pattern. Mixed with simple and crafty ceramics and glass this made a very young and vibrant room set!

William Yeowards so significative lamp bases in glass was matched with a red stripey wallpaper and pineapple and tropical fruity ornaments in unglazed ceramics. More from London Design Week tomorrow! From now on there will be more frequent reporting from me from London. Follow this space!

Friday 2 March 2018

#GUL&BLÅ #YELLOWANDBLUE FROM #LFW #LONDONFASHIONWEEK

Sportswear for everyday and evening use, like here with glitzy stripes from Fyodor Golan. As a whole outfit or the garments individually used with contrasting skirts, trousers, dresses etc. Cobalt och Klein-blue is an upcoming colour. This is for autumn winter 2018.

A cool fashionista outside Fashion Scout LFWAW18. Fake fur and coloured Rastafarian hair. The yellow and blue with contrasting monochromes. I love the lipstick!

Matching friends/colleagues outside the shows. The classic trouser suit jacket is back. And it should be in colour.

Stripes, and stripes and stripes. Here at the current collection from Mulberry shown at The Spencer House in St James´s.

Checks, mixed, they are already in the shops but you just wait until next autumn. Here from Nicopanda.

And finally, match the elegant blue dress with yellow boots! Roksanda.

Slingback is back! Zara now!

Thursday 1 March 2018

Living with ankan: FROM #FORMEX IN STOCKHOLM TO #LFW IN LONDON ETC

Living with ankan: FROM #FORMEX IN STOCKHOLM TO #LFW IN LONDON ETC: I have been to a lot of fairs and fashion shows this year and my head is frazzled with inspiration and impressions. From Swedish outdoor f...

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