#CHRISTMASHUTS #LONDON

Christmas this year could easily be spent in a hut. Weather you want to shop, eat or drink, it should be in a hut. Along Southbank this Christmas you will find all sorts of huts. This one I found at the Cantina del Ponte, one of Conrans Restaurants along the river by Shad Thames. Huts has been a cosy winter thing in the Scandinavian Countries for decades and my childhood memory takes me back to the wonderful outdoor museum/zoo/park Skansen in Stockholm where the Christmas market (and all year really) is all set in huts! The same goes for the Christmas market in Stockholms Old Town on Stortorget. Unfortunately the Danes has taken this "huggy" and "snog" trend to other heights with their "hygge". A way of living and decorating during the dark and long winter which is more accurate in Sweden and Norway than in Denmark.

Private dining in style at Pont de la Tour this Christmas, next door to the Cantina del Ponte and another Conran restaurant.

This was last years Conran Christmas and these huts are now to be found at their office in Shad Thames. More from London and Christmas soon. Photo by Ann-Katrin Berggren/AKB Design.

#LONDONROCKSTHISCHRISTMAS

London rocks this Christmas. From Elton Johns platforms boots and piano at John Lewis to Father Christmas Rock stars at Selfridges. The Christmas TV-ad this year by John Lewis features Elton John and his journey through having got a piano for Christmas when he was 5! Perhaps it is a reaction to the depressing times the world is going through at the moment. Let´s rock the blues away!

Country and Western rocker at Selfridges.

Lady rocker at Selfridges.

Rocking parcels at Dr Martens on Oxford Street.

Super rocking Father Christmas at Selfridges.

Glittering punk, a gay Father Christmas?

ZZ-top inspired Father X-mas, Selfridges. All photos by AKB Design/Ann-Katrin Berggren. More to come soon...

#INFLUENCER WHO IS THAT? AND MINITRENDREPORT FROM #CHELSEAHARBOURDESIGNCENTRE

Am I an influencer? What is an influencer? Who is an influencer. Bloggers, instagrammers, twitters, and now Influencer. Who makes these words up? Most of those that call themselves or are called Influencers by others today are influenced by who pays them to influence their readers and followers. And it seems to work...so sad. I am a journalist and was for a long time paid by a magazine company to report, write and style new trends etc about fashion, interiors and food. Whatever I was influenced by was filtered through my integrity as a journalist to try to be fair and true towards my readers. I guess I was more of an influencer than the so called influencers of today. I was not paid by anyone to have any specific view. Today my profession is slowly dying in favour of writers, bloggers, instagrammers etc without integrity. So sad. Fortunately some of us are still around trying to share our thoughts freely about what we see and hear. At the moment I am sitting on a train into London to visit Chelsea Harbour Design Centre preview of SS19 and the new exhibition in cooperation with Ikea Musuem at the Design Museum. I will return about this soon. With some thougts and view of my own, without being influenced...

#BLACK @ #DESIGNJUNCTION #LONDONDESIGNFESTIVAL

I am moving house and when I am settled in in our new pad at Abergavenny I will finally start working on my online-magazine that has been in the back of my head for years. Meanwhile I will give you another glimpse from London Design Festival and today some black stuff that was shown at Designjunction. This year they decided to set up their mobile fair near Oxo Tower on the South Bank of London. Above, the French company Petite Friture are always on the hunt for chic design of today. Above, the ceramic is by Swedish couple Färg& Blanche.

More from Petite Friture, birds by Andras Rigler.

Coffee brewing like in Sweden by Japanese company Kinto was served in the press room. Elegant way of everyday coffee making. There will be more from me, both interiors and fashion. Do not despair, I will be more frequent once I moved. November here we come...

#LONDONDESIGNFESTIVAL FROM #THECOALOFFICE TO #KINGSCROSS

One of my highlights at this years London Design Festival was the guided tour around the new Kings Cross Area. From Central St Martins, Tom Dixon's new "hub" at the Coal Office to the gasholders area and the new shopping centre to be. Amazing architecture that is well worth a visit. Make it a visit of a half day at the least.

Not only is the way the apartment blocks are built within the gasholders but also the garden design that surrounds it. I am impressed!

At the moment the area is still a building site, but a very decorative on...

The coal office in its full glory this sunny day.

A new collaboration with the leather expert Bill Amberg, various artists (here Timourous Beasties) and Tom Dixon at the Coal Office. Cow skins/rugs in a new light.

Kirkby design in collaboration with Tom Dixon at the Coal Office. I will return with more from Kings Cross area soon...

#DESIGNERSGUILD #LONDONDESIGNFESTIVAL

Normally my London Design Festival starts with Designers Guild but this year it was all a bit upside down. The Victoria and Albert Museum decided to have their press preview on the 14 September and Tom Dixon at the same time on the Monday 17 September as DG so I had to switch things around. Anyway, the new collections at DG were more colourful and brave than ever. From bright stripes in velvet to flowery wallpapers and greens with a strong Deco-feel.

Deco patterns and a mix of greens in the newly refurbished flagship store on Kings Road.

Flamboyant colour mix and graphics on the wall!

Like in a tropical garden. Tapestry like wallpapers and a mix of patterns, from stripes to octagons in velvet. Very contemporary and elegant. More tomorrow from London Design Festival.

#THECOALOFFICE TO #DESIGNERSGUILD

On a glorious sunny day yesterday I was guided through the Coal Office (Tom Dixon etc) and the new area at Kings Cross. More to come next week about this new London Development.

Designers Guild never fails to perform. An eclectic mix of bright colours, art deco, stripes and flowers at their newly refurbished flagship shop on Kings Road in London. Do not miss it when you are in London next. More next week, a blog only about DG!

#MORE FROM #LONDONDESIGNFESTIVAL AND #LONDONFASHIONWEEK

One of the highlights of London Design Festival are without doubt, the V&A. Do not miss it! Outside, at the new Exhibition Road entrance, the architects Waugh Thistleton has constructed a "house" from reusable cross laminated timber. Cubes that can be formed into different structures...

You are able to walk around the "Multiply" construction.

"Dazzle" was, or is, a form of disguise, a way of camouflaging ships during the first world war. A dazzling graphic design installation at the V&A.

In the tapestry room the danish artist has put together everyday objects to a "Onion Farm". Using objects that relates to the tapestries like brushes and sock-material. To me it looks more like being under the sea or in a car wash. Amazing...

Meanwhile London Fashion Week is still on. This beachy dress etc in bright yellow (still a colour growing stronger for next summer) was shown at the Waldorf Hilton by Johnstons of Elgin. Elegant and bold at the same time.

Unfortunately the showrooms at LFW at the 180 Strand has shrunk...what is going to happen to the shows??? Anyway, these "boxy" bags reminds me of my first handbag in the late 1960s...

Time for tea, a new installation/collection by Scholten and Baijings from Denmark/Holland for Fortnum and Mason. To us Scandinavians this i familiar but for F&M very minimalistic and elegant...

One of my favourites this year is the Landmark installation "Alphabet" at Broadgate. The graphic designers Kellenberger and White has created small "furniture" of the alphabet. Ikea or some similar company should take these into production, please!

One of the big advantages of being a journalist and attending these shows are were it takes you. Yesterday morning one of the fashion shows was performed in the Church in Lambeth that is now a Garden Musuem. What a tranquil beautiful spot. Highly recommended...more from LDF and LFW soon...

#LONDONDESIGNFESTIVAL TO #LONDONFASHIONWEEK

The London Design Festival started early on Friday with a press preview at the V&A, this was part of it. A cube construction for building houses, more soon from the V&A.

Fortnum and Mason had let a Danish company design an installation with an international tea drinking theme...more tomorrow...

And a glimpse of fashion, Marta Jakubowski at London Fashion Week promising sun for SS19!

#TOPDRAWERLONDON #QUICKREVIEW

I went to the fair Topdrawer London this week. Home and gifts in a mix. Here a quick trend report. Colours are still from mustard yellow to pink and greens. More to come soon.Fun storage with a sense of education. Mustard sells these metal cabinets in cool colours, about £199 retail price.

Lovely colours and ceramics from Sue Ure. English lady who lives in France.

Quirky design on lamp shades and lamp bases from Lush Design. More to come from Topdrawer soon. Now I am off to London Fashion Week and London Design Festival. Tomorrow from London. Do look at my Instagram account. ankanbergggren!

#EXTENDYOURSPACE #PLANTAGENSWEDEN #THOMASSANDELL

Thomas Sandell, architect and designer today showed off his latest work, objects and plant "pots" for the big nursery chain Plantagen in Sweden. Today we tend to have a lot of green plants inside our homes and the lack of window sills in modern homes saw the need for special lights and plant containers. From pedestals to lit flower plates and lamps. A minimalistic collection that will work in any home. The prices are very affordable. From 199-499 Skr. In store from today in Sweden.

Pedestal Situne, 399 Skr. We are looking forward having these items in a blackish mat grey, sage green and why not a powder pink version.

Hanging flower "plates", 199 Skr.

Perfect for the herbs in the kitchen. Flower tray with lighting, 499 Skr.

#DARKINTERIORS AND #GREEN #FORMEX

Greens, still going strong in interiors and at Formex, last day today in Stockholm. Home and gift show with high design level. Green velvet from Jakobsdals.

Blossfeldt, a new brand by Sköna Ting in collaboration with Très PR. Botanical prints at it´s best!

Abigail Ahern, London based interior designer etc was guest creator at Formex with a very mesmerising and exciting stand. Last day today. See my earlier blogs about her.

Over sized urns at Abigail Aherns stand. She loves playing with proportions and mood lights. Her stand was very appreciated by the Swedish audience that found it cosy and calming. More from Formex soon.

#CHRISTMASTRENDS FROM #STOCKHOLMDESIGNWEEK

It is Stockholm Design Week and it feels like starting school again after a long hot summer. Yes, we had some really hot weather in both Sweden and England. First day started with the PR Companies Très PR and EK PR and what they have for Christmas 2018. Black is definitely one theme.

Pink and purple (upcoming colour) it the other big themes for the next season. Here we are talking interior and table. From baby pink to vibrant violet in velvet. (Très PR).

Pink is the new black. From 60s inspired prints on the cushion to furry and hairy materials. Très again.

Green is also a new basic. This lovely Emma-chair i forest green velvet gives your home that cosy and inviting feeling. In velvet of course. (Très PR.

Skeppshult is a traditional Swedish Company working mainly with cast iron product. (Ek PR).

Green and red, traditional colours for Christmas. Add a white star in the window and you get the right Christmas vibe. EK PR.

More traditions with oranges, wooden utensils etc, Ek PR.

There is no Swedish Christmas without home baked ginger cookies. Ek PR.

Purply burgundy, "new" interior colour. Also an upcoming colour for fashion. Ek PR.

Pink has come to stay, the new black for a while. The boots have a strong late 60s style. Mix with burgundy and some flowers and you got the picture for AW18. Ek PR.

Gold is still very much around. Mix with white and pinks. Table setting at Ek PR.

And red of course. In Sweden every window has a star during the dark season. From white to red and blacks. Ek PR.

And finally, now Swedish Christmas without a ginger cookie house. Ek PR. More soon from Stockholm Design Week, Formex etc.