#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.

#ABIGAILAHERN @FORMEX 21 AUGUST #STOCKHOLM

This is Abigail Ahern. She is a very interesting and bold interior designer with a dark palette with African and retro-inspiration. She experiments with size and proportions and her love for faux flowers had her go into that line of business along with the furniture, lamps and rugs. I met her at her "showroom" and office home in Hackney East London this spring. The idea of a darker came when she was about to do a photo shoot for Elle Decoration and repainted the whole house in a very dark palette. It has since become her signature style. From Tuesday 21 August she is the Guest Creator at Formex in Stockholm. Formex is one of Scandinavia's biggest home and gift-fairs and attracts media and buyers from the whole world. If you are in Stockholm and qualify to enter do not hesitate to visit Stockholmsmässan which are just outside the centre of Stockholm. Just a few stops on the commuter train from Centralstation to Älvsjö. Do not miss it!

Part of Abigail lounge have double height which gives this dark interior lots of daylight. Her faux flowers are everywhere and are so real and gives "life" to the house.

The back garden is decorated as an outdoor room with mainly green plants.

Fake cacti in the kitchen window and one of African-inspired sculptures. Lampshade in Hessian is also part of her range.

An overview of her living room. She loves to mix materials and textures. From velvet to fake fur, leather and ceramics. Notice the oriental rug.

Abigail's latest passion is arranging her range of fake flowers.

...more arranging.

I just lover her bathroom. With dark olive green walls and ceiling this is one of her brightest rooms in the house. Mixed with white and one of her magnificent chandeliers it makes you feel like a queen for the day.

Her bedroom is a mix of a alpine hut and caves. Again, she has played with textures to create a eclectic and comfortable feel to sleep in.

Her over sized and cave like dressers are another of her signature pieces as well as the "hairy" lampshades. Formex goes on until Friday 24 August. Do not miss it or visit her shop in Angel/Islington. www.abigailahern.com.

#FORMEX #ABIGAILAHERN ETC

This is Abigail Ahern. I met her in London this spring for an interview and photo session. As you might now by now I have started to work for the Swedish Home & Gift Fair, Formex, and she will be their Guest Creator in August. From 21 to 24 she will be there with her dark interiors and faux flowers. More about her here soon and more from me...

#HOMEANDGIFTHARROGATE

I went to a Home and Gift Fair in Harrogate last weekend to catch up with trends and what is going on in the home and gift trade right now. Interiors and jewellery were the big attractions on this "northern" fair. Above, vintage feel table with the rough wooden feeling we tend to like so much at the moment. I am currently holding the post of agent and representative for the Swedish home and gift fair Formex.se and it was interesting to see what attracts the northern UK right now.

Fruity and a bit kitsch are in to wear in your ears. I love the way the have exhibited their products here.

Black is still a big colour in interiors. The basic I think for a long time ahead.

When it comes to cards are letters and graphics still very big and a mix of colours. Think Memphis, Camilla Walalla, Morague Myerscough etc...

Digital wooden cubes, alight when touched! Soon in Scandinavia, we hope, Gingko.

Traditional furniture with a twist (Frida Kahlo is just a mirroring). Hill Interiors.

After the show we had a fantastic lunch at newly opened branch of The Ivy in Harrogate. Well worth a visit!

Interior at The Ivy at Harrogate. They have managed to create an atmosphere from the early 1900s and a hint of french brasseries. Excellent interiors, good service and delicious food to good prices.

At the Ivy they also incorporate art in a very subtle and decorative way! I like!

Generous and happy mugs, Musango.

Recycle candles, why not! Brilliant idea by the Recycled Candles Company. They use the leftover bits of candles from restaurants, hotels and churches. More soon!

FROM #MEADHAMKIRCHHOFF TO YELLOWS AND PINKS

Fashion has become more colourful during the last couple of years - and more adventurous. The designer duo MeadhamKirchhoff comes to mind with their punk, unexpected and super quirky fashion. Their colour combinations and reconstructed fashion has influenced the fashion scene of today more than they could ever had imagined. Unfortunately they are not around at the moment due to investors that abandoned them etc. But just look at the above that is a couple of years old and you can see what I mean.

More from MeadhamKirchhoff, punk chic with a twist.

and more...still so fashionable, this is from 2014!

Just see how the fashion today has been inspired by MeadhamKirchhoff today. The colour mixes and colourful bags etc. Topshop.

They even introduced lilac with a Chanel twist in 2014. A colour that is arriving on the scene as I speak!

Flimsy girly dresses was introduced in 2015! And where are we now?

These citric and pastel colour combinations has caught up in the interior- and furniture industry lately. This is Swedish Design shown at Milan Furniture Fair this year!

More yellow in interiors by talanted Swedish design company Massproductions!

Add some cobalt blue to the colour mix, so right summer 2018 even though this was years ago by MeadhamKirchhoff!

And on a rug! From the American guest exhibition at London Design Fair AW17.

Add a bit of tomatoe-red for the table. This collection by Conranshop 2018.

Conranshop again, makes me think of the 1980s with all the cushions. More to come soon...