And My Kitchen Sink » Favorite Finds

Hövding – Bike Helmets Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:18:34 +0000

Would you wear this?

How about if it looked like this?

When I first saw the top picture, my reaction was – who would rather wear that than a regular bike helmet?! But then I learned more, and I think this is one of the best inventions I’ve seen lately (it’s from Sweden, of course)

I’ll be the first to admit that though I rarely ride a bike (I love biking, but Boston traffic is horrible and I sold my bike after I ended up on the hood of a car on the way to work one day), when I do, I do not wear a helmet. I have terrible Scandinavian hair (baby fine, turns to frizz in a second) and the only time I even consider wearing anything on my head is if I’m heading straight home to wash my hair.

And I’m not the only one who feels this way – many helm-less bicyclists are seriously injured and killed in accidents ever year. In Sweden, a law was passed in 2005, making bike helmets mandatory for children (up to the age of 15) and there have been discussions to extend that law to include adults as well. Bike culture in Sweden is very different from here in the US (at least where I live); in Sweden, biking is not so much a sport as a means of daily transportation. “Everybody” rides their bikes “everywhere” (grocery shopping, to and from work, picking up the kids, going out at night), especially in the larger cities where parking is a pain and you actually can live without a car. So imposing a law forcing people to wear helmets has not been a popular idea and could potentially make people drive instead of riding their bike.

The inventors of Hövding, Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin, were working on their industrial design master’s thesis at the University of Lund in Sweden when the law was first passed, and they felt the same way I do about wearing a bike helmet. But they thought: instead of passing a law, why not make helmets that people would actually wear? After much research they came up with Hövding (Swedish for chieftain). Today, their company employs 14 people, and they just won the Index award at Copenhagen Design Week.

How Does It Work?
You wear it around your neck as a collar. The collar has sensors which detect abnormal movement, and if you’re in an accident, the air bag is inflated around your head. It runs on a rechargeable battery which lasts around 15 hours, and I guess that’s the one downside to Hövding – you have to remember to charge it.

They come in black only, but they have optional outer shells in black and a pretty paisley (I’m sure they’ll be more shells in different colors eventually). I love the idea and will most certainly get one (and a new bike).

Press photos: Hövding

A New Favorite Online Shop

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:28:40 +0000

Just this past weekend, a friend told me about this fabulous on line shop “Terrain” and said I had to check it out, it would be “just my kind of thing”. She was right – I love it! They sell everything from jewelry to furniture, and even vintage stuff. They also have recipes, gardening tips, and interviews with some of the artists whose works they sell.

And they’re not only on the Internet, they have a physical store, cafe and nursery, and I really wish I lived closer (they’re in Glen Mills, PA), because not only is the place adorable and filled with gorgeous stuff, they have lots of fun events I would love to attend, like a container planting workshop, a cheese, honey, and beer festival, a salsa seminar and a release party for Grace Bonney’s book Design*Sponge at Home.

Since I have no plans to move to PA, I guess I’ll stick to shopping online (and visit if I’m ever in the area). Here are some of my current favorites from their website:

Photos: Terrain

Dala Horse Decor

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:54:54 +0000

Is it just me, or are Dala horses everywhere lately? I keep seeing them on everything (and I never even made it to Sweden this summer!), both in their classic painted style, and with fun twists. There was no shortage of them in our home when I was growing up (my Mom was from Dalarna, the part of Sweden where they originated), but I never thought of them as particularly hip or stylish, or something I wanted anywhere near my room as a teenager.

Guess times have changed… I like them a whole lot more than I used to, and am thankful for the collection I have inherited (though I have to find a good space for them – they’re still sitting in a box in the basement).

The tiny horses originated in Dalarna (a province sort of in the middle of Sweden, with one part bordering Norway) hundreds of years ago; nobody knows exactly when, but the first one mentioned in writing is from 1624. They were made from scrap pieces of wood and used as toys. The Dala horse (Dalahäst in Swedish) as we know it – red with kurbits painting (for more on kurbits, see my clogs for women post) – first appeared sometime in the 1800s and became internationally known (famous even) when a 9.8’ high dala horse was placed outside Sweden’s pavilion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair in order to entice visitors to come in.

Photo: Anders Norrsell, Jönsson Bilder AB, Kristianstad

These days, the horses are well-known symbols of Sweden and have become collector’s items (I really like the old versions with the muted colors and sometimes cave-paintingesque shapes).

Here are some of my recent modern favorite finds (must buy the Mia Blanche mugs the next time I’m in Sweden!):

1. Traditional Dala horse in black and silver by Grannas (via Designonline.se)
2. Dala horse rug from Mats Mattor
3. Swedish dish cloth (love those!) by Erika Tubbin
4. Cotton blanket by Bengt Lindberg (via Frapp)
5. Plates by Mia Blanche (photo by Lena Granefelt)
6. Bookmark by Grannas A. Olsson Hemslöjd (via Swedish Design House)
7. Art by Melvin & Jag (via Signerat.se)
8. Vinyl wall art from My First Room
9. Shot glasses “Svennis” by Mia Blanche (photo by Lena Granefelt)
10. Mug “Sven” by Mia Blance (photo by Lena Granefelt)
11. Golden horse on skis (looks like an old Egyptian God figure, don’t you think?) by Leif Hjälte
12. Felt magnet by Grannas A. Olsson Hemslöjd (via Swedish Design House)

Awesome Inspiration To Craft With Paper

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:48:58 +0000

I love paper – stationery, wrapping paper, product wraps, boxes, shopping bags, wallpaper – it doesn’t matter what it is as long as it is pretty. I have boxes full of scrap pieces, old cards, inspirational patterns, etc. that I save for “future projects” (I am not a hoarder, I swear!) and a folder full of ideas of what to do with them (which I also keep adding to whenever I find something I just have to try). Hopefully I’ll find the time for them all at some point…

Just the other day, I happened to come across a fabulous new (to me anyway, this was their second issue) magazine from Australia called Paper Runway. It is soooo pretty, and full unbelievably talented paper art, artists and tons of inspiration. I’ve read through it several times already and love everything about it. Take a look:

All photos: Paper Runway

How amazing is that dress? And the paper porcelain? And the dog portrait?

Vegan Ice Cream Maker Treat

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:18:26 +0000

I have certain favorite ice cream flavors which you can easily find in Sweden but that I have not been able to find here, so last summer, I thought I’d take matters into my own hands and make my own ice cream instead. I bought a Cuisinart ice cream maker and started experimenting, and I love it! I did go through my share of mishaps and not so great final results, but once you get the basics down, it is so easy to use.

And, after my recent decision to seriously cut back on dairy (see the Drink Milk post), it comes in even handier. I’ve started making “ice cream” using coconut milk instead of cream, and it is delicious (if I may say so myself). Last night, we had company over, and I made this:

Raspberry Rum Coconut Ice Cream

You get 2 pints out of this recipe, and I store it in “real” containers I bought at a local ice cream shop.

1 12 oz bag frozen raspberries
1 can (14 oz) unsweetened full fat coconut milk
¾ cup sugar (I used organic turbinado)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons rum (I used Meyers spiced)

Puree the raspberries in a blender and strain out as many of the seeds as possible (I still had some left, but people liked it that way, so it worked out). Put the strained raspberries and all the other ingredients in the blender and puree until it’s well blended together (or if you’re lazy like I was here, just stir it together in the bowl). Pour into a bowl (I like to use stainless steel) and put the (covered) bowl in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (do NOT skip this step. I did once and ended up with runny ice cream all over the kitchen floor).

Once it’s chilled, start your ice cream maker machine, pour in the mixture and run for 25 minutes (in my case at least. The time may depend on which ice cream maker you have, I’m not sure).

When the time is up (and it looks creamy and delicious), stop the machine and put the ice cream into containers and freeze for a couple of hours. If you don’t put alcohol in it, you can eat it right away, but with alochol, I find it too runny at this point and like it to firm up a bit. And when you take it out to serve, there is no need to let it thaw, because the alcohol prevents it from freezing up really hard.

I’m happy to say this got rave rewiews last night. Some comments were:

“this tastes like something you would get in a really fancy restaurant”

“you made this?!?”

“it’s nice with the seeds, you can tell it is made with the real thing”

“it’s so fresh, not too sweet”

More ice cream (vegan and not) to follow…

Another Luxury Apartment In Stockholm

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 14:07:10 +0000

As I mentioned in my previous luxury apartment eye candy post, I start pining for Sweden twice a year – and this is one of them. Oh, to be there to enjoy all four Advent Sundays with glogg, gingerbread cookies and saffron buns, St. Lucia (on December 13th) with all the lights and traditional processions, and Christmas, which in Sweden is celebrated on the 24th with lots of food, gifts and the traditional Disney-medley on TV at 3 pm.

We still have not realized our dream of owning our own place in Stockholm, but I keep browsing listings, hoping that something perfect will come our way. And it did! Unfortunately, it’s a bit out of our price range, but check out the pictures!

It is a converted movie theatre designed by architect Björn Hedvall (who did a lot of buildings in Stockholm), and it was first opened in 1931. It has been converted to a huge, Moroccan-inspired one bedroom “riad” with a sort of “interior garden” in the middle of everything. It also has a walk-in-closet and a conservatory. And, to top it all off, it is right, smack in the middle of Stockholm, you can walk everywhere – to parks, restaurants, shops, everything.

Photos: Eklund, esny.se

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go out and buy some lottery tickets.

For more eye candy, see my Dream Bali Villa post

Orange Living Room Furniture

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:21:25 +0000

For some reason, I have been obsessed with orange lately. I’ve never really paid much attention to it, nor was it ever one of my favorite colors, but all of a sudden, I can’t seem to get enough of it. It’s such a cheerful, refreshing color, maybe that’s why. It’s been such a hot summer here.

And, like when you hear a new word for the first time, orange things suddenly seem to appear out of nowhere. I spend quite a bit of time online, doing research for various writing projects, and lately, it seems I can’t look for anything without coming across something fabulously orange that I just have to stop and take a look at.

I have started a “dream wish list” for furniture I want when I have the money and space for them. I’d probably not put them all in the same room, I think that would be a bit too much of a good thing, and I would like them to stand out as accent pieces, not blend in to an ocean of orange. I’ll just have to get a really big house.

Here are some of my favorite finds:

Table Lamp

This adorable lamp called “Tefat” (meaning saucer) comes from Swedish design team Bantie.

Photo: Bantie

Sideboard/Bar

I have no idea who made this or when it was made, but I love it! It is from a series of wonderful photos by S.R. Gambrel called “Lower Fifth”. If anybody knows who designed it, I’d love to hear from you.

Photo: S.R. Gambrel

Seating

How could I possibly write this and not include one of my favorite Danish mid-century modern designers, Verner Panton? His designs are just awesome, and so innovative. I love how he just designed things he wanted to create and didn’t care that people sometimes considered him crazy. Turns out he was right – just look at how they’ve all stood the test of time. It’s not news that he adored strong colors, and he actually even had a show called Orangeriet, with all orange stuff. An absolute must have in my orange living room is one of his “Panton” chairs

My next chair selection is also a mid-century modern, this one by Finnish Eero Aarnio. He designed the “Ball or Globe Chair”, also known in Sweden as “Åskbollen” (the Thunderball) in 1963, and when it was shown at the the international furniture fair in Cologne in 1966, it was an instant hit.

I’ve never been to Morocco, but I would love to go there on a shopping trip. I can’t get enough of that Moorish design… just look at this adorable leather poof

Photos: Miljögården, Nationalencyklopedin, Tazi Designs

Sofa

Now for something more contemporary: the red and orange “Flow” sofa by Kay + Stemmer. Love those bright colors and rounded shapes!

Photo: Heal’s

Or, another of my all time favorites, Arne Jacobsen’s “Swan” sofa. Always gorgeous.

Photo: Artdeco

Coffee Table

I love things that have multiple uses, and the Itboxes by Swiss designers Valérie Jomini and Stanislas Zimmermann fits that description. They are made from polished aluminum and come in several different colors and sizes, and the best part is that you can use them as a whole bunch of things: coffee tables, wall shelves, desk shelves and more.

Photos: it Design

That’ll have to do it for today! I don’t even want to think about what the bill for this shopping spree would be! But if you can’t afford the real thing, you can try to get your hands on some of Arne Jacobsen’s fabulous doll house furniture, designed for Swedish toy company BRIO in the 60s. I had a doll house, but it wasn’t furnished by Arne Jacobsen! Although I had (and still have) a Saarinen Barbie table, so I guess I shouldn’t complain.

Pinot Gris – A Great Dry White Wine For Summer

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:24:12 +0000

Is there anything more delicious than a glass of crisp white wine on a warm summer evening? I love reds too, but when the temperature climbs, I always switch to whites.

Lately I have been hooked on Pinot Gris, it is definitely one of my favorite dry white wine types, and I decided to do a taste test of six Oregon Pinot Gris for under $15. I am by no means a wine expert (although I am proud to say that I have a diploma in mixology from Harvard, never mind that they spelled my first name wrong and that it has my maiden name, so by now, nobody would know that it’s me), just an avid, enthusiastic consumer who wants to share her finds.

Here they are, in alphabetical order:

A-Z 2008 – $13.99
This has been my go-to white for the past year. Pale yellow in color and fresh, crisp and flavorful, it has been a hit with all my friends too. It’s a great pratvin (“talk wine”) as we say in Swedish – a wine that doesn’t need food but works great for just hanging out and chatting with friends. Another plus is the screw top. I know some people still consider that inferior to “cork corks” but I love them, it makes everything so much easier.

Acrobat 2008 and 2009 – $11.99
My second favorite. This discreet and elegant wine is a very pretty pale yellow, with a slight hint of honey “on the nose” as they say. It is crisp and a little bit lighter and more acidic than the A-Z, perfect for really hot days. The flavors really come out when it has had a chance to warm up a little bit, so if you can control yourself, let it sit for a few minutes when you take it out of the fridge. Also a great pratvin. The 2008 has a cork cork and the 2009 screw top.

Cooper Hill 2009 – $9.99
I rarely buy wines under $10. Call me a snob, but I just don’t expect great things from cheap wine. In this particular case, I should have stuck to that conviction. It started out well enough – the wine looked pretty and pale in the glass, with a scent hinting of melon. The first sip brought adjectives like “watery” and “sour” to mind, but I decided to give it a chance and let it sit for a few hours to see what would happen. When I tried it again, I got a clearer idea of what that flavor was – cat pee. Not a keeper.

Erath 2008 – $13.99
Loved the bottle right off the bat – tall, skinny and elegant with a pretty label and a screw top. Very pale in the glass, almost white. This one also benefits from sitting for a few minutes to warm up a bit and let the flavors come to life. It is fruity and crisp with a good dose of acidity (not bad, just more acidic than the others). It comes in as number 4 on my list of favorites. Can work as a pratvin, but I like this one better with food.

Montinore Estate 2008 – $13.99
I had great hopes for this one as I poured it in the glass – it had a yummy-looking pale golden color and a crisp refreshing smell with a hint of sweetness. Sadly, I was disappointed when I went to taste it. It was surprisingly watery, and a bit sour. Again, I let it breathe for a while and tried it again, and this time I liked it even less. Pass.

Ponzi Vineyards 2008 – $14.99
Favorite #3, from Willamette Valley. You feel refreshed just looking at it in the glass. It is a nice pale yellow with a faint smell of stone fruits. The flavor was somewhat neutral, but delicious and refreshing, and almost a little bit spritzy. A classic Oregon Pinot Gris.

So I found 4 really good wines out of 6 – not bad. But the search goes on! If you have a favorite summer wine, I’d love to hear about it. I’m always looking for great new wines to try.

Luxury Apartment Eye Candy – Stockholm

Sat, 15 May 2010 13:08:37 +0000

It’s that time of year again. Twice every year, in the beginning of December and at the start of summer, I start longing for Sweden. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to go home almost every year since I came to the US, but I suspect this is one of those years when it’s not going to happen. I make up for it by listening to Radio Stockholm and watching Swedish TV online, reading Swedish blogs and newspapers and connecting with friends and family through Skype. Although sometimes that only makes the homesickness worse….

I know Sweden is not in the top 10 of must-see places on most people’s list, but if you have the chance, I highly recommend a trip there (during the summer, or even in December. It’s sooo cozy right before Christmas, it’s dark, yes, but there are lights and candles everywhere). Stockholm is gorgeous, built on islands and everything you want is right there in the city. You can shop, bicycle, fish, swim, go boating, eat & drink, stroll, enjoy nature (yes, right in the city), visit museums… it’s a city that’s very easy to enjoy and live in.

My husband and I have long dreamed about buying an apartment in Stockholm, not just to use as a holiday home, but as a second home. We’d love to find a way to divide our time between Sweden and the US. So far, they’re just dreams, but I can’t help browsing around every now and then to see what’s on the market in Stockholm… I came across this apartment the other day, and had to share the pictures. If I win the lottery, it’s all mine!

Photos: Eklund Stockholm New York (real estate brokers)

Don’t miss this luxury apartment – a converted movie theatre, also in Stockholm, and this Bali villa to die for.

My Favorite Swedish Clogs For Women

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:31:11 +0000

Growing up in Sweden, I wore clogs from the moment I started walking. I have always loved them – when they were hip in the 70s (like the white platform clogs my Mom bought me for my 7th grade graduation – awesome!), not so hip in the 80s, 90s and 00s, and now, when they’re finally in again!

But Swedish clogs have come a long way from the basic ones I wore as a teenager (not that there was anything wrong with them). I once refused to wear anything else through an entire winter and slipped my way to school in a pair whith heels so worn down that snow sloshed into them with every step I took (my parents were very patient people!). These days though, clogs come in all kinds of designs, from the old classic wood and black leather to ultra-chic high heel metallics.

Last summer, I was home in Sweden on vacation and happened upon the cutest little store in Gamla Stan (the old part of town) called Kungens Lilla Piga (the King’s Little Maid). If you are visiting Stockholm, you have to stop by. It has a country/shabby chic look and is packed with adorable home decorating items; furniture, jewelry, clothing, shoes and more. The owner, Maria Lundgren, has created such a warm and welcoming atmosphere – I could have stayed all day.

Anyway, I had put “new clogs” on my list of what I had to get in Sweden on that trip (I always stock up on as much as I can when I’m there) but had not had any luck finding a pair that I liked. Well, at Kungens Lilla Piga, I found a pair of Calou clogs and they were the most comfortable shoes I have ever tried in my life. Soft springy soles, even softer suede upper, and wide enough so that you don’t end up with sore and swollen feet after a long day of shopping. And look how cute they are! I ended up buying this pair

You can’t buy Calou’s clogs in the US (yet), but Maria told me she would be happy to send them to customers here. If you’re interested, just contact her (there is a contact form on the Kungens Lilla Piga website)

I also found these adorable ones from Dala (also at Kungens Lilla Piga), painted in a traditional folk pattern (called kurbits) from Dalarna – a region in the middle of Sweden (where Carl Larson lived) known for painted furniture and horses, among other things. I was only going to get one pair of clogs, but after trying these on… I happened to be wearing a black linen skirt and a black sleeveless top, and these clogs looked so great with them I had to buy them!

Calou Clogs

Designed and handmade in Sweden, Calou’s clogs have leather uppers and super comfortable soles made of springy polyurethane that you can walk on all day. Most of their styles are more on the classic clog side, no spiky heels or crazy colors, but a nice range of soft colors and styles that you can wear anywhere. For those who are looking for something a little bit dressier, they do have 2 open toe designs with slightly higher heels (wooden) as well. Again, they’re not available in the US, but you can get them through Kungens Lilla Piga.

There Goes The Neighbourhood

Speaking of heels… these awesome clogs by Swedish designer Åsa Westlund have wooden soles, leather uppers, and each is hand painted in that same traditional Swedish kurbits style as my Dala clogs above. Åsa studied design in London, worked in the fashion industry in Paris and then returned home to revamp the old Swedish classic. We’re all thrilled that she did, and her shoes will be available at Anthropologie stores this summer.

Maguba

An offshoot of just such an old Swedish classic (Troentorp), Maguba’s are wild and crazy clogs! They are handmade in a family-owned factory using all natural materials, and for every pair they sell, Maguba makes a donation to plant new woodland.

They come in four different styles: the low heel Visby (classic design), the high heel strappy Barcelona, the high heel peep toe Bologna, and the solid high heel slip-in Stockholm. All styles come in several different vibrant (to say the least) color combinations, but they also have a few that are a bit less bright (wood, brown, black and natural). But, in case you don’t see anything you like, you can design your own – just pick a style and then choose your sole and upper colors.

Maguba’s are available from their website.

Swedish Hasbeens

These are fast becoming a classic in the “chic clog” genre. Emy and Cilla (the founders) were inspired to start their company in 2006 when Emy found 300 pairs of high heeled clogs from the 70s in the basement of an old clog factory. All their clogs (and bags and belts) are inspired by the 1970s and handmade of wood and ecologically prepared natural grain leather.

They come in a bunch of styles: braided peep-toe sandals (in four different heel heights), lace-up boots, slip-ins, and jodhpurs. Popular in Sweden for several years now, it seems that the word is out elsewhere as well. Sara Jessica Parker has been spotted wearing the jodhpurs and rumor has it she will be wearing a pair of the nude peep-toe ankle strap ones in the next Sex and the City movie.

Available in the US from endless.com