Pretty in pink does not begin to describe this lovely apartment belonging to Norwegian Silje Aune Eriksen, a ceramic designer.

Airy and devoid of unnecessary artifices, this humble abode is anything but boring. Im the bedroom the woodland themed wallpaper looks fresh with the sloped ceiling, the architectural pieces of furniture (gotta love the desk’s chair) and the soft colour palette.

Graphic hits of neon and touches of black give the space a disarmingly candid charm.

As I revel in these amazing pics, I’d like to boast to the fact that tomorrow, at this time, I will be on my way westward to the Niagara-on-the-Lake area for a well earned vacation week with my family. Yay!!

I am sure that the outdoor’s fresh air and a little sun bathing will make wonders for my creativity and future blogposts… at least that’s the plan right? :o)

source: Trine Thorsen

How’s work been for you lately? Busy? New & Exiting? Unnerving?  All of the above? Well I have to say that I have had myself quite a lot of work on my mind. I guess it comes with the territory of having your own business and taking on new challenges at the same time. But you know what? I LOVE it!

I have not been this excited to go to work in the morning in a long long time. That being said I also realize that all my going ons have left my newly decorated office in complete chaos!

So here is my mid-year resolution (it’s never too late to start New Year’s resolutions right?)… from today on I will give myself the working environment I need to be creative, productive and energized! Alright, it is said, now what do I need to do to make it happen?

Let’s start with colour. My office needs colour! Because I am in a rental building, I never got to repaint the walls… I will make that the first item on my list. The “non colour” that is there now is both depressing and makes me wonder if it is a weird shade of off-white or if it is just dirty. Moving on…

Next: organization! I know I am somewhat organized in my own messiness, but now it is just OUT of CONTROL! There are papers, magazines, paint and fabric swatches everywhere. Pierre Belvédère makes great storage boxes that are colourful and practical. A modest splurge that is much needed. I am sure to be able to cross that off my list too this week!

Third item: heat. Yup heat! My office had 2 large windows and a balcony (lucky me) that are all facing South. It gets to be an oven in there and of course, when it is, I am not really inspired to work. So I will find a lovely vintage fan to put on the desk which will cool me and look cool too!

Finally, seating. I must reclaim my super cozy desk chair. For the greater good of television, I brought on the set my super comfortable velvet chair and put a terrible folding number in its place at the office. Seriously! Pay yourself first they say… well this week I will get my chair back and replace it on set with one I found in a garage sale over the weekend and that has great lines with wooden armrests. Plus the colour is a fabulous olive green. I am sure everyone will be happy to see it arrive and I will be seated properly again.

Well, that was not so hard!

Sources: 1. 81 Hours ,2. The Decorista, 3. Let’s Make Nice On Purpose, 4. Ministry of Deco, 5. The Design Files, 6. Ministry of Deco, 7. Jaclyn Paige 

Painter Enrique Garcia Lozano puts his money where his mouth is… by living in a gallery style loft, surrounded by his exposed work.

In the vast space of exposed columns, high ceilings and polished concrete floors, the artful display of paintings brings colour and texture to the space; while a mix of Mid Century pieces and vintage finds furnish the loft in a dishevelled yet cohesive whole.

The mezzanine kitchen is where it’s at for me though! The checker board marble floor tiles and table, its mismatched chairs, and stainless steel cabinets give the space a restaurant quality while feeling very cozy niched up high above the living area.

How about this tufted headboard in bright peacock blue velvet? With the colourful swirl pillow and the ox blood red throw, it comes alive and makes a statement in the otherwise stark white bedroom.

Photographers: P. Zuloaga & I. Sentmenat for Elle 

Those of you who follow my blog will already know that I’m moving into my sweet little new apartment next week. And because I work from home, my home office is the absolute number one priority (well, after my bed)!

This got me thinking recently not only about what I want my next office to look like, but also about what are the important features of a home office.

I came to the conclusion that the same guidelines apply in a home office, no matter how big or how small, whether its shared or not shared, whether its used eight hours a day or one hour a month.

Of course we would all love a spacious office reminiscent of the great big library rooms of yesteryear used primarily for celebratory drinks and quiet reading time (à la Downton Abbey or Mad Men).

But the reality of home offices these days is that they’re often cramped or even shared with other rooms (whether it be the kitchen or the bedroom) and the risk of paper or gadget overflow has become scary!

So rather than letting it become another furniture and gadget graveyard, let’s look at a few ways to efficiently organize your home office for style, comfort and practicality.

1. Edit, edit, edit! I think it’s safe to say that unless you are a hundred years old, your home office probably includes some kind of electronic equipment: a computer, maybe a printer, scanner, tablet, speakers, and the list goes on and on, sometimes to scary lengths!

My rule is: get rid of anything you haven’t used in over six months. Additionally, hide the items that are used occasionally and, as much as possible, hide the spaghetti of chords hanging behind your desk!

2. Watch the view: No one likes to stare at a blank wall. I personally love my desk to face the entrance of the room, the window, or better, both. If none of these options are possible in your layout, decorate the wall behind your computer with frames, shelves or an inspiring pin board.

3. Desire to inspire: Speaking of pin boards, every office should have one. Whether you work in a creative industry or not, a pin board is always a great idea to find inspiration, organise your thoughts or leave important reminders. I personally love this DIY linen pin board with nail head trim.

4. I’ve got your back: Your office chair doesn’t need to look like it’s straight out of a Star Trek episode, but ergonomics are important for productivity and posture. So it’s a good idea to invest in a stylish computer chair that will keep your spine happy hours on end. If the space allows, a guest chair across your desk and a lounge chair for kicking your feet up are also great additions to a home office.

5. Trays and things: You should see my desk at the end of a 10 hour day. It looks like a war zone. Post-its, paperwork of all sorts, empty glasses, open books, electronics plugged in… I’ll spare you the photo. Because of this, it’s extremely important to determine what usually ends up on your desk after a day’s work, and  make sure each item has its place. It makes cleaning up at the end of the day that much easier.

For example, do you always end up with a stack of paperwork? Then a “to-file” tray may be a good idea – but do file your stuff the next day! If you always have a glass or water or cup of tea while working, think about a set of coasters. Pens and office supplies can go in pretty trays. And if you find a nice silver toast rack (often found in antique shops and flea markets), it makes for great mail sorter (a great tip from Arianna Belle)!

Can you see yourself applying these guidelines in your home office? Do you have other valuable guidelines to share?

Gabrielle | Savvy Home

1. Laura Ponte’s Home via Nuevo Estilo | 2. Amanda Nisbet’s Apartment via Lonny | 3. Jan Showers Interior Design | 4. Jenna Alcala Photo via Matchbook Mag | 5. Ellie Somerville’s Apartment via Lonny  | 6. Nuevo Estilo | 7. Lulu Powers via Lonny | 8. Lizzie Baily via Lonny | 9. Jo Berryman of Matrushka Design | 10. Nate Berkus and Anne Coyle via Elle Decor | 11. Laurann Claridge by Patrick Cline via Lonny | 12.  Celerie Kemble | 13. Victoria Thompson by Patrick Cline via Lonny