Clearly, I can’t get enough of the sendable heart attacks. I sent a few heart attacks to people around town, but I needed to send one to my sister, Caitlin, so I tried a different version this year. Ideally there’d be enough hearts to swim in them. You know like Duck Tales how they swim in money?

Materials: box, scissors, hearts and lots of them. I even made some pop-up hearts for the sides.

You have been heart attacked! 

Have you ever done this to someone? I highly recommend it. All you need is an innocent victim, lots of paper hearts, tape, and a quiet time when they aren’t looking. Muhahaha. 

PS-this is the one I did last year

Photos by Liv Colliander

You know how friendship bracelets are totally back? Well, I can’t quite bring myself to get into it after 15 years but I love the bright colors, the patterns, the idea of it….It got me thinking where else I could apply the process and I thought it’d be fun to make a huge friendship bracelet that you could walk on.  You know, given my love of all things oversized. After multiple attempts I came up with this rug for the new Chalkboard Magazine (it’s awesome. Check it out here). Any other size is too thick to actually use. The one you see here is two final rugs stitched together.

So, here’s the thing. I love Scandinavian style. I do. I love the crisp white walls and natural materials. I do.

Buuuuuut…so does everyone else. And I’m speaking from what I know now, which is Denmark. For the most part a standard apartment has the white walls, white or natural floors, and beautiful modern classic Danish furniture or an inspired nod to it. Or Ikea. There are lots of neutrals and then a pop of color now and again.* If you had asked me to define my interior style prior to moving to Scandinavia I would have said a mix of French/Swedish Gustavian (read here for a short history of the style. So interesting!) and loads of color and humor. I’m learning that Gustavian hasn’t remained much in Denmark (if it ever made it’s way here? anyone know?). I’m thinking it must be strictly Swedish.** Here’s what I’m talking about when I say Gustavian:

Now, these are a little too toned down & mature for me. What I’d do is blend the two styles together to get the best of both worlds. Domino (RIP) was quite good at achieving this eclectic mix of historical and modern. This one, below, is an apartment in Malmø, Sweden, just across the water from us in Copenhagen. I’d probably add in some more historical pieces with fun colors & patterns to achieve my ideal look, but I think they did a great job modernizing an historical apartment.

I’d also take advantage of the wonderfully bright patterns and colors that Scandinavians have come to perfect like Josef Frank’s. Joanna Goddard recently showed her apartment redo and added in his fabric. I thought it was a clever way of adding color and history.

I realize that I don’t talk about Scandinavian style enough and I need to take advantage of my surroundings and focus my design eye while I’m here. I’m going to try and feature more interiors/products. If you see anything noteworthy or know of any awesome designers, let me know.

1st and 3rd photos from Emma’s Design Blogg

2nd photo from Line Klein

Gustavian entry and living room found here

Joanna Goddard’s bedroom with Josef Frank

Wallpapered