7 Tips and 11 Photos of Scandinavian Style Interior Design

Years of admiration of Scandinavian style interior design happen when I was living in Sweden. Private homes or public spaces, didn’t matter, there was always something light and surprising.

One of my favorite blogs on vintage Scandinavian style interior design is Vita Ranunkler from Sweden.
Scandinavian vintage look is classic and gives warm feeling, because despite of colors they use in the interiors, they tend to include lots of lights, lamps and candles. Then the light colors they use in the interiors make it feel even lighter and warmer.

When  you lok at the photos (courtesy of Vita Ranunkler), pay attention to colors of the floor, walls and ceiling – this is an important part of the Scandinavian interior design. Posts on Vita Ranunkler are published often and always there is something to get inspired from.

I love unique style of Scandinavian shabby chic interiors. If in short I should make a summary here are my choice of:

7 tips on how to make your home look Scandinavian style interior design:

* De-clutter the interior make it as simple as possible.
* Place a fireplace in the corner and make it a focal point. Don’t hide. Make it a statement.
* Use lots of candles. Lamps should not give too  much ligh and don’t be scared to use many of them in one room.
* Keep the floors simple, wooden, don’t cover it with carpets. Scandinavians never did and still don’t like carpets.
* When it comes to color, stick to white, gray and bluish. Sometimes use light shades of pink.
* Use wood boldly and cover it with grey/white oil or paint to remove the yellow shades.
* Be eco-friendly and use vintage furniture and decoration materials.

Recommended further reading Scandinavian Design

Garden decorations

If I say now the word ‘garden’ – what comes to your mind first? Plants, flowers, veggies probably… then maybe furniture, paths, gravel etc. What about decorations? Do you have it in your mind when you think about the garden? And which garden you think are more beautiful with or without decorations?

Once I have written a post about plans to rearrange the garden and I have asked from what to start the change. In your comments, one of the best advice I’ve got is to start to think about decorations. I found it extremely inspiring, because decoration items define much better what kind of ambience my garden exhibits. Plants and furniture are important, but decoration items give the final touch and personalize the space. Beautiful garden decor transforms the spirit of the place, giving it a stylish, sophisticated feel. Sure, plants and flowers set the mood when you adore how they grow and bloom, but choosing unique accessories for garden will enhance the beauty of your plants.

Like every gardener from time to time - I am not so different - and I am also currently at the process of deciding what items to add to my garden and what spirit they shall reflect. I spotted some nice stuff at Grand Illusions: tea light holders, candle lanterns, zinc pots, planters and wire decorations. I like the design of the items and their beautiful, French inspired, rustic style. Have a look and tell me if you like it.

And remember bird feeders? When is better time to think about it than now? Maybe you think it’s early – you say, but I believe good planning is the key. The point is to start to feed the birds earlier, than the real winter starts, so birds learn and remember where the food is when the snow appears. In my zone 6 it’s good to start in October, latest in November. Sometimes I procrastinate and ‘wake up’ in December/January, but this year I plan ahead.

Land related career website

Do you know that there is a place in the web specializing in finding environment, land and garden related jobs? Recently somebody read my post about changing a career and how to become a garden coach and brought to my attention a website that is specializing in head hunting in environmental jobs.

Beside job offers, it’s possible to find there a comprehensive list of all the land-based colleges and the courses they run.

If you want to find a job in land related area – how you do it? Classified ads in newspaper or regular head hunting agencies? Until today I used to think that regular head hunters are covering most of the branches, but I couldn’t see any garden related jobs among the ads. When I saw Land Force first, I got very excited, because this makes things so much easier. OK, it is covering UK only – I think - but maybe you are interested in moving to the country of thousands of beautiful landscapes? I looked up today and as example there is a maintenance gardener searched by the Stowe Farm in Buckinghamshire.

This website covers many sectors: horticulture, landscaping, gardening, arboriculture, fencing, farm working, agriculture jobs, animal care, conservation, equine jobs, aquaculture jobs and forestry.

I checked the environmental conservation section, which covers recycling household waste, habitat management, protection of rural and urban landscapes, plants and animals, countryside recreation, community recycling, planning and parks, pollution, roads, areas of outstanding national beauty and global warming. Environmental conservation has gained in popularity, so it is more difficult to find the job. This is why there is a lot of volunteers in this sector who wants to gain at least some experience before full-time employment. The data says, there is in UK 6,000 organisations employing 56,000 and an estimated 200,000 volunteers.

If you search for a job, you may upload your CV, browse current vacancies, receive e-alerts to your e-mail, bookmark your favorite jobs,

It seems to be the young website, but let’s cross our fingers for it.

Images: British Organic Farmer - Derbyshire, England, Gardens in Bath, England

Grow Grapes website discovered

I just came across an interesting site called “Grape Growing System” that I believe you’ll all be interested in. Few weeks ago I have signed up to free materials and because I value them a lot, I decided to share it with you.
If you also want to grow grapes the correct way and would like to sign up for free information, you only need to fill the little form on the right. It is worth it - every incoming e-mail is full of tips and ideas. So if you want successfully grow grapes, this is the site and this is guy.

I will share with you my story. I have tried once to grow grapes and it was truly grand ‘grow grapes flop’. My first grape plants got sick very fast after being planted not in proper place and not taken care of. I searched for help and nobody could give me any sensible advice at that time, they were all mainly advising different strong chemicals for treatment. Sorry! But no. I am organic gardener, so I didn’t want to spray them with pesticides. I looked for much more than information with what to spray them. I believed there are better ways.

If the plant is offered not proper growing conditions, why should I additionally punish myself, my family and all living creatures in my garden with deadly and dangerous chemical? I already felt sorry for the plants. I have planted them in a wrong place, wrong way and my grape plant suffered, but this is not a disaster – it’s only mistake caused by lack of knowledge.

It is exactly the same as with learning how to walk, write, how to drive or anything else – you learn by making mistakes. You learn faster if somebody is helping, right?
I was thinking to look for local grape growing gardener, but that is too much hassle. There is no vineyards in the neighborhood - where to look?

I love grapes as a plant – it is so vital and grows such beautiful fruits - planning to grow them again, because beside fruits I'd like to have a beautiful grape arbor in my garden.

If you subscribe to "Grape Growing System" website that teaches how to grow grapes the correct way, share your opinion with me.

Drought tolerant gardening with planting list

Great inspiration for drought tolerant gardening.
Newly discovered website is dedicated mainly to the house for rent in Mykonos/Greece, but if you take closer look you may find a real garden designing treasure: a set of pictures showing garden development with full planting list.

I think choice of plants was made great and the mass planting has stunning effect. Just have a look by yourself at this example of beautiful drought tolerant gardening.

Lifehacker - website to read

Looking for surprisingly practical solutions? Then you should jump to Lifehacker which covers all aspects of life from protecting your stuff to where to look for savings or advices which plant to choose for your apartment if you, let’s say, don’t have a green thumb.

Big plus of Lifehacker is that in one place you may find all different tips.

Recently I liked a lot the tip on preserving herbs for winter - I wonder what is your favourite tip.

It is worth to visit, especially if you don't know it yet.

If you agree with me, let me know.