For a while now I’ve been feeling a little more Aussie than the Swede I actually am. I’ve found myself saying “no worries” and “whatever”, and letting others take charge. I’ve been in the grey zone, where things are a bit softer and fluffier. Maybe motherhood has finally caught up with me!

However, my Scandinavian side has crept back in over the last few days, and I’ve suddenly felt more assertive. I have a lot more energy and focus, and feel the need to be more “black and white” – a very Swedish trait.

These new prints from super-talented art director and typographer Therese Sennerhold (a Swede, of course) suit my current mood perfectly. I can so identify with her mottos – particularly the one that says: “Life is color, but black and white is more realistic.”

The prints in the picture above are called “Grid” and “Simply Black”. I love the bold, clean lines and strong wording against the “Grid” design. It is simplistic, strong and striking at the same time!

Therese creates graphic prints with new and old quotations and sayings, some of which she has found and others she has made up herself. How fresh is the pairing of “Monday Delight” with “Bold and Straight”, especially when contrasted with the softer angles of the blue light?

The collection Shapes + Words includes pairs of prints, one featuring a phrase and one featuring a shape. Although they’re not sold together, they share a common denominator – whether a colour or a design – and they sit beautifully together.

With its grey tones, the top design, called “Playground”, softens the black-and-white graphic print (“No Perfection”). Saying that, the underlining of the words also softens “No Perfection” – or is that the clever styling, with the pastel shirt nearby?

Therese has also produced striking postcards to complement her prints. I love the subtle inclusion of colour in the postcards … although that must be my Australian side creeping through again.

Design Therese Sennerholt. Styling Lotta Agaton. Photography Kristofer Johnsson.

That I am a big lover of wool is no secret. Coming from the Nordic countries, sheepskins and wool are a part of everyday life; we use them to stay warm, and also to add texture and a sense of cosiness to our interiors. I don’t just mean rugs, blankets and cushions, either. Winter boots, knitted jumpers and scarfs are all used as part of our decoration and styling – as well as to wear, of course!

My home is full of sheepskin. I have Swedish woollen blankets, wool cushion covers (some of which I even use as wall art!), and felted wool ottomans that look like huge pebbles, which are my babies’ favourite playthings – and handy stools, too!

In winter, wool is the main staple in my wardrobe. I wear large, black, often masculine, knitted wool jumpers. Doesn’t matter whether they’re made in Scandinavia, New Zealand or Australia – so long as they’re made of wool, and beautifully designed. One of my favourite silk tops has a hand-tufted lining around the neckline and the bottom. I don’t travel anywhere without it. When not in use, I often have the knits displayed, just on hangers, around my house. It makes me feel at home.

Styling with wool is something that comes naturally to me, which is why I am very drawn to these images. I like the way all the textures are layered together to create an incredibly rich and interesting display. The industrial setting makes the perfect backdrop with its bare white walls and exposed concrete floor. The combination of the weathered wood, the earthy tones of the woollen textiles and the bleached white ceramics along with the occasional deep charcoal detail is so striking.

Jacqueline Fink from Little Dandelion is the creative mind (and hands) behind the wonderful, hand-knitted, oversized textiles shown in all these images. She uses naturally coloured, high-grade unspun wool from Australia and New Zealand to create bespoke woollen soft furnishings. You can tell that each one has been lovingly handmade. They have an incredibly tactile aesthetic – you just want to reach out and touch them!

Jacqueline also works on large-scale installations. These particular pieces are part of the Sea Art Collection, which was a collaborative project with like-minded stylist and ceramicist Lara Hutton.

With their soft, muted tones, these pieces so versatile. You can easily imagine them being used as features in both residential and commercial settings. I could definitely see them in my home as I am in a coastal area, however I might have to wait until the kids are a bit older, as I know they wouldn’t be able to resist playing with them. And who could blame them? They’re so tactile that even I want to cuddle up with one!

Image 1: Wool Detail Jacqueline Fink. Styling Glen Proebstel. Photography Sharyn Cairns.

All Other Images: Textiles Jacqueline Fink Cermamics and Styling Lara Hutton  Photography Sharyn Cairns.

As Lollo’s offsider at Scandinavian Wallpaper & Décor, I’m so excited to be guest blogging this week. My name’s Gemma, and I’ve been working with Lollo for the past year or so, in which time my love of Scandinavian design has grown to near-obsession levels.

There’s something about the Scandinavian design sense – the pared-back colour schemes, the minimalistic styling and the clever use of texture – that I really love. I think perhaps it’s to do with the fact that Australians and Scandinavians share similar passions – we both love natural light and nature, for instance, and this plays a big part in our styling.

When Lollo invited me to do a guest post I have to admit that I was a little bit nervous! With so many amazing Scandinavian interiors out there, how would I pick just one? I then stumbled across these images of this beautifully bright and airy home in Oslo, which belongs to the talented photographer and stylist Line Kay, of Vintage Piken.

So many things about this home resonate with me. The combination of whitewashed walls and floors, the light timber tones and occasional accents of grey and green create a wonderfully organic palette, which is enriched by the various woven baskets that appear throughout the home.

The kitchen for me is the heart of the home. I love that the tones of the rest of the house are echoed in this assortment of kitchen accessories. I also really like the way that the small baskets have been incorporated as storage solutions. Not only are they practical, they also add a textural element, which is echoed in the woven light fitting.

This open-plan living area also features a statement woven light fitting. The natural timber tones of the light, the rustic vessel on the main table and the small coffee table add the perfect amount of contrast in this otherwise bright, white space. It’s amazing how these wooden elements, with their natural tones, instantly make this space feel liveable.

The bathroom is perhaps one of my favourite rooms in this house. With exposed timber beams, a timber ceiling and a beautiful long timber shelf, it is a perfect continuation of the rest of the house. I like that there are decorative elements in the bathroom, as so often they are stripped away. The baskets, plant, artwork and even the soft grey flooring make the bathroom feel as bright and airy as the rest of the home.

There is something about Line’s home that feels almost Australian, which I think is why it has really struck a chord with me. These photos are a good reminder that across the world, beautiful things happen inside the walls of people’s homes.

Images from: Femina. Photography by: Yvonne Wilhelmsen.