Give-Away: Win A Ylva Skarp Print

Personality, Creativity, Integrity, Curiosity. These characteristics describe a good human being. Or the latest work of the Swedish designer Ylva Skarp. She was one of the big shooting stars at this year's Formex, the Stockholm Interior and Design Expo, and the 'talk of blogs' all over Scandinavia and beyond. Her inspiring prints speak of her passion for letters. After studying calligraphy at the Roehampton Institute in London, she decided to combine calligraphy writing with traditional Swedish craftsmanship. The result are sleek yet playful, bold yet delicate prints.

Now can you imagine how thrilled I was when my friend Marianne from Nordic Bliss offered the unique opportunity of a give-away on Happy Interior Blog. Well yes, happiness galore! Nordic Bliss not only is one of the most beautiful and best treasure chests for Scandinavian home accessories, but also the first UK store to represent products from Ylva Skarp's collection. And Marianne is offering one of the four 50 x 70 cm big art works to one of you, my beloved readers!

If you'd like to add some state-of-the-art Scandinavian bliss to your home, all you have to do is like the Facebook page of my friend and sponsor Nordic Bliss and confirm it with a little comment here. Don't forget to mention in the comment which print you'd like to win - simply pick one of the four shown here. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced here on Happy Interior Blog next Tuesday. Due to VAT restrictions, this give-away is open to readers across the European Union. Big apologies to my readers who can't join in - hope you don't mind too much!

So, what else to say? Like, comment, and keep your fingers crossed for one of the great Ylva Skarp prints offered by Nordic Bliss! Good luck!

Photography via Nordic Bliss / Ylva Skarp

Read More

No comments

Happily Ever After: Illustrator Blanca Gomez

Let me tell you how I decide on what to feature on my blog. I either see something in a magazine, I get inspired on-the-go or - yes - I browse the internet for inspiration. Then the progression goes something like this: I open a website and then it happens - the first sight puts a big smile on my face. Yes, beautiful and inspiring content makes me happy. And then it is more than clear. That has to go up onto Happy Interior Blog. Now that exactly happened when I opened the site of Blanca Gomez, 'Cosas Minimas', a talented Spanish illustrator and designer from Madrid. 

Her playful illustrations inherit a healthy dose of happiness and cheer. Bright colours, fine lines and a pinch of wit makes her illustrations the right choice for a happy home. Don't you agree. And the best: Her designs are all available through her Etsy shop. Well, sometimes happiness is just a click away. 

Photography via Cosas Minimas

Read More

No comments

Happily Ever After: Olaf Hajek

I have already shared my passion for arty illustrations and art prints for interior decoration. Today I want to present one of my favorite German illustrators - Olaf Hajek. Olaf Hajek's work is marked by an extremely original style and working process. None of his illustrations is digital, he rather works as a painter and uses acrylic on paper, cardboard or wood. Thus, each of his illustrations has a refined touch of handmade art. Ever since, Olaf Hajek has become an internationally renowned artist and has been commissioned illustrations for big clients such as Financial Times, The New Yorker, Carrefour, Rolling Stone, Coca Cola and many more. His work exhibits a striking array of vibrant colours and his style recalls memories of Frida Kahlo and other folk art interpretations. The illustrations surprise with unexpected combinations of elements coming from different cultures and convince with a unique and lively interpretation of nature and people. An amazing round-up of his artwork can be seen in his book 'Flowerhead'. For the record: I have his book and one of his illustrations (the very first presented in this blog post). Isn't his artwork simply stunning?

Photography via Olaf Hajek

Read More

No comments

Happily Ever After: Lisa Congdon Art

I'd like to live happily ever after...with art by fantastic San Francisco based illustrator and fine artist Lisa Congdon. While reading some of my favorite blogs I spotted Lisa's work and fell instantly in love with it. The vibrant colours, the extraordinary motives, and her love for detail made me go weak and with Christmas approaching I've put one of her amazing prints right up on my wish list. Her art draws lots of inspiration from nature yet it is so urban - this amazing juxtaposition of feelings evoked by her art made me a huge fan of hers. So, here is my ode to Lisa Congdon in San Fran from remote Munich, Germany.

Photography via Lisa Congdon

Read More

No comments

New Etsy Shop & Give-Away: TexturedINK

Last week I was approached by a talented graphic designer named Ankita Kejariwal who recently opened a new Etsy shop called TexturedINK (click on the name to visit the shop). She saw my blog featured as 'blog of the week' on decor8 (thanks so much, Holly) and asked me if I'd be interested in featuring her work on Happy Interior Blog. I jumped over to Etsy to see her work and loved her illustrations instantaneously. She offers beautiful prints, many of them personalized and ideal for events such as weddings, birthdays, and other festivities. Plus I thought that a newbie Etsy shop and a newbie blog are a great match to support each other - and here we are!

But looking at her work was not enough for me, so I asked Ankita about her background and work. She's lived in India, the UK, and the US - a fact that can be seen in her art. The rich colours and vibrant contrasts (influenced by her Eastern upbringing in South Asia) are tamed and held within crisp and simple lines - a clear impact of the Western design aesthetics. Ankita is attracted to simple, clean art and draws inspiration from the many cultures she's embraced while traveling. Her love for typography, colours and layouts is clearly visible in her work. Moreover, her Etsy shop is a culmination of her different creative careers - she's been a copywriter, an interior designer and a graphic designer - great professions to combine and boost creativity, don't you think?

Ankita's work convinced me, but she's upped the ante by offering one of her paper goods (no wood panels or canvas) as a give-away to one of you! All you have to do is put a little comment in the comment section and tell me what you think of Ankita's work. All comments until  Thursday midnight CET will be taken into account and a winner will be chosen randomly with random.org on Friday. Be the happy winner!

Read More

No comments

Happily Ever After: Arty Illustrations

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

I’d like to live happily ever after with...arty illustrations!

Tight budget, limited space, no time. Constraints that often challenge our inner desire to reinvent the space we live in. At least I am constanly faced with those restrictions. However, there always seems to be a way to appease my inner thirst for interior bliss. Like arty illustrations. I love how easy it is to add a tad of sophistication or humour to any kind of interior – from romantic over rustic to urban. I personally love the use of retro designs, carefully chosen colour palettes and whimsical illustrations to evoke interest and to weave in a pop of colour. I do have a few at home by myself and I can hardly beat my desire to acquire new ones.

With illustrations you get triple interior fun: First, the adventure of spotting and choosing one, second the fun of picking a suiting frame and framing the artwork (you can add so much drama with adequate framing), and last but not least the fun of deciding for the right spot in your home to feature your latest arty finding. There are so many beautiful examples out there – here I’ve made a little selection of some of my highlights. Currently, Etsy is one of my main inspiration sources for colourful, arty illustrations, and Swedish artist Therese Sennerholt for sleek and eye-catching black and white illustrations. Do you like to decorate with illustrations?

Read More

No comments