West Elm Archives - Style&Minimalism

Minimal Souvenirs From Stockholm

**Iris Hantverk** Bath Brush with Knob | **Sachajuan** Ocean Mist Texturising Spray* | **Iris Hantverk** Beechwood Comb | **Byredo** Room Spray in Cotton Poplin* | **TID** No.1 36 Watch with Black Face & Black Leather Wristband | **L:a Bruket** 092 Sage, Rosemary & Lavender Hand Cream* | **Granit** Weekly Planner | **West Elm** Souk Wool Rug*

Souvenirs are always such a lovely reminder of a great trip. Earlier in the year I visited Stockholm with Sachajuan, and being a bit of a Scandiphile it was a great excuse to pick up a few things to bring home. I found the perfect minimal souvenirs from Stockholm, made by some fantastic Swedish brands, all beautifully designed, of course. Almost all of them are under 100ml or small in size and weight (except the Byredo room spray which you can pick up in duty free at the airport), so all perfect for carry-on luggage.

There’s a lovely story behind Iris Hantverk, their beautiful brushes are made according to an old Swedish tradition by visually impaired craftsmen from different cultures. The quality is exceptional and this is definitely just the start of my collection. They do make some other amazing homewares too, including soft furnishings and cleaning products.

I’ve written about Sachajuan a few times (their haircare products are my favourite) and you’re probably quite familiar with the brand now. Their Ocean Mist Texturising Spray is their bestseller and one I’ve not mentioned before. It’s perfect for those who like a more textured, beachy style.

Byredo is one of those brands that in my mind gets it all right, from the packaging and branding to the contents of their slick bottles, I love it all! The Cotton Poplin room spray is new to the collection, evolving from the ever popular candles. It has a fresh scent, think clean sheets with touches of blue chamomile, linen, white cedarwood and sweet musk.

Whilst in Stockholm I dropped into the studio/shop of TID (Swedish for ‘time’) and had a lovely chat with Ola about the brand and what it’s like living and working in Stockholm. The space is small but stunning with shelves and tables all made from Dinesen‘s Douglas Fir floorboards. I was so inspired.

L:a Bruket may have made its way over to the UK in the last couple of years but that’s no reason not to appreciate it in its home country. I’m funny in that I really like to buy things from where they come from or were made, it gives them a little extra something. The 092 hand cream is another bestseller and I can understand why given its lovely scent of sage, rosemary and lavender. They also do a smaller 30ml size, perfect for handbags.

Granit is a sort of cross between Muji and IKEA, filled with minimal functional products for the home, at a reasonable price. The only thing that stopped me from taking half the shop home was that my luggage was already jam-packed (I even got a heavy label at the airport).

New Bedroom Textiles

This post was created in collaboration with The White Company.

**The Duvet Store** Hungarian Goose Down Duvet | **Habitat** Duvet Cover* | **The White Company** Square Pillows* | **The White Company** Square Pillowcases* | **The White Company** Standard Pillows* | **The White Company** Standard Pillow Cases (top)* | **Habitat** Standard Pillow Cases (bottom)* | **The White Company** Quilt* | **Wood/Grey** Stripe Cushion* | **Wood/Grey** Blanket*

**West Elm** Souk Wool Rug* | **Mahabis** Classic Slippers in Larvik Grey* (10% off with code ‘IGX-9d5bd925’)

Finding good textiles to use in the bedroom is vital if you want to create an inviting, warm space that you feel comfortable in. I thought I’d share a few of my favourite brands and items, as I begin to share my home with you on Style&Minimalism. From duvets to rugs, pillowcases to blankets, I’ve tried all sorts and have been lucky to discover some really great products.

Without a good night’s sleep I can’t function so finding bedding that works for both me and Dan was really important. We were given our Hungarian goose down duvet as a Christmas present, and have been very happy with it, at 10.5 togs it’s both lightweight and warm. Our pillows are a new addition from The White Company. The large square ones are great for sitting up and reading in bed, and the standard pillows are a special design with three chambers for a better sleeping position. The two outer chambers have more supportive feathers for side sleepers and the central chamber has more soft down ideal for front or back sleepers. I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in how my neck feels when I wake up.

Bedlinen can also make a huge difference to how I feel in bed, I prefer cotton sheets as they feel fresh and clean, and usually go for a simple palette of white and pale grey. I’ve experimented a little with linen pillowcases and although I like the look and feel of them they’re not as soft on my face as cotton. The square pillowcases and top standard pillowcases are from The White Company’s Avignon collection. I love the little pom-pom details along the edges, it’s fun but still quite minimal. The bottom standard pillowcases and duvet cover are both from Habitat, part of their Percale collection, a 180 thread count Egyptian cotton that is more soft than crisp; it feels really good to be enveloped in. On top of the duvet we have a gorgeous grey quilt, perfect for keeping our feet warm on cold winter nights, or chillier summer ones when I’ll be pulling it up over a flat sheet. It’s another item from The White Company, a brand as you’ve probably gathered by now I’m quite fond of. The quality is just so much better than most you find on the high street. There’s a coordinating cushion that goes with the quilt but I prefer not to have everything too matchy-matchy, mine’s from Wood/Grey, an incredible little website that sources some really beautiful and unusual designs for the home. They have some great beauty products, too, like Herbivore Botanicals. The herringbone blanket across the bed is also from them.

I think it’s really important to have great textiles on the floor, too. Wandering around the room barefoot you want to feel something soft under your feet. When I first featured this Beni Ourain style rug from West Elm I had no idea that it was going to be so soft! It’s the sort of rug you stop just to wriggle your toes in. I cannot express just how happy I am with it. Downstairs we have floorboards and tiles so I wear slippers most of the time. These Mahabis ones have a soft wool lining, squidgy cushioned inner sole and detachable outer soles which convert them into an outdoor shoe. They’re really warm and comfortable.

I would love to know if you’ve tried any of the products and what you thought of them. Or if you have any great recommendations please let me know in the comments section below.

New Season Bedroom Accessories

Spring is only a few weeks away and I’m looking forward to the longer days; for me more daylight means more shooting time and not worrying if I’ve missed the only good light of the day. As we’re coming out of winter I feel like it’s a good time to freshen things up in the house.

I’ve been thinking more and more about how we use our bedroom and the kind of mood I want to inspire. Above all else it’s where we sleep so the bed, bed linen, pillows and duvet need to work hard. I think textiles are key when it comes to creating a comfortable and relaxed space. The White Company are one of my favourite brands for bed linen, the quality is exceptional and although not cheap I think their products are good value. I’ve been on the lookout for a great quilt for a little while and their new Bourton Collection has a gorgeous grey one that has matching cushion covers. It’s grey herringbone on one side and a stripe chambray on the other, so when I fancy a change I can flip it over.

I’m starting to experiment with lighting, we have downlights in most rooms but I think we’re missing a trick and could do with a few lamps here and there. I’ve seen a lot of great designs out there that don’t seem too expensive, especially for something that makes such a big difference to the mood of a room. Scandinavian designers are particularly good with lighting; maybe as daylight (or lack of it) has such a big impact on them. MENU and ferm LIVING are two brilliant Danish brands that not only make great lamps but lots other great homeware products, too. I’ve picked out a couple of my favourites above.

Like many of my Instagram buddies I’ve become quite obsessed with Beni Ourain rugs. They’re traditional Moroccan rugs woven from undyed natural wool by the Beni Ourain people from the Rif Mountains. Modernist architects, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright were also known to like them. Like those guys, I’m a fan of order but I love the imperfect nature of their patterns. The thick pile is perfect for rubbing your toes in as you get out of bed. With their current popularity there are so many great Beni Ourain style rugs available online, I particularly love this one from West Elm. It’s not a traditional Moroccan rug but was made in New Delhi as part of the Craftmark initiative, “which helps denote genuine Indian handicrafts, develop sector-wide minimum standards and norms for labeling a product as a handicrafts product“. If you’re looking for a genuine Moroccan rug, India May Home have some coming soon.

One of the other things I like to do in bed is read a good book. I read a lot, I have a book on the go constantly. Usually I buy three or four at a time which I keep beside the bed. I’m planning to put up a new shelf in our bedroom to keep them on so I can keep my bedside table clear. I’m undecided about the style and size of the shelf at the moment as I’ve yet to decide where to hang it but I love the simplicity of this one by Frama. And being a book lover, the recent discovery of Folio Society has got me all excited, their beautifully bound editions are keepers.