home decor | anordinarywoman

13/01/2013

Shoe lover

Shoes – the one thing that really complete an outfit. Get it wrong & you feel uncomfortable the rest of that day. Not just comfortable as in comfy but also the total look. It’s the same with the hallway. A hallway without shoes aren’t really a hallway. It doesn’t feel as someone lives there. Finding a combined solution for storage where design & function goes hand in hand…that’s not easy. On the other hand, it’s not always necessary to hide the shoes … many times, they are stylish enough to showcase. Shoes are like jewelry nowadays, considering material, color, design & so on. Anyhow, I like open storage with the shoes visible. But that requires some orderliness. The main thing is that it is simple. If I don’t see the shoes, I won’t remember to use them either. I’ve been pleasantly surprised many times when shoes suddenly appears. But maybe it says more about me, unfortunately.

Overall, one can at least say that the shoes are a fun but oh so important detail, which does wonders for the body & soul – with or without storage. I threw a lot of shoes when we started with the move. I should not have done that, of course. But that’s what happens when you want to have order of things, be clever & clean up the mess … to avoid having to deal with it on the new site. In the rush, things can go to fast sometimes. But now it’s too late, it’s done so it is just to enjoy the space. Perhaps it fills up just as quickly again, who knows.

Store & organise / amandaross via Pinterest

Store them visible – still-life /plazainterior

Spacious & bright storage / lindsayclarke via Pinterest

Leave them on / mollygolly.tumblr.com

Boots loves jeans – or is it vice verse / suitupordie

Natural / supreme via Fancy

On display / trendland

Coordinated display / prettysedaynacar

All in black / e-lements.tumblr

Personal style / refinery29.com

Stylish / socialbliss

Mixed with accessories / bellamumma

Food styling / frogs&crown

Things neatly organised / elle.es

Prepared & in order / desiretoinspire

Take care / Marie

Tagged clothing, Fashion, home decor, shoe shelf, shoe storage, shoes, Solutions, style

04/01/2013

2 Comments

Homes / Interiors

Plaid power

So here I am again after a few days rest from the blog. I have been working but also been busy with my in-laws who just arrived from Sweden for five weeks visit. It’s exciting to have them here. There’s so much to catch up with & talk about. But also to just hang around & enjoy the time together. It’s so good for my boys to see them again. I do miss that they don’t get to be with the older generation since there’s so much to learn from them. Having older people around you, makes you humble & understanding. If you live & interact constantly with people of the same age & like-minded people, you risk losing the feeling & respect for the elderly – which means losing a piece of life itself.

I’m very fond of stripes, but have now little appetite whetted for plaid also. It comes in waves. I get tired rather quickly. I don’t know why but stripes always works. But it’s not about stripes today – it’s in plaid instead, both home & garments. To mix fine-check with larger, gives a vivid impression. Same with plaid in different colours – that’s exciting.

Cooking apron & suitable shirt / dreamywhites

Stacked throws for a chilly night / autumncozy via tumblr

Classy style / thegiftsoflife

Perfect relaxing corner / Pinterest.com

Always nice in black & white / countryliving

Styling comfort / daniellawitte

Wonderful combination / thesartorialist

Very nice squared bed linen as well as the colours / sanna&sania

Red & white squares / google.com

Checkered detail / tumblr.com

Contemporary style / coolgirlstyle via tumblr

Everything in white & then the final touch / housetohome

Personal style – cool (except the cigarette) / heartbeatoz

Soft nice touch with the wooden back wall & matching throw / kimtimmerman

Plaid flannel shirt & bandana around the neck / piccsy.com

Take care / Marie

Tagged home decor

29/12/2012

New year

So, here we are again – a new year with new opportunities. What do you think – will we do things differently, make better decisions, learn from the old, learn from mistakes. Sometimes it’s difficult to see the small steps we take, that actually changes & improves. Moreover, we live in the future more than the present. We are in such a hurry with everything that we miss the essential. To actually live in a slow trot & experience things up close. You may already live your life the way you want, at the pace & the lifestyle you aspire. Good on you then, congratulations & keep it up!

I for my part, want more peace & quiet around me. To be able to think & complete a thought without losing the thread. To have time for what’s important & the possibility to opt out things that takes time & energy, unnecessarily. It’s easier said than done. To continuously refine, modify & improve, is a big part of life. What is precious is up to each one, of course. It seems to me that time is that which is most sought after by many. It might be worth considering what we make of our time. Properly used, perhaps, we don’t need more time.

I hope you will achieve some of your dreams for the coming year. Above all, that you will stay healthy & strong with near & dear. I hope that you get to experience many happy moments & sees possibilities that pops up around you.

Thanks for taking the time to follow my blog during this first year. Also for all your nice comments & encouragement. Whatever you do, remember to live in the present. Here & now!

Here’s a mix of various images that might fit into the celebration of the new year.

Sparkling festivities / ulrikaekblom

Crackling & glittering activities / Flickr.com

Nice on the table / designcoholic

Festively dressed / nymag.com

Same with table accessories / inspireddesign

Simple pleasures / google.com

Suitable for two / livethemma

Suitable for some more / livethemma

New years eve in Sydney / aibob via WordPress

So true / thistooshallpass

Many thanks again for all sweet comments & support.

Take care / Marie

Tagged celebration, celebrations, festivities, happy new year, Holiday, home decor, new year

25/12/2012

Benches

Benches in various forms are invaluable. They fill up in a nice way, are functional & simple to use. I’m pretty fond of the bench as a furniture – both as a seating place as well as to store things on – very practical. We have had benches in different rooms from time to time. Perfect in the hallway, kitchen, bedroom, basement … or outdoor. Nowadays, I use more upholstered stools in smaller sizes. Right now we have two in front of the couch, both for tired legs but also to use as extra space for the tea-tray or anything else that’s needed. A bench that has been around for quite a few years now, has had to move from the hall into the living room & have now ended up in the dining room. That’s what happens when you move a lot. What once functioned in a room work better in another – hopefully, that is.

I’m a bit nostalgic, I can’t throw away things, especially furniture that our children have grown up with & which they see as part of their childhood. With everything new, you get a home that looks like an exhibition. We ended up in that situation when we had our furniture in containers. We lived in a ready furnished place, for a longer period while we were looking for a house. Things around you becomes part of you without real economic value. It’s stuff that has sentimental value, things that can not be measured in money. As for example an old bench 🙂

Feminine with flowers / daisyincupcake

Strict & masculine – maybe / evalindh

Personal expression / paper-planehome.blogspot

In the shade / stylefiles

Treated & untreated furniture / Pinterest.com

Appealing style / hus&hem

Fabric covered bench / hus&hem

Austerely & stylish / remodelista

Different seating surfaces / 79ideas

French style / annatruelsen

Nice mix / 79ideas

Only natural materials / happymundane

A nice little bench with rounded corners / dwell.com

A simple wooden bench for the most necessary / thehousemag.com

Low white bench to use for fancy things / lauraredford via Pinterest

Take care / Marie

Tagged Bench (furniture), benches, dining area, functionality, furniture, home decor, home furnishing, homes, living area, rooms

24/12/2012

Christmas gifts

IICHRISTMAS – gifts, Christmas night, longing, joy & togetherness. Time together with my loved ones, no stress or any other demands – just tiiiiiiime. The joy of moments together – getting to sink into the comfort of your home, with the people you love. The TV or music is on in the background. The darkness that comes creeping towards the evening, lit candles, blankets & pillows & a long night of conversation & storytelling.

Christmas presents are of course a part of Christmas goodies, but not the most essential after all. It’s about being together, with time as a precious gift. To feel the joy in everything that’s great or small & above all – health. That’s my present to you – wishing you the best in health & love.

Shiny ribbon / chatelaine.com