World View on New England Style: This Time in Sweden

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263D5DU79M9TVRQ.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263D5DU79M9TVRQ.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a></div><br />Having grown up on in New England, I kind of take our unique style for granted. I love it, but am always a little surprised to see it replicated in other countries much like we would replicate French provincial, or Tuscan (lordy, not Tuscan!), or English countryside. I recently did a post on a British property that was being marketed as being in the New England style, even though they were smack dab in the middle of the country with nary a sand dune to be found anywhere. <br /><br />I just came across this amazing property in Båstad, Sweden which is marketing itself as "The Dream of New England". <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rWEjMVxksNBX1kf6ZZidMSBr6bN67GN525YmWVAQ5TAf4oLI9NAXhxqZd4dCZkAXQ4EvGW1VEOE1CmvQEjsPXCvFyI_e53j7pvaaxZ1s-aQTMhmIJLoHXpixdiwoKPLTNW6t1-IdJx2B/s1600/Basta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rWEjMVxksNBX1kf6ZZidMSBr6bN67GN525YmWVAQ5TAf4oLI9NAXhxqZd4dCZkAXQ4EvGW1VEOE1CmvQEjsPXCvFyI_e53j7pvaaxZ1s-aQTMhmIJLoHXpixdiwoKPLTNW6t1-IdJx2B/s640/Basta.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Båstad, Sweden is in an inlet which connects the North Sea (see A above) and the Baltic Sea that is shared with Denmark and Norway and is very much a beach town. Marketed as one of the most beautiful homes in the area, the write up says "It’s a New England house of a quality rarely encountered. This creation, with its special building style with horizontal wood panelling, window shutters, slate roof, traditional tumbled limestone floor, and more, is the only one of its kind in the neighbourhood. The house measures 180 m2 and offers plenty of space for entertaining and socializing. The garden is completely private, and you can enjoy a dip in the beautiful mosaic-decorated pool. In a matter of seconds, you’ll feel transported from the Swedish West Coast to the other side of the Atlantic. It’s a fantastic feeling that few are privileged to experience. In addition, you have a sandy beach and great bathing right around the corner. It’s just like being in the Hamptons."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm6hVh-aUD_rOKtk_zFkjgF8ZBCefNLCj8bclPviDFvNYyivZAmXNAex1-RA54jfA7vzOAFbV-H_skpM9p3nzHLHb1F9wKZWwon7wfhlmY7dtR07qRb0C0yOLdU8MaO9e_emeTR72KOj-/s1600/Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm6hVh-aUD_rOKtk_zFkjgF8ZBCefNLCj8bclPviDFvNYyivZAmXNAex1-RA54jfA7vzOAFbV-H_skpM9p3nzHLHb1F9wKZWwon7wfhlmY7dtR07qRb0C0yOLdU8MaO9e_emeTR72KOj-/s640/Map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Yup, just a hop, skip and a jump across the pond! Well, let's see how they did:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JHOFTESBECUG7.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=2147483647" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JHOFTESBECUG7.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=2147483647" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JGF168SBECPUG.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JGF168SBECPUG.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JGF3C0SBECPV1.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JGF3C0SBECPV1.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a></div>This kitchen is gorgeous and it's American sized appliances are a nice feature. The general lack of upper cabinets feels much more Scandinavian than the typical American kitchen, but for a beach house, it's perfectly casual and open. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JGF5GQSBECPVI.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JGF5GQSBECPVI.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a></div>I spy with my little eye a Coca-Cola bottle opener on the side of the kitchen cabinets. Though not particularly New England, it's a cute touch of Americana. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bottleopener.com/images/P/co1%20repro%20copy-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.bottleopener.com/images/P/co1%20repro%20copy-01.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JGESSOSBECPTD.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/427JGESSOSBECPTD.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a></div>Overall, the feel is a little on the cold side with the stone floors and no rugs, stone fireplace and nearly all white walls and cabinetry. The wood beams warm things up a bit. I think if they were really going for a New England look, the Union Jack pillow seems a little out of place, but the colors are snappy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263K807SRQGTN2I.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263K807SRQGTN2I.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a><br /><br />This long hall above could really use some nice stripped flat weave rugs, no? Feel a little too chilly, which is funny since it's got to be colder in Sweden than it is here in New England right now.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263K85A8RQGTN45.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263K85A8RQGTN45.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a></div>Architecturally, the columns are too thin and the window shutters are not at all New England style. Our shingle/clapboard houses often forgo shutters entirely for a clean look.<br /><br />For example, this house below, located in Montauk in the Hamptons, features the same gabled roof line and white clapboards as the Swedish house, but has more traditional New England features such as mullioned windows, shutterless windows and more substantial columns. See the entire listing <a href="http://www.corcoran.com/hamptons/Listings/Display/2402159#WebID=40794" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.corcoran.com/Media/5646730" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://media.corcoran.com/Media/5646730" width="640" /></a></div><br />But, back in Sweden: <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263D6GDJ9M9U04B.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263D6GDJ9M9U04B.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a></div>Love the weathered Adirondak chairs and natural wood diving board. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263D67I59M9U027.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3/4263D67I59M9U027.jpg.cimg?w=880&h=900" width="640" /></a></div><br />All in all, though, this house is surely a winner and I'd move in in a heart beat! You can read more about it on the <a href="http://www.skeppsholmen.se/bastad/villor--fritidshus?guid=421RQ4LM7BU7SBO3&preview=0&view=Description" target="_blank">Skeppscholmen/Sotheby's website listing here</a>. <br /><br /><br /><br />If you would like my New England eye on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

World View on New England Style: This Time in Sweden

Having grown up on in New England, I kind of take our unique style for granted. I love it, but am always a little surprised to see it replic...

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A little of this, a little of that plus decorating East Coast and West Coast beach houses

<br />I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Not to be a whiny, but mine was spent nursing my very painful shoulder and I'm still doing so (whaa, whaa, I know!) but I do have some fun things to report in on, so I'm soldiering through! Clearly, I'm a terrible patient. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7hXeppZy1cgp0UkOBOKTe3ICmYWN4cVMUwh5IUXQHLa0DdXtfTf85ay4ce1xcowZ3lONNG1SJQ7-5zXZw_ioMrxiYycGvOGf0ar4vJH5_ud5c0STbFdU-Q076kSEdu2KZfpTxHCeFbhF/s1600/BlogTour+Badge+New+Orleans+(green).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7hXeppZy1cgp0UkOBOKTe3ICmYWN4cVMUwh5IUXQHLa0DdXtfTf85ay4ce1xcowZ3lONNG1SJQ7-5zXZw_ioMrxiYycGvOGf0ar4vJH5_ud5c0STbFdU-Q076kSEdu2KZfpTxHCeFbhF/s320/BlogTour+Badge+New+Orleans+(green).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm thrilled to share that I have been invited to attend BlogTour New Orleans with an elite group of interior design bloggers in April. The great folks at <a href="http://www.modenus.com/blog/category/blogtour" target="_blank">Modenus</a> have been organizing these fantastic blog trips for couple of years attending shows all around the world to places like London's Design Week, New York's Architectural Digest home show, and now this year to New Orleans and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). I'm very excited about the wonderful group of bloggers I'll be going with and will report back soon as to who they are and what we will be doing!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.degreedriven.com/images/logo/NYYU4W7BG2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="http://www.degreedriven.com/images/logo/NYYU4W7BG2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But before New Orleans I will be teaching a class in March at the my alma mater the Boston Architectural College:<i> Social Media: Branding Your Expertise, Vision and Voice </i>March 25, 2013 5:30-8:00pm  Click <a href="http://the-bac.edu/education-programs/professional-and-continuing-education/pce-workshops" target="_blank">here</a> for more information and registration.<b></b><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Yik4iCY9JJu8ei9GgXbJCjOcX3zPLRiPJGydBzGdag-GsfmQ5DUBfKm0bqaBqLnRUscbS8bMU4OgF9HYg6f0DiwC2keDGHiykjaKuNSXrp6EEgjBL16y6qy2BrZMKv_i2Mf33ukFXmEf/s1600/WestCoast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Yik4iCY9JJu8ei9GgXbJCjOcX3zPLRiPJGydBzGdag-GsfmQ5DUBfKm0bqaBqLnRUscbS8bMU4OgF9HYg6f0DiwC2keDGHiykjaKuNSXrp6EEgjBL16y6qy2BrZMKv_i2Mf33ukFXmEf/s640/WestCoast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I've been working on some very interesting projects recently including a West Coast oceanfront new construction home and East Coast beachfront vacation home. I wanted to share a little bit of each - the photo above is my digital rendering of the California oceanfront house whose inspiration is taken from everyone's favorite design movie "Somethings Gotta Give" only with a casual west coast vibe.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-g5revTYlNqdwdDVew9iPnME2SzN6FhdJgIShB2HbCfQrvEgu9LR6OQRNairmk7sOAvAFvWP8ApMgIqDUeaogtfVv61owlQKUqjW8Abd2PumeL3ZTkJ2ejpU5apM1Zx1nhvNbH4XB1TV-/s1600/EastCoast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-g5revTYlNqdwdDVew9iPnME2SzN6FhdJgIShB2HbCfQrvEgu9LR6OQRNairmk7sOAvAFvWP8ApMgIqDUeaogtfVv61owlQKUqjW8Abd2PumeL3ZTkJ2ejpU5apM1Zx1nhvNbH4XB1TV-/s640/EastCoast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>And the image above is my digital rendering of the East Coast vacation home. We chosen all neutral pallet that is modern and clean lined yet still comfortable. You can view my Pinterest boards for the projects here : <a href="http://pinterest.com/linda_merrill/cape-cod-beach-house/" target="_blank">East Coast</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/linda_merrill/cali-oceanfront-home/" target="_blank">West Coast</a>. <br /><br />I'd love to hear your thoughts on both. <br /><br />If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

A little of this, a little of that plus decorating East Coast and West Coast beach houses

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Not to be a whiny, but mine was spent nursing my very painful shoulder and I'm still doing so (whaa...

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My Best and Worst Design Client

Sorry for the lack of posts this week! I've been dealing with a bum shoulder that is really disabling!  Boy, you never think of how many directions our arms go in until we can't make it do what we want or go where we want! Anyway, wanted to share this, from Williams-Sonoma Marketplace. Have a great weekend! L<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wsidesignermarketplace.com/content/designer/Design_Blog/2013/02/my_all-time_bestcli.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0RJQf5qsjVeNrVgTkwhIdZ-fHCgYgnrVSTGqk2FyogJAmohmyy7E7jd1_tozFq2CshQhbVKzLzLchuVWAdapPeU8gd585S-hbELBLtEIRTSueX07XBWGIhGvnWDQB4Od6UAg95juBFvc/s640/wsi+best+client.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We all have them - good ones and bad ones. <a href="http://www.wsidesignermarketplace.com/content/designer/Design_Blog/2013/02/my_all-time_bestcli.html" target="_blank">Read on here>></a><br /><br />More from this project, photos by Michael J. Lee<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lindamerrill.com/Linda_Merrill/Portfolio-Boston-Townhouse_Living_Room_2-Interior_Design-Massachusetts_files/LindaMerrillLRPrints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.lindamerrill.com/Linda_Merrill/Portfolio-Boston-Townhouse_Living_Room_2-Interior_Design-Massachusetts_files/LindaMerrillLRPrints.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lindamerrill.com/Linda_Merrill/Portfolio-Boston-Townhouse_Living_Room_1-Interior_Design-Massachusetts_files/LindaMerrillLRFireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://www.lindamerrill.com/Linda_Merrill/Portfolio-Boston-Townhouse_Living_Room_1-Interior_Design-Massachusetts_files/LindaMerrillLRFireplace.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lindamerrill.com/Linda_Merrill/Portfolio-Boston-Townhouse_Living_Room_3-Interior_Design-Massachusetts_files/LindaMerrillLRtoMediaRM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://www.lindamerrill.com/Linda_Merrill/Portfolio-Boston-Townhouse_Living_Room_3-Interior_Design-Massachusetts_files/LindaMerrillLRtoMediaRM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

My Best and Worst Design Client

Sorry for the lack of posts this week! I've been dealing with a bum shoulder that is really disabling!  Boy, you never think of how many...

Read more »