a bit about Weranna's Warehouse

In touch with some Nepalese friends again yesterday, and thought  - I should! I should actually tell you some more about the wonderful organizations and people I have the pleasure to work with. Because whenever I hear from them, I honestly, sincerely, feel good. And smile :). Well, who wouldn't smile when for example the wonderful Nepalese people contact you. They always have only positive and sunny things to say, however hard the situation might be ;), but anyway.

A couple of times I've already written about Samantha Holmes and her wonderful projects around Alpaca and knitted accessories. She's such a sweetheart (can you call a successful business woman that, I wonder?), and therefore it is easy to write a word or two every now and then about her :).

But - there are many wonderful suppliers I feel privileged to work with. Rice, for one. Kenana Knitter Critters (the owl which I'm in love with, everyone knows that) and their beautiful, successful project in Kenya. You will be hearing a lot more about this one in the coming weeks, I promise :). Then there's Balmuir with their luxurious home decoration items. Himla - Swedish home textiles brand supporting the textile industry in Europe by still having their textiles made here. Respect to them. Guthaben - recycling old wood gathered around Cape Town in South Africa and using the local communities to make wonderful picture frames and storage boxes. Fabric Copenhagen - received their delivery yesterday, true luxury throws and cushions made of Vietnamese silk. I opened the large box and tears came to my eyes when I felt the light scent of Vietnam  - scents of my childhood. Chin Thay, On Interiör, Sokevan Käsityö, Blockwallah, Chakra...

Last, but I don't feel least, I would like to mention Cottonhut - Weranna's own 'hut' for some treasures. Working with local Finnish artisans and small enterprises, as well as fair-trade and charity organizations all over the world. I would like to share some details on these projects, as well.

During May you will be hearing a little more of each partner, and merely the reasons why we've chosen to work with them. And with some, it feels like - they somehow chose Weranna's :).

Have a beautiful Saturday - after heavy rain on-off all day, we see the sun here in Stockholm, as well :)!

Meg Ryan love

How many times have you seen Sleepless in Seattle or You've Got Mail? I've seen them perhaps - 50 times? I'm not sure how many times it requires to know them by heart, but somewhere around that number. I just love Meg Ryan, or merely the roles she plays <3! A little ding-dong lady high on life, enjoying daisies and a nice cup of tea.

Some time ago I was googling for some Martha's Vineyard homes, and saw in a few blogs this Elle Decor article written in 2010 about Meg Ryan's house in Martha's Vineyard. Lovely!! Just the kind of home I would imagine her having, actually.

She also shared her home decor tips - you can read them here.

And the bedrooms:

Pure - lovely, like her :). You can find the images together with some other WOW homes images in http://pinterest.com/weranna/wow-homes/ - I gather inspiration there when I think the whole home is absolutely stunning. Enjoy :)!

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unelmakoti, kaunis koti

I forgot about travel

I've written before about Samantha Holmes, a great lady steering a brand just like her. We just got her travel shawls to the warehouse, should be out in the shop today here. You'll love them - so soft, and they don't ball or wrinkle. Perfect for flying, it always feels so chilly in the planes during the summer.

And you know what I realized yesterday, chatting with a friend? I've forgotten about travel! I mean not thinking about it, or planning future trips, but actually doing it. How can that be? Shame on me!! I even have the above quote hanging on our dining room wall - and STILL.

Before - it was couple of times a year, at least, some weekend trips with friends to Prague, Budapest, New York (for sure), London...add a family vacation or 2, and some quick getaways with my hubbie. Now? Next to nothing. Well, that has to change.

My latest plan has been to get lost for a week. Like a retreat from the world. You know those vacation organizers who take you somewhere beautiful for a week, you don't even have a name, and you do nothing? Just BE. Well, knowing me, perhaps 2 days would do and then I would be at my computer ;), and if not, scribbling notes on the backs of napkins, but the THOUGHT of doing it is enchanting.

Well - let's see what it will be. I've gathered some must-travels and have-to-visit-again places in
http://pinterest.com/weranna/places-i-d-like-to-go/. You also find the above quotes and origins there (except the one hanging on our wall ;)).

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matkustus

Dream home in Rome - part III

This is now the 3rd and final dream world blog post on apartment in Rome - the previous ones you find here: Part I and Part II.

If a mother of 3 would get a few days off in grown-up company a couple of times a year, what would she do? Well - after she is done with staring at the opposite wall the first day? SLEEP! I don't know how I would manage to change my current slightly strange sleeping patterns, though, but at least I would give it a try. Otherwise my fellow-travelers might be a bit irritated when I disappear at 9 p.m., and they are woken up by the clicking of my keyboard latest at 5 a.m.

A tiny bedroom combined with a bath (no need to worry about kids splashing the water all around the place in this haven) and a fireplace. DEFINITELY those shutters!

I would drag there my antique (it is not antique, just very OLD) wrought iron bed, and build from there. Not too much color, I don't think. A vintage chandelier. Some fluffy cushions, like Samantha Holmes Alpaca fur ones. Perhaps some small splashes of lavender? That would work. As we are still dreaming and the budgetary reality hasn't kicked in yet, I would decorate with a couple of nice accessories. Like Manolo shoes and Hermes scarves. GRRR - shouldn't have googled those. Got some shopping ideas. I'm impossible, known fact.

And  - an Eero Aarnio bubble chair. And now you are asking - how is she going to manage all that in the TINY bedroom she mentioned? Well, let's make it a little larger. Large enough to fit my bubble. Haven't exactly bought the renovation dreamer's apartment yet, so we can be flexible here ;).

Have a great Monday, my friends :)!

All images can be found at http://pinterest.com/weranna/dream-home-in-rome/

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makuuhuoneen sisustus

Dream home in Rome - part II

Cherry blossoms - is there anything prettier? I look at them, and feel always so HAPPY! Spending time in Italy during the spring - my apartment would be FILLED with the blossoms. I promise you!

First thing that comes to your mind when thinking about Italy? FOOD, right? The red and tasty tomatoes, first of all. Garlic. Basil. Gorgonzola. But then again - the thought of standing in the kitchen preparing something extremely difficult and complicated just doesn't feel right, when spending precious moments in Italy (well, talking about me, NEVER feels right ;D). Something simple - the ingredients are so fantastic, it doesn't need to be anything fancy.

I would try to find a place with a small combined kitchen and living room - cozy and comfortable. Just a tiny kitchen corner, where to prepare the necessary - a small table to fit 2-3 people, and a nice couch to read a book. A desk to write. Sound good?

The above is something absolutely beautiful. Perhaps not being able to copy-paste those door frames, it might work to create the same atmosphere with some wall paper and an antique mirror. Do you think it would work?

All images can be found at http://pinterest.com/weranna/dream-home-in-rome/

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olohuoneen sisustus, työnurkkaus

Coastal living in Finland

We've been spending our annual long weekend in Naantali, a smal coastal town in western Finland. We just love this cozy little town! I wrote about this last time almost exactly a year ago (click here). Walking and running the same old streets, but this time my eyes were clearly on the greyish mint tones.

Isn't it pretty? No cars allowed in the old town (as it is so tiny anyway), filled with small galleries and gift shops. 

Look especially at the craftsmanship in this houses - we don't see this much effort nowadays, which is such a pity! Decorations on these houses are very simple compared to some others, but very Nordic.

Especially the windows - so beautiful!

dreaming of a home in Rome - part I

Do you agree with me that there needs to be joy in life? Real joy, the kind that makes you smile just thinking about it? Travelling is one of those joys for me. Experiencing new things, tasting new tastes, seeing new views. The very best way to travel and learn is of course to visit friends who live in faraway places. The second best - to rent an apartment or villa.

I would love to get an apartment in a city in Italy - to be able to visit a few times a year and just - be. Would be a perfect get-a-way with friends, perhaps even staying a few days just on my own. Wandering the streets, eating delicious food is small family restaurants, enjoying a glass of nice red wine in a corner cafe. Forgetting we were going somewhere, and staying there to read a book for hours. Or just watch the people walking by and making up stories of their lives. Visiting local market places during the weekend - a true treat! Not too many more enjoyable things to do in foreign cities.

What would the dream apartment look like? The N.Y. Soho apartment we decorated in rustic loft style - Italy, for sure, rustic romance. Right? Here you don't sit sipping cosmopolitans and eating sushi, here you have that glass of red wine together with country bread and running gorgonzola!

I've gathered a collage below for the entrance hall in this style. Let's see what my mind comes up with in the next couple of posts.

All images in this post can be found at http://pinterest.com/weranna/dream-home-in-rome/

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romanttinen sisustus, eteinen, eteisen sisustus