First, I have to thank Emma from one of Sweden’s leading design blogs, emmas designblogg, for asking me to be part of her “10 Quick” series. I’m flattered to be featured alongside other “10″ ladies such as Lena Corwin, Ranvita la Cour, Louise Campbell, and Lotta Jansdotter. Thank you so much, Emma!

Ah. The thought of visiting Sweden. Swedish Interiors. Gorgeous design. Mmm. Doesn’t it send a slight longing through your soul? The streets of Stockholm, strolling the coast, riding through the countryside, and the shopping. Sweden is a dream destination, and if you’re like me and can’t hop a plane over whenever you’d like, you can start scanning Swedish design blogs for a taste of the magic. Emmas designblogg is a great design source, and she translates quite a bit of text to English, a major draw for me.

While reading one of my favorite American blogs, SFGirlByBay, I found out that Victoria discovered Swedish blogger, Annika of HOOM. We can always trust Victoria’s taste, so whenever I click her links, I find the best places to peruse. Anyway, HOOM is such a beautiful Swedish blog with some posts in English so you can do more than drool at the pretty pictures.

More to love: RoomService, Tinas blogg, hemmariket, and the beautiful chez lison. These blogs are 100% eye candy. I think it’s so important to look at the world of design, not just the popular trends and designs coming out of your own country, but to explore beyond the borders and see what’s happening in distant lands. And with new design blogs popping up constantly worldwide, it’s suddenly so easy to do.

We each have a voice, a perspective, and something important to bring to the world of blogging. It’s not just a world for few, but a place for all. Let us start with Sweden. :)

(images from emmas designblogg, hoom sthlm. and room service)

21 Responses to “Swedish Design Blogs + Thanks, Emma!”

1 Emma ::emmas designblogg:: commented:
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:29 pm

Wow, thank you so much for the kind words! *blushing*

I’m really happy that you wanted to do this interview, as I find your blog and it’s success a great source of inspiration! Thank you!
2 danielle commented:
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:18 pm

I love Swedish design and the interior photos are just gorgeous. Perhaps we can make a trip to Stockholm as well Holly!
3 decor8 commented:
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:26 pm

emma – thank you again, it was so nice to be asked!

danielle – yes yes yes! let’s talk about this more. i’m very interested!
4 syko kajsa commented:
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:40 pm

Hurray to Sweden! They are so talented over there and they make the best home decoration mags! But as an envious neighbour I have to mention that the birch fabric on the first pic is from Finnish Marimekko ;-)
5 susan commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 1:34 am

This is delightful to read and discover these blogs. Every Monday I feature blogs from all of Scandinavia, just a few every Monday, but they are indeed wonderful and offer a unique and interesting design perspective. They’re just fantastic all around. Great resources here! My own travels in Sweden will be in my heart forever!
6 decor8 commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:12 am

Oh Susan thank you for telling us, we have to check them out on Mondays! Yippee!! :)
7 Heather Moore commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:46 am

All beautiful blogs. Thank goodness for Sweden!
8 sandman_gr commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:37 am

Great stuff! ilove scandinavian design and Sweden is the frontrunner! And Emma’s blog is great.
9 *Annika.hoom.sthlm* commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:05 am

Thank you very much for your kind words. I
I love the fact that my blog is mentioned in one of my favorite blogs, in the same post as 2 other of my favorites (emmas & victorias).

Have a great day!
10 cleo commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 12:28 pm

I read the interview on Emma?s blog and really enjoyed it! You are a source of inspiration and it?s nice that you like Sweden and Swedish design. :-)
11 susan commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 1:21 pm

Holly, I’d like to go one step further, and you can post this or not. But, I’d like to salute you in a huge way, as you periodically promote and celebrate “every day” Scandinavian design, as do a precious few others, whom I also salute!

Sure, it’s easy to speak of the giants of Scandinavian design, but it is also today’s commonly seen Scandinavian design, which both embraces its past and looks forward, that is a very special point of view.

The point I’m getting at is that Scandinavians, having some sort of amazing design DNA, to me, exemplify eclectic design, mixing the cultural history with their ever present love and (often) need for modern design. They do it best, and in a very natural, organic, and elegant way.

As we know, eclectic design is the most difficult design aesthetic to “do.” Scandinavian design, in its everyday forms, as we see in these blogs, is always too far under the radar, but at least to me, so inspirational, and always “now”. It’s not only about the Scandinavian giants of design. It’s the region’s perenially wonderful unique design vision.

Huge kudos to you for understanding and celebrating it!
12 s commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:44 pm

thanks for these wonderful links! my daily reading list just keep growing…
13 Porcelain commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:53 pm

Thanks Holly for this great list of links! Oh goodness, such beauty in those photos. Sigh! Have to get there one of these days!
14 Doreen commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 5:10 pm

Thank you for embracing Scandanavian design. I love the way they make the most of limited light. It is the perfect design aesthetic, I believe, for those of us in the Seattle area. And being of Swedish heritage (my grandfather was born in Stockholm) I am particulary interested. I too long to visit Sweden!
15 Emma ::emmas designblogg:: commented:
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:29 pm

I just wanted to say, to everyone who is thinking about visiting Sweden *discreet wave to Holly and Danielle*, that I just recently posted a Stockholm Guide on my blog. If you are interested, you can find it here: http://emmas.blogg.se/guide_to_stockholm.html
16 LISEN commented:
May 24th, 2007 at 5:59 am

Hi,

I am so happy for your kind words about my blog!! Thank you!

I just came back from an early morning walk with my dog, and found your words back at the laptop – they made my bright morning even brighter :-) I am also flattered, cause your blog has been one of my favorites for long.
Lisenx
17 Helena at Room Service commented:
May 24th, 2007 at 3:05 pm

Oh thanks?! I heard rumors that Room Service was highlighted at your blog! Sweden is full of wonderful blogs that?s writes about design, decoration and home improvement. I do hope that more readers explores our blogs!
A big hug!
18 tina commented:
May 24th, 2007 at 3:47 pm

Hi,
thank you for your kind words about my blog!! A blogfriend telled me that my blog was highlighted at your side!!Yippee!!! I enyoyed the interview on Emmas blog….you inspires me and many other people who?s interested in design!!!!Sorry if my spelling is?nt right…Thank you again!!!
Tina/
19 platinum blonde commented:
May 24th, 2007 at 8:48 pm

thanks for these links!!!
20 Abbey commented:
May 30th, 2007 at 6:19 pm

I’m obsessed with swedish design (I’m a MA student at the CooperHewitt and we just finished up whole section on Swedish design). Delicious. Check out the upcoming Sothey’s auction on important 20th Century Design for some awesome swedish design.
21 swedaporean commented:
September 15th, 2007 at 3:49 pm

I love this blog! Looking at the images get’s me happy the same way ice-cream does! :)

Guess what i’m moving to sweden next year hooray!!!

http://tasjoakim.blogspot.com/

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