Swedes can now enjoy luxury hacks for IKEA

A new kind of home design company opened its doors this week in Sweden allowing people to revamp their existing IKEA furniture to look like a higher priced designer furniture. Introducing Superfront, a company who now offers “luxury hacks” for IKEA furniture frames. Their product line offers fronts, handles and legs for all of Ikea’s existing cabinet bases. Scandinavian designer furniture costs easily 5x or even 10 times the price of IKEA furniture, and now with Superfront people are able to get the custom look with Superfront’s several options for the price that may double the IKEA furniture price but still is way under the high street designer prices. All of the Superfront products are made in Sweden.

The concept is quite brilliant allowing you to revamp your old IKEA furniture or get a custom look for less. Superfront has 9 fronts, 8 handles, 8 legs and 12 different colors to choose from making it maybe difficult to choose from but easy to get a custom look. The prices are inexpensive, for example the blue “hack” above with sides, legs and handles is around 500 dollars, and for less than half of that you can upgrade a furniture with new legs and handles to get a custom look.

I love the idea of Sweden-made high quality products for cheaper but the concept of luxury IKEA hack is still a little shaky to me. I love the idea for IKEA kitchens or wall closet systems that otherwise might be very expensive to replace, however I have owned enough many PAX-closet systems to know that they might not be worth a makeover, and investing in a better quality might still be the most cost effective hack in the long run.

There is no denying though – the gorgeous look and relatively inexpensive price will make Superfront difficult to resist for IKEA and Scandinavian design fans.

Hooked on handmade soaps

Handmade soaps are our everyday luxury item.

Nomadic lifestyle makes you really reconsider what everyday luxury means. Last year when we moved from New York to Sweden we had to sell about 80% of everything we owned and while our home now feels “full” of new things, we still don’t have curtains in the windows and half of our glassware is from flea markets (because we won’t be using them in two years anyways), and I am tired of buying new things just to either try to get rid off or pack them shortly again. Everything I buy has to be heirloom quality for the keep-forever pile, or easily resold or recycled when we move again or something that can be consumed. This is where the luxury comes in… My bathroom is very minimalistic, or call it bare if you like, and my everyday luxury comes from products like soaps, not from the plush new bathroom accessories.

It was my daughter who got us all hooked on handmade soaps, and we have been shopping for them from Tuscany to Sweden this past year. A few weeks ago we finally took the plunge and tried making some soaps at home. What do you think of our lavender soaps? I think they turned out great!

What you have to know about handmade soaps

Soap is made from lye and oils through a chemical process that can be messy and even dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. It also takes a long time for handmade soap to harden and be ready to use. I have no experience making handmade soaps from the scratch, so we took a shortcut – we bought ready made base that we just melted in the microwave oven and it was easy to even do with my 11-year old daughter. You can also use crockpot if you have one.

Easy DIY soaps using the microwave oven

I am not an expert in soap making but if I was able to make these soaps with the first try, I can only imagine what kind of soaps you are able to create! We bought all of the soap making supplies just from a regular craft store. You can purchase special soap molds from the craft store, but we also used cupcake molds (not shown in the pictures). Any silicone molds will do.

You will need:
For the soaps:
Melt and pour soap base
Dye
Fragrance
Additional ingredients such as herbs or flower petals, we used dried lavender

Supplies needed:
Chopping block & knife
Plastic bowl to melt the soap in (in the microwave oven)
soap molds (and stamps if wanted)

Instructions how to make melt and pour soap bars.
1. Cut the block of soap in about one inch cubes and put it inside a microwavable bowl. Melt in high for 2 minutes and check how melted the soap is and add more time as needed until the soap base is completely melted.

2. Stir the soap to make sure it has melted completely, but be careful not to mix too much or you will get bubbles to the mix. You can carefully remove the bubbles from the top if wanted and discard the top foam. Add coloring a drop at a time, we used about 4-5 drops, but it’s better to go slowly so you won’t accidentally add too much. Stirring until well combined.

3. Add the essential oil or fragrance and stir well.

4. Add other ingredients, like flower petals, herbs, or oatmeal and stir but again remember to go slowly so you won’t get the foam on the top.

5. Pour the soap mixture into soap molds and allow to cool and set for 24 hours.

6. Take the soaps off the molds and let air dry before wrapping (if used for gifts).

This is how my daughter packed her soaps to give to her friends for the Valentine’s Day.

Christmas DIY Ideas from Sweden

I feel like I have a new hobby: it’s scouting for different Christmas markets every weekend. The first Christmas markets opened here in Sweden already three weeks ago, and it’s been market after market ever since. It’s been quite inspiring more than anything else. I love handmade things.. but feel like I should be making them myself, and not buying them. So the good news is that kids and I finally put the new sewing machine in good use, and have been making our own Christmas gifts and decorations. The Christmas markets have been great for inspiration, and they have really sparked the craft side of us. I might share some of the things we have been making – after Christmas – but here is some crafty inspiration for you too from the Swedish Christmas markets.

It’s dark and cold… Christmas decorating is all about the candles and making them pretty. We also light up a candle for each advent, each week in December, leading to Christmas, so seeing the 4-candle settings is pretty common here.

If you want a better idea how to make these decorated candles… here are some pictures of homemade craft supplies like dried apples and limes.

Christmas Pillows

Pillows are probably the easiest thing to make if you want to start sewing. Or I’m not going to tell anyone if you cheat and buy a store-bought pillow and use some of these pillow DIY-tricks to give a handmade touch to your pillows.

If you can do needle point – do a Holiday inspired text on a pillow to instantly make it a cuddly Holiday decoration or a gift. The next one is even easier… wrap a solid-colored pillow like a gift with some ribbon and you have a “Christmas gift” pillow.

Gifts from Kitchen

Another gift idea anyone can do – a recipe in a bottle or jar. Measure + add a lid on it and create a pretty card with the recipe and the instructions. If recipe is too much – hot cocoa and marshmallows always works too. The entire idea here is that you are making something with love. It doesn’t have to be rocket science nor take days for you to make it.

Read all of the Holiday Gift Guide posts and stay tuned for more from all of our writers.

Weekend Project: Adirondack Chair paint job

Paint is probably the easiest – and the cheapest- way to transform a look to completely new, and I love small weekend-sized paint projects, like painting furniture and giving them an entirely new look. I got this idea and the painting instructions from ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape, a product that I don’t do any paint jobs without. They also sent us a few rolls of painter’s tape – and I will be using them for my next paint project. We’ve been buying furniture from flea markets and painting some has been on my to-do list for a while.

Here are some painting tips for your next furniture painting project, especially a two- or more toned one, like this Adirondack set project, and scroll down for instructions how to paint the chair and the table like pictured.

Painting tips

1. Base coat or no base coat? Painting a fresh base coat will revive an older piece of furniture and will also insure your color blocking design adheres well to the surface.

2. When selecting colors, an easy way to ensure colors will work well together is to use the progression of color provided on the same paint deck card. Paint companies work hard to develop them and it will make your life easier when selecting paint combinations

3. “Batch” the work – meaning, paint one color all at the same time.

4. If using a roller – use a foam roller for a nice even application. Foam rollers don’t pick paint back like a regular nap roller.

5. You can use both a roller and a brush at the same time. Fill in the area between the slats with a brush and the evening out the flat areas with the roller. Taking advantage of the paint being wet allows you to create a nice even finish.

6. Let the paint dry well before applying the next coat. It’s always better to build up coats as opposed to applying a thick layer of paint. Paint applied in one thick coat will have a tendency to sag or droop or drip.

7. When working with multiple brushes – dedicate each to different colors of paint to avoid them drying out. While you work with another brush, wrap the others up in a plastic bag – ensuring they are air tight. This way you quickly switch back and forth from brushes without the paint crusting as it sits in the open air.

8. If continuing the job the next day, place the brush in the plastic bag and keep it in the freezer over night. The next day when you are ready to get back to work, pull the brush out at least 15 minutes before you plan to use its good to go. There is no wasting time and water to wash it twice and the brush is in great working condition.

ADIRONDACK CHAIR & TABLE PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS

Use exterior grade Satin Enamel paint for outdoor furniture.
In this project the following paints were used:
Base Coat: Caribbean Coast (Behr: Satin Enamel 550D-4); Blue #2: Ocean Cruise (Behr: Satin Enamel 550D-5); Blue #3: Blue Chaise (Behr: Satin Enamel 550D-6); Blue #4: Southern Evening (Behr: Satin Enamel 550-D-7)

Tools:
1.5″ ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape w/EdgeLock
4’ T-Square
Paint tarps & paint rags
Measuring tape & pencil
1” & 2” angled paint brush, 2” square brush
3M Respiratory Mask, 3M Sanding Block (fine)
6” foam roller, 9” roller, paint tray, can opener
12” or 24” framing square is helpful

Instructions:

1. Create your design. Feel free to use the speed square to play with size. You can also use a computer, or sketch on a paper before committing to a design.

2. Draw out the color blocking sections on the chair and the table. Note: in the example design the progression of size and depth of blue tones are evident. As the size increases the color intensifies. Feel free to add a splash of a bright tone and change size according to what you like.

3. Use the T-Square or a speed square to ensure boxes are truly square (90 degree angles at corners).

4. Tape all the color blocking sections using ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape w/Edge Lock, mask out boxes one paint color at a time along the line. Before painting, lightly sand intended painting areas to create “teeth” and insure adhesion of the paint.

5. Paint color blocked sections with a 2” brush or combination of a foam roller and small brush. Follow the direction of the grain of the wood. When painting, work from top to bottom with each section. This makes for a cleaner process and avoids dripping paint on a section already painted. Use the smaller brush to go between the slats and then brush or roll out onto the slatted area.

6. Repeat the paint process with the progression of blue paint colors. Paint all of the sections for each color at once, and work on the table and the chair at the same time. It will speed up your working time, so you can paint the other one, while the other one dries.

7. Once paint has fully dried, gently pull tape by angling the edge back at 45 degrees to reveal crisp edges and lines and corners.

8. Plan to apply two coats of paint.

9. If your design was painted on raw wood chair – seal the whole piece with an exterior grade wood sealer. Note: Use water based sealer – oil based products with time tend to yellow which will affect your color choice.

Disclosure: I received these painting tips from ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape, and some painter’s tape, but this post was not sponsored. I wanted to share these tips and this DIY project with you because I think upgrading old furniture or making flea market finds your own with paint is an awesome idea. Hope you enjoy it!

Enter the Scandinavian State of Mind

Welcome to Holiday Headquarters and my Scandinavian Summer feature at Skimbaco Lifestyle! Holiday Headquarters is a collaboration between several lifestyle, decorating and party experts and we are happy to participate in this summer party special today. I’m inviting you over for “fika in the backyard” – fika is a Swedish word for a coffee break. Get some coffee, sit back and learn how to host a summer party the Scandinavian way. Make sure to subscribe to our feed to get more ideas like this delivered to you.

SCANDINAVIAN DECORATING: BOLD CONTRASTS

Skimbaco Lifestyle is all about Scandinavian-inspired living, and many of the ideas that actually come from Scandinavian home decorating apply to other aspects in life too – or other way around. Same way as using what you have in home decorating applies to life – make the best with what you already have. Combining traditional with modern is also an important aspect of Scandinavian lifestyle – and home decorating. There are hundreds of years of heritage and history that still is seen in everyday living in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, yet Scandinavia is the mecca for modern design and modern technology. Strong contrasts can be seen everywhere, from weather to design: cold dark winters veiled with white snow contrast with warm colorful summers with never ending sunshine letting the gardens bloom in bold colors, and all of this inspires art and design. Scandinavian decorating style has always included combining very rustic elements and natural materials with sleek modern design, and it is trendier than ever – everywhere in the world.

SUMMER IN SCANDINAVIA

Summer is short in the Nordic countries, and when sun shines in Scandinavia, everybody goes outside. People leave the work a few minutes early, and the shirts come off no matter the age, sex or body type. I just witnessed my over 70-year-old neighbor across the river to go dipping in the river on a hot day just wearing her granny panties. Talk about swimsuitless confidence! While skinny-dipping may not be for you, there is something to learn about it: enjoy simple pleasures in life, no matter what others think. When sun shines – enjoy it like it’s going to be snowing tomorrow. (Here in Sweden, it just might.)

KEEP DECORATING SIMPLE

When it comes to summer entertaining the Scandinavian way, there is one word that describes it better than anything else: EASY. Since you want to spend most of your time outside enjoying the summer, the party decorating and cooking is all very simple. Use what you have, make crafts like the soup can vases, which you can even make outdoors, pick flowers from your own garden or from a nature walk, and enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables straight from garden or farmer’s market in your menu – the point is: enjoy the process of creating the party as much as hosting it.

SCANDINAVIAN SUMMER FOOD

Create a menu that you can make ahead of the time – or whip up quickly by the BBQ grill. Enlist kids to help and make it a family effort. My daughter’s specialty is Swedish chocolate balls, and my 9-year old son knows how to make Finnish summer berry pie and loves it with blueberries.

The night before the party I boil extra potatoes and throw a huge salmon file on the grill and enjoy the night with my family (this makes a great party dinner menu too – if you are having a dinner party). The next day I make a potato salad with radishes, and salmon wraps (recipe coming this summer) for the party. Easy, since the cooking was already done. And while Scandinavian summers are more than pickeled herring, typically there is some sort of seafood in Scandinavian parties. Try the easy Danish Smorrebrod, an open shrimp sandwich, make it smaller as an appetizer, or larger for lunch menus. Taste of Scandinavia – and super easy.

NATURAL, RUSTIC, SUSTAINABLE

One key element to Scandinavian lifestyle is sustainable living. When it comes to decorating this means upcycling old things to something new, using flea market finds, and purchasing quality that lasts for years to come. And above anything else: avoiding waste by any cause. That also means avoiding paper plates, anything disposable, using the cheap dollar store decorating items that you can only use once. I cheat on one thing – sometimes I use paper napkins, like I did in our “Fika Party in the Yard”. The mix match flea market plates look great as a collection and when you match them with simple modern dinnerware – it all sort of goes together very well.

Use natural materials like linen and cotton, when it comes to picking the textiles. I used vintage kitchen towels as a table runner, and get the details how to recreate this above rustic dinner party and read the tips from a Scandinavian interior design store owner.

DANCE & SING… AND DRINK

I told you that traditions play a big role in Nordic countries. Well, singing and dancing is part of that, and when summer comes – the somewhat reserved Nordic people start singing and dancing. Often fueled a little with vodka, beer or wine, or all of it. And often outdoors where there is space to dance, and the singing echos in the lakes. Swedish have drinking songs that are not just for college students, but what they sing even during fancier dinner parties. It’s normal to sing and then drink, Swedes prefer Aquavit, and Finns drink vodka. While singing songs in the dinner table or around a pole decorated with flowers in the yard might not be for you – why not add a backyard karaoke and add some funky music to your party and get people dancing (don’t forget adding ABBA to the playlist!).

Holiday Headquarters

Discover more summer inspiration from all of the Holiday Headquarters experts and follow the #HolidayHQ on twitter today. Join us tonight on Twitter for a #HolidayHQ tweet chat 8pm EST. More tips abut summer entertaining, and we are also giving away Hamilton Beach Fastpop Ice Pop Instant Frozen Popsicle Makers.

SECOND CITY SOIREE | How to Turn Your Gas Grill into a Smoker

THOUGHTFULLY SIMPLE | 4 Summer Cocktails

SKIMBACO LIFESTYLE | Scandinavian Summer Party Ideas

VALLEY AND CO. | Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipes

PARTYBLUPRINTS BLOG | Super Summer Pie

CELEBRATIONS AT HOME | Make A Watermelon Cake

PAPER&PIGTAILS | Favorite Summer Printables
HOUSEWIFE BLISS | Summer Bunting for Playful Parties

Subscribe to our feed and see more Scandinavian Summer Party ideas on our Pinterest board.

PHOTOS: Katja Presnal, Werannas Warehouse (rustic boathouse), IKEA (sing & dance)

Remember my soup can craft last summer?

I still use cans for decorating and this time I made an army of them for a Scandinavian summer outdoor party. We don’t use much canned foods so it took me a month to collect several cans.. then I washed and painted them all white. Spray paint works the best – but any paint works. In fact, I used exterior paint that I used painting the deck railing, that’s what I happened to have on hand. Plus I’m hoping these cans will last this summer in an outdoor use that way. I let the cans to dry a week before doing anything else, and then added the ribbon and picked flowers from the yard, and used the cans as flowers vases and for napkins and silverware.

Dirt cheap, super easy, and yet oddly this rustic homemade soup can vase looks better than many things that you buy from the store. Above all – it looks made with love and gives a personal touch.

How to keep your flowers looking fresh for longer

Did you know that roses have an outer layer of “guard petals” that should be removed after delivery? I didn’t. If you want to read more flower care tips, check out the following tips from Organic Bouquet’s CEO Robert McLaughlin to keep your Mother’s Day flowers looking their best. Organic Bouquet is the largest online provider of eco-friendly and organic gifts and their flowers are not only grown with the environment in mind, but they are also a mission-based company.

KEEP FLOWERS LOOKING FRESH FOR LONGER

Follow these steps to maximize the vase life of your flower delivery:

- Prepare a solution of warm water and a flower food packet, or mix 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice and
1 tbsp sugar per quart of water
- Fill a vase with the solution to within 1-2 inches of the rim
- Remove any leaves and foliage that would fall under the water line
- Cut each stem at about ½ inch from the bottom, at a 45 degree angle, with a sharp single blade knife or floral clippers
- Display arrangement in a cool location between 65-72 degrees and away from direct sunlight and heat or dehumidifying sources

ADDITIONAL FLOWER CARE TIPS:
- Roses have an outer layer called “guard petals” that keep the bloom tight and protect the flower during shipping. They may appear discolored or bruised – simply remove these petals and the rose will blossom over the next few days.
- Lilies will bloom over the course of several days. Remove the pollen to avoid staining. Pollen dust can be removed from the flower petals by lightly brushing with a pipe cleaner. Cut off expired lily blooms as blooms closer to the tip continue to open.
- Flowers need to be rehydrated after shipment. They will “perk up” after several hours of drinking when cared for according to the instructions above.
- Top off the water level daily
- Clean the vase, change the flower food solution and re-cut the stems every two days

Happy Mother’s Day!

It’s so simple to make a fancy looking DIY center piece.
Get a tray, fill it with tea candle holders and candles. Done.

I created my modern turquoise and white candle tray already waiting for terrace season, and I can’t wait to have my deck ready for summer. It’s still been too rainy, and cold, but we are hoping to have our back deck ready this weekend and kick off the BBQ season. We’ll see.

Candle tray is an excellent way to bring indoors out for outdoor entertaining. They are great also for balconies and for smaller yards because they don’t require much space. Candle trays with tea candles are great for spots where you can’t add a fire pit, but still would like to add some natural flame. The tea candles are also better for fire safety than tall candles.

You can use any type of large tray and then collect various votive holders to fill it. Pick one or two colors or a theme, and it’s OK if they are mix match, that’s the whole point. You can even use washed empty jelly jars, small cups, drinking glasses, you name it. Pretty much any glassware works, and the more you mix the better it will look. Start arranging your tray in the middle and add the highest candle holders in the middle, add tea candles and you are done.

I was hoping to find an old tray from a flea market but saw this modern tray in a design store and once I got home I realized I had enough things at home to create a candle tray, and I didn’t have to buy anything else. I didn’t have that many actual candle holders so I used small vases, coffee cups and glasses. I used some of my Finnish Iittala turquoise glassware and added a few old coffee cups my grandmother gave me and filled them all with tea lights.

Now all I need is my deck ready and a table outside to enjoy a glass of wine in the candle light with my hubby at nights. The days are getting longer and longer in Sweden though – and I might have to wait until fall to use my tray outside.

Aqua & White Candle Tray shopping list

If you like some of the items on my tray, here are some of the products I used. Note that I have been collecting these over the years, and I have several different Iittala glasses in turquoise making it easy to mix. You can’t go wrong also when you mix with white or clear glass. Target, Walmart, IKEA and Kmart – every inexpensive store also sells small colorful tea light holders. Mix the inexpensive things with more expensive designer items and flea market finds and you will get the best mix. One of the best online store selections for candle holders of all colors and shapes is the Luna Bazaar.

Iittala Aalto mini bowl in turquoise ($120) – I love these for candles and candies and just as decorative items.

The iittala Kivi Candle Holder ($20) are less expensive and they look great grouped together.

I also added one iittala Kartio tumbler, and two Iittala Verna glasses on the tray to give height. The Verna glasses are older Iittala collection and no longer available but I didn’t want to risk my new Iittala Lempi glasses which would also have worked.

Ralph Lauren Pink Pony candle ($45) shows its support for the Pink Pony Fund in a pink hue, and it’s one of my favorite candles for the charity, the look and the scent. Maybe not the perfect match for the rest of the products, but it works.

I also added some old semi tasse coffee cups with plates and the Röstrand Mon Amie cups have a little bit the same look as my Grandmother’s old cups have. But the point is – it doesn’t all have to be a perfect color match and it actually looks better when you add unexpected surprises in the mix as well.

Damn, I’m ready to nest, and I’m even boring my husband to death (or, to sleep) with my craft, sewing, home decorating and DIY plans. And no, the picture isn’t of my husband, it’s Ryan Gosling. The line is his though, my sweet man.

I am so ready to have a home, a house to live in, rooms to decorate, dinners to cook. I enjoy this semi-carefree hotel living, testing the restaurants in town, and I can’t even describe how excited I am about next week’s trip to Italy, but boy am I ready to have a home.

It has been very freeing to get rid of our belongings, and start from scratch, but I admit, I can’t wait to start collecting little things around me again… and to create a beautiful home. We’ve been living in rental apartments in New York the past 3,5 years, and I am so excited to be living in a house again, with a yard, with space for my craft and DIY projects, space for kids to play.

I try not to overload my Pinterest boards with products I want to buy, with crafts and projects I want to make. But I can’t help it. I have followed 20+ new blogs to scout more ideas, I have visited the local flea markets to look for furniture that can be turned into something fantastic with a little paint. The best? Kids are getting excited too. My daughter wants to learn to use my sewing machine, my son is excited for flea market adventures.

I am planning on making a few changes in my blog network too. I am hoping my positive lifestyle change will be visible in my blogs too, and hope you join the journey. I hope you will join our Monday blog hop Live a Little and please connect with me on Pinterest and Facebook and share your home decorating projects, recipes, your Pinterest boards..

I want to hear how you live Skimbaco Lifestyle.

For all my crafty friends there… check out this amazing yarn shop we discovered in Stockholm… The store is called Happy Color and it’s the coolest shop I’ve been in a long time, if ever. The store was full of yarn and handmade items like jewelry and other accessories, but mainly it was yarn, displayed in the most colorful way as possible. Just visiting the store made me want to start a few knitting projects, or maybe crocheting something little… I have a full house to decorate first but at some point I will go back to this store to buy yarn goodies!

Happy Color
Stora Nygatan 44, Stockholm, Sweden
(in Gamla stan, the old town)