I literally grew up with Polarn O. Pyret when growing up in Finland. Polarn O. Pyret is a brand Scandinavian moms have trusted since 1976, and now their crisp and simple designs of high quality soft cotton clothes and accessories are available in the US. I am so excited about PO.P being available here, and it makes me almost wish I hadn’t closed down my store in December – Polarn O. Pyret is something I would love to sell!

See it yourself – aren’t these cute or what? And what is the best is the quality – the cotton is soft, and lasts from kid to another (I have three kids, and I love getting clothes that last from sibling to another). Simple Scandinavian design that has universal appeal. Polarn O. Pyret also has a baby line and a maternity line, and I’m extremely happy that their clothing line goes up to 11 year olds. There are so many cute brands for babies and tots, but I find it more and more difficult to find cute clothes for school aged kids.

Give them a try and you’ll see what I mean with the quality. If you shop now, you can save 30% and get free shipping using a coupon code VIP23.

UPDATED: Thanks to nice people from Always Mod, I heard that this collection is actually not going to be sold at IKEAs, but available at Bemz.com.

Marimekko is a Finnish design stable and the bold prints are known world wide. Last year Marimekko partnered with Swedish H&M, and created a designer clothing collection for H&M. This year – Marimekko’s original prints will dress at Swedish IKEA’s furniture. Both H&M and IKEA are known for their inexpensive prices, and for the quality that goes with the low price tag. Marimekko on the other hand is known for high quality and very high price tag, and Finns don’t like to see that even changing anytime soon – Marimekko is some sort of status symbol in Finland.

I personally am very excited about the Bemz, Marimekko and IKEA partnership. Bemz is a Swedish company making slipcovers to IKEA furniture, and starting on May 27th, their new line with Marimekko prints will be available at their website. Total of 11 different designs will be available, and with the some of the all time popular Marimekko prints. Marimekko prints have never been sold at IKEA before, but IKEA has been copying several of their prints and making their own mock-ups of the famous Marimekko prints, so it is interesting to see that Marimekko is offering their design stables for a chain known for “borrowing” some design ideas from famous Scandinavian designers.

I’m excited about this partnership, and just proud to see Finnish design for wider distribution. I may even buy a couch now if I can get one of these colorful slipcovers for a price I can afford. Unfortunately I was not able to get the exact price since they haven’t come out yet, but keep an eye at Bemz.com

Photos: Bemz

I can’t resist adding tons of photos of the H&M’s Home line of crisp bedding, colorful summer towels, Scandinavian style kitchen accessories and everything else for your home – for unbeatable H&M price of course.

The look is unbeatably Scandinavian, easy going, simple, crisp white with bold accent colors, and neutrals that go with anything. While the H&M doesn’t really offer anything new and spectacular, it pulls together the essentials of Scandinavian home well. These pictures look like they could be from any Scandinavian home deco magazine from any year from the past ten years.. And I am saying it with no sarcastic tone, just meaning that the H&M Home products look unmistakably home to me, and makes it easy for anyone to bring a little Swedish design in their homes.

Spring is here and green is one of the top decorating colors for the spring. The earth month starts today, and while these finds may not be the most environmentally friendly – they get you the green set of mind for the spring.

While it would be great to go all the way green, but instead of starting to paint the walls to the new trendy color of the season, why not just try dressing your dinner table..? Here are three table settings with enough green to qualify to be trendy for spring, but also timeless modern lines & products that won’t go out of style for years to come. That’s why I love Scandinavian design – it’s simple, timeless and always elegant.

This table setting is from Just Scandinavian store in Tribeca, but I can see myself visiting a friend’s house, and seeing it on her table. I mean really, I know for a fact one of my best friends has most of the elements of this table setting. I recognize the dishes and the glassware, but unfortunately I have to admit, I was not able to recognize the place mats.

1. Arabia Paratiisi series is a popular series, found in many Finnish homes.

2. Iittala Maribowls (starting $34) come in different colors and are an iconic Finnish table top decoration and serving dish.

3. Iittala Aino large tumbler ($22.50 for a pair) is every day design, that lasts for years’ of use and still looks fresh and new. Aino glasses come in several colors and sizes.

4. Iittala Kartio Tumblers start at 20 bucks for a pair and come in several different colors (two shades of green) and different sizes.

Picture: Kotiliesi

This time I know the table cloth.. it’s Marimekko’s Dahlström-table clothe, made of Vågsvall-fabric, unfortunately I didn’t find it available online. But note the different colored dishes in the setting. I really like that when you use simple design, and the same dishes (in different colors) you can mix colors pretty randomly. Or get the same glasses or candle holders in different colors to mix it up, that way you can easily create table settings that fit different themes and seasons.

1. Iittala Teema is iconic Finnish collection, designed already in the 60s. From school cafeterias to restaurants to everyday use in homes – Teema has been everywhere since it’s debut. Available in several colors.

2. Iittala Ote glasses are featured in this table setting in clear, but like

3. Iittala Birds ($366) are popular collectibles that make stunning center piece to your dining table. Available in several designs & colors, and yes, all with fairly high price tags.

4. The unfortunate Marimekko fabric that I couldn’t find available online in green.

This table setting has a nice Finnish-Swedish mix. The simple white Finnish Arabia’s 24h-series’ dishes are mixed with Swedish plates that offer a little color to the mix. The Josef Frank’s bird fabric is really the key element to this setting – adding any more color with dishes would have been too much (for Scandinavian look).

1. Gustavsberg Adam plates (small plate $55) with blue dots is old and new at the same time. Great retro look that is easy to mix and match with other series.

2. The simple white Arabia 24h series, starting at X $.

3. Iittala Senta Wine Glasses, starting at $25 for a pair.

4. Did you see Mamma Mia! movie? If you adored the fabrics, they are designed by a Swedish designer Josef Frank, here featured the Green Birds linen fabric.

I wanted to share a few photos of beautiful modern Scandinavian kitchens with you and some product finds you can bring the same look in to your kitchen. Less is more in Scandinavian design, and the colors are neutral, lots of white, earth tones, stainless steel and selected items bringing a splash of color. The kitchen photos are all from Finland, where I am from, and the styles and ideas here represent the Finnish kitchen styles. All of the following products are not from Scandinavia, but offer the same look and are easily available.

(picture: Irja Koivula)

My favorite feature of Finnish kitchens is a dish rack inside a cabinet, on the top of the sink, tiskikaappi. I have no idea why a brilliant invention like this hasn’t spread around the world, but maybe it is just us Finns that thinks it’s brilliant. The dish rack is just simple wire rack, with open bottom of the cabinet, and you can lift all the hand washed dishes inside the cabinet to drip down to the sink. This leaves more space to your counter and your dishes are hidden behind the cabinet. I have chosen the kitchen pictures in this blog post to include the tiskikaappi.

STORAGE

But if you find tiskikaappi a little odd or you don’t have a cabinet on the top of your sink that you could turn into one, here are a few Scandinavian style storage ideas for you.

1. Alessi Jasper Morrison Kitchen Utensils Set ($115) is Italian, but many Scandinavians love Alessi and this utensil rack is a common sight in modern Scandinavian kitchen. Sleek design, nice deco element, but something that is in use daily.

2. Grundtal wall rack from IKEA ($10.99) is a great small rack you can get the Finnish feel to your kitchen.

3. Domsjö chopping board ($14.99) isn’t really a storage element, but I love it and added it here for its multi-purpose. This chopping board fits perfectly on the top of your sink and you get more counter space – and you can hide dirty dishes under it!

4. Swedish Designs’, Horizontal Skillet Rack Beech ($62.00) is made for skillets of different sizes, but I love the look and have it on my countertop and storage plates on it. Beech always has a Scandinavian feel and if you add colorful plates or skillets to this one, it gives just the right about color to your kitchen.

5. Stainless steel bread box ($39.95) from Crate & Barrel looks something many Scandinavians have. Many Finnish kitchens are small, and extra storage is always welcome. This bread box style is a design element and very functional piece of modern Scandinavian kitchens.

ACCESSORIES

Bring the color in with accessories but keep the style still modern. Use essential kitchen tools, and things you can use every day to brighten the look if you want to keep the uncluttered modern Scandinavian look in your kitchen. Finnish people love designer glass wear, and you can find Arabia and Iittala from almost every home.

1. Marimekko Tea Towels ($25/per set of 2) are linen/cotton mix, and give a nice hint of color to your kitchen. The Pakkanen and Pikkunen patterns are designed by Maija Louekari for Marimekko.

2. Iittala Kivi Votives (starting at $12.75) come in variety of colors – collect one or two colors or get them all and change by the seasons. They are also great for coins etc. small items.

3. Iittala Pepper Mill ($59.50) is the only pepper mill you’ll ever need to purchase. High quality, stainless steel, and looks modern and stylish on your countertop ready to be used.

4. Small appliances you use every day like espresso machine are proudly displayed on the countertop – and they blend in the modern design look. I like stainless steel appliances, but if you are like many Finns, you might opt for white appliances. Alessi Toaster with bun warmer ($198) is a great choice, offering impeccable style and function.

5. Marimekko’s Unikko pattern is a no-fail in Finnish kitchens. There are even people with some sort of Unikko-mania and they have everything with the Unikko pattern from tea towels to bathroom accessories to umbrellas to socks. But seems like the most commonly used Unikko products are the kitchen products, like these Marimekko Oven Mittens ($17), which come in several different colors bringing your Scandinavian style kitchen nice splash of color.

6. Alvar Aalto is the most known Finnish architects and designers and his vase collection is also known world wide – and loved in most Finnish homes. Alvar Aalto Mini Bowl ($20) is the least expensive one, and small enough to bring joy on your countertop in a daily use. If you really want to make a statement, get the largest size and use it as a fruit bowl – and tulips in an Aalto vase is a Finnish flower arrangement I’m used to seeing since I was a little kid.

Kitchen photo sources:
Plaza.fi
Sundsberg.fi
vaasa.tvtalo.fi

READ MORE:

Marimekko Starts a New Era
Modern Children’s Bedding by Marimekko
Artek video from Finland
Why don’t we see any Finnish Innovations or do we?
Alvar Aalto and my home town
Cheap Scandinavian Design a’la Swedish IKEA – part 1
Cheap Scandinavian Design a’la Swedish IKEA – part 2