As I walked home early evening yesterday, the night sky was bathed in a warm light from the glow of fairy lights and candles shining brightly from windows and I felt a sense that Jul (Christmas) is just around the corner. In Blekinge, Sweden, interior designer Helen Sturesson's decorations will be slightly different this year thanks to a stunning handmade Christmas collection by Pernille Bülow - a glass atelier on the Danish island of Bornholm. It's safe to say the Pernille Bülow elves have been burning the midnight oil to create the most beautiful mouth blown baubles you'll find this year (some of which are made from recycled glass) - as well as candleholders, oil lamps, vases and dinnerware. I chatted to Helen to find about her family Christmas traditions up at the cottage, and to take some photos of the collection.
When does the Christmas period begin for you?
It starts on the first Sunday of advent when I put up star lanterns and line the windowsills with candles and oil lamps. Around St Lucia (13th December), we put up a Christmas tree and dot more Christmas decorations around the house.
How do you like to decorate your home for Christmas?
As well as the star lanterns and candles, I also love to find a little Christmas tree in the garden which I bring indoors and decorate with a few pretty baubles. And I make a wreath or two, also using whatever is available outside. Since it's so small, our cottage doesn't need more than that to feel festive and cosy.
Above: Oil lamp, Handmade SKY christmas ornament Below: ReUse oil lamp, Waves Christmas ornament, Gaia Candleholder
Your cottage makes the perfect backdrop for Pernille Bülow Christmas decorations - what are your thoughts on the collection?
I love that the ReUse items (bowls, glasses and decorations) are made from recycled glass and also that everything in the entire collection is handmade or mouth blown on the Danish island of Bornholm. Every piece feels really unique and good quality. You get so much more value from items that come directly from a designer / atelier and are not mass produced.
Above: Handmade prisma baubles (on a ReUse serving plate), SKY clear ornament, SKY smoke ornament, SKY ornament ruby
When do you head to your cottage for the holidays?
We usually go there one or two days before Christmas.
What do you love most about being at the cottage at Christmas time?
It's more cosy here than at our apartment in the city. I love to light the fire in the Kakelugn (tiled oven). It's very peaceful here and I really like to be near my parents and brothers who live nearby.
Where do you spend Christmas Eve and what does your day look like (the day Christmas is celebrated in Sweden)?
On Christmas Eve we drive over to my parents which is around 15 minutes away. The entire family gathers so we're usually about 12 people in total. We all bring dishes for the 'Julbord' (the Christmas spread) and rally around in the kitchen to finalise the meal before it goes on the table.
After lunch there's always someone who wants to sit down and watch 'Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas' - a bizarre Swedish Christmas tradition - while others chill and chat! In the evening Tomten (Father Christmas) arrives bearing gifts and we drink glögg (mulled wine).
Over the table: Mouthblown Sky pendant lamp
On the table: Balu wine glass, ReUse jug, ReUse bowl, ReUse drinking glass, Sky vase
What type of dishes does your Julbord include?
We have a fairly traditional one with ham, pickled herring, Jansson's Temptation (a potato dish with anchovies), meatballs, salmon etc washed down with 'Julmust' (a form of Christmas cola) a little beer and schnapps. In the evening we drink glögg (spiced mulled wine) with gingerbread and tuck into Rice á la Malta or Christmas porridge.
Above: Baubles: ReUse twisted bauble, ReUse clear glass Setting: ReUse plate from recycled glass, ReUse bowl
What do you do on Christmas Day (the day after the festivities)?
It's a very relaxed day. We meet up with my parents again and go for a long walk together in the countryside before eating leftovers from the Julbord. Sometimes we head back to the city to meet up with Kristoffer's family.
Above: ReUse oval platter Below: Sky ceramic lamp, ReUse Sprød christmas ornament
When do you take down your decorations?
I don't really stick to a specific date - it's basically when the tree starts to look awful! The stars are the last things I take down. It feels so dark without them. My son always gets sad and cries when we take the star down in his bedroom - he loves the cosy, warm light it emits.
Thank you so much for sharing your Christmas with us Helen, it sounds so lovely!
And thank you to Pernille Bülow for entrusting Helen and I with all the beautiful glassware!
Follow any of the links in this post to treat yourself or friends (everything they sell makes a perfect present, but especially the clear mouthblown baubles which come in a lovely box!) - or head over to the Pernille Bülow online shop (they ship almost worldwide and it's free if you buy for a certain amount). I have a suspicion their elves will be working overtime in the coming weeks as the Christmas decorations are the prettiest I've seen this year.
Is there anything that stood out to you about the decorations or Helen's mysig family Christmas at the cottage?
Stay cosy friends!
Niki
Photography; Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home (except for first and last cottage image by Helen)
Styling: Helen Sturesson
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Gaven til maven er den nye, store guide til, hvordan man bedst navigerer uden om de madvarer, der udfordrer maven og tarmen, og samtidig får masser af sunde, sikre fuldkorn, madglæde og nydelse. Anette Harbech Olesen har talt med tarmforskere og speciallæger over hele verden og på baggrund af den seneste videnskab skrevet denne bog og komponeret 68 vidunderlige madopskrift er, der kan skabe ro i tarmen.
Her er et par af de fine billeder fra bogen.
]]>They say, the best things come to those who wait. I was pondering over this the other day, and asked Per - 'Do you think we would appreciate the Swedish summer so much, if the winter wasn't so harsh'? The truth is, I don't think we would. There's something about the plants and flowers bursting into life after lying dormant and the warm sunshine on your skin after months of covering up. I know I don't feel the same - the joy on my Nordic friends' faces when the good weather arrives is palpable. And we don't want to waste a second of it!
Life moves outside - and our garden becomes our home. And one of my favourite places to hang out, is under the honeysuckle at The Wilsons (a family of Brits who moved to Malmö from Australia a few years back). Think comfy seating, cosy blankets and the sweet scent of honeysuckle. All that was missing was the lighting...
Lighting is often neglected or added as an impromptu after thought in an outdoor space, but it's equally as important as indoor lighting. Get it right and you can accentuate your favourite features as well as create a cosy oasis after sunset.
As you know from my own back yard, I'm a big fan of Pernille Bülow ReUse String Lights, and knew they were er, the missing 'link' (see what I did there?!).
The string lighting is handmade in the Pernille Bülow atelier on the Danish island of Bornholm and every piece is mouth blown from recycled waste glass (look closely and you'll see the beautiful bubbles!). How amazing is that?
Also, the chains, which are made up of 9 lights and 3 metres long, can be linked together so you only need one power outlet (power sources are a challenge in most outdoor spaces so this is really handy).
And best of all, they emit a lovely warm glow!
Sarah has added a load of other lovely touches - such as a mirror. In the right place, mirrors can help accentuate favourite elements, reflect light and other plants and flowers as well as visually extend small spaces. Perfect!
If you live in a country where it gets a bit chilly at night - lighting candles and keeping a basket of blankets at hand are perfect ways to stay toasty and prolong the evening!
Such a pretty spot, don't you think?
I think I might just hang out here all summer. I hope the Wilsons don't mind...
Read more about Pernille Bülow ReUse String Lighting here.
In case you’re curious about other items, the ReUse collection is constantly growing and currently includes a lamp, drinking glasses and jugs as well as a number of other lovely pieces (seen in my home here) – all designed to use as much waste glass as possible.
Oh, and they ship almost worldwide too!
Har det så bra!
Niki
Photography by me - styling with the help of the entire Wilson clan!
]]>Es ist noch nicht lange her, da habe ich euch meine tollen neuen Lampen von Pernille Bülow hier auf dem Blog vorgestellt. Und, sie sind wahnsinnig gut bei euch angekommen! Das hat mich sehr gefreut. Das Feedback war wirklich klasse! Kurz darauf wurde ich gefragt, ob wir nicht nochmal gemeinsame Sache machen möchten…Pernille Bülow und ich. Und ob! Da musste ich wirklich nicht lange überlegen…
Neben schönen mundgeblasenen Lampen, findet man bei Pernille Bülow auch wunderbares Geschirr! Mir hat es die Serie Odin besonders angetan. Diese Design Kollektion besteht aus mundgeblasenen Trinkgläsern, Kannen, Schalen und Kerzenhaltern aus dickem Glas mit sanften Formen, und ist besonders für die Nutzung im Freien geeignet. Ich habe mich direkt in den Grauton verguckt, aber es gibt auch andere interessante Farböne, für die unter euch, die mehr Akzente möchten!
ICH HABE MICH DIREKT IN DIE DESIGNSERIE ODIN VERLIEBT
Um euch zu zeigen, wie toll die einzelnen Teile der Serie aussehen, habe ich neulich ein frühlingshaftes Styling für euch aufgebaut. Das passte vom Timing ganz gut, denn 2 Tage später war mein runder Geburtstag. Somit habe ich alles stehenlassen, bis zum Besuch meiner Eltern. Und da wir also leider nur in winzig kleiner Runde gefeiert haben, habe ich mich umso mehr gefreut, dass zumindest die Tischdekoration was für sich hat.
ICH KOMBINIERE DAS GRAUE GESCHIRR MIT LEINEN UND GOLDENEM BESTECK
Alle Teile haben schon etwas Gewicht, aber genau das lässt sie auch besonders hochwertig wirken! Das Glas hat an manchen Stellen, diese kleinen Bläschen, die es einzigartig machen. Grauton variiert, je nach Lichteinfall. Mal heller, mal schon wirklich anthrazit. Ich habe die Schüsseln mit cremeweißen Tellern, Leinenservietten und goldenem Besteck aus meinem Fundus dekoriert, und mag den Mix sehr. In Kombination mit rauhen Übertöpfen und Frühlingsblumen ist es für mich perfekt. Die grauen Geschirrelemente werden in meinem sonst eher “leichten Interieur” zum echten Hingucker. Folgende Artikel der Odin Serie habe ich für mein Styling ausgewählt:
FRISCHE GETRÄNKE IN DEN GROSSEN KARAFFEN, DAS WIRD WUNDERBAR
Ich freue mich jetzt schon auf die Benutzung im Freien, wenn die Garten- und Grillsaison endlich startet. Wie wir wisst, entstehen in unserem Garten ja immer mehr “dunkle Ecken”, und dieses Geschirr passt einfach klasse dazu! Frische Getränke in den großen Karaffen, das wird ganz wunderbar aussehen glaube ich. Dazu hübsche Tabletts und die niedlichen Trinkgläser. Übrigens, die Odin Designserie besteht aus schlichten und stilvollen Glasdesignprodukten, die von Pernille Bülow entworfen und im Ausland gefertigt werden. Sandstrahlung und Schliff werden in der Werkstatt auf Bornholm vorgenommen.
Kennt ihr das Geschirr von Pernille Bülow bereits? Wie gefallen euch diese grauen Akzente in meinem Interieur? Freue mich wirklich immer sehr über euer Feedback. Bei den Lampen hat das super funktioniert, mal sehen wie dieser Post nun bei euch ankommt!? Ich hoffe ich konnte euch ein wenig inspirieren, und wünsche euch jetzt Frohe Ostern!
Alles Liebe Britta
Hä, den Artikel hab ich ich doch grad erst gelesen, da war doch grad erst was mit dem Esszimmer? Richtig, wir können da jetzt mal “Finde die 10 Unterschiede im Bild” spielen. Eigentlich wollte ich euch dazwischen zumindest mal noch das Schlafzimmer zeigen, aber es hat zeitlich nicht gereicht und Bilder mit Hyazinthen haben halt quasi ein Ablaufdatum. Deshalb muss ich euch jetzt halt mal direkt hintereinander Bilder eines Table Settings zeigen. Ich bin mir sicher, ihr werdet es verkraften.
Eigentlich wollte ich für diese Tischdeko ja wieder Moos aus dem Garten holen, so wie ich es euch hier schon mal bei der Blumenkiste gezeigt hatte, aber der lange Winter mit ständig gefrorenem Boden hat mir einen Strich durch die Rechnung gemacht. Überhaupt, ich wollte ja eigentlich, das die Kiste dieses Jahr mindestens genauso schön wird, wie letztes Mal, aber es kam nur eine sehr spartanische Lockdown Variante dabei heraus. Ich musste die Pflanzen nehmen, die es halt im Supermarkt gab, weil Blumenläden da noch nicht geöffnet hatten. Wenigstens hatte ich noch Holzwolle daheim, um dem ganzen wenigstens einen leicht österlichen Touch zu verleihen und um die Alufolie zu verdecken, in die die Blumenzwiebeln eingepackt sind.
Eigentlich haben wir an Ostern ja immer einen tollen Brunch mit der ganzen Familie, aber ich vermute jetzt einfach mal, dass der dieses Jahr ausfallen wird. Genau wie letztes Jahr. Deshalb habe ich nun zum zweiten Mal den Tisch gedeckt, ohne das alles dann auch zu benutzen. Und deshalb steht da auch nichts zu Essen auf dem Tisch, weil ja keiner kommen kann. Eigentlich hätte ich euch nämlich unsere neuen Gläser gern gezeigt, wenn sie mit Cocktails gefüllt sind. Aber das hole ich dann im Sommer nach, denn da werde ich euch auch diese fantastische Lichterkette auf unserer tollen Terrasse zeigen.
Was sind das überhaupt für Sachen? Erinnert ihr euch noch daran, wie ich euch die Lampen über dem Esstisch von Pernille Bülow vorgestellt habe? Ist ja inzwischen auch wieder eine Weile her. Aber nach wie vor sind die Lampen der absolute Hingucker im Essbereich. Immer wenn wir Besuch haben, kommt die Sprache irgendwann auf die Lampen. Auf die schöne Form, das warme Licht und wo die überhaupt her sind.
Diese wunderbaren Lampen kommen aus einer Glasbläserei auf Bornholm, wo alle Produkte mundgeblasen werden, so auch unsere neuen Trinkgläser und die Lichterketten. Aber das ist noch gar nicht das ganz besondere an diesen beiden Sachen. Das wirklich Spannende ist, dass sie aus recyceltem Borosilikatglas hergestellt werden. Dieses spezielle Glas wird für Diabetesmedikamente verwendet und wurde bisher von der Firma Novo Nordisk einfach entsorgt. Das Team von Pernille Bülow hat aber einen Weg gefunden, dieses schöne Glas zu recyceln und dabei kommen diese hübschen Produkte mit den kleinen Luftbläschen heraus. Wie Kohlensäurebläschen durchziehen sie das gesamte Glas.
Die Trinkgläser funktionieren nicht nur für Wasser, sie sehen auch als Cocktailgläser wunderschön aus und auch für kleine Desserts sind sie perfekt. Das zeige ich euch dann im Sommer noch. Denn da wird auch diese Lichterkette ihren ganz großen Auftritt haben! Lichterketten an einem Sommerabend auf der Terrasse, das gehört zu einem entspannten Flair ja schon fast dazu. Aber leider sind die Birnen ja meist aus Kunststoff. Der sieht meistens schon von vorne herein irgendwie billig aus und nach ein paar Jahren sowieso. Aber Lichterketten mit echten Glühbirnen? Sehr schwer zu kriegen. Und dann kommt da jetzt diese sehr, sehr hochwertige Lichterkette aus Dänemark zu uns nach Hause. Ich sag euch, ich kann den Sommer nicht mehr erwarten! Diese Lichterkette ist so gut verarbeitet, das hab ich bei einer Lichterkette noch nie gesehen. An dem robusten Kabel sind neun Metallfassungen befestigt, die mit LEDs bestückt werden (diese werden mitgeliefert). Die 12cm großen Glaskugeln werden mit einer Klammertechnik daran befestigt. Das Licht ist wunderbar warm aber trotzdem richtig hell. Das reicht absolut aus, um im Dunkeln zu essen und wahrscheinlich sogar zum Lesen. Ich kann es mir schon vorstellen, wie unsere beiden Lichterketten unter dem Terrassendach hängen, die Familie sitzt im warmen Lichtschein am Tisch, mit einer guten Flasche Wein, Gin Tonic, einer Käseplatte und entspannter Loungemusik. Leute, das wird so gut!
Im Winter werde ich die Lichterkette dann wahrscheinlich im Trainingsraum aufhängen, da ist ein bisschen gemütliches Licht im nervigen kalten Winter auch ganz schön.
Ich war echt total überrascht von dieser ausgezeichneten Qualität der Lichterkette, deshalb muss ich das jetzt nochmal sagen. Das ist wirklich eine Lichterkette für´s Leben, da werden wir noch sehr lange Freude daran haben. Umso schöner auch der Hintergrund, dass es immer wieder neue tolle Ideen gibt, Material zu recyceln und dem “Abfall” ein zweites, schönes Leben zu schenken. Das finde ich wirklich richtig klasse, vor allem, wenn dann Dinge entstehen, die nützlich und schön sind und im Alltag so viel Freude bereiten.
So, und wer hat alle Unterschiede zum letzten Artikel auf den Bildern gefunden?
Hej vänner! Everyone ready for the weekend? Before we shoot off, I'm really excited to share some recent pictures I took in my dining room in collaboration with Pernille Bülow. You'll likely recognise the name. I am a huge fan of Pernille Bülow - an atelier on the Danish island of Bornholm and I am always excited to see their latest collections. And this one is really exceptional! Pernille Bülow prides itself on producing handmade items from glass and other raw materials in their workshop in the small village of Nexø. The new ReUse glassware consists of a drinking glass (in two different sizes), bowl, vase, oil lamp and jar, all of which have been individually mouth blown using waste glass from the pharmaceutical industry. And single piece is unique. Read on for more!
I used this little bench in the kitchen for all the 'props' for the shoot, and they looked so pretty I couldn't resist taking some snapshots before the items even made it to the table!
When you experience the pieces from the ReUse Collection firsthand, it's hard to imagine that it's made from waste glass. Every year, Novo Nordisk has large amounts of excess borosilicate glass from their diabetes drug production, which is then disposed of. And now, Pernille Bülow has found a way to remelt the glass and shape it into beautiful objects. Look closely and you'll see small bubbles - a result of the production and a hallmark of the ReUse Collection.
The ReUse drinking glasses come in a small and large size. For the table, I used the smaller size because I felt they were a perfect fit with the bowls. People are often cautious about putting handmade glassware in the dishwasher but fear not - these are heat and dishwasher resistant!
The pretty ReUse jars with cork lid can be used for just about anything, anywhere in the home - but I have to say they do look lovely in the kitchen filled with oil and salt!
The ReUse vases all vary slightly in size (a hallmark of mouth blown design!) and look equally beautiful alone as they do on the table in a set of three. I used a single flower or a little spring sprig - which is all it needs!
For our spring table I combined the ReUse Collection with a white linen tablecloth, striped linen napkins, and simple ceramic plates - for a relaxed, yet formal rustic setting.
Let's hope the Brantmark table manners can live up to the setting (there's work to be done, I can tell you *rolls eyes*!). Having said that, there is a relaxed feel to the setting too - which gives way to chatting and laughter well into the evening - hygge style!).
I love antique silverware, how about you? It always reminds me of lunch at my Grandmother's house as a child. There was something about the slightly tainted, unpolished appearance of this silverware which made it a perfect fit with the ReUse collection (at least that's my excuse for not polishing it! That obvious?).
The ReUse glass bowl is great for soup, cereal or just about anything really and it matches the drinking glasses perfectly.
My favourite item in the collection has to be the ReUse oil lamp. I'm a big fan of oil lamps in general - they've been slowly replacing candles in my home since they're a bit Moore convenient! I particularly the simplicity of this one. It's also SUPER easy to refill and light (as an oil lamp expert, this isn't always the case!). I now have three of these beauties dotted around - because they work absolutely anywhere in the house - on a coffee table, windowsill (well away from the curtains of course), on my desk (in Sweden it's perfectly normal to have a lit candle on your desk on a dark day - something I've been quick to embrace!) - anywhere!
I showed this beauty to my sister Cas last night over a Zoom call, and she actually paused the call to buy one! Let's hope those mouth blowers can work quickly, I have a feeling these are going to be a big hit!
It feels like we're all set for Easter now! One month early too! t
In the meantime, I'll be burning the oil lamps to warm up these chilly Scandinavian evenings and enjoying my granola even more from my glass bowl!
I hope there's something in this collection that has caught your eye too. Pernille Bülow ships worldwide.
Would you like to see more from their collection? Take a peek at the SKY Lamp here, here and here in my home and the Pernille Bülow Odin glassware captured at my summer cottage (I have such great memories from that day!), and also the ReUse outdoor light chain in my little back garden. So many lovely things in one place!
If you have any questions about anything else you see in these pictures please do give me a shout in the comment section below, I'll be happy to help.
Right friends, I think that's it for the week!
Wishing you all a wonderful couple of days and see you Monday!
Niki
]]>Ich habe einen neuen Eyecatcher in meinem Zuhause! Nach 6 Jahren habe ich tatsächlich mal die Esszimmerlampen getauscht. Ich wundere mich selbst, wie ich es so lange mit ein und demselben Lampenmodell ausgehalten habe. Ich fing dann vor Kurzem an, im Internet nach neuen Objekten Ausschau zu halten. Und wie der Zufall es manchmal so will, flatterte plötzlich eine interessante eMail in mein Postfach. Eine Kooperationsanfrage aus Bornholm von Pernille Bülow. Darüber freute ich mich direkt, und nachdem ich mich eine Weile auf der Internetseite umgesehen hatte, war die Freude riesengroß. Denn was ich sah, gefiel mir sofort!
Handgefertigtes Glas mit Fokus auf Farben und schlichten, natürlichen Formen, inspiriert von Bornholms Natur. Schon als Kind entdeckte Pernille Bülow ihre Leidenschaft für heißes Glas. Sie schloss ihre Ausbildung zur Glasbläserin 1982 an der Orrefors Glasskola in Schweden ab. 1989 eröffnete sie ihre eigene Glaswerkstatt auf Bornholm. Ein Designunternehmen mit kontinuierlichem Wachstum. Dänische Glaskunst vom Feinsten.
Über unserem Esstisch seht ihr nun also die tollen SKY Lampen. Das Besondere: jede von ihnen ist ein Unikat. Einzigartige, mundgeblasene Glashängelampen. Es gibt sie in verschiedenen Farbausführungen. Ich habe mich für Klarglas entschieden, hatte allerdings auch kurz mit der smoke Variante geliebäugelt. Final sind es dann zwei SKY Lampen Klar Gold 18cm, und eine SKY Lampe Klar Gold 22cm geworden.
Und ich bin sowas von verliebt in sie! Als ich den Karton aufmachte, hatte ich permanent Angst, sie könnten mir aus der Hand fallen. Diese leichte Optik, sie wirken so zart. Noch “schlimmer” wurde es bei der Installation, haha. Ich bin so dankbar, dass ich es geschafft habe, sie heile an die Decke zu bekommen. Und dazu leuchten sie auch noch! Und wie sie leuchten…
Ich hatte zunächst etwas Sorge, dass sie zu sehr blenden würden. Diese Gedanken waren unberechtigt, dank der 11W Glühbirnen, die im Paket enthalten waren. Diese spenden ein angenehm warmes Licht, mit vintage Flair! Wie ich es halt so mag. Und durch dieses goldene Leuchten, wirken sie auf mich wie ein Magnet. Ständig gucke ich erneut zu den Lampen! Auch das 3m lange goldfarbene Textilkabel ist nicht zu verachten, gepaart mit der messingfarbenen Fassung/Aufhängung. Apropos Aufhängung: Ich musste alle 3 Leuchten über einen Deckenanschluss versorgen. Alle drei Anschlusskabel treffen sich in einer ordnungsgemäßen Abzweigdose. Da diese in der Regel nicht so anschaulich sind, habe ich improvisiert. Eine leichte Papierschale weiß angesprüht, und diese über die Abzweigdose geklebt. Not macht erfinderisch.
Ein Blick auf die Homepage von Pernille Bülow lohnt sich! Neben den tollen Lampen, gibt es zahlreiche andere Produkte zu entdecken. Besonders schön finde ich zum Beispiel auch die Odin-Serie. Mundgeblasene Trinkgläser, Karaffen etc. Selbst Ohrringe sind auch der Seite zu finden.
Ich freue mich nun aber weiterhin über diese einzigartigen Designlampen in unserem Zuhause! Und bin mehr als gespannt, wie ihr sie findet…Hinterlasst also gerne ein Kommentar hier oder bei Instagram, ich freue mich von Euch zu hören.
Alles Liebe Britta
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7 Winter Warm Essentials For Outdoor Gatherings
I love to be comfortable and warm, how about you? So, when someone suggests a meet-up in their garden and the temperatures hover around the minus Celsius, the idea rarely fills me with joy! But such is life right now. And do you know what? The more I meet with Swedish friends alfresco, the more I realise it can be a cosy and warm affair. So, what's the trick? Read on to find out how our Scandi friends are keeping warm outside this winter!
As with all things Scandi, nothing sets the tone quite like lighting. Forget harsh, bright outdoor lighting - it's all about creating a warm and inviting glow. These outdoor ReUse string lights are handmade in the Pernille Bülow workshop on the Danish island of Bornholm. I'm such a big fan since each mouth-blown bubble is made from waste from the pharmaceutical industry. If you've got a larger space, several chains can be linked together (like in my back garden) - for an enchanting, warm and inviting touch after sunset.
Our ancestors have been gathering around a hearth to stay warm, cook and socialise since time began. It's in our genes. And I'm sure you'll agree, nothing beats the hyggeligt feeling of dancing flames, and the warm glow of a camp ire. Fortunately, times have moved on since Boy Scouts and Brownies (I never did manage to light that fire from two sticks, did you?) and there's a huge selection of fire pits available for every size garden! The 'fire basket' in my dear friend Ullis' garden is from Swedish brand Röshult.
Light up every corner of your garden with pretty lanterns. I love the warm glow from the candles, and they emit a little heat too.
During my first winter in Sweden many moons ago, I was mesmerised by the sheepskin - it was everywhere, draped over the back of chairs and even used to lined children's pushchairs and prams. The reason? Wool is amazing - it's non-allergic, dirt repellent and an incredible insulator - helping to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. A perfect addition to the winter garden!
Roll out the cushions for extra comfy seating - they'll help to keep you warm and cosy too! I particularly love linen since it's a natural, breathable fabric.
Another cosy essential: the blanket! I find wool or fleece the best alternatives. Invest in a batch or ask everyone to bring their own - and wrap up warm!
For me, this is the real clincher that will make a big difference to your enjoyment of the night: the trusty hot water bottle! Fill it with warm water, tuck it under your coat and you'll be as toasty as can be. Mine (seen here) was a present from my mother over 25 years ago and still going strong. I also love this full size knit one** and these best-selling funky lambs wool ones** (all from small businesses!).
Thank you for a toasty evening in your little back garden Ullis! I'll be back with my blanket and hot water bottle before you know it!
Find out more about Danish ReUse string lighting from Pernille Bülow here (delivery and shipping info here).
And feel free to add your own tips on keeping warm outside this winter in the comment section below, I'd love to hear them!
Here's to winter evenings alfresco!
Niki
]]>Determined to make this autumn and winter as cosy as possible, I've added some new lights to our little backyard. After all, once the sun sets, it becomes very dark, very early, very quickly, and there's nothing like the warm glow of lights to lift your spirits! These beautiful ReUse light chains are from Pernille Bülow - a small atelier on the Danish island of Bornholm. Regular readers will know that Pernille Bülow is a big favourite of mine and I have SO many beautiful handmade pieces from this atelier around my home (including SKY lamps and Odin tableware). But there's something EXTRA special about these outdoor ReUse light chains, and the clue is in the name. Read on to discover more!
True to Pernille Bulow style, each of the 9 pendants are mouth blown and handmade in the workshop in Svaneke, Bornholm (if you're ever on the island, you must pay a visit - I love the shop!). This means that each glass light is ever so slightly unique - one of the wonderful hallmarks of handmade pieces.
I used two sets in our little back yard to create a little extra glow (the chains are three metres long and attachable, so you can easily string together as many sets of lights as you wish which is really handy).
Best of all? The ReUse collection is made of waste from Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company that has large amounts of excess borosilicate glass from their diabetes drug production. Rather than going to waste, Pernille Bülow remelts and moulds the glass into beautiful objects, including these ReUse light chains and a pendant lamp!
The light chain also come with 9 2 W energy optimised LED bulbs which are CE marked.
In order to really put them to the test, I invited a few friends over from the neighbourhood for an autumn evening alfresco - (any excuse!).
It was a bit of a 'knytkalas' - where everyone (including my dear friend Ullis - above - and interior designer Jessica Ward - below) brought whatever they had in their fridge and wine cabinet!
We had such a mysig (cosy) evening under the warm glow of the lights - even if coats were a must! Brrrr!
Roll on more autumn evenings al fresco! And even when it's time to move indoors, we'll still enjoy the twinkle through the window!
If you'd love these lights for your outdoor space, the ReUse light chain is available to pre-order here - and will be available from mid-November. There's a list of countries Pernille Bülow ships to here.
I'm curious - can you still sit outside in the evenings in your country?
Wishing you a great day!
Niki
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Beautiful Danish Glassware And My Favorite Summer Drink!
After a tour of the Swedish West coast (travel guide to follow soon!), it's been wonderful to be back at our summer cottage for a few days. I spent a lovely afternoon with my friend Tove, catching up over a glass of herb infused lemonade. It was one of those afternoons which turned into evening... which turned into night (and may have eventually involved some Prosecco!). I'd invited Tove to come over and help me shoot a set of beautiful mouth blown glassware for Pernille Bülow (the glass workshop on the Danish island of Bornholm where the stunning SKY lamps are also made). And we decided to put the pretty setting and smokey ODIN glassware to good use in the process! Here are a few snapshots - and more details about the glassware, the lemonade and a few other pieces!
I picked up the chairs at a nearby 'loppis' (flea market) - such a find! The questions is, do I re-paint them or leave them in their naturally dilapidated state? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
On the table you can catch a glimpse of the handmade ODIN jug and drinking glass in grey, which have been designed in the Pernille Bülow atelier and handmade abroad. As with all their designs, I love how the ODIN glassware has a simple yet strong expression, and perfect for everyday use as well as special events (like catching up with friends!).
My daughter Allie and I made the mint, dill and basil infused lemonade in the morning. The syrup is super simple to make, tastes really refreshing, and if you make a big batch can last all summer long! Oh and it's perfect for pepping up 'stronger' drinks - just sayin'! Here's the recipe:
Mint, Dill and Basil Infused Lemonade Squash
Ingredients:
2.5 dl water
300 g sugar
2 tbsp fresh dill
5 g fresh basil
5 g fresh mint
3.75 dl lemon juice
Method
Combine the sugar and water in a pan, place on medium heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Rip up the mint and basil leaves and add to the pan. Add the dill stems. Bring to the boil and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and place mixture in a container in the fridge for 60 minutes. Sieve the mixture to remove herbs.
To serve: combine the syrup and lemon juice with 18 dl of water and serve on ice with a sprig of mint.
Tove and I found the jug works perfectly as a vase too! The thistles and ferns are from our cottage garden.
As the sun sank lower in the sky we brought out an ODIN pillar candleholder and tea light holder in grey. There are also two lovely bowls in the range - the small bowl in grey which we used for crabapples and a large bowl.
Such a memorable afternoon. I love it when a plan comes together!
You can find out more information about Pernille Bülow ODIN glassware here - and also take a peek at the SKY lamps which I've featured in my home here, here and here.
Thank you to Tove for a great afternoon, and also to my wonderful neighbors for the pretty setting!
Niki
]]>Pernille Bülow har et velfungerende samarbejde med Novo Nordisk, som sender gammelt glas til Bornholm. Det er blevet smeltet om til mange forskellige nye produkter.
Skåle, vaser, lamper, bordplader, glas-mursten og meget andet. Der er mange eksperimenter, og mange ideer til, hvordan genbrugsglas fra Novo Nordisk kan bruges.
- Det er nyt for os at lave badeværelsesfliser og forskellige bordplader. Så er vi også så småt ved at indlede et samarbejde med et firma, der isolerer huse udvendigt. De tog kontakt til os, og ville gerne have nogle prøver på det her glas, som de kunne bruge i stedet for tegl, siger glaspuster Pernille Bülow.
Hele det store genbrugsglas-eventyr kom i gang sidste år, da Novo Nordisk ikke vidste, hvad de skulle stille op med en masse glas, som normalt bliver i produktionen af diabetesmedicin, men på grund af en eller anden fejl måtte stilles på deponi. Virksomheden tog kontakt til Pernille Bülow, og en aftale om 33.000 lamper til medicingigantens medarbejdere kom i stand.
Gammelt glas fra Novo Nordisk bliver smeltet om hos Pernille Bülow til mange nye produkter. Foto: TV 2/Bornholm
Siden da har hun ofte været i dialog med Novo Nordisk, og de har nu lagt forskellige bestillinger på bordplader og glasplader, som kan bruges som whiteboards. Pernille Bülow eksperimenterer med mange andre produkter til dem, men andre kan også få glæde af det.
- Vores nabo - Café H8 - er ved at lave en udendørsbar, og der skal toppen belægges med fire store plader. Det er sjovt at lave sådan nogle ting, og også til nogle lokale, siger Pernille Bülow.
I videoen fortæller Pernille Bülow mere om, hvad det gamle glas bliver brugt til, hvordan det eksperimenterende arbejde foregår, og at de også har modtaget forskellige typer glas - blandt andet glas fra ydersiden af en bygning.
Med de nye typer glas har der også været nye udfordringer, som at glasset gerne skal være knust helt rigtig. Det har givet glaspusteren nye erfaringer.
- Det er nemmest for os at smelte de knuste ampuller, men hvis det bliver knust for meget danner det urenheder. Hvis vi selv kunne knuse det, ville det være bedst. Jeg kunne ikke komme i tanke om andet end en kompostkværn, der kan knuse, så jeg tog i Bygma og fandt sådan én. Den så simpel ud, og det var helt suverænt. Den kunne bare ikke holde til det, fortæller Bülow med et smil om læben.
Derfor har hun sat Bornholms Elektromotor på opgaven med at lave noget, der kan knuse glasset til den størrelse, de vil have.
Det blomstrende samarbejde er en stor succes - ikke kun for Novo Nordisk, der kommer af med et glas-problem - men i den grad også for den bornholmske virksomhed.
- Vi vækster helt vildt i øjeblikket. Vi har to - snart tre - ovne kørende, og vi har dobbelt så mange medarbejdere som tidligere, fortæller indehaveren, og fortsætter:
- Der er gang i alle hjørner, og vi står nok egentlig og mangler plads. Det har været helt fantastisk at arbejde sammen med Novo Nordisk, og jeg har aldrig forestillet mig, at sådan et lille firma som det her kunne arbejde sammen med sådan et stort firma. Det kan måske også være inspiration for andre.
Beautiful Danish Lamps In My Study - In Shades of Toffee and Smoke
A few weeks ago, I showed a beautiful photographer's home from the Danish island of Bornholm - and it was a perfect reminder of the sheer creativity on the island. As you're aware, one of my favourite 'makers' is located right there in the Baltic Sea: Pernille Bülow. I absolutely can't get enough of her mouth blown SKY lamps, and Per is mesmerised too (always helpful when the man is on board too, don't you think?!). A few weeks ago Pernille Bülow launched three new beautiful shades: Smoke, Toffee and Green. As a fan of all things earthy, I immediately reached out about the toffee and smoke variant to hang in my home office along with hate clear version I already have. It was like everything just fell into place. Don't you love it when a plan comes together?!
The mouth blown glass pendants all have unique organic shapes and feel so beautifully smooth. I love the small imperfections too as they show that they are individually made in the atelier.
For this cluster I have used: Smoke large, Toffee medium, Clear gold medium.
You can choose between brass / gold or chrome / grey fittings (I love the former for my home) and if tones of brown aren't your thing there are 11 different colours to choose from (they also look great hung individually).
I love it when a plan comes together!
Could you imagine having the these beautiful lamps somewhere in your home?
If you're curious about where else you might be able to hang them, check out how they look in other areas of my home (and in various shades):
Dining area
Over a vintage bar cart
In the kitchen
FYI they ship worldwide.
I love my little home office even more now. In other news: Per is teaching from home right now and there's always a little tussle over who sits here. So, this week I'm turning the window nook in our bedroom into a home office / study just for him. Keep an eye on the blog for the results (and hopefully, one very happy man).
Niki
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Pernille Bülow, however all words and pictures are my own. Thank you for supporting the wonderful businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible!
A New Home For My Limited Edition Mouth Blown Lamps from Bornholm, Denmark
A few days ago, a local paper asked me if there was an item in my home that I'd never part with. My answer was "yes, LOADS!" Firstly, because I'm a bit of a hoarder (admittedly!) and secondly, it's how I like to try to layer my home: with meaningful, timeless pieces. But one thing in particular sprung to mind: my set of three mouth blown limited edition bronze SKY lamps from Pernille Bülow. Made on the beautiful Danish island of Bornholm to mark the gallery's 30th anniversary, each lamp is mouth blown which makes every piece entirely unique. There's also something about the smoky glass and bronze combination that speaks to me. They used to hang over my vintage bar cart but today, they have a new home - over the kitchen island!
If you've never been to the Danish island of Bornholm, it's well worth a trip (you can get there by plane or ferry from Sweden or Denmark) - and we actually sailed there once (I'll never forget it since it was a really stormy day and we arrived utterly drenched!). It was well worth it though as the island is so pretty and dotted with little galleries and ateliers - one of which is the Pernille Bülow gallery in Svaneke where you can watch the liquid glass pulp being collected from a 1120 degree furnace and then blown into wooden moulds or shaped with wet newspaper pads, steel tweezers or paddles.
If you can't make it in person, no worries, Pernille Bülow sell online too! You might need to be quick with these SKY lamps since they are limited edition. FYI my cluster is made up of small (14 cm), medium (18 cm) and large (22 cm).
However, they also sell beautiful clear glass ones with a gold fixture (seen over my dining table) as well as various coloured options. I also love the SKY ceramic table lamps which I once photographed in this lovely home in Landskrona.
What do you think? Do you have a place for these lamps in your home? Trust me, you won't want to ever part with them if so!
Also, I'd love to know: What do you have in your home that you would never part with? Family and pets aside, of course!
Niki
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Pernille Bülow, however all words and pictures are my own - and I really would never part with them! Thank you for supporting the wonderful businesses that make My Scandinavian Home possible!
]]>Pernille Bülow har lavet årets julegave til 16.500 medarbejderne hos Novo Nordisk. Det er lamper, der er lavet af kasseret glas.
I starten af året fik Pernille Bülow et opkald. Novo Nordisk var løbet panden mod en mur.
- Alle deres (red. Novo Nordisk) insulinampuller er lavet af noget, der hedder borosilikatglas, og det har de 70 tons af om året. Det bliver lagt i deponi, fordi de har en bæredygtighedspolitik. Det vil sige, at alt det her glas skal recycles. De vidste ikke, hvad de skulle gøre med glasset, og så ringede de til mig, siger glaspuster Pernille Bülow.
Hun fik tilsendt noget af glasset, og begyndte at eksperimentere med det. Glasset lavede små bobler og ideen til at lave lamper begyndte at dukke op. Hun kontaktede Novo Nordisk igen, og kom hjem til Bornholm med en kæmpe ordre på julegaver til alle medarbejderne. Det er over 10 måneder siden, at Pernille Bülow begyndte på projektet, og i dag åbner 16.500 medarbejdere på Novo Nordisk deres mundblæste julegave.
- Det er mega stort. Det er rigtig stort, specielt for en virksomhed af vores type. Men jeg ved, at vi kan det. Simpelthen fordi vi disponerer over tre ovne. Det er der ikke så mange andre, der gør. Men vi har også lyst til det, og vi synes det er sjovt. Der er ingen tvivl om, at det her kommer til at betyde rigtig meget, også i fremtiden, siger Pernille Bülow.
Starten på et samarbejde
I slutningen af november kom seks lastbiler og hentede 195 paller med julegaver. Selvom gaverne er hentet, har Pernille Bülow stadig mere glas til rådighed, og tanken er også, at hun skal fortsætte med at modtage det kasserede glas.
- Jeg synes, der er ufattelig mange muligheder i det. Altså hele recyklings-ideen synes jeg jo er fantastisk. At en ressource, som man faktisk bare har lagt i deponi og betalt for at komme af med, kan pludselig blive genbrugt til nogle rigtig spændende produkter. Og det stopper jo ikke ved de her lamper. Der kan laves rigtig mange andre ting, og jeg glæder mig rigtig meget til at komme af med det, siger Pernille Bülow.
Udover lamper har Pernille Bülow planer om at lave fliser, bordplader eller byggesten til vægge, hvor lyset skal trænge igennem. Det nuværende samarbejde har været hemmeligt indtil nu, fordi der er tale om julegaver.
Det er først i januar, at Pernille Bülow skal have et møde med Novo Nordisk for at konkretisere det fremtidige samarbejde, men hun håber, at projektet også kan føre til andre ordre.
- Jeg tænker, at der er andre kunder, som går ind for hele bæredygtighedstanken, som kunne tænke sig at få lavet nogle tilsvarende produkter, siger hun.
Det er ikke første gang, at Pernille Bülow har lavet julegaver til Novo Nordisk. I år 2000 producerede hun klemmevaser.
With Christmas just around the corner we couldn´t find a better time than now to introduce you to Danish glass designer Pernille Bülow. Not only should you treat yourself to her handmade Christmas decorations, but also, scroll through her home ware range and you´re guaranteed to find the perfect gift for any home.
Let us introduce you to Pernille…
For more than three decades, Pernille Bülow has presented the Danes and the rest of the world with Scandinavian design and handmade glass. The financial crisis was just about to put an end to it all, but since Pernille Bülow is an equal share of creative designer and hard-working businesswoman, she has managed to innovate and develop her business from Bornholm. In May this year, Pernille Bülow had her 30th anniversary for the opening of her glass shop and workshop in Svaneke, which was where she really set her sights on living her dream of making good crafts.
Based in Bornholm, Pernille Bülow has designed and created a number of the best-selling modern Danish glass designs. With a passionate interest in creating a sustainable business, she has over the last 30 years managed to place herself on the Danish design scene, where her products appeal widely and can be produced at a price that most people can join in on. In the '90s, her Duo candlestick for example, sold for up to 50,000 copies a year. And at present, her organic SKY lamps are very popular and are already hanging in many Danish homes as new design classics.
Pernille Bülow was born in 1962 in Stavtrup near Aarhus, but has lived in Bornholm since the 1980s, where she has successfully run an independent business based on her love for glass and for quality design. So what is the recipe for the success she has been able to keep running for so many years and which has created a sustainable design business in 2019. Pernille's own bid for an answer is that she is equal parts creative designer and businesswoman.
“Glass is an amazingly exciting material. The contrast between the wavy, soft, warm glass and the hard and cold never ceases to fascinate and inspire me, "she explains, adding:" But running a business is also really fun. I like to see it succeed. That way it's both of them that drive me. I have both an artist and a contractor in my stomach, and my success is partly due to the fact that I dare to believe in my own product. ”
Pernille Bülow was educated at Orrefors Glasskola in 1982, after which she moved to Bornholm and was employed at Baltic Sea Glass and for a short period leased Snogebæk Glashytte. In 1989, her dream came true to produce glass from her own workshop when she opened Pernille Bülow glass in Svaneke. The style has always been, like herself, simple and colourful, Scandinavian and innovative.
When Pernille Bülow trained for glass blowing at Orrefors Glass School in the 80s, the craft of making glass and the clean and straight lines were the focus, which has also been a central part of her classic designs. But over the past few years, Pernille Bülow has found a new design language that breaks with the clean lines and introduces the organic and natural into the products. Both because she has developed as a human and designer, but also because she experiences a marked interest in the products where it is quite clear that it is human hands that made them.
“There is no doubt that some things have happened in my life that have made me think completely differently now. Grandchildren have arrived and when they blow soap bubbles it has inspired me. I had blown a lovely oval shape that had been lying around for a long time without knowing what to use it for. That led to the first table lamp with a skewed organic shape, ”says Pernille Bülow.
“I'm in a new era where I work a lot with organic forms and natural materials. For example, I find driftwood on the Bornholm beaches, after which I breathe glass and make unique candlesticks and bowls. It occupies me a great deal. You do not know 100% how the glass will react when it hits the tree, so you need to think quickly when working with these materials. It results in raw and authentic expressions in the finished works and each one is always unique, ”she says.
To get your Pernille Bülow - go to www.pernillebulow.dk
You know that feeling when one of your favourite designers launches something new? That's how I felt when Danish artist Pernille Bülow (creator of the SKY pendant lamps over my dining table and vintage bar cart) announced the launch of her new Ceramic Table Lamp this week. Yay! True to her signature style, the beautiful lamp is made from mouth blown glass out of her atelier on the Danish island of Bornholm. It's also massively versatile: the lamp base comes in a choice of white, grey or anthracite and in sizes small, medium or large size and you can pair it with a glass shade in pink, turquoise, tea, recycled, golden, blue, bronze, clear or grey (also in small, medium and large). I immediately envisaged these beauties in Felicia Alm's home (Felicia is currently working with me as an intern and her taste is BEYOND!) - although I might just have to nab one or two for my own home too of course! Here are some pictures we took earlier this week...
We each had our favourite and this was mine: medium, black base and medium, dark grey shade. It looked perfect against the darker wall: subtle yet interesting but I could also imagine it silhouetted against a fresh white wall.
Felicia fell in love with a combination of white base and large, tea coloured shade - and I have to agree that it is very pretty!
FYI it's common for Swedes to place lamps in the window (it makes a home feel more warm and inviting when you arrive home) - and this lamp looked instantly at home in this spot by the dining table.
And finally, we chose a lamp with a small base in grey and a small clear glass shade. It felt very dainty and perfect for lighting up a little corner of the home!
Isn't it pretty?
Do you have a favourite colour combination?
The Ceramic Table Lamp is available directly through the Pernille Bülow online shop - and they ship worldwide - hurrah!
Niki
Photography: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home. Styling: Felicia Alm
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Pernille Bülow, however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too!
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