This Week: Stores for Style.

I love decorating, I love fixing my home, and I really enjoy making it cozy. I think the coziness factor is most important in a home. I don’t care if the furniture’s are new, old or beaten up. In my opinion beaten up furniture’s can actually be quite charming, shabby chic, with loads of personality.
Now, what I am looking for in a home is the atmosphere, the feeling you get once you have stepped over the threshold. I think you can catch the atmosphere almost immediately when entering a home.

Right now I feel like I am stuck in a rut in my own home, I would love to change some things around. I don’t know what’s stopping me, but I think it is the lack of ideas.
Number one: I want new curtains, and a new rug for the living room. Oh, and with that comes new pillows for the couches. I would also like to replace the art work on the walls.
My problem room: the MBR


One problem room in my home has always been the master bedroom. I love it, but I have never really got the 100% coziness factor going in there. It is almost 4 meters up to the ceiling (cathedral ceiling), and that does cause a problem.
I don’t like the furniture’s in there either. At all. Boring.

My kitchen
My favorite room in the house is probably my kitchen. That is where I usually hang out; the kitchen is where I do all my blogging from, for example. Good for you all to know, huh? ;-). The kitchen is also where I get stuck when we throw our parties. Annika’s always in the darn kitchen. Oh well, that is the way it is. Sure, there are things that I am not super-happy with in regarding my kitchen either, like the counter tops and the cabinets, but at least it is cozy in there. Especially at night.

The Northern Europeans in this country can have a hard time finding the right kind of style and furniture’. If the American traditional style is not your thing it can be quite hard finding a more contemporary style. Below I have listed the stores that I love, and that I would recommend to Scandinavians and other interested alike:

IKEA:
Ah, but of course!!! LOVE IKEA! Who doesn’t!!! There you can get stylish furniture’s, and almost everything else you’ll need in a home. Yes candles, too ( ;-)))) for a good price. PLUS, you can get groceries there as well. What’s not to love? Sure, you’re bound to get into fights with your Significant Other when it is time to assemble the furniture’s, but what the heck! Also, you will more than likely fight with your SO while walking the store as well. Arguments do happen easily at IKEA. But it is till the best!

Crate and Barrel:
This store is definitely the store for you if you are into Scandinavian style. Stylish furniture’s, expensive. I am trying to visit Crate and Barrel at least once every two months. Their glass ware is fantastic!

Pottery Barn:
Yes, yes…What is not to love in that store? Every time you walk in you will find something extremely appealing. I love their rugs, curtains and style in general. More traditional than Crate and Barrel.

West Elm:
Very contemporary, very stylish, and very sleek! I really, really like the store. Good place to pick up accessories, and cool lamps and shelves.

Bo Concept:
Same idea as West Elm. Sleek, modern and stylish. Danish company. I am trying to visit Bo Concept every time I visit the Tysons Galleria.

World Market:
For us Scandinavians I think we can compare it to “Indiska”, Oriental style. You will find lots of good curtains, towels, glass ware, table linens, and even food and wine at said store. See, you cannot miss out at World Market.

Pier One:
Nicely priced store. I go there to pick up vases, bowls and knick-knacks for the garden.

Target:
But of course. Target is a wonderful store where you can get almost everything under the sun. They have great designers working for them, and it shows everywhere, in every department. Here you’ll find very good prices for furniture’s, small appliances, candles etc.

Maybe I forgot a good store, or two? Please feel free to add to the list. But this is some of my favorite stores, which suit my style around the DC area.

Some more:


Here is a picture from the other side of the MBR. To the left is a fire-place (never in use) and to the left is also a balcony. A hard room to decorate, indeed...

Health Update:
Karolina and I just got back from the doctor's office. We are both sick. It is not the influenza, but a nasty cold. Now I am under the weather as well. Achy, head ache, a fever and a soar throat. Next stop: the couch in the living-room.
Before we went to the doctor we were both konked out watching Teletubbie's. Now, that should tell you something of our condition.Stay well out there!!!