enjoy the weekend – wherever you will be

Many of you would probably love going to the country this weekend, to a beautiful place and in a beautiful cottage. If not possible, Home and Delicious can help you just wandering and imagining by searching these images following. Three wonderful cottages to spend the weekend...

house 1

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house 2

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house 3

1. Photos: Line Ikse Bergman / Country Life / Sköna Hem

2. Photos: Ricardo Labougle / via Style Files / Elle Decor Espagna

3. Photos: Scott Hawkins / Inside Out / Homelife

beauty and the beetroots

The X-factor is known when thinking about the charm of freshly grown vegetables. It's beauty and how photogenic it really are. Beetroots are definitely there; the color is amazing and the stilks and the leaves put in a vase...perfect. But there are many not sure of how to use the beautiful beetroots. I have an idea; make one of the most delicious soup you have ever tasted. The classic Borscht. You will not be disappointed. 

Beetrroot soup with apples – Borscht

500 g freshly grown beetroots

1 big carrot

2 stilks of celery

1 onion

100 g green apples, deseeded

1/2 red chili, deseeded

1 red pepper

2 tbs sugar

1 bay leaf

2 tsp lemon juice

1 1/2 l chicken stock

200 ml cream

salt and black pepper to taste

sour cream

parsley

Finely chop all the vegetables and apples. Put it in a deep saucepan, just cover with water and bring to the boil for 15 minutes. Put the sugar in, bay leaf and lemon juice and bring to the boil for few more minutes before the stock is poured into the saucepan. Then simmer gently for 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Transfer the soup to a blender and process it until completely smooth. Put the soup into the saucepan again, pour the cream in and stir. Season lightly with salt and freshly ground pepper. Reheat it until thoroughly hot but not boiling. Serve with some sour cream and fresh parsley. 

Photos: Gunnar Sverrisson

converse marimekko!

Marimekko and Converse have had a successful collaboration and recently they launched it's fifth collection of classic sneakers with classic prints! The Converse models are Chuck Taylor All Star Hi, Chuck Taylor Ox and Jack Purcell Helen and the graphic Marimekko prints from Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi, Annika Rimala and Maija Louekari – these are colorful prints from the early years of Marimekko as well as favourites from the past decade. 

Via Nordic Design

loft in paris

Open space in Paris where you wander around and let the fantasies come to your mind. You're supposed to enjoy every room in the apartment owned and designed by the architect Anne Geistdoerfer. 

Myndir: Marie Claire Maison

artisan and contrasts in gray

In these beautiful images, shot by Sharyn Cairns and styled by Glen Proebstel, eras, materials and styles are combined through great contrasts and artisan qualities in homewares. Gray background exaggerates beauty and form in almost a theatrical way. Glen Proebstel brings objects together that many might think have nothing in common but creates aesthetics pleasing the eye. 

throw your own together

Icelandic people has always been loyal to the Finnish manufacturer Iittala. For decades and decades they have collected their Ultima Thule and much more. Therefor I feel the urge to post about their new Sarjaton. Iittala says it's a range that redefines the freedom of flexibility. Comprising 26 essentials parts, by 6 different designers, to mix or match patterns, materials and colors – whenever and for whatever, compose your own combination depending on your style or just the mood now and then. No ..."ready made solutions, just stimulate the imagination".

so small but so much to see

The US Magazine Country Living presented their building project 2012 House of the Year "Room to Spare" in May. In front of New York´s World Financial Centre three micro-cottages were built and displayed. Then styled by the editors of Country Living and in conjunction with guest designers and experts. See how they turned out: 

One of the cottages was designed as a kitchen. The layout was spare, reclaimed barnwood cladded on walls to warm things up, styled with character and folksy charm. Notice how they use lower units but just around the fridge the cabinetry and shelving system is very well done and designed. Great idea for many to think of for their kitchen. The same goes for the light bulbs. Almost invisible but elegant. 

The second cottage was a home office. Thought of as a working space for husband and wife to work all day long in a creative and artfully organized and thought provoking environment. Great colour palette. Notice the dark gray and brown color on the walls and the light and minty color on the ceiling. Beautiful together. The color walls exaggerates in a positive way all the colors in furniture and other objects. The bathroom is also worth looking; for all the people who like drawing – new wallpaper whenever you feel inspired. 

The third cottage was set up as a guest house. Inviting, cottage feeling, camping inspired for guests so they´re not living in a suitcase. Cozy color palette and lot of textile and texture. Notice that the palette is vice versa in the bathroom. 

All images via Country Living