A Finnish design treat

I love beautiful packaging and will buy absolutely anything just to get my hands on a gorgeous jar or box! So Imagine my excitement when I learned that the  Finnish design label Marimekko is launching beauty products in collaboration with  the amazing Australian brand Aesop! The products are said to be inspired by the Scandinavian bathing culture are packaged in recyclable plastic jars and come in a cool cotton bag made from Marimekko's Vellamo print.

Sadly my birthday isn't in a while but no guessing what's going right to the top of my wish list!

The Marimekko-Aesop beauty products will be available from the end of April from www.aesop.com 

Swedish design talents

We all know that the cool Swedes are at the top of their game when it comes to designing furniture! Only this time I'm not thinking Ikea ...  Check out some of the amazing Swedish designs that got me swooning lately!


The "String" shelving by The architect Nisse Strinning, one of the designers who in the middle of the 20th century started what today referred to as Scandinavian design. String first came on the market 60 years ago, the white version is new though.

The minimalist "Frame" Table designed by Anya Sebton & Eva Lilja Lowenhielm. The  filing cabinet is designed by Jessica Signell Knutsson.

Staffan Holm has created this unique shelving unit that concertinas flat for Scandinavian brand One Nordic.

The Mikado cupboard is designed by Sofia Lagerkvist, Charlotte von der Lancken and Anna Lindgren  the  girls behind the Swedish design group Front.

Scandinavian posters in black & white

I'm mad about posters especially those in monochrome! So of course I was very excited to discover these limited edition Danish prints.  Each print has a personal statement from either Hulda, Tine and Allan the bloggers behind the successful Danish blog www.Bungalow5.dk. 

I'm with Allan and hope that all bloggers go to heaven too! 

The limited prints are available to buy from www.frohundfrau.dk 





Via Bungalow.5

Easter eggs in monochrome

I've fallen in love with these edgy monochrome Easter eggs! And as it's a Danish tradition to paint eggs on Easter Sunday I now feel sufficiently inspired and brave to break away from the traditional Easter colours and  have a go at creating some fresh and contemporary looking eggs for myself. The eggs have been decorated by the Swedish blogger Anna-Malin for the Swedish Magazine: "Skona Hem".

Source: Sköna Hem  photo by: Anna-Malin

Skandivis goes off piste

Being married to a South African guy I'm a regular visitor to  Cape Town and have long been impressed and inspired by the creativity of the place. So to me, it is no surprise that Cape Town is the designated  Design Capital for 2014, as the place is absolutely buzzing!

As Skandivis is all about living the Scandinavian way,I'm never more excited than when I find Scandinavian influences in unusual places. My latest find is the creative hub the Woodstock Exchange located in Cape Town.  Apart from housing my favorite  Scandi/African brand: Pedersen & Lennard, it's also home to some of the most amazing cafes and workshops in Cape Town right now!

The design partnership Pedersen & Lennard  sells  hand-made as well as  machine-made products that have all been put together in their Cape Town  workshop. Their range is influenced by their fascination with South African craft and the clean aesthetic of their Scandinavian forefathers. Below are some of my favorite products from their current collection.

Photos from the Pedersen & Lennard cafe in Woodstock

Below the totally amazing restaurant Superette where I've spent hours people watching and taking in the super cool environment!

I'm planning to  be back at the same time next year to see what's in store during Cape Town Design Capital 2014, can't wait!