scandinavian design – The Oaxacaborn Blog

Småfolk, Scandinavian children's clothing on the Oaxacaborn blog

It’s no secret around here that I love Scandinavian design. I’m always fascinated with the contrast between where I live now (Florida), where I was born (Mexico) and where my family tree is rooted (Sweden and Finland, among other places). The contrast is especially vivid at wintertime during the annual Scandi Christmas series, as I’m sitting here in the subtropics, blogging about the subarctic.

Småfolk, Scandinavian children's clothing on the Oaxacaborn blog

Denmark-based Småfolk, one of the Scandinavian brands I love, drew me in a long time ago with their iconic apple design and bold 70s-leaning patterns. And I can’t help feeling like the designers behind Småfolk really gets it when it comes to kids clothes — the designs are bright, fun, stylized, and (what a novel idea!) actually appeal to the children for whom they’re designed.

Småfolk, Scandinavian children's clothing on the Oaxacaborn blog

Had you heard of Småfolk before today? I’d love to see this established brand take off in the United States, too. I feel like there’s such a big space in the children’s market here for this genre of clothing, and style this good deserves to go global, don’t you think?

Småfolk Website | on Facebook | on Instagram

Disclosure of Material Relationship: I received clothing from Småfolk in exchange for this blog post. I did not receive monetary compensation and was not required to present or promote any specific products, nor was I required to express any particular viewpoint. All the photographs, opinions, and experiences shared here are in my own words and are my own honest evaluation. Please be assured, I only accept sponsorship opportunities for brands I personally use and/or would recommend to close friends and family, and I will always disclose any such relationships.

Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Cleaning and Organizing Inspiration (and a Confession)

April 29, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Glass Hand Soap Bottle via Mrs. Meyer’s

As I sit down this afternoon to share the prettiest kind of cleaning and organizing inspiration with you, I have to be honest and say that sometimes when I clean, things get ugly.

You should have seen me in the kitchen earlier today. I decided to take apart the entire crisper drawer and lower shelf assembly inside the fridge, so I could give it a good scrubbing. That was fine. But putting it back together was another story, since all the parts disconnected from each other when I took them out of the fridge.

An hour later — sweating, frustrated, and nearly in tears — I finally managed to get everything back into place. (At one point I even downloaded the owner’s manual PDF from the manufacturer’s website. The only help it offered on the plastic piece in question? “Note: Be sure to replace center support before reinstalling glass shelf.” Gee, thanks!)

I’m not sure why I allow things like that to get me so riled up and frustrated. A whole lot of pride and indignation, I suppose, “I should be better at this! If this is still taken apart when Josiah gets home, I’ll be so embarrassed!” But it’s a ridiculous sort of thing to get angry about.

It’s just a fridge drawer (or rather, a series of pieces, which, when properly aligned, magically comprise a set of drawers.) And contrary to the arbitrary pressures I put on myself constantly — news flash! — I don’t actually have to be good at everything (like making crisper drawers out of puzzling plastic parts.) I don’t have to be an expert at all the things. I don’t have to be an expert at all. And I don’t have to be perfect.

Now why is that such a hard lesson for me to learn?

Organized Swedish pantry via Jordgubbar Med Mjolk

Wicker laundry basket via Crate & Barrel

Coffee art print via Billy & Scarlet

Towels and soap via the portfolio of Johanna Pilfalk

See even more Monday’s Pretty Things

Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: For the Love of White – 7 Bright Interiors

April 22, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Sometimes, on Mondays, I need just a little more sunlight, a little bit less clutter on the countertops, a little more music, and a little more coffee.

You too?

Here are seven pretty rooms I’ve had my eye on this past week.

via Caroline Coehorst, styling by Femke Pastijn

via le dans la

Mini Empire wallpaper via Ladnebebe

via Hildas Hem

Mikael Axelsson photo via Feel Inspired

via Baby Ramen

Studio Oink via Bloesem

Christmas, Inspiration, Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Scandinavian Christmas

December 5, 2011March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

UPDATE: Open call for guest posts for a brand-new Scandinavian Christmas blog series!

I think what I really like about this is the birch branch and the natural light from the window behind the garland. The colors in this photo made me think of Scandinavian design and Scandinavian Christmases — white, white, white with some natural elements and burst of bright color here and there.

Felt Ball Cascade Kit via the ACME Party Box Company

Frederikke Heiberg, a Danish photographer, captured Christmastime in a gorgeous seaside home in Rågeleje, Denmark. The following three photos were published in the Swedish magazine Lantliv. Aren’t they lovely?

Kjerstis Lykke, a Norwegian photographer and blogger, has a gorgeously simple and elegant home. When I see photos like this, I want to seriously clean and dejunk with a giant garbage bag in hand.

As the owner of a tree which is wholly undecorated everywhere within the baby-toddler’s reach, I loved her rationale behind the minimalistic decorating —

Fir was in place yesterday, and it is not overloaded with lots of Christmas decorations. I have boxes of boxes with pretty beads in the poor man’s silver in the freezing attic, but with a 2 year old who cruise around in your living room on his bike, so they better in the cold;)? (Poorly translated by Google Translate; alas, I do not know Norwegian.)

Off to bemoan clutter and with a renewed resolve to dejunk,
Gina