Are you a minamilst or a maxamilist?!

How do you feel about the minimalist look? The reason I ask is that last night my Mum said (in only way a mum does) 'isn't it bare in here?! I mean, where are all your things?!' And I realised that I've slowly over time adapted to the Swedish more minimalist look and feel (oh and crammed more and more things into cupboards, drawers, under the bed......). For example, to my eyes, this home below seems very beautiful in a simple, serene way. But what do you think?  How do you get the balance between minamilist and personal? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOobhzKkg-BYEB3xI9iXcy6vGrvASygS98dPUsjviTn6OE_bDHrObTv85DYeKykN6XYimxfNZzeZ3Kdzapl3NUhyM4rH-5ImYWGKifb7THI2H6HeNSe4BLU0w6kQhxGSgOsNz7Zfvjd4g/s1600/light+grey+decor+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOobhzKkg-BYEB3xI9iXcy6vGrvASygS98dPUsjviTn6OE_bDHrObTv85DYeKykN6XYimxfNZzeZ3Kdzapl3NUhyM4rH-5ImYWGKifb7THI2H6HeNSe4BLU0w6kQhxGSgOsNz7Zfvjd4g/s640/light+grey+decor+1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiixdZPV5axBxJdGQs9-jPUufKCVOY932tvLNwBEWx8vk_iwEsXGvs0ri8FdzNapBuj9WW8KneNfb53PORqOc1pYz91Q8VVmiNmhSMWNhr3zVUTKKoxAkvP99J3fGW4q3ix6n81sM8_Q/s1600/light+grey+decor+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiixdZPV5axBxJdGQs9-jPUufKCVOY932tvLNwBEWx8vk_iwEsXGvs0ri8FdzNapBuj9WW8KneNfb53PORqOc1pYz91Q8VVmiNmhSMWNhr3zVUTKKoxAkvP99J3fGW4q3ix6n81sM8_Q/s640/light+grey+decor+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEkNoc_L4LlQBPNNkrkdGMOoNeG8a3G3McR-nTDVZG6EgX7SmqEO_zML6pNVXvaAsEUA_ztiRvJZEzit8R39mqYqpMqU401HoRI2f1bUxP-D97x0IOd_bM4ffSpw8pH0CnLvaK9xIJ6g/s1600/light+grey+decor+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEkNoc_L4LlQBPNNkrkdGMOoNeG8a3G3McR-nTDVZG6EgX7SmqEO_zML6pNVXvaAsEUA_ztiRvJZEzit8R39mqYqpMqU401HoRI2f1bUxP-D97x0IOd_bM4ffSpw8pH0CnLvaK9xIJ6g/s640/light+grey+decor+3.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via Daily Dream Decor</td></tr></tbody></table>Oh and it's a very important day tomorrow - my daughter's 4th birthday - she's been counting down the days / weeks / months so the pressure's on! I'm thinking it's unlikely I'll get back to you before the weekend but I'll try! <br /><br />Mrs Minimalist x (wannabee?!).

Are you a minamilst or a maxamilist?!

How do you feel about the minimalist look? The reason I ask is that last night my Mum said (in only way a mum does) 'isn't it bare i...

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A renovated Farmer's cottage

Well, well, well! Architects <a href="http://www.tsao-mckown.com/#/home" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown</span></a> certainly knew what they were doing when they renovated this former farmer's cottage in upstate New York. If I could own a weekend retreat, this would be it. I've heard of people moving houses....<br /><a href="http://www.homelife.com.au/homes/galleries/new+york+retreat,19227?pos=0"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span></span></em></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1OktIFSkOTub6rlOFGAW9ofYJwuA4ObXf4uSnHNdJmFxRP5ugWPNkzDQWbTb7HpBQxv47yFQRJrf8H049riqQzN-lLAATq7m8QQqRlQOzGQbxWzlJM3vyu8-dYcJAen0Z8jbcy7xsLo/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1OktIFSkOTub6rlOFGAW9ofYJwuA4ObXf4uSnHNdJmFxRP5ugWPNkzDQWbTb7HpBQxv47yFQRJrf8H049riqQzN-lLAATq7m8QQqRlQOzGQbxWzlJM3vyu8-dYcJAen0Z8jbcy7xsLo/s640/9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIE3p5oTrwRDsi94D2IuBMCZ7e5gVZ0kZlLvGoHXmXlxPwl4YfMxktyKiq7wmEd7sLX776vHi9SS8qrU5Nkf-6-UlstpQM3u2FReskMhXIMnScVjtXnoNzY2vdgwGopUmZaUcEJxtiV8/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIE3p5oTrwRDsi94D2IuBMCZ7e5gVZ0kZlLvGoHXmXlxPwl4YfMxktyKiq7wmEd7sLX776vHi9SS8qrU5Nkf-6-UlstpQM3u2FReskMhXIMnScVjtXnoNzY2vdgwGopUmZaUcEJxtiV8/s640/2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1uEFkmOOaPzyw1rJzUqpCWYZzt_iOmEQ92tkHy0XLXPy_2giHCN_7W1VFQ2d57BpCswstzjCLEd1_LQhNDXzndUdP97bTRaY0cx7pXZ-TS0ksKvAnkjT_Gb73Ie4fWnZOjXXfLmd6_8/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1uEFkmOOaPzyw1rJzUqpCWYZzt_iOmEQ92tkHy0XLXPy_2giHCN_7W1VFQ2d57BpCswstzjCLEd1_LQhNDXzndUdP97bTRaY0cx7pXZ-TS0ksKvAnkjT_Gb73Ie4fWnZOjXXfLmd6_8/s640/3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHieuZ5t1vSLFPKHOR7ln6RWQ2DCKVWWMZZ0Y-TD2G0pnrnxEA1qpX-rekJT-75xustDOld_ozTD3_CneaUAywW6-GpAvtAsmlBsazdQmvL3_zfKEPUbscgH6loyEtj7VOtVdv8WMsNo4/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHieuZ5t1vSLFPKHOR7ln6RWQ2DCKVWWMZZ0Y-TD2G0pnrnxEA1qpX-rekJT-75xustDOld_ozTD3_CneaUAywW6-GpAvtAsmlBsazdQmvL3_zfKEPUbscgH6loyEtj7VOtVdv8WMsNo4/s640/4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMlZL-6f5qtcIGykv_nxVm5WUX4xhkqhvsuWBL0Jq7G5Vn0I8jYkmXGkVl1KdG8dbJgbBiUPQFUjsYWZpdMSCmYsKFud5jaTLT05CGf_a7fJcICfXiUaKJp65YIwkp_pIO4zyGXgX4oQ/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMlZL-6f5qtcIGykv_nxVm5WUX4xhkqhvsuWBL0Jq7G5Vn0I8jYkmXGkVl1KdG8dbJgbBiUPQFUjsYWZpdMSCmYsKFud5jaTLT05CGf_a7fJcICfXiUaKJp65YIwkp_pIO4zyGXgX4oQ/s640/5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AOf1XwYPpcu3PP-wflVWic1V2dJt8SAzA2n3LG07PWkpU6I8hEGKZKZ34xcimBaps6NWA3eqWAqmycpAAQgfi0DY6A99FDaSQb1FjgRw43H_Yca1yzqWIJ9Mb5nmx6olYreJTbsSlhw/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AOf1XwYPpcu3PP-wflVWic1V2dJt8SAzA2n3LG07PWkpU6I8hEGKZKZ34xcimBaps6NWA3eqWAqmycpAAQgfi0DY6A99FDaSQb1FjgRw43H_Yca1yzqWIJ9Mb5nmx6olYreJTbsSlhw/s640/6.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9DcNaHjtiVlnF40qWmlsxVBL3AlrvbgNzzYmNDl495Xsueodbrf7KhOuHwB-vTqdEbVCbhomW-kxZtXQjgEvx6gSIxwHMZvCW8PWsrW4DiF1ynyjRHflz9l65DLSwqZk_nYfqnVShCY/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9DcNaHjtiVlnF40qWmlsxVBL3AlrvbgNzzYmNDl495Xsueodbrf7KhOuHwB-vTqdEbVCbhomW-kxZtXQjgEvx6gSIxwHMZvCW8PWsrW4DiF1ynyjRHflz9l65DLSwqZk_nYfqnVShCY/s640/7.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9TzfH0yJ-VCpNJIQEMoXZAVccXdfDyN1scghIO2LJZ6Th2cU8ASJj3UZBeF5yS0okFnERifRPy5NJQebS745KxDOH8-x95YSVVrMSCTV36WwCM0GRq3XsFqXcnnRFnvBvGJohBIRNqk/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9TzfH0yJ-VCpNJIQEMoXZAVccXdfDyN1scghIO2LJZ6Th2cU8ASJj3UZBeF5yS0okFnERifRPy5NJQebS745KxDOH8-x95YSVVrMSCTV36WwCM0GRq3XsFqXcnnRFnvBvGJohBIRNqk/s640/8.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photographs by <a href="http://richardpowers.co.uk/index_high.php" target="_blank">Richard Powers</a> for </span><a href="http://www.homelife.com.au/homes/galleries/new+york+retreat,19227?pos=0"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><em>Homelife</em></span></span></a> via <a href="http://charlotteminty.blogspot.com.es/search?updated-max=2012-07-31T22:34:00%2B12:00&max-results=15" target="_blank">Charlotte Minty</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I think the thing I love the most about this retreat is all of the interesting objects and artifacts displayed. So many beautiful wooden pieces too. Fabulous home, what do you reckon?

A renovated Farmer's cottage

Well, well, well! Architects Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown certainly knew what they were doing when they renovated this former farmer's c...

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Swedish country style with a modern twist

I love the relaxed country-style vibe of this home from Swedish interior magazine <a href="http://www.husohem.se/Inredning/Mobler/Den-nya-svenska-lantstilen-/#" target="_blank">Hus o Hem</a>. If you look closely there are so many interesting features such as the painted chequered kitchen floor, vintage tins used as plant pots, 'Dalarna' horses in frames, hats hung on the walls and used as decoration and a pallet on wheels used as part of a modular sofa. Soooo much inspiration! <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthxI3gdcbPFV5Yi4jYGNkWlJCXmBgigr8nLf66HFi-uln51gmIMKNhlsllHwUJL34Buyb_UTDHALO81playwEzQ7eOkB89_8N5aF2XlPUpflYHkJy3eK-oX03IS3ol-Ece8z23NzZdfk/s1600/Myscandinavianhome_hoh1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthxI3gdcbPFV5Yi4jYGNkWlJCXmBgigr8nLf66HFi-uln51gmIMKNhlsllHwUJL34Buyb_UTDHALO81playwEzQ7eOkB89_8N5aF2XlPUpflYHkJy3eK-oX03IS3ol-Ece8z23NzZdfk/s640/Myscandinavianhome_hoh1.png" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bZdn9Is64XxFWCdqMtPPkImphbwxYYM0h2XnqY0lZIc_Uwt7q2SFEdUnIwMZ5XftAQ3jbKov1FcA9cD3mEiyE3eDAiu2zNSgiiojO3gSQTQ3XSahIUl39O5RtTlTPX-kNeS9G5bn8F4/s1600/myscandinavianhome_hoh2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bZdn9Is64XxFWCdqMtPPkImphbwxYYM0h2XnqY0lZIc_Uwt7q2SFEdUnIwMZ5XftAQ3jbKov1FcA9cD3mEiyE3eDAiu2zNSgiiojO3gSQTQ3XSahIUl39O5RtTlTPX-kNeS9G5bn8F4/s640/myscandinavianhome_hoh2.png" width="432" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFr1Hzlio0wSFwQPrWRmdcWsiGt6vQII7QnGhwr1f5L2-6k2A49lcIAfZKw-yHma9srapkngQERgguexPOBo6Y97OpFn9uOX0BppgWEHT3Usl-wiIB6wUMBuQJoSnJs7Q3cDYhFQw7lw/s1600/myscandinavianhome_hoh3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFr1Hzlio0wSFwQPrWRmdcWsiGt6vQII7QnGhwr1f5L2-6k2A49lcIAfZKw-yHma9srapkngQERgguexPOBo6Y97OpFn9uOX0BppgWEHT3Usl-wiIB6wUMBuQJoSnJs7Q3cDYhFQw7lw/s640/myscandinavianhome_hoh3.png" width="432" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ_AYjaDJCX92EwFpKyLUo0PC6oYZxavFfAcauibff-t_9Y9Oc_bYF0E_QyeS4c-KzNWDTD8a8mhyphenhyphen1RIodWQfFukG50sMUT1v6zx0B2Z17YFsf_uOdAdqz65gLzj1ywQseAoSYvA4y_A/s1600/myscandinavianhome_hoh4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ_AYjaDJCX92EwFpKyLUo0PC6oYZxavFfAcauibff-t_9Y9Oc_bYF0E_QyeS4c-KzNWDTD8a8mhyphenhyphen1RIodWQfFukG50sMUT1v6zx0B2Z17YFsf_uOdAdqz65gLzj1ywQseAoSYvA4y_A/s640/myscandinavianhome_hoh4.png" width="432" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBadsR3qfWOTZoyyCl6Od5UfuCTiiiwnfPmrkFSEMSJEAq5k412qdQCnEnLmfatGtsHoFMqnaE_X4E1DMqVwlsVe1F5XLzGWGJydzEppRgFGdA00t_dbuiIJVcoCYoYPIRfqk5In9vGQ/s1600/myscandinavianhome_hoh5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBadsR3qfWOTZoyyCl6Od5UfuCTiiiwnfPmrkFSEMSJEAq5k412qdQCnEnLmfatGtsHoFMqnaE_X4E1DMqVwlsVe1F5XLzGWGJydzEppRgFGdA00t_dbuiIJVcoCYoYPIRfqk5In9vGQ/s640/myscandinavianhome_hoh5.png" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.husohem.se/Inredning/Mobler/Den-nya-svenska-lantstilen-/#" target="_blank">Hus o Hem</a>, photography: Lina Ostling via <a href="http://www.79ideas.org/2012/08/lovely-swedish-simplicity.html" target="_blank">79 ideas</a>. </td></tr></tbody></table>Thank you for the great 'guest room tips' you gave me yesterday, I did my best to follow as many as possible (I'd love to come and stay if that's how much you pamper your guests!):<br /><br /><a href="http://habotai.blogspot.se/" target="_blank">Habotai:</a>  Fresh flowers and a scented candle<br /><a href="http://jenlittlebirdie.blogspot.se/" target="_blank">Jen</a> Magazines and books about cookery, gardening and interiors etc. <br /><a href="http://www.ilikewantneed.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> A card with the wireless internet password and fluffy towels<br /><a href="https://plus.google.com/116186650611097732820#116186650611097732820/posts" target="_blank">Kelly </a>A tray with mints. water, snacks, alarm clock and slippers<br /><br />Tonight we're going to enjoy a slice of Swedish tradition with a mini <a href="http://www.sweden.se/eng/home/lifestyle/traditions/celebrating-the-swedish-way/the-crayfish-party/" target="_blank">Crayfish party</a> at home, maybe minus the schnapps - or is that boring of me?!!

Swedish country style with a modern twist

I love the relaxed country-style vibe of this home from Swedish interior magazine Hus o Hem . If you look closely there are so many interest...

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