Design Debate

These double exposure portraits by Andreas Lie strike a perfect balance. Suggestive of human forms as well as the Nordic scenery of his native Norway. His hometown of Bergen is just what you would imagine, gushing water, snow capped mountains, the Northern Lights and deep enchanting forests. With minimalist precision the contours of personality are captured. Beautiful, you can see more here at Ignant . 

What a perfect hide-away space! The 'Hemmelig Room' ('secret room' in Norwegian), was a commission for a guest room and library in upstate New York. The designers were Studio Padron and they created this cosy dark box which houses a bed, a desk and a chair. The walls are horizontal beams of oak from the surounding forest cleverly stacked allowing for plenty of book nooks. Wherever you are in this cabin you are in easy reach of a good read! I really like the rich dark shape beautifully framed by the fallen snow. The trees behind like endpapers in a story book.  Originally found at Freshome .     

Ok so the architects say they were inspired by a musical instrument, a trombone, but I see wooden wormhole! This brilliant little cabin was designed by architect Espen Folgerø with students from the Bergen School of Architecture  and can be found on the edge of  Bergen, Norway. Known as the Tubakuba Mountain Hub, you can actually stay in this intriguing space free of charge.  The cabin is made of 95% wood and it was quite a feat to achieve. The brilliant moulded wooden entrance needed the strips of wood to be soaked in water, they used two repurposed water boilers and applied the wood wet. The architects wanted the cabin to be used by families, kids would enjoy the tunnel and everyone would enjoy the view! The 14-square-metre hut has no electricity but a little wood burner, there is a separate enclosed bathroom with a sleeping space on top and a suspended floor that creates a sheltered picnic area.   I think this would be a perf...

Blanket from purlbee.com Cosy knit chair from Hans Sapperlot I am completely smitten with knitting, to be truthful I haven't actually tried it since I was a child and I knit a very wonky but colourful scarf for one of my dolls. But my sister creates some wonderful items and I am tempted to revisit this craft for myself. She has knitted with plastic bags, made lace jewellery and the essential gloves.  Scarf patterns from purlbee.com I am though a fan of the product. Few things excite me more in the long, long winter months than a cosy sweeter or hunky chunky socks. There is of course Pinterest for any such stitch-gazing. Are you a fan? This site is so addictive and what can be achieved with a ball of yarn knows no limit. Pattern from melimeloo.blogspot.de By artist Kate Jenkins The reason my thoughts have turned to knitting today is because I read an article on NYC blog A Cup of Jo . It seems Norway has bucked the trend of fast, fast television...