the marion house book

I happened across this profile of Swedish born fashion designer Ulrika Lundgren last week in The New York Times Style Magazine. She’s one of those women that just seem to ooze style and confidence.

Ulrika  has a signature palette of black and cream which harkens back to her Scandinavian roots but she likes to infuse it with primary colours for some warmth as you can see below in her own living room.

“My interiors like my clothes and bags are quite urban,” she says “But I don’t like coldness so I soften the edges and add warmth.” Case in point the mid century modern credenza and mantlepiece in her own home. The organic shapes of the objects and artwork juxtaposed the hard black and white lines of the walls and floor add some visual relief.

Across the street from her clothing boutique in Amsterdam is a small guesthouse she owns called Maison Rika. It too is furnished in her signature palette of black and cream mixed in with golden tones and graphic art work.

It makes me think about upping the black quotient in my own place. There’s something about those black windows and floors paired with the cream walls that is very striking. What do you think?

For more on Ulrika check out The New York Times Style Magazine story.

Oh and before I go the winner of the striking black and white Bono mugs designed by Cathrina Kippel go to Betsy. Congratulations!