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the dark hues of maren ingeborg gråblomst

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LOVE MAKING HEAT

30/04/2018

This post is sponsored by Eskimo

Yes I know, I know, it’s suppose to be spring and warm and everything. Instead Aslan, the cat, and I are staying inside in some kind of a cold and stormy weather this last evening in April. What could possibly be a better timing to share my work for the British brand Eskimo?! I got a pallet delivered with three huge wooden boxes on it, each with one radiator inside. But I wouldn’t call them radiators, I would call them some kind of high end hot heating! This is interior design at a high level, and I know you’re interested in that! I wish I needed to keep them, and didn’t have to ship them back…

I seriously love to collaborate with people and brands that has such a strong believe in my way of interpreting their products into my home and my way of creating. I had a blast, and I even made Aslan seem like he enjoyed it too! I feel so free when I work, and it’s a kind of dreamy even though I do put a lot of effort into it, off course.

So this blue one called Ron, gosh it looked so amazing, and combined with the colour of our studio it turned out rather smashing, or what do you think? Form and function creates this great harmony, did I hear anyone say engineering excellence? Remember my post behind these scenes by the way?

 

 

You need to be super cool to choose the pop art radiator. I would never guess this piece of art was a radiator, and I love the fact that Eskimo is so bold! I wondered how to style it, and then I told myself “Hey, you don’t use to think when you work, you just have to do it“. So I just did it, and they love it, and I get happy and humble and want to do more!

Yes, cool and playful!

 

 

Next up had to go in to my theatrical black bedroom, no doubt about that. The leopards and tall gorgeous column radiator were competing to get the most attention from the evening sun. I think the column is very clean and sophisticated, and I always love things that makes some reflection of the natural light to bounce it a little extra around the room, just like my mirrored night stand is doing as well.

 

If you live in a home with radiators I wouldn’t doubt to check out their very good and inspiring webpage. Take a look a all their finishes, I think it looks extraordinary! They’re dusky, rusty, woody or polished, brassed or brushed, copper, concrete or like mirrors and blackboards and so much more, and I get so engaged! When I move this summer I know there are some really old radiators in the apartment, but since it’s a rental I can’t do anything…. but to convince the landlord though… Just gimme some time 😉

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DREAM TEAM

17/02/2017

Photo: Janice Issitt Life  & Style/ Janice Issitt

Hi lovelies! This blogpost is longer than usual, but I promise you will love it! Today I will present you something very special – I gathered nine brilliant and inspiring people to join my “project vinyl sleeve” for Gråblomst’s second album (Madame Clamour). The team I gathered is just amazing, and I couldn’t be more proud! They were each given one song title they wrote by hand, and it will be used on the back of the sleeve. The sleeve is not done, but I want to present you these nine women while you wait for it. They’re all like a bag of sweets for you who are interested in interiors, greenery, books, photography, stunning blogs and everything. This women got it all!! Before you read more you should pour yourself a coffee and sit back, because you are might going to spend lots of time clicking in to each and everyone listed underneath. You know how it is…

Their task was like “you can write on a napkin and take a snap of it with your phone”. But someone just “had to style” and said “please let me find my ink”, and I could not possible say no, could I?

Photo: Janice Issitt Life  & Style/ Janice Issitt

So this very adoring Cold as Frost as you can see on the photos above is written, styled and photographed by the fantastic Janice Issitt for Gråblomst (yes, it’s true!). Thanks, you’re too kind! You can find her blog here and you should really go follow her on instagram here. And she even runs the #behomefree hashtag on instagram, and are into music, which is really exciting I think. You rock big time Janice!

 

Photo: Babes in Boyland/ Matilda Hildingsson

Next up is the melancholic and poetic Swedish duo Babes in Boyland. The signature in their work is just jaw dropping – as you know my heart skip a beat when it’s dark and moody, and these two knows their style for sure. Thanks for putting your signature on this album! You should also follow them on instagram and adorable blog (psssst – they have just sat up their first workshop & retreat! I would be like a dream to attend…)

 

Photo: Villa Betula/ Maren Ingeborg Gråblomst

Have you read Life Unstyled, Modern Rustic or Bohemian Modern? I’m in the middle of Life Unstyled right now, and I’m in love! True love. You should really check out the author and interior stylist Emily Henson, who thinks perfection is overrated. And now she has even wrote for Gråblomst, thanks! You find her blog here and instagram here, go follow (and look at her stories, she’s cool, I’m addicted)!

 

Photo: Lobster & Swan/ Jeska Hearne

So, time to thank the kindest Jeska Hearne for joining too! The person who makes me want to travel to all the misty places I’ve never heard of, and I get totally lost in her photos and universe which she shares with her husband Dean. I love it when couples work together, just like my husband and myself. It’s a beautiful thing to do. They are owners of the online shop The Future Kept, write the blog Lobster & Swan (Instagram here) and also have this Instagram account for botanical love. Me love #botanicalpickmeup.

 

Photo: Troispetitesfilles/ Victoria

And Victoria – she makes magic! Dark colourful hues with large prints and original paintings, and she re-upholster furniture too. It’s all so beautiful, and she write stories that makes me forget where I am. A huge thanks to Victoria for her handwriting! You just have to follow her feed right here!

Photo: Artynads/ Nadia

Nadia! That caring sweet person who sends messages and help me out to get things I just “have to have”. Remember this vintage leopard painting? It was Nadia who bought it for me in a thrift shop in England and sent it all the way to Norway. And now she helped me out with the back sleeve as well! Thanks a lot! And sure she has a lovely dark home and a fab instagram feed which you find right here.

Photo: The Stora Havet/ Karla-Therese Kjellvander

Another fab woman! How many can there really be? It must be at least nine! Karla-Therese Kjellvander is one of them, and she works in the Swedish The Stora Havet, which means The Big Ocean. I just love that name, and some really cool people work there, check them out here. And don’t forget instagram here. And when I eat pastry in the middle of the week I usually blame Karla-Therese. How that happened I don’t know, but when she has a cake, I want it too!

Photo:  Nordic by Maag/ Maria Aarli-Grøndalen

Dearest Maria Aarli-Grøndalen – my partner in crime. Together we host the Instagram competition #darksideshow, and I’ve even had her for a cuppa in Villa Betula. Maria is a Gråblomst fan, and she actually like my artwork too, what an amazing feeling! She’s a dark interior loving journalist and interior consultant/stylist, and I’m so glad I’ve met her! And thanks a lot for helping out on the sleeve! Make sure you follow her on Instagram here and she even has online courses in interiors (VIP-price now!).

Photo:  Cowboy Kate/ Katherine Jane Learmonth

Last but not least – the queen of this huge dark 400 year old house – Katherine Jane Learmonth. What a pleasure to have you on board as well! Kate was our first self-titled Gråblomst fan, so I could not imagine a back sleeve without her… And as I write I sit on the most beautiful sheepskin ever, and who’s selling those? Yes, Kate of course! But they usually get sold out the moment they’re added to the shop, so you should follow her on instagram to get a little hint when they will arrive, and at the same time you will get loads of inspiration.

I’m seriously overwhelmed by having these talented and smart women attending my little project. And they´re all so worth checking out! If you’re empty of coffee just pour yourself another cup. I will.

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FRAGMENTS

10/01/2017

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Some more personal rambling, but that’s where I’m at the moment. And lack of Norwegian once again, and no explanations or links for the things in the photos. But it will come. My goal isn’t just to be about interiors, because I’m about so much more. So here we go:

Last night I couldn’t sleep. I heard the fan from the bathroom after showering, so I knew it hadn’t gone too much time. By the time it stops I know it’s about time to sleep. The fan stopped. I could hear my own pulse in the right ear which faced down towards the pillow. I turned around, and there I found the pulse on the left side. I was exhausted, but not sleepy. Just a little while ago we got in from the fog, after landing the final track for our second album. And I started to realise how big that is to me. My eyes flickering behind the eyelids, they couldn’t keep still. Time to open them.

The dark blue-grey sky with the huge trees in front which seemed black at the moment. The white silhouette of the canopy towards the dark walls. I knew there where some gold fringes there as well, but I couldn’t see them. Not before the moon made them shine, and the trees were no longer black either – they looked like giant white crystal and diamond cactuses! What the fog and frost had done to them, it looked spectacular. A car drove by, but I made it into a rolling star which passed us, and it made the whole even more magical. The tropical birds from the pictures on the bedroom started to fly around in colourful circles, and the leopards climbed out of their frame. They laid down in the dark red velvet sofa besides our tiny bed, ready to attack whatever might try to ruin this moment of mine. And I guess this is where I fell into sleep under the dark bloomy linen.

Next second the daylight hit my face, the leopards were back in their frame and the trees were no longer giant cactuses made of crystals. I could hear dripping of water outside – it had turned warmer again. But I knew what I saw this night, and there was no doubt I had to share it with you. So here’s some photos from the almost finished bedroom which I finally adore – this is where my days starts, and this is where my days ends. It’s an anchor, the real time is on hold, and I share every second of it with my love. Life is good to me at the moment. I am good to myself at the moment.

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ABOUT ME

I do and share things by heart. I create personal texts, am a musician, sell original art and prints, make a special home and capture the magic with my camera – everything rather dark hued. Villa Betula is not just skimming the tops.

And by the way - my name is Maren Ingeborg Gråblomst and I’m Norwegian. Gråblomst means grey flower.

Feel free to comment on my posts and get in touch for collaborations or other inquiries at contact@villabetula.com

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