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Design Find | Danish Handblown Glass Chandelier

Today I thought I’d share one of my favourite design finds from my whirlwind trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. The Danes are truly known the world over for their modern classic light fixtures. Many Danish designs {such as the now iconic Sorensen Norm 69 – designed in 1969 but not released until 2001} are modern classics expressing the height of simplicity, refinement and restraint.

This collection of handmade glass chandeliers that I stumbled upon in Copenhagen are certainly a departure from what comes to mind when I think of classic modern Danish lighting design. And yet they possess a similar quality of organic simplicity that had me intrigued.

Offered in a mix of clear and frosted glass or just clear glass, each glass drop {don’t they look like slow-motion melting icicles?} hooks onto the metal frame of the chandelier and can be easily removed for washing with soap and warm water. Brilliant!

This rectangular number {above} would be stunning over a long dining table, and I think the small square one {below} would make a charming pair suspended on either side of a bathroom mirror.

Pernille Bülow‘s fixtures are truly an organic take on the glamour of a crystal chandelier. Every piece of glass is unique, making these fixtures so interesting to look at. They are something of a study in the solidification of molten glass, making them a fascinating feature for any space.

According to the shop manager, Pernille Bülow will ship internationally if you’re truly smitten! Wishing I had a project to justify ordering up a custom piece!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|January 8th, 2013|1 Comment

Christmas Eve | Wrapping + Singing

I love Christmas Eve. There is something so magical about the sense of anticipation. For our family, it is not just the anticipation of gifts, though our 9 year old can hardly contain his excitement over opening a book we will be reading together. {I love that he’s so excited about a book!! Feels like a mom “win” for me.}

For us, today and tomorrow are more than anything about the culmination of Advent. We realize that we have not been waiting alone. God is with us. He’s still with us and waits with us in our hopes and longings, and that’s worth celebrating.

Whatever your Christmas traditions, you will probably have some gifts to wrap and that always requires a good playlist, so I thought I’d offer some inspiration on both fronts today!

I’ve confessed to you before that I am a bit of a Maria. Brown paper packages tied up with string truly are one of my favourite things. This Christmas, I decided to work with two variations on that theme. For the guys in my life, I substituted the brown paper with road maps, and I rather love the result.

Simple yet interesting {and free from a Travel Info centre!}, the maps nod at the journey we are taking together in life. The symbolism may be lost on our little guy, but I will savour it quietly nonetheless. The other hidden beauty in this wrapping? It’s very forgiving. All the lines and squiggles of the roads make for a very non-linear pattern so that odd shapes don’t look quite as odd when wrapped. The paper is also thick enough to handle strange corners without ripping. Who knew?

My other variation on this year’s theme is equally simple but a bit girly-er in the details. Starting with my classic brown paper package, I substituted the “string” with a few lovelier options.

Sweet and simple. For some, I added some fresh elements, and for others a customized tag {these take too long to put on every gift or I would have!}.

It’s an eclectic mix, but I love how it all looks under the tree, and I can’t wait to see the joy in the faces of my loved ones as they open their gifts this year.

And now, my 3 favourite Christmas albums! These have been on repeat the last few weeks as the primary soundtrack for our holidays. I think you’ll love them too!

The Brilliance / Advent Volume 1

Hillsong / Born Is The King

The Hotel Café Presents / Winter Songs

I will be taking a little posting holiday from now until January 2nd. Until then, my wish for all of us is that we will slow down and really connect. My hope is that we will allow ourselves to be filled with wonder and gratitude for the gifts we have been given that could never fit into boxes or be wrapped with paper and tucked under a tree.

For me, this next week will be all about snuggles, games and reading by the fire; cooking and baking and skating and hot chocolate; visits with family and friends; and time to just reflect as we prepare to welcome all the possibilities and potential the New Year holds for us.

Wishing you a very meaningful and hope-filled holiday season with the ones you love. I can’t wait to share my journey of hopes and dreams and inspirations with you in the New Year, and I can’t wait to hear about yours!

Merry Christmas.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|December 24th, 2012|2 Comments

Christmas in Copenhagen | Part 1 | Nyhavn

Amongst the many beautiful and famous landmarks in the city of Copenhagen, Nyhavn is perhaps one of the most recognizable. The colourful row of houses and shops that line the canal have been there since the 17th century, and this gateway to the sea has become a charming tourist destination {something of a turnaround from it’s history of prostitution and beer houses}.

Today, the cobblestone walkway is lined with restaurants and pubs on one side. Even in the bitter cold of winter, they have tables set up out front with lanterns, wool blankets and heaters to invite passers by to sit and enjoy the ambience of the area over a drink or a meal.

{This windswept heather tells the story of just how c-c-cold it really was! Beautiful, but cold!}

At Christmas time, the other side of the cobblestone walkway is lined with gingerbread style huts {which I mysteriously failed to photograh – so sorry! They really were almost identical to the ones you saw at the Toronto Christmas Market}. These huts are home to vendors selling Christmas wares from handmade felted wool ornaments {and ornaments of all kinds!} to knitted mittens and sweaters to local Danish cheese and even reindeer skin rugs.

Wandering the nearby streets you’ll find that Christmas is literally everywhere, with everyday streets decorated with live evergreen boughs, lights and the iconic Danish hearts. Beauty and celebration are clearly embraced as a meaningful part of everyday life in Denmark!

Some of my favourite shops were the florists. I loved their neat and tidy wreaths and door knockers. Though not entirely an unfamiliar aesthetic, theirs had something charmingly Danish about them that I found both endearing and refreshing. Even the simple evergreen wreaths were more compact and intentionally crafted to my eye. So lovely!

Nyhavn becomes rather magical at night, with the lights from the boats and buildings reflecting like liquid gold off the water. I highly recommend wandering back here on your way home at dusk.