Paul & Paula private

family breakfast

Paul & Paula private is the place where we share a little bit about our international life.

Four kids, many languages, regular moves and travels. A little peak behind the scenes…

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Romy’s Room {update}

romys room

The last time I shared pictures from Romy’s room was in November 2013. 3 1/2 years ago. And just as my girl {who will turn 10 next month!} the room changed and grew. And I thought it is time to show you a little update!

What do you think?

I shared some peeks through Instagram like here or here  and when I finally found a little cupboard not so long ago the room got a real little {does that make sense – real & little together?} make over and this is how it looks today.

I love it. I like the little Vintage pieces we found here in Sweden over the last years.

It is the smallest room in the house and actually a bit tricky to photograph. You come in and have a big built in cupboard – very practical , just not for pictures.

Let’s see if you can spot the things that changed.

 

tween room
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romys room
romys room
romys room

This is the cupboard I talked about! There is a little shop called Glimma here in Malmö – run by a lovely lady and her son. Next to lots of gorgeous things from Maileg, Africa Safari and the likes they also sell little Vintage furniture that they give a fresh look. The beautiful wallpaper on the drawers was already done by them for example.

And the linen bedding from minimuhuu – isn’t the colour just gorgeous? It makes such a difference in a room I think. The pink colour really brightens the space and it is so soft!

The old drawer on the wall was another lucky find here in Malmö and something I was looking for for a long time. So practical to keep all the little nibs in one place.

tween room

romys room
romys room
romys room
romys room
romys room
The tassel garland is from Josephine’s first birthday and found a pretty good spot here now.

There is always a pile of books next to her bed and of course some little friends here and there for the company. A little girly, not too much… just as Romy!

tween room

romys room
romys room
romys room

You would like to know where things are from? Here is a list, if I missed something, just leave a comment:

Bed – Flexa

Bedding – minimuhuu

Cupboard, wall drawer & little chair – vintage

desk – hand made by papa

copper rabbit lamp – lapin&me via fourmonkeys.com

cloud pillow – kokoko

3 friends on the books – Rabbit from Maileg / Fawn / deer with baby

octopus – hand made by mama

white house shelf – Cyrillus

peacock wall sticker – Love Mae

pink chair – IKEA

bear with cupcake print – lecanotrouge

frame with pink lining – Ramn

lamp shades – Rie Elise Larssen
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tween room

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lecanotrouge

lecanotrouge
I was so excited to share this post for you. Wanted to prepare it yesterday morning. Just that I spent all my yesterday with doctors.

I broke my ankle on Tuesday afternoon and got a cast yesterday. For the next six weeks.So instead of introducing you to the poetic universe of lecanotrouge, I was looking at neon lights.

But lets just talk about Laura and her friends. The moment I looked at lecanotrouge for the first time I thought: wow, such precious characters. So alive, full of stories and details.

And that’s what it is. Every character comes with a story. A beautiful story written by Laura herself. {you can read the stories in the shop with each product as well}

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lecanotrouge lecanotrouge lecanotrouge

On the pictures you can see how we incorporated some of the characters in our home. The kids could choose who they wanted in their rooms. One of my favourites is the Fancy Balloon. So simple yet so stunning. You have the feeling a real balloon is floating around. And who does not like a perfectly beautiful bright balloon?

 

lecanotrouge lecanotrouge lecanotrouge

Romy absolutely wanted the “Cupcake Bear” – the giant polar bear with the sweet little cupcake. So adorable.

Getting a few cards is a good way for a quick change of decoration. Tape them to your wall, or even frame them – I love this for an easy and quick update.

lecanotrouge lecanotrouge lecanotrouge

Lecanotrouge offers postcards, greeting cards, prints and dangler cards. All I can say is – everything looks even more adorable when you see it in front of you. The details, the colours, the high quality paper…

10% of gross sales are donated to animal welfare – you can see a few friends who benefited here.

lecanotrouge creates original hand-drawn images featuring charming creatures from around the world and from our imagination.And, while our products specifically focus on our hinterland friends, it is with a larger intention: we hope the lecanotrouge collection, in a quirky, disarming sort of way, encourages awareness; compassion; and action toward the care and protection of animals and their habitat. Our art. Your message. It’s that simple.

 

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The best of Paul & Paula 2016

family breakfast

Two more days and 2016 is over. Already!

During our flight to Athens (where we arrived this Wednesday) I was thinking that it could be really fun to do a little round up here on the blog.

Feature the best/ most read posts for example. I mean, I was really curious to investigate as well. Which topics do you guys love? What are you interested in etc…

And it is a lovely way to finish the year and take a little break from the blog and social media. Refreshing actually.
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Let’s start:

 

The TOP FIVE posts on Paul & Paula in 2016, in order:

1. Willieandmillie. These fun kids room accessories from Sweden!

2. The Animals Observatory. In January I introduced you to this new brand and their very first collection.

Briar Handmade

3. Briar. The cutest baby&toddler bonnets around.

4. The 2016 round up of Advent Calendars. You probably do not need one right now, but maybe want to bookmark this post for future references.

5. Bloomingville Mini – the kids collection from one of our favourite interior brands.

 

The TOP FIVE Instagram pictures in 2016:

1. Camping! In our bedroom. I nearly did not post this. I nearly did not even take this picture. It was fun to see all the like and comments.

2. The world’s smallest restaurant.

3. Not the kids room. Not the playroom. But our kitchen received many likes.

4. Antoine portrayed by Romy.

5. Our Christmas tree on the way home.

family breakfast

Our weekly series of family breakfasts is very popular as well. Every Saturday.

And we started something new. Every Monday I will take a picture of all four (YES a challenge) kids. For fun and to see them grow and change… I am sure it will be cool to compare the first picture with the last of the year 2017. Please join – they grow up so quickly!

 

EMP museum

And our road trip of course. Oh man… the best thing ever and we still feel the energy and sunshine!

 

And personal in 2016?

*I quit sugar! (big step and good step, Christmas time saw some exceptions… but good ones)

*I started to run! (still not the biggest fan buuuuuut I feel that I need it. This is good and does good.)

*Both things make me proud. Proud that I am able to stay strong. And I feel great. Best base for a mum and business owner.

*I decided to go for it. To grow Paul & Paula. Something I wanted to do for a long time and always hesitated. During our big trip I decided to just go for it. (you see what such a break can do to you)

 

And what is in it for 2017?

I will share a few little things that will make you want more:

*Our newsletter will get an exciting and exclusive feature. As of 2017 every newsletter will come with an inspiring interview. Small business owners will share their best tips, tricks and some -new – private stuff.

*Make sure you are on the list because you do not want to miss out!

*To celebrate the New Year we will host a fantastic give away in partnership with STOKKE! Oh yes… you must, again, make sure to follow us on this one.

*I also mentioned that Paul & Paula will see some changes. And that is still true. I am working on it. For some time and things take different directions sometimes. Need a little more time. But: The consulting part that I already offer will grow. Will be more professional and will take more of my time. I love it. I love to work with brands, shops and other people from the kids industry and help them grow.

 

What was your most memorable moment in 2016?

 

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RAM’N – respecting creativity

Ram'n

Today is a day where I can hardly wait to publish my post. To show you something really fabulous.

Marie-Louise and her husband Thomas are RAM’N. An innovative frame that lets you hang your kids’ art in just 2 seconds and can keep up to 50 drawings! Yes… I know… this is THE solution to all the ‘what to do with all the paintings’ questions.

Let me share the story about RAM’N, it is one of those that remind me why I started this blog and why I love this industry. The small, independent designers, brands… the ones that put so much love and passion in their work:

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Thomas, who is a designer and carpenter, wanted to acknowledge the creativity of his first born. Framing her lovely drawings. But you want to put up the drawings quickly {you know how it is otherwise, they end up in the corner of your kitchen waiting for their turn forever} and the product also had to contain them somehow. {one drawing is nice but after 2 days you usually have 20 piling up}

Thomas thought, ‘I make it myself’ and he started up in the small cellar of their small apartment. He found wood, acrylic and said he would make 20 pieces in the cellar and Marie-Louise gave him a deadline {01.04.2013}.

On 01.10.2013 he sold the first 10 pieces to Louisiana Museum and that was the first blue print.

In the cellar he also found bike tires which he used instead of the rubber we use today and instead of the felt we had some old carpet from my mothers cottage. My mother who is 83 years old striped the acrylic whilst she was watching TV and in the beginning Thomas parents treated all the frames with oil. He wanted to get in the recycling trend, which made good sense to both of us. So the first year it became a good Christmas present and we made about 300. Today we have made 5500 and Thomas has touched each of them one way or another.

Today the two found another solution for the rubber and the felt and both of them are working on RAM’N full time.

Ram'n
Ram'n
It is a wonderful and personal story isn’t? Makes these frames even more special. They do come in some serious great packaging and you can get them in various colours and wood types.

RAM'N
RAM'N

They are very easy to install and love that you can choose portrait or landscape style easily. The little touch of colour gives it a little extra magic and ‘chic’.

Check this video to see a full demonstration on how RAM’N works and how easy and well thought out it is.

 

. : : RAM’N : : .

 

PS: Isn’t the best Christmas present?

PSS: Shipping is world wide and if you order three frames {connect with your friends} it is free!

 

First three images: Paul & Paula

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Toi Art Gallery

Toi Art Gallery

I like art. I like good prints. I would love to fall in love with a real big {probably expensive} painting. Oil maybe. Something I can imagine to love forever.

So far I have not found that painting but make myself happy with affordable prints. A home without art is like a home without plants and books. Impossible.

And when Karina & Viviana introduced me to their world called Toi Art Gallery I was in love straight away. A paradise with carefully selected artists. A paradise so nicely different to what you see everywhere. If I could, I would hang it all!

The two girls, originally from Argentina but based in California, wanted to focus on South American artists initially but expanded ‘world wide’. Great art needs to have its place!
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Toi Art Gallery
Toi Art Gallery
Toi Art Gallery

The artwork you share with your kids is what they will remember of childhood, perhaps what they will take to start their own home when they grow up. Art is something that takes time to create and creates time for us, a feeling of comfort, memories of a time we loved.’

 

Toi Art Gallery

There is nothing kitsch on here, nothing of the monochrome madness and no ABC or 1 2 3 prints. There is just some real cool art going on. Prints that inspire. That are good for making up stories and sending the characters on adventures.

I am happy that there are people, like Karina & Viviana, who step out of the trends and bring us something different. Something gorgeous! Very much looking forward to follow their journey and to discover more artists.

 

 

PS: Have a look at their gift section too, the dolls are adorable!

PSS: The two prints in our house are PLAY and TWO.

First four images: Paul & Paula

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