Creating the brand for a vintage furniture e-retailer

This year, I’ve been working together with my brother on his vintage furniture company that he started. I’ve been helping out with brand strategy, marketing and keeping the pinterest and facebook accounts up-to-date, events and so on.

Creating the brand was extremely exciting with everything from values, mission, naming to logo and other visuals. This is the logo that we created with our graphic designer:

The text below is the “about gRetro” text that I wrote for the website. I wrote it as if my brother wrote it himself though! (Original text in Swedish here)

About gRetro
gRetro was founded by myself, Gustav Jansater, in the early spring of 2013 with the aim to make use of old things. We sell “stuff” that some people are tired of but in a new home can create that personal touch that brand new purchases just can’t.

They say that 2013 is the year when we start looking at our old things in a new light, the year we start recycling “old junk”. Young people have already started looking for gems in containers and attics and hopefully this is the year when the expression “throw-away society” ceases to exist and is replaced by “recycling society”. gRetro is a company that wants to contribute to this.

gRetro can help you create your own unique home, something truly special with your own personal style, thanks to a great range of products such as furniture, textiles, art, lights and homeware.

The name gRetro comes from adding the letter G to the word retro. G as in my name Gustav, but also as in my granny Greta, who together with grandpa Nils drove down to the flea markets in France during the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s and brought back antiques and old treasures to renovate. They have passed on this passion for old furniture and making use of old stuff to me and to my whole family.

And then retro, from retrospective – looking back at what has already been. Objects from another era… Gustav, Greta and Retro – gRetro!

Check out the gRetro website here, unfortunately we just ship within Scandinavia at the moment and the website is still only available in Swedish. But there are lots of pictures that tell more than words!

gRetro’s pinterest

Retro & Vintage inspiration

     

    

    

    

      

Making the Most of a Small Bathroom

Today’s guest post has been put together by Nicholas Anthony, designer kitchen specialists, but they are passionate about every room in the house and have written some of their best ideas for getting the most out of a small bathroom. I have a small bathroom myself and find these tips great. Living in a rented flat I am happy that our landlord seemed to think about these things and chose natural shades and simple fixtures .

my bathroom 

See below the guest post for more pictures of my bathroom.

 

5 tips from Nicholas Anthony on how to make the most out of a small bathroom

Having a small bathroom can prove tricky when it comes to interior design. Fitting everything in whilst still having room to stand is a task all of its own…and creating a stunning, stylish appearance is even harder. However thankfully there are dozens of ways to combine style with practicality, meaning small bathrooms don’t have to be squashed, dull and dreary.

Here are five great ways to make the most of a smaller space. If you want your bathroom to go from this:

to this:

follow these tips!

 

Use Soft, Neutral Shades

Using soft, neutral shades will instantly create the illusion of a larger and lighter space. Whilst white is the ideal colour to use, those who fear it may be hard to keep clean may sway more towards beige or peach tones. Homeowners can use slightly varied hues to create a stylish, contemporary appeal. Light wooden cabinets will beautifully complement a monochromatic colour theme, setting a sophisticated and spacious tone.

Keep Fixtures Simple and Stylish

Available in an array of sizes, fixtures don’t have to be big to be beautiful. Small, slight fixtures can look equally as stylish and will save that all important room. A quaint bathtub or dainty sink will make for a cosy and intimate area, giving the home that classic, cottage appeal. A great way to save on room, practical and compact units will also stop the bathroom from looking overcrowded. For instance, a joint shower and bathtub will mean homeowners can have the best of both worlds without style and design being compromised.

Maximise Space with Mirrors

What better way to maximise space than to use mirrors? A bathroom necessity, mirrors can serve a multifunctional purpose in a small bathroom. As well as being a practical, must-have feature, mirrors will reflect light and space, meaning the room appears larger and more luxurious. Having mirrors on front and back walls will extend the appearance of space, and make for a modern and magnificent home.

Keep it Well-Lit throughout the Day

How bright the bathroom is will make all the difference between appearing large or small. Making sure the room is well-lit will immediately make it seem more spacious. Innovative and creative lighting such as curvy lamp-stands and dazzling spotlights are bound to make for an eye-catching and extraordinary appearance. Providing the room with as much natural light as possible and using reflective surfaces such as glass cabinets or a glass shower enclosure, will create a striking and stunning space.

Accentuate Floor Space

Thinking about floor space is essential when it comes to small bathrooms. Ensuring the floor is neat and tidy will play a large part in setting the overall ambience and appearance of the room. Keeping extra items such as bins and towel-racks to a minimum is a must. Homeowners should try to maximise space by using features such as hanging towel-racks, which can be located neatly on the back of bathroom doors. Shelves which can be fixed to walls will likewise save space and make for a bigger, lighter room.

Using tiles or wooden flooring is also a fantastic way to accentuate floor space. Large, simple tiles, will give the room a more spacious mood, whilst wooden flooring will create a cosy, log-cabin feel. Lighter colours will undoubtedly optimise the room and make for a stunning and superb atmosphere.

Conclusion

These five excellent ways to make the most out of a small bathroom are just a few of many tips available. From accentuating floor space to using small but stylish fixtures, there is an array of spectacular ways to create a striking bathroom. With so many great ideas out there, small bathrooms definitely don’t have to be boring!

Image credits: Martin Cathrae and The Eggplant

 

 

More pictures of my bathroom:

 

New retro home decor from gRetro

My brother’s new company is going really well – no wonder when he’s selling so many beautiful vintage interior design online! Here are a couple of newly added products (I also love the way he’s taking the pictures)

 

 

Green glass bowls

Glass bowl

Wooden bowls and plates

 

All from gRetro.se

 

I want a hippie volkswagen van

I would really want a volkswagen hippie van to decorate as my little home and go on a loong roadtrip with!

Someone down my street has this one

ikea bookcase fix up

I had an Expedit bookcase from ikea that didn’t really fit anywhere in the flat so we put it in the hallway on the side instead. Perfect storage for shoes. But I thought it looked a bit weird without any legs.

The other day when I was out for a run I ran past a container outside a house that was being renovated and found two big building blocks or stones or whatever you call them. They look like this: 

Very heavy to get home!

And then I placed them under the ikea bookcase like legs:

This also meant that I could push the bookcase closer to the wall and get more space in the hallway.

inspiring blog award

I am so excited today as two of my favourite bloggers, KiKi at nlth and Rachael at interiorthinking, have both nominated me to the Inspiring Blog Award! I feel so honoured and happy, thank you =)

The rules of the award state that I should tell you 7 facts about myself and then nominate 15 other blogs for the award.

 

7 facts about me:

1. I moved to Forest Hill in south London about 2 weeks ago (after moving around from one area to the other in London for about 6 years).

2. I really, really want a French bulldog.

3. My favourite music is from the 60s & 70s – I love the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, Fleetwood Mac, Velvet Underground, Cat Stevens, Jefferson Airplane… the list is long.

4. I paint, mostly in oil, and I’m currently working on two paintings for the living room.

5. I like having people over for dinners and parties as it’s a great mix of things I like: friends, cooking & baking, organising events.

6. My passion for vintage furniture and renovating/DIY comes from my parents and grandparents. My grandparents used to drive to France to find old things at flea markets which they brought back to Sweden and renovated. They had so much knowledge that they then passed onto my parents and now I’m trying to learn as much as I can from them.

7. I’m currently reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

 

Blogs I love & want to nominate:

Planete Deco

Coco Lapine

SecretGardenHome

Diary of an Interior Novice

Bonjour Vintage

Emmas Vintage

Lottie Loves

DoYouFancyThis

Pepperbox Couture

It’s all vintage

L’essenziale-hd

Johannas Inspiration

Volang

My Scandinavian Home

Anya Adores

(no specific order)

There are so many beautiful blogs out there so I’ve decided to make a blogroll on my blog in the right column which I will keep updating as I find more and more of you

 

A few rules for this blog award:
1. Display the award image on your blog page.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State seven facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.
5. Notify your bloggers of their nomination and link to their posts.

 

Once again, thank you for the nomination!

sofa update

I’ve found this one on isme.com:

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Lusch

Looks kind of like the descartes from sofa.com but for £900 instead of £1,600.

I also found this one on ebay:

ebay

Currently only £50 but with 3 days to go (no bids so far). Only problem is that it’s in Lichfield, north of Birmingham… I’ve found a delivery quote for a bit less than £100. If I’m lucky and no one else wants this sofa, this could be around £150 in total (probably a bit more, but still not £900).

I’m not planning on taking a trip to Lichfield to check it out (can think of other places I’d like to go), so I’m wondering whether it’s risky buying a used sofa on ebay that you’ve only seen in a picture?

 

how to pick a sofa?

White/beige or dark…?

Before, I always liked white/beige sofas, like this one below

 

Bluebell from sofa.com for £1,195…

But then I’ve really started to like more colourful interiors, so perhaps a colourful sofa?

Elle Decor Photographer Simon Upton Featured in French Flair in London Issue April 2010

Blue?

Elle Decor Photographer William Waldron Designer Steven Gambrel Featured in Restorative Power Issue January 2009

 

Or a really dark one?

Elle Decor. Photographer Grey Crawford Designer. Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch. Homeowner Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor. Issue: July 2005.

 

Elle Decor suggests “shop the look” for the above article: Floating sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar for $9,500… Thank you for that advice elle decor.

1stdibs.com

 

Can velvet sofas be nice?

Elle Decor. Photographer: William Waldron. Designer: Steven Gambrel. Issue: March 2005

 

Elle Decor. Photographer: William Waldron. Designer: Philip Hooper. Issue: April 2005

I found this one on gumtree for £75

But then thought that it might be a bit too girly…

But a dark velvet sofa is actually really nice, never thought I’d like that. But this one below is gorgeous.

The Milo Baughman sofa – elle decor – photographer eric piasecki

 

At sofa.com they have this sofa called Descartes

Descartes from sofa.com

 

Green Descartes

Do you think the Descartes sofa looks comfortable or is it too… square?

sofa.com also have the bluebell sofa in darker colours, and velvet:

  

Does it look more comfortable compared to:

?

If the Descartes is as comfortable, I think I would go for this last one, the “elephant pure cotton matt velvet” colour. What do you think?

Only problem is that it costs £1,695. hmm.

But at made.com, who is “taking on the high street to offer you original furniture design at affordable price”, they have this Flynn sofa for £699

Flynn sofa – made.com

But maybe it looks too square and uncomfortable? and it doesn’t come in velvet…

Oh the sofa hunt continues…

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