Cool, calm and Nordic

As my grandmother used to remind me, "Horses sweat, men perspire and women glow." Well, right about now I'm possibly a bit more on the horse side of things, since I'm in-studio with the fantastic Canadian Family crew shooting a Holiday feature in 33C (or 91F). Believe me, this late-summer heat and humidity just slightly takes the shine of getting into the Holiday spirit.

Muuto's collection of furniture, lighting and accessories is, thankfully, the epitome of cool, calm and collected Scandi style. That cluster of E27 socket lamps is super cool, and their The Dots wall-mount hooks look lovely and random in the second shot. In Toronto, check out Muuto at Hollace Cluny.

Guest blog / Jenn Hannotte: Feeling cross?

Jenn Hannotte: My favorite new store in Toronto pandering to my want/need/can't have tendencies is Mjölk. Owners John and Juli offer an amazing selection of clean-lined, pale-wooded, Scandinavian and Japanese pieces from the classic Børge Mogensen 2226 Spanish Chair (take a look below, and if anyone out there is wondering if I'd like a gift, the answer is yes: I'll take two), to this gorgeous Hiroshima extension table by Naoto Fukasawa and a set of Arne Jacobsen cutlery to go on top. They also have affordable design objects, like this gorgeous Grass Vase by Claydies for Normann Copenhagen as well as adorable things for the Scandi-wanna-be baby like this cool/odd Norwegian Lice Onesie. But the one thing I really went to see and covet was the Pia Wallén Crux Blanket. It's so soft, so simple and so PERFECT. It's also all-wool, made in Sweden, and $850... Now, I don't like a little thing like price to get in the way of instant gratification, so I headed off to Etsy in search of some Swiss cross inspired textiles and found this coffee sack burlap basket with a cross screenprinted on the front by Brin and Nohl It'll be perfect for toys, magazines, or even small storage in the bathroom. Okay, it's not a blanket, but it's a wee bit more in my snack bracket.

Below you'll see snaps of the 2226 Spanish Chair and the Grass Vase, plus a couple of inspiring shots of the Crux Blanket in action (via Door Sixteen). For more of Jenn's take on style click here.

Joining the Hansen family

Nope, it's not a cult, not unless there is a Scandinavian furniture cult. Umm, is there? I discovered The Hansen Family - art director and designer Gesa Hansen's modern furniture firm - on a very cool UK design blog called Bright.Bazaar (bookmark it, you won't be sorry!) and immediately fell for the whole collection. Each piece is handcrafted in oak, and I love the touches of colour in the desk cubbies and dividers in the sideboard (which made it into the March issue of Monocle). Oh, and if The Hansen Family tote bags ever end up on sale, sign me up!