Scandinavian Meets PNW…Inspiration
When I started thinking about the design for Scandinavian meets PNW, I knew I wanted it to be different from anything I had done before. I knew neutrals. I could do contrast. Black, white, grey…that was easy. And safe, design-wise anyway. Any halfway decent designer can pull that off. But I wanted something harder, and mixing two very distinct styles seemed like a unique challenge.
Scandinavian style is based on minimalism. We all know the phrase, “Form follows Function,” and Scandinavian design is the epitome of this concept. Just take a stroll through your local Ikea, and you will see this in action. The furniture is beautiful because of its simplicity. The function is paramount, and the design focuses on what is aesthetically minimally needed. The inspiration comes from traditional Japanese design, which is truly minimalistic.
The predominant design style in the Pacific Northwest, on the other hand, is Craftsman. It finds its inspiration in the modernism of Frank Lloyd Wright, who pulled extensively from the Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 19th century. And while Wright’s modernism espoused the “form follows function” ideology, it was really only a predecessor to the minimalism of Scandinavian design. Extensive use of stone cladding and richly-stained trim is prevalent in PNW design. It’s not exactly Ikea.
When approaching the concept, I knew true Scandinavian was too minimalistic. I live in the Pacific Northwest, after all, and I love the style. But I wanted to incorporate the sense of lightness that Scandinavian design brings. How could I do that, but stay true to the place I call home?
I started with the hardwood floors. Instead of the dark- or mid-toned stained hardwoods, I selected the lightest oak flooring I could possibly find. I’ll admit, this was out of my comfort zone, and caused no small amount of consternation. But I’ve experienced this before: the selection I am most worried about turns out to be the best decision I could have made. That said, I’m still on pins and needles about it, but it should be installed soon!
Then came the kitchen. I didn’t want dark wood anywhere in this house. The concept, Scandinavian lightness, required something different. I do love stained wood, however, so I chose a light gray stain on maple cabinets. The stain is sheer, and it allows the beauty of the wood to shine. The floors and the cabinets took care of the Scandinavian part, but I still needed to incorporate the Pacific Northwest style. The black hexagonal tile brought just the right amount of moodiness and contrasted with the lightly veined black and white quartz countertops.
Of course, that still didn’t address my color problem. The kitchen was still basically black, white, and gray, even if they were lighter shades of gray. Where to look for my color inspiration? I love the evergreen forests of the Pacific Northwest, and their true beauty shines on the misty, cloudy, grey days. Pulling nature inside meant greens and blues, but muted through fog and shadows. I opted for a pale blue glass tile in the secondary baths, offsetting the warm wood stained cabinets. The den and laundry room walls will feature Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog, a sagey green-grey. The muted earth tones are distinctly Pacific Northwest, but also Scandinavian. I think I’ve achieved it. Watch for the full reveal coming in early May!
