Nordic chic

Home decorating in cold climates has been influenced heavily by a reaction against the long, dark winters that prevail in those snowy regions.

Everything light and lustrous is included, while dark and gloomy furnishings are avoided. Ice-cube shapes, snowflake softness and crystal highlights make up the chalet chic look with a Scandi accent. Right now it’s one of the freshest themes in interior design.

Frosty finishes and metallic accents reflect the icy environment outdoors, as in this table lamp from Laura Ashley, which is made up of crystal glass beads.

Citta Design’s stainless-steel photo frame is as much at home here as it is in a minimalist urban apartment. In fact, this look works just as well in city digs as it does in an alpine lodge.

The Scandinavian colour palette is usually pale, so after white, ice blue is the most popular colour, evoking the feeling of a bluebird day.

Ligne Roset’s powder puff blue ruched settee combines comfort with elegant design, while Interstudio’s iceberg blue Rocking Chair designed by Rainer Mutsch is an artificial interpretation of a rock made from moulded plastic for indoor and outdoor use.

Suitable prints include simple line drawings like this streetscene on a sheet set from Marimekko or the delicate sketches of twigs and grasses on Amalfi’s dove grey vase. Keep warm at night with this hot water bottle covered in a Nordic cable knit and wake up to the alarm of Tivoli’s new clock radio in polar white.

1.Mondo vase from Amalfi, $34.95, (03) 9474 1300, albi.com.au. 2. Marimekko bedlinen, $234, Design Mode International, 9998 8200, or Nordic Fusion, 9907 1717, nordicfusion.com.au. 3. Rocking chair, $1300, Interstudio, 1300 785 199, interstudio.com.au. 4. Model 3 Radio, $499, Nordic Fusion, 9907 1717, nordicfusion.com.au. 5. Ruched settee by Ligne Roset, POA, Domo Collections, (03) 8803 8870, domo.com.au. 6. Theo lamp, $349, Laura Ashley, 1800 033 453, laura-ashley.com.au. 7. Stainless-steel photo frame box, $34.50, Citta Design, 1800 256 723, cittadesign.com. 8. Hot water bottle cover, $19.95, Robert Gordon, (03) 5941 3144,