{ my place or yours... }

Happy Friday everyone...we made it!

image via flickr fave, liebemarlene--

I don't know about you, but I love to explore a new city through the eyes of a local. Sure, I will hit some of the touristy spots. But, when I have the opportunity to visit a city, I like to become fully engrossed in it and live like the locals do...even if it's just for a couple of days. With that in mind, I will be kicking off a new feature on S.HOPtalk today titled: 

My Place or Yours. 

Each week, I will invite my favorite bloggers and artists to share with us a bit about themselves and the place they call home--a behind the scenes sneak peek, if you will, at the many amazing cities and small towns scattered around the world as seen through the eyes of those who inspire us. 

Our first adventure takes us to beautiful Stockholm, Sweden, where you will find the home of the uber talented blogger, Benita Larsson. Benita's popular blog, Chez Larsson, provides me with oodles and oodles of daily design and home keeping inspiration. She has the greatest ideas like this one and this one. Let's get started, shall we.... 

Please tell us a little about yourself. 
I'm a visual merchandiser in Sweden in my early forties. I've lived in Stockholm since I was a little girl. I have just very recently decided to cut down a bit on my day job to pursue some of the other intrests in my life. So exciting!

Three words that best describe Stockholm for you:
Home, clean, beautiful.

benita's main means of transportation { i love that!}

What is your favorite time of day?
Saturday mornings before Martin and Wille wake up. It's that little moment all to myself with a cup of tea and a magazine.

Currently on your radar...
Getting started on a book proposal. I was supposed to get it done or at least started this weekend but renovating a window before it gets too cold got in the way... I'm also getting excited about the upcoming holiday season. {Editor's note: I'm excited about a book by Benita!}

What is your most cherished spot in your home?
The armchair in front of the bookshelf where my magazines are kept. It's the place where I relax after rushing around all day.

Favorite discovery:

That I can write. I never thought of myself as a writer but apparently others enjoy my musings. Amazing!

Where do you go to escape?
I don't. My absolute favourite place is at home. I think I was born to be a home maker but living in Sweden, where that is almost frowned upon, it was not to be. I'm working on finding a good balance so I can stay at home more but at the same time earn an income doing so.

Who is/are your favorite local artist(s)? And why?
I love Ingegerd Råman. I keep seeing these beautiful simple items and it always turns out she designed them.

Where do you find inspiration?
Flickr is such a great source of inspiration. So are my favourite blogs. I've recently started to subscribe to my blog favourites in a reader and it's such an injection of inspiration to log on to bloglovin'/bloggkoll and have your faves served to you on a platter. I also get super inspired by my favourite books and magazines. 

What is/are your favorite local shop(s)?
I'm biased here... I love Lin o Fin. It's my friend Sanna's mom's shop at Söder in Stockholm. She sells Swedish and international design at it's best. 

I also really like Åhléns a local department store and Asplunds.

Best kept local secret.
Loopen Marina, a hidden away spot below one of Stockholm's many bridges. A place to eat, drink and be merry :)

image via flickr fave, blisonblog

Tell us about your favorite spot to linger over lunch.
The Stockholm City Museum. It's a museum about Stockholm. The admission to the museum is free and there is a great café inside. 

You can have lunch and take a mini tour of the museum all within your lunch hour.

{museum images via the Stockholm City Museum }

When visiting Stockholm, don't miss:
Centralbadet is a swimming pool and spa in the very city center. It was built in 1904 and the exterior and interior including the pool is in the Art Nouveau style. Absolutetly stunning. The little parc outside is perfect for breakfast or lunch next to the koi pond.

image via flickr, esthr

If you had an opportunity to live anywhere else in the world, where would we find you?

I have no idea, but I wouldn't mind moving at all. I can see myself living in all kinds of places, a mews house in London England, a shingled house in New England USA, a cottage in Provance France, a small white house on a Greek isle, a mini farm in Tuscany Italy or just simply a house in the countryside further down south in Sweden.

What's your motto?

"What's wrong with now?" I've been married for 18 years to a big time procrastinator and I still don't get the idea of pushing things forward until the very last minute. {Editor's note: Oh, I would drive you crazy Benita! :) }

Thank you so much for joining us Benita and taking us on a tour of your beautiful city and home.

Quick links:

Chez Larsson blog

Benita's fabulous flickr stream

And thank you all for spending some time here with me this week and joining me today for My Place or Yours. Stay tuned...I have more exciting excursions planned for the next couple of weeks. One of these days, I just might be knocking on your door {you've been warned }.

All images courtesy of Benita Larsson unless otherwise noted.