I recently returned from my latest Scandinavian shopping trip and wanted to share some photos with you.

As many of you know, I travel to Scandinavia several times a year looking for up-and-coming designers, and to secure the latest items for Huset customers.

During this trip, I traveled to Stockholm to visit with houseware vendors, and to Copenhagen for Scandinavia’s biggest fashion fair.

Here are some pics of my trip…

Also, I should point out that we’ve just put over 260 items on sale to make room for the new Fall items. While they last, you can get many of our items for 30-70% off!

New Fall items from Custommade, By Malene Birger and Odd Molly have just been added to our site and more items are being added daily so make sure to check back often.

This has been a really great month for us…

We celebrated our fourth year in business, got named one of the “Best Of The Web 2010″ by InStyle Magazine (November edition) and just got featured by the New York Daily News!

Patty Lee’s “get cookin’” feature highlights some of her favorite picks for cooking in style and having a stress-free Thanksgiving. She’s included a variety of great products and we’re thrilled she included our Klippan oven mitts.

Of course, we have many more modern kitchen items in stock and there’s no better time to shop huset…

We’re offering a discount we’ve never done before and you can choose how much you’d like to save.

From now until November 26th, 2010, you can save 15%* on orders of $199 or less OR 20%* on orders totaling $200 or more.

Use code: HUSET15 (to save 15% on orders $199* or less)

Use code: HUSET20 (to save 20% on orders $200* or more)

Happy shopping,
Holly

*NOTE: The discount does not apply to items in the Furniture/Electronics category, items currently on “special,” or items already purchased. Order total does not include the price of shipping or applicable sales tax.

It’s hard for me to believe, but this month marks our fourth year of business.

Huset has come a long way in the last four years and we couldn’t have done it without you, our loyal blog readers, customers and fans… THANK YOU!

We’ve recently added new products in every category and would like to give you a significant discount to show our gratitude.

We’re offering a discount we’ve never done before and you can choose how much you’d like to save.

From now until November 26th, 2010, you can save 15%* on orders of $199 or less OR 20%* on orders totaling $200 or more.

Use code: HUSET15 (to save 15% on orders $199* or less)

Use code: HUSET20 (to save 20% on orders $200* or more)

Thanks again from all of us at Huset and may your holiday season be blessed!

All my best,

Holly Hallberg
CEO & Founder, Huset

*NOTE: The discount does not apply to items in the Furniture/Electronics category, items currently on “special,” or items already purchased. Order total does not include the price of shipping or applicable sales tax.

I’m pleased to announce that huset has received many new Rabens Saloner pieces! We think designer Birgitte Raben Olrik has really outdone herself this time and believe you’ll find these Danish designs… hot, hot, hot!

While the slideshow (above) shows a few of the pieces we have received, we have many more waiting for you right now in our online store.

To see our full collection of 2010 Rabens Saloner Fashion Items Click Here!

If you’d like to see specific items from the slideshow, here are their direct links:

• Title slide: Salina Top
• Slide 2: Maud Butterfly Blouse
• Slide 3: Betty Stretch Silk Pants
• Slide 4: Daphne Peace Sandal
• Slide 5: Badu Dress
• Slide 6: Paula Ambre Silk Skirt
• Slide 7: Ashley Triangle Dress
• Slide 8: Jamila Angel Dress

Enjoy!

Looking for a great Valentine’s gift this year for that someone special?

Here are some creative (and modern) Valentine’s gifts that are sure to be a hit!

Whether your Valentine is 5 or 95, huset’s got you covered!

(pictured from top-left) – Playsam Jetliner, Nylander Original Rock N Roll Silk Tote Bag, Lotta Kuhlhorn Pukki 88 Trivet, MOR Nordica Body Scrub, Odd Molly Secrets Tank, Gotfred and Gertie Goat by Rice DK, isak Blossom and Bill Tray,  Odd Molly Secrets Under, Triwa Code Red Watch, Odd Molly My Lips Love Me Lip Balm, Anna Kraitz YOU Tea Cup and Saucer

Christmas is celebrated throughout Scandinavia on the evening of December 24th. It is widely regarded as the most sacred holiday where families and relatives meet in their homes and celebrate. Besides the customary Christmas tree and presents under it, it is the traditional Julbord that is at the center of attention for most Scandinavians. A delicious home made protein rich feast that takes several days to prepare and has its roots in the Norse celebration of midvinterblot…

Many restaurants in the larger cities of Scandinavia serve Julbord during the month of December and they are well worth a visit if you ever get a chance. If you want to get a taste of the Scandinavian Christmas you can also make your own Julbord.  Here are some of our favorite recipes!

This Vodka marinated Lox is to die for and will melt in your mouth…serve it with boiled potatoes and mustard sauce or on rye bread.

Vodka Marinated Lox

• 2 lb of deboned salmon file with the skin still on, cut in two equal pieces.
• 3 tbs ABSOLUT vodka
• 3 tbs sugar
• 3 tbs salt
• 1 tbs crushed white pepper corns
• 1 cup of fresh dill

Rub the vodka into the fish pieces. Mix sugar and salt with the very coarsely ground white pepper and rub it in to the fish. Put one piece of the fish into a dish with it’s skin facing the bottom. Evenly distribute the dill on top of the Salmon and place the other piece of salmon on top of the first piece. Cover the dish with plastic foil and place a weight on top of the salmon. Let it stand in the refrigerator for aprox. 1-2 days. Turn the fish a few times during this time. When ready to eat, remove the dill and scrape off any visible salt/sugar/pepper mix. Cut very thin slightly angled slices.

Mustard Dill Sauce.

• 3 tbs mustard ( Swedish)
• 2 tbs sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch white pepper
  
• 1 tbs vinegar
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil (neutral in tast)
  
• 1/2 cup finely cut fresh dill

Mix everything except oil. Whip with a tea spoon while slowly pouring the oil into mixture. Serve with Lox.

Swedish meatballs are probably one of the best known Swedish cooking specialties, definitely a necessity on the Julbord. This recepie call for half beef, half pork but if you have any dietary or political objections you could even use ground Turkey.

Swedish Meatballs:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup cream
• 1/2 cup fine bread crumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1 minced yellow onion
  
• salt and pepper to taste

Mix cream and bread crumbs, let stand for 10 minutes, mince onion. Mix all ingredients and form into small balls. It’s easier to handle meat if you wash your hands in cold water and keep them slightly wet. Heat a pan with butter and fill it with meatballs. Lower the heat and brown them evenly using a wooden spoon or shaking the pan carefully.  They should be done after 10-15 minutes.

There is no Christmas in Scandinavia without Jansson’s temptation.

Jansson’s Temptation

• 7 medium potatoes, cut into french fries size pieces
• 2 small cans of Swedish flat anchovies
• 1 large onion, chopped.
• 2 cups of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 stick of butter
• salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a buttered oven proof dish layer the potatoes,  the onions, and the anchovies and add a little bit of salt and pepper. Pour the cream over the dish, sprinkle the bread crumbs and divide the butter evenly.  Bake until it has some color – about  40 minutes in total.

Enjoy!

Huset wishes you all a wonderful Holiday season!

Christmas themed Almedahl’s landskap tea towel.

On December 13th at 7 a.m. every church, school, and business in Sweden is packed to the brim to welcome Saint Lucia: Goddess of Light and her impressive chorus.

Adolf Fredrik's Lucia choir

Lucia has become one of the most loved and celebrated traditions in Sweden and is also celebrated in Swedish communities across the world. This video is from last week at The Shrine in downtown L.A.

Lucia by Carl Larsson

As early as 5 am on Lucia morning the oldest daughter  in the family dresses up in a white gown, a red sash around her waist and a wreath of lingonberry leaves and candles in her hair. She then brings coffee, Saffron buns and Ginger snaps on a tray to her parents bedroom, waking them up singing traditional Lucia songs.

Lussekatter

Lusse Buns Recipe

1 pkg active dry yeast 1/4 c water, warm 3/4 c milk 1/2 c sugar 2 eggs 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp powdered saffran 4 c flour For Brushing: 1 egg, 1 tsp water

Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside. warm milk add butter to melt. Place all above ingredients in a mixing bowl using 2 cups of the flower. Mix for three minutes using a mixer. Add rest of flower and beat with wooden spoon. Knead dough, adding a little flour for easy handling. Put back in bowl and raise to double. Turned out on floured board and shape into Lussekatter. Let raise on cookie sheet and brush with egg and water mixture before baking. Put a raisin in each curl and bake at 450° for 10 minutes. makes about 4 dozen rolls.

Lucia is a uniquely Swedish tradition and has its roots in an unusual combination of Nordic Mythology and a Saint from Sicily . You can read more about the traditions and origins of Saint Lucia here.

Swedes also like to give Lucia parties in the evening where they serve Glögg, a hot and spicy alcoholic drink that will definitely keep you warm in the cold…You can easily make your own.

Glögg 1 bottle of red wine 1/2 cup of sugar 2 cinnamon sticks 5 cardamom pods 1 dry piece of ginger 10 whole cloves The peal from 2 oranges, skinned almonds and raisins Wash the oranges well and peal off the skin preferably in one long section so they can easily be removed (you can use a potato peeler). Mix the wine and sugar, put the peal and the spices in the wine mix. Heat it slowly and be careful not to boil since the alcohol will disappear if you do. Heat for at least an hour and remove the spices and the peal according to taste.

Pour the Glögg back into the wine bottle or another bottle and add your own label. These home made Glögg bottles are often given away as gifts as many families has their own secret recipes. I found this great picture of Mommin troll Ginger Snaps from www.acatinthekitchen.com

You might recognize these Mommin troll characters from our Arabia china selection at Huset…

Enjoy!

Maria Dahlgren

The career of Swedish Designer, Maria Holmer Dahlgren, began at the internationally-renowned Swedish stationary company, Ordning & Reda. Maria co-founded Ordning & Reda and designed for them for 18 years. Other achievements include being commissioned to design the interior graphics for Stockholm’s stylish boutique hotel “Rival,” owned by ABBA’s Benny Andersson.

Maria now has her own thriving design company, Metagram. She designs a variety of contemporary trays and other pieces aimed at the high-end tourist market, and currently sells them in places such as Stockholm’s “Moderna Museet” gallery.

Of her work, Maria says…

“…There’s beautiful art all around us, if we just open our eyes to it.”

We couldn’t agree more and know you love Maria’s designs and the quality of her products.

Salt & Syrup was started by Emily Ranneby, an American illustrator and designer living in Stockholm, Sweden. Emily is a newcomer to the stationery market, but seems to be rolling on strong momentum as her work is popping up on blogs and in magazines. Her letter-pressed cards are mini art pieces and would fit in a frame as easily as they do envelopes. In her debut collection Emily combines images of wildlife creatures and each card features an unexpected combination of the subject’s name in Swedish, French, and English. This unexpected grouping adds another level of distinctive flair to each set.

Salt & Syrup cards are appealing to both children and adults with their use of bright colors. From Emily’s site: “Dedicated to concocting vibrant and deliciously unexpected combinations that simply work, we get great satisfaction from things like combining modern, scandinavian designs with old fashioned, hands-on printing techniques. plus, we’re crazy about all those little details that make things come together. like the texture of fine quality paper.”

Salt & Syrup seem to be on their way to big things with collaborations in the works and the collection making its way into retail stores this year. With Emily’s illustrative talents I’m sure fun new items will be rolling out soon. While your waiting keep in mind that the studio also does custom work from wedding stationery to everyday occasions. I’ll bet that with there international surroundings it adds a wonderful bit of flavor to all her creations.

Check out all the new Salt & Syrup note cards at huset-shop.com!