Trendspotting: Little Houses

I adore house motifs in design; there is something so simple and heartwarming about a house shape that makes me smile every time I see one. House-shaped goods have been making an appearance for a few years now, especially in European shops & design mags, but I’ve noticed the trend growing. Today I rounded up a handful of my favorite examples of “little houses” to inspire…

First up is Dutch shop Visje bij de Thee (Fish for Tea), which I happened across on stylist Pippa Jameson’s lovely blog. There were several house-shaped items for sale in the shop (including bread boards from Tas-ka), but the one that really caught my eye was the simple house cut-out art, shown above. Isn’t it sweet? I admit, it had me somewhat guiltily plotting a DIY version as soon as I laid eyes on it, but that’s a post for another day!

Next are the house boxes, blocks, and vases from Danish brand Bloomingville, shown above. I would love to use one of the house vases as a mini-planter, or to hold pens on my desk…what would you use one for? Vases in interesting shapes are always a plus in my book, because you can even leave them empty, tucked on a shelf or counter, and they look great.

Last, but certainly not least, is the company I think was on the forefront of this trend: Ferm Living. They have been churning out house-shaped wall shelves, curio cabinets, cutting boards, tea cozies, and more, for years. While browsing through their new offerings for Spring ’13, I spied the little house-shaped hot pads above – adorable, no?

So tell me, what do you think of this mini-trend? Which of these goodies would you love to bring home with you? Do share! xo Laura

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