I’ve been away at a festival so this could have been a post on lightweight sleeping bags and tents with porches. But luckily for you readers, instead we have a guest post by our good friend Ashlee in Malmo on a piece of her favourite Skandi design:

“I love fashion, and enjoy watching Lady Gaga, as each appearance heralds a new look as part of her constant style transition. However, when it comes to personal style, I’m afraid I chicken out, going for the ‘classics’ route every time.

This extends to my home as well, which is why I guess that Scandinavia is the perfect place for me. Although I have begun to rebel against the obligatory Hans Wegner chairs that grace so many homes (they are as typical as blonde hair and kanelbullar) fortunately Nordic design has such as vast catalogue of timeless classics, that there’s never any shortage of inspiring pieces for the home.

Take String’s beautiful yet simple shelving systems for example. Designed in 1949 by Nisse Strinning, the streamlined, splindly wire shelves were inspired by Strinning’s 1946 Elfa dish rack. So ingenious was the design that it won first prize in a bookshelf competition held by Sweden’s biggest publishing house, Bonnier, and production began.

Made from plastic coated wire ladders, with wood shelves that simply clip into place, its colourful and practical appeal maintains its place as a much-loved favourite, more than 60 years on.

Today String shelving systems come in five ranges – from the String System, which includes nifty drawers and chests, to String Plex system, supported by clear, contemporary perspex fixtures – and a huge assortment of colours, proving that classic doesn’t have to mean boring.”