Tags
Australia, Bed Linen, Bedding, By Nord, Colloquialisms, Denmark, Design, Duvet, IKEA, Interior design, Kiwi, Language, New Zealand, Russell Crowe, Shopping, Sydney, Tontine Group
To most people around the world, Aussies and Kiwis are pretty similar – not least because of our shared geography. And, in many ways I can see why people might think that. Certainly, I love living in Sydney and there are many things about Australia that I have willingly embraced and in many cases, adopted. I have always preferred Vegemite to Marmite. I have learnt that not everybody knows what jandals* are. Jacarandas flowering in November have replaced Pohutukawas flowering in December for me in the lead up to Christmas. I don’t even give off that involuntary shudder when a well-meaning Australian tells me I “don’t sound like a Kiwi”, anymore.
God bless America. God save the Queen. God defend New Zealand and thank Christ for Australia. (Russell Crowe)
But, there is one thing I just cannot bring myself to embrace. I cannot and will not use the word ‘Doona’. It just sounds wrong.
Australians use the word ‘Doona’ in place of duvet, or even ‘continental quilt’. Now, I’ve done a wee bit of online searching and I have discovered that ‘Doona’ is the brand name created by Kimptons (Northern Feather). For the sake of accuracy, you should know that the Tontine Group acquired the trademark in 1991 when Pacific Dunlop took over the company. Apparently, ‘Doona’ is derived from the equivalent common Scandinavian term dyne and was popularised by retail behemoth IKEA in the 1970s.
All of this becomes perhaps a little more relevant when I tell you that today’s post is about the ever-so-fabulous graphic bed linen and cushions from By Nord, a most lovely Danish home-wares company (where they probably say ‘dyne’ instead of ‘doona’ or duvet…)
Check out these babies…
(Oh – and, I’m starting with the sheep as a further reminder that I’m a Kiwi!)
Sheep Cushion for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)
Sheep Duvet Cover for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)
Feather Cushion for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)
Feather Duvet Cover for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)
Hedgehog Duvet Cover for By Nord
Fun Fact – there are no hedgehogs native to Australia
(Image © By Nord)
Moose Pillowcase for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)
Moose Duvet Cover for By Nord
(Image © By Nord)
By Nord have some b e a u t i f u l things. You can check out their web-shop here. Alternatively, the closest retailer in Australasia is Design Studio Home, which is not very useful unless you happen to live in Perth, WA.
* Jandals: n. ubiquitous New Zealand rubber sandal.
Equivalent to the Australian Thong, UK/US Flip Flop
This Sydney Life 
The Hedgehog one is definitely my fave!
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He is cute, isn’t he? He may just be my favourite, too.
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I prefer the term duvet, but my husband hates it and always reminds me that I’m an Aussie not a Kiwi. The cushions are delightful especially the sheep, as a child I didn’t like that the singular and plural were the same so in our house it is ‘one shoop, two sheep’ 🙂
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What a cool story! Thanks for that, 2BD!
I remember a German visitor exclaiming “Oh, look! Sheepy-furs”, when he saw my parents sheepskin rugs. They have been called ‘sheep-furs’ ever since at our place.
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Duvet all the way (Doona always sounds like something one would do in the Dunny!)…. and I love these, especially the little hedgehog
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I think the hedgehog is a favourite, BCD. My Mum said the same thing.
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I too prefer the term duvet… Definitely you don’t sound like a Kiwi… I too liked the way you looked at things…
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Bless your cotton socks! 🙂
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I loved them all but I have to say that they wouldn’t stay very pristine with a houseful of wily animals just waiting for that opportunity of an open door and a comfy bed
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Now, see – that’s why I have Bella. She doesn’t shed or drool (she’s leaves that up to LM)
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