Curves and lines | Fashion meets design

BEAUTIFUL CURVES

SPRING | The monochrome way

SPRING DAYS..... LETS GO OUTSIDE  

FIND NEW PLACES ....

AND EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES



pictures # 1 | 2 | 3

Norm architects | Menu

These pictures are from a project that Norm Architects recently did for Menu. Looking at them I noticed how the walls have a great impact in these shots. With the furniture being overall white, they add some colour to the image.  

Pictures via Norm Architects Facebook Page with thanks

A piece of Finland | Finnish design shop + coffee corner

It had to be a new Finnish design shop that opened it doors last week to introduce me to the 'WARM' coffee and tea set. A ‘mini classic’ of Finnish and Scandinavian design combining ceramic teacups and teapots with bracelets of laminated bent wood |Design, Brian Keaney|

'A piece of Finland' is a brand new store in my hometown, selling and promoting all things Finnish! Owners Ramona Korhonen and Anna Kelhu opened the shop last week and next to selling and promoting Finnish brands they love the store functioning as a cultural meeting point. 
The back of the store is light and white and the minimalistic painting on the wall represents Scandinavian winter. Sitting at the table in the coffee corner they kindly offer me my first Finnish Tippaleipä |Finnish may1st sweets| and a glass of Sima!

With a dose of enthusiasm they talk about how they grow up in Finland close to nature... and how they miss the silence of the forest sometimes. Selling travel books at the store and advise those travelling to Finland is part of their philosophy. More pictures of the store and the brands you can find at 'A piece of Finland' on my other blog Amsterdam Next

picture © vosgesparis | amsterdamnext.com

Inspiration for your garden | Outdoor living

After a few days in Milano and the summer on it's way I am thinking on what to do with my outdoor space... it is kind of empty and boring at the moment, as I had to take of all my ivy to get some work done on the brick walls that surround the little space next to my living... unfortunately they are not as high as the walls in the picture above. But I would love to have a small inclosed space like this one.

But the thing is I am really bad in making decisions and can get lost into details for, what seems like forever. Details as white wall versus black wall. horizontal or vertical wooden planks. Grey tiles or a wooden deck and so on... I did make one decision after seeing the pictures of the new vtwonen tiles collection I found out I probably love bamboo and grasses! What do you like most about these pictures?

more outdoors inspiration on my Outdoors Pinterest board

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Paola Navone for Essent'ial | Merci Pop Up Store | Salone del Mobile

When your favourite designer and your favourite store team up in Milano at the same time you are in town for milan designweek you might call yourself lucky. After meeting Paola Navone at a party in Paris some years ago, I seem to keep bumping into her whenever I am in Paris or Milan. It was a real pleasure to have a little hug and an hello with her again when visiting the pop up store this year. Main theme was a new collection of iconic black and white and some green and red also items for essent'ial.

This year my eye caught the new designed chair 'Oblò', tucked away under the stairs. Designed by Paola Navone for Triconfort |and previously showed at M&O| This range of garden furniture consists of a table with casted aluminium legs and a textured white or grey marble surface. The chair is available in different colours. 

And as I love to combine outside furniture with my interior I'd love to add the dining chair in silver to my home. You can never have to many chairs right... now only to find if it's availble somewhere nearby.

Bad thing of these pop up stores is, you always want to bring something home. Being on a flight and not carrying the biggest suitcase I always stick with little gadgets and just only bought myself some bathroom accessories like the black marble enamel cup by Dyke and Dean and some Aesop products |can't resist them| and being on a trip to Milan always is a good excuse ;) 

More pictures in my Facebook and Pinterest album

pictures ©vosgesparis

Fuori Mercato | Salone del mobile 2014

I had the most wonderful week in Milan. And those who follow me on Instagram might have seen the amazing area |have a look| I stayed together with a friend. A former industrial area beautiful renovated into loft apartments and creative spaces at Via Savona 97 right in the middle of hot and happening zona Tortona. With beautiful exhibitions, party's |thank you NLXL for the great night!| and the studio of Paola Navone on walking distance.

Constancy & Change | Triennale | Salone del mobile 2014

Just amazing to enter this hall with Lee Bong-ju's "Bangjja Meditation Bowl Bells". Hand-beaten brassware, or bangjja, are made with a tin and copper alloy. The sound was just really beautiful |they are often called singing bowls| and together with the Patchwork Wrappers hanging from the ceiling my favourite exhibition at the Triennale!

Kanjian Creations | Triennale | Salone del mobile 2014

Kanjian, the main promoter of contemporary design inspired by the traditional Chinese arts, is a design platform with a cultural initiative that brings together top designers to revive forgotten arts such as silk embroidery, ceramics and black canvas prints. 

COS X nendo | Salone del mobile 2014

After skipping last years Salone, this year I went back to Milan to join thousands of Design lovers in Europe's largest Design event. This is such a huge event, and it's almost impossible to see everything and you can spent a whole day in one of the Fuori Salone area's. We also spent a day downtown to do some shopping at the famous Corso Como and combined it with some exhibitions in and around the Brera district.

A contemporary attic space | Architectural visualization

Michael Feuerroth is a media artist specialized in architectural visualization and architectural photography. He lives in Karlsruhe, Germany where he runs his atelier and teaches architectural visualization at the University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe, faculty of architecture. 

The Jane | Fine dining meets rock ’n roll

Last month I was invited by Piet Boon to attend a pre-view and a lunch at new restaurant The Jane in Antwerp. Sadly I was not able to attend but one day I hope to have a taste and admire the restaurant with my own eyes. For now I love to show some pictures of this project by Piet Boon Studio 

Michelin-star chef Sergio Herman and chef Nick Bril created their “fine dining meets rock ’n roll” restaurant vision together with Piet Boon over three years ago in a mythical location in Antwerp; the chapel of a former military hospital. Piet Boon Studio, responsible for the interior design and styling of The Jane, since then collaborated in the chapel’s unique transformation into a high-end, contemporary restaurant with international allure where experience is key

Together with Belgian company SERAX, specialised in decoration accessories, Piet Boon designed tableware that conveys a shared passion for attention to detail and perfection. Base by Piet Boon is a high quality bone white porcelain collection combining functionality and design. The tableware has high thermal stability, is lead- and cadmium free and will be featured in the The Jane’s Upper Room Bar.

SERAX

Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel of Studio Job designed the windows consisting of 500 unique panels. Inspired by the chapel’s original function, foam spatulas, sunflowers, devils, skulls, babies, Jezus on the cross, dice, apple cores, wrenches, ice cream cones, a canon, croissants, penguins, trophies, gas masks and birthday cakes portray a contemporary translation of the old stained-glass windows. Archetypes from various worlds each tell masterpiece stories of good and evil, rich and poor, life and death as well as good food and religion.

The ‘piece de résistance’ in the centre of the restaurant is a 800 kilograms-weighing gigantic chandelier of 12 by 9 meters with over 150 lights, designed by the Beirut-based design studio PSLAB.

Open from Tuesday till Saturday for lunch and dinner. Bookings made at www.thejaneantwerp.com. The restaurant has a three-month reservation lead time; the Upper Room Bar one month.

Inspiration for your home | Cool curtains for your walk in closet

While working on my blog, reading your blogs and websites, my Facebook | would love you to join me there!| is always open at the background. I like to see what friends are posting and if it seems of any interest I click on the link *hello distraction*. The next minute I can find myself surfing around and forgetting what I was doing in the first place.

The other day I clicked on a link photographer Marjon Hoogervorst added on her timeline. Printlove is here webshop where she sells her letterpress prints. But I also found this wonderful curtain with black and white print... if you are not the lucky owner of a walk in closet but have a wall filled with shelves and clothes-racks instead. This curtain that reminds me of a fitting room, might be a wonderful addition to your room next to keeping your clothes out of sight. 

pictures | vorstin.nl

GIVEAWAY | Couleur Locale conceptstore | Le sac en papier

Today I’m happy to introduce you to Couleur Locale, who on top of their stores in Antwerp and Knokke (Belgium), have just opened a brand new online store. The Colour Locale feeling is brought to life on their beautiful and original website.

I asked them about the founding of Couleur Locale.

“You might be familiar with the bowerbird, an exceptional bird that likes to decorate his bower with beautiful objects.
We consider ourselves to be a bit like the bowerbird…
We decorate our home with items that we find on distant travels,
items that remind us of amazing places,
items that inspire smiles and daydreams,
items with a story…
this is how our interior reflects our journeys.

This is how the Couleur Locale concept store came to life.
Couleur Locale is a trendy store, that still bases its products on love and attention. Mixing vintage and design objects from around the globe, they have created a unique collection of gotta-haves for yourself or your home, that also make wonderful gifts. Couleur Locale ships worldwide.

 

Vandaag stel ik jullie graag voor aan Couleur Locale, met twee fysieke winkels, een in Knokke en een in Antwerpen, is er nu ook een splinternieuwe online shop. Met een prachtige en originele website brengen zij het couleur locale gevoel online tot leven.Hoe is Couleur Locale ontstaan vroeg ik hen:

"Jullie kennen hem misschien, de prieelvogel, een bijzondere vogel die zijn ‘prieel’ versiert met mooie voorwerpen.
Wij zijn ook een beetje zoals de prieelvogel ….
We versieren ons huis met dingen die we meebrengen van verre reizen,
dingen die mooie herinneringen oproepen aan geweldige plekken ,
dingen die ons doen glimlachen en wegdromen…
dingen met een verhaal …
zo worden onze reizen weerspiegelt in ons interieur…

Zo ontstond “Couleur Locale “ conceptstore…

Couleur Locale is een hippe winkel , waar de dingen met liefde en aandacht gemaakt zijn. Een mix van vintage en design uit de hele wereld, een unieke collectie van hebbedingen voor jezelf, voor je huis, om kado te geven..." Bovendien versturen zij wereldwijd! 

GIVEAWAY  WIN LE SAC EN PAPIER

I am very happy to be able to give away one of my favourite items! You might recognise them, as I myself use them all over my own home. Couleur Locale is giving away 5 paperbags! They are 100% ecographic, made of recycled paper, and are perfect to store anything… Papers, your laundry, favourite magazines, books, or even your ideas… (your paper, your laundry, your magazines, your books, your ideas…)

All you have to do to win one of these paperbags, is leave a comment under this post and let us know what you will be using your paperbag for. 

Congratulations to |Karlijn van der wijk |Françoise|Clarieke|Nina| gudeninna and Trine holmvard Couleur Locale choose you to win one of the bags. Please email me with your details ;) 

Wil jij een van mijn persoonlijk favoriete items voor je huis winnen? Ik gebruik deze zakken thuis ook om van alles in op te bergen en Coleur Locale geeft vandaag 5 van deze paper bags weg! 100% ecographic, van recycled papier en de perfecte tas voor heel veel dingen.... je papieren, je wasgoed, je tijdschriften, je boeken,  jouw ideeën '... noem maar op!

Wil je kans maken op een van de 5 zakken laat ons dan onder in deze post weten waarvoor jij de paperbag zou gebruiken bij jou thuis.

                      De winnaars zijn bekend, gefeliciteerd |Karlijn van der wijk |Françoise|Clarieke|Nina| gudeninna and Trine holmvard! 

Inspiration for your workspace | Origami paper basket | SOFFA #2

Some cool ideas for your workspace, found in the second issue of SOFFA. As an online lifestyle magazine based in Prague, Czech Republic, SOFFA is mainly focused on the region of Central and Eastern Europe. 

For this workspace they combined Scandinavian design like Hay, TineK and Ferm living along flee market finds. IKEA Coatrack Turbo is used as XL paper holder for drawing paper role Mala. The origami style paper basket is made by SOFFA and you can download the instructions on how to make it yourself on their website: Origami paper basket enjoy :)

 Photos Lina Németh SOFFA magazine | Styling SOFFA magazine

New design by Brdr. Krüger

Danish Brdr. Krüger currently most famous for their tray tables designed by Hans Bølling, now takes an important strategic leap forward with the launch of brand new designs created in collaboration with leading designers. the Ferdinand Lounge Chair, designed by Danish-based OeO Design Studio, and the Lune Lamp, designed by Norwegian Sverre Uhnger are the latest additions to the family business.

The Ferdinand Lounge Chair is rendered in soaped-oak with a pure-lined modern look. Woodturning guides the structural design, including the sculptural and very distinctive backrest. 

The Lune Lamp represents a fusion of woodcraft, material and modern technology and is inspired by a wood-turned object, in this case the sphere. The result is a modern lamp with a tactile and welcoming feel. 

The Lune Lamp is available in smoky, linseed-oil-treated oak and in soap-treated oak. Norwegian designer Sverre Uhnger, a trained cabinetmaker with a great fondness for woodcraft and woodturning, designed Lune Lamp.

pictures via Brdr. Krüger with thanks

Soft Industrial city loft furniture

If you love the look of my own home, that is often described as an 'Soft Industrial city loft' you will love these pictures. I found them in the French connection Homeware catlogus S/S 2014. White-washed brick walls and distressed timber floors form the base layers to this soft industrial setting. If you can't find the real old and industrial furniture where you live, this collection might be just right for you. 

I personally love the rug and the timber floors in a beautiful colour. They add a nice soft and natural touch to the room. But I am pretty sure I would love a concrete floor here as well .... a lot.  

pictures via french connection