bulthaup inspiration space in Eindhoven | DDW favourite

We recently visited Dutch Design Week and the inspirational project space by bulthaup. For the occasion of Dutch Design week bulthaup furnished Torenallee 80 in their well know signature style. b Solitaire tables, made out of solid oak and inviting Solitaire benches with matching leather covers, formed a centre point, and inviting backdrop for their Table Talks. During Dutch Design Week different conversations took place that were recorded and shared as a podcast.

The b solitaire, here photographed and styled by us in my own home: bulthaup b Solitaire at home | w/ Style gave place to the various bulthaup accessories we previously worked with in our shoots. Vases by Cor Unum filled with autumn leaves and accessories by vij5 and lamps by my friend Ay Lin of Ay illuminate completed the styling.

We had the pleasure to join bulthaup country manager Tore, and Lucia of Good tea stories  for a private tea session during the weekend. I couldn't think of a better place with the bad weather outside! We actually spent a lot of time in the room due to the nice atmosphere and soft music. bulthaup wants to offer a platform to people who share the same values, make connections and get in conversation with food designers, architects, developers, investors, media and other creatives and therefor will stay at Strijp S until March 2020 giving space to new creative ideas. 

A small impression from our tea session, more images in stories! 

Written in collaboration with bulthaup 

Pictures © w/ Style |Photography Wen van Woudenberg | Styling Desiree Groenendal

A metal kitchen by KeukenMeyt & 10 reasons why to work with them

- English summary at the end of this post -

Terwijl ik bezig was met het eerste idee rond een nieuwe keuken kwam ik, al kijkend op allerlei sites, in contact met KeukenMeyt. De keukenbranche is vaak gericht op snel resultaat en sales en ik ben misschien wel het tegenovergestelde! Ik heb wat meer tijd nodig, laat dingen graag bezinken en kan soms moeilijk knopen doorhakken. Als fervente DIY’er wil ik vaak ook nog eens begrijpen hoe dingen in elkaar zitten en logisch dat niet iedereen altijd evenveel tijd heeft om allerlei vragen te beantwoorden.

Mijn gesprekken met KeukenMeyt verliepen echter totaal anders dan die bij de gemiddelde keukenboer die ik bezocht. Met ruim 15 jaar ervaring met keukens en interieuradvies konden zij veel van mijn vragen beantwoorden en dat ook nog eens met eindeloos geduld! Van het een en ander kwam een mooie samenwerking, waarover later meer!

Na deze sympathieke kennismaking wil ik dan ook graag een aantal projecten laten zien welke door hen zijn gerealiseerd. Waaronder onder andere een door KeukenMeyt ontworpen stoere zwevende metalen keuken die ik tijdens mijn zoektocht naar oplossingen voor mijn eigen keuken tegenkwam en heel bijzonder vind.

KeukenMeyt ontwierp deze donkere keuken met een zwart metalen poedercoated frame voor een woning in Apeldoorn. De woning heeft mooie details zoals de kastenwand met oude houten deuren. Samen met de grote houten tafel vormen deze een mooi contrast met de donkere wand en dito keuken met super matte zwarte fenix fronten.

De keuken is afgewerkt met een composieten Silestone aanrechtblad. Door de werkbladafzuiging is er geen afzuigkap meer nodig en samen met de smalle pootjes waarop het keukenblok staat ontstaat een stoere elegante keuken. Aan het einde van deze post nog eenzelfde keuken in een ruim opgezette open keuken.

10 redenen waarom je met KeukenMeyt zou willen werken 

*Voor de eerste afspraak komt eigenaresse Daniele graag bij je thuis om zodoende een goed beeld te krijgen van jouw stijl, smaak en de mogelijkheden in jouw woning.

*Er is volop ruimte voor aanpassingen en overleg, totdat jij helemaal tevreden bent met het eindresultaat

*Er is een breed aanbod aan kwalitatief hoogwaardige keukenmerken beschikbaar, waardoor er voor elke stijl wel een passende keuken is.

*KeukenMeyt is de ontwerper van de stoere metalen keuken in deze blogpost en kan deze helemaal op maat voor jouw woning leveren.

*Ook voor een eiland op maat kun je bij hen terecht.

*Zij kunnen over meer dan alleen de keuken met je meedenken. Ook voor garderobekasten, inloopkasten, bijkeukens, badkamermeubels of tv meubels kun je bij KeukenMeyt terecht.

*KeukenMeyt kan je helpen met het zoeken naar de juiste werkbladafzuiging.

*Er is een eigen interieur werkplaats waar producten en oplossingen op maat gemaakt kunnen worden.

*Vakmensen kunnen zorg dragen voor kleine verbouwingen, installatiewerk, stucwerk, schilderwerk en aanbrengen van vloeren. Ik spreek uit ervaring en kan iedereen aanraden alles onder een dak te houden.

*Tenslotte zijn zij pas tevreden als jij helemaal tevreden bent.

While working on the first ideas for a new kitchen, I came across Dutch kitchen manufacturesKeukenMeyt. The kitchen industry is often focused on quick results and sales and I am perhaps the opposite! I need a little more time, I like to let things sink in and sometimes I find it hard making fast decisions. As an avid DIY'er, I often also want to understand how things work and it is only logical that not everyone always has the time to answer all kinds of questions.

My conversations with KeukenMeyt however, was completely different from those with the average kitchen store I visited. With over 15 years of experience with kitchens and interior design advice, they were able to answer many of my questions! A nice collaboration ensued from this, more about that later!

After our kind emails back and forth, I would like to show a few of their projects, including a sturdy floating metal kitchen designed by KeukenMeyt that I thought is special and came across during my search for solutions for my own kitchen. 

Shown in the beginning of the post a kitchen designed by KeukenMeyt with a black metal powder-coated frame. I love the nice details in the home such as the cupboard wall with old wooden doors. Together with the large wooden table, a nice contrast with the dark wall and ditto kitchen with super matte black fenix fronts.

The kitchen is finished with a Silestone composite worktop. The narrow legs on which the kitchen unit stands, create a sturdy elegant kitchen. With the build in worktop extraction there is no need for an extractor hood which is definitely one of the things I want for my own kitchen as well. 

10 reasons why you would like to work with KeukenMeyt

* For the first appointment, owner Daniele is happy to come to your home in order to get to know you ,get an idea of ​​your style, taste and the possibilities in your home.

* There is plenty of room for adjustments until you are completely satisfied with the end result

* There is a wide range of high-quality kitchen brands available, offering a suitable kitchen for every style.

* KeukenMeyt is the designer of the sturdy metal kitchen in this blog post and can design the right kitchen for your own home.

* A customized island is just one of the many options.

* They can think along with you about more than just the kitchen. You can also come to KeukenMeyt for wardrobes, walk-in closets, utility rooms or bathroom furniture.

* KeukenMeyt can help you find the right worktop extractor.

* In their interior workshopproducts and solutions can be tailor-made.

* Professionals can take care of small renovations, installation work, stucco work, paintwork and installing floors. 

* And last but not least: they are only satisfied when you are completely satisfied.

All pictures courtesy KeukenMeyt

An all new Houz Oslo store

I have been a fan for Houz Oslo for some time even though I never had the opportunity to visit the actual store. Back then owner Linda was about to leave her job and opening an interior shop wasn´t a life long dream finally being realized but more an oppurtunity she grabbed. Linda stumbled upon a location for rent close by where she lives. From experience in product- and concept development, project management and sales, and foremost a passion for design Houz was born. Houz Oslo offers quality furniture- and interior, norwegian design mixed with unique and classic design from abroad. 

This week Houz openend their new store in a historic building in Oslo! The past year they have been working on new plans and have been searching for new brands with a high focus on sustainability resulting in an unique range of new interior accessories and furniture next to their permanent collection.

Many of my favourite artists like Fino Prydz which I am sure you know from the beautiful art work I have at home. And brands like Ariake, When Objects Works, Astep Design, Tre Sekel Hjelle, my friend from Tisca and kitchens and other interior from Ask og Eng. The small shelves and open shelf system are definitely a potential favourite to exposure my ceramics for my own kitchen.

Find Houz Oslo at Bøkkerveien 4, Oslo, Norway

Pictures courtesy Houz Oslo

A music experience at the Harman Kardon Suites | Citation series

There are a few things that help me through the home makeover I started some months ago: the newly painted walls that are almost finished, the actual kitchen that is starting to take shape, a few styled corners, candles, a nice house perfume... and music!

A few weeks ago I became the proud owner of a next generation stereo smart speaker. It has a room-filling stereo sound and a rich bass, and I am totally honest with you when I tell you it has literally managed to bring music back in to my daily life. I have always loved listening to music, but being able to play my Spotify list on the Harman Kardon Citation 300 has even made me sing along to all of my favourite songs again! 

I teamed up with Harman Kardon on a recent trip to Berlin. During this trip, not only did I get to learn more about their new series, but I also got to experience their brand, and its new Citation series. Together with experts, partners and other online creatives from all over the world, we had an amazing 24 hour experience in Berlin at the Harman Kardon Suites. Imagine being in the middle of a renovation, and being invited by Harmon Kardon to step out of your messy home, to come stay in a beautiful hotel, engage with their beautiful sound and be pampered from start to finish!

The Symphony for the Senses - an evening that explored the interconnectedness of sound, smell, taste, touch and color - took place at the beautiful Hotel Stue in Berlin. It already started in the car on the way to the hotel, with music and chocolate. Using sound as its inspiration, different live performances, in collaboration with Harman Kardon Citation, awaited us.

After check-in there was time to view the spacious room, overlooking a green park, and a nice surprise awaited us in the room: A portable Esquire Mini speaker, perfect for bringing with me on my next travels. The evening started with welcome drinks, followed by the different experiences and a dinner by the well known Catalan Michelin star chef Paco Pérez.

The ambiance was so nice and I was happy to see some familiar faces, and new faces. A great evening including a concert by Andra Day and different DJ's. Loving a bit of drama and blessed with a strong sense of imagination, I loved the evening from start to finish! The combination of movement, music and the various food experiences in the different suites was very special.

Symphony of the Senses
The Harman Kardon Suites event was a multi-sensory brand experience that showcased the essence of Harman Kardon through our five human senses: taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. The design of the sessions was inspired by the Chinese essential elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water and a perfect combination of music, drinks and food: all special and delicious. To give you a small impression, more pictures of the event and the brand can be found on my Harman Kardon Pinterest board, and my Instagram stories.

The Yellow Suite

In small groups we were brought upstairs where we got to experience the Harman Kardon audio in several suites, through different performances. Against a backdrop of a Bedouin tent, we heard an a-capella welcome song, lead by awarded singer Angelica Monje Torrez. For this performance, the group combined poly-harmonic structures with traditional folk songs.

The Black Suite
From The Yellow Suite we were brought to the Black Suite. While a beautiful visual image of a cloudy sky and moon was shown, Maarten Vos combined traditional cello sounds with electronic techniques. All this while sipping smoked tea and tasting 36 month old balsamic with parmesan.

Experiencing all the different drinks and tastes was definitely something I loved. The smoked tea and parmesan especially, is a combination to remember and try out at home. I’m sure you agree that somehow, food can be a perfect match with the interior and scene.

The pink suite 
A graceful ballet by The Three Graces in a pink room. Fresh-cut pink roses on the bed, this was a beautiful room, filled with music and moves accomplished by Rose Lemonade, with shallot creamed sandwiches.

The blue suite

The Blue Suite is where we started our experience: The cutest small glasses ever, filled with violet champagne. Comfortable couches, shiny tables and a classical piano piece by Helena Basilova.

Fire in the Red room 

A spectacular last performance in the Red Room! A runway was created for Amber Noir & The House of Vineyard. A platform for the Dutch Ballroom scene to spread empowerment and fearlessness among those who don't meet society's expectations of beauty, gender and sexual expression. Accomplished by spicy drinks and bites!

In each suite we were surrounded by the Harman Kardon Citation speakers. Make sure you have a look at my Instagram stories where I uploaded some videos of the performances to get an even better impression!

Harman Kardon - Citation series
Back home my kitchen makeover is in full swing! I am looking back at a wonderful trip, enjoying the Harman Kardon Citation 300 that is connected to Google Assistant, which I am currently exploring on its full functions.

The set-up was really easy and, since I always keep an eye on the aesthetic view of everything that comes into my home, I'd say the speaker is also aesthetically pleasing: Premium blended wool made by Kvadrat - dirt repellent, flame retardant.

For over 65 years for Harman Kardon has been dedicated to delivering luxurious audio experiences that allow us to feel the music and immerse them in the moment. I remember our first computer speaker set being by Harman Kardon! Harman Kardon Citation is the ultimate expression and is the worlds first truly premium product of its kind. With different speakers from the small Citation ONE to a bar for our television to complete Harman Kardon Citation towers. Harman Kardon Citation brings a multi-room sound experience in our home by adding more powerful speakers, allowing us to play the same music or different music in different rooms for superior multi-room sound experience.

Find all specifications that makes the Harman Kardon Citation series unique here in English and in Dutch here.

This blogpost is written in collaboration with Harman Kardon  

Pictures ©vosgesparis except for picture 3/7/9/10 by Harman Kardon

Five characteristics of a minimalist kitchen

The other week I received a request to team up with Hausera who wanted to share their ideas on a minimal approach in the kitchen with me. We all know Minimalism is about keeping things simple and I am a huge fan of bringing only the things necessary into my home and this is no difference for the kitchen. No wonder I totally agree with the idea of Hausera to only deposit in your kitchen the items you need to cook and serve the food, but nothing more! In this guest post I would love to share some more ideas and five characteristics you should use to build a minimalist kitchen according to Hausera.

The minimalist design encourages people to live with less so it’s more a lifestyle than a
decorative style. This movement encourages people to let go of the importance of things.
Clutter weighs down homeowners, and minimalism brings a diverge from it. The fewer things
are in a room, the more comfortable it looks.

The kitchen is the room most homeowners decorate according to the minimalist trend. Why?
Kitchens are usually cluttered because of the multitude of utensils used to cook. The minimalist
design has organisational benefits because it features clean and sleek lines. And what’s best, it
can be used in both small and big spaces.

The beauty lays in the materials used
Natural materials are beautiful, and minimalism celebrates their refinement. When designing a
kitchen, finding the right surfaces and textures is crucial for the final result. Materials like
concrete or wood are more charming than any other surface used in construction. They are
standalone beauties so they need no other accessory to enhance their appeal.

The focal point of the kitchen
Don’t have the misconception, the minimalist style doesn’t promote focal points. A single item,
hue or finish can bring a personal touch to the kitchen. Stick to a single focal point, like the
kitchen island, a coloured wall or a textured shelf. A great way to create a focal point is to
install a prominent light fitting over the kitchen island.

Wesley Ward, Head of Marketing at Hausera told us that based on their 2019 consumer survey,
"The top three ideal styles for kitchens and bathrooms are: Modern (with a 51% majority vote),
Contemporary, and Traditional." The minimalist style is part modern part contemporary, so
homeowners highly use it.

No clutter
The basic principle of minimalism is to remove clutter. Install smart storage solutions for all the
equipment and utensils used to prepare food. It’s essential to keep everything hidden from
sight to create a clean look. If you don’t have enough kitchen storage to keep things out of
sight, try to limit the number of items you display on the countertop and shelves.

Sharp lines
There’s no fuss around the minimalist style. You need to work with clean and sharp lines to
keep everything airy. Sharp corners are not comfortable in a living room, but they give a good
feeling in the kitchen. Sharp corners, concealed handles and singes and square edges, all
strengthen the idea of airy and cleanliness. The minimalist trend is famous for featuring
geometrical shapes, simple lines and rough materials. To achieve this look, you should play with
finishes, textures and colours. Solid forms are a major characteristic of minimalism, decide what
shapes better fit your kitchen.

Stay simple
Minimalism is all about keeping things simple. Deposit in your kitchen only the items you need
to cook and serve the food, but nothing more. No decorations, no unnecessary stuff. It’s
challenging to stop yourself from bringing extra things in the kitchen to boost its style. But in
minimalism, the beauty of the space stays in the materials and lines you choose for the cabinets
and countertops. The colour palette boosts the artistry of the space in an elegant but modest
way.

Pictures courtesy Banda Property with thanks

Kinuta Terrace by Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design

Emerged from shared design values, the collaboration between Tokyo-native design studio, Keiji Ashizawa and Copenhagen-based Norm Architects takes its root in mutual admiration and a love for material richness and timeless appeal evident in both design traditions.

In the spring of 2018, Ashizawa on boarded Norm Architects to collaborate on the renovation of two apartments in the Kinuta Terrace apartments complex comprising a total of 36 units. Kinuta Terrace was originally built back in the 1980s and features an integrated courtyard that gives residents the advantages of a single-family home.

The two design studios partnered with Japan’s leading manufacturer of wooden furniture, Karimoku, on carrying out the renovation, during which the idea of a furniture series arose. Combining a balanced industrial and natural look and feel, each space has been designed to let air and light pass through, creating a natural flow throughout the apartment.

Nature feels integrated into the apartment from most rooms, looking out into the courtyard, and you can’t quite tell you’re in a city as immense as Tokyo. text and pictures courtesy Norm Architects