Dreaming Into The Weekend: Home Inspiration

Nothing is quite as refreshing as dreaming of new home ideas - my inspiration source number one is Pinterest. I always happen to be inspired to redo a corner in my home after seeing beautiful interiors from around the globe. To start off the weekend in style, I am sharing three favorite recent interior design inspirations: a living room, a kitchen and a bedroom. 

Do these rooms inspire you too? Happy weekend, friends!

Photography: Living room via Ohhh...Mhhh, kitchen via Hallonsemla, bedroom via Fantastic Frank

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Esprit Home Summer Collection 2014

While I am still wrapping up in scarves, gloves and feathery winter jackets, I keep getting signs of spring and summer in my mailbox on a daily basis. Being a sucker for blue, my eye got caught up by the indigo hued summer collection of Esprit Home entitled 'Palma de Mallorca'. The Mediterranean vibe seems to be the DNA of this home textiles collection - deep blue hues, whites and natural tones promise freshness and the profoundly calming power of the Mediterranean sea. The light and natural fabrics and airy patterns perfectly embody the notion of a Southern lightness. 

Indigo seems to be a trending colour this year as I have seen it quite often on various interior design shows. The summertimes blues of Esprit Home's collection are almost countless in their colour nuances - from deep indigo to airy blues. I also love the wide scope of patterns - from geometric simplicity over floral patterns to Moorish-inspired embellishments. 

I am particularly fond of the cushions and the blue rug - I might need some more blue injections later this year. What do you think of the 'Palma de Mallorca' collection?

Photography via Esprit Home

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Happy Interior Blog Recommends...

After three design trade shows in a row I can safely proclaim the rule of grey, blue and yellow in 2014! So I took this as an inspiration for today's product recommendations for happy homes. A good deal of greys, a fresh injection of yellows and saturated blues, some wood and marble and we are all set to be very fashionably dapper in our home! 

But let me guide you through today's happy picks:

1. Vintage home accessories via Starling Store
2. Rest Sofa by Muuto
3. Marble coffee table by Fleux
4. Glass vase by H&M Home
5. Cornflower blue throw handmade in Pakistan via Far & Wide
6. Shower curtain by By Nord
7. Striped bedding by H&M Home

Anything you fancy from this selection? Ok, I am off to do some online shopping...

Happy hump day!

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Today is my last day in Paris so today's room is - you guessed right - a room in Paris. I simply had to pick this one because it captures the magic of a place called home - the simplicity of a room with an almost unbearable lightness of being. 

I have hardly ever seen a more simple room that instantly caught my eye. No design furniture, no home décor - just the simplicity of a rooftop room, a balcony door, a lonely chair, and the light of a young and promising day.

The promise of happiness lies in these simple factors:

• The Light: The one interior design factor that makes everything either work or not. Natural light is not only important to make your home look more livable, but also to assure healthy living - our body needs light to be healthy and happy.
• The Airiness: Sometimes all you need is a few practical and beloved pieces to make a room cosy and beautiful - and it will keep it airy and fresh.
• Simply Paris: The idea of a rooftop apartment in Paris alone is a source of ravishing happiness - who wouldn't love a rooftop pied-à-terre in Paris, I mean seriously?

Does simplicity in interior design catch your eye too from time to time?

Photography via Supply Paper Co.

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From Place To Space: Paris Travel Tips

Salut from Paris, friends! I am still in the ever inspiring French capital where I visited the Maison & Objet design show yesterday. Today and tomorrow I will be discovering new places and spaces in the City of Light to share with you. In the meantime, I want to give you a few Paris travel tips from my last trip to the City of Lights.

I will keep it rather short with text but rich with photography as I think Paris is a predominately visual city that tells more through its sights than words could ever describe! 

So here we go with a few tips for your next trip to Paris:

Printemps Department Store: The historical department store Printemps is located just next to the famous Galeries Lafayette and is a real secret tip - this is probably the best photo location in the city! Printemps consists of two big buildings and one of those, the building hosting the homes & beauty section, has a huge rooftop terrace and café on the 9th floor. It is free, rather quiet as hardly any tourist knows it and it offer the most superbe 360 degrees view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Sacré-Coeur and many more sights. You will not regret a stop-over there! Plus you can enjoy a cup of coffee or even a lunch break on a sunny day.

Café Pinson: For a healthy lunch break or coffee and cake moment, opt for the cute Café Pinson. It offer a full range of organic, vegetarian and gluten-free food and beverages with a cute and cosy interior design. There are two cafés in Paris, one in the 3rd and another one in the 10th arrondissement.

Bob's Food Etc.: Another fabulous hot spot in the 3rd arrondissement for good, organic food - very yummy and very popular, so feel free to squeeze in on the large, communal tables. 

Bistrot Vivienne: This charming Parisian bistro is located in the luxurious Galerie Vivienne close to the Parisian 'Bourse' - it is the epitome of a French café with chic guests and dapper garçons. 

Nord Marais: Another hip locations in the 3rd arrondissement! This restaurant offers good food and a great atmosphere - vintage furniture fills up a bright space with a little library - after all, we're in Paris. We drink a glass of red wine, eat a Croque Monsieur and we spice everything up with literature!

Grand Palais: Not only impressive as an architectural oeuvre, but also home to some of the best exhibitions in town, the Grand Palais should always be on the agenda of a Paris trip. The queue will be not as long as at the Louvre (especially if you buy the tickets online in advance) and you will enjoy great art - I visited the Depardon exhibit which is on until February 10th, 2014.

La Gâité Lyrique: The 'Space for Digital Cultures' in the 3rd arrondissement is one of my favorite discoveries from my last trip. This historical Parisian building hosts a very modern space for digital fans - mutual workspaces, a tiny photography studio, an open library. All this is topped off by an exhibition space that currently features 'The Happy Show' by the Austrian artist Stefan Sagmeister. The New York based artist detects the DNA of happiness through various installations - many of those requiring the active participation of the visitors. So fun!

I hope I could give you a few new travel tips for your next trip to Paris. I will share more over the next weeks so make sure you come back or drop me a line if you have any specific questions.

À bientôt!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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For Happy Dreams: Bed & Philosophy

Friday morning and I am - once again - en route. Today I am traveling to Paris where I will be attending a private dinner with Muuto tonight and I will be going to the Maison & Objet design show on Sunday. In between I'll do what I do best in Paris - walk around the city, discover new cafés and shops, get inspired and just enjoy the time with people I love. 

So for today's blogpost I thought I'll introduce you to a fabulous French home textiles brand called "Bed & Philosophy" who will also be exhibiting at the Maison & Objet and I can't wait to go to their stand and touch and fell all their wonderful products. 

Bed & Philosophy offers a vast range of sumptuous, wonderful linen for the bedroom - bedlinen, cushions, pillow covers and they even have a special wedding collection - an excellent gift idea for the next wedding you're invited to!

I am a huge fan of linen for the bedroom as the tactile feel is just unsurpassable. It feels so good on your skin, it actually makes you want to stay in bed for many hours more - and that is just a good cure for someone like me who constantly lacks some hours of sleep. I also love the range of colours they offer - they are all rather subtle and saturated, the best choice for bedrooms in my opinion. But there are some brighter hues too for those who like a more colorful bed styling. 

I will leave you with these beautifully styled imaged of Bed & Philosophy. If you want to join me to Paris and the Maison & Objet show, please do so on Instagram and/or Twitter.

Bises de Paris!

Photography via Bed & Philosophy

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Home Update: A New Rug Adding Pattern

With every new year I feel invigorated to add a new accent to my home. Many of you know that I am living in a tiny rooftop apartment with 32 square meters. Last weekend my food blogger Sophie friend told me this fun thing: Being an interior design blogger and living on 32 square meters, that must feel like being a food blogger who is constantly on a diet. Fun fact, right? 

I thought about it and maybe there is some truth to it - the constant challenge not to clutter the small space (vs. the constant challenge of not eating certain things as a foodie on diet), inventing new things within the given constraints, opting for the light alternatives. Well, speaking of light alternatives: I have replaced my colorful Moroccan Boucherouite vintage rug with a very light, graphic rug by Bloomingville. 

I have found the cute rug on Tujuh.de and thought it would be a good idea to repeat some given patterns in my home - some black and white strips and graphic patterns. My pendant in the living room, the zigzag rug, the grey and white walls and now - this little rug, too.

What do you think of my new little rug? I really like it in my home. 

Photography by Igor Josifovic

This post has been brought to you in cooperation with Tujuh.de

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Happy Interior Blog Recommends...

It's quite a while ago that I'd discovered a beautifully woven basket somewhere online and I couldn't resist but buy it. This is how I discovered the work of US designer Doug Johnston - and that's how I fell in love with his beautiful baskets that remind me of traditional baskets from Africa but these have a modern, contemporary look. The latest series is called 'Density Baskets' and these feature some colour combination that seem to be a strong reference to the traditional African baskets in fact. 

But be aware: Doug Johnston is way more than a product designer. His works art, design, architecture and music, utilizing and exploring a variety of mediums and methods such as installation, fibre art, sculptures, photography and performances. Recently he has focused on a process of coiling and stitching ropes into a variety of functional and sculptural objects. Such as these beautiful baskets. And if you want to be a lucky owner of a Doug Johnston basket just like me, here's his webshop with great designs.

Happy hump day, friends!

Photography via Doug Johnston

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