Book Review: The New Boho Book

I have been a passionate follower and reader of Justina Blakeney's blog over the past few years. I love her unconventional style, her eclectic collections, her love for plants and colors. She is a sort of a beacon who reminds me that styling a home is a personal matter, it allows for all aspects to be included that reflect your personality, it is your playground to get creative. She is something like the antidote to the overstyled interiors devoid of personality as seen in some glossy interiors magazines. All those inspirations, ideas and decor tips including some cool and simple DIY ideas are now condensed in one wonderful book: The New Bohemians - Cool & Collected Homes, shot by the impeccable Dabito (have I mentioned I am a fan of his work too?).

The New Boho Book takes us on a tour through various cool and collected homes. By guiding us through inspiring real homes, Justina highlights the aspect that boho or bohemian is not a fixed, determined term. It is not you are either boho or not. Bohemians come in various forms of expression and intensity if you want so: You could be the modern, the earthy, the folksy, the nomadic, the romantic or the maximal bohemian. After going through the entire book you are tempted to look around you and ask yourself: Am I a bohemian?

If someone asked me to define my bohemian style after consulting The New Bohemians, I'd say I'm a modern bohemian with slight influences of the earthy bohemian. What exactly defines those styles? Well, I think you simply have to grab a copy of this amazing book and look it up for yourself!

Photography: First pic by Igor Josifovic, others by Dabito 

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Book Review: Maker Spaces By Emily Quinton

One of the fascinating factors of today's digital era is the emergence of a 'maker' movement. Creative people all around the globe have nowadays the opportunity to share and sell their creative ideas and designs - easier then ever before. It is 13 of those creative minds that opened the doors to their inspiring homes for the new book 'Maker Spaces' by my friend and fellow blogger Emily Quinton. On 170 pages Emily will guide you through 13 creative interiors from the homes and studios of inspiring makers and designers beautifully photographed by Helen Cathcart.

The book is structured into chapters by styles - rustic, homespun, retro chic and eclectic. The book allows us to peek into the homes of jewelry designers, illustrators and textile artists, interior designers and letterpress designers - all of which are styled and decorated with the maker's very own sense of style. Maker Spaces includes colourful homes, mid-century inspired interiors, rooms filled with blooms and plants as well as creative spaces and studios where the ideas of the owners come to life.

After I had gone through the book I felt the urge to be a maker myself although I still believe that my design and/or DIY skills are very (add another very) limited. Moreover, my tiny home offers no extra space for a creative corner but this book gives enough inspiration and ideas to style and decorate any home - no matter the size of it or the owner's occupation. 

Maker Spaces was published by Ryland Peters & Small and is available HERE.

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Book Review & Giveaway: Bohemian Modern

It's Valentine's Day friends and because I love you all, my dear readers, I've organized a little Valentine's gift for one chose among you: the brand new interiors book 'Bohemian Modern' by interior designer Emily Henson. I adore boho interiors and this book was just perfect to satisfy my inspiration seeking eye and spark some boho modern ideas for my own home.

In her book 'Bohemian Modern', Emily Henson explores the elements that come together to create an eclectic and contemporary look - the showcased interiors brim with colours, patterns, textures. In the first part, Emily takes us through the details of a bohemian modern style - she explores the use of patterns and colours, textiles, contrast, plants (no need to mention that I love it), collections, styling.

The book's second part features great boho homes - and boho is not simply boho. Those homes are retro bohemian, urban bohemian, rustic, handmade, bright barns, bohemian grandeur or technicolor homes - the range is big and proofs that boho is not only for hippie hipsters.

I love to believe that my own home is a little bit urban bohemian. It has a toned down colour range but holds lots of plants, vintage ceramics, decor items from my travels - in a nutshell: lots of personality. And after I've finished the book I felt like everyone should be a little bit boho.

Join the giveaway!
If you want to be inspired and add a bit more of boho style to your home, win one copy of the book by leaving a comment under this blogpost until Saturday, February 21st. The giveaway is open worldwide and a winner will be drawn randomly. Good luck & happy Valentine's Day!

Bohemian Modern by Emily Henson, photography by Katya de Grunwald, published by Ryland Peters & Small in 2015.

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Book Review: Decorating With Plants

As a plant lover and passionate Urban Jungle Blogger I was intrigued to get my fingers on the book 'Decorating with Plants' by Japanese plant artist Satoshi Kawamoto. The book promises to reveal 'the art of using plants to transform your home'. Interesting, right? So let's peek into this book!

Satoshi Kawamoto takes us on a tour through his eclectic, plant covered home. The book guides us in chapters through different areas of the author's home: the entrance, the shoe room (yes, seriously), the living room, the kitchen, the dining room, the bedroom, the bathroom and the yard. Every room is decorated with plants but not in a sort of cliché manner - every room seems to be a green artwork by this plant magician.

In the second part of the book, Satoshi Kawamoto gives handy decorating and DIY ideas. He showcases an easy way of interpreting your plants with stepladders, he features different ways of decorating a corner space with plants but he also shows ways of styling with plants for parties and other get-togethers. The last part of the book focuses on store design with plants.

This wizard of plants takes us on a magic ride, he takes us into a sort of self-created plant wonderland. His stylings seem to be so easy-going and lived-in yet artsy with a museum-like quality. This is definitely an enchanting book for plant lovers and those who like eclectic and somewhat eccentric interiors. 'Decorating with Plants' was first published in English by Jacqui Small and is available HERE.

Happy Thursday!

Photography by Lina Skukauske

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Holiday At Home: Book Review & Interview With Mr. Jason Grant

Social media have a magic power - not only do I get loads of inspiration from the social web, I also happen to meet the most creative and cool people from literally all around the world, even from the completely other side of our spinning planet. That is how I virtually met Mr. Jason Grant, one of Australia's most renowned interior stylist, colour expert and author. I have eagerly followed his career on social media and loved his first book 'A Place Called Home' and it was my interior design blogger duty to get my claws on his second book 'Holiday At Home'. Mission accomplished, I have that colourful and super inspiring book on my coffee table!

This book is something like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Its title reveals what's packed on almost 300 pages - a beacon of colours, holiday inspiration and relaxed decorating ideas. With Sydney-based Mr. Jason Grant you can be sure to get a big dose of sunshine and relaxed Aussie feeling into your own home - just grab this book, trust me, you will love it! His impeccable style and taste is the red thread through this visual masterpiece - beautifully shot by photographer Lauren Bamford and published by Hardie Grant Books.

I used the opportunity to reach out to Jason on social media and asked him a few questions as I was majorly inspired by his latest book and I wanted to know his secret. Let's see what he told us:

Jason, congrats to your second book 'Holiday at Home'. Do we need to live in Australia with lots of sunshine and a pool in the backyard to experience holiday at home?

Jason: Definitely not. You can create this feeling anywhere, perhaps let me know where, I might come visit, I have the travel bug! I'm lucky to call Bondi home and that's my inspiration.

What can the reader expect from your new book?

Jason: Uplifting decorating inspiration.

What inspired you to write a book about a holiday feel at home?

Jason: The home and holidays are my two favourite things, what better than combining the two! Holidays are all about relaxing and I am a big fan of a relaxed style of decorating for the home. Your home should be your very own sanctuary.

Give us one quick tip how to create a relaxed holiday feeling at home.

Jason: Relaxed style means decorating with things you love with no need to over style it.

How important is the home for the dweller's happiness?

Jason: Your home should make you happy - decorating is fun or should be and your home should reflect your personality, it should be filled with things that make you smile. Your very own happy place if you want so.

Last but not least: What's your favorite corner in your home?

Jason: Hm, so many corners to choose from! We have a little spot in our lounge room that probably has a little too many things in it but it's filled with things we love, a little collection of objects and usually fresh flowers.

Thanks for the interview, Jason!

If you love to travel and bring back inspiration from your holidays and if you love decorating, this book will make you very happy! You can order it HERE or HERE and create your own 'Holiday at Home' feeling! Happy weekend!

Photography by Lauren Bamford courtesy of Hardie Grant Books

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From Place To Space: Copenhagen + Book

'Paris is always a good idea' - most of us know this famous quote by Audrey Hepburn. I totally agree with her. But I would add another quote: Copenhagen is always a good idea, too! I was lucky enough to travel several times to the Danish capital and get a better understanding of why Copenhagen seems to be the place for the happiest people on earth. These days I received a new book by my friend and fellow blogger of 'Amalie loves Denmark' where she wrapped up all her Copenhagen design tips on a 160 pages. Thus, I felt it's a good moment to revisit Copenhagen with you on the blog and peek into the new book 'Mein Kopenhagen'.

From a design blogger perspective, Copenhagen is an amazing city. You feel like design is an essence of life of the Danes and you literally bump into iconic Danish design pieces wherever you turn. But Copenhagen holds more for the visitor and local - it has a good size making it easy to explore and not overwhelming you, it has lots of beautiful neighborhoods, great cafés, shops, design studios, it has a refreshing climate and position on the shores of the North Sea, beautiful architecture and a relaxed lifestyle.

After my trips to Copenhagen I understood my friend's obsession with Denmark and why she channels this passion in her Denmark dedicated blog 'Amalie loves Denmark'. Now she has put together all her design tips from Copenhagen in one book called 'Mein Kopenhagen' (My Copenhagen) published by Busse Seewald in German. The book comes in an interesting, compact format and is structured in chapters covering the various neighborhoods of Copenhagen. Additionally, she summarizes design and decor shopping tips according to preferred styles and visits some of the local creatives, such as my friend and fellow blogger Allan from Bungalow5. 

For those of you reading/understanding German and planning a trip to Copenhagen, this might be a good book to get a very up-to-date guide with a focus on interior design and decoration. Moreover, the book holds a detachable mini deco guide that will fit easily into your bag while exploring Copenhagen.

I hope you enjoyed today's little virtual stroll through colorful Copenhagen. Have a happy new week my friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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