Green Is The Hope!

Following up my last blog post I feel it is good to continue with a topic that will sketch my current emotional feeling that I want to transfer into my home, too - it is the invincible feeling of hope. In German there is a proverb saying 'Grün ist die Hoffnung' which literally means 'green is hope'. It stems from the dark medieval times when the sprouting green nature heralded spring time and hope germinated in people's hearts. Just like today my heart is filled with hope for a peaceful and great new year.

Green is a special colour when it comes to interiors - at least for me. I have hardly any green accessories apart from my growing urban jungle of course. However, I am always inspired when I see interiors with dashes of green - it is so fresh, vibrant and balancing to the eye. I wonder: Do I need to get myself something green for my home soon?

Green is not only the colour of hope but also the colour mostly associated with nature, youth, spring and envy in Western cultures. And it is the most important colour in Islam, found in the flags of many Islamic countries and representing the lush greens of paradise. Isn't this just wonderful? Green as a color of hope and paradise, in both, Western countries and the Islamic world? Maybe this could herald a better future for all of us. I hope so!

Photography: Top to bottom, clockwise left to right - Daniella Witte, De Peppels Fotos, Adolfo Dominguez, Melissa Mercier, Justina Blakeney, The Beautiful Soup, Smallbig Idea, Löytö, Domino, Elle Decoration

Tweet

Happy Interior Blog Recommends...

Today it's over - I mean the crazy carnival time here in Germany. And some more quite days towards spring lie ahead of us. And the nature's awakening - you know, the snowdrops in your garden, the first fresh pops of green in the park, budding trees. And the nature is a major inspiration for interiors - I can sort of feel the green vibe moving into my home, too. For me it will rather be a small piece like the fun H&M cushion or the emerald green espresso maker. But I've got more ideas if you want to go bolder - from a cool shelf for green decor items to a velvety sofa. Today's recommendations include:

1. Atoll Shelf by Atoll
2. Green watercolor painting by 'Outside in Art Studio'
3. Green cushion by H&M Home
4. Emerald green espresso maker by Howkapow
5. Palm green mug by Le Creuset
6. Green velvet sofa by Crate & Barrel

Will you add something green into your home this season?

Happy hump day, friends!

Tweet

Happy Interior Blog Recommends...

Please don't tell me you are already in a full Xmas mode for your home decoration. Cause I am not. Not yet. The past autumn days were too sunny and too mild to think of snow and Xmas ornaments. Instead I am inspired by nature inspired hues for our interiors, with splashes of fresh and invigorating greens juxtaposed dramatically with darker colors or black. So this week's product recommendations sort of grasp the idea I have in mind:

1. HAY document folder via La Maison d'Anna G.
2. The DL 01 lamp by Estall is a fashion object as the shade covers can be changed and come in various colors.
3. This cute pastel colored plant pot by Leif Shop is a winner!
4. A black leather rug made of recycled materials - one of the great pieces by Rug Solid.
5. Add a tropical breeze to your home with this quilted cushion by Malagoon.

Happy hump day, friends!

Tweet

Urban Jungle Bloggers: Create Green Spaces

The expression green with envy must have been invented after someone had spotted a green garden and turned all envious for not having one himself. Other than that I could not understand the concept of this expression. Now since envy is not something we would like to grow in the bloggersphere, we - that is my fellow Urban Jungle Bloggers Judith, Jocelyn, and I - have decided to inspire you once a month to create your very own green urban space. A little green nook in your downtown apartment, a lush green balcony or a tiny city garden - you name it! Urban dwelling and green living have never been so close as today.

With today's post we would like to kick-off our green blogger mission by sharing our own green spaces. All three of us live in three different countries and in three different places location-, style-, and size-wise. All three posts are here to show you that it doesn't  take much space, time or effort to grow a green oasis in your home.

My own green corner is tiny as is my rooftop apartment. But trust me, even 32 square meters are sufficient for a little urban garden. If you happen to live in a rooftop apartment too, I suggest you focus on cacti and succulents and other somewhat resistant greenies as it tends to get pretty hot up here in summer. I have a small assortment of green buddies including two cacti, an aloe vera plant, a money tree, a Chines money plant, a monstera, a palm tree, hanging rosemary, and a Sansevieria cylindrica or African Spear. Oh, and a blooming orchid in my bedroom. All easy to care for and all very sculptural and decorative! Not to mention healthy for my indoor climate.

How about you? Do you have any green plants in your home? What's your stance on botanicals indoors? Join our urban jungle bloggers fun and become one of us. Cherish nature in your home and make your happy living a healthy one, too!

Happy green blogging!

Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series by 3 bloggers: Igor (Happy Interior Blog), Jocelyn (The Little Room of Style) and Judith (JOELIX.com). Every month we share ideas to create an urban jungle through styling ideas, DIYs and green tips & tricks. You can find additional inspiration on our Urban Jungle Bloggers Pinterest board. Want to join? Use #urbanjungle on Twitter and Instagram. Or let us know and we'll share the badge and upcoming topics with you. Let's bring some green into your homes and blogs!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Tweet

Why This Room Caught My Eye

My ongoing obsession with kitchens must have two crucial reasons: First, ever since I moved away from my parent's place I've lived in apartments with tiny kitchens or better said kitchenettes. Even now I only have a sort of two square meters kitchenette where you constantly bump into sort of everything if you try a half turn. Second, I sort of discover my little passion for cooking healthy food. Now this is still largely undermined by the aforementioned kitchenette, so show me any lovely kitchen that is bigger than five square meters and I am all about to swoon and dream a dream of a decent kitchen for myself. 

So when I spotted this kitchen shot by Adriaan Louw Photography I was more than enchanted. I think I would also go for a signal colour kitchen to make a little style and personality statement and this fresh green has a strong impact on my eye. But let me begin from the top:

• Green Kitchen Fronts: A fresh and invigorating green for kitchen fronts and shelves? I would say YES! I imagine a kitchen as the heart of a happy home with lots of happy cooking, chatting, eating, meeting, working, partying. So yes, a green kitchen could be a real option for my future home.
• Stainless Steel Gas Stove: Imagine this - I am working at a home appliance company and haven't got any decent ones myself due to my tiny kitchenette. If I had the option to choose, I would definitely go for stainless steel appliances and most certainly for a great gas stove.
• Copper Pots and Pans: Vintage copper pots and pans on a hanging rack - this is the perfect style statement in a modern, playful colour kitchen. It adds a notion of heritage, of history - the omnipresence of a kitchen as the heart of a happy home is underlined by the addition of vintage kitchen accessories such as these great copper pots and pans. 

What has caught you eye in this kitchen? Are you a colour kitchen person or would that be too much for you? Let me know!

Photography via Adriaan Louw Photography

Tweet

Ideas For A Happy Weekend

Here it is. The first weekend in March. And the first weekend in spring. The weather has improved and there's 'spring in the air'. With more light, warm sun rays and first blossoming, my craving for greens - to be precise - for new plants is growing. I am planning on buying a few new leafy buddies to add a healthy pop of green to my apartment. I love spring days when I can open my windows, let a crisp breeze enter my rooftop home and make the plants rustle. Is there anything better than a deep breath of fresh spring air and a bit of nature in your home? A happy spring weekend, my friends!

Photography: Top pic via Emmas Designblogg; living room via Apartment Therapy; hanging planter via Bloesem Blog; plants in crate via Ikea Family Live; wall installation with plants via Mailchimp.

Tweet