Lost In Plantation

I love traveling. I love all the inspiration I bring back from my many trips. I also love plants. And combining both is the perfect equation for me. But sometimes you don't even have to go away to spend a special holiday. I have discovered over time that botanical gardens are the perfect green escape for an instant holiday feel - even in your own hometown. So one sunny Saturday morning I set off to the beautiful botanical garden in Munich and enjoyed the morning sun, lush greens and I wandered from one climate zone to the next one in their greenhouses. All was topped by a fantastic outdoor garden in full bloom. Spring must be the most beautiful seasons ever, right?

So this was just a short green escape that I wanted to share with you. I am thinking of making my 'Lost in Plantation' a sort of irregular blog series featuring the various botanical gardens I visit on my travels. What do you think? Yay or nay?

Oh and by the way: All images were shot with my iPhone on-the-go as I did not take my big camera with me. I still hope you love and enjoy it!

Happy green week to you all!

Photography with iPhone 5S by Igor Josifovic

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Reclaimed Wood Stories: Holzgeschichten

Living in Munich, Bavaria, means you are surrounded by mountains, lakes, forests. Even though this sounds more fairytale like than it is in real life, it can still get very dreamy once you leave the city and head towards the Alps. Mountains mean lots of snow in winter and avalanches from time to time. Avalanches knock over trees and the wood is doomed to rot away. You bet! Munich has some creative young minds and some wild wood lovers in the surrounding forests and they have one thing in common: they love wood and they love design.

'Holzgeschichten' literally means 'Wood Stories' and it's a young Munich-based design label that is specialized in designing and producing wooden furniture and accessories made of reclaimed wood from avalanches. The wood is sourced directly in the mountains by Axel, a wild and free soul, who is a carpenter and restorer. Johannes and Bernhard are two young architects from Munich with a strong passion for design and together with Axel they tell stories carved in wood: 'Holzgeschichten'.

Now you might think wooden furniture is not so special. However, this furniture is unique and each is a one-of-a-kind piece. Each trunk found in the rivers and on the slopes of the Alps is unique in its texture, structure and colour. Axel sources different trees and the designs are strongly influenced by the potential of the reclaimed wood. Sometimes they turn out to be a table, a desk, a kitchen countertop (a personal favorite), a stool or just a cutting board. But each has its own story.

I had the opportunity to meet Bernhard and Johannes during the recent Munich Creative Business Week and they told me all about their design label and it didn't take a long time to convince me - young design, a creative approach, natural materials and a great story to tell. How could I not share this with you?

Photography by Thomas Straub

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From Place To Space: Room To Dream In Munich

Today I want to take you to my favorite shopping spot in Munich, Germany, to the cute interiors boutique for slow living: 'Room to Dream'. I have already blogged about it quite a while ago, but recently I went to the boutique to style up a few corners and get them photographed by my friend and photographer Lina Skukauske. These are the results of our mutual work.

'Room to Dream' is run by Sabine Stadtherr, a charming lady who welcomes every client with a big smile and sometimes even with a cup of tea and cookies. Currently the entire store boosts with wonderful Christmas decor ideas as well as fantastic gift ideas for the upcoming holidays. One of my insider tips if you are in Munich and still on the look out for Christmas presents: Sabine makes her own collection of chunky knit cushion covers and baskets. Absolutely spot on at the moment and super soft and comfy!

If you love Scandinavian design and Scandinavian interior brands, you should visit 'Room to Dream'. You will find a beautifully curated selection of home accessories, furniture and home textiles for stylish homes. Oh and you can enjoy a warm mug of mulled wine just in front of the store, too. What else can one wish for on a festive shopping spree in Munich?

Room to Dream, Lenbachplatz 7, 80333 München

Photography by Lina Skukauske

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Coming Soon: Fantastic Frank Munich

Some of you might remember that I reported twice about the Swedish real estate agency Fantastic Frank. Once it was during our bloggers tour in Stockholm and the other time it was during our bloggers tour in Berlin where we visited the new Fantastic Frank office in Mitte. Fantastic Frank has become some sort of reference when it comes to smart and cool real estate business - they are widely known for the probably best styled homes and apartments in their portfolio.

As a fan of Fantastic Frank you can imagine how happy I am to announce the opening of their office in Munich! Fantastic Frank Munich will soon come to the city in the south of Germany where I live. I can already see a grand future for them here - Munich is one of the hottest and most expensive real estate cities in Germany and beyond. 

I will keep you posted about Fantastic Frank Munich and I will share some fantastic interiors soon. Stay tuned!

Photography via Fantastic Frank

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From Place To Space: Mahlefitz Coffee Roasters & Café In Munich

With all my traveling I sometimes feel alienated to the city I am actually officially living in - Munich in Germany. Often I catch myself being here only for work and once the weekend approaches I am setting off for a new voyage. Result: Sometimes I walk in the evening through the center and wonder what all the new shops are about and other times I wonder where certain shops and restaurants have gone. It reminds me that Munich has lots to offer - not only to its citizens but also to visiting guests. And that's how I happened to discover a brand new coffee roaster and adjacent café in the Munich quarter of Neuhausen - Mahlefitz.

As a true coffee lover it was a task and pleasure to discover this place on a sunny Saturday. Before I reached the actual place I could already smell freshly roasted coffee - plus a fun sign and an inviting lawn in front of the café showed me my way. Inside Mahlefitz I was really surprised by its urban and cool look - something that is rarely found in Munich. The minimalistic, industrial inspired interior concept perfectly works with the transparency achieved by a large glass front separating the roasting area from the café. While you sip on your delicious coffee, you can actually observe how fresh coffee beans are being roasted just on the other side of the glass front. 

But at Mahlefitz it's not all about show. Yes, they do have cool baristas making latte art or brewing exquisit drop over coffee while you are waiting at the coffee bar, but they also take you on a tasty journey through the various coffee growing regions of our planet. Coffee beans of various provenance and different roasting grades and techniques make for a hyper sensory experience for any coffeeholic. And the best: You can buy there own roasts directly in the café. So, if you are in Munich I can only recommend a visit to Mahlefitz if you love coffee. Order a cup of your preferred brew and if you like what you taste, don't forget to take a package or two with you. You know, for the coffee experience at home. Oh and if you need the right gadgets and tools: Mahlefitz also sells all refined and sophisticated coffee accessories for your barista experience at home. 

I hope you enjoyed today's little coffee story and visit to Munich. Maybe with a cup of coffee in your hands. And now off we go into this Monday. Happy new week!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Bolia Opens First Store In Munich

Two weeks ago I attended a fabulous milestone in Munich's shopping life - the opening of the first Bolia store. Ever since I was in Denmark I fell in love with the stylish, cool and modern furniture and home accessories from Bolia. And when I received an invitation to the grand opening of the first Bolia store in my city I was excited, happy and worried for my budget - all at the same time!

Munich is a wonderful city to live in but when it comes to interior shopping there is still lots of potential to grow. So every new interiors store catches my attention and makes me a bit happier. And since it's not every day that we celebrate cool store openings in Munich, it was just the right moment to gather my favorite Munich blogger friends and hit the new Bolia boutique for the very first time.

We were welcomed with lots of red balloons and the smiling faces of Birgitta and Søren, the PR reps from Copenhagen. They showed us around in the incredibly beautiful new boutique (it is inside a historical building known as 'Alte Börse' meaning 'Old Stock Exchange') and introduced us to the latest collection. We had a few drinks before we took off to explore the store on our own.

My appreciation for Bolia's coming to Munich can be seen on the pictures, right? At least now I know that I have a bigger selection of furniture and nice home accessories just at my fingertips - the new store is just two metro stations away of my home. What else can I say? Maybe I'll put it like Bolia itself: Here's to love, life and furniture!

Photography by Bridgee / Little Star Blog

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