From Place To Space: Go West - Portland

After my holiday announcements for San Francisco and Seattle, it is time to tell you also about my planned visit to the birthplace of hipsters and Kinfolk magazine, to über-cool Portland in Oregon. I am so so excited to visit this city as it's been on my travel wish list for quite a long time. 

I am equally excited as I will be staying in one of the coolest hotels in town - the ACE Hotel. The hotel is known for its cool design where each room has its own character and style. Moreover, it hosts the fab restaurant Clyde Common and is perfectly located to discover Portland by foot. Or bike for that matter, as the hotel offers free bikes to its guests. Yay!

Located in downtown Portland, it is just around the corner of the world's largest bookstore Powell's Books and the Northwest Pacific's landmark coffee shop Stumptown Coffee. They also serve Stumptown French Press for breakfast and that is all my coffee loving heart needs to know. Most everything served in the hotel is locally sourced or homemade, so another big plus for the ace among Portland hotels.

I can't wait to stay there soon and will make sure to report back here on the blog about my personal experience in the Ace Hotel and Portland in general. 

By the way, I will also travel to Vancouver in Canada, but I am short of pics of the cool airbnb home where I will be staying, so I will report on Vancouver upon my return.

Happy week, friends!

Photography: Print via Etsy, hotel pics by Jeremy Pelley and John Mark Sorum for Ace Hotel

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From Place To Space: My Athens! Part Two

A new week has started (and spring has sprung) and I am taking you a second time back to the Greek capital, to Athens. Today I want to share a few tips with you should you ever consider a little getaway to Athens.

For many, Athens is just a transit stop on the way to the sunny islands. Mostly, people manage to climb up the ancient Acropolis and dine in the busy tourist quarter Plaka. The rest seems like a giant, grey unattractive sea of buildings. But there is more to Athens than it seems. Last Monday I showed you some of my favorite spots for fabulous bird's eye views. Today, let me take you to some other cool spots in town.

For a relaxed coffee I recommend the tucked away cafés of the Plaka, many of them are located just behind the Old Agora like the Café Yasemi. For a fine dinner I can recommend the swanky 'Eat at Milton's' in the Plaka area or for a more traditional Greek feeling, the hillside placed 'Old Fisherman's Tavern' (I Palia Taverna Tou Psarra - it's depicted here in the blogpost). And while strolling through Plaka and Monastiraki, don't forget to buy a pair of handmade Greek leather sandals - they are super comfy, last for like ever and look fabulous.

For a vibrant and lively night out head to the Gazi district close to the Kerameikos metro station - eat, drink, stroll and dance all at once in places like the cool Gazarte! During day time, don't forget to head down to the seaside quarters such as Glyfada or Voula for a coffee on the beach.

So don't be afraid of the giant, grey city. Athens is a charming place and definitely a great option for a sunny weekend getaway.

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Meet The Blogger In London

Two weekends ago I attended the 'Meet The Blogger' conference in London. 'Nomen est omen' in this case - meeting bloggers was the essence of this conference and I loved meeting some good old friends, meeting other fellow bloggers for the very first time and thus making many new friends. I can't even start naming them, there are too many and I am afraid of forgetting a name or two. Apart from schmoozing with my favorite blogging folks, we also had the opportunity to learn something and refine a few blogger skills. 

The keynote was spoken by the 'Queen of Pastels' and super successful Yvonne Eijkenduijn of Yvestown who also hosted an on situ styling workshop. My blogging brother Will of Bright Bazaar revealed some of his Photoshop skills and later I attended a photography workshop with the talented interiors photographer Paul Craig and a design terminology lesson with the charming Ana Aguilar.

The intense all day conference was later on rounded-up by a great burger dinner at the über-cool restaurant Byron in the West End. Around midnight I had to go to bed - I've networked, talked, learned, laughed so much that day, that I was absolutely happily tired. Moreover, I knew that Sunday will bring more fun at the 'Design Walk' through Notting Hill so a good night's sleep was more than needed. That's it for today, I will share my 'Design Walk' impressions with you later this week. So stay tuned. Oh, and happy Monday!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Blogs & Coffee Munich: Bloggers, Design Fun & A Giveaway

Phew! I am so beat friends. But in a very positive way. I had a fabulously fun weekend with almost 30 fellow lifestyle bloggers from all over Germany who attended the blogger networking event 'Blogs & Coffee' in Munich. The trio Sabine, Ines and I organized this meeting and set up a schedule packed with fun, food and design. There is so much to show you, so I've decided to split this coverage in two parts. Let us start today with part one and coming week I will share the second part with you. Oh, and be prepared for a great giveaway! But let me guide you through…

Everything started with a laid back Bavarian dinner on Friday night. We took our blogger friends to a traditional Bavarian inn and enjoyed local delicacies and discussed the schedule for the next day. Saturday we were off to an early start with a fine breakfast at the beautiful Café Fräulein. The staff was so lovely as was the atmosphere - we instantly knew that this is going to be a 'fabulicious' day!

Right after the invigorating breakfast we headed to the 'Design House' of the online design furniture shop AmbienteDirect - the Design House is their multimedia showroom with an excellent exhibition of known and great design brands. We were honored with a lovely reception including bubbles and snacks plus a guided tour by the manager Sven Stubenrauch. The highlight of the Design House is their 'smart shopping system'. Everyone gets an iPad (or uses a smartphone) and has instant access to a multi-sensory shopping experience. Visitors can not only access more detailed information about the design they're interest and send details to their personal email, they can also for example switch on and off the exhibited lighting solutions. And well, I've spotted my next chair!

There was way more, but that I will keep for coming week! We also managed to fill up great goodie bags packed with lovely presents by our great sponsors Frau Heuberg, Koziol, Etsy, Dawanda, Ein Stück vom Glück, Der Gugl, AmbienteDirect, Sister Magazine, La Mesa, Backbube, Nostalgie im Kinderzimmer - thanks a lot to all our fab sponsors!

And this is where we get to our giveaway: The incredibly cool tote bag with the neon print HAPPY BLOGGER made by Frau Heuberg will belong to one of YOU! All you have to do is leave a comment on my Instagram account where a picture of the tote bag with the title 'GIVEAWAY' is posted. The giveaway will be open worldwide until next Monday, March 11th 2013 midnight CET. The winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

These fab German lifestyle bloggers took part at 'Blogs & Coffee' in Munich:

Ricarda - 23 qm Stil
Sabine - Azurweiss
Markus - Backbube
Daniela - Cozy and Cuddly
Sophia - Cucina Piccina
Mark - Das hat Mark gemacht
Claudia - Dinner um Acht
Ines - Frau Heuberg
Inga - Glomerylane
Lou - Happy Serendipity
Jules - Kleines Freudenhaus
Mirja - Küchenchaotin
Anette - Look! Pimp Your Room
Elodie - Madame Love
Miriam - Miris Jahrbuch
Brigitte - Little Star Blog
Nicole - Live Life Deeply Now
Daniela & Tanja - Rosa und Limone
Susanne - Serendipity 
Clara - Tastesheriff
Renate - Titatoni
Nicola - Verrückt nach Hochzeit
Nina - Werkeltagebuch

All photos by Igor Josifovic

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From Place To Space: Quaint Regensburg

Every Monday I try to take you with me on a little inspiring voyage to discover new places and spaces. It is my way of fighting the Monday blues of returning to offices, duties and chores. So today, let us discover the quaint town of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany. I spent a weekend there recently and brought back a few lovely shots from this charming, medieval town in southern Germany. I was staying in the city center, that is the old town of Regensburg in the fine Hotel Goliath. Soon after my arrival I realized that my stay in Regensburg will be a colourful one - full with soft sherbet shades.

Regensburg can easily be discovered by foot. The old town is compact and not too big, it lies on the northernmost point of the Danube river and is the capital of the Bavarian region called Upper Palatinate. The gothic cathedral and the medieval stone bridge are the town's main sights and definitely worth a visit. 

The weekend in Regensburg was a wintery and cold one. While strolling the narrow, cobbled streets of old Regensburg on a misty Saturday morning, I couldn't help but think of the Brothers Grimm fairytales that I read as a kid in Austria. The town itself seemed like a sleeping beauty waiting for prince charming to wake her up. I did the best I could by snapping around pictures and gasping a few oh's and ah's. 

Walking around has a good side effect. You get thirsty and hungry after a while and thus you embark on the adventure of finding inspiring places to meet your culinary and visual design desires. I was lucky enough to pass by a fabulous 'bakery meets café' place called 'Anna'. Like most of the gastronomical places in the old town, this one was in a historical building with thick stone walls and great arches. Their bread is very famous and they serve yummy slices of German dark bread with various toppings as well as delicious cakes - the apple and cream cake was divine.

Invigorated after the break, I went on devouring the beautiful facades and building of old Regensburg. A short sunny break was the perfect moment to realize how much impact sunlight has on the perception of colours. It was even brighter and more colourful than before. Some other places I've discovered and loved: What I call 'the Starbucks of Regensburg but with a cuter logo' is the local café 'Kaffeelotte' - so cute and comfy. And for dinner, I went to the fabulous French restaurant 'L'Orphée' and enjoyed a delicious lapin provençal and French cheeses accompanied by French wine (the Francophile in me couldn't resist). By the way, next to the restaurant is the equally named hotel with stunning rooms in a medieval building. Definitely worth a stay if you ever decide to visit this little corner of Germany.

And for now, let's get back to Monday and its pros and cons. Happy week, friends!

P.S.: Have you noticed the new font I am using for my blog posts? I hope you like it. I think it is more legible than the previous one.

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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From Place To Space: Paris Winter Wonderland

Hello my friends! What a busy week it's been! After the great trip to the imm Cologne with lots of design inspiration and blogger meet-ups, I headed last Friday to Paris to chase more interior design inspiration at the Maison & Objet (more on this later this week). Moreover, I had the big pleasure to experience Paris as an enchanting winter wonderland: Paris experienced the heaviest snowfalls in years the past weekend!

Most of you know that I spent Christmas and New Year's in Paris too so I've decided to compile a mix of highlight pics to showcase the difference of Paris - with and without snow. Experiencing Paris with a lot of snow is simply magical - I was literally walking around with a big smile on my face. I just couldn't help it. On every corner there were jolly kids making snowmen and having snowball fights, people taking pictures everywhere and the parks were absolutely full with kids sledging, people walking under the snow, I even saw guys skiing and snowboarding in the park Buttes Chaumont! I love this city!

As this post is a sort of second part of last Monday's Paris report, I will share again some of my highlights from the last two Paris trips. So if you happen to be in the City of Light anytime soon, make sure to check these out:

• Excellent French food and impeccable service at Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie
• A refreshing walk in the park Buttes Chaumont
• Shopping home accessories, textiles and decoration at Bensimon
• Indulging in the most creative éclairs at L'Éclair de Génie
• Experiencing the plethora of jams, marmalades, honeys at La Chambre aux Confitures
• A stroll through the Rue Mouffetard
• A fresh pain au figue 

Voilà! I hope you enjoyed my little virtual tour through Paris and I hope to welcome you again on my blog tomorrow!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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From Place To Space: Stockholm

Here it is. Finally. My special, dedicated post to a fabulous, design savvy city that I visited a week ago: Stockholm. You've been flooded here on Happy Interior Blog with Swedish inspiration over the past few days. I hope I haven't been bothering you too much, but I loved my little Swedish trip so much and it was so inspiring that I had to share all my ideas and thoughts with you. But let me take you now on a little Stockholm trip in a retrospective. Ready? Let's roll!

Stockholm, as almost every city, is organized in various boroughs and the most central and most relevant for visitors are Norrmalm, Gamla Stan, Östermalm, Södermalm, Djurgården and Kungsholmen. I visited every quarter but the latter one. I was staying in a solid, mid-class hotel in Norrmalm and it was just a stone's throw to one of the major shopping thoroughfares, the Drottninggatan. This street leads from the north to the south and it is an ideal way to experience a big variety of cafés, bakeries, shops, department stores. Here you will find amazing shopping temples like the PUB department store with a super extensive homewares section, Scandinavia's biggest department store, the Ahléns with great home decoration and Scandinavian fabrics, and a huge H&M with a big H&M Home store. Luckily, many cafés invite you to have a little break while the number of your shopping bags is continually growing. Just a few streets further, check out the brand new MOOD department store (it opened during my stay) and opposite of it you will find the super lovely Bruka Design store with adorable tableware and home décor. For a great dinner, try the super cool and urban B.A.R. restaurant at Blasieholmsgatan. You will love the industrial interior design and enjoy the delicious cuisine with a focus on fish and sea food. Another tip: For a fabulous start into a Sunday, head to the amazing design hotel Nordic Light Hotel for a fantastic American brunch. The food is beyond yummy, the selection huge, the local DJ takes good care of you for a smooth start into the day and the design surrounding you - I have no words. It was one of the highlights! Not to mention the fact that it is super value for money! At the end of the famous Drottninggatan you will reach the end of Norrmalm and set over to the 'Old Town', to Gamla Stan. 

Gamla Stan is something like the touristic heart of Stockholm. Here you have a big number of sights that are must-sees. The Parliament building, the Stockholm Palace, the Storkyrken church, the Stortorget Square, the Nobel Museum, the German church (Tyska Kyrken), and the city's narrowest pathway, the Marten Trotzig path. Västerlånggatan is the main shopping street on Gamla Stan and usually packed with picture taking tourists. Nonetheless, risk a little stroll as you will pass the cute little store E. Torndahl with fine Scandinavian design. However, do make a turn and wander the paths off the beaten track and you will find cute, quite corners like the Chaikhana tea salon or the Magnus Ladulås restaurant with traditional Swedish cuisine. For a little break, stop at the magnificent tiny Chokladkoppen at Stortorget Square - you will enjoy a cup of Stockholm's finest hot chocolate and cakes to die for. 

At the end of Gamla Stan you can cross one of the city's many bridges and step over to the hip, southern island named Södermalm. Climb the Slussen Square and you will end up in Götgatan, the island's main commercial street with great stores like Granit with fine homeware in black, white and grey hues. Keep on walking and you will end up in the bustling, hip heart of Södermalm (the area between Götgatan, Folkungagatan, Renstiernas gata, and Ringvägen). Many cafés, restaurants, and shops are lining the way and you will be drawn to real treasure spots: the vintage stores have a huge density in this quarter. Don't miss the cool concept store Grandpa with fashion, deco and vintage furniture. If you love good chocolates, make a pit stop at Chokladfabriken - you won't leave the store empty handed (well, I didn't). On the way back, climb the Katarinavägen street for a great panoramic view of Stockholm and its numerous waterfronts. If you feel like walking a bit more, try the Hornsgatan street and walk it all the way down to the western tip. You will pass the fabulous Mellqvist Kaffebar for a little 'fika' break (traditional coffee and cake break) and at the end of the street you will be rewarded with a visit to the grand Bio Rio cinema from the 1940s with original interior design and a café that takes you back in time. Adjacent is the quirky little Copacabana café with homemade sandwiches and cakes. Both places well worth the walk!

If you fancy a little trip to the opposite island named Djurgården, take the ferry from Slussen. You will enjoy a 20 minutes ferry trip to the park island with century old flora, a huge park, and some fine museums like the Nordic and Vasa Museum. I wandered back from Djurgården via Östermalm (with a fantastic, maritime waterfront - enjoy the many little anchored boats along the water) to Norrmalm. In general, I suggest a lot of walking as it is the best way to see the varieties of Stockholm and discover some hidden, unexpected gems along the way. The city's size is also very ideal for walking adventures - moreover, the public transport is rather costly. 

Oh my, there is so much to see and experience. I am pretty sure I forgot many other cool and great spots. But hey, you should discover some places by yourself, too. In a nutshell: If you love design, you'll love Stockholm! Happy start of the week!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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