From Place To Space: Summer Break In Serbia

Discovering century old monasteries, picking fruits and vegetables from the garden, reading a few books and no internet - that sort of sums up my past summer break in Serbia. I spent the past ten days doing more or less - nothing. I visited my family, attended my cousin's wedding and just enjoyed the forces of nature.

Even though I really needed this time out, far away from internet access, laptops and blogging, I am so happy to be back with you here! My summer break was very family centered and apart from a few Instagrams, I kept very quiet in order to refuel my batteries and come back in full force for the busy weeks ahead.

I was such a lazy lad in Serbia, I just hung around reading a few books (I've rediscovered my passion for Agatha Christie crime stories) and rejoicing in the full force of the nature - the orchards in Serbia were brimful with grapes, apples, pears, peaches, figs, plums, the gardens offered huge ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, watermelons and more. I loved the fact that I actually picked my breakfast directly from the trees, chopped the fruits and enjoyed them with fresh yoghurt. Another typical thing in Serbia is to buy fresh produce from local farmers on the roadside - this time I picked juicy figs and honey with nuts and fruits. 

One very hot afternoon I spent in the city of Novi Sad in northern Serbia. The city is a picturesque open air museum on the shores of the Danube river with wonderful architecture, interesting history and a vivid urban life (however, not on 40 degrees C in the middle of the day). While strolling along the riverside, I visited a Holocaust memorial with an inscription that really touched me (see on the pic), it says: 'Remembrance is a memorial stronger than a rock. If we are humans, we must forgive. But we must not forget.'

As you see, I used my camera scarcely this time as I wanted to unwind to the max. Now I am back in full force and ready for more creative ideas, interiors, travels, inspirations with all of you. Have a happy new week!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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5 Happy Inspirations: A Summer Home Story

Today's five happy inspirations are the ingredients of a little interior styling fairy tale told by - well, myself. It is a story without a theatrical pretense, without surplus phrases or literary embellishments. It is a plain story of visual stimuli that generate a quick idea of a happy home. Let me tell you the short story.

Deep in February I'm starting to feel the fatigue of ongoing grey and dusky days. So I keep thinking that while we're not able to change the weather outside, we can create a brighter home. I'm thinking of an all white room with a white, soft sofa against the wall and a stark blue art photography of a beach scene on the ocean (1) that would be prolonged with blue cushions on the sofa. The holiday feeling can be extended to the bathroom with a funky seaside shower curtain (2) and a few nautical details. Apart from blue hues, warm and sunny yellow is a colour to add summer to any season. Why not think of an unusual way and place to inject yellow? Like on hangers (3). Ever thought of that? 

Oh well, summer at home, it certainly adds a smile on my face. Even in the cramped metro on the way to work on a misty, grey day. Maybe I am that easy going due to one more fact: I sort of always have my ticket to Paris. Yup, that's it. And in the meantime I can work on my 'Paris-ness' by reading this book (4). But enough with my daydreaming. I should place back this glass of good red wine. Luckily, I have fantastic summery coasters (5) to host my glass. Here's to summer. And happy interiors.

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Summer In The Kitchen

With the rising temperatures outside I am getting all into the summer mood. Now the best thing with interior design and decoration is that you can recreate your home according to your mood or season. So why not season up your kitchen with a few summer details - depending on the budget this can go from big to small. With a well-stocked wallet you can bring an all-year summer fell to your kitchen with this happy Smeg fridge. Yes, a long time wish on my list! Way more reasonable are the new kitchen stools from Ikea's PS collection. And for the smallest budgets just go with little details such as these lovely tumblers by Zara Home or the happy green linen tablecloth from H&M Home. And when we think of kitchen we should also think of the food we eat - so why not be creative and healthy by cooking fresh & easy as suggested in this cookbook as seen on Anthropologie? A happy cuisine summer!

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