Forest Inspired Vignette

Autumn mist, crisp air, the wilderness of the forest - all these seasonal elements inspired me to a little vignette. I love to play around at home from time to time and go through my piles of props. This vignette has been triggered by a vintage oil painting that I had found recently online. I liked the deep greens, the evocative brushstrokes, the immortalized nature. The oil painting reminded me of my scented candle named Skov (Forest) by Skandinavisk and I had the perfect props from Bolia to finish it off - three little wooden forest trees, a shiny vase and a marble tray. 

What I like most about this vignette is not the green hues, it is the interesting 2D/3D effect created by the forest trees on the oil painting and the wooden forest trees. More pictures and explanations can be seen on the Bolia blog where I presented my forest vignette, too.

Happy weekend, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Tweet

Urban Jungle Bloggers: My Plant Shelfie

Now how smart am I to suggest the topic 'My Plant Shelfie' for the October edition of Urban Jungle Bloggers without really good shelves at home to style up? Well, let's say it was a kind of challenge! My only bookshelves are tucked in a corner of my living room with a minimum of daylight and the are deep and a bit crooked (but I plan to buy a new bookshelf soon) - perfect for a styling, right? Anyway, at Urban Jungle Bloggers it is all about fun with greens and we do not imply any rules, so let's roll it with my plant shelfie!

Adding a plant or two on a shelf is a good idea, no it's an excellent idea! Whether it's a  prickly cactus, fleshy succulents or sculptural hanging plants - play around and see the magic unfold before your eyes. Since my shelf is a bit compact I've decided to dedicate a full shelf only for some decorative items and stuff all books on the other shelf. My current mood is very earthy, balanced, vintage. I chose my paddle plant and a cactus to add the green factor. I paired the plants with some vintage ceramics in earthy tones, a wooden candleholder and a few stones I'd collected during my visit to the volcano Vesuvius in Italy. 

The plant pots match the colour scheme too - the cactus is planted in a vintage terracotta pot and the paddle plant in a brass pot for a dash of bling. I feel that the plants perfectly match the vintage and earthy theme and it absolutely resonates with my current mood. In order to put 'my plant shelfie' into a better light, I have placed it on my sideboard too - the light is better and it is easier to take pictures of it - so please excuse my little trick!

But enough with my plant shelfie, now I am off to discover your plant shelfies as this edition is a special one - we will pick five winners with the best 'plant shelfies' and they will receive a little something from us! Join in if you haven't already - you've got almost an entire month to join the fun (until November 15th). We are looking forward to your plant shelfies!

Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series initiated by 2 bloggers: Igor (Happy Interior Blog) 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 and keep up-to-date on our website and Facebook page. Want to join? Use #urbanjunglebloggers 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

Interior Inspiration In 91 Magazine

A regular fix of mine for interior inspiration are the numerous e-magazines available. One of those is the British 91 Magazine - it features home stories, thrifty and crafty ideas for the own home, interviews with creatives and more. Moreover, it is probably the e-mag with the strongest vintage focus of all e-mags I know. Well, whether you know 91 Magazine or not, I thought it would be nice to share some of my favorite tear sheets from the current June issue with you.

In this issue I was smitten by the home tour entitled 'Scandi Boho' for its vibrant colours, lively patterns and eclectic decor. I also loved the home story named 'Culture & Romance' for its mellow, soft and almost elusive styling. 

Well, if you like interiors, crafting, vintage ideas and more, take the time and enjoy the latest issue of 91 Magazine. Here is another preview if you want to see more content.

And if you like home tours, check out the home of my friend and fellow blogger Bridgee who I interviewed for Roombeez!

Happy Thursday, friends!

Photography: Scandi Boho by Kerry Layton/91 Magazine; Culture & Romance by Jemma Watson/91 Magazine, styling by Pippa Blenkinsop

Tweet

Happy Interior Blog Recommends...

The search for the perfect sofa can take you all around the globe. The hunt for the perfect armchair can make you browse the web for days. A new graphic print for the wall? Hours of Pinterest surfing are the result! Yes, I am not different than most of you. Luckily I have my regular blog series 'Happy Interior Blog recommends...' so here are this week's finds of my ongoing surfing endeavor in the world wide web:

1. Wilfred sofa by Jardan: For this fantastic sofa I'd travel all the way to Melbourne, where it comes from. Such a hot Aussie!

2. Crystal illustration by German design studio Garden01 via Newniq: This cool urban illustration is now exclusively on sale on Newniq, a Berlin based online platform for one-of-a-kind design pieces sold in limited numbers for a limited time span. So if you like this illustration, go and grab it at Newniq. 

3. 1960s vintage armchair by Hook & Eye: The vintage armchair is called 'Silent Paula' and is sold reupholstered by the Germany based design studio Hook & Eye, specialized in upholstery of vintage cocktail chairs from the 1960s.

4. Vintage vase from La Mesa: This beautiful vintage vase is sold by my friend Sabine in her wonderful online store La Mesa. 

5. Last Look Mirror via Moorea Seal: Such a beautiful, vintage looking mirror to adorn your hallway or bathroom - found at Moorea Seal.

Happy shopping & happy hump day!

Tweet

My Sweet Weakness: Studio Oink

By now it is no secret anymore that I am a huge fan of Studio Oink. No, actually I am afraid that Lea Korzeczek and Matthias Hiller, the two masterminds behind the interior design and styling brand Studio Oink might think that I am a crazy stalker. Recently I guest blogged about them on my friend's blog My Paradissi and on the blog of the interiors community Woont.

I might be a Studio Oink stalker, but in a positive sense - I mean I am one of their regular customers whenever they update their online shop 'Studio Oink Selected'. This week they updated their store with beautiful handmade and vintage one-of-a-kind pieces and I shopped twice on the same day. To be honest, I had to stop myself cause I wanted to buy way more. I am looking forward to share my latest buys with you soon. In the meantime here is a photo of the Danish vintage ceramics and the blue vase I bought last month from their online store. 

If you love vintage pieces and handmade home accessories, check out their store now!

Happy weekend friends!

Photography via Studio Oink, last shot by Igor Josifovic

Tweet

Why This Room Caught My Eye

What I love about interior styling is the omnipresent opportunity to kick off a new project. You know, in those moments when you are lying on your sofa and looking around your home and then you discover that one corner that could really handle a little redo. Like now. Like immediately. At least I am that kind of guy. My eye gets challenged by a tiny detail and I have to start an immediate restyling project. I never finish a new vignette at once, it always takes a day or two, but the impulse to start is adamant. 

When I spotted this interior styling shot by photographer Joanna Henderson for You Magazine I had an instant smile on my face. The playful use of colors, shapes, sizes, dimensions and placement caught my eye. 

• Quirky Details: Little, quirky details always tell a personal story. The retro wooden telephone, the blue bear figure, the romantic vintage mirror with a bow and two stripes of colorful Washi tape - the styling is pretty happy and inviting.
• Colour Surprise: I love the surprising color details in this setting. The yellow legs of the side table are an excellent example for unexpected color surprises in interiors.
• Vintage Touch: The use of color and shapes makes this styling vignette pretty contemporary. However, the stylist used some vintage touches to counteract the reference to one specific period thus making it more interesting and inspiring. 

What catches your eye here?

Photography by Joanna Henderson

Tweet

Schoolhouse Electric: Get A Hipster Home!

Last Tuesday I took you to Portland, Oregon, the so-called capital of hipsters. Now, if my pictures haven't been proof enough, hold on - I have the coolest address to make your home a hipster home! Schoolhouse Electric is a Portland based treasury for hip furniture, home accessories, lighting fixtures and hardware. The product range is carefully curated and has a great hipster vibe to it, don't you agree?

Their online store is a constant 'click-teaser' - you will be repeatedly tempted to hit the buy button while browsing their cool collection. The overarching vibe is probably typical for the Pacific Northwest: It is a tad vintage yet contemporary, it is cool yet unpretentious, urban yet natural, and everything seems to be rooted and balanced. No frills, no fuss. Just plain cool style. 

I couldn't help but curate a little collection of my personal favorites. These would definitely make my home a hipster home. Ok, maybe I would grow a mustache and get a tattoo, too. How about you? 

Photography via Schoolhouse Electric

Tweet

From Place To Space: My Friend's Hamburg Apartment

A few weeks ago I spent a blogger event weekend in the northern German city of Hamburg. I not only looked forward to some blogger fun with fellow bloggers (I wrote about it HERE) but also to meet one of my ex colleagues and friends who recently moved from Munich to Hamburg. She invited me for a brunch on Sunday noon and I used the opportunity to snap a few pics of her new dwelling.

When in Munich, my friend used to live in a tiny apartment just like mine. With all its limitations. Now she's at home in a typical Hamburg 'Altbau' building (historical building) with a big living room and a long row of round-arched windows and an abundance of daylight. Yet again I was amazed how good it is to take pictures in a bigger space with lots of natural light. So I snapped on.

I focused on her living room cause I loved the 'retro meets vintage' vibe there. The vintage dining table found on a local flea market is made of teak wood and looks totally contemporary in the combination with those translucent chairs that remind me of the famous 'Ghost Chair' by Philippe Starck. Perfectly matched for this personal corner is the floor lamp recalling the swinging 1960s. Those large and widely arched chrome floor lamps were used back in the 1960s for lighting 'conversation pits'. 

In the living room area she combines raw, vintage leather furniture with wooden elements and mixes textures such as plain cotton cushions, wool blankets and furry sheepskin. The brown leather and wooden hues are freshened up with feminine zests of purple and pink - an ideal playground for her roomie, little Yoshi. 

As you see I focused on her living room as her moving is not yet finished and this part of the apartment was ready to be caught on camera. Apart from the lovely interior design we enjoyed a good brunch and a great conversation before I headed back to my tiny rooftop apartment in Munich.

Have a fab week, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Tweet

A Design Walk In London

The British Week on Happy Interior Blog continues. Today I'd like to make you feel the 'design pulse' of one of London's super popular neighbourhoods, Notting Hill. During the 'Meet the Blogger' conference in London I was very happy to join the fabulous design walk organised by the impeccable London coinnesseur Tina Bernstein.

Above all I want to thank Tina for the decent starting time - 1 p.m. was just about acceptable for a morning grouch like moi. Just in time we flocked around our style sheppard in the Tom Dixon store at the Docks and followed her along like a little chicken family all the way through Notting Hill and Portobello district.

Our next stop over were the vintage stores Phoenix on Golborne and Les Couilles du Chien - realy treasure troves for vintage loving hearts. We wandered along, passed by the cool and urban Pizza East restaurant with its weathered blue Tolix chairs (snap, snap) and arrived at the fabulous and colourful Pedlars boutique. Free coffee to warm our hands and bodies, a healthy dose of vibrant colours to please our eye and super friendly staff who introduced us to the store's concept and product lines. We loved it!

Warmed up and already loaded with shopping bags, we continued our design tour to yet another highlight, Ceramica Blue. If you love ceramics then this is the place to stop and shop! The shop owner was super friendly and offered an extra 15 % discount so I couldn't help it but add yet another shopping bag to my lugagge.

SCP was our next stop - the big and bright streetside store with lots of design classics was another visual highlight. Fibreglass Eames chairs in retro colours, soft and fluffy sofas in green and blue, Donna Wilson cushions and String wall units made us think about travelling back home with bulky lugagge. Yet another presentation of the store's philosophy, concept and product range gave us valuable insights into SCP. Chapeau!

Last but not least, we visited the headquarters of made.com. Their showroom on the 9th floor revealed stunning sights everywhere - the London skyline all around and fabulous sofas, coffee tables, chairs in the showroom itself. A young and dynamic team welcomed us with bubbles and snacks and a little tour made me almost click on the order button on my iPad - but alas, they do not deliver to Germany. Yet. I'll stay tuned.

With this post I am signing off till next Wednesday my friends. I am off to a little design & holiday trip. You know, I need more content for my upcoming 'From Place To Space' post so stay tuned. If you want to see where I am heading to later today, follow me on Instagram for on-the-go snaps in a new metropolis.

Big hugs to everyone!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Tweet