From Place To Space: A Summer Walk In Munich

On Mondays, you are quite used to my little endeavours and adventures throughout Europe and sometimes beyond. This time, I've decided to stay local. I've thought it is time to show you a bit around my hood. Munich is very charming in summer. It is a leafy city with lots of green spaces. We have huge parks, a river with alpine waters, biking and jogging trails, little forest and plenty of lawns to enjoy the sun and a good book. 

So I've put on my walking shoes aka flip flops, charged my iPhone and off I went for a little summer walk through Munich. I've snapped around and here are a few shots of my little cruise. On the way, I've discovered a new and adorable decoration store with a café called 'Livingroom'. They have a beautiful assortment of mostly French brocante - a true heaven for anyone in love with the rustic French country style or shabby chic. And the café serves uh-mazing homemade cakes and creamy coffees. After this little walk I feel refreshed and invigorated to kick off a new week. Happy Monday everyone!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Ideas For A Happy Weekend

How afraid are we of being alone? Do we feel ashamed to have a walk alone? Do we need a book or our smartphone to have a solo lunch? Do we feel awkward for loving our quiet moments alone, cut off of the outer world? Sometimes I do feel all of this. And then again I remember that solitude - chosen solitude from time to time - is the best way to deal with yourself. To work on the big, eternal relationship - the one with yourself. I consciously choose moments of solitude in my home. And to fully enjoy these moments I must feel comfortable, I must feel cosy and at home. And then I realize that it's the little things at home that sometimes elicit a smile and the happy feeling of being all satisfied and confident about yourself. And about your home. Happy weekend, friends!


P.S. Have you seen my musings as a francophile on Fleurishing blog? Check it out here.

Photography: Vintage 50s vase via Dawanda

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Happily Ever After: Happy Home

Today's 'plat du jour' will add a good deal of happiness to your home - let me introduce you to the online shop 'Happy Home'. Based in France this shop has not only attracted me with its happy name but also with its adorable assortment of goodies - whether you'd like to opt for a new cushion, something cheerful for your kitchen, or some colourful bliss for your desk or office, you won't leave unsatisfied.

I am in love with the beautiful black and white cards, the abundance of masking tape, the cute paper bags. And the best news - it's sales time till the end of July. Anything you fancy from this happy shop?

Photography via Happy Home

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Greens For Your Wall

There are many pros and cons about living in a rooftop apartment. One con that I am facing on a daily basis at the moment - the boiling heat up here. A real challenge for myself and for my little plants. Now what to do if you live in a space that is either too small or too hot for plants or if you just don't have a green thumb? The answer is easy: put the greens on your wall!

Some of my interior designer friends analyzed my style and aesthetics quite well in my yesterday's Pinterest post. Someone said that I like a vintage touch. Correct! And I certainly love these vintage botanical prints to decorate my home. My favorite here? The fig print. I love the fruit. I love the print. What about you? Do you add vintage elements to your interiors?

Photography: Room with prints via Remodelista; Pomegranate print via Etsy; Fig print via Etsy; Berries print via Etsy; Yellow horned poppy print via Vintage Printables; Dog rose chart via The Evolution Store; Seaweeds chart via Etsy.      

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5 Happy Inspirations: My Five Latest Pins

Once again I got hooked up by Pinterest. I've pinned my way along and while looking over my latest pins I realized how lovely they matched each other. I love the way our pins reveal our taste and style. Our Pinterest boards become a visual portfolio of our aesthetics - you can see whether a fellow pinner is a graphic type of person, a rustic fellow, a romantic pal, a colourful friend or a monochromatic connoisseur. That's how I decided to simply share my five latest pins as today's '5 Happy Inspirations'. So what do these tell you about me? 

Photography: One via Remodelista; two via The Red House; three via Designhund; four via Desire To Inspire; five via C'est La Vie.

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Hotel Of My Dreams: San Giorgio, Mykonos

Don't blame me. It's the high temperatures that shape my blog content these days. With summer outside I am totally drawn to the south, holidays, voyages. And I am considering my summer vacations too, so I am browsing the net for inspiration. This is how it happened: I've found the hotel of my dreams - the San Giorgio on the Greek island of Mykonos. This is exactly what I have in mind when thinking of perfect holidays: a sun-spoilt island in the Aegean and a hotel that is so beautifully designed that it is hard to leave the room!

Even though I went twice to Mykonos, this hotel make a third time inevitable. Many years ago I went for the first time to Mykonos - it was a get-to-know-each-other Erasmus student week, so I partied a lot and slept little. A few years later I visited the island again with one of my friends from Paris and we partied a lot and slept little. Now that I got older and wiser, it is probably time to spend perfect, more quiet holidays on Mykonos. And the San Giorgio hotel is the perfect place to do that.

The relaxed 'rustic charm meets sophisticated interior design' just nails it for me. The abundance of whites and natural hues are juxtaposed by vibrant colour pops, wooden furniture and a refined selection of decoration. This well-thought design  underlines the subtle mix of Mediterranean and Eastern influences. The hammock on the terrace and the stark blue Aegean sea ahead - only one question remains: Why am I not there right now?

Photography via San Giorgio Hotel

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From Place To Space: Lisboa

Today I am taking you to the Portuguese capital - to Lisboa as it is called in Portuguese. Prior to going to Lisbon, I heard so many promising comments. Lisbon is young and vibrant. Lisbon is creative and vivid. Lisbon is sunny and beautiful. And after my little trip I can say: yes, yes, and yes.

Alcantara, Chiado, Baixa, Alfama, Bairro Alto - these are the dulcet names of some of Lisbon's central quarters and main spots for visitors. Lisbon is also referred to as the 'City of the Seven Hills' and thus quite hilly indeed. The best is to discover the city by foot to get an idea of the layout, architecture and hidden corners. But no worries, Lisbon has a good metro network and you shouldn't miss the famous tram no. 28 - a great way to enjoy the city's sights from a sitting perspective.

I adore Portuguese 'fado' so I would recommend a visit to one of the fado bars in Alfama, one of the oldest districts. Moreover, take a walk down to the Tejo river to see the world heritage, the Belém Tower. From Tejo river back to the city you will pass through some major shopping streets. For a good afternoon break head to the famous Café A Brasileira - as popular and crowded as it can get, it still is a real gem with its original Art Deco style from the 19th century. Enjoy a good, strong Portuguese coffee - a 'bica' if you're the espresso type or a 'galao' if you love it milky. To accompany your coffee don't miss a 'pastel de nata', the famous Portuguese egg tart pastry. 

Tiles are also a big thing in Lisbon. The 'azulejos' tiles are evident on many buildings, in parks, for interior design purposes. Moreover, you will find many shops selling tiles - from antique to contemporary to souvenir style. Make your choice and bring a bit of Portugal back home. One of my friends actually bought many different styles to tile her balcony. Well that's another type of souvenir, don't you think? Have a happy week!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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