Urban Jungle Bloggers: Spring Inspired Styling

The March issue of our monthly 'Urban Jungle Bloggers' series features the theme 'spring or Easter styling with plants'. I must admit I was a bit challenged mostly because I won't be at home in Munich for Easter so I am not planning on any Easter themed decoration. Next challenge: I usually don't do any spring decoration at home, I mean apart from the random bunch of fresh blooms. But the topic was set so I had to adjust and invent. And I had to it quickly on a Sunday morning. I got up and before I had breakfast the idea came to me: Let's do a happy spring table setting.

The props were to be found in my home. A few basics and decorative kitchen accessories, a few colour pops in my favorite hues blue and yellow and of course some of my houseplants. I think that cacti and small sized succulents are excellent elements for a tabletop styling - so I was all ready to go and give it a try.

Given the limited time frame and scope of props I only had a one shot trial. I added a linen tablecloth in an earthy hue, grey plates, simple cutlery, fine blue and white napkins that I brought back from Stockholm, glasses, an olive oil carafe, a water carafe, my yellow Muuto pepper mill, a few blue and yellow candles and candleholders, some stems of fresh blooms, and my plants - voilà, a quick spring inspired tabletop styling theme with some of my favorite houseplants.

I have not outdone myself this time, but I was fine with the outcome. Plus after the styling and photographing I had a finely set table to enjoy my leisurely Sunday breakfast - all alone!

Enough from my part, I am off to check out what the others have created for this month's 'Urban Jungle Bloggers' topic.

Oh and don't forget: Houseplants will make your home a healthier and happier place!

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 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

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Happy Interior Blog Recommends...

Since Pinterest my shopping habits and desires have changed considerably. It has never been easier to find inspiration for new shopping adventures and my wish list has never been longer I am afraid. Today's interior related recommendations are just a tiny little slice of all my desires on my Pinterest boards. But still, these goodies have made it to my shortlist of recommendations today - and one of these I already bought and have at home. Now it's up to you to guess which one:-) Today I would like to recommend to you:

1. New textile designs by Flock like the colorful 'Northmore' pattern by Rachel Parker or the graphic 'Cracked Ice' design by Angela Johnston.
2. The sculptural 'Manhattan Chair' by Redford House.
3. The stylish 'Molly Glass Table Lamp' by John Lewis.
4. The scented candle 'Gently Rose' made of old wine bottles by Upwined Candles.
5. The adorable 'Socker' greenhouse for your houseplants by Ikea.

Which of these would you put on your wish list?

Happy hump day everyone!

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Why This Room Caught My Eye

Interior design is not a science, it is rather art. As much as I admire art pieces in museums, I admire beautiful interior designs and stylings. Every Tuesday I am sharing such eye-catching examples of interiors in this blog series. Most of the times I am showcasing private rooms and homes, but today I have to share a fabulous styled interior of a known home accessories brand. HK Living is a popular Dutch home accessories brand and they have styled some amazing interior pictures for their new spring/summer collection. And this specific example of a kitchen design caught my eye. Why? Well, here we go:

• Industrial Pendants: The cluster of black industrial pendants is an instant eye-catcher. For maximum interest, pendants of various shapes have been combined. They perfectly match the entire kitchen styling.
• Colourful Chairs: Here, the mix & match approach has been applied with the same chair model but with a variety of nature inspired colours. The pattern is being repeated on the other side and adds a great colour statement in this industrial kitchen.
• Wooden Dining Table: A big, chunky wooden dining table is an instant winner in this styling. It juxtaposes the cold steel kitchen fronts and adds warmth and a dash of nature into the industrial styling.

Is this kitchen catching your eye too?

Photography via HK Living

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From Place To Space: Quaint Bruges In Belgium

Traveling keeps my mind alert, my spirit alive and my curiosity perpetuated. Unfortunately, it also makes me eat too much, indulge too often and blow my budget. Bruges, the quaint little town in Belgium, was especially guilty for the former shortcoming. Do I need to stress that Bruges is considered the chocolate capital of the world? Well, guilty as charged - but still, every single moment was worth the guilty pleasures in this beautiful little medieval Belgian town.

In Bruges I spent a relaxed and very sunny weekend back in February. It was unusually mild and ideal for a full discovery of the old town: Bruges is rather compact and small so you can see most of the old medieval town by foot. Moreover, Bruges is known as the 'Venice of the North' and is enwrought with canals and thus perfect to discover by boat, too. Most boat trips take around 25 minutes and lead you around the central parts of Bruges where you will behold landmark sights like the famous Belfry, the Beguinage or the Groenerei. Almost all boat trips depart from the popular Rozenhoedkaai. Even though it can get pretty busy here, it is a wonderful place to take a break and enjoy a coffee under the sun in the cute little 'Café 'T Klein Venetie' - little Venice café. Obviously!

The central square of Bruges called 'Markt' features a whole line-up of colorful town houses in the typical Flemish architecture as well as the impressive 'Provinciaal Hof'. Walking from the canals to the central square takes just five minutes but be warned - in these five minutes you will pass around a dozen chocolate boutiques in only one street (and believe me, there are many, many more in the surrounding streets)! It is almost a little (pleasant) torture to walk by and not actually pop into any chocolaterie on your way. I succumbed to the temptations and brought back a little mountain of divine Belgian chocolates. Real chocoholics will also head to the museum 'Choco Story' which includes a live chocolate manufacturing session at the end including tasting.

One of the benchmark chocolatiers in Belgium, Dominique Persoone, runs a boutique called 'The Chocolate Line' where you will find the most experimental concoctions with chocolate - you can even buy chocolate to sniff. Why not - after all chocolate is almost a sort of (good and legal) drug! As an interiors blogger I couldn't help but notice the charming Dille & Kamille store right next door - it is a Dutch kitchenware brand with a lovely selection of products. 

If you ever consider visiting Bruges for a romantic getaway I can warmly recommend the charming hotel 'De Tuileriëen' which is located just in front of the main canal Dijver and an excellent starting point for all discoveries. Moreover, this luxurious and noble residence stems from the 15th century and has dreamy interiors - you will be taken away when taking a tea in the salon with an open fire place. I felt a bit like in Downton Abbey. 

But enough daydreaming for today - back to Monday and a new and hopefully happy week! Have a great one!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Exclusive Discount By Ebury Home & Garden

It's Friday and my home is getting a mess again. Not that I am a weekend messy, it's just the fact that I always do all my photo shootings during the weekend as it's the only time I get to photograph with daylight. So Friday after the office it's time to throw together piles of props and think of different vignettes I'd like to shoot for the blog. Props is the key word here - I always like to buy little, beautifully made home accessories, not only to adorn my home but also to use them as props for stylings. One of my favorite online sources for new props is UK based Ebury Home & Garden.

Just in time with the approaching spring they've updated their online boutique with unique homewares and interior accessories. Most of their items have a rural influence and a earthy, neutral colour palette. I particularly love their glassware - they have the most delicate little vases for floral stylings. 

Today I've teamed up with them and I am happy to offer you, my dear readers, an exclusive discount for your spring and props shopping with them - every order over £30 will be discounted by 15% and a special little gift will be added to your parcel! All you have to do is to enter the promotion code HIB2014 in the coupon field when ordering your goods. The promotion is available to all E.U. orders.

Enough said, I am busy shopping myself now! Let me know if you've found something for you too!

Happy shopping & happy weekend everyone!

Photography via Ebury Home & Garden

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A Little Book Break At Home

Some people say that a book is the best way to relax. And I would definitely agree on that. After a long and busy day full of meetings, calls and emails, there's hardly anything I am looking more forward than a quite evening on the sofa with a good book in my hands. I like English literature, interior books, history books, biographies, travel books and - no wonder as a devoted Urban Jungle Blogger - books regarding green topics like 'Backyard Blueprints' by David Stevens. So, today I am inviting you to a little book break in my home.

'Backyard Blueprints' is about design, furniture and plants for small gardens and has been published this month as hardback by Jacqui Small Publishing. I've received my review copy a few weeks ago but my busy schedule made a quiet evening with the book impossible. This week however I managed to sit down on a sunny day and enjoy my home and the book.

Since I'm living downtown in a small apartment, I can only dream of a small garden. And this book is a great visual basis for garden daydreaming. It is easily structured in blueprint sections regarding the design, furnishing and planting of gardens. Large photos visualize the author's ideas and trigger the reader's inspiration for a future garden.

Urban dwelling does not equal a living devoid of greens and nature. I have added quite a few plants to my home to create my own small indoor garden. And if I ever have a real outdoor garden one day, I know where to find some inspiration for its design. 

I hope you enjoyed the little book break with me in my apartment!

Have a happy Thursday!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Happy Interior Blog Recommends...

Yesterday's room on my blog inspired me for a little colorful restyling in my home - with ethnic accents. As much as I love clean and cool Scandinavian looks, I can't escape my Balkan roots and I love ethnic elements - colours, patterns, think of kilims and patterned throws. It's something I was surrounded with as a kid.

Every summer I would travel with my parents to the far south of what then was Yugoslavia to stay with my grandparents. They lived in a rather oriental area so it was a common rule that my grandparents had hardly any chairs. They only had a set of chairs that was only used for special occasions and feasts. For the daily life, we sat on the floor, leaned on special, long cushions called 'minderluk', we would eat sitting around a very low, round wooden table called 'sofra' sitting on low, mostly handmade wooden stools. The floors were covered with kilims and the evenings were spent sitting together and telling old stories. Wonderful memories. 

Well, I was a bit inspired by this walk down memory lane and here are a few products to add an ethnic vibe to your home:

1. Framed black sea fan by Hannah Brown Interiors
2. Moroccan kilim cushion by Babasouk
3. Nicaraguan vase by Roads Well Traveled
4. Acapulco Multi Lounge Chair by CB2
5. Yellow kilim carpet by Babsouk

Happy hump day!

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