style made simple

a fresh start (lamest title ever)

2011-09-11T00:05:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to share your opinion with strangers than with people whom you personally know? It's one of the strange effects of the digital society we're living in today, I guess.

Facebook, twitter, blogger, tumblr, etc. all provide us a platform to create a fake/desired image of ourselves. Of course everyone wants to be liked (both in the old-fashioned sense of the word and in facebook terms) so I don't blame anyone. It's human nature and no social networking website will ever change it.

According to Merriam-Webster 'a blog is a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks provided by the writer'.

Personal journal. I like the idea. I intend to turn this blog into one. I want to create rather than merely duplicate content.

I want my digital self to be as close to my real self as possible. I want to take the responsibility for what I'm doing here, which gets us back to my initial thought. People who know me in real life sometimes comment on something they see on my blog stating that 'it's so not you'. And they may be right.

So from now on this blog will be 'so me'.

Still interested?

ps. Just told my husband how hard it was to write this first post after that long hiatus. He suggested to write 'hi, everyone, I'm back'. He always makes me realize that I'm the one making my own life so complicated.

things i like: still from the dark(ish) side

2011-05-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

J-Crew collection

Jen Mankins's home in Brooklyn Magazine...

Bittersweet thoughts of depressed female writers...

Rooftop parties with friends, music, lights...

An old campaign that is more appropriate than ever...

Bicycles and basically her whole outfit via here...

The thrid issue of Gentlewoman is a surprisingly good read and it makes me want to order the first two issues, too...

This extraordinarily decadent converted mill...

Keep The Streets Empty For Me from Fever Ray on Vimeo

Beutiful songs....

I heart black

2011-05-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

Black, you are the most wonderful color ever!

via an afternoon with

via in scientia veritas

via in scientia veritas

scarves from zara

via tomboy style

interiors I do not hate completely

2011-05-11T02:41:00.001-07:00

Actually I wanted to quit blogging temporarily until my nice side returns, but I fear that it would take a long time.

To be honest I have hardly saved any nice rooms to my inspiration folder lately.

I am kind of bored with everything I see.

Anyways, here is a selection of rooms that I do not hate completely.

click on the photos to go to their sources

Also check out this tumblr in scientia veritas, in arte honestas

dull vs. understated

2011-05-02T05:43:00.000-07:00

NY Times has recently featured musician Moby's house, a rather modern and minimalist home clearly influenced by its owner's personality. At least this is what I think and this is why comments like 'soulless, boring and impersonal' made me think about simplicity once again.

Some of my most determined readers must be familiar with my journey of 'finding my real self' which caused me a lot of headache. Right now I am closer to accept that I am an understated person than I was a couple of weeks ago, but I still fear that my understatedness is perceived as being boring/dull/soulless, etc.

Just like in Moby's case. Although I am not sure if he is responsible for the décor, I think it fits him very well. (Let's not discuss the building itself now because that would be a completely different story.) The surrounding nature was successfully 'brought inside' which is all positive in my book.

There are objects in every room which I think tell a lot about the person who owns them. They may not be too 'over the top', but they add a personal touch anyway.

I also believe that creative people always have so many things going on in their head that they can find true comfort in paired-down spaces. Sometimes all you need is a guitar, right? Or a typewriter or a piece of paper and a pencil...

Clearly Moby has his own issues (read the article if you are interested) and I think a home like this can have a truly healing and soothing power on a wounded soul. It allows to breathe, to think freely and to shine through. Because this is what homes are for.

all photos by Trevor Tondro for The New York Times

easter in france no.2

2011-04-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

next destination: strasbourg

an utterly beautiful, vivid city with a charming historic downtown and a good laid-back french atmosphere

just lovely!

easter in france no. 1

2011-04-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

first destination: colmar, alsace, france

it was like a fairy-tale...
I am in love with france more than ever...

great rooms does not happen overnight

2011-04-12T01:15:00.000-07:00

Undecorate has become my bible of decorating lately. I really love the philosophy behind the book since I have always advocated the importance of withstanding trends and creating a HOME simply, slowly and from the heart. The most important message of this book for me is to be patient which is not exactly my strength, but I am working on it. The following rooms are great examples for this kind of design evolution. I mean, look at them. They are not the result of an instant makeover or a weekend decorating project. One can feel that these rooms have been created slowly by adding objects that are really meaningful to their owners one-by-one. These objects may be acquired in many years, but this is exactly what makes these rooms look loved, effortless and personal. And to keep them cohesive it is important to know yourself, to know what you like and what works for you. And if you stay true to yourself you will have a HOME you can really cherish. photo by michael mundy

via emmas blogg

via remodelista

new blog love: tomboy style

2011-04-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

Tomboy Style is an amazing, inspirational blog written by Lizzie Garrett. I promised myself not to label myself anymore, but I have to say I can totally relate to tomboy style. I never wear heels/dresses/skirts/jewelry. Like never. I always buy some of them, but they end up in the bottom drawer of my closet. Unused. And I have always had an admiration for men's style. The blog showcases examples of woman from Audrey Hepburn to Audrey Tatou sporting great tomboy style. Actually every woman whose style I admire are included: Diane Keaton, Francoise Hardy, Emanuelle Alt, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stella McCartney or Sofia Coppola. I really enjoy the snapshots from movies (remember Meryl Streep in Out of Africa?) and the uniform ideas. But I guess what I most like about this whole tomboy thing that it suggests a lifestyle. Tomboys always seem to do great stuff, like sailing, horseriding, playing music, shooting, camping and enjoying life in general. And Lizzie says that Tomboy Style will be published as a book. I can not wait having it on my bookshelf!

help! my son is six

2011-04-04T02:33:00.000-07:00

kiss me, kiss me by bill owens

Do not get me wrong, I am really proud of Marci. We always get great feedback from the kindergarten teacher, he has a lot of friends, he is extremely creative and very popular among girls :-) However, I can not help but feel that we have arrived to another milestone on the road of independence.

What drives me crazy is that I have no idea what is going on in his head. It was so much easier when he was driven by basic instincts only. But now things are not only black and white anymore, and I sense that it makes him (and us) confused.

Another change is that he is not smiling all the time contrary to his little brother (currently 4). He often looks bored and distant. He does not respond to our jokes and he even comments that they are not funny. Honesty rulez!

He has also become quite sensitive and receptive as far as social issues are concerned. He is really surprised when he experiences something mean from other kids and I can see how much he contemplates about these things.

'It is easier until they have only stomach ache. Heartache is much more difficult to cure' - someone told me this when he was a small baby and I could not agree anymore.

***

Magyar fordítás:

Segítség! A kisfiam 6 éves

Ne értsetek fére, nagyon büszkék vagyunk Marcira. Az óvó néni mindig jókat mond róla, sok barátja van, nagyon kreatív és a lányok között is népszerű :-) De nem tudom elhessegetni a gondolatot, hogy újabb mérföldkőhöz értünk a függetlenedés útján.

Ami az őrületbe kerget az az, hogy úgy érzem, nem tudom, mi jár a fejében. Sokkal egyszerűbb volt, amíg csak az alapvető ösztönei vezérelték. Most viszont már nem csak fekete és fehér van, ami őt is és minket is zavar.

A másik fontos változás, hogy már nem mosolyog állandóan (ellentétben Danival). Gyakran unottnak tűnik és olyannak, mint aki gondolatban messze jár. Nem értékeli már a buta kis vicceinket, sőt mondja is, hogy nem viccesek. Éljen az őszinteség!

A gyerekekkel való kapcsolatában érzékenyebb lett, és egyre inkább magára veszi, ha valaki valami gonoszat csinál. Általában meglepik ezek a dolgok, és sokat töpreng rajtuk.

'Addig egyszerű, amíg csak a hasuk fáj. Ha már a szívük is, azon sokkal nehezebb segíteni'- mondta nekem valaki, amikor Marci még kisbaba volt. Teljes szívemből egyetértek.

be careful with what you wish because it might come true

2011-04-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

... or something like this is what I have gone through since this post and the whole 'finding my real SELF' journey.

What had seemed to be a rather light, carefree and fun experiment turned into 2 weeks of depression.

Without further ado I share my two words with you: 80% understated, 20% elemental. I do not have the book with me right now, so I can not tell you the exact definitions, but I think you get the idea.

I like my 20%. Elemental is great, it is about philosophy, learning, thinking, searching for reasons, being down-to-earth, loving both art and science, finding comfort in the very basics of nature. This is what supposed to differentiate me and move me forward. I am more than OK with that.

But there is the other 80%. My main characteristic that should define everything I do. That is my SELF, I do everything with this in my mind. This is what defines me. And no matter how nicely the authors of this book put it emphasizing the positive side of it, an understated person can not achieve anything in today's world. I can see it. I live and work in a highly competitive international environment. ASSERTIVE was the first word I learnt when I started working in Brussels. If you are understated, you are a nobody. And because I do everything in this spirit, I will probably turn my kids into understated people which would be the last thing I want...

I have been thinking about questions like these a lot and very slowly the little pieces of my life start come together again. I do not really know what to do with these discoveries about myself... I kinda think that I was happier when I was more detached from myself. But maybe that was only ignorance.

This is my very last post about my SELF. I will not bother you with this anymore.

decorating never should be intentional

2011-03-28T05:26:00.000-07:00

Decorating never should be intentional. Your home should change as you change. Let it evolve and transform slowly and carefully. Add things you like one-by-one and your home will start reflecting your SELF. Never force anything. Allow only things into your home that come to you naturally. That you feel comfortable with. YOU are the king of your home. You can do whatever you want. Let your home be the place that nurtures YOU emotionally, physically and intellectually. all photos - via the absolutely amazing OLD CHUM - are linked to their sources

style statement - finding my own voice #2

2011-03-20T05:47:00.000-07:00

OMG, what a journey! I have just finished the book and I have found my TWO words!! It was a great experience and let me just tell you that the result was not obvious at all. It was unexpected, eye-opening and liberating.
But,
I will keep my mouth shut and go step-by-step.

DOMAIN#2: FASHION&SENSUALITY

I have found two images which encompass what I like about fashion.
Or the lack of it.

I choose them because they are simple, timeless, classic, unfussy, understated, colorless, easy-going, laid-back.

Some brands and online stores I visit often:
*I like Toast for its effortless chic.
*I like Totokaelo and La Garconne for their simple styling, clean lines, muted colors and moderate accessorizing.
*I like Levi's Made and Crafted for their comfort and ease.

My favorite things to wear:

Bootcut Denim by Levi's
Athletic Shoes by Converse

Levi's bootcut jeans: good-quality, easy-to-wear, universal.

Basic black and white tees: comfortable, unfussy, does not require too much thinking.

Ray-Ban wayfarers: to hide me.

Simple gold jewellery: pyramid studs and a simple chain bracelet I never take off. Simple but noble. Easy. Laid-back.

Parka coat: comfortable, practical, go-anywhere, utilitarian.

Animal print scarf: classy, timeless.

White shirt: uniform, clear.

Converse: comfortable, easy-to-wear, casual.

Tweed jacket: classy, conform, established.

Good-quality cotton underwear: to make me feel safe.

Leather backpack: again easy, practical, comfortable.

What really surprised me here is that I realized that I do not like trends at all. I have always thought that I am addicted to fashion, but it looks like I try to avoid everything trendy. Now, I already know why...

Also the things I do not like tell a lot about me: fussy, complicated, quirky, bold, striking, eye-catching, show-stopper, sexy, heels, pearls, oversized, dresses, skirts, statement, IT-bag, ladylike, unique, one of a kind

style statement - finding my own voice #1

2011-03-19T04:08:00.000-07:00

I ordered Style Statement - Live by your own design after I had read about it on Jackie's blog. The book leads you through a unique series of inquiries with the purpose of helping you to define your authentic self, your true style. Basically the aim is to find two words that capture your essence: the first word represents your foundation, your 80%. The second word is your creative edge - the 20% of your image that motivates and distinguishes you.
So..
I am on my way to find my TWO WORDS and I would not be a good blogger if I did not share the experience with you. I was a bit sceptic in the beginning because I am an arrogant person and I think that I know everything, but I really enjoyed to have a look behind the surface and reflect a little bit. Especially with the questions 'How does it make you feel' and 'What does this represent to you' because you surely know what you like and dislike, but do you really know WHY?
The questions are divided into groups, eight domains of self-expression, your Lifestyle Map.

Let's see what I have found out!

DOMAIN#1: HOME&STUFF

It sounds like an easy one concerning that I write a blog about it, and it actually is. But it is really interesting to see what your decorating preferences tell about you, how does YOUR SELF is reflected in the way you design your home.

Scenes& I enjoyed most in my life:

I recalled some scenes (some really happened, some exist only in my head)

*I am staying at my grandmother's place who has an old apartment in the heart of Budapest. It is late night. I am on the small balcony staring at the stars, listening to the sound of night traffic and watching people living their life in their apartments across the street.

*It is early moning when we arrive at the beach somewhere in the South of France. The sea is calm, the sand is chilly, but the sun is already showing its strength. There is hardly anyone on the beach when I dip my toe in the water.

* I am in a cabin which is built next to a lake in the middle of a forest. I am sitting on the balcony. I am drinking coffee and I hear the birds singing. (yet to happen :-)

* It is market day in Aix-en-Provence. The main road which is lined with old historical buildings is filled with people eager to buy some freshly baked bread, meat and vegetables. As I walk between the stalls I smell flowers, garlic and strawberries.

Very different locations, but I realized that there was one idea behind them:

I feel the best when I can feel that I am part of something big. Whether is it the trees, the sea, the stars or a crowd of people I love the idea of being connected. Apparently I also love to be small, anonymous and undisturbed, but I need to feel to be protected by something eternal and universal.

Places I love(d) to visit the most:
Rhodes-Greece
Aix-en-Provence-France
Venice-Italy
Vienna-Austria

Apparently I love places where past is sill present, with cobblestone streets and historic buildings. I also like these places because of their rich cultural and artistic characteristics and their strong 'personality'. This cities are timeless, grounded and built on really strong foundations. The values their represent will be preserved forever. This totally resonates with my answers for the previous questions: to feel grounded and connected - this time with the past.

My ideal home:
You can read a lot about it here or here so I will not repeat it. To keep it simple my ideal home is a spacious apartment in an old building with great architectural details, high ceiling and a big balcony or an inner courtyard. Yes, I am an urban girl by heart, I had to admit finally.

And what do my design choices suggest? (flow of ideas)

classic, timeless, quality, craftmanship, sophisticated, designer, big windows, laid-back

natural materials, texture, handmade, reclaimed wood, woven, warm, brick, linen, leather, concrete, branches, kilim

simple, unfussy, uncluttered, streamlined, organic shapes, art, casual, easy, low-key

comfortable, lounging, pillows, blankets, relaxing, sleep, nap, couch, sunbath, safe, secure

close to nature, connected, grounded, garden, balcony, courtyard, established, sun, air, trees, barefoot

luxurious minimalism or something like that

2011-03-17T06:11:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed I have a thing for minimalism, frugalism, down-sizing, simplicity, etc. Recently I started to read blogs about people who successfully managed to simplify their life in many aspects. What I am really curious about is how to design and decorate a home that is simple and minimal, but looks warm and welcoming.

My ideal home

a) is low-maintenance

b) purpose-built

c) has a harmonious, visually pleasing decor which reflects its dwellers' personality

d) allows its dwellers to pursue all kinds of activites smoothly and comfortably

e) is welcoming and nurturing

f) has nothing that is not practical or does not have any emotional value for its dwellers

g) has a strong connection with the surrounding nature

I think this vacation home in Uruguay meets all of the above requirements.

It exists in symbiosis with nature and the architect managed to make the best use of its surrounding. Except for one guest bedroom each room has an amazing view of the ocean. The use of natural materials is a great idea to make a minimalist space look warm. In this case rough concrete walls are combined with wood surfaces and furniture. Hand-woven rugs and traditional textiles evoke a sense of simplicity. Nothing is too fancy or pretentious here (only the swimming pool, but it is a forgivable sin in my opinion) and yet the whole place looks sophisticated. This is a home that makes its dwellers calm, relaxed and happy. And that is the most a home can offer.

all photos by Horatio Paone for the New York Times are linked to their original source

simple moments to remember #1

2011-03-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

Animal Jazz Band Fountain in sunset, Tervuren, Belgium

When we were walking to the kindergarten with Daniel this morning a lovely woman stopped me. She told me how much she admired me. In that moment I felt truly shocked. For what reason could anyone admire me, I thought. It turned out that she saw me every morning walking with my son hand-in-hand and she thought that I always looked so calm and peaceful. Me? Peaceful? I have never thought about using the words 'I' and 'peaceful' in one sentence. No way. But you know what? She was right. During that ten-minute walk I am really peaceful. This is actually the best time of the day. No rush, no noise, no worries. Just a mother and a son hand-in-hand. This is our quality time. We always walk very slowly stopping often to admire snails, birds, worms. There is something very simple and old-fashioned about it. I have never thought about it before, but this is a great way to sense the changing of seasons, something that we could never do if we were going by car. It was a great reminder for me to see how truly lucky I am and how sometimes the simplest things bring the biggest pleasure.

rediscovering the pleasure of reading

2011-03-11T00:54:00.000-08:00

photo by leslie williamson

'A good book should leave you slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it.' ~William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958

The most inspiring post I found in my google reader this morning was 'Pleasure with Paper' on Peace&Projects. I found it really interesting because I am in the middle of the process of rebuilding my relationship with books. Ten years ago I used to be a bookworm, but after I had given birth to two kids I somehow lost my ability and eagerness to read. I guess I was too exhausted and my mind was weigh too occupied and television provided a more accessible and more passive form of relaxation. During the last two years I have started to fix this broken relationship, but I realized that nothing would be the same as it had been before.

I prefer totally different genres than before: I simply can not read very serious books because I can not handle strong emotions. Right now I am all about lightness and fun. I guess I have enough strong emotions in my life so I do not need more.

Do not waste time on bad books: I had started to go through this list, but I had to realize soon that some of these are not for me. I agree with Melissa that it is important to break up with a book that you do not enjoy.

I have to learn how to concentrate and pay full attention while I am reading: I just feel that I have somehow lost these skills since I have kids. With them I usually live on 5-minute basis which is really hectic. To stay engaged for a longer period is a challenge for me.

One of the best thing is to share your thoughts about a book: I am very glad that my husband and I have similar taste in books and movies because about what else could we speak after 13 years of marriage :-)

Visiting second-hand bookshops is so fun: I do not know anyone who would not love the smell of old books. I usually carry a list of authors and books which I'm interested in to make navigation easier.

It is important to get rid of the books you do not like or never read: I will donate them to a local library. It is a good way to make room for new books.

Rereading books that were special to you when you were younger is a great pleasure: Actually it can be a huge emotional experience. It is a good way to remind yourself where you are coming from and to learn who you are and how you became the person you are today.

Have a nice weekend!

more doubt

2011-03-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

It is hard to come up with a clever and interesting new post today. I feel like I probably need some time to clear up my mind after yesterday's post. (Thank you for your kind and clever comments! I really appreciate them!)

Currently, I am trying to figure things out and to make some plans. Not necessarily about our rental, but in a broader perspective.

I desperately want to know whether our life as it is now makes any sense. Whether we really enjoy the way we are living now? Whether it is good for us as a family? Is everyone in our family really happy with our situation? Does this whole living as expats thing lead to anywhere?

This is a topic that we are discussing with my husband almost every day, but we never seem to find answers.

And then there is the question whether I need to think about this at all?

Q: What do you see yourself doing five years from now?.
A: I have no idea. I've never had a career plan and never will. I just always make sure that I'm doing something I love at the moment, and find out where it takes me. I float down river, then I wake up and say, “Oh, here I am. I've had a swell float.”
- Diane Sawyer, interviewed in US magazine, Sept., 1997

if you can't change it, make it work - honest thoughts about our rental home

2011-03-09T02:49:00.000-08:00

This has been our mantra since we moved into our rental home 2 years ago. Before we had been living in a small moldy apartment on the 2nd floor of an old building in a Flemish town near Brussels and when our contract expired we wanted only three things: no mold, a garden and being closer to the city centre. After (at least we thought so) careful consideration we found a house that ticked all the right boxes.

And how I see it after living here for two years?

We live in a house

-that is old and only superficially renovated with the cheapest materials possible=looks cold and unloved,

-that has an old electric system=certain appliances can not be used at the same time safely,

-that has no dishwasher=and it is not possible to install one,

-that has an oddly shaped garden=it is more about maintenance than fun,

-that is not protected at all=we had a break-in during the Christmas holidays when we were away and the destroyed door is still not changed=the owner of the house is totally negligent,

-we have mold= we had to invest in a dehumidifier to keep the bedrooms dry and mold-free,

-which is owned buy a person who had cared for stray cats in the garden=even if she is not living here any more, there are always at least 5 strange cats in the garden (fed by some kind neighbours).

And I have a son and a husband who are both highly allergic to cat fur, mold and dust in general…

God, it is even worse to see these written down.

To be honest, we hate this house and it costs us a fortune because it is situated in one of the most popular districts of Brussels and it has a garden and a private garage. And we have to stay here until March 2012 or we can leave but we have to pay indemnity.

I made a lot of effort to make this house more comfortable and I wanted to make it work. We made a pretty guest room, we rearranged the living room three times, we tried to add personal touches to it, we switched bedrooms with the boys and we try to maintain the garden. But I feel that until there are serious problems with the basic living necessities like health, safety or comfort, my efforts are aimless.

I am not sure if I can make anything work as I stated in the title. And I feel really lost right now…

P.s. I know that many of you would probably say that as a tenant I have certain rights and I have to turn to the owner with my complaints. I tried it several times. But my French is not good enough and she is really hard to communicate with anyway because whenever I complain she always tells me she understands, but now she has serious medical/personal/work-related problems.

the feel-good room #1

2011-03-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

This unpretentious reading corner looks like the perfect place to unwind after a long walk in the woods. The velvet pillows offer comfort, while the little table provides just enough space for a book and a cup of tea. A harmonious color scheme of warm earthy tones make you feel secure and comfortable. Framed paintings leaned casually against the wall and a few carefully chosen vintage objects add personality. The roughness of the reclaimed wood floor and beautiful antique rug evoke a feel of authenticity and strong connection with the past. In a room like this you can feel grounded and protected.

****'The feel-good room' is a new series of posts in which I try to find out what are those emotional qualities that make you feel good in certain rooms. ***

ps. if anyone knows the source or the photographer of the above photo, please let me know!

uplifiting stories for monday #1

2011-03-07T06:09:00.000-08:00

To make mondays a bit more cheerful for you (and for myself) I decided to start a new series of posts with the clever title 'Uplifting stories for Monday'. I try to collect inspiring stories which are really worth to read. Maybe it is time to make a change today!

1. Sweet Paul's playful recipes should make even the most resistant kids love food.

2. A family wanting to reduce their ecological footprint as much as possible built a biodegradable house. story via eons

3. Jennifer Causey's photographic adventure 'The Makers' documents the life of creative people who not only make things, but also make things happen.

4. 'Before I die...' is a public installation in New Orleans created by Candy Chang. On the wall of an abandoned house people can write what they want to do before they die. Very thoughtful! story via honestly wtf...

5. Clever thoughts about handling childrens' artwork emphasizing the process not the product. story via guy named dave

Être et avoir - To be and to have

2011-03-05T02:54:00.000-08:00

'Deux chaises, une table, un lit, un toit, c'était tout ce qu'on avait
Vingt ans, pourtant, des rêves en grand
C'était tout ce qu'il nous fallait
Voiture, maison, c'est sûr, c'est bon
Maintenant qu'est-ce que ça cache ?
Ça nous remplit, ça nous rend pas meilleurs pour autant que je sache

Car tout ce qu'on est, pas tout ce qu'on a
Tout ce qu'on est, pas tout ce qu'on a

Plus beau, plus cher, plus riche, plus fort, voilà tout ce qu'on adore
Autant d'efforts, tous ces trésors, on en fait quoi, quand on sera mort
Que tout cet or en banque, ces armes
Ces tanks, alors que c'est d'amour que l'on manque
Et l'être humain l'est un peu moins depuis qu'il s'est fait avoir ?

Car tout ce qu'on est, pas tout ce qu'on a
Tout ce qu'on n'est pas tout ce qu'on a

Deux chaises, une table, un lit, un toit, c'était tout ce qu'on avait.
Il en faut peu pour être heureux, moi, c'est tout ce que je sais

Tout ce qu'on est, pas tout ce qu'on a
Oui, tout ce qu'on est, pas tout ce qu'on a
Tout ce qu'on est, pas tout ce qu'on a
Oui, tout ce qu'on est, pas tout ce qu'on a
Tout ce qu'on est, moi, c'est tout ce que je vois.'

Even if you do not understand French, you will understand the message. Plus it is a great song!
Basically it is about how many unnecessary thing we buy and how our stuff define who we are. On Zazie's latest album the songs are divided into 7 parts, i.e. 7 days of the week. This song 'Être et avoir' is among the Saturday songs because in France (and in Belgium) this is the day of consuming with the shops being closed on Sunday.
If you want a lame google translation click here.

Have a nice shopping-free weekend!

is simplicity an illusion?

2011-03-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

photo from Axel Vervoordt's: Wabi inspirations

Extremists and radicals scare me and make me feel uncomfortable. I have always been a comformist, an 'in-between' person. Belonging to the mainstream made me feel safe. And to be honest I have never had courage/power/energy/willingness, etc. to make anything radical. I am too lazy to do that.

Recently I decided to extend the topic of blogs I read every day. I came across blogs of people who were willing to make radical changes to their life. They advocate TRUE minimalism, simplicity and anti-consumerism. They quit their boring job. They move to three times (!) smaller houses. They get rid of their TV. They reduce the number of objects their own to 50 pieces (or less). Including clothes.... It is up to you to decide whether they are brave or crazy or whether it is normal to live like this today. Personally I respect them.

Beside these for me rather radical life-changing movements I see that the idea of buying/owning less stuff, scaling down and living a simplier life are frequent topics in the world of design and fashion bloggers. Which made me think whether there was a sort of 'in-between' way? Is it possible to have a healthy relationship to stuff, to buy some but not too much, to watch just the right amount of TV, etc. or are we just fooling ourselves? Doesn't it mean that we are cowards who are not able to commit completely to living a REALLY SIMPLE life? We just leave some doors open so that we can justify our weakness?

I would love to think that there is an 'in-between' way. A normal, balanced way of living, but I fear that it is not possible anymore. What do you think?

Read some posts on this blog, I am sure you will be inspired: castles in the air, mnmlist, rowdy kittens, zenhabits

capsule wardrobe for spring

2011-02-28T05:40:00.001-08:00

As almost every year my keywords are: timeless, classic, simple. Based on these criteria I put together a capsule wardrobe for spring. Some of these pieces I have already, some I would like to buy now and some will probably remain out of budget forever :-(

1. White linen jacket - the most perfect cover up for spring.

2. A feminine blouse - I love solid colored clothes with nice details like embroideries.

3. A camp-style chambray shirt - to introduce some utilitarian chic. This one is very affordable.

4. A classic breton top - I love the moden styling of this one.

5. A vintage snakeskin bag - is destined to become a wardrobe staple. It adds the right amount of edge to any outfit.

6. A pair of chinos - the less fuss about the details the best if you ask me.

7. Cigarette pants = classic chic!

8. A nice vintage watch with leather strap - I dream about finding a vintage Hermes watch one day!

9. White brogues - are more unique than the brown or the black versions.

10. Ray-Ban wayfarers - shall I say more?

11. A classic leather belt - I seriously need to buy a good-quality leather belt.

12. A nice classic silk scarf - this is really versatile and makes you look really Parisian!

And here are some of my outfit ideas. You can wear the belt over the jacket or shirt as well as in a proper way with the top tucked in the pants. Also you can wear the scarf in your head or you can adorn your bag with it.

small measures

2011-02-27T09:17:00.000-08:00

The process of making our rental friendlier and more interesting is under way. This is what I have accomplished this weekend:

I started a herb garden. (please forgive the dirty windows, shame on me) As our kitchen is the most basic thing ever with the cheapest laminate flooring+cheapest white IKEA cabinets+cheapest grey laminated worktop, these two wooden pots with the herbs in them add real warmth to this place. Some more changes are foreseen here and I hope that the herbs will survive.

I said good-bye to the ugly brown plastic pot and our (so far) one and only plant was transferred into a lovely grey terracotta planter and found a new place next to the French doors.

Recently I scored three really old almost antique school posters on e-bay and one of them is now in my sons' bedroom. I have to tell you that the other two are in much better condition and are far more interesting and attractive (one of them is the anatomy of a sheep while the other one is a photo of Reykjavik), but Marci wanted this one. And he loves it. I'm afraid that he is becoming a nerd...

I think their bedroom is looking very cheerful now, but they just do not like being here. I think the simple reason is that it is on the first floor while the living room where we usually are is on the ground floor. And they just love being around us.

So this is a rather rare moment...

Notice the giant Bumblebee car on the table. That's what we bought on the flea market today. That place is filled with lovely vintage toys, but they wanted transformers...

Marci and I made this artwork. I bought him a craft book and he dyed paper towels. (Yes he has a flair for maths and art...) These are his color choices... afterwards I tried to display them tastefully with more or less success. Plus I bought a succulent!!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

another great color scheme inspired by a moodboard

2011-02-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

moodboard via sköna hem - color scheme generated with ColorSuckr

photo by chris court

via elle decoration

via sköna hem

via solid frog

the best color palettes for timeless interios

2011-02-25T06:13:00.000-08:00

Nature is the greatest artist.
I am a person who is usually afraid of color, but I am not sure why. If I take a look at my closet all I see grey, black, white, beige, brown. I could not imagine wearing pink or turquoise and I also could not imagine living with them.
In one of her books color expert Leatrice Eiseman writes about 'crossover colors'.
'They are nature's most versatile colors: in nature's grand design, these hues appear everywhere. They can work in every color palette.' These are colors like sky blue, sunshine, dark earth, pine green, light taupe, dusky blue green, pewter or bleached sand. I even love the names. They somehow contain the sense of eternity. So I think it makes sense to use these colors if you want to create a timeless interior.
And now let's see some color schemes generated by nature. I used ColorSuckr which is a great tool to grab colors from a photo. I warn you it is highly addictive!

Warm browns at sunset. Isn't it the most soothing color palette you have ever seen?

Different shades of grey. I just love this. It seems like there is not any color on this photo and still these hues work perfectly together.

Sea shells. Summery colors, beautiful pastels.

After that I decided to take a look at some of my favorite interiors. At first sight they seem very boring as far as color is concerned. And yet...

this is perfect. So subtle.

Here I love how the photo wall defines the color scheme.

And this one? Love at first sight. The most perfect palette I have ever seen.

And now go ahead and try ColorSuckr. An amazing source of inspiration for decorators!

10 best sites about men's style

2011-02-24T07:26:00.000-08:00

I really believe that women can learn a thing or two from men when it comes to style. Just take a look at these sites and blogs and tell me I am not true!

The Life of Polarn Per

The Scout

The Pursuit Aesthetic

The Things

Cavalier Essentials

sorting things out

2011-02-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to put together a decent post for three days now, but as you may guess I failed. I need some air/space/silence/order/serenity - none of these are existent in our home except for air maybe - to sort things out. In my head first of all.

Thanks for your support, kindness and lovely comments! I really appreciate them!

See you soon.

Monika

photo by chris court

things i like

2011-02-18T01:41:00.000-08:00

I like how this family designed a house that fits their lifestyle. The whole story is utterly inspiring!

I like that Totokaelo started to present spring outfits. I particularly like this one.

I like the idea of recreating childhood memories through photographs. I love the whole collection. There is something really heartwarming about this idea. (by photographer Irina Werning)

I like Peekaboo vintage's collection of bags. I want this one very badly!!!

I like to rewatch 80's movies. There is something so comforting about them, do not you think? I would like to see Ferris Bueller's Day Off and how amazing is this board game?

I like the styling of this book (photographed by Anita Calero).

I like We Are Selecters. Actually it is one of the best source of inspiration I have come across lately. They have a fantastic shop with really affordable prices and their blog is an amazing collection of all kinds of stylish stuff. I especially enjoy the lookbooks. I really love this, this and this, too. And basically all of the others.

home comforts

2011-02-15T01:08:00.000-08:00

Today I am inspired by these charming interiors. Nothing very fashionable here, just some good old-fashioned hominess that all of us need.

I scanned the images from some of my favorite decorating books: Healty home, Organized home and Stress-free home.

make our home happy

2011-02-14T07:06:00.000-08:00

We seriously need some happy decor in our home. It is really hard to really love a house that you only rent, but right now it feels very neglected and unloved and we need to change it.

As many other bloggers I also started the year with decluttering and I think I made a really good job. I sold so many items on e-bay, I was really surprised that people bought them. Old magazines, clothes, shoes, toys, lamps, a cotbed, nursery decor, all found a new home. I feel that our home can breathe again.

Now I would like to start spring cleaning and then to add a few little touches to make our home more lovable.

a big thank you to BODIE and FOU

2011-02-10T06:50:00.000-08:00

The lovely Karine from the gorgeous store BODIE and FOU has just informed me that I won the Living etc giveaway organized on their über-inspiring blog. Could you believe it? I have never won anything in my life! And now I will receive one of my favorite decorating magazines for a whole year!!

Thanks a milion to BODIE and FOU!!!

inspirations for a simple and organized home

2011-02-07T05:12:00.001-08:00

In the weekend I had a very eye-opening experience. Daniel was invited to a playdate by one of his schoolmates Aidan. Aidan is from Canada. (If someone had ever told me that the best friend of a Hungarian boy at a Belgian school would be a little boy from Canada, I would have been really surprised.) Aidan has two bigger brothers and they have been living in Brussels for a couple of months.

It was Sunday afternoon and what really inspired me was that their place looked like a sanctuary. Remember: three (3) boys. We spent there two hours and I can not even tell you how relaxing it was. Their home was a real lesson about moderation, understated beauty and organization. There was nothing really fashionable there just some good old-fashioned hominess. With bouquets of tulips and freshly baked cookies. I was really ashamed when I thought about the mess I had left behind in my home. And the frozen pre-baked chocolate cookies I had made.

Usually I feel very uncomfortable when I see such perfection (I like to think that I am not the only one who is messed-up), but this time I felt really inspired.

Here are the lessons I learned:

1. The size of your home and the layout really matters. They have a separate playroom for the kids that is connected to the main living room. As they were playing there the mess was getting bigger and bigger, but the living room remained untouched. In our home most activities happen in our living-dining room which is only 30 nm2.

2. You need lots of EFFICCIENT storage. More than you could imagine. While we were there, I did not see a single everday object. But they had vast built-in cupboards and chests of drawers.

3. Carpe diem! I always have very grandiose design plans and I always think about our home as some kind of temporary place as if it would not matter how it looks like until I accomplish those plans. Aka NEVER!! I should definitely change that!! We can not live temporarily any more!

4. BE a smart shopper! We usually change all our stuff from year to year. At first we buy the cheapest version. But very are not patient enough to wait until we can afford a really good one, we replace it soon with something slightly better. I need to learn PATIENCE. Right now our guest room is full of clothes, shoes, books, toys and home accessories that we do not need anymore. We need to think before we spend. We have already wasted weigh too much money on things we never use.

5. We have been living in this house for more than two years and there is not a single family photo on the wall. One of the most obvious decorating ideas and I still have not done it.

6. I need to clear our dining table. Right now it is used for storage and not for eating. Bad-bad me!

7. I have to clean more often!!

Easy-peasey! Is not it?

adding layers to my living room by using the things I already have

2011-02-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Currently the living room in our rental is
-is too small
-overpowered by things that are VERY RED
-has a lot of VERY WHITE surfaces (the curtains and the walls)
-has hideous laminate flooring that looks and feels very cold
-lacks the warmth of wood
-has too few plants
-has very little art

As you can see some of the details look good, but overall it is not very coherent and it lacks warmth. The color scheme looks like this:

As I said there is too much red here. The motif of the rug is too strong and it is just too much together with the red lockers. The lockers, the pendant and the white shelving unit in the corner all are made of metal. I was thinking a lot about how I could add some layers (and by layers I mean perosonality, warmth and coherence) to this space by spending very little or no money at all. And I have quite a few ideas.

-I am thinking about a new shelving unit for the corner. Well, a Danish design like that would be out of my price range now, but I know some ideas to cheat... more about this later...
-We already got rid of the little orange/red table and chair set and bought a new one that I like very much.
-And do you remember the kilim I bought? It is still in the basement and I can not wait to replace the folk rug with it. I do not know why I have not thought about it before???

-I also have two of these wooden planters so those ugly dark brown plastic things can disappear forever.
-As for the large white wall above the lockers (still empty although we have been living here for two years now) I am planning to make a little display. We have six wooden frames (currently in the basement, too) which have old sepia photos that I want to replace with more cheerful images taken during our holiday in France.

Totally doable I think. And almost free...
Soon I will tell you more about how to get a Danish shelving unit at a fraction of the price! Interested? Stay tuned!!

well-layered rooms - layering in decorating no.3

2011-02-02T01:35:00.000-08:00

'A well-layered room is never too obvious. It invites you to take a second look. It makes you want to look behind the surface and explore every little detail layer-by-layer. It is interesting and sophisticated and ususally can not be described with one word.'

This is my very last post on this topic and I have to tell you this little amateurish phylosophying about the secrets of decorating changed my attitude in a lot of ways. I have found images that I like more than anything before and they inspire me to take a different look at how I used to decorate my place.

Tomorrow I would like to criticise my own home. This is the next step of this eye-opening journey. Stay tuned!

interior by Thom Filicia

via desire to inspire

interior by Thom Filicia

via vogue living

via escapade

via desire to inspire

via visitvisit

layering in decorating no.2: how it works

2011-01-31T05:12:00.000-08:00

I have a very analytical mind and I approach everything in life in a very pragmatic manner. I like to use my brain. I know that it does not sound very exciting, but seeing things come together smoothly give me satisfaction. So far following my heart (only) in decorating has not worked out very well for me. I realized that I had to think more before I make a decision. To improve my thinking skills I analyzed a room that I like to see how it really works.

This is the room that I chose.

'Layered in so many levels' as experts would say.

But what exactly are the layers here?

(source Architecturel Digest Spain)

Let's see the basics. All the essentials of a real HOME are present in this room which proves how clever I was when I put together this post. (That post is still my most basic decorating guideline.)

It has an amazing work of art, plenty of natural light, wood, natural textiles, plants, handmade objects and pieces from the past.

According to my theory the different elements in this room are linked together with layers based on color or material to create a cohesive look. Here are the layers that I found.

-Layer no1: the golden pendant light - the colors of the painting - the little golden bowl on the table

Layer no2: the cover of the couch - the blind - the colors of the painting

Layer no3: the colors of the painting - the paint of the wooden panelling - the top of the table

Layer no4: the wooden chairs - the soft brown colors of the pillow - the side of the coffee table

Layer no5: the golden hues in the kilim rug - the rattan chairs - the gold hues of the fur throw

Layer no6: the legs of the rattan chairs - the floor of the dining area - the seats of the dining chairs

These interlinking triangles make sure that this room looks cohesive = inviting, cozy, warm.

What do you think about my theory? Maybe it is totally nonsense, but it somehow works for me.

Lessons learned from today's post:

1. an artwork is really the most efficient way to determine the color scheme of a room

2. when adding something to your room make sure it matches at least TWO other objects through its material, color or texture

3. I definitely have to buy a faux fur throw

layering in decorating

2011-01-30T11:03:00.000-08:00

I think I came across layering as a decorating principle when someone was blogging about this insanely beautiful living room (can not remember where, sorry).

As I was really intrigued by what layering could be, today I googled it. Here are some of the images that popped up.

(please go to my flickr photostream to see the source of the images, i.e. click on them)

Love them all!!!

BUT I realized that most often layering referred to floors, walls or windows. However, as I saw these images I developed my own idea of layering. According to my theory it is a process in which the different structural elements and objects of a room are connected with the help of layers in order to create a cohesive and harmonious feel that is the base of a laid-back, lived-in, warm and welcoming interior. Do you want me to show what I mean? Stay tuned for the next dose of inspiration!

proud to be a stalker: day birger et mikkelsen founders' ethnic-inspired danish home

2011-01-28T00:48:00.000-08:00

via fyens (follow the link to see more details, click on the photo to open the slideshow)

things i like

2011-01-27T06:48:00.000-08:00

This insanely amazing geometric marble floor. Wow!

source unknown, sorry

Helena Christensen. Just because. She is my favorite brunette ever and she is the one who inspired me to dye my hair dark brown. Well, with a lot less fascinating result.

image via bodie and fou

I already loved their catalog a lot, but after seeing them and their place I am officially inspired by their creativity.

Scout&Catalog home tour via the marion house book

This Barbour jacket would surely make rainy days much brighter!

Barbour Ladies Field Cotton Trooper Jacket

A fab slouchy leather bag. Is not it amazing?

steampunk decorating

2011-01-25T05:28:00.000-08:00

I was blogging about Standefer&Alesch aka Roman and Williams before, but I think they deserve every attention. Curbed calls their style New Victorian or steampunk. I call it extraordinary amazingness.

portfolio

weekend recap

2011-01-24T05:15:00.000-08:00

So many thoughts, but so little time to blog. We had a quite lazy yet exhausting weekend which is perfectly possible around our home.

Lazyness involved:
-an amazing book on lofts (a surprise from my husband, thanks :-), reading blogs and drinking some wine

-kids playing with PlayStation Move which is an amazing alternative to 'just sit in front of the screen and pushing buttons' kind of games. So much fun! Here is Daniel brushing the teeth of a crocodile :-)

-this happened to my hair. Still unsure if I liked the result... maybe I will show it to you later...

-sale finds: Sessún boots from Yoox and some stripes and greys from COS and Toast

-a temporarty lighing solution for the entry...

The busy part involved going through our stuff, organizing, decluttering, recyling, giving away, selling on e-bay during which process I realized how much I hated most of our stuff. We had some BAD-BAD shopping habits before and that has to come to an END!!!

I am really busy right now, more inspiring and less bitter content coming soon!!

it's playtime: kid-friendly decorating ideas

2011-01-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

via lonny

via cookie magazine

via the selby

via milk magazine

via owi

via milk magazine

via design*sponge

via remodelista

via the selby

via dwell

I WISH YOU A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

house tour: Emily's understated sophisitication

2011-01-20T02:08:00.000-08:00

I came across Emily's home yesterday via the 'There's No Place Like Here' flickr group. The first picture I saw was the one of her living room and I knew immediately that I had to see the whole place. And after I saw it I knew immediately that I had to share it with you. Because it is perfection in every detail. Actually there are so many amazing details that you HAVE TO check out her website Emily McCall Photography and her flickr photostream to see everything. I really love the soft and sophisticated quality of this home and of course the amazing vintage objects. It is organized and elegant, but very cozy and comfortable, too. The perfect mix for me! I am sure that Emily's understated sophistication will inspire many of my readers. It surely does inspire me!

Thank you, Emily, for giving me the permission to showcase your beautiful home!

all photos via Emily McCall photography

inspiring people: anita calero + her chelsea loft + her long island house

2011-01-18T11:18:00.000-08:00

This week I would like to portrait another creative and inspiring woman: the talented photographer Anita Calero.

Her work is simply fascinating. For me she embodies the kind of confident, determined and balanced woman who is very satisfied with what she does and who knows exactly what she wants. Proof is her West Chelsea loft about which every style-conscious blogger and their grandmother have already blogged. A home full of personality, lovingly designed by a creative mind. For me the most perfect place ever, so I am not ashamed to reblog it. I simply can not get enough of these photos. Perfection in every detail.

via Loft Life

Her house in Long Island is a little less known, however it features my favorite dining room ever.

This:

Want it. All.

photos of the Long Island home+first photo of the post via knit squirrel

Previous inspiring people posts:

a retro wallhanging has gone a long way

2011-01-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

Literally.

Photo #1

When?
1980
Where?
Dunaharaszti, Hungary
Who?
2-year-old me rocking a yellow bathing suit in my parents' bedroom

Photo #2
When?
2011
Where?
Brussels, Belgium
Who?
Marci&Daniel enjoying a good read before sleep in the bedroom they share

Two photos. The difference between them is 31 years and 1400 kilometres :-)

Magyar fordítás:
Az első képen én vagyok kétévesen a szüleim egykori hálószobájában. Anyukámnak sikerült megmentenie az akkor az ágy fölött lévő falvédőt, ami most büszke helyet foglal el a fiúk szobájában.
31 év és 1400 km a különbség a két kép között :-)

pattern overload

2011-01-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

Careful! Not for the faint-hearted!

via Architectural Digest Spain

things i like

2011-01-14T03:03:00.000-08:00

Voilá, a rather eclectic 'things I like' list...

Yves Saint Laurent photographed by Hedi Slimane. Huge dose of inspiration!

The greatest way (I have seen so far) to display kids' artwork. via remodelista

The perfect dining table that cost a fortune :-(

Françoise Hardy: Her hair and basically everything about her.

The new Lonny, especially this home. Just perfect! Do not you think that Lonny is getting better and better?

Comptoir des cotonniers: The sale I find the hardest to resist...

Woodstock Handmade Houses: This incredibly inspiring book found via The Brick House.

dark&moody

2011-01-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

...is how i'm feeling today.

vai 1st option

via sköna hem

via yatzer

via yatzer

via loft magazine

via yatzer

inspiring people: ilse crawford

2011-01-10T01:13:00.000-08:00

In my first inspiring people post I presented designer duo Roman and Williams which - based on my flickr statistics - you loved. Now it is time to present another inspiring person namely the ever wonderful Ilse Crawford.

She founded Elle Decoration UK, she was working for Donna Karan, another amazing woman and her company Studioilse won her well-deserved success in the interior design world.

Her loft in London is often referenced in the blogosphere. Some of her works like the Grand Hotel Stockholm or the Kranzbach Spa Hotel are truly amazing.

What I really like about her vision is that she successfully translates glamour and grandeur into usefulness and practicality. Her spaces are casual, laid-back, liveable, but very-very sophisticated. I like that she never ignores the human element and emotional aspect of a home.

Her books 'Home is where the heart is' and 'The sensual home' are basically my design bibles. Whenever I feel sad, confused or overwhelmed, I go through 'The sensual home' over and over again and the dreamy photos always comfort me. My post about 'how to turn your house into a home' was inspired by this book. And if anyone askes me about my dream home, I just show them these pictures.

all photos from 'the sensual home' by ilse crawford

Now this is what I call HOME.

things i like

2011-01-07T05:50:00.000-08:00

The most perfect vignette I have ever seen.

Beautiful ceramics in every shade of blue by elephant ceramics found via trendland.

Terrariums: I love them and I want one.

This editorial at Totokaelo. I can not get enough of portraits like this. They are really inspiring.

Preppy clothing from howies. I would like to stock up on some merino wool jumpers.

I would like to be brave enough to wear hot red lipstick and/or nail polish.

home is where the heart is

2011-01-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

via indenfor and source unknown

graham atkins hughes via desire to inspire

via indenfor

via design*sponge and source unknown

via freunde von freunden

via loft life

....and my heart has no place right now

on the road again

2011-01-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

Last minutes in Hungary.

Early morning tomorrow we are off to Brussels again. This whole 'living in two countries' thing is like an emotional rollercoaster for me. Hard to say good-bye to family and friends again, but I also feel a little relieved. It is a very controversial feeling. No real home here, no real home there.

I am sipping some champagne left from New Year's Eve. Kids are watching Ben 10 (no Cartoon Network in Brussels which I find great and they find disappointing). The Christmas tree is already gone. Hubby is deciding what to take and what to leave here from the kids' new toys.

We won't return in another six month. I am feeling sad.

But...

to cheer you up a little bit I show you this amazing apartment that belongs to prop stylist Sabine Tucker.

Visit an afternoon with to see the whole place.

winter delights

2011-01-03T05:42:00.000-08:00

via indenfor&udenfor

2011 guidelines: simplify&enrich our life

2011-01-02T00:23:00.000-08:00

I would not call them resolutions because I am a quitter. A quitter with guilt and that is the worst combination ever. That is why I prefer to call them guidelines.

1. Transform our rental into a home. Buy timeless classic pieces. Make peace with our past and sorrund ourselves with cherished objects. Know who we are and what we like and make our home reflect our personality.

via convoy (favorite new source of inspiration)

2. Open a savings account. Should have done long ago.

3. Buy more local food and eat healthier.

4. Lose weight.... seriously.

5. Buy classic good quality clothes (that match my lifestyle) and use accessories to make them more playful.

via convoy

6. Read much more. I intend to use Modern Library's 100 Best Novels as a reading guide. It is a shame that I have not read most of these books. Also buy used books instead of new ones.

7. Seek little and delightful adventures. Secret Brussels is a collection of less-known interesting places in Brussels.

8. Watch more movies. It is so much easier to watch our favorite TV series every evening, but I really miss wathcing good movies.

9. Introduce Marci to sports and music (although not sure how to choose which one?) without forcing anything. Take the kids to the theatre and go to museums. Make crafts. Help them find their talent.

10. All the stuff guilty working mothers usually promise themselves and to their kids: read to them every day, do not let them watch too much TV, do not let them eat too much sweets, listen to them carefully, playwith them more often and basically be more patient. (with hubby too)

best of 2010: what you liked the most

2010-12-30T22:46:00.000-08:00

#1: Standefer&Alesch loft

#2: My rearranged living room

#3: Detail of my bedroom

#4: Laid back living rooms

#5: Standefer&Alesch loft

#6: A perfectly composed living room

#7: My rearranged living room

#8: Laid back living rooms

#9: Turn your favorite quote into art

#10: Get your living room ready for Christmas

#11: 'An afternoon with'

#12: My rearranged living room

#13: A perfectly composed bedroom

#14: My rearranged living room

#15: A perfectly composed dining room

based on my flickr statistics; most popular photos

christmas madness+a simple menu

2010-12-24T04:29:00.000-08:00

I put together our Christmas menu:

In the very last minute I managed to buy all ingredients and I hope that I will not screw it up.

Christmas is more hectic than ever. Our flight was cancelled and we decided to drive 1400 kms. It was long, exhausting and we had jet lag for two days. We had like a 1000 things to do before Christmas and I have acted like a bitch for four days now.

Again I forgot what Christmas was all about. Right now I need to calm down and make my kids enjoy the hoildays. And do not worry about a home not vacuumed, a meal not prepared on time, gifts not bought, shirts not ironed, hair not washed. Yes, really. I told you it was hectic.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-23T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,
thank you for your lovely comments, support and interest in my blog!
If it were not for you, I would have given up already. (like a hundred times)
You are such a great folk!
I wish you a wonderful Christmas!

***Monika***

hand-made chocolate wrapped and ready to give

2010-12-19T03:27:00.001-08:00

Note:
-it is pretty hard to cut the chocolate so make sure to use a very sharp knife
-keep it in the fridge (best until the moment you give it to someone) and wrap only one at a time
-the not so perfect edges can be cut into triangles which you can put into a little bag (just as I did) so there is no waste

In a couple of minutes we are off to Hungary to meet our families for the holidays. Yesterday's flight was cancelled because the Hungarian airport was closed down due to heavy snow. Fingers crossed that there will be no problem today!!

look of the day

2010-12-18T11:49:00.001-08:00

I am loving everything about this look from the Zara lookbook...

The only thing with Zara is that I love a lot of things in their webshop, but in the store I am usually disappointed with the quality.

i made chocolate

2010-12-18T05:49:00.000-08:00

Because I am a responsible person who knows her own limits I decided to make only the chocolate bars and to skip the idea of the scented satchels. I made three variations:

-White chocolate with exotic dried fruits. (I added some grated coconut to the melted chocolate. Yummy!!)

-Milk chocolate (with a hint of white) sparkled with cake decoration.

-Dark chocolate with nuts and raisins decorated with white chocolate. (My favorite!!)

It was pretty easy to make, but make sure to buy a LOT of chocolate! You can add various spices to make it even more delicious. I really enjoyed the experimenting!

Now they are in the fridge and in a couple of hours they will be ready to be packed.

Coming back soon!

winter magic

2010-12-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

The park looked almost magical today.

But it did not prevent us from having some winter fun!!

movie night: perfume

2010-12-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

I watched the movie 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer' with my husband. He was expecting a good little serial killer movie. He was suffering. A lot. So he made me watch this.

I think we are equal.

As far as 'Perfume' is concerned I think it is beautiful and captivating. Can not wait to read the book. (Yes, I am the type of person who watches the movie first. Shame. Shame.)

the story of the yellow dungarees

2010-12-17T07:53:00.000-08:00

Marie Olsson Nylander is wearing yellow dungarees and camouflage Converses.

And she has a killer living room.

I you are not jealous enough yet go and see more of her home here.

via mixr

the guerilla art kit

2010-12-17T02:55:00.000-08:00

"The Guerilla Art Kit shows how small artistic acts can start a revolution. Release your inner artist or activist using the step by step excersizes, cut out projects, sticker ideas and more." --Avenue Bookstore

Are you ready to put your message out into the world?

The Guerilla Art Kit, $ 13,57 at Amazon

Photos via Slanted

amazing pendant lamp

2010-12-17T02:51:00.000-08:00

Can I have this lamp above my dining table please?

Emily pendant by the daniel becker design studio

the perfect winter coat

2010-12-17T02:46:00.000-08:00

Pretty much my perfect winter coat. Anyone knows how could I get it for 100 bucks?

Opening Ceremony coat, $ 1368 at Totokaelo

are you a parisian lady?

2010-12-17T02:39:00.000-08:00

Real Parisian woman in their Parisian homes doing what Parisian women usually do. Interested? See photographer Baudouin's 'I am a Parisian lady' project here.

via trendland

a white Danish home with natural Christmas decor

2010-12-15T00:17:00.000-08:00

I was rambling about natural and organic Christmas decoration here and here and also here so it might not be a surprise to you that I fell for this Danish home featured on FRI (I just love that site!!). The house itself is amazing too and it is beautifully decorated with branches, greenery, pine cones and plants which look amazing against the white color scheme. Full of inspiration!! And the bedroom must be one of my favorite bedrooms ever!

photos by via fri Lisa&Kristian Septimius Krogh

creating a timeless home: living room

2010-12-14T05:08:00.000-08:00

I have not bought anything for our home for 2 months now (at least not anything important just a couple of basics at IKEA) which feels really great. The hiatus is part of my plan to transform my whole consumption attitude. Plan is to buy less, buy better quality and buy timeless. During the coming 2-3 years I would like to replace most of our current stuff (mainly IKEA) by more expensive designer items that would last for a lifetime.

These are the things I chose for our living room.

-a sleek, modern shelving unit e.g. by Poul Cadovius or Louis Van Teeffelen
-a beautiful caucasian carpet
-a glass bulb chandelier (weigh over my budget :-(
-a slouchy leather couch (I am obsessed with this although I am afraid it is also out of my budget. But maybe it is possible to find some similar vintage items!)

(The philodendron and the sheepskin are little bonuses. I think they look really good in this room.)

This is my idea of a timeless living room. What's in yours?

perfectly composed: bohemian country

2010-12-13T02:45:00.000-08:00

Today I am loving this perfectly composed sitting area. The color of the wall may not be my cup of tea, but it surely provides a perfect background for the colorful kilims and the rugged leather chair.

via 1st option

things i like

2010-12-10T01:09:00.000-08:00

-This bohemian LA apartment with lots of kilims, great artwork and beautiful wooden architecture

-This landscape dress made of vintage fabric

-This rooftop garden in Brooklyn made me so happy! And is not her outfit the cutest?

-Glass orbs as Christmas decorations

-Sumptuous golden velvet curtains (Frederik Vercruysse photography)

-Donna Wilson's studio visit (plus everthing else on Sight Unseen)

Have a nice weekend, everyone!

home is where the heart is

2010-12-09T02:25:00.000-08:00

photo by Leslie Williamson via art hound

via AnOther Magazine

via Door Sixteen

the Eames house via ?

via desire to inspire

via dwell

from Interiors Now via Taschen

from Spaces via Sight Unseen

photo by Mikkel Vang

natural, simple christmas decorating ideas+food gifts

2010-12-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

I am still sabotaging Christmas spending both on decor and gifts.

I decided that I will buy gifts only for the children and everbody else will receive our homemade stuff. (Come on, do not be disappointed!) I know my limits so I decided to make two things.

A deliciously looking chocolate bark...

...presented in a jar.

idea via here

And a scented satchel stuffed with cinnamon, dried orange and aniseeds.
idea via here

As for the decoration I try to keep it simple, natural and use the stuff I already have.

images from various (already forgotten) sources

a happy family home in amsterdam

2010-12-02T05:31:00.000-08:00

Every time I hear 'a family home in Amsterdam', I get excited. I truly believe that Dutch people are extremely creative and design-driven. This home is no exception.

Founder and owner of children clothing line Imps&Elfs lives in a converted church in Amsterdam with his wife and 3 daughters. His home is extraordinary, full of unique and intersting details. Partly rough concrete, partly wood which is my all time favorite combination.

While I love homes like this, I wonder if it is possible to create a really amazing home if you live in a characterless box house like me.

I seriously doubt it.

via Milk

random things I like

2010-11-30T01:34:00.000-08:00

The beautiful Margheria Missoni's (in case you did not recognize her from the fabrics) portrait in AnOther Magazine. I really love the seventies vibe of the photos.

I can not believe I did not hear about this film before... 'Boxes' is a movie inspired by Jane Birkin's life. Besides playing the main character she is also the writer and the director of the film. Sounds like a must-see movie!

Emma's assessment of her own home. One of the most inspiring posts I have come across recently. I like her wise approach to decorating and of course she has amazing taste!

French illustrator Hervé Tullet's creative children books. I think his amazing coloring book will find its way under our Christmas tree.

Can I have every single item from this gift list PLEEAASSEE? HonestlyWTF is one of my favorite reads nowadays and I am really looking forward to gift guide no. 2!

home is where the heart is

2010-11-29T06:21:00.000-08:00

via fri

via freunde von freunden

via living agency

photo by mark roper

via fri

via loveology

photo by polly wreford and adrien briscoe via sarah kaye

via loveology

photo by chris everard via sarah kaye

the essence of simple living: Walnuts Farm

2010-11-26T02:22:00.000-08:00

I promised you Christmas posts every wednesday, but
a) I am not very good at keeping promises,
b) I am sick of everything Christmas right now.

I hate beautifully styled Christmas settings. And I hate the feeling that design and decoration are such an important part of Christmas. What I really want is a very simple, traditional Christmas with my husband and my kids. I want tartan blankets, roaring fire, natural ornaments, scent of real pine and homemade meals (with good wine).

And I could spend the holidays here.

photos via Walnuts Farm - The Rustic Shoot Location House (the website is a goldmine of amazing photographs)

Creative Space: Urban Homes of Artists and Innovators

2010-11-25T07:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa, could I get this book for Christmas please?

photos from the book 'Creative Home: Urban homes of artists and innovators' found via Sight Unseen

david bromley's bohemian, artistic, decadent family home

2010-11-23T07:16:00.000-08:00

Today I am inspired by this bohemian, artistic and decadent family home. It belongs to artist David Bromley. I love the the colors, the textures and the warmth of this home. My favorite is the corner with the kilim pillows. What an amazing place to lounge! The house is photographed by Mikkel Vang (a new photographer crush of mine, remember Vanessa Bruno's apartment?) and was featured in Vogue Living.

things I like

2010-11-22T03:09:00.000-08:00

A 'selby-like' blog by photographer Michael Mundy called 'an afternoon with' which showcases visits to the homes of artists and creative people. Let's stalk more!

I am seriously considering having a new hair-style (and color), something that is totally out of my comfort zone. I am loving Scarlett Johansson's new cut. (photo via Go Fug Yourself)

Art in All of Us promotes international tolerance among children via creative cultural activities. An exhibition of photography, drawings and poetry by children around the world is organized in Brussels that I am planning to visit with my children.

I have a love and hate relationship with her, but sometimes I simply can not deny that she is the queen of casual chic. (photo via escapade)

Milk Déco's new issue is out and I can not wait to have it.

Have a great week everyone and a very warm welcome to all of my new readers!

christmas gift ideas for hip boys

2010-11-20T03:08:00.000-08:00

I am not sure that it is a good idea to totally ignore their own Christmas wishes (including Ben 10, Bakugan, Beyblade and Star Wars stuff), but I really hope that I could sneak some more meaningful, timeless and creative toys under the Christmas tree especially because Marci has got the creative bug lately.

Currently I enjoy the products of the following shops:

Tate museum's online shop is filled with amazing artistic stuff
MoMA store is a great source for mid-century modern collectibles
Djeco has the cutest website and a great selection of art and educational games
Muji is best known for its wooden toys (great price, too!)
Mon Petit Art has an amazing selection of creative games
Londji is a Spanish comany with great retro inspired games

Here is my wishlist (I mean my sons' wishlist :-) :

'Shape' interactive book
Stella McCartney organic sweatshirt
Retro board game
Popville pop-up book
'Cut cut couleur' atelier workshop
'Kid made modern' craft book
Our childrens gorilla poster
Muji's cities in a bag sets
Djeco cubism art kit
Kickers Lego boots
Eames house of cards
Set of musical instruments

weekend inspiration: laid-back living rooms

2010-11-19T00:25:00.000-08:00

Something has changed. This month I bought Architectural Digest and Vogue Living instead of Vt Wonen and Living Etc. (I bought the Spanish version of AD and believe me it is extraordinary! I will scan some pages for you in the weekend.) I seem to like art, colors and fun more than before. At least this is what the photos that I have saved into my inspiration folder lately tell me. I guess my post about the necessary ingredients of a real home had a great impact on me. It helped me see clearly what I like and how I want my home to look like. Enjoy the photos!

source unknown

vogue living

elle decor

the marion house book

source unknown

the marion house book

james merrell

marie claire maison

petra bindel

merry mishap

midcenturyjo's photostream

loft life

Wish you a wonderful weekend!

3 stunning christmas color schemes

2010-11-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

moody&dramatic

(styled by sophie brown via sarah kaye)

fun&colorful

(marimekko 2010 christmas catalog)

earthy&organic

(slow fashion house christmas catalog)

Which one would you go for?

inspiration for the weekend: closet therapy

2010-11-12T02:36:00.000-08:00

How many percent of your wardrobe do you wear?

I estimate that I wear only 30-40% of my stuff which is ridiculous. It is clear for me that I should completely change the way I shop (in which I'm making great progress), but I just feel the need for a major clearout before starting to build a more effective closet.

It is quite easy actually at least in theory. You should divide your clothes into TWO groups:

1. clothes that you wear often (on a weekly or bi-weekly basis)

2. clothes that you wear rarely or never

The first group can go back into your closet, however the second group is more tricky.

You should identify why you do not wear these.

If they

-do not fit

-are not flattering

-the color does not suit you

-are worn out

get rid of them!

Be harsh! (I have two boxes of clothes that have been two small for me for like 6 years. Is there any chance I will fit into them soon? Not much.)

Other items like occasional wear, clothes that have sentimental value for you or iconic items that are likely to return to the runway can go back into your closet, too.

I promise you you will feel really relieved. You will feel your closet breathing again.

Now that you made the first step to create a streamlined wardrobe start shopping more wisely. Here are a couple of ideas to consider:

1. Quality before quantity!

2. Be conscious of your body type.

3. Avoid being a slave of trends.

4. Try to identify more iconic pieces of a current trend.

5. Know your colors.

6. Know your lifestlye.

7. If you have to think about it a lot, it is probably worth not buying it at all.

8. Avoid buying pieces that go well with everything. Be more unique and less universal.

9. Keep the clothes simple and be brave with accessories.

10. Follow your heart and not your brain! See. no. 7 and 8.

Some inspiration for you:

-The Ellements of Personal Style (25 Modern Fashion Icons on How to Dress, Shop, and Live). You can find a review and some insight into the book here.

photo via moodboard

- My own fashion bible 'The One Hundred- A Guide To The Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own' by Nina Garcia. The most timeless and iconic fashion items!

- Emanuelle Alt's 10 essential pieces. (It is French, but you will understand it.)

- Jeana Sohn's amazing closet visits. See how the pros do it.

- My favorite feature on Shopbop, the ulitmate closet. See the fall/winter edition here.

Interesting wardrobe experiments:

ps. huge apology for the lack of comments lately, but I have technical problems with blogger and currently I am not able to leave any comments :-(

how to turn your house into a home with WOOD

2010-11-10T02:31:00.000-08:00

In my post How to turn your house into a home I listed eight basic elements that give warmth to every home. Two weeks ago I showed you examples for how to make your home more personal with art and now it is time to go into details about WOOD.

Wood is warm.

Wood is ancien.

Wood is essential.

Wood is imperfect.

It connects us with our roots and it evokes simplicity. Wood has always inspired artists. It can be turned into furniture, utensils, sculptures or toys. It is durable and looks bettes as it ages.

For me a sturdy wooden table embodies the essence of home. It is like fire, a gathering place for family members to be together. It holds memories of eating, playing and creating TOGETHER.

photo via style-files

Many people think that wood belongs to country homes, but it can work really well in urban interiors, too.

Leslie Williamson's book Handcrafted modern gives us insight into the homes of famous mid-century modern designers. I was surprised by the abundance of wood (and stone) in their homes because I thought modern was more sterile. It is amazing how important working with wood was for these people. The book feautures wooden furnitures designed by them and also some really unique wooden creations. For more pictures and outtakes from the book visit Leslie Williamson's own blog.

photo via designtherapy

Related posts:

inspiring people: robin standefer and stephen alesch aka roman and williams

2010-11-09T05:14:00.001-08:00

via scout mag

I decided to start a new weekly feature about people who inspire me. First nominees are über-talented designer duo Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch aka Roman and williams buildings and interiors. Wow! Beside the fact that they designed some very prominent buildings (e.g. the Ace Hotel NY) in NY and LA, one has just to take a look at their own dwellings to see that they have an amazing vision, an impeccable taste in art and the ability to create laid-back yet extraordinary interors. Are you ready for a tour?

Firstly, there is their office in NY (photographed by Douglas Friedman)

Secondly, there is their loft on 4th Street (photographed by Douglas Friedman)

And thirdly, my personal favorite, their house in Montauk

I hope you enjoyed the tours!

get your living room ready for christmas

2010-11-08T01:16:00.001-08:00

Every year before Christmas I promise myself to create a festive atmosphere without being to kitschy, but then I usually get distracted by the Christmas ephemera and end up buying lots of themed decoration. Looking at these beautiful living rooms I can not help but think that all you need is candles, branches, some simple string lights, cozy pillows and fur throws and voilá: your living room is ready for Christmas!

by james merrell

via emma

via desire to inspire

via freunde von freunden

via living etc.

via lonny

via emma

via house beautiful

via sköna hem

by adrien briscoe via sarah kaye

I found the last photo yesterday and it literally blew my mind! How amazing is this place? It has such a strong organic and natural quality to it like every little detail is perfect! Look at the different elements: the blossoms and corals in the large glass jars in the background, the collection of scissors on the mantelpiece and the stencils on the wall. Amazing. Truly. If it is a real home, I definitely want to see more of it. Anyone has any ideas? I think with all these details, the symmetry and the color scheme this must be included among my perfectly composed rooms.

Related posts:

ps. do not forget to check the sidebars where you can find links to my most popular posts as well as the what is new in the blog world column (updated every day)

living with children made simple: must-have accessories for a busy family room

2010-10-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

I tried to find inspiration for real family rooms, but I have hardly found anything. I realized that in many homes children have their own playroom - this is a mystery for me because my children never want to go to play in another room. They want to be where WE are and still do what THEY want to do. To design a living room that is suitable for this is quite a challenge because you need to find durable, practical, comfortable items that look good (of course only if you insist on having a good-looking living room). Here is a little roundup of ideas and products that I like.

1. I like this photo display system from IKEA because it is really flexible. As pictures and drawings come and go, it is good to have something that allows to change them easily.

2. A vintage desk is a great option for creative kids if you do not want to worry about scratches or paint.

3. The wall near the desk is in constant danger, but you can protect it with wallpaper. Make a feature wall using some cool design (busy and/or dark patterns are the most forgiving).

4. I love clip-on lights because you can easily move them around the room.

5. A pouff comes very handy with children who love lounging on the floor. My favorite is the moroccan inspired design made of leather.

6. Plastic rugs are a great invention! They are good for children with allergy and they are easy to clean. Every mother's dream!

7. As far as storage is concerned I believe that you should think large! The pile of stuff will grow really fast so the bigger the better. I just bought these plastic bags and they are great (and cheap) for storing plush animals, clothes, legos, etc.

What is your must-have item in your family room?

Want to see more?

christmas 2010: the countdown starts NOW+blog news

2010-10-27T02:37:00.000-07:00

Only nine weeks to Christmas.

I can not believe it.

I barely came back from the summer vacation.

I decided that I would make an Xmas post every Wednesday from now on. I will collect decorating inspiration, gift ideas and other survival tips :-) This year my aim is to reduce stress by keeping everything as simple as possible. Sounds like a great plan, do not you think?

johner

P.s. I made a few changes to the appearance of my blog. I decided to share all those fab stuff that I come across through other blogs in the sidebar. I update it every day so it is worth to check it out often to see what's hot right now in the blogosphere. I also organized my content a little bit so you can find the most popular topics and the most popular posts in the sidebar, too. I hope you like these little changes! The blogroll is gone temporarily until I figure out how to make it work. Have fun browsing!

how to turn your house into a home with ART

2010-10-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

Decorating with art is the most effective way to inject some personality in your home. In my opinion it is one of those eight basic elements that turn a house into a home.

* The most important rule about choosing art is that there are no rules about choosing art. Do not care about trends, do not care about what others think. Just follow your heart!

* Do not buy art for a particular place. Buy what you like and you will find a place for it.

* Art can be a good starting point for defining the color scheme of a room.

* Do not limit your choices on paintings. Sculptures or interesting light fixtures can add real drama!

* Size matters. An oversize painting can be the focal point of the room, but be careful to keep everything else simple.

* Display different types of art together to create an eye-cathing feature.

marie claire maison

marie claire maison

design*sponge

design*sponge

vogue

solid frog

solid frog

ny mag

loft life

living agency

fri

fri

desire to inspire

bolaget

fri

5 easy and cheap decorating ideas for the weekend

2010-10-22T01:48:00.001-07:00

I have always wanted to try to paint on stones, but I have never actually did it. There is so much inspiration around the blogosphere, just google 'painted stones'. These retro-inspired stones loook really awesome, do not you think?

via ?

Garlands are great. They are really easy to do, very versatile and you can recyle any kind of paper to make them. I am planning to make something for my sons' room. Right now I am loving these little stars.

via boligliv

This lantern is a great way to reuse fabric scraps.

via ikea livet hemma

This hanging shelf may require some man power, but it is a great new way to display flowers.

via vt wonen

Originally it was meant to be wedding decoration, but it would make a nice autumn inspired centerpiece for your dining table. For instructions click here.

via oncewed

Click here for more easy and cheap decorating ideas for the weekend.

I wish you a nice and creative weekend!

design challenge: small space living

2010-10-21T00:47:00.000-07:00

Small is a relative concept. I realized it when a couple of years ago I saw an article in an American magazine about how to decorate a small room. All of the rooms showcased in the article were bigger than the apartment I was living in that time.

I think that living rooms are the most difficult to design because there are too many requirements a hard-working living room has to meet. For my family the living room is the most important room in our house. And it is really tiny. 20 nm2 including the dining area (I will adress that porblem later). I am quite satisfied with how it looks now, but we had had to rearrange it four times until we found this solution.

Designing a living room that is small can be really challenging, but not impossible. You just have to consider certain things before you start.

A living room must be multipurpose. Think about who will use the room and for what kind of activities.

fri

Provide enough space for everybody. Probably many things will happen here simultaneously and make sure that family members do not disturb each other.

dos

Create a space where the whole family can gather! Besides the individual activities the living room must be the space where to whole family can sit down together and enjoy each other's company.

dti

Do not have anything here that does not serve a purpose. If space is small, try to find interesting and aesthetically pleasing chairs, tables or storage instead of crowding the room with works of art or sohpisticated but impractical design objects.

bolaget

Storage is of key importance! Having easily accessible and well-designed storage ensures that your living room will not be overflown with clutter.

living agency

Keep the decor simple! A simple, muted color scheme can make a small room look bigger.

lonny

Inject some personality and fun! When you are at home, you probably spend most of your time in your living room. Make it a happy place!

design*sponge

Checklist:

(before designing a small living room consider the following)

Who will use the living room and for what kind of activities?
Will these activities take place simultaneously?
What kind of furniture do you need for these?
What are the things that you want to keep in your living room?
What kind of storage do you need for these?
How can you keep the room practical, low maintenance and hard-working as far as soft furnishing is concerned?

Tomorrow I will give you some easy decorating ideas for the weekend, so do not forget to check back!

perfectly composed: how to display a collection

2010-10-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy the 'perfectly composed' posts and you seem to like them, too, so I decided to take it to the next level and analyze a bit deeper why these rooms work so well.

Today I chose to deconstruct this little corner that houses a collection of old potteries and ethnic textiles.

I think from this angle these three rooms look perfectly together. Why?

The collection: is well-edited and displayed beautifully. Nothing is too much here!

The background: the soft white walls and the light brown floorboards provide the perfect background for the beloved objects.

The color scheme: soft, gentle, soothing pastels with understated shots of color.

The pictures: the three pictures visually link the rooms together (just like the floors and the same wall color).

The details: the blossomed branches add life to the interior. Due to their positioning they attract the eye towards the third room.

Lessons to learn about how to display a collection:

Keep the background simple
Let the collection be the focal point in your room
Editing is key!
Choose a type of storage that suits the displayed items
Do not be afraid to display different types of objects together, they can add to each other's aesthetic value
Display only things that you really cherish

all photos via fri

how to turn your house into a HOME?

2010-10-19T05:14:00.000-07:00

I have created five HOMES for my family so far and I am sure there will be more. I liked some of them more and some of them less, but I realized soon that there were some essential elements that could help to turn a house into a HOME. These are those basics that answer to our human needs and that help us feel calm, comfortable and safe. Regardless of your style and color preferences you can not create a HOME without them.

ART

Your home is a reflection of who you are and what is a better way to inject some personality into it than surrounding yourself with beautiful stuff that you really like.

REAL WOOD

Nothing can compare to the warmth of real wood. It symbolises the most profound connection with earth and it brings a sense of life into our home.

HANDMADE

Handcrafted items represent much more value than mass products. They connect us with others and remind us of a simpler and slower life.

NATURAL LIGHT

Light has an enormous healing power so let as much light in as possible. Instead of complicated and heavy window treatments opt for bare windows or sheer white curtains that multiple the effects of natural light.

EMBRACE YOUR PAST

Your home is the place where you can fell totally free, where you can be yourself. Nurture your soul and your heart by surrounding yourself with old photos and cherished objects. Connect yith yourself!

EFFICIENT STORAGE

This sounds less poetic than the others, but creating accessible and easy to manage storage can have a huge impact on our level of comfort and well-being.

PLANTS, FLOWERS

Even a small pot of wild flowers can lift our mood. Plants brings nature inside and make us feel connected to our roots.

TEXTILES

A woven rug, a sheepskin throw, linen curtains or hand-embroidered pillowcases are essential to feel warm, cozy and protected.

I am planning to write a post about each basic element with lot of pictures to inspire you.

If you like these ideas, check out my post on decorating in a simple way in which I write about how to avoid being a slave of a decorating trend.

What do you think? What are the essentials elements of a REAL HOME in your opinion?

all photos via design*sponge

5 free and easy activities with kids for rainy days

2010-10-15T01:29:00.000-07:00

Rainy and cold weekends are the biggest enemies of children, but you can always offer them some creative activity to overcome boredom. Many craft projects require preparation and shopping beforehand, but what to do if they are hungry for some entertainment RIGHT NOW? Here are some of the things we usually do when bicycle riding is not an option.

photo via design*sponge

***

THE MAGIC CRAFT BOX

I have a box in which I collect all kinds of papers like colorful wrapping, newspapers, catalogs, scrap papers and small cardboard boxes. Every time I find something nice, I put it in the box. When we open it, it is always full of surprises and it is a great way to recycle paper. Some time ago we made an underwater scene from scrap paper, but what else can you do from it?

Make paper food

We have a couple of round shaped cardboard sheets (from pizza packaging) that are great to turn into a pizza or a cake. The children can paint the cardboard bases, draw and cut out various pizza toppings like mozzarella, tomato, salami, pepperoni, etc. (or strawberry, lemon or icing if you want to make a cake) from colored paper and glue them on the base. PRONTO! (Alternatively they can cut out the picture of vegetables from a grocery store catalog.)

Play theatre

We made this yesterday and the kids loved it. We chose one of their favorite stories and created the characters (in our case a rabbit, a sheep, a donkey and the deer) and the main objects (in our case a carrot, a cabbage, a sweet potato and a turnip :-)) from paper. I let them draw and paint them so they ended up looking a bit weird, but in this way they could be part of the preparation! Then we sticked them to a straw and the play could begin. I read the story out loud and they played it with the little paper characters. We had great fun!

(My advice: if your kids are small, choose a simple story with only a few characters)

Organize a fun photoshoot for toys

My kids are getting more and more interested in photography and they love to take photos of their toys. Why not turn it into a real photoshoot? They could create and decorate a nice background using paper scaps and/or newspaper pages and they can create the setting they want with their favorite toys. Use different backgrounds for different types of toys! In our case it would be Star Wars, Hot Wheeels, Transformers, but I am pretty sure that we should make one for plush animals, too! (On the next level you tell a whole story with the pictures and turn them into a cartoon...)

Create a collage

This is a really simple activity, but my kids love cutting! Give them a catalog or a newspaper and let them put together their own collage. Our favorite theme is a Christmas tree decorated with ormanents cut out from last year's IKEA Christmas catalog with a sea of toys underneath (cut out from a toy catalog)! It works any time of the year, believe me!

Organize a treasure hunt

This requires more time, effort and imagination from the parents, but the children simply love it! Draw a simple map of your house in manner of a treasure map (indicate the doors, windows and furniture). In a box put together some items they would love (I usually use sweets, drinks, fruits or some small gifts if I have something) and hide it. Indicate different spots on the map from 1 to 10 with 10 being the place of the treasure box. Let them follow the spots and give them a simple assignment at every spot. They can go to the next one only if they successfully complete the challenge! I usually ask them to perform some physical activity, answer some questions, find different objects in the house, etc. Be careful, this activity is addictive! They will want to play it over again and again!!

These ideas might seem obvius to you, but I hope that at least I could inspire you to come up with many more simple and easy ideas for long and rainy weekends! If you have ideas like that feel free to leave a comment!