Sukha Amsterdam

Beautiful. For men and animal! Clothes, furniture, jewelry, workshops and even travels made with love and attention. That was the vision of the owner of Sukha in Amsterdam. She created a modern litlle departmentstore with style. Worth the visit!

Het grote avontuur

Last weekend I visited a cute little shop in Amsterdam: Het grote Avontuur. You can find all kind of things there for your house which they collect from all over the world. With one thing in common: they are all sweet. Grandmother-hip in a flowery decor!

Urban Knitting

I just love the trend of Urban Knitting. It's almost streetpoetry to see the vibrant colors and textures in combination with the raw concrete of the city. During the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven you can try it yourself in a workshop at Tante Netty.

Little black book

My compliments to the marketingpeople of the Moleskine notebooks. They really master the art of adding emotion to a simple black book. They made a campagne which is nominated in the Design Awards for Best Motion Design during the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. In my opinion a winner!

Autumn in the air

Check out the latest autumn catalogues from Toast (fashion and house&home) to get that real countrysite feeling. Stunning colours and pictures!

The Otherist

A cabinet of curiosities. In the middle of Amsterdam. The shop The Otherist sells uniquely handmade items that suppose to wow, amaze and surprise. And that they do. Wow!

Poetry in ceramics

Spotted in a shop in Amsterdam the other day. The most beautiful ceramics made by the swedisch Karin Eriksson. Pure poetry!

Teabag poetry

Yesterday I celibrated my birthday at the very cosy and delicious restaurant Claire in Eindhoven. As a real green tea addict I just loved their Tea Forte. There even is poetry in a teabag ;)

Eclectic

I spotted some beautiful eclectic jewellery in Portugal. It turned out to be made by the Israelic jewellery designer Ayala Bar. She gets her inspiration from everyday life: colors of the fruitmarket to the organic thin veins of a leaf. She uses multi coloured gemstones, beads, pearls, fabric and crystals.

One of a kind

Sui Generis is the latin expression for ‘unique in its characteristics’. Bar,restaurant & beachclub Sui Generis located on the Island of Faro is unique indeed. In the middle of wooden holidayhouses this modern concrete building stands out immediately. Sitting with your toes in the sand, overlooking the sea, nibbling on some fushion sushi made by a Brazilian chef. No wonder we wanted to stay. Forever. 

Bohemian chic

TMcollection is a fashion and home design company under the creative direction of the Portugese Teresa Martins. During my holidays I visited her shop in Almancil near Faro. Teresa uses beautiful materials such as silks, cottons, linens & wools with special printings, texture and delicate embroideries. The outcome has an artistic, etnical, bohemian chic feel to it. Beautiful!

New pics Yerse

They did it again. Breathtaking pictures of their new autumn/wintercollection.Yerse.

Manila Grace

Also seen in Florence: the Italian fashionbrand Manila Grace. Clothes from beautiful fabrics with nice details. Something to remember for a next time in Italy.

Caffe Pitti in Florence

This summer I found a  culinary haven in lively Florence. Just a step away from Ponte Vecchio, in front of the imposing entry to Palazzo Pitti you’ll find Caffe Pitti. For an excellent dinner or delicious light lunch. The kitchen follows the flavours and traditions of typical Florentine dishes with a pinch of modern creativity. In the adjoining shop - with marvelous tiles  - you can buy their wines and truffles as  a special souvenir.

Pure in Domburg

To try-out our borrowed campervan we started our holiday in the little beachtown Domburg. We already knew that the province Zeeland is beautiful and brings back lots of nostalgic feelings. But is it also hip and trendy? Judging by de Domburgsche Bier en melk salon we say YES! It’s a perfectly decorated eatcafe and shop that combines nostalgia with pure and honest food and drinks. And in summer they fill picknickbaskets to take away to the beach!

Good Earth

Last summer we were in India. And in the midst of all the overwhelming and colorful bustle of Delhi we found a haven of serenity. Good Earth is a shop and café situated at Kahn market. The owner believes that true luxury is in the detail of everyday living. It is in being surrounded by pure and natural materials that have been handcrafted and thoughtfully designed. Sigh…

Berlin in Antwerp

Make sure when you plan a shoppingroute in Antwerp (sale has already started)to include Berlin. This brasserie has a great urban feel to it and serves the best daily’s in town.

Darlinghurst

After a few months travelling Australia in a little campervan we craved for some luxury in Sydney. We found it in a quirky boutique hotel Altamont in the great neighbourhood Darlinghurst. Packed with cosy café’s and restaurants. And what a treat it was to have Govinda’s, a movietheatre where you can watch movies lying on gigantic cushions, right next door. The ultimate luxury was getting a haircut at hip and happening hairdressers Sas and Lou!

Elements of the island

A few years ago we made a trip around the world which we ended - totally relaxed - at Isla Mujeres in Mexico. It’s a little island surrounded by turquoise water in the bay of Cancun. Absolutely laid-back with a bit of a hippy-feeling. Our favorite breakfast/coffee café was Elements of the islands. A little oasis with healthy food, yogaclasses on the rooftop and earthly decorated apartments for rent. The kind of place that you remember back in Holland on a rainy monday morning…

Simply Muji

How beautiful can simple design be! You can tell that retailer Muji has its origin in Japan. Basic, pure and simple. The products, the shops, the packaging, everything is just right. It simply is what it is. They sell stationery, travelaccessories, storagestuff, clothes and toys. Unfortunately not yet in Holland. Try the one in Paris or visit them online.  

Merci Paris





Last Christmas we were in Paris and I seized the opportunity to visit Merci. The conceptstore on the outskirts of the cool neighbourhood Le Marais is amazing! A dazzling mix of fashion, interior, vintage, books and a great café in an industrial setting. Loving it!

Yerse

Another fashionlabel that’s sweet to women and girls with hips is the Spanish brand Yerse. The frontpage of the website starts with a beautiful photostream shot by Wai Lin Tse. 

Toast

In my worldwide search for fashionlabels that also consider women with curves I came across TOAST. This UK company makes clothes (up to and incluiding size 44/46) with simple lines and beautiful details. There is also a house&home section. Check the online magazines with breathtaking photographs and smart styling.

Lof der Zoetheid

When we were in Rotterdam the other day we stumbled by chance upon a little cornercafé for breakfast and lunch, Lof der Zoetheid. The place is run by a mother and daughter with Russian roots. Elena’s specialty is patisserie and Anastacia is cook and graphic designer. They serve the most delicious, pure, homemade food (that also looks great). Lof der Zoetheid also does really creative foodprojects and catering.

Villa Augustus

I have a softspot for old buildings turned into new possibilities. A great example is Villa Augustus in Dordrecht. A majestic water tower from 1882 situated at the Wantij turned into a hotel, restaurant, market-café and vegetable garden. The interior design, the respect for monumental features, the graphics, the things they sell in the shop, the location at the water, the menu. It’s a real treat for all senses.

Pure in Antwerp

The theme in this cute little shop A. Puur a. in Antwerp is pure materials. Shopowner and designer Katrien Buyle collects products from linen, wood and leather with a fairytale beauty. Bags, butterflies, jewels, notebooks, stationery, cushions and more. A shop where you can snoop around and forget the time. Kammenstraat 89. 

De broers van Julienne

Whenever I’m in Antwerp I try to make a pitstop at De broers van Julienne. A restaurant (and take-away) with the most delicious vegetarian- and fishdishes. Quiches with salmon, tempura from scampi, tomato-carrotsoup, stews, almond-pearpie. It’s all mouthwatering. Funny detail: de name of the restaurant refers to the choppingmethod for vegetables ‘a la julienne’. The good news is they opened a second place in the citycenter!

Anthropologie

A few years ago when I was in LA for the first time I came across a great shop: Anthropologie. A mix of clothes, interior, accessories, beautyproducts, and books. All  with a bohemian, folkloristic flavor. I am absolutely in love with it. Luckily they opened a shop more within reach, in London and a beautiful website which also delivers overseas.

En route!

In my recollection it’s always raining in the Ardennen. Dark, wet and spooky. Not last weekend though. With three friends and two dogs we walked a part of the Pelgimsroute to Santiago de Compostella. In two days fifty kilometers of sun! Meadows with flowers. Little rivers cutting through the landscape. Wooden bridges. But also breathtakingly steep hills, deep drop downs and sore feet. When we thought we couldn’t make another move, there it was. An old mansion from 1895 turned into a Bed and Breakfast. Entre Deux Pays in Spa. The friendly owners Erika and Rob just opened it last april. They decorated the place with great vintage furniture. The full breakfast was just what we needed to continue our route the next day!

Made by Lennebelle

At the Swanmarket in Rotterdam I came across the jewels of Made by Lennebelle. Delicate and sweet. With tassels in different colors like blossom pink, violet purple and spring green. Super cute presented in a test-box.

Up & personal in Barcelona

Last may I discovered a hidden gem in Barcelona. Rigth in the middle of the upcoming neighborhood Poble Nou there is a place were you feel like home. Bed and Breakfast Poble Nou is run by the friendly hostess Mercedes who gives her guests a warm welcome. A sunny courtyard is surrounded by gracefully decorated rooms with names like: the Gaudiroom and the Picassoroom.  Our room had a  gorgeous original tiled floor. The beach is just a few minutes away. So is the metro to the centre of the city. The perfect getaway to have the best of both worlds.

Norwegian wood

I have a real soft spot for movies which have beautiful art-direction. Images that take your breath away. And yeah…I’m also a sucker for romance and drama. All those elements are combined in Norwegian wood, which I saw the other day at Plaza Futura. The movie is based on the novel from the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and tells the story of young people falling in love and the pain of letting go. Images of the city (notice the great retro interiors) contrast stunningly with images of nature. Melancholy and poetic!

Up on the roof

Picture this. A roof of an abandoned railwaystation with puddles of rainwater. In the background the skyline of Rotterdam during sundown. Trains come and go. Birds fly over. In this vivid decor the dancers of the dutch modern dance company Conny Janssen danst brought their show Common Ground last year. I still have the images in my mind. Pure beauty that only comes by every once in a while. The citysounds, the surroundings, the wonderful movements, the music. Everything came together!