5 Happy Inspirations: Hump Day Picks

Wednesdays are happy days cause they're hump days. We've climbed the hump and there, at the horizon, we can spot it. The eternal goal of every week, the reason why we dig through Mondays, crawl through Tuesdays and fight through Wednesdays. It is the weekly joy called weekend. But up to then, we have to tackle our duties and errands and brighten up our days with happy homes and home accessories. So today's hump day picks should do to make it through this Wednesday, don't you think? 

1. Gray 50 Gervasoni desk designed by Paola Navone via milanari.com; 2. Diddy vases by Nordic House; 3. Cloud art by iamDANDHYs; 4. Downtown basket by Rose & Grey; 5. Bike cushion by Rory Hutton.

Happy hump day, friends!

Why This Room Caught My Eye

What I love about Tuesdays is that Monday is over and that I am sharing another room that caught my eye this week with you. Today I would like to share a bedroom, actually a guest bedroom, with you. I found this pic on 'The Design Files' and this room belongs to the home of Australian blogger Kirsty Davey. This room caught my eye because of its calming serenity and pureness. It is somehow simple yet totally refined. But let me break it down to three major visual cues:

• Ethnic wall hanging: The decorative centerpiece is the ethnic wall hanging above the bed. Being almost the only decorative element, it strikes the visitor's eye with its dominating size, pattern, texture and earthy colours which perfectly match the wood used in this room.
• Rubber tree: The second decorative element is the rubber tree. I am a huge fan of plants in homes and the rubber tree is a fabulous, sculptural plant to add to a room. Moreover, it reminds me of my childhood. My mother used to have several rubber trees in our home. 
• All white bedding: Even though I love colours and patterns, sometimes an all white bed is strikingly stylish and super inviting. The crisp white sheets recall the serenity of a good night's sleep and the happiness of waking up with the sunrays peeking through the window. Simple bliss!

What caught your eye in this room? Do you like it or is it too 'simple' for you?

Photography by Brooke Holm, Production Lucy Feagins for The Design Files

From Place To Space: Design in Copenhagen - Part One

Some of you know that I spent three days in Copenhagen, Denmark, full of design and blogger fun two weeks ago. Eight bloggers from eight European countries were invited by the DesignTrade show to dive into the essence of Danish design and get a profound understanding of the country's design scene. All this has a goal: our participation at the DesignTrade show later this year.

Now, I brought so many inspirations, pictures and stories back from Copenhagen that I've decided to split them up in a few 'From Place To Space' posts over the coming weeks. I hope you will enjoy!

So let us start with the first day of our Copenhagen adventure. Our first day was marked by a swift check-in at the boutique hotel 'Andersen' and getting comfy in our colourful rooms. Shortly after that, a small bunch of crazy bloggers set off to the headquarters of Muuto, probably one of the most gleeful Danish design brands. We were welcomed by Line, the press rep, who gave us a thorough introduction to Muuto and showed us around. We were even allowed to enter the design area where we got a sneak peek of the yet to come collection (though no pics allowed). As you can imagine I was all happy and jumping around with all the colours. Later, we joined the entire Muuto crew on their sublime rooftop terrace for a delicious organic brunch under the Danish sun.

Afterwards we headed off to the famous Royal Danish Playhouse, an award-winning landmark building situated on the harbour front with spectacular views. We were welcomed by the crew of the Rosendahl Design Group who invited us over for a Danish luncheon in the stylish reception area fully equipped with the iconic Verner Panton Tivoli chairs. Swoon! After lunch we had a guided tour through the theater's premises including backstage area, costume design, actors' restaurant, and all topped with amazing skyline views over the Copenhagen harbour.

The first day was rounded-up with a Kinfolk-esque dinner at a stylist's home. I blogged about it HERE and HERE.

So enough daydreaming this time, off to tackle this Monday. Next week we will continue the Copenhagen adventure. Happy new week, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Ideas For A Happy Weekend

It's all about 'flower power' this weekend! One of the things that I love to do on weekends, is getting a fresh bunch of flower to inaugurate the weekend in a bloomy mood. I always feel so inspired when I'm reading two of my favorite flower blogs - 'Madame Love' and 'Glomerylane' - and I immediately want to run out, go to the market and buy a fresh blooms to decorate my home.

This week I was totally smitten and happy when a voluptuous bunch of red blooms arrived by mail at my home. It was a surprise delivery from the new flower subscription service 'Bloomy Days' here in Germany (by the way, also one of my 'Happy Sponsors'). How cool is it to get fresh blooms delivered every week to your door? And the fun fact: You ever know what to expect, every week you are surprised by a new selection of fresh and seasonal flowers.

So, I swiftly opened the cardboard box and discovered a lush bunch of red blooms - deep red peonies accompanied by velvety roses and ambrosial sweet williams. I loved the fact that the blooms were ready made for a vase, freshly cut and all leaves from the lower part of the stems have been removed. I placed them in a simple vase and now my entire apartment smells like a symphony from a botanical garden. Now isn't this a bloomy start into the weekend? Will you get some fresh flowers this weekend?

Photography by Igor Josifovic

People, Food, Styling: The Ingredients Of A Happy Home

Last Friday I took you along to an enchanting dinner at the home of Copenhagen based stylist Nathalie Schwer. It was part of our design blogger tour for DesignTrade and hosted by Nathalie, Broste Copenhagen, Le Creuset and Simply Chocolate and put in magic photography by the impeccable Line Thit Klein. Today, I want to share a few more shots from this evening that lingers in my memory as a delightful experience of happiness. Because it had all the great ingredients that make a happy home.

A gathering of friends, good local food prepared with love, a beautiful home styling - the secret to a happy home is no magic spell. It is something natural and practiced throughout the history of mankind. Gathering around food, in shelters made warm and safe has been a natural habit in the early times of human existence. And the essence has remained the same: we gather around good food with people we love in houses we made our homes with personal styling and character. 

That is exactly the magic that happened last week on a Tuesday eve in Copenhagen. The simple magic of people, food and beautiful interiors. A gathering in a happy home.

Photography by Line Thit Klein

New Home Textiles: Bemz & Designers Guild

Two weeks ago I was invited to the press event of Bemz at the Designers Guild store in Munich. The reason was the new home textile collection of Bemz and Designers Guild. So I rushed directly after work to the store and was welcomed by the charming founder of Bemz, Lesley Pennington. 

While sipping on a glass of bubbles and nibbling on tasty tidbits, Lesley introduced me to the beautiful new collection. Bemz is known for its custom made home textiles that match a big variety of Ikea products, thus add more personality and individuality to your favorite Ikea pieces. The new collection is compiled of luxury linen for happy homes, all made of Designers Guild's popular Brero pre-washed linens. I am currently craving linens so I was totally in love to see and feel the new collection. I love the haptic of linens and the subtle colours are ideal for a summery vibe at home.

I particularly fell in love with the Brera Lino fabric in the pale blue Duck Egg shade as curtains - these look so dreamy and cosy and remind me of salty sea breezes blowing into the home through open windows. Now if a fabric can make you daydream like this, I think it's a safe investment for the happy home. Well, I better get measuring my windows.

If you want to see more of the new Bemz collection, click HERE.

How do you like linen for home textiles? Do you own any at home and where do you use them?

Photography by Bemz, last shot by Littlestar Blog

5 Happy Inspirations: One Must Dash!

Today I would like to introduce you to my latest 'Happy Sponsor' - One Must Dash! The funky online shop for art prints and more home accessories is the concoction of two happy Swedish girls who share a passion for the same kind of humour and interior design. And their great humour shines through from start to end - even the name 'One Must Dash' sound like 'One Moustache' and thus a few products play with the hipster symbol of moustaches.

Their funky world is marked by a Scandinavian mix of white, black and grey hues and make bold statements - be it a graphic pattern or a funny quote. So do you still have that blank area on your wall that would need some embellishment? Why not checking out the funky and witty selection over at 'One Must Dash'? I've compiled my five favorites here. Which ones do you like?

Happy Wednesday, friends!

This post was kindly sponsored by One Must Dash

Photography via One Must Dash