I was so excited when I woke up this morning to finally see the long awaited feature that FvonF, a German interiors blog based in Berlin, had planned for my friend, Sandra Juto, and her husband Johan Pergenius! Here is a quick peek into their Berlin apartment, located in Friedrichshain, but the FvonF blog has many more photos plus a lovely interview.
I put FvonF in touch with Sandra and Johan not long after they moved to Berlin from Sweden, so it was good to see that FvonF fell in love with Sandra and Johan too. It makes me happy to see more of Sandra’s apartment online – I’ve often wondered what her kitchen looks like – now I know. Her pretty apartment is so inspiring to me – I love the old German ‘altbauwohnung” details seen in so many of the turn of the century buildings that we have here. The herringbone wooden floors, high ceilings, plasterwork on the ceiling, it’s all so inspiring to me. I love the natural light and the painted wooden floors in Sandra’s office. Don’t forget to notice how she arranged her Polaroids on the wall…
I LOVED the part of their interview where they went into a bit of the emotional process involved in finding their apartment. I’ll quote Sandra and Johan directly from FvonF . Sandra explained, “The online photos of the apartment looked so terrible (in an intriguing way) that we had to come see it to compare it to the other, more polished, places we had looked at. When we stepped inside we looked at each other and we couldn’t ignore the fact that we both had fallen in love with the place. The condition of the apartment was more or less a disaster. The previous tenant lived here for 40 years before she died and seemed to like chain-smoking more than cleaning.” And I couldn’t help but laugh at how Johan described the first viewing, “When we showed up for the viewing, the real estate agent said we were brave to come see it. He was sitting in his car outside because he was so sure that no one would come.” What a riot! And what a good example of how one has to believe in something for themselves – who cares what others think – even when it comes to home selection. YOU have to love it.
View the entire interview here.
(images: Philipp Langenheim)
I have to tell you about this amazing new company that Grace Kang started called Olive Box. First of all, Grace is an amazing PERSON. Yeah, her bio is impressive but the kind of stuff that never makes it to a resume is what I really value about Grace… She’s the real deal and has been so super supportive of me and my career that I cannot help but be eternally grateful.
But beyond that, Grace is one heck of a business woman. As a former buyer at Barneys AND Bloomingdale’s alone with being the founder and current lady in charge over at the Pink Olive in NYC, she definitely has a good business head on her shoulders. That is why I believe in her new project, a company called Olive Box and want to share it with you. What’s Olive Box all about? Oh, you’ll want to read on…
Olive Box is a subscription service meant to spread the love – the love of snail mail and receiving delightful gifts each month in your mailbox. As a member you will receive a box of paper & lifestyle products (including a lovely book from time to time, hint hint) delivered to your front door each month, “From cards to artwork to inspiring books and gifting ideas, you never know what exciting products you will unwrap each month.” Each box has a theme that is a surprise and will include goodies that support that theme.
Pretty Boxes of Paper Goodies Monthly? SIGN ME UP, rights?!?
In fact, if you are a member, you will soon receive a special box that includes a signed copy of my upcoming book, Decorate Workshop! I can’t reveal WHICH month, but if you join soon you will have it. I’ve included a sneak peek of THAT box above. :)
(photos: olive box)
I am SO EXCITED to announce this super duper giveaway sponsored by my publisher, Chronicle Books! They are giving one of you an opportunity to win this incredible box of loot. I picked every single thing out by hand and they’re shown and listed below – a $500 value, too! Oh my!
When Chronicle asked that I go shopping for a giveaway, I was beyond happy to say yes so I gathered some of my favorite things and this gift box is the result. I thought that since I’m in my work studio the most, and that I am always super inspired when I’m working in this space, that I would give someone all of my favorite things that I think everyone should have around them as they’re blogging, reading blogs, working, crafting, making, etc. In my upcoming book, Decorate Workshop, I share my studio space and how I planned it out from the initial mood board to the “after” photos, so I wanted the gift box to also relate to the book so why not include things that I use and love at home?
To ENTER to win you need to CLICK HERE (Note: You’ll notice official rules of entry linked there as well).
So dear friends, here are a few of my favorite things from shops that I love like Anthropologie, West Elm, Jonathan Adler, Chronicle Books + More! The best part is, every single item will be included in your super special gift box if you win – Winner takes ALL!
- How I wish to inspire others: Signed ADVANCE copy of my new book Decorate Workshop
- What’s on my bookshelf: Signed copy of my first book Decorate
- Music that I blog and work by: Au Revoir Simone –The Bird of Music CD
- Why I’m always (cough, cough) on time: ASOS Moustache Face Expander Watch
- For decorating my walls: Limited edition print, Upside Down, from my favorite American artist, Jennifer Davis
- What I hang up when I celebrate: Rifle Paper Co. Botanicals Garlands
- Where pretty flowers on my desk go: Jonathan Adler Utopia Williamsburg Vase
- Where I write my dreams & goals: Liberty Floral Notebook Set
- How I stay in touch with those I love: Liberty Floral Notecards
- What I use to pin things onto my mood board: Ceramic Flower Pins
- This glows on my desk, particularly on gray days: Voluspa Cut Glass Jar & Candle
- I’m obsessed with washi tape so this holder is a favorite: Squirreled Away Tape Dispenser
- This is how I remember what day it is because I’d forget otherwise: Globe Trotter Calendar
- I tell everyone to buy this if they need help decorating for parties: Pretty Paper Parties by author & blogger Vana Chupp
- It’s important to open new doors and to love your home and so I had to have this: Stone House Doorstop
ENTER TO WIN everything above by CLICKING THIS LINK.
Thank you so much – I can’t wait to see who wins! If it’s you, please let me know by sending me a photo of you with your loot or something, that would be sooo cool to see all of my favorite things in your home or office.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Remember: ENTER HERE (not on my blog!) – Thank you!
And thank you so much Chronicle Books and especially to my wonderful publicist, Lorraine!
I HAVE CLOSED COMMENTS ON THIS POST TO AVOID CONFUSION AS TO WHERE TO ENTER, please enter here: http://budurl.com/Decor8Giveaway
(images: linked to their sources above.)
What brings you joy in your home? How do you keep it fresh? Where do you keep the objects that speak to you and bring comfort? I have my favorite things mostly on shelves where I can see them or in cabinets with glass doors. I also try to keep my cherished possessions together vs. spread about all over my home because then my house doesn’t become too cluttered or a pain to keep clean.
Containing my collections is also good for times when I want a little decorating therapy. What I mean by this is that oftentimes, when I feel stressed, I will ‘tinker’ about with my things much like a gardener will disappear in the yard weeding or tending to plants, picking off dead leaves or snipping away wilted and crusty bits.
I’m not much of a gardener, so I tend to my home. I enjoy playing around with the arrangements of things and like to rearrange often so that the energy is forever flowing. When I keep objects in a single place for too long my space begins to feel stagnant, so I shuffle stuff around to loosen the energy and set things flowing freely — and properly — again.
I don’t like a sluggish vibe at home, it holds me back. When I’m tinkering, I often consider the objects and whether I can edit some things out and mix others in to provide a better energy or a different feeling to the space. I work with color this way, too.
How do you approach redecorating, rearranging, or “tinkering” about in your home? I often wonder if others view decorating as a sort of therapy, do you? Does your home ever feel like it is stagnant and when it does, do you decorate to loosen the soil (so to speak)?
(image: holly becker for decor8)
Do you have a second to spare? I would like for you to meet a few sweet new friends of mine for just a moment. These ladies are my awesome threesome. They were handmade by Jess Quinn in England and for this photo, I’ve placed them on a linen sofa in my work studio so I could show them to you. Very soon, these charming little ladies will end up in a glass cabinet in my spare bedroom, or on a bench there, and eventually I may hand them down to others in my family who will adore them as much as I do at this moment.
I’m not sure what it is exactly about handmade dolls, but I’ve always have a thing for them. Whether a handmade doll or bear, I’ve always felt a connection to soft toys. I love the details, the stitch work, seeing the seams. Handmade objects are so precious. Someone sat down and not only put great thought into how each doll would look but then, in bringing her to life through embroidered facial expressions and sweet little outfits designed with heart. How can you not be charmed by a pretty doll, but also by the entire process behind it and of the artist behind each sweet little face?
For some cute dolls of your own, please visit Jess Quinn’s online shop here.
(image: holly becker for decor8)
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