A 'funkis' B'day

I have been lucky enough to have had my b'day in the fabulous Sydney party season, and luckier still to  have received an amazingly cool b'day present from my very funky and fashionable sister, who knows me oh-so-well!!! Funkis clogs, YES, funkis clogs. Just the coolest and sassiest brand to roll off one's tongue.

I have very giddily and happily shown off my deliciously red pair in the first shot below. These charming and very cool clogs are designed in Australia and handmade in Sweden using only natural material... and each pair is unique!! I cannot wait to wear them out and show them off tomorrow. And if bringing clogs back in fashion with a bang was not enough, this very sassy company has other gems, such as bags, glasses, prints and vases, to name but a few... Funkis is my new favourite brand!!

 

Images courtesy of - bisera gondevska & funkis

A Sydney X-mas vibe

So goodbye Paris (for now) and hello wonderful sun-kissed and delicious Sydney! After what has been a big life move from one glorious city to another, and a two-week Nest of Pearls silence, one far too long to excuse, I'm using this lazy and fun-filled x-mas day to relaunch the spirit of the blog and share a wonderful little fresh and vibey interior that for me embodies so many wonderful ingredients that Sydney has to offer.

Designed by the Tribe Studio, who are based in Sydney's funky Surry Hills, this lolly, gem of an apartment belongs to a couple of bridge enthusiasts whose collection of games paraphernalia has been used to deck out the space and create an edgy yet soft, modern feel. Moreover, beautifully simple straight lines frame views of Sydney's Bondi beach as well as the harbour, and I simply love the warm, soft cherry colours, finding them totally appropriate for a relaxing and laid back xmas afternoon. 

Images courtesy of - tribe studio via afflante

A beautiful city concept of river & life

An incredible study of space, perception and concept, this touching instillation was realised by the Luzinterruptus street art team, in Caracas, Venezuela, as part of an annual urban art festival. This creatively ambitious and inspiring project, called Portable River, consisted of 2,000 transparent bags that were each filled with both water and life. Each bag acted as a small aquarium housing fish and plants, alongside tiny lights (fish and plants were plastic representations, just to make sure no-one was hurt).

The idea behind the project is simple yet breathtaking. The streets whereby the installation took place are prone to overflowing with water when rainy weather sets in, usually driving passers by indoors. What the artists wanted to achieve was to bring the element of water to the streets, in conditions different to that of the norm, such that the element of water could be viewed and interacted with in a completely new and original way. In the words of the artists, "We wanted to stop it (the water) for one night so that people could sit down and admire its beauty and, perhaps, think about the value of this element, essential to life and the challenge presented in bringing it closer to the citizens, especially in the big cities."

At the close of the night the visitors were invited to take the small bags, encouraging the river concept to overflow beyond that of just the street but into the different alleys, avenues and homes across the city. I love this concept because it invites people to interact, come together, laugh, and at the end reflect on a real & relevant message... all while changing what we know to be a rather mundane, everyday setting, the local street, into a vibrant and lively theatre where visitors are invited to inhabit and liven up the space as never before.

 Images courtesy of - luzinterruptus via my modern met

A stroke & a splash of WONDERFUL!!

Pinterest is a wonderful thing, really it is. I'm not paid to say this, far from it... but if you love design like I do, you can not only be up to date with the greatest and latest designs and architecture from whatever country, style, domain or designer you prefer, but also have the pleasure of knowing where each image came from, who designed the space, who shot the great photography, and who styled the dreamy setting...

So it is via Pinterest that I discovered the great blogging work of The Design Chaser, whereupon I found this fabulous selection of shots of a delectably simple yet mesmerising Copenhagen home published in the premiere issue of Elle Decoration Denmark. The styling is just soooo refined. I absolutely melt at the way rugged textures show off their sexy edges against the smoothness of the white interior. I also love the simplicity of black versus white, the balance between these two tones is just so perfectly strung that I cannot stop scrolling from one image to the next.

Such simple yet sophisticated interior invites a desire to add a splash of colour somewhere... and it's exactly what the stylist has done in some of the photos... the perfect touch achieved with the yellow chair, or a simple red stool, or perhaps the quirky round red dot splashes of the bag hooks.... and I simply adore the turquoise bathroom tiles...     

Original source and images courtesy of - the design chaser

Styling - stine langvad

Photography - line klein

Accessories designer - yvonne kone

Cutesy and charming Bordeaux Townhouse

I thought this would be one of the perfect posts to try and help finish my five years in France on a high note. As we're running around like chickens without heads, our clothes strewn everywhere and not quite fitting in the suitcases, all while polishing the parquet and stuffing things in the car to take to the Red Cross, Paris decides it's (again!!) time to rain. This has not only dampened our three layers of clothing but also our spirits... and the five sets of stairs sans lift, 'Mon Dieu'!!  If Paris keeps this up the goodbye will be much easier I say...

So back to some brightness. I have forced myself to take a little one-hour break from the madness and blog a little, knowing that it will lift my spirits and energy... and what better way than with this charming, bubbly and oh-so homey townhouse in Bordeaux, South-West of France. This incredibly cute and vintage-modern abode has been hand renovated and designed from scratch and with lots of love by owner and graphic designer Elodie.

Original article - est magazine

Photography by - julien fernandez 

The delectable Patrizia Morosa House

The colour, style and play on volume in the house of Patrizia Moroso is simply breathtaking. There is such a bold and sophisticated use of colour, dark rich primaries off-set with both simple and refreshing whites as well as with warm chocolaty browns. But beyond the colour there is the definite study of space and volume. 

What an amazing space the living room must offer, lowered down into a cozy nook, all while freedom of eye and spirit is reached through the elegant horizontal window at eye-level. The beauty and perfection of this apartment is not by mere coincidence. The eye behind this sexy space is Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola.

Images courtesy of - indecora