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archives |
Wednesday 03.10.10
unexpected guests: jasna janekovic.
today on unexpected guests we’re headed all the way to Germany, specifically, we’re dropping in on cologne-based graphic designer jasna janekovic. jasna has a sweet little home that she decorates with lots of love, and plenty of charm. she’s also incredibly creative, and multi-talented, with a wonderful line of accessories she sells in her dawanda shop. for more from jasna, follow her on flickr. for now, let’s take a hop over to visit to jasna’s home and studio in germany.
What city/neighborhood do you live in?
I live in Cologne in a part of the city where a lot of young families are living. I love the big park at the end of my street and the organic supermarket close to my home.
What is your idea of a perfect day in your city?
A perfect day is a sunny summer day with a light breeze (very rare in Cologne). The trees in my garden are whispering and rustling. And I listen to the birds of heaven. I am sewing a dress or a patchwork pillow after my morning meditation.
Then I ride my bike to the farmers market to buy some flowers, vegetable and raspberries. Back at home I cook a macrobiotic meal and read a sewing book in my garden or in the park. I order some new fabrics at some internet shops and paint new ideas in my sketchbook. I smell a summer lilac flower, while I m thinking about new projects. In the afternoon some women are coming over and I m giving a sewing lesson. We are sewing a big bag and having fun.
What don’t you leave home without?
I don’t leave home without my big patchwork bag (not made by me) and in wintertime without my hippie coat with brown fake fur. This coat is like a mother bear in the deep forest sleeping in a den.
What are a few of your favorite local shops?
My favorite local shop is a thrift store. Love the atmosphere there (it’s very tidy) and the smell of old things. Most of the things in my home are from there. I always find some beautiful kitchen stuff there. Lillyed für dich is one of a few shops in Cologne that sells products from House Doctor and other danish labels.
What’s on your wish list?
At first fabrics, fabrics and fabrics (Liberty fabrics!). I am always thinking about fabrics, pattern and colours. And I spend the most of my time looking for new fabrics in Internet shops. I am a Graphic Designer and my future plans are to design patterns for a fabric collections. I’m looking for a vintage school map at flea markets (for my future balcony) and for one of those wonderful botanical flower maps, Moroccan lamps, Afghanistan jewelry (I love ethnic jewelry), vintage suitcases, a funny, colourful cabinet from india, and enamel dishes.
What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
i have found a black tapiovaara chair at a building lot it was full of bird shit. i took it home and washed it in my garden. love this chair.
What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
I don’t like big flat screen TVs (I don’t have a TV) and big piles of CDs and DVDs. To much dark colours and cold decorations and built in kitchen with wall unit.
Who is your favorite artist? And why?
At the moment I like Rie Elli Larsen because it’s wonderful how she plays with patterns, colours and texture. and Anna Maria Horner — I love her Little Folks and Good Folks fabric collection. the Music artist I like Iron and Wine at the moment — so relaxed and down to earth.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere: magazines, blogs, flickr, shops, nature, people, my dreams, flea markets, thrift stores, vintage children books.
Do you collect anything?
vintage buttons, fabrics and ribbon. but I don’t just collect them, I really use them.
What’s your favorite feature in your home?
My apartment is only 32 qm small but it looks much bigger. In spring I will have a balcony. I m sure it will be my favourite place in summertime. Cant wait to look for some furniture for my balcony. I will decorate it like a room with pictures at the wall and piles of pillows and a lot of candles. I love the Goethe poems at my walls.
Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
I would like to sit with Buddha, Ramana Maharshi, Amma, Mooji or other enlightened people.
What is your most treasured belonging?
Nothing in my home was expensive, everything is from thrift stores, flea markets or Ikea (the furniture, but I have painted it ivory white, so it looks NOT Ikea like). I like every thing but especially things that are really old, like a wooden box with woodworm holes (for my ribbons at my workspace). I love baskets in every sizes and forms, and a Jesus picture from 1925 I found at the flea market some time ago. My mom is crocheting a granny squares blanket for me. I m sure it will be my treasured belonging in future when it will be finished.
What’s souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
My last trip was in Croatia, my hometown, and I brought back some fabric, ribbon and a cute vintage children’s book.
What is your greatest indulgence?
organic (vegan) and macrobiotic cooked food.
What is your idea of living hell?
working the whole day at a job you hate, living in a dark apartment on a loud street, having no energy and time for being creative.
Wednesday 03.03.10
unexpected guests: elisabeth dunker.
i’m so happy we’re headed to Gothenburg today, the second largest city in Sweden, to the home of photographer and designer elisabeth dunker of the blog fine little day. i have been a huge fan of elisabeth’s work for some time now, so to have her as an unexpected guest is quite a honor. elisabeth shares a studio with artist camilla engman, and together they have created studio violet.
you have no doubt seen their lovely work, and may know that i only use their journals to write my task lists each day. somehow their journals make my tasks seem that much less daunting! for more of elisabeth’s design work, check out her shop and studio voilet. so without further ado, let’s pop into elisabeth’s life in sweden for a bit.
What is your idea of a perfect day in gothenburg?
The sun is shining. Me, the kids and my husband are biking the cycle route along the sea side to Saltholmen, the ocean. We take a dip in the not too cold water and are having a picnic on the rocks. Then we stop by a couple of fleas on the way home.
What don’t you leave home without?
My mobile phone.
What’s your favorite local shop?
Holmens marknad, a big second hand store with furniture, household goods, books and a lot more. I go there as soon as I got a chance. One can find nice things for the kids there as well.
What’s on your wish list?
A summer house. Something like this maybe. Or this. Or this. Or why not like this?
What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
I like rough handmade stuff, toys, paintings, crafting. I also love to re-use objects.
What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
A whole home decorated in nothing but brand new Ikea furniture maybe?
Who is your favorite artist? And why?
For the moment, english ceramic artist Claire Loder. I just love her craziness and playfulness. Not only her ceramic work sparkles, take a look at her web identity.
Where do you find inspiration?
Above all – at flea markets, second hand — and antique stores. But a lot on the web too.
Do you collect anything?
I have several of items which I have more that five of, like sewing boxes, aprons, flower paintings… so yes I believe I do collect even if I don’t always plan to from the beginning.
If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
My self as a child. I have only a few photos of my self as a kid.
Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
My mother and my youngest sister, we meet too rarely. But next month we’re going on a trip together to Prague, that will be swell.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Berries with a lot of cream. Chocolate, Valrhona or Marabou Schweizernöt for the moment.
What is your most treasured belonging?
My camera and my computer. Boring answer but it’s true.
What’s souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
Napkins, cones and toe socks.
Greatest indulgence?
That would be books and magazines.
What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
Mieke Willems, Stork Bites Man, Weird Friends, Lena Sjöberg and many more.
Tuesday 03.02.10
ivy style.
i couldn’t help but notice how lovely this penthouse apartment was, when ivy style33 added it to the sfgirlbybay flickr pool. Ivy style33 is a freelance decorator and interior design consultant living in frankfurt, germany, and writes the design blog busy bee, as well as running the handmade and vintage-inspired etsy shop ivy style 33.
being me, always in love with crisp white and eclectic interiors, i wanted to share how ivy style33 puts affordable ikea pieces mixed with natural woods and neutrals to use beautifully in her home. you can easily see where ivy style33 got her taste – the mosaic below is her mother’s lovely home which she helped to renovate. thanks ivy style33 for sharing your inspiring images in the pool!
Wednesday 01.27.10
unexpected guests: Kootut murut.
today on unexpected guests we’re popping over to Oulu, in beautiful nothern Finland. we’re visiting Jutta of the blog Kootut murut. Jutta is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, but her blog, Kootut murut follows her home renovation project. jutta and her husband (and two very lovely dogs) are renovating and decorating a 1950’s wooden house they purchased just over a year ago, with traditional methods and thrifty finds. their home is warm and colorful (i shared jutta’s home in my turquoise round-up a few weeks ago), eclectic, and very creatively styled. so, let’s get to it, shall we?
What are some of your favorite local shops?
My favorites are mostly thrift stores. I’ve made a lot of great finds at SPR Kontti which is a charity shop for Finnish Red Cross and Real Kirppis. They both have some wonderful pieces of vintage furniture. And one of my favorite shops is Pioni Living. It’s packed with all kinds of beautiful things, flowers and home decor, plus the owner is so friendly it’s always nice to visit.
What’s on your wish list?
Eames Hang it All has been on my wish list for a looong long time, but my husband doesn’t get it. He says we don’t have a place for it (he might be right on that one). And a pink Tapiovaara Mademoiselle chair would be lovely.
What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
One of my favorite finds is the phone table in the entryway. I found it at a thrift store and was going to paint it white. But when we got the turquoise bird wallpapers up it went so perfectly with them that I left it as it was. Other than that my favorite pieces are hand-me-downs from relatives. I love my grandma’s old desk and furniture made by my husband’s great grand uncle. Maybe it’s the sentimental value, and of course they are beautiful :)
What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
If everything in our home was made of MDF and chipboard. I love wood because it’s so natural and ages so beautifully.
Who is your favorite artist? And why?
At the moment I’d say Catalina Estrada. I love how colorful and detailed her work is.
Where do you find inspiration?
Internet, blogs (I read a LOT of them), magazines, books. My dogs, I seem to always draw characters that bear a resemblance to our dogs, even when I’m not drawing dogs. Our house is a great source of inspiration for decorating and renovating ideas. It’s built in 1956 and we are the second owners so everything is pretty well preserved. We’ve peeled off layers of wallpapers and flooring and peeked what’s underneath. It’s so interesting seeing 50 years of history in our own home.
Do you collect anything?
I don’t try to collect anything specifically, but find myself having these little collections like vintage alarm clocks, vintage trays, old educational charts, tins and jars.
What’s your favorite feature in your home?
This is a hard one. Right now maybe the kitchen, even though we’re not finished renovating it. I was so unhappy with it before, because it was all white and beige in a very 1990’s style. We can’t make a proper kitchen remodel just yet, so my husband removed some of the upper cabinet doors to make open shelves and I painted the shelves pink and the cabinet doors pink and turquoise with a little cloud theme. It’s a much happier place now.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Chocolate. I eat chocolate every day. And blogs. I spend way too much time surfing the internet and especially blogs.
What is your idea of living hell?
Life without my husband and family, working in a non-creative 9 to 5 job without any creative outlet… Sounds awful!
What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
There are too many. I think I follow almost a hundred blogs. sfgirlbybay (of course!), Bliss , decor8, Fine Little Day and DosFamily . Just to name a few. There are so many wonderful blogs I read.
Some of my favorite Finnish blogs are Nestled In and Varpunen. Parolan asema has great DIY ideas and they also use traditional methods in their home renovation. Vihreä talo is written only in Finnish, but has the most beautiful photographs so it’s worth checking whether or not you understand a word of it.
Wednesday 01.13.10
unexpected guests: liz fabry.
today, we’re dropping in on the stylish mid-century modern home of advertising art director liz fabry in oklahoma city. i loved the images liz submitted to the sfgirlbybay flickr pool, and just had to delve a bit deeper into the designer behind the home. liz is a 25-year old, first-time home buyer (wow!), working in a creative ad agency, and having fun experimenting with decorating her very own place. liz hates anything too ‘matchy-matchy’ and has done an amazing job collecting some thrifty, yet great vintage modern furniture finds for her new home! let’s take a look at what liz has been up to thus far.
What neighborhood do you live in?
I just bought my first home in Oklahoma City’s Central Park neighborhood. I love it- it’s just a few miles north of downtown (where I work and play), and right inbetween a really upscale neighborhood and the ghetto — so I’m also hoping it’s up-and-coming (now that I’m aware of this strange new concept of “real estate value”).
What is your idea of a perfect day in Oklahoma City?
One where I don’t have to work. I’d eat out for each meal at a different place, and then go shopping and find the perfect purse to replace my current matt & nat one (it’s been 4 years). Then I’d cap it off with the perfect red-wine-drunk and bitch session with friends. And there’s cupcakes and coffee somewhere in there, too.
What don’t you leave home without?
Burt’s Bees chapstick. A flashdrive. My iPod nano. Hopefully pants.
What are some of your favorite local shops?
Blue Seven has a great selection of quirky gifts. And there’s this furniture/fixture liquidation store in the ghetto for hotels and motels that have closed that is HUGE and features entire rooms full of old chairs and lamps and stoves and desks and I can’t even really talk about it without hyperventilating. We also have an awesome Asian supermarket that’s just a lot of fun to walk around in and browse — I always find something new and interesting there. For like $0.75.
What’s on your wish list?
a Butcherblock countertop for the kitchen. The perfect backpack to carry all my crap across Europe this spring. A tufted velvet headboard. The ability to calculate sales tax in my head.
What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
I instantly value anything I’ve found on a curb more than the things I’ve paid for. And I’ve found some amazing mid-century modern furniture on Craigslist that was clearly being sold by someone who had no idea of it’s real worth.
Who are your favorite artists? And why?
Visual artist? I love all of Matte Stephens’ work — it’s graphic, mid-century-inspired, the color palettes are always perfectly vintage, and seriously, the guy’s name is Matte. What’s not to love? Musical artist? I adore Yo La Tengo. I can’t believe that Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan have been married and making consistently excellent music for over 25 years. Utterly inspirational.
Where do you find inspiration?
The millions of design/travel/interior websites and blogs I cruise everyday. The weather. Movies, and the soundtracks that make them come alive (I’m looking at you, Wes Anderson). Flickr. My talented friends.
Do you collect anything?
No. In fact, I am a notorious stuff-purger. Oh, wait…. oh lord. Chairs. Mid-century chairs! I have so many I can’t even see them as a collection, because they are a straight-up lifestyle. My house is under 1,000 sq. ft, but it can seat about 30. I’m probably just a stuff-purger to make room for all my chair-children.
What’s your favorite feature in your home?
I love the slightly creaky wood floors, though the (relatively) massive front porch and the fireplace tie for second.
If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
Gary Oldman. Dennis Leary. Wes Anderson. Henry Rollins. Marc English. David Bowie. Jamie Hince. Brendon Small. Alec Baldwin. Brad Neely. Yessss, I would photograph them. And then they would fall in love with me. It’s a foolproof plan.
Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
At the moment, my childhood girlfriends from northern Michigan. I usually only get to see them in the summer, so I always miss them the most in the dead of winter. And if those drinks could be enjoyed around a bonfire on the beach, I’d probably die of happiness. Or hypothermia. Because it’s very cold in Michigan right now.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Oh honey- I don’t feel guilty about any of my pleasures. I watch horrible television, eat out too often, pay too much for wine, and read my fair share of trashy novels. And I love it.
What’s souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
I went to the annual HOW Design conference in Austin with two designer friends and we all came back with typography tattoos. God bless 6th Street and Patron Silver!
What is your idea of living hell?
Being in a dead-end relationship and working a job I hate in a world without cheese. Or- having to wear mismatched socks. I’m fickle like that.
What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
ffffound (constant inspiration), jeremy and kathleen (and not just because my home renovation projects are regularly cataloged there), the sartorialist (hello, boys), photoshop disasters (keeps me sharp), the apache house (my favorite Oklahoma website), and craigslist (I’m a Missed Connections junkie).
