The fabulous black and white home of Dutch blogger

Following the success of yesterday's 'blogger home tour' post I thought I'd show the fabulous home of another blogger today. I've actually shown parts of Desiree's (of Vosges Paris fame) Dutch home before here. But recently Holly Marder has been in to take pictures from another angle for SOFFA magazine . And what fabulous shots they are! Here's a selection from Desiree's oh so cool black and white kitchen, sitting room and bedroom. Enjoy!

Photography: Holly Marder/ Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Photography: Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle. Home Vosges Paris

Thank you to Holly and Desiree for the kind permission to share. You can read more about the home here.

I had the pleasure of meeting Holly a few months back when she came to style my home for a shoot (photos available for purchase here). She's such a talented stylist and photographer!

Could you do black and white throughout your home? I like to use it as a base for all my decorating.

Have a lovely day! 

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Tina Fussell's lovely Danish home

Hello! I hope you had a great weekend? I'm not sure if you remember, but last summer I had a visit from the wonderful stylist Holly Marder and photographer Jansje Klazinga (resulting in these shots of my home). As part of their tour they also photographed Tina Fussell's home in Copenhagen. I've had the pleasure of meeting Tina of Traveling Mamma several times and she's as lovely as she is talented (Tina works as a stylist, blogger and photographer. Tina and her husband and two children recently returned after a six month stint in their home country of the USA.  Her lovely Danish home is featured in this month's edition of Dutch magazine Ariadne at Home. Here's a sneak peek.

 Photography Jansje Klazinga,Styling: Holly Marder (Avenue Lifestyle). Home-owner: Tina Fussell

 Photography Jansje Klazinga,Styling: Holly Marder (Avenue Lifestyle). Home-owner: Tina Fussell

 Photography Jansje Klazinga,Styling: Holly Marder (Avenue Lifestyle). Home-owner: Tina Fussell

 Photography Jansje Klazinga,Styling: Holly Marder (Avenue Lifestyle). Home-owner: Tina Fussell

 Photography Jansje Klazinga,Styling: Holly Marder (Avenue Lifestyle). Home-owner: Tina Fussell

 Photography Jansje Klazinga,Styling: Holly Marder (Avenue Lifestyle). Home-owner: Tina Fussell

 Photography Jansje Klazinga,Styling: Holly Marder (Avenue Lifestyle). Home-owner: Tina Fussell

 Photography Jansje Klazinga,Styling: Holly Marder (Avenue Lifestyle). Home-owner: Tina Fussell

Welcome home the Fussell's!

There are so many great things about Tina's home - the inspiring office space, a bathroom cabinet updated with leather handles, or how about the black accent wall in the kitchen? I really love the hints of light blue too, it makes me want to block paint an item in my own kitchen, how about you?

Other fab spaces with a touch of blue include this, this and this one. Which shade would you choose?

Before I head off - I have some exciting news. This spring I'll be taking the stage at The Hive 2015 - a gathering of digital storytellers, tastemakers and bloggers in Berlin. Seeing my name among the list of speakers makes it scarily real and so exciting - I can't wait to share some of the things I've learned about blogging over the years. I must admit I'm slightly fearful of public speaking but was inspired to step out of my comfort zone by these quotes (so true don't you think?!). Will you be there too?

Have a lovely day! 

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Holly's beautiful sitting room make-over

Hej hej! One of my favourite interior designers, Holly Marder, is doing up her house in Delft, Holland bit by bit and I'm glued to her blog Avenue Lifestyle, for updates! It's such a treat every time she completes a room (see Holly's beautiful kitchen, bedroom and studio and you'll know what I mean)! Today I'm excited to reveal Holly's lovely new sitting room where she has used white washed walls and sheer linen curtains (source similar, made to measure ones here) as a neutral backdrop for a beautiful blend of vintage, mid-century, and modern designer pieces as well as handmade ceramics and a selection of artowrk.  Enjoy!

Photography / interior design: Holly Marder - Avenue Lifestyle. 

Such a stunning room, don't you think? Relaxed, calm, interesting and above all else cosy!

Holly is a master at gallery walls (I also love the one she created in a client's bedroom in Amsterdam). Here she's combined oak, walnut and white frames with a mix of contemporary and traditional art including 'dragonfly' by Eile-Ethel Polli, 'nude painting of one minute pose' by Gretchen Kelly, and 'eye eye' by Fine Little Day. Such a lovely combination!

I also like how she has used a mid-century bar cart to fill the gap next to the chimney breast (I still love my bar cart but wondering where to put it right now since acquiring this brass one, I'm sure it'll find a home soon! Thoughts?!). You can source a similar vintage mid-century bar cart here.

Is there anything that stands out to you?

Get the look from Holly's sitting room: Flos pendant light, source a vintage Beni Ourain rug here, the sofa is from the SofaCompany.  These fab vintage mid-century trolleys / bar carts are similar. Flos parentesi light, African Bingan basket, hand turned plates on wall by Julie Alrichem.  Glass coffee table,  white plate from The Fine Store (on table).

The sun's shining here in Malmö so I've promised to take a walk along the beach before starting to write a chapter for my new book - Lagom (a Swedish philosophy meaning not too much, not too little - just right!). It feels apt in today's world where we're all rushing about and connected 24/7. The book is very much about slowing down and finding balance, the Swedish way - whether at home, or through activities like blackberry picking , kayaking, baking bread, swapping your car for a bike or even finding a beautiful old cottage by the sea in which to relax and unwind in the holidays! I hope you'll find it inspiring! 

Have a lovely day!

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The calm, natural kitchen

I was getting a little tired of being at home this week so I've re-located to a little café by the sea. They do a great porridge (have you heard of Grod in Copenhagen which only serves porridge? - I must pop over the bridge and pay them a visit!). Admittedly it was also to escape my kitchen which is in desperate need of a make-over.  This is why I was delighted to discover Holly Marder's inspiring new kitchen. As we know from her beautiful bedroom and studio, Holly has an entirely unique signature style, with a penchant for warm, earthy tones and natural textures. In other words, everything she touches literally turns to gold! Holly's make-over is a lesson in combining beautiful craftsmanship and maximising use of space for a truly functional, yet calm kitchen.

 

Photography and design: Holly Marder / Avenue Lifestyle. 

What a fabulous space?! I love that it has a slight mid-century vibe - and everything looks so calm. 

I couldn't imagine getting heated over anything here could you?  I'm thinking back to Saturday when I tried to make a chocolate meringue cake, in Swedish, with three young kids - let's just say I'll be sticking to cupcakes for a while! Or perhaps arts and crafts (hey, I know my strengths!).

Get the look from Holly's lovely kitchen: custom oak door fronts by Koak Design, walnut pulls and knobs by Ware Design Works, wooden pendant light, brass kitchen rails, wall lamp.  'My chair' by Normann, the beautiful Hubsch table, linen placemats, napkins and basket by Artha. 

You can see the full write up and more info about the products over at Avenue Lifestyle.

Looking for more kitchen inspiration today? You can always check out my kitchen archive and Pinterest board for mountains of inspiration! See you there...

Have a lovely day! 

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Beautiful Dutch bedroom make-over

Hi, I hope you had a great weekend? Oh how I love a room make-over - especially when it's of the white floor variety! Over the weekend i came across this bedroom re-vamp is the work of Holly Marder, interior stylist, designer and the blogger extraordinaire behind Avenue Lifestyle. I love the entire look - from the light and bright airy feel, the grey bedding, the scissor reading lamp and open wardrobes. What a tremendous make-over?! Duvet day number two here perhaps?!!

Holly Marder, Avenue Lifestyle Blog

If you have a moment you must check out the before and after pictures here - just goes to show what you can do with a lick of paint and an incredible sense of style!

For more of Holly's styling check out this colourful Dutch home, this bright Dutch home and a lovely summer cottage. *Sigh* so fab!

PS loved the comments and discussions on whether you use a double or single duvet - give your two-pennies worth here...

Before I head off (literally - we're embarking on a 1700 km road trip with the girls this afternoon, eeek - wish us luck!!) I am delighted to introduce a new sponsor, Cosette.  Cosette or 'little thing' in French creates  and sells jewellery inspired by minimalism, simplicity and fun geometric shapes. Each piece is handmade and crafted with love by Canadian born Fai who now lives in Japan. I love this ring and these arrow stud earrings ...how about you?!

Have a great start to the week and see you Wednesday!

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A vintage-inspired family home in rural belgium

Hejsan hejsan! We've taken to the high seas (actually they're not that high- the Baltic sea is beautifully calm today) and heading to the island of Rügen in Germany - I've never been and super excited, any tips?! I hope you've got some fun plans for the week ahead too? Adventures aside, I thought we'd kick off the week with this lovely country house in Belgium. The home belongs to Liza van der Stouwe founder of Atelier Rozijntjes, her husband Vincent and their three children and has been beautifully captured by Avenue Design Studio. Think fabulous tiles, a wood-burning stove, vintage finds, modern touches and oodles of charm!

Styling/Photography: Avenue Design Studio

What a wonderful family home? I love the children's bedrooms - think I might have to steal a few ideas, how about you? 

And how about all those vintage touches? Liza finds many of them in second hand stores but I also find Etsy a wonderful source for everything from industrial pendant lights to reclaimed school desks and many of the stores ship worldwide. 

To get the full scoop, nip over to Avenue Lifestyle where the talented creative duo Holly Marder and Hedda Pier share some more info on this lovely home and insight on where things are from.

Looking for a little more inspiration from Belgium? Why not pour yourself a slow brew and take a peek inside the eclectic world of Bea Mombaers (you can stay there too!), and a relaxed Antwerp home (one of my all time favourites). Oh so fabulous?!

Have a wonderful start to the week!

PS If you're looking for shelving, I love Tylko - and they're offering an exclusive discount right now too. More here!

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