Ordinary attic to a fab work studio in Holland

Do you see work as a necessary evil or hop out of bed like the joys of spring on a Monday morning (actually, does that person actually exist - I mean on a Tuesday yes, but a Monday?!). Either way, most of us have to put our heads to the grindstone for quite a few hours each week - so we may as well make it a happy place!  It was in this vain I decided to share the home studio of (the very lovely) Holly Marder from Avenue Lifestyle blog in The Haague. Holly recently transformed an ordinary attic room into a flexible, mutli-functional and inspiring modern space where she can sit and work and meet clients. Oh and did I mention it's packed full of Dutch and Scandinavian pieces, vintage finds and the odd French masterpiece?

All photography / design / styling: Holly Marder. Shared with kind permission.

It's really not surprising that Holly has created such a fab space, that girl is sooo talented (see her recent bedroom make-over here, and some of the homes she's styled here, here and here)! Even so it's incredible what you can do with an attic room....I might just have to set up a meeting so I can go and hang out there for a day or two...

Is this your kind of studio?

Tips on where items are from: wooden push pins (moodboard) / vintage persian rug / Natural rug / Iumi Steckdesign pendant light / IKEA Docksta table / side cabinet is BESTA from IKEA which has been souped up with doors, brass handles and top from Superfront / Buy similar hanging planters here (20% discount with code MSH20 right now) / Isaac plug-in Sconce task light in brass / Nude study oil on canvas (Henri Matisse) / ALEX desk storage.

Take a peek at the complete before and after. 

More lovely studios / work spaces include this industrial warehouse, a Danish / Norwegian space and and a entire moodboard here. And for the kids - I love this cute black and white creative corner.

Have a lovely day!

PS back by popular demand - the archive labels (to the left), I've realised over the past three years I've posted over 1200 home tours!! Crazy! 

PPS Thank you so much to Elegance magazine who listed me in their top ten favourite European design blogs!! Such an honour!

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An awe-inspiring factory conversion

Good news! It's Friday! I hope you've totally rocked the working week or simply powered through everything you had to do - in which case you totally deserve one of these  - skål! Since I'm on a bit of an industrial-style role (with a feature of this fabulous converted warehouse and a review of Sara Emslie's book Urban Pioneer in the last two days alone), I thought I'd complete the week with one final industrial space.  Elze, behind beautiful blog Everything Elze, captured this magnificent home in a former Philips factory in Eindhoven just before the owner Lieke moved out. Simple cognac, wood and black furnishings allow the original features of the building including the vast windows and high, concrete ceiling to take centre-stage, while natural textures and plants bring the living space to life. 

What an incredible place to live, don't you think?!

Photography: Elze / Everything Elze

Could you imagine having the space to have not one but three massive industrial pendants over the dining table?!(They remind me a lot of the ones from my favourite Copenhagen restaurant - Höst which I featured here). Any tips on where to find lamps like these? By the way, I was so pleased to get your tips on the armchair in this post - thank you!

Get the look from Lieke's home: source vintage school chairs here. I love this cognac leather sofa. cross blanket. This lovely jump suit is similar as is this leather satchel.

You can see the full tour here and keep up to date with Lieke's latest projects on instagram here. And if you fancy it, there are plenty of converted factories to drool over here (this artist's home is one of my favourites - isn't it amazing?! Love the "Nobody panic, I know origami and pilates" bag!).

It's been a while since I shared a little link love, and there's so much wonderful inspiration out there right now I think it's about time, don't you?!

A cheerful Swedish designer's home.

Love this post by Danielle Witte - that side table!

A romantic, rustic touch in the bathroom.

This Swedish country-style home tour.

A tiny house.

5 interior instagrams to follow - you might just recognise one of them ;)

Feel free to share your tips in the comment section below!

Have a great weekend!

PS Don't forget to enter the give-away!

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Peek Inside Curate - A Beautiful New Coffee Table Book

In the past I've shared many boutique hotels styled by Lynda Gardener - including The White Room, The Apartment St Kilda and The Estate Trentham - and it's safe to say, I'm a huge fan of the Australian interior designer's work. As soon as I caught wind of a book, I knew it was going to be a good one! The beautiful new tome Curate is the result of a lockdown collaborative project between Lynda and photographer extraordinaire Marnie Hawson in Australia as well as talented stylist and writer Ali Heath in the UK. Read on to find out more and take a peek inside! 

Ali and Lynda share a mutual love of monochrome interiors and take great joy from natural imperfections and treasured finds - concepts that pour from every page. 

The opening chapter starts you off on an inspiring journey to curate a meaningful home, covering eight core elements: palette, nature, textiles, lighting, the blend of old and new, storage, collections and art.

You're then gently led through through a series of drool-worthy interiors which include a converted warehouse, bijoux apartment, historic cottage, country estate, a new-build barn, period townhouse and rural retreat. 

Each interior is peppered with breakout ideas, encouraging you to ignore trends and start to curate a timeless home full of pieces you love. 

All in all, a wonderful Autumn read, and a great pressie for friends who share a passion for timeless interiors! 

Curate is available online and local book stores (even if your local book store doesn't stock it, they're usually happy to order a copy - the same goes for local libraries!). 

Congratulations to Lynda, Ali and Marnie on a beautiful book. 

If anyone's looking for me today, I'll be on the sofa, leafing through the pages!

Niki

 

Credits; 

Pictures 2, 3, 4, 5:

Concept, text, creative direction, image layout: Ali Heath

Styling and creative direction: Lynda Gardener

Photography: Marnie Hawson

First published by Octopus Books, June 2021

Pictures 1 & 6:

My Scandinavian Home

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Before & After: A Derelict Classroom Becomes An Incredible Kitchen!

Hello friends! Boy, have I got something inspiring to share with you today! I admire many people in the design world. But there are two people in particular, I am constantly in awe of: Laura Muthesius and Nora Eisermann of Our Food Stories. Everything this lovely couple touch turns to gold - from a Berlin warehouse and German countryside apartment to a beautiful cottage kitchen in Sweden. And now, they've turned their hands to a former schoolhouse in rural Germany. When they got the keys to the property a few months ago, it had been empty for decades and the interior was, shall we say 'rustic' to say the least! So much so, many would have run a mile, myself included. But fortune favours the brave and these two had a vision - which, with a lot of hard work, would become a dream reality! 

The exterior and interior was in dire need of some TLC, with many of the original features stripped away - including the windows, which had been replaced with cheap reproductions. 

Working as a food stylist and photographer (with over one million followers on instagram, no less!), Laura and Nora were keen to create a large kitchen from which to work, film and live. The pair set about tearing out a small bathroom to recreate the original classroom area. 

They were hoping to find a wood floor lurking beneath the layer of concrete but sadly, when they peeled it back, it had been destroyed so they laid a new oak wood parquet floor. They also swapped out the modern windows and replaced them with replicates of the original windows from Sorpetaler Fensterbau.

Fortunately, they were able to bring their Devol kitchen from their previous country apartment, which they supplemented with extra units to capitalise on space. 

One of the features I love the most is the vintage arched door, which Nora sourced online - WHAT A FIND!!!!

The kitchen units and worktops were planned around the natural light which pours in through the large windows. 

They installed a Bertazzoni cooker (which will no doubt play a major part in their delicous cake creation moving forward!). 

An incredible DeVol marble sink matches the countertop which was custom-made by MCR. 

Matt limewash paint from Bauwer Color was applied to the walls (Ibiza) and ceiling (Smokebush).  

And finally, the pair installed a mantel piece and a DeVol freestanding pantry cupboard on the opposite side of the kitchen. 

I love glass cabinets - they're a perfect way to display pretty kitchen items while keeping them dust free (a big problem with the open shelves under my kitchen island!). 

All-in-all one, a really incredible kitchen, don't you think? Trust this pair to create such a unique and original, timeless kitchen!

You can keep to date with their latest recipes on @_foodstories and interior projects over at @_designtales_. They've also shared more info about this kitchen reno here - and if you're curious, you can take a peek at their cosy Swedish cottage kitchen here. 

And if you're looking for more kitchen inspiration today - check out: 

Before and after: a beautiful handmade kitchen on a budget

A Swedish kitchen gets a DIY make-over

Our summer cottage galley / narrow kitchen make-over

Have a wonderful start to the week friends! 

Niki

Photography: Nora Eisermann & Laura Muthesius / Our Food Stories - shared with kind permission. 

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A new find for my home!

I made an exciting discovery this week. I've been planning a new nook in my sitting room and looking for something fab to break up the white walls. My search led me to these beautiful handmade mobiles. Sold through Lappalainen, each mobile is handmade to order in the couple's studio in an old warehouse building in Hanau near Frankfurt, Germany. The designs include brass dot, black brass, copper copper and mobile brass (my favourite) as well as plenty of other versions. What a find?! Oh and they ship worldwide too - perfect!

Picture credits: 1. Aurelie Lecuyer (take a peek inside her wonderful home here).  2 and 3. Saar Manche (who's beautiful home I once featured here) 4. wij zijn kees 

I can't wait to receive it in the post!

Could you imagine having one of these in your home?

You can see more inspiration / mobiles in action over on Instagram and in their wonderful Etsy shop.

Happy weekend!

PS this Pinterest board has been my main source of inspiration - I knew all that 'nook' and 'daybed' pinning would come in handy one day!

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Home of a fashion designer in a converted bar

Moving slightly away from the Christmas theme today with the beautiful San Francisco home of Courtney Klein, owner of Storq, a company focusing on empowering pregnant women through fashion, and her husband Zach. Located in Mission District, the former bar was built on a fault line and has survived two earthquakes without damage since 1890. Despite this shaky start (couldn'r resist!),  Courtney and Zach have created a home full of character; I love the mid century touches, personal installations such as the pallet coat storage unit which Zach made and the splashes of red. And what a garden?!

Courtney Klein. Ann Street Studio

Very cool don't you think? Who would ever guess their bedroom was previously used for storing beer?!

Thank you so much to Ann Street Studio for allowing me to publish these images. If you'd like to see more pictures and read more about Courtney and her wonderful home (including where many of the items are from) you can read the complete article here. 

If you love a great conversion, here are a few more to enjoy: the home of an artist in a converted warehouse in Australia, a converted brewery on Gotland, Sweden, and a converted textile workshop in Barcelona. 

Have a lovely day!

PS I had a question from one lovely reader asking about wonderful places to buy Scandinavian interior items in the US. Any tips?

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