the style files

made from recycled tires

Danielle — Mon, 12 May 2008 05:07:55 +0000

I love products made from recycled materials! It is not only better for the environment but products made from recylced materials also have a more unique quality compared to mass produced ’standard’ items.

I am happy to have these baskets made from old tires in Le Souk. The baskets are great for storing kitchen utensils, bathroom goodies and you can also them for your plants. Both the silver basket and the black basket are €17.95.

new designs by olli & lime

Danielle — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:59:02 +0000

Olli & Lime has added some great new designs to their collection of eco furnishings for kids. This stylish company from the UK is an ethical, eco-conscious designer of contemporary children’s bedroom furnishings. Their philosophy: ‘Our ethos is about great design, high-quality manufacturing, and eco-friendly materials. We take an ethical position on the environment and recycle wherever possible. We also use recyclable packaging; in the form of unbleached, unprinted Kraft paper’. Visit their website to check out their fab new line of wallpaper and soft furnishings. I personal love the Carrie line (with the shoe print) and Oliver for a boy’s room.

fedex is driving me crazy & have a good weekend

Danielle — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:20:02 +0000

Not only the weather temperature is rising here in The Netherlands but my body temperature is rising (to a boiling point) as well. Why can’t companies do their job anymore? FedEx managed to loose a package that I sent to the UK some days ago. They can’t provide a tracking number (how the hell can that happen?), they do not know where the package is and they don’t phone me back as requested. One FedEx employee even had the nerves to tell me that I did not send a package at all. Basically saying that I was either a liar or a fool (sending imaginary packages). Very, very frustrating! This is the second time that I use FedEx as a courier. The previous time they delivered one package too late. So a 100% failure score for FedEx, which is quite amazing for such an established company.

This hasn’t got anything to do with design but I had to get this off my chest (and perhaps you can consider this as a warning for the next time you’re thinking about using FedEx as your courier..). Now I go outside to enjoy the beautiful weather here. I hope you all have a great weekend and I see you back on Monday!

PS: inspired by the beautiful weather some sunny images from Hotel Deseo in Mexico (images from design hotels)

silver pottery and tableware by jurgen lehl

Danielle — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:24:55 +0000

More silver! These absolutely beautiful items are from Japanese shop Jurgen Lehl.

silver ottomans

Danielle — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:21:09 +0000

The silver ottomans in this image are a great example of how you can use silver furniture in your home.

(image from cookie magazine)

silver shining

Danielle — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:15 +0000

Lately I have been seeing more and more silver colored home accessories and even silver furniture. Combined with other colors (for example) silver can look beautiful in your interior. But don’t go overboard , just a few silver accessories and furniture pieces will do the trick. Above and below your can find some examples of silver interior items. Above: large silver leather sofa, silver egg chair (image from the portfolio of Beale Lana), silver bath and mirror (image from photographer Penny Wincer).

Gorgeous large vase by Dutch designer Carola Zee (this vase can be bought through Le Souk, let me know if you are interested).

Clockwise starting left: Garland light by Tord Boontje, silver leather poof, Oh Deer coat hook, silver coated porcelain teapot, classic racer, large coral vase (can be ordered in different sizes through Le Souk, just drop me an email).

Top row: embossed metal-covered chest of drawers (left), Indian white metal coffee table (right). Second row: embossed metal-covered cupboard (left), embossed metal-covered bedside table (right).

ceramic tableware by christin johansson

Danielle — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:08:50 +0000

Christin Johansson is a Swedish artist living in Copenhagen. As a trained nurse and ceramicist, Christin challenges the traditionalism of the ceramic trade through her clinical, almost sterile sculptural objects and wares that draw inspiration from hospital and industrial environments.

Christin: ‘My tableware reflects my fascination for plastic packaging. Shapes and forms we see every day and, still, we hardly notice them. My intention is to make people realise the form – not just the function.’ All her products are made from white porcelain, cast or hand built, with an unglazed exterior and shiny, transparent glaze on the inside. Check out her website to see her entire line. I especially love the tableware collection!

interior inspiration

Danielle — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:11:22 +0000

It is time to show you another gorgeous house! There are many things that I love about this interior. The first thing that I see are the beautiful old features of the house. This combined with modern furniture gives a special atmosphere.

I also love the natural elements (wooden chairs, fire wood etc). They really do well with the white walls and floors.

And that mirror in the dressing room (I wish I had a dressing room by the way) is just gorgeous!

(images by Light Locations)

lace print bottons

Danielle — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:44:17 +0000

These cute buttons with a lace print are designed by Laura Walker. This UK based designer studied Textile crafts at Huddersfield University and set up her studio in Sheffield. During her study she has specialised in embroidery and has expanded on her interest in embroidery by designing and making ceramic buttons. Laura: ‘I make one off pieces for display around the theme of material culture, these then fuel my quirky accessories and ceramic buttons’.

Her buttons are available in a range of sizes and colors through GlimseOnline. This is a great online marketplace connecting artists and designers with buyers both trade and private. Artists and designers through GlimpseOnline.com are able to exhibit, sell and promote their work to an international audience. It is worth checking out this website (but be aware that prices are in British Pound).

bouquet by tokujin yoshioka

Danielle — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:19:19 +0000

During Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka has launched Bouquet, a new chair that he designed for Italian label Moroso. It is obvious where the name Bouquet comes from!

The designer: ‘The new chair Bouquet uplifts the sitter as well as a flower bouquet does it to the receiver. The vibrant colors would evoke one’s emembrance’. Gorgeous!

kitchen collection by mcguire

Danielle — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:54:57 +0000

Check out the new Kitchen collection by McGuire! The natural wood and wicker furniture pieces are gorgeous (and so are the images!). The collection is made up of 21 new pieces and includes 3 tables and 11 chairs and 7 counter stools.

The designs are inspired by a variety of recognizable styles: Danish Modern, traditional Japanese and mid-century modern. These pieces also take advantage of their uncommon components to recall the organic nature of their raw materials, with shapes inspired by the tangle of jungle rattan, the solid trunk of an exotic tree, and the intricate pattern of sunlight on the forest floor. McGuire is a San Fransisco based company. Their mission is to lend pleasure and permanence to contemporary living by creating functional art of lasting value, backed by exceptional. Click here for more information about the Kitchen collection. Unfortunately this line is not affordable for most of us…

images from istanbul

Danielle — Sun, 04 May 2008 10:51:20 +0000

Here are some photos that I took in Istanbul. The images above and below were shot in Balat. This area used to be the first Jewish neighborhood of Istanbul established long before the Jews expelled from Spain were allowed by the Ottomans to settle in this area of the city. Balat has been lately abandoned by its once prosperous population. The district fell in disrepair and is now mostly inhabited by working class migrants from the Black Sea region.

The photos were shot on a rainy day, which strengthen the area’s atmosphere that I was trying to capture.

The images above and below show the famous Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

This historical mosque is also known and referred to as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.

When you are in Istanbul you should definitely visit the Spice Bazaar (also known as the Egyptian Bazaar).This is one of the oldest bazaars in the city. The colors and smells are amazing!

The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest covered markets in the world with more than 58 streets and 4,000 shops. It is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and the like. It is worth visiting this bazaar (great to buy souvenirs) but most stalls sell the same products and you probably won’t find any special and unique items.

sweet raspberries

Danielle — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:19:39 +0000

These lovely little raspberry upside down tea-cakes are from Donna Hay’s book Off The Shelf: Cooking From the Pantry. A great recipe to try out this weekend! (found on Cook & Eat)

Have great weekend! The weather forecast is promising for the coming days: Spring has finally arrived in The Netherlands! I am back from Istanbul where we had a fabulous time. I will upload some photos in the next days.

summer house in denmark

Danielle — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:16:50 +0000

This is a very cool summer house! The house, located in Asserbo, Denmark, is designed by Christensen & Co Architects. I love the open space which is divided into living and dining areas. And the porch is stunning as well. I can see myself having dinner there with friends!

(via Apartment Therapy via Slow Home)

something green

Danielle — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:33:45 +0000

Yesterday was about blue, today is about green! Those riads in the Marrakech medina have such beautiful courtyards…

(images by Vincent Leroux)