Nice Girl Nice Home

From autumn to winter...

2011-11-16T19:13:00.004+01:00

It happened before I knew what was going on. Three weeks ago, there were people who stood with their feet in the sea... And now everybody have to put on hats and gloves when they go outside!

I love the autumn and winter. For me it means that I can go inside, create a little nest and enjoy the cold evenings with a blanket, warm clothes and a cup of herb tea. I try to find a photo that represend my feeling about this subject. It took a while and then I found this photo on the Decor8 blog.

Soon it will be christmas and all the beautiful homes in blogland will looks amazing. I can't wait to see photo's of them all! Off course I will try to create an inspiring and beautiful surrounding for us at home. But first we are celebrating Sinterklaas in the Netherlands on December 5. After that then I will start decorating our home and I will show you the result by then.

And what about you, what are your decorating plans? Anything special in mind? Will it be comtemporary, traditional or something in between? I would love to hear and see your plans!

Another colour on the wall

2011-11-03T19:26:00.002+01:00

During our holiday in the beginning of October, I painted an old church bench and the back wall. I posted about it and said that I wasn't completely happy with the result of the wall.

Iris gave me some great advise that I partially listened to and painted the wall again but now in a dark blue. It's better but hasn't got the 'Wow factor'. If it was up to me, I would love to paint it in a bright pink/ fuchsia colour but S. would go mad, ha ha!

So what to do... Are there any colours between blue and pink which will be a perfect compromise? Please help me because I don't know...

Old chair make over!

2011-11-01T18:36:00.002+01:00

A while ago, I bought this great piece of fabric with cupcakes on it. It posted something about the fabric earlier. There was still some fabric left and decided to do something with it and upholster a chair or something. Now the coincidence was that we sold all of our dining rooms chairs because we bought the church bench. I used one of the dining room chairs in my study so now I really did need a new chair!

So I started to look on the internet and try to find the perfect chair to upholster. But unfortunately, for me there's no such thing as the perfect chair but I did find something that was good for me to practise on.

So I bought an old chair for EUR 1,50, bought paint that was inspired by Yvonne on the Yvestown blog and used the cupcake fabric. The end result is this:

Now, I love it offcourse and it stands proudly in my study! S. said that it will never go in our diningroom and that's just fine. This it a chair, specially for me. Although it would look great in a children's room too. But for now, I'm going to keep it for myself and enjoy it every time that I'm there, studying!

It's really a shame that S. doesn't like pink, otherwise there would be so much more in my favourite colour! Oh well...

Wood & wool x mas tree Maud

2011-10-30T12:18:00.005+01:00

It has been very busy here. racing to work, then to the hospital and racing back home. So there hasn't been a lot of time to write something, I'm afraid. But luckily I have a day off and love to post something again to tell you what's been going on in our household!

Last week, I felt that I deserved something nice for myself and looked around on the internet. For some time now, I have been a fan of the work of Ingrid Jansen and her Wood & Wool stools. she also sells these christmas trees that are made from wood and I also wanted one but never bought one, until now... I saw this amazing tree that just had to mine! So I bought it and two days later it arrived and I am sooooooo happy with it!!

I haven't hung it yet but for now it stands proudly in the diningroom nearby our 'newly' old woodburner.

For christmas, I'm going to hang little ornaments in them and I think I'll leave it in the room and not only for the holiday season.

I'm really happy with it and recommend it to everyone because it's just something different but still recognizable.

The shops are starting to sell all kinds of christmas things. I talked to the woman who runs a flowershop nearby from where I live and she said that they are starting the preparations this weekend. Can't wait to see the end result! And what about you, have you already bought something for the holiday season?

Tas-Ka

2011-10-24T17:22:00.000+02:00

Should you ever go to The Hague, for business, family visit or just a fun day of shopping, you must go to Taska!

Taska is a small shop, run by two Dutch girls Jantien and Hester. They sell their own line of interior design but also Japanese books of Paumes, childrens toys and books, cards, posters and so much more!

I go to the shop regurlary and so far have bought a house pillow:

And a wooden cutting board in the shape of a house!

Both of these items are not being used but more for display. I think that they are far too beautiful for anyone to use! The shop is not directly in the city centre but just outside. But try to go and see it because it is really worth the visit!

The joy of a gift

2011-10-22T12:42:00.004+02:00

So sorry you guys for not posting something on my blog. It has been a hectic week because a dear family member is in hospital and I'm trying to be at her side every free minute I have. So it is going to be a bit more quiet overhere but I'll try to make as much time to write something nice because life isn't only about the bad stuff...

So here's something nice! About two weeks ago I won the fantastic give away from Iris on the Enigheid blog .

Now I never win anything but now I did! Iris made a fantastic pillow herself and I'm just in love with it! I also love the wallpaper where she wrapped the pillow in!

There was a very nice card from her as well which I saved and is standing on my fire place mantle.

Thank you very much Iris! it is nice to know that there are also good things in life!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Cupcake display

2011-10-14T08:09:00.000+02:00

Today, I would like to inspire you by showing photo's of cupcake displays! No, I'm not doing this to tempt you to start walking to the shops right away and stuff your mouth full with delicious cake! This is more to inspire you and think outside the box when it comes to interior or fashion.

Some people go to the big furniture stores and buy the first thing that they see. But other people like to be inspired by the funniest things and start creating something out of nothing. So be insired by these photo's see something that you can create in your own home. Think outside of the box and create your own world!

Have a nice day everybody!

Rearranging the front room

2011-10-12T08:11:00.001+02:00

Now that the autumn is definitely is here, I feel the need to do things around the house and rearranging the furniture.

I just sold eight(!) diningroom chairs and haven't decided what to place back. We did buy the old church bench and placed a few stools but I need something more. When I have made a decision and have bought them, I will let you know!

S. and I live in an old 1930 house and we have a front and backroom with two fireplaces. My brother-in-law just removed a tree from his garden and he had an big piece of wood left and gave it to us. I placed it in the fireplace and put some candles on them. It really looks good in the evening and you have the feeling that there's an actual fireplace burning, only without the warmth...

To see the candles better, I put the sidetable to the other side of the room, next to the Riviera Maison chair and the painting of Erik Zwezerijnen.

It looks better this way, altough the colour of the table is a bit dark and would look better when it's painted in a lighter colour. But this table is so old and not mine (my sister borrowed it temporarily to me and that was six years ago...) so I can't just paint it. Maybe I will rearrange it all again, we will see. It fun anyway to change the furniture every once in a while, let's just hope that S. agrees with me...

Inspirational photo's from Heart Home magazine

2011-10-10T17:58:00.003+02:00

I was just reading the new interior magazine Heart Home mag online and saw these photos...

They look so great that I just wanted to share them with you on a dreary monday...

Back to work cupcakes

2011-10-10T06:53:00.002+02:00

Today, I'm going back to work after a two week holiday. To welcome myself back, I made vanilla cupcakes with creamcheese frosting, a recipe from the cookbook of the Hummingbird Bakery. Of cous,e I have already tasted them and they are delicious!

Have a great workweek everybody!

Church bench & photo's and colour...

2011-10-09T12:29:00.008+02:00

About two weeks ago, I bought an old church bench through Marktplaats, which you can compare to Ebay but it's only used in the Netherlands.

We bought it from people that got it from an old cathedral but decided that they couldn't use it in their home. And because S. and I were looking for a bench for the dining table, this was perfect. Friday, I started to sand and paint it. S. and I agreed over the colour that the bench was going to be and I went to the hardware store to buy paint. At the last minute I decided that is had to be another colour and choose a soft grey colour. And this is the result!

The before...

And the after!

The cusions are essential if you want to sit there because the bench itself isn't very comfortable. These are random cushions that we have at home but I want to buy or make ones that will fit the sitting area.

And while I was painting the bench, we talked about doing something with the back wall and the photos because it looked a bit empty and dull. At the moment, I am going through a purple and grey phase and bought purple paint, so it was supposed to be...

But when I painted the wall, it wasn't the colour that I had in mind. I did continue with the paintwork and S. hang the photos up and we will leave it for about a week. If we still don't like the colour, I repaint it with another colour.

The only problem is which colour? I like a bright fuchsia but S. wants a blue colour. So we need help in choosing a colour. And that's where we need you! Please help us by giving tips that we can do with the wall and the photos. You can do this by leaving a message on my blog! Please help us from making another bad colour decision!

Piet Hein Eek

2011-10-08T09:34:00.000+02:00

During our little get away, we visited the workplace and shop of Piet Hein Eek.

Piet Hein Eek is a furniture maker who makes furniture of scrap wood and, since recently, tubes. He makes tables, chairs, children's furniture, cabinets, you name it! He started a small business in 1993 and turned it into a big business and sells his furniture all over the world. His furniture has been featured in several (interior) magazines, both national and international.

My dream is to buy the dining room table and chairs one day. In the meantime, it is still a dream but one to come true! Maybe not this year or next year, but one day!

I'll leave you with the prictures I took at the shop and let you judge for yourself if you like his style. Let me know what you think of it!

Back from Belgium

2011-10-07T09:02:00.003+02:00

Yesterday, S. and I came back from Belgium. When we left, the weather was beautiful, nice and warm. We went to a small town called Hoeselt and stayed at a B&B. We walked around and enjoyed the sun and saw some lovely cottages!

The next day, we went to Verviers where we visited the village Spa on the first day. There, we took a ride up to the hill where we had an amazing view!

The weather got worse and worse everyday so we had to put our coats on while we tried to accept that the summer days are really over. The hotel where we stayed was located in an old factory in Verviers which was lovely. The town Verviers itself wasn't very special. We walked around but didn't see anything we liked. So, the second day we went to Maastricht to go shopping!

It was a perfect get away!

Fall or still summer?

2011-10-02T14:59:00.003+02:00

This week was a wonderful weather week! After an awful summer where there was nothing but rain, it is just great that we had to experience a few summer days before the fall really is going to set in.

Last week en this week, S. and I are two weeks off from work so we took our little nephew to the beach and had a great time. This morning, we also went to the beach and you can see that a lot of people had the same idea!

This coming week, S. and I are taking the car and we're driving to Belgium where we'll stay for four days. Our plan is to walk along the forest and visit some small villages around from where we are staying. unfortunately, the sun will disappear slowly and the fall weather is going to kick in...

So, the next couple of days we will be gone and I can't post anything while we're away. When we return on thursday, I'll have lot's to tell you so don't go away!

Have a great sunday everyone, talk to you soon!

Inspiration from the Woonbeurs

2011-10-01T08:47:00.000+02:00

To end the Woonbeurs postings, you are some inspirational photo's...

Chairs!

2011-09-30T08:59:00.002+02:00

At the moment I'm inspired by chairs and mostly diningroom chairs. The chairs that we have now are a bit dull and I've had them for some years. We have bought an old church bench that we're going to put in the diningroom and more information about will soon follow!

At the Woonbeurs, I was drawn to all these beautiful chairs and when we got home and I lokked at the photo's I made, I realized that there were a lot of chairs!

Spoinq

Fabrieknl
Can't Remember...

Piet Hein Eek

Can't remember...

Spoinq

If it was up to me, I would choose different kinds of chairs and put them around the table. I would choose the red one from spoinq, a vintage Eames chair and one from Piet Hein Eek but in a different colour!

What about your inspiration, what inspires you? It is interior, just like me, or is it something else? Tell me, I would love to hear about it!

The Houses

2011-09-29T08:12:00.000+02:00

At the Woonbeurs, the organizing interior magazines had made a stand into a home. The styles were completely different but they also had simular features but in different colours. We visited the stands of VT Wonen, 101 Woonideeen en Ariadne at Home.

VT Wonen

101 Woonideeen (101 living ideas)

Ariadne at home

I like to photograph little nooks and not the entire picture, it makes it more fun this way and leave things to the imagination, don't you agree? The magazines will show the homes in the January issue and I'm looking forward to see how they shot the photo's but in the meantime, I have my own memories of how it looks like and that's sometimes better, don't you agree?

More photo's to come another time!

Back from the Woonbeurs!

2011-09-28T09:11:00.002+02:00

So yesterday, S. and I went to the Woonbeurs in Amsterdam and it was amazing! We walked and looked around for hours. We met amazing people and saw some amazing stuff. In total, I made about 100 photo's so you'll be able to see them in the next following days because it is just too much to put into one blog message.

Here you can find a bit of the loot that we brought home! On the card in the middle it says "Thuis gebeurt het" which means "Home is where it happens". It is from the magazin VT Wonen, which is one of my favourite magazines and the stand they had was amazing!

Ok, so keep in touch for more impressions of beautiful interior (ideas)!

The last summer days!

2011-09-26T10:18:00.002+02:00

We have had a horrible summer in the Netherlands but the next couple of days seem to be nice and sunny. I wish I could spend them in this lovely house by the sea...

(Image: Pinterest)

S. and I have two weeks off from work and our plan for the first week is to do chores around the house, visit the Woonbeurs which is an interior design fair, organised by the leading interior magazines of the Netherlands. Furthermore, we have dinner plans and meeting up with friends. In the second week, we're going away for a few days, take the car and drive to the south part of the Netherlands and to Belgium.

Have a great day and talk to you soon!

The quote of the day!

2011-09-25T09:04:00.002+02:00

(image: Pinterest)

Something I must tell myself every once in a while, don't we all?

Today S. and me are going to the Woonbeurs. I hope to be inspired and make lot's op photo's

Interior design

2011-09-25T08:06:00.002+02:00

Last week, I went for a seminar which was organised by my work. It was held at interior design company Rever. Before the seminar began, the people from Rever gave us a tour of the building and they had some amazing stuff! The company focuses on the corporate world but there were a few things that you could apply in your own home. I loved the photo curtains and the photo wallpaper!

To see more from Rever, you can visit the website but also this video. It is in Dutch but maybe you can understand a little bit...

Home Sweet Home & Pinterest

2011-09-24T09:03:00.000+02:00

I was browsing through Sjoe Sjoe's blog and saw this photo:

I love photo's like this! She said that she found it on Pinterest. I have heard of it but didn't really now what it was. I do know and now i can't stop looking through all those lovely images!

Take a look yourself and tell me what you think! I would love to hear from you!

Secondhand finds

2011-09-21T19:04:00.001+02:00

Last week I went to a secondhand shop to look for hidden treasures for my home and I came back with some great things!

I was looking for something to hang in the kitchen for display. In the shop, they had this old Dutch wooden board where people used this as shapes to make cookies.

It is really old fashioned, or vintage to use a trendy word, but I thought it would look nice in a modern kitchen. What do you think?

Another thing I was looking for was a vase or something to put nearby the window. I found this old bottle made out of stone.

It stands proudly now nearby my other vases and it looks great, don't you think?

And what about you? Do you like to go to secondhand shops and buy something nice for your home? Please share because I would love to hear your stories!

Dream house

2011-09-19T20:50:00.001+02:00

This house is around the corner from ours and I cycle past it everyday and just love it! It reminds me of a Pipi Longsticking house, don't you?

I would love to live in a house like that and raise a family, even though I'm not sure yet if we want to have a family. I can see us celebrate christmas, birthdays, parties and enjoying life there! A while ago I even thought of writing a letter and asking them to contact us, should they ever move. I should do it!

Is there a dream house that you would like to show me? Please do, I would love to hear your story! Have a nice day, everyone!

Do I love Paris of New York?

2011-09-17T08:12:00.003+02:00

Yesterday I watched the film Paris, je t'aime and a few days before that, New York I love you. Just sitting relax with a cup of tea, lighting the candles while the sun is slowly disappearing earlier everyday, fall is actually happening...

After seeing both films, I have to say that I prefer Paris je t'aime more. Maybe it has something to do with that I know the city better. A few years ago I worked as an intern in a hotel in Paris and got to know the city very well. My favourite spot is just outside of the Louvre museum and sitting there, watching a the people pass you by. New York I haven't seen yet but S. and I are planning a three week honeymoon to the east coast of the USA and we'll start in New York. We're so excited about it but more about that another time!

While I was watching the film, I saw the sun disappearing and made a few photo's of the front room, also looking into the backroom. It lookes to homy, a great start for the weekend!

What are your plans for this weekend? S. and I are going to shop a little, I need some yarn and a new dress and S. needs some clothes too. Tomorrow, I will be spending most of my time behind the pc and working to finalizing my school assignment.

I wish you all a nice weekend and talk to you soon!

Dottie Angel

2011-09-15T21:31:00.000+02:00

I was just reading the blog of Ingrid of Wood Wool Stool and she mentioned the new book of Dottie Angel. Dottie also made a nice video, you can watch it here:

It makes me want to grab the sewing machine and start creating!

Coffee and tea corner

2011-09-15T08:06:00.000+02:00

Last week, a colleague of mine told me she has an Nespresso coffee machine that was too big for her kitchen. I had a smaller one so we traded last week. At first I was afraid that the new one was too big for our kitchen. But surprisingly, it works perfect and now I have created a coffee and tea corner!

In 2009, I wrote this post about creating a coffee corner, remember? I posted this picture:

Ok, so mine corner doesn't look the same but give me some time and I will get there! Ofcourse, I will let you know when this happens!

Moodboard 3

2011-09-14T11:35:00.001+02:00

I promised you that I would show you more off the working space where I work and craft.

Don't think too much about this room because it is a laundry room where I have put my desk, laptop and sewing machine. I had one empty wall and decided to make another moodboard, just because you can't have enough of them, am I right?

Again, this is a piece of softboard with fabric around it. The fabric is from Ikea and the pictures are from magazines and personal pictures, see the lovely picture of S.?

It was a bit empty first but yesterday I found a binder which had a lot of images in them from magazines that I have ripped out and saved. Luckily, it came in handy.

Today, I'm going to the fabric market and hopefully I can find some more fabric and make a few more moodboards. I have no idea where to hang them so maybe I should sell them.... Hm, let's just wait first if I can find something and then who knows! I feel a small business coming up, but first come up with a name... let me know if you have come up with one!

Have a great sunday!

Moodboard 1 and 2

2011-09-13T08:12:00.002+02:00

In a previous post I told you that although I have a sewing machine, I have almost never used it. But luckily, thanks to all of my interior magazine, I found out that you don't always need to sew to make something creative.

and because I have all these interior magazines, I sometimes see photo's that are just too beautiful just to leave them in there. So, I had an idea to create a moodboard using a piece of softboard, fabric and a special stapler, this is the result!

We have two fireplaces so I made one for each!

Fabric market

2011-09-11T17:12:00.004+02:00

This morning, at 10:00 am, I was ready to experience for the first time a fabric market. It was being held in the city centre of The Hague.

I didn't really know what to expect but just to be use I gave myself a budge and I couldn't go over that amount I had in mind. It was good that I did because I have never seen so much fabric in one place! And at each stand, I saw a fabric that I absolutely had to have!

After walking around for about an hour and checking at what was for sale, I made a choice. This is the fabric I bought:

Like I told you earlier, I can't tell you yet about my plans because it's not mend for me but for someone else... That's all the information that you're getting right now...

I kept my budget but for the next time, I double the budget and buy more fabric! I saw fabric that looks like wool and immediatly had a vision of a plaid, one for me and one for S. The price was a bit high so I'll have to wait untill next time.

But I couldn't go without the fabric with the cupcakes! I have used to to put the fabric in a frame and now I have a cupcake painting! There's still some fabric left so there's more to do something with it!

Sewing but not on the sewingmachine...

2011-09-10T17:57:00.004+02:00

So, I went to the fabric store because I just couldn't wait to start creating. I bought two pieces of fabric, came home and grap the sewing machine from the attic. Only to discove a problem... I couldn't find the plug! I looked and looked everywhere but couldn't find it... So now I have to think about how to solve this but I was determined to make something out of the fabric.

And this is the result!

It has been awhile since I last used a needle and thread and for the next time i can do better but for a first time, I think it looks really good! I now hangs proudly in the branches!

Afraid of the sewing machine...!

2011-09-10T08:28:00.009+02:00

Lately I feel the urge to create something...

There's a sewing machine upstairs on the attic where it has been standing there doing almost nothing since I bought it. Only once did I use it and that was when my sister was here and she helped me to repair a pair of pants... the machine came with instructions which I haven't read yet so maybe I should start with that first...

It seems I'm almost afraid of the thing because of the possibilities on it's part and the lack of know-how on my part. my plan is that I'll read the instructions today and start to use the sewingmachine tomorrow. Tomorrow there's a fabric market nearby where I'm going to and buy some nice fabric. I have all these plans and now I'm planning to really start doing something with it! What the plans are, I can't tell yo yet because it's a surprise gift for a few friends and family.

What I can tell you is that I'm planning to make little hearts and hang them in branches that stand nearby the window.

I got this idea from a Dutch interior design magazine 101 Woonideeen.

As soon as I find a nice fabric tomorrow and figure out how the sewingmachine works, you will be the first one to see the result!

Desk

2011-09-01T20:29:00.005+02:00

At the moment, I'm studying at home and am taking a small break. Just checked out the Decor8 blog and saw a photo of this wonderful desk. Love the Eiffeltower figurines!

This is a photo of my desk. Not as nice as photo number one but beter to concentrate...!

The desk is actually in the laundryroom! It is the only place where I can work properly. It is a small space where I feel comfortable and there are no distractions. The desk and pinboard are secondhand and the lamp is from Ikea. I also made a moodboard which you can see a small bit of on the right side. More photo's will follow, it is a bit empty now.

Ok, break's over and back to work. Have a lovely evening!

Finally a sunny day!

2011-08-20T18:15:00.002+02:00

And I spend it on our roof terrace and lot's of magazines!

Dinner tonight: lasagna leftover & green salad

2011-08-07T19:52:00.002+02:00

New Starbucks add

2011-08-07T17:30:00.006+02:00

Love the new Starbucks add!Watch it here...

Love the song too, anybody knows who sings it?

Yummy cupcakes

2011-08-07T09:39:00.004+02:00

This week I have been busing baking delicious cupcakes! I started talking to my colleagues about cakes and pies and that I would love to bake everyday. Now, I just lost 25 pounds so that would be a big mistake... Fortunately, two colleagues offered to be my CTP's or also known as "Culinary Test Panel"! So this week I made vanilla cupcakes with chocolat icing.

In 2008, Syb and I visited London and before I read an article on a blog about the Hummingbird bakery and I put that on the list of being one of the things to go and eat. Look at this photo of the shop, on't you just love it? If I ever open my own cupcake shop, it will look something like this!

The recipe is from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook that I bought a few years ago but never made anything from it yet. So this week was a good week to start!

In the meantime, I'm baking for the CTP's, friends and neighbours and yes also me... Have to go at least four times to the gym if I don't want to be a fat bride in May 2012. Lukily I still have a few months to go, so one (ok, three) cupcakes won't be so bad, will it?

Dinner tonight: broccoli soup

2011-08-06T19:15:00.002+02:00

This is a recipe for a great soup, non fat! After eating this, you're completely satisfied!

Ingredients Broccoli soup

2 pieces of broccoli
1 onion
450 ml beef- or vegetable stock
450 ml milk
salt and pepper

Cook the broccoli, onion and stock for 15 minutes. Then add milk, salt and pepper and put everything in the blender.

Bon appetit!

I'm back again!

2011-08-06T12:33:00.004+02:00

After such a long absence I am glad to tell you that I'm am back! From now on, I will post regurlary, post pictures that I have made or that are from the internet that inspires me.

The last couple of months I have been working at my new job, being on a diet, going to the gym and losing almost 25 pounds! S. has also asked me to marry him! we're getting married in May 2012 and I already found the dress! We have had a few pre-wedding dinners and ate a lot of cake so it is time for the diet to start again. I have a few great recipes for yu that will share very soon!

It's great to be back and talk to you soon!

Favorite blog

2010-11-16T10:05:00.005+01:00

For a few years I am reading several blogs made by interesting womem. It would be a great idea, I think, to show you some of my favorite blogs, starting with Yvestown.

For a number of years, I have a subscription on a Dutch interior magazine called Ariadne at Home. This magazine is for people, mostly women, who like the 'brocante' look in a home, so a French/ English kind of feel and sometimes a little bit of comtemporary snugged in there. A few years ago Ariadne at Home featured the home of Yvonne Eijkenduijn, a Dutch woman who lived in the south part of the Netherlands. She has a website called Yvestown. I was so inspired by her home and interior that I started following her blog. Now a few years later, she has moved from the Netherlands to Belgium and we as readers get the change to follow her as she is renovating and decorating her home. I think it's wonderful. She uses colors that make me jealous just because S. would never go for it!

Here are some inspiring photo's:

As you can see, I am a big fan of her kitchen, it looks so lovely! And don't you justy love the quality of her photo's? I am not going to deny it, I am her huge fan of her and her website!

I think it is fun to show other people's work and I think I should do a blog feature every month. I already know which blog it is going to be but is will remain a secret till then ;-)

Have a great day everyone!

Oxford & High Wycombe

2010-11-15T11:38:00.004+01:00

We just returned from a short holiday in the UK. We flew to London Luton and then took the bus to Oxford where we stayed for one night. We stayed at a bed and breakfast which was ok but not great. The sun was shining and we walked all over town and took one of those awful touristic bus trips. The good thing is that you can see everything and get to know about the history of Oxford but still... You could better all wear hats that says: "I am a tourist" because I think it looks horrible. I would like to think that I could blend in with the rest of the people that live there, ha ha. Unfortunately I left my camera at the B&B so no pictures were taken, except the one of this nice house, which I took on the last day of our stay there.

The remaining days we stayed with family in High Wycombe which was great. We try to see each other once a year in The Hague and once a year in High Wycombe. We went to a great outlet shopping centre in Bicester, called Bicester Village . You can buy clothes from all kinds of brands, like G-Star, Diesel, Jimmy Choo, Uggs, etc. S. bought a pair of jeans from G-star and a great shirt from Diesel. I couldn't something unfortunately.

We also went to a park nearby High Wycombe, can't remember the name but took some great photo's!

There was also a playground nearby where I found back my inner child, ha ha!

So to sum it up, a great get away and I can't wait to go back there again! What about you, do you have any plans for a (short) holiday? I would love to hear from you!

Dreamhouse

2010-10-16T16:37:00.003+02:00

After walking along the shore, I went back home and saw this house. It is just behind the dunes in a quiet area. I am told that these houses were build after the second world war for the people from Indonesia who arrived in the Netherlands. Then they were very cheap but know these houses are worth a lot of money!

I would love to live in a house like that although they are not that big. There was one for sale but I don't know what the asking price is. There is another house for sale in that area but not as beautiful as this one and it had an asking price of EUR 850.000,00!

Well, there's nothing wrong with dreaming, is there. Meanwhile I am just as happy in our home!

Have a great weekend!

Autumn at the beach

2010-10-16T16:23:00.003+02:00

What's so great about living in the Netherlands is that you get to experience every season. I personally love autumn because the trees and the leaves get a beautiful colour, it is getting dark earlier and you want to crawl under a blanket and watch a movie.

Today I went out to walk around and went to the beach. Walking distance, the beach is about 20 minutes from our house. It was a beautiful day and the sun really tried to shine but there were a lot of clouds trying to prevent it!

In the first picture you can see a sign of a lion. That's is a lion designed by Dick Bruna who is the creator of Miffy. These signs are along the shore so that on busy beachdays, the parents choose a spot nearby a cartoonsign so that the children don't get lost because they can recongize the sign. Cleverly done, right?

Now I am ready for a cup of tea, to crawl under a blanket and watch a movie. For today I have chosen Remember Me.

bouquet of flowers

2010-09-18T16:58:00.003+02:00

Yesterday we had friends over for dinner and it was a great evening. the food and the wine were wonderful! One of my friends surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I put it in the living room by the painting and it lookes very colourful.

The sun was shining today and I am afraid it might be one of the last days to enjoy the sun because once the autumn starts, it will be the end of blue skies and sun. So if you don't mind, I'm going outside to enjoy it while I still can!

Magazines!

2010-09-18T16:46:00.003+02:00

I love magazines! Maybe I haven't mentioned it much before on my blog, but it is true... I have a subscription on two dutch interior magazines, Ariadne at Home and VT wonen and then I buy the British interior magazine Living Etc every month. Sometimes I also buy 101 woonideeen but not that much. And ususally they arrive in the same week so that on the weekends I can flip through then and read the articles en look at the nice pictures!

This time, the VT wonen magazine was a week late and, no joke, I panicked! Fortunately it arrived today and I couldn't be more happy. So it is an easy day with a cup of tea, a bit of chocolate, the new album by Phil Collins (another love but let's talk about that another time...) and my magazines. Ah what a bliss...

Our home in VT wonen

2010-09-10T19:44:00.006+02:00

You will not believe what happened to me! It was like a dream come true!!! In July I send some photo's of our home to the editors from the Dutch magazine VT wonen. VT wonen is the number one interior magazine in the Netherlands and I always wanted to be in that magazine.

They were looking for people that would like to send in photo's of their home and they would place it on the website. After hearing nothing for two months, they send a email last week to tell me that they would like to publish photo's of our home!!! Ofcourse I did and since last monday, I am proud to tell you that our home is on the VT wonen website!!! You can check it out here.
It is all written in the Dutch language so here is the translation:

Who lives there:
Maud (30) and Sybren (35)

Where
A 1930's double upperhouse in the fruit area of The Hague

Lifestyle
A mix of styles. But most of all inspiring.

Satisfied
Not yet but we are getting there. The bathroom, toilet and kitchen are done. Now what's left are the so called tedious jobs: new windows with double glazing, the ceilings on the first floor needs to be plastered, painting the staircase and tidiying the attic.

Future
We bought the house a year ago with the future in mind. After searching for a year and viewing over 30 houses, we are sure that this is a suitable house for us in which we will live for years to come.

Favorite shops
Loods 5, Ikea, Riviera Maison, Combitex, Hema and Sissy Boy Homeland.

I can't tell you how proud I am! I know it sounds strange but I always feld like I was on the wright way with decorating. But now a interior magazine want to publish photo's of our house on their website, it feels right. So my next ambition is to be in a actual magazine! Ohh if only that would happen, I would be in heaven...

2010-09-05T19:49:00.006+02:00

Hi Everybody,

S. and I just got back from holiday. We went to Alicante, Spain for a week and did nothing more that relaxing in the sun and eating great food!

So now we have to get back to life as usual and I made a promise to myself... I promised to blog regurlary, at least once a week. It is better for me to have a goal, even in doing something I like doing. Maybe you can relate: a fulltime job, lot's of friends and family and the weekly shows you need to watch on tv, ha ha. I am not joking, from next week, the show Glee will be on the Dutch tv and I can't wait. I have read good reviews about it. I will let you know what I thought of it.

Well, enjoy the weekend and expect more about me and on this blog. And thanks for understanding the absence every once and a while...

Have a great week!

2010-08-01T18:33:00.003+02:00

I just want to wish you all a great week, whether working or being on holiday. If you have to work, just a few more days and the weekend is there again ;-). And if you are on holiday, it can't last long enough, can't it? Unless you have children that's drive you mad, ha ha. Well, I'm working for three weeks and then S. and I are going on holiday, to Alicante, Spain and I can't wait. Let me know what are your plans this weeks, I'd love to know! Enjoy and talk to you later.

New Book Maak Het ( Make It)

2010-08-01T18:21:00.004+02:00

Last week I bought a new book online. The book is called 'Maak het!' written by Machteld Stilting, it is in Dutch and is about 20 women between 27 - 45 years old who have an creative webshop. It is a shame that this book is not in English because it is so inspiring. It tells the story of the ups and downs of starting and owning a webshop and selling your our selfmade stuff online.

I especially liked the story of Ingrid of Wood & Wool Stool. She works in a hotel, like me, and makes stools of used wood and makes a cover for over the stool. I think that's such a great idea. And because I'm a stool fanatic, I have to have one. Ok, maybe I don't have space for it now but you never know! Here are some more pictures:

So you Dutch creative readers, you know what to do... Buy this book, it is worth it!

Weekend & lemonpie

2010-08-01T18:04:00.006+02:00

So, how have you been spending your weekend? Mine was primarily in the kitchen. My sister came to dinner yesterday and I made lasagne, it was great. Today we had lunch with family from England. I made a lemon pie which didn't quite work...

This is the picture in the cookbook of how it supposed to look like but unfortunately mine wasn't exactly the same. I'm too embarrased to show you so just enjoy the pretty picture.

When I set the table for the lunch today, I noticed an unintentional Dutch theme with the red, white and blue colours. It looked great and the family loved it!

We had soup and sandwiches and the children loved the breadsticks. All in all a great afternoon. This evening is spend with watching tv, maybe watch a movie and blog a little bit.

Enjoy your evening, what are your plans? Let me know, I would love to hear from you!

The frozen fountain frame

2010-07-24T13:03:00.005+02:00

Remembered I bought an frame at the Frozen Fountain, you can read the post here. Well, I finally found a great spot for it and not where I initially intended to hang it...

It now hangs with a other frame made of old wood I already had. Now they hang together next to the kithchen and it looks great, don't you think?

The new/old cabinet

2010-07-24T12:47:00.003+02:00

Well, the cabinet is finished and I think it looks great! It's only painted with a primer to give it a plaster look. Maybe it doesn't show on the photo but when you look at it, you can defenitely see it!

We use it in the walk in room, not a closet, ha ha. We switched the bedroom and the room with the clothes a few weeks ago because we could hear our nextdoor neighbour at night and it is better not to know certain things about your neighbour, if you know what I mean... So now the room with the clothes is huge and it needed a cabinet. We use it for storage and toiletries.

The next project is an cabinet that used to belong to my grandmother and is supposed to stand in the hallway. I will let you know when the end result is ready!

De Bonte Kamer

2010-07-04T13:02:00.004+02:00

Yesterday, I went to a store called de Bonte Kamer. This is a store that I found on the internet. They sell furniture from Eastern Europe for a reasonable price. I wasn't quite sure where it was because it said in the city centre of the Hague. So went I was there I was pleasantly surprised. It is located in a warehouse in a great neghbourhood in the city. The guy who works there helped me find the cabinet that I saw online. When I paid he helped me get it into the car and when I got home, I knew it was a great purchase.

It is suppose to go under the tv but I have to sell that first so now it is next to the tv. I actually think that it looks great now too!

Last week I also bought this cabinet online and picked it up last week. I want to paint it in a grey colour and put new knobs on it and then it's brand new again.

I'll show you the after when I'm finished. And check out the website of de Bonte Kamer, they also ship internationally!

Sunny breakfast

2010-07-04T12:49:00.003+02:00

So, I don't know how you spend your sunday mornings but mine is very peaceful. Just having a glass of orange juice outside, enjoying the sun. It has been great weather all week and I'm trying to enjoy it when I'm off work.

Last friday was the very important worldcup match between the Netherlands and Brasil and it was the hottest day of the year so far. So after the Dutch won the match(Hup Holland Hup) all the people in the street went crazy, especially the children! Everybody were outside cheering and cars were driving and waving with Dutch flags. It was just so beautiful to see everybody so happy. I really hope that we win the worldcup! I think then there's going to be a great party in Amsterdam and I want to be there and enjoy the atmosphere. But now the focus is back on and we have to beat Uruguay first.
Yes maybe you're surprised but it's not only my home and furniture that I love, ha ha.

Well, I'm about to go out and visit family. I wish you all a great day, enjoy the sun and relax!

Above the couch

2010-07-01T20:22:00.004+02:00

Last week we decided that something should be hung above the couch. The wall is pretty long so we had to come up with something big because otherwise it would look silly.

And we decided that it would be best to hang different kinds of things. I think it looks great. I printed some of my favourite photo's and the great thing is that it's possible to change it if I want to.

We bought the shelves and the white frames at Ikea, the pink one is a gift but I know it's bought at Zara home and the black ones are from Hema.

I'm waiting for S. to come home from work so that we can pick up an cabinet I bought online. I have already have paint waiting for it. I'll make an before and after to show you the result! And saturday I'm going to de Bonte Kamer, a store that sells secondhand furniture from eastern Europe. I saw a cabinet that we can use as a tv cabinet. All the details will follow!

Old/ new

2010-06-30T20:09:00.006+02:00

Ok, I'm not going to start again explaining why I have been absent for a long time... Let's just keep it that I've been busy with work and painting old furniture. Yes, that's right! My new hobby is buying old furniture and give it new life!

We have been living in our new home for almost zeven months now and I see now what it needs. And it needs a mixture between comtemporary and brocante. And a small budget maybe has something to do with it, ha ha.

In my last post you can read that I bought an old stool and was planning to paint it. And that's exactly what I did. This is how it looked before:

You can see, a real old fashioned stool, I think from the 1950's / 1960's. And this is what is looks with a new coat of paint!

I put the stool, together with another 'new old' one in the livingroom.

Stools are multifunctional! You can use it for an extra seat or as a sidetable. This one I use in the livingroom as both. Last week I was at the secondhand store where I bought it and saw another one, exactly the same! And of course I had to buy it too and take it home with me. The fact that I was on my bike was no problem. It took a bit longer to get home, but I got there and the stool was still intact, stratch free! With this one I'm going to experiment and I'll show you when it's done!

And finally, I painted a cabinet I bought years ago. This time, not white but a beautiful grey colour.

It's now in my bedroom and the towels and bedding are put away in it. I think it just looks lovely!

Lazy sunday

2010-04-18T12:14:00.003+02:00

The sun has finally started shining and I'm enjoying it fully!

What am I doing this weekd? Well not much... Bought an stool yesterday at a secondhand store and have sanded it and already gave it three coats of paint. I think it will be finished tomorrow and then I will show you.

Furthermore, nothing exciting, watched some episodes of the Dutch Antique Roadshow called Tussen Kunst en Kitch. I secretly love this show. Every time it's exciting to see if someone has an item in their possesion which is so expensive and they have no idea! Two weeks ago there was a man who had an old wooden statue of an African man and it turned out to have a value of 80.000 Euros!!! I wish I had something at home that is worth a lot of money. Sadly, our budget reduces a lot lately because of the renovation on the house and all kinds of plans we have which we need to save money for. Meanwhile, I'll just bought a stool that I love and is going to look great in the living room and then read a few interior magazines. My sister gave me a few old one of 2008. See if the interior taste has changed of the last two years.

I'll leave you with a few bright pictures and enjoy your sunday!

Another visit to Amsterdam

2010-04-14T10:23:00.006+02:00

As a birthdaypresent, S and I went to see a concert of a famous Dutch band called Blof who played in Amsterdam last sunday. And just for the fun of it, we booked a hotel in the city Centre, called Carlton Bank Mansion, who I really recommend.

On monday we went shopping and I had a few shops on my list to go to. The most imprtant one is the Frozen Fountain on the Prinsegracht. They specialise in modern Dutch furniture which is very expensive. They sell furniture of Piet Hein Eek and Vitra so a lot of Eames furniture and Hella Jongerius. I bought a small frame made of old pieces of wood.

We're planning to hang a shelf in the living room full with art and pictures.

After that, we went to the Rituals shop which I think is a wonderful shop if you want to buy a special present for someone. We bought soap and a home fragrance bottle with wooden sticks for in the bathroom.

Ofcourse there was a lot more to see and buy but we were sensible this time, ha ha. I have a lot more on my wishlist now that we live in our home for a few months and I can see what the house needs. But I'm starting to become a patience woman (yeah right!) and I have all the time in the world. Besides It's fun to buy stuff and slowly see the result. So I'm streching out the time and enjoy myself when I go out on a mission (ha ha) for our home.

The Hummingbird Bakery

2010-03-30T10:09:00.005+02:00

For our kitchen I wanted a nice painting or framed photo of somthing that looks nice in a kitchen but doesn't look like an item that you use in the kitchen. So no pictures of cultery, ingredients or something like that.

Then I remembered that I made a picture of the logo of the Hummingbird Bakery when we were in London in 2008. So I have the picture enlarged and hung it in the kitchen. And then I heard from a friend that there was a cookbook of the Hummingbird Bakery so I got that too and this is the result!

On the other side of the kitchen I made an inspirational board. So every time I see something nice or inspiring in a magazine, I hang it on the inspirational board. This is sort of my own painting, ha ha

My very own!

2010-03-24T20:13:00.005+01:00

About a year ago I blogged about a painting I saw in Amsterdam. I never stopped thinking about it and hoped that one day it would be mine.

But unfortunately it was already sold. But they told me that I could ask the painter if he would make somthing like that again. So I did and after waiting for a few weeks, this is how our painting looks like!

I can't believe hoe great it looks. I gave it S. for his birthday but I'm equally happy with it. It hangs in our living room where I can look at it everyday!

This is our first real piece of art and hopefully not our last. I have become really exited about beautiful art and hopefully in the future we will buy another piece.

Please tell me what you think of it! I would love to hear from you!

First a lot of rain before spring arrives

2010-03-20T16:45:00.006+01:00

Just wanted to say a quick hi this weekend!

It has been poring rain all day... So I went out this morning to buy groceries, did the laundry and then took a long bath. I am completely relaxed and have shaken of the work and daily life pressure. I also did one other thing but will tell you about later...

For dinner it will be soup with sandwiches and a chick movie. Maybe Maid of Honour, Julie & Julia or You've got mail. I haven't decided yet.

Before I leave, check out the bookcase that S and I made last week. Well, he put it together and I painted it. I think it looks great for a first time try!

Enjoy your weekend, hopefully it is just as relaxing as mine.

The Bedroom

2010-03-14T11:19:00.001+01:00

I am finally ready to show you pictures of our bedroom...

When we first moved in, this rooms was the only room that we could live in for about 6 weeks. After that, our attention went out on the ground floor where the living- diningroom and the kitchen is. So the bedroom became a storage space for furniture that we had no room for. So yesterday I sold the last item of furniture on the internet and it was finally a bit of how we want it to be. The pictures are a bit dark because although spring is on it's way, it is still very cold and dark outside...

The cabinet under the tv belonged to my grandmother and she had her administration in there. I always loved this cabinet and hoped that one day it would belong to me. She died in 2008 and since the family knew how much I like it, they gave it to me. Offcourse, S thinks it horribly old fashioned and wants me to paint it white. At first I agreed with him but yesterday I told him that it was going to stay the way it is. I use it for my scarfs.

And as you can see, only I have a lamp by my bed. S hasn't found his lamp yet so we are still lokking. If anyone has a suggestion, let me know!

The rock lamp

2010-03-06T11:02:00.002+01:00

I have mentioned before that S and I are not on the same level when it comes to interior. We have had long discussions as to how we would decorate the house. The last house we lived in was my house where he moved in and it was already decorated. So S decided that now it was his turn and wanted to decorate the house with only items that was choosen by him. Now I am not a girl that agrees easily so for months we discussed, discussed and argued from wallcoloring to which baskets shall we buy to put magazines in.

And as some kind of miracle, everything changed and we were on the same level... It became fun to buy furniture together. Like this lamp for instance. S saw it in Trendhopper and loved it right away. I was amazed that he would like something like that but kept my mouth shut. It was too expensive at the time but a few weeks back it was on sale and I bought it as a present for him.

I put it on an antique table that I got from my sister. It didn't feel as it was on the right place at first because both pieces are completely different but now I have decided that it looks great!

Ofcourse, the discussions haven't gone away but we respect eachother more and are willing to make compromises. Maybe not because I tend to go my own way and convince S that it was his decision. Am I terrible of is that a woman thing...?

Keep calm in the bathroom...

2010-03-06T10:36:00.003+01:00

When we bought our new home, it had a bathroom that was an original for the 1930's. When we viewed the house for the first time, I thougt it was charming but when we actually lived there, it wasn't so charming anymore and we asked the contractor to make us a new bathroom. This meant that I had carte blanche and make it just the way I liked. I saw in a interior magazine these Portugese tiles and loved them but I knew that S was more of the contemporary feel so it was a challenge to put our taste together. I think it worked out very well!

I love it when an interior has a bit of humour in it, it doesn't need to be all that serious and our bathroom is a perfect example of that! The 'Keep calm and carry on' poster, I bought online and thought it was funny to hang it in the bathroom.

Please tell me what you think of it because I would love to hear from you!

Flowers

2010-02-28T19:40:00.002+01:00

I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my old work. It was very beautiful and very big. So big in fact that there was no place at home to put it. So I decided to make small centerpieces and put it all over the house.

I think it looks quite good, don't you think?

Birthday present

2010-02-28T18:04:00.003+01:00

Last week was my birthday (the B I G 30!!!) and S and I bought a chair together. Because S's birthday is next week, we bought the chair together. We saw it in the store of Riviera Maison and it was on sale and had to take it with us right away. The thing was that we weren't by car so had no idea how to bring it with us. I dedided to call for a large taxi and asked if we could bring the chair and they said it was allright. So we hurried back to the store, bought it and then rushed to the taxistand and wait for the taxi to arrive. The driver thought it was funny to have two persons and a chair in his car and it ended up being a lovely ride back to our house which is about 20 minutes by taxi.

I can't stop looking at the chair but I haven't sat on it a lot because it's more eye candy, to be honest with you. We were looking for quite a while for a chair like this so you can imagine how excited we were to find it and that is was on sale! I am sure that it will stay with us for a long time!

Christmas Brunch

2009-12-29T10:41:00.003+01:00

So what did you do at Christmas? S and I both had to work but I couldn't let Christmas go without not celebrating it. So my dear friend V came by and we had brunch. It was lovely.

Woonbeurs 2009

2009-12-29T10:35:00.004+01:00

Just some pictues I wanted to show you from the interior fair De Woonbeurs that I visited this year. They had so many inspiring things to see that I was overwhelmed and loved at the same time.

Kitchen

2009-12-28T14:17:00.005+01:00

Here are some before and after pictures of our new kitchen. We weren't planning to install a new kitchen but once we started working on the house, we realised that we might as well do it now while there's a mess all around. Luckily we knew exactly how it was going to look like because we had done our research and visited a lot of kitchen stores.

This is the before...

Not very much to see. We placed a wall between the corridor and the kitchen so that the kitchen would have more space.

And this is the after...

I think that this is the best part of the new house. It has been installed now for about a week and I can't stop looking at it. Before this we already lived in the house for 7 weeks and lived on take out food and microwave meals. I am so done with it that I appreciate everything much more. On Christmas eve, we had family over and we made a great meal which everybody loved! On December 31st we're having friends over for New Years and are planning to cook again. S and I made a promise to ourselves that we won't be having take out for a long, long time.

Update 2009

2009-12-28T14:07:00.005+01:00

So, finally an update about what is going on with me and the house. First I want to show you some great pictures of the snow we had last week. Doesn't it looks beautiful?

I had some problems with putting pictures on my computer; that's why it took so long to write and show you something nice. Well, be prepared everyone, I'm back! And it's great ot be back!

Finally...

2009-12-05T19:05:00.005+01:00

Hello everybody,

Remember me, I'm the girl that never blogs...

I am so sorry for not keeping you updated and leaving messages on my blog but it has been such a hectic time. Between my last post in September and now, a lot has happened. On November 2nd, we recieved the key of our new house in The Hague. We immediatly started painting and making the upstairs ready so that we would be able to live there because the builders would start later that day with the ground floor on the toilet and the ceiling of the living room. Initially we wouldn't going to do the kitchen. The old kitchen would stay and we would buy a new one next spring. But when the builders started working we realised that it would be better to rip out the old kitchen and so that's what we did. We already knew what kind of kitchen we wanted so we ordered it and they ripped the old one out. So we have been out of a kitchen now for almost a month and we have been living there for about three weeks now... The new kitchen will be installed next week and I can't wait. Since last week we could start on decorating the living room and realised that most of the old furniture has to go because the shape and size of the new livingroom is different than the old one. So now everything doesn't look right. So slowly we are changing everything around and buying new furniture and getting rid of old ones.

Internet is finally working so hopefully next time I have pictures to show you. I have been looking at different websites for inspiration and boy, there's a lot out there for interior lovers like me! I can recommend the blog of madebygirl, decor 8 and Yvestown. I check out their website almost everyday and saw some great things. Go and check them out!

Well, so far a little bit about what has been going on. I promise, next time I'll have some pictures of our new house!!

Have a great weekend!

Neglect

2009-09-19T20:41:00.003+02:00

I'm so sorry I've neglected my blog... It has been such a busy time with working and handling the sale of our current home.

But I have great news to share with you. The house has definitely been sold and we are going to move in ou new house in the beginning of November. We will have a week to move from the current home to the new one and renovations to be done but we can't wait! So we have had meetings with estate agents, mortgage people and builders. It has taken every minute of spare time but we know that eventually everything will come together and in a few months all will be done.

So just to let you know that I'm still here and I haven't forgotten you. Next time I will have some pictures as well!

Have a great weekend!

Maastricht

2009-08-24T21:28:00.002+02:00

Last week, S and I attented a wedding in the south part of the Netherlands, Limburg, and decided to stay a few days longer (the bride looked beautiful by the way ;-).

We went to the city of Maastricht which I think lookes nothing like the other cities in the Netherlands. Maastricht has a lot of influences of Germany, Luxemburg and Belgium because it's located so nearby the border. So being in Maastricht feels like you're walking in a completely different country and I love it there.

We took a boattrip along the Maas and made a few pictures of the forest.

Now let me explain why being around a forest is so special for me. I live along the sea in a very crowded part of the Netherlands. So every piece of land is being used to built houses on. There are small forests in the area but nothing compared to those in Limburg. And not even mentioning the hills there are over there. You might know that the Netherlands is basically flat, especially where I'm from. But not in Limburg! No, there are actually hills over there, not very high... But there still there.

So again, it doesn't feel like being in the Netherlands. You should really give it a try.

At home

2009-08-24T21:25:00.003+02:00

I was working on my computer at home this evening and saw a beautiful sky from my window. I tried to make a picture of it but I'm not wel skilled for that with my camera so it ended up looking like this.

What do you think?

Julie & Julia

2009-07-29T12:02:00.003+02:00

A few days ago I read on the internet about a new movie called Julie & Julia. It will take a few months before it premieres in Europe so click here to see the trailer. Enjoy!

The beach

2009-07-24T11:18:00.007+02:00

Yesterday S and I had dinner with two friends of ours at the beach of Scheveningen. The Hague is located near the sea and went you want to go to the beach, you can go to Kijkduin or Scheveningen. It's has a special place in my heart because my mother had lived there for about 20 years before the family moved to Maassluis where I was born. But quite often we would go to Scheveningen see the beach. A few years ago I worked in a hotel what was along side the beach and saw the beach everyday. Now I go there to visit my friends and having something to eat and drink on the boulevard. And this is my view:

Our friends live opposite this building which was recently beautiful restored and I love it. We checked out how much it would sell for and it is far over our budget, starting at 350.000 euro. But you can so much for it, everything new and a fabulous view over the sea.

Hmm, maybe in the future...!

Hotel

2009-07-24T10:48:00.004+02:00

A few days ago I was working with a colleague and I brought my camera to work. He took the camera and made a few pictures around the hotel. I think they turned out pretty great!

That's me at the end of the stairs!

Perfect for the kitchen

2009-07-22T10:57:00.002+02:00

I saw this picture a few months ago somewhere in the world of internet (forget where) and saved it on my computer. Today I was checking out all my photo's and saw this one again. I would love to make a little sitting area in the kitchen and that's why S and I are planning to make an open plan kitchen in the new house. Because we both work crazy hours and don't see eachother a lot, we want to be near eachother as much as possible when we're at home. And that means that I don't like cooking because the kitchen in our current home is on the other end of the house. I would love to have an open plan kitchen and a little bar so that one of us is cooking while the other keeps company.

Hopefully I can get a little pink in there one day. Just make sure that S won't notices it because pink isn't exactly his colour...

Have a great day everybody!

Sorry...

2009-07-21T19:25:00.003+02:00

Hi Guys,

It has been a while... You will not believe the hectic time that has been and is still going on. We found a new buyer for our house but yesterday, the real estate agent told us that the buyer possibly can't buy the house and we will know more at the end of the week. That ,with some family issues, is making me not the most positive person in the world. And I believe that this blog should only have positive things to be talked about so therefore I kept a low profile.

And I will not complain and just carry on. I have to keep on believing that everything will be okay. So I'm sure that the photography will eventually come at some point because it has been some time since I last took a photo and now with the sun shining, I should just go to the beach and start shooting. But it will come.

So please have some patience and the fun will start on this blog which, despite everything, I'm still proud of.

Talk to you soon!

The new couch...

2009-06-07T11:59:00.003+02:00

A few posts ago I told you that our house was sold and that we were looking for a new house. Well, a few things have changed...

The buyer of our house backed out of the sale which means that we lost a whole month trying to sell it. We saw a house we really wanted to buy and were about to make an offer but couldn't do that because we want to sell our house first.

What we did do was already buy a new couch for the new house. We were both really in love with it but also had to cancel it. But we are positive that very soon everything will turn out fine and that we can move into our dream home and sit on the new couch.

What do you think, will this couch match with the Egg chair that some day will be in the house too?

The Conran shop in Paris

2009-06-07T11:41:00.003+02:00

Before we went to Paris, I read some articles in Dutch interior magazines about Paris and made a list of shops where we had to go to. On the top of my list was the Conran Shop. When we were in London last fall I didn't know about the Conran Shop until we got home and then it was too late. So when I found out that there was an shop in Paris as well, we just had to go!

I didn't quite know what to expect but when I saw my favourite Egg chair by Arne Jacobson and in red too!! I knew I was going to love it!
After sitting in it for a few minutes and feeling like I was in heaven I asked S to sit in it. He doesn't really understand my fascination about this chair and hopefully he would understand it a little bit once he tried the experience! Of course I hade to make a picture !

Well, he likes the design and it sits ok but thinks it's too expensive... Hm, that's means I'm not getting it for christmas this year...

When we looked further, I saw another one! So quickly, before someone of the staff saw me, I made another picture!

Beside the fact that the chair is about EUR 5.000,00, I realised I couldn't take it with me on the train back home... Well let's save the money first and then I will see where to buy it, ha ha. Or maybe S will give it to me for christmas. What do you think?

There were also these Eames chairs which I love but S thought that it wouldn't sit very well. Hmm, I might have to agree but so what if it doesn't sit perfectly, it looks amazing!

The Eiffel Tower

2009-05-21T11:02:00.004+02:00

Even though I have been to Paris many times, I have never been to the Eiffel Tower. So this time it was finally time to see it. Unfortunately, the weather was not so great so it was no point to go up and see the view.

What facinated me was that in different parts of the city, you could see the tower because it is so high. So every change I had, I would make a picture!

View on top of the department store Galerie Lafayette

View from the Louvre museum

But please don't think that it is romantic when you're by the Eiffel Tower... Unless you think that groups of children standing in line to go up the tower and making a lot of noice while men trying to sell cheap souvenirs and coming up to you every 30 seconds is very romantic. But still, something that you need to go and see for yourself!

Paris, part II

2009-05-21T10:28:00.004+02:00

There's something about the Louvre... I love being there, especially sitting outside and watching all those people. I love the architecture and the way it all comes together.

And it is so strange when you're inside the pyramide, before you go downstairs to the musem. So amazing!

And those who have read of seen the Da Vinci Code... Well, in real life, it is a bit different. The painting is small and look how many people there are... It seems that people are still facinated by the Mona Lisa

Close by the Mona Lisa, there's a painting of Napoleon and Josephine which I find very interesting.

Paris, part I

2009-05-21T10:12:00.003+02:00

So last week S and I went to Paris for 5 days. It was nine years ago since I last been there en S has never been to Paris before so we thought it was time to go.

We took the train, which takes about 3 1/2 hours from The Hague to Paris, Gare du Nord. I recommend travelling by train if you're doing a tour through Europe.

The hotel where we stayed was in the area Montmartre and after checking in we went strolling around and went to the Sacre Coeur. Look how busy it was!

There's a great view over the city. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't that great but still worth the effort in making a great pricture!

And the building itself, well it is just beautiful...

At the end of the day, we had dinner on the corner of a small street which was nearby a metro station. And don't you just love those metro signes! And what about the buildings... I would love to live in a building like that!

Well, this was just day one... More to come...

Paris, here I come...

2009-05-09T15:12:00.003+02:00

Hi Everybody,

Just wanted to say HI and tell you all that tomorrow we're off to Paris for 5 days! I can't wait and I'll promise to make lot's of pictures and show then to you!

Also, our house was sold last week en we need to find a new house before the end of August because we need to be out of the currect house by then. So we have been looking on the internet and been visiting several houses. So hopefully in a few weeks time I have more to tell you...

Have a great weekend and talk to you soon!

-x-

Weekend!!!

2009-04-25T12:51:00.003+02:00

I want to wish you all a great weekend, enjoy the sun when it shines and just relax...

S is away this weekend with his friends so I have the time to cath up on my reading. This morning, I read a chapter in Eat Pray Love and just now I read an article in the Home and Garden section of the New York Times and saw this great bathroom!

We'll, I'm about to leave to visit family and tonight I'll continue reading the book in bed! Can't wait!

Weekend

2009-04-19T20:18:00.003+02:00

I made some pictures last friday. It was a very busy day and to relax, I started making some pictures...

I also bought a new book, Bazar style in the Dutch translation, and I recieved the interior magazine VT wonen by mail.

I had a lot of reading to do but had to work yesterday and enjoyed the sun today so I have a lot of catching up to do.

Have a great week!

My neighbourhoud

2009-04-12T16:24:00.005+02:00

Yesterday, the weather wass so great, I spend more time outside then inside. I walked around and made a picture of this house which is nearby mine. I love the red door and the stain glass windows! And what do you thonk of the bike?

This is the view from my balcony. It's facinating because there's always something going on... (and yes, that's my laundry that hanging there ;-)

And my downstairs neighbour has the nicest cat ever. Look at him, don't you just love him!

Talk to you soon everybody!

Cookies!

2009-04-12T16:07:00.005+02:00

After working for about 11 days, I finally had a few days off!! And for relaxation, I like to bake desserts and cookies, just working with my hands and not think about anything else.

So I started by putting all the ingredients together...

S has got a great cookbook, all about making cakes, pies and cookies. But maybe I like it because the cover is pink!

A little bit of an easter feeling!

That this is the result (what do you think of the butterflies?)...

I put the cookies in two tins and gave them to my sisters because if I eat one more cookie, I will explode out of my dress, ha ha. The diet starts tomorrow, I think...

Have a great easter everybody!

Books, books, books

2009-04-01T19:33:00.003+02:00

Last week, I decided to buy a few books because I walked by my favourite bookstore. Everytime I go there, I want to live there! Maybe I can make a few pictures to show you. I just love it...

So I bought eat, pray, love for me from Elizabeth Gilbert for me and the cookbook The Maze from Jason Atherton for S. I saw Elizabeth Gilbert on a episode of Oprah and was interested to read it. So far, it does not dissapoint!

There's also a book in the picture of Ben Canaider & Freg Duncan Powell called Cooking under the influence which S got for his birthday. He hasn't got time yet to read it but I started flipping the pages today and like the pictures of the recipes and liked the lay-out.

Furthermore, S and I finally went last monday to the movie Slumdog Millionaire, the movie who won the oscar for best movie. Wow, I loved it! It really captures how life is in India in the toughest circumstances. I recommendid it to everyone. A few weeks ago, I saw the movie Milk with a friend of mine. Sean Penn starred in it and he won the oscar for best actor for it. Aand soon, I'm going to the Reader which Kate Winslet plays in who won the oscar for best actress. So, I have an Oscars month ahead of me of great movies to see. But on the light side, tomorrow I'm going to Bride Wars and next week to He's just not that into you. Can't week!

Counting down the days till the weekend!

Too long...

2009-03-26T20:58:00.004+01:00

Wow, it has been a while since I last posted something on my blog... I have been so busy with work and trying to sell our house and looking for a new house (both are not going quite so good) and beind really tired at the end of the day. I don't know what it is but I'm just so tired all the time. Probably because of all the house stress. There have been some people looking at our house but then we hear nothing anymore. We are not in any hurry to move but I would like to start with a new project and start working on all the dreams and ideas that I have for the new house. It has almost become an obsession, really. I wake up with an idea and go to bed trying to remember everything that went through my mind.

Anyway, more fun things now... I was looking at the website of the English interior magazine Living etc and saw some great pictures, really inspiring!

First, my favourite chair, the Egg chair in a different fabric, love it!

I like the idea of having a kind of coffee/ tea corner in the new kitchen. S and I drink a lot of tea and I love to collect tea- and coffeemugs so that would be great!

And then I love this picture of the kitchen. The idea of a basic white on the wall and then a wooden floor and put colourful accessories is something I love. I don't know how S would feel about that, but it definitely works for me!

Unfortunately, I haven't been making pictures lately but this weekend we are going away with S's family to the east part of the Netherlands where there's more green than in the west part where we live so hopefully I'll make great pictures!

And in May, we are going to Paris for five days!!! I can't wait! I used to work in Paris a couple of years ago but haven't been back since so I'm looking forward to it!

Flowery shelves

2009-02-26T21:55:00.004+01:00

Yesterday the broker came by our house to make pictures for the ad for selling our house. I read a brochure as to how to make you house look to sell it faster. It said to put flowers everywhere and that's what I did. I put flowers on the table and on two shelves. I really liked it but as it turns out, the broker didn't make a picture of my flowers on the shelves so I made one myself.

And I made a picture of the exterior when the sun was shining. Do you see the shade of the tree, I love this picture!

I send the picture of the exterior to the broker so hopefully he'll use it for the brochure. He told us that next week the house will be on sale so it's very exciting!!!

In the meantime, we're looking around for a new house but we haven't found one yet. We don't think that the house will sell quickly, especially now with the economical crisis going on so we're not in a hurry. We've seen some houses and next week we going to look at some other properties so it takes up a lot of our time and thoughts. But it's an exciting time and I'm trying to enjoy it all and not be nervous. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done but in the end, I know everything will be ok. It will all come in good time, just hopefully that will be soon ;-)

Talk to you soon!

Which chair...

2009-02-22T11:35:00.004+01:00

First my apologies that I haven't blogged in a while. I've been so busy working and looking for houses. Yes, S and I decided to move to another area in The Hague. We have seen 5 houses so far and a lot more on the internet. But like our different taste in interior, we also like different kinds of houses.. For instance, I like to have a house with a garden and for S that's not a priority.

But ever since we're looking for houses, I have been picturing the interior in my mind and have come to the conclusion that we must have a design piece of furniture. It doesn't have to come right away but eventually in a few years. About what piece of furniture I decided that it has to be a lounge chair. And it's going to be one of these two:

The Ottoman Eames lounge chair

or the Egg easy chair designed by Arne Jacobsen

They are very different in design but both of them look so beautiful to me. I love to see them in a store but so far I have only seen them on the internet. I found a store online where they sell the Ottoman but I haven't found a store where they sell the Egg chair yet. But I'm convinced that when I see them for real, I'll fall in love... And also important, I showed these pictures to S and he likes both of them so the choice is mine!!! I'm so happy with that but in the meantime I'll just look at the pictures and one day I'll sit in one of them. But which one...?

New kitchen

2009-02-08T12:10:00.003+01:00

Like I wrote in an earlier post, S and I are looking to move to another area in The Hague. Me in particular wants to move to a home with a garden and for that last weeks we're looking on the internet and walking in the area we would like to live. We have seen a house that has potential but it needs a lot of work. So yesterday we went to look for a kitchen. I know we don't even have a new house yet but what else can you do on a rainy saturday ;-)

S really liked this kitchen:

But I liked this:

Or this, which is similar:

I've told you before that S and I are not on the same length when it comes to interior and taste and that especially annoys me. So I'm very curious how it works out but I'll let you know...

Enjoy your sundays, I'll be at work ;-(

Golden Swan

2009-02-08T12:00:00.002+01:00

I'm not really an art fan, especially modern art. When I go to a museum, I like to see paintings from artists like Van Gogh of Rembrandt van Rijn. With modern art I get the impression that I can also make that. But yesterday, S and I were in a shopping mall and we saw this painting of Erik Zwezerijnen and it's called Golden Swan. Immediatly when I saw it and knew I had to have it!

I looked him up on Google and it seems that he is known in the USA and that there are expositions in various cities in the USA and in Europe and I have never heard of him before...

The gallery owner saw that we really liked it and said that we can also ask the artist to make something custom made, especially for us!!! I didn't know what to say but we want a painting of him. We're looking into buying a new house and an artpiece of him could really fit in the interior!!! Ohhh, just a few more months and than hopefully that piece is ours!

New books

2009-02-02T11:53:00.003+01:00

Last week I finally recieved my new batch of books that I ordered online. So now I started reading in two books at once. But this is because I have no patience and I'm so excited about the books I bought. Which ones...? Well these:

I would like to thank my favourite bloggers for recomanding these books on their websites. It was a while since I last read a book (because of the no patience thing. Except when I'm on holiday, then I read book after book.)but decided that I wanted these two. So if you have any other suggestions which books regarding interior I slould read, please let me know!

High tea

2009-02-02T11:41:00.004+01:00

Last week, we celebrated the my mother's birthday and we went for high tea. We went to this little shop that has a tearoom at the back. I never went there before and loved it!

In the front of the shop you can buy interior things and scarfs. Very beautiful and well put together.

Den Haag The Hague part two

2009-02-02T11:33:00.005+01:00

Here are some more pictures that I made of my city...

While I'm writing this, it's snowing outside... I love it when it snows, especially when I'm inside and I know that I don't have to go outside! Enjoy your mondays everyone!

It's starting to feel...

2009-01-27T13:35:00.003+01:00

No, I'm not singing a christmas song... Today, I went outside to do some errands and suddenly it hit me that spring is on it's way. It may take some time but it's coming. And when I was back home again, I noticed my coffee table and how it looked. I thought it was a great picture so I took my camera and made a picture of it.

In about an hour, I'm going to work but fow now I'm just enjoying seeing the sun shine in our house. Hope you have the time too that too today...

I Wish...

2009-01-25T13:53:00.004+01:00

Today I was reading the blog of Jennifer Ramos Madeby Girl and I saw a great picture of an interior of what only could be from a girl whose probably in her early twenties or is young at heart. I fell in love with the way it was decorated and the atmosphere...

I wish that I could decorate our house like this but then I forget 1 thing. There's also a man living in that house and he will feel like he's living in a Barbie doll house. Hm, I wouldn't want him feeling like a Ken doll. It's better to come together in our interior and maybe sometimes put in a little of pink and a feminine touch. That way, we both are happy.

Well, the sun is shining and we are going outside to enjoy it. Hope you all enjoy your weekends too!