Happily Ever After: Flair Magazine

How about a brand new fashion & home magazine to kick start the approaching weekend? We all love a good read for a relaxed weekend, right? Here we go. With Germany's 'dernier cri' on the magazine racks: Flair Magazine.

Flair is sassy magazine combining fashion, beauty and interiors. While I do indulge in the latter, I am pretty sure many stylish ladies won't neglect the first two sections. Flair's cover suggests a high-gloss lecture, but once you open it and touch the first page you will sense the tactile feel of raw, eco-friendly paper that is pretty much zeitgeisty. Glancing on, you will enjoy not only a visual feast but a tactile one, too. Like!

The first issue sparkles with a plethora of features: a trend radar suggests goodies for the ongoing month, the fashion category covers the looks of the season while the beauty column outlines the latest trends and products in cosmetics. My personal focus is on the home section though: A New York penthouse with vibrant colour accents, the eclectic home of Margherita Missoni, and statement sofas to awe your guests - quite a selection to please an interior loving eye. 

Personal verdict: A great first issue with coverages that are spot on. Personally I'd add a few more pages to the home category, but then again I am interiors obsessed. Grab a copy if you're in Germany or have a look at your international newsstand. It's worth a look. Happy Friday!

Photography by Igor Josifovic / Flair Magazine

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Happily Ever After: Designer Ana Kras

Before I left for my family vacations to Serbia, I cheered you good bye with a picture of the 'Bonbon Lamps' by Serbian designer Ana Kras. Today, I want to use the opportunity to present this amazing (and beautiful) designer to you in more detail. 

Ana was born in Belgrade in 1984 and works on different personal and commissioned projects. Today, she lives and works as a designer, photographer and illustrator in Los Angeles. Ana creates pieces with a great deal of handwork. Probably a fact that reflects her Serbian roots. 

We all grew up with grandmothers and aunties that made pullovers, socks, cardigans by hand. We all had grandpas and uncles working with natural materials and creating pieces for the home. I sort of read this in her 'Bonbon' and 'Hive' lamps and the quirky, slightly retro 'Ksilofon' coatrack. Her colour codes speak of the abundance of nature and happiness - the Serbian countryside, summers on the Adriatic Sea in Montenegro, lush farmers' markets in the cities. Her urban upbringing in Belgrade seems to be mirrored in the sleek, sophisticated designs such as the 'Moon Table', the 'Noodle' sidetables, or the 'Hug Chair'.

Probably I am making up a lot of these, but sometimes this makes design and art so appealing to me. It's about what it speaks to me. It's about the story behind. Sometimes it's a story based on facts and the designer's actual background. Sometimes it's our interpretation, our vision of design and the way we reflect it. It's always a story that makes a design complete. And from what I've seen, Ana Kras has a lot to tell. 

If you want to know more about her, read a great interview with Ana here.

Photography by Ana Kras

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Happily Ever After: Makoto Kagoshima

Apart from my obsessions for cushions, I do suffer of another weakness: my abiding lust for beautiful, handmade ceramics. When I discovered the Japanese artist and ceramicist Makoto Kagoshima I was head over heels in love with his delightful and delicate pieces that transform everyday moments into art. Imagine eating out of one of his plates - this would certainly feed my stomach and eye!

I adore his careful dedication to his artwork - he works with interesting tools like lightbulbs. The lightness of his paintings is an ode to the artful Japanese letters, his shapes and figurines speak of a special Japanese approach to design and taste. And all this is so appealing to me! 

With the piles of mass produced and cheap ceramics in high street stores, these handmade pieces come as a sort of luxury. The kind of ceramics you buy and adore, cherish, take out carefully and treat with due respect, knowing about all the love, dedication, work and care given to it by the hands of an artist. Now I feel like this Friday I need to treat myself with a little piece of handmade ceramics. Happy Friday, friends!

Photography via Biotope

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Happily Ever After: Photographer Anna Kern

If you are interested in interior design, styling and photography, sooner or later you end up with something blissful from Scandinavia. Pristine interiors, a refined approach to styling, and design classics to please our craving for timeless beauty. That's how I ended up on the website of Anna Kern, a Swedish interior and lifestyle photographer.

I glanced through her amazing portfolio here and enjoyed every single click. Even though she features various interiors, you can always notice her great eye for colour compositions, angles and light plays. Whether it's a typical Scandinavian home with bright whites and small, colourful details or a more rustic, natural home with different tactile surfaces and patterns - her photography conveys the beauty that is inherent in any interior that is not an accommodation but a home with personality. Happy Friday!

Photography by Anna Kern

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Happily Ever After: Pia Jane Bijkerk

What happens if you wander the world, you live in Paris, on a boat in Amsterdam, in Australia? When you collect delicate little gems, transform vintage pieces into remarkable ideas for the home, have a refined sense for a romantic and eclectic style? Well, I haven't got an answer for you, but I have an idea what it would look like - like the work of the Australian stylist, photographer and author Pia Jane Bijkerk.

Earlier this year I've reviewed her amazing book here on the blog, and it is illustrated with that specific and unique style that she creates and captures magically with her camera. No matter if this is your style or not, I've learned one important lesson from Pia's work: to notice the little details. To acknowledge their beauty. And to create ideas that stem from just one tiny peculiarity. Like a dried flower. Or a wandering heart. Happy Friday!

Photography by Pia Jane Bijkerk

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Happily Ever After: Happy Home

Today's 'plat du jour' will add a good deal of happiness to your home - let me introduce you to the online shop 'Happy Home'. Based in France this shop has not only attracted me with its happy name but also with its adorable assortment of goodies - whether you'd like to opt for a new cushion, something cheerful for your kitchen, or some colourful bliss for your desk or office, you won't leave unsatisfied.

I am in love with the beautiful black and white cards, the abundance of masking tape, the cute paper bags. And the best news - it's sales time till the end of July. Anything you fancy from this happy shop?

Photography via Happy Home

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Happily Ever After: More Of Sasa Antic

In February, I swooned over the inspiring work of interior stylist Sasa Antic in this blog post. Now I though it was about to time to check out his portfolio and see what this talented gent has been up to recently. And I sort of expected plentiful of inspiring interior styling examples to enjoy. 

In my last post on his work I highlighted some vivacious, colourful interior designs with a playful twist. This time, I found a more traditional approach in his work with a country home inspired series. I love the use of ethnic rugs and textiles, the use of linen, and vintage details to add interest to the stylings. Do you like his style? Have a happy Friday!

Photography via Sasa Antic

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Happily Ever After: Singulares Magazine

What I love about Twitter is that it literally opens the doors to the world with a mere 140 characters. Through Twitter I've met some of the most inspiring people and just yesterday I tweeted with Justina Blakeney about the funny fact that after a while we kinda know the style and taste of other bloggers. But I digress. It is through Twitter that I got aware of yet another super cool e-magazine. Actually, the first Spanish interiors e-zine ever, Singulares Magazine.

Now I would like to inspire you to spend some Friday with this beautiful e-mag and get a notion of what is perceived as trendy and cool in Spain. Plus you will see some great interior shops in Barcelona, just in case you plan to visit the bustling Catalan capital.

No matter if you understand Spanish or not: I assume you all are very visual people just like me, aesthetes who read through images as well as through words. So if this is the case, then you'll have some good time with this Spanish e-zine. In this sense: ¡Friday, olé!

Photography via Singulares Magazine

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Happily Ever After: Introducing 'Presive'

Up to now I've usually presented stylists, interior designers and photographers in this Friday blog series. Today, I am introducing an online platform/shop named 'Presive' to you. I got in touch with one of the founders on Twitter and Facebook and we caught up in a chat where he explained the reason why Presive was born. And I really liked the idea. So here it is!

Presive is a Barcelona based project and founded by three smart minds who immersed in the Catalan design scene, finding the struggles of the average designer to be incredibly tough. The designers they had met had difficulties finding customers outside their area, and were battling in an industry that favors distributors not designers. Thus, local and good design is hardly ever accessible to a wider audience. In order to change this challenging situation, Presive was brought to existence.

The team of Presive believes that behind every authentic product there is a person and a story. However, gaining access to the millions of showrooms, galleries and websites around the world is difficult. This is where they come in - they work directly with designers to bring their products to the forefront, making them available for a limited time on their site. This keeps the online store fresh and allows designers to grow their business organically and sustainably. A great idea, isn't it?

I've picked a few favorites for you - most of them are on sale now, some will be featured soon! Check it out here. Happy Friday!

Photography via Presive

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Happily Ever After: Robyn Thompson

Happy Friday, friends! Time to dedicate some space and time to a talented person. In my blog series 'Happily Ever After' I try to find interesting and inspiring artists who catch my eye and attention with their work. This week, I got all dreamy and inspired while browsing through the sublime portfolio of the photographer Robyn Thompson. 

On her website you will find beautifully curated folders with topics such as Marrakesh, Paris, the Mediterranean or a leisurely weekend. Click here to see more of her impressive work. 

Do you wanna get enchanted by the colours of Marrakesh? Wanna get seduced with the savours of the Mediterranean or rather stroll the cobbled streets of Paris? Whatever you feel like today and wherever you are, Robyn Thompson takes us there with the click of her camera. Do you feel inspired?

Photography by Robyn Thompson

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Happily Ever After: Stylist Susanna Vento

Yet another Friday, yet another happy post about a professional out there in the interior design, styling and photography world that keeps on inspiring me. This time I'd like to dedicate the post to the utterly talented Finnish interior & prop stylist Susanna Vento.

When I went through her extensive portfolio I couldn't help but gasp a few times. Gasp of awe. I love her great eye for forms and colours that sparkle through all her stylings. I am also impressed by the wide array of styles she covers and plays so skillfully. Whether it's a romantic setting, a very graphic setting, industrial charm or ethnic inspired theme - her work is professionally executed, the props are carefully chosen, the setting a real composition for the eye. What a great way to visually celebrate this Friday, don't you agree? Have a great day!!

Photography by Susanna Vento, Kari Hautala, Kristiina Kurronen, Mirva Kakko via Susanna Vento

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