From Place To Space: Salut From Paris

Hello back my friends! Just in time with the start of a new week I am back from a quick weekend get-away to Paris. I won't bother you with too many words, instead I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Just a few highlights from this weekend:

- Picnic with friends along the Seine. It was so beautiful!

- Brunch at 'Un Jour, Un Chef' with daily changing chefs. Yesterday, two food bloggers were cooking!

- Shopping marathon in Le Marais with a pit stop at Fleux.

- Amazing chocolates from Georges Larnicol.

- I bought a vintage book by Colette and a 19th century drawing of folk costumes from the Ottoman Empire. I adore it.

- A Sunday afternoon at the Jardin des Plantes.

- I brought heaps of food back home.

Happy week, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Read More

No comments

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

Read More

No comments

A Traveler's Colourful Loft

I think it is an open secret that I am an avid traveler. Traveling is essential for me. While traveling the world, I learn new things, I broaden my mind, I reflect a lot - and I collect. Inspiration and tidbits. Little things that will remind me of a certain moment in a certain location. 

Seeing this traveller's lofty home in Paris was like opening a book and reading in it. Noticing his passion to conquer the world. To chase colours on ancient routes. To sail the oceans with the wind. To wander hot savannas. And from each of his trips he's brought a tiny bit of inspiration back. The vibrant colours of the orient, the animal prints from Africa, the maritime art from seaside destinations and the textured, grey elements from the north. And all this has found a new home in a spectacular loft with a stunning view of Paris rooftops. Bliss.

Photography by Nicolas Millet via Côté Maison 

Read More

No comments

Loving Metro Tiles

I am back from Paris! I think you've seen how inspired and happy my prolonged weekend was and of course I came back with a strong inspiration for an upcoming interior design project. I am definitely in love with metro tiles. I enjoyed daily the simple yet beautiful tiles in the Paris metro. The beauty lies in their simplicity: they are white, rectangular, shiny, with flattened edges. So simple. So stylish. So urban. I would love a kitchen backsplash with metro tiles or a bathroom tiled with those beauties. I could see the lower half of the walls covered with metro tiles and the upper half of the walls painted in a sleek anthracite. Oh well, the only thing that I need now is an adequate kitchen and bathroom. Up to then, let's enjoy the inspiration!

Photography: Kitchen via Red Online; Paris pics by Igor Josifovic

Read More

No comments

From Place To Space: Paris, Da Capo

A very happy Monday, friends! While I am typing this words I am still in the City of Lights - in Paris. You've noticed the French 'je ne sais quoi' over the past few days on the blog, but hey, I can't help it - this city keeps me constantly under a spell. Plus, there were two exciting happenings coinciding: my blog's sixth months (half)-anniversary and the French presidential elections. If you've been following me on Instagram, you might have seen most of these pictures, but I thought it might be good to accompany them with a little text and helpful recommendations - it might come in handy for one of your next Paris visits. But let me take you slowly down the lane.

When in Paris, I love to kick-start days slowly and lazy. My first day was just like that. After a good breakfast I headed over to the Trocadero square to enjoy the view on the city's grande dame, the Tour Eiffel. I sat down in the famous Café Le Malakoff, sipped on a good glass of Brouilly and watched the delivery of fresh baguettes by the local baker with his cute little bakery van. The typical April weather with spectacular clouds and a never ending mix of sun, rain and wind proved to be good after all - at least for some great shots. After the little break I set off towards the Arc de Triomphe and after being caught by a spring rain shower on the vivid Champs Elysées I decided to jump into the metro and head off to the Marais. Since I started to feel hungry I decided to have a quick yet yummy lunch in the Jewish quarter - and I opted for a falafel sandwich. If you think eating falafel is to profane in Paris, then you haven't tasted the best falafel sandwich at L'As Du Fallafel in the Rue des Rosiers. Try it, you won't regret it. Later on I continued towards the Centre Pompidou and enjoyed an invigorating French coffee at Rue Beaubourg while watching the world go by. The day was rounded up by an evening walk through Montmartre and a good dinner at the quarter's oldest restaurant 'Le Bon Bock'. Parfait!

The next day was marked by an early getting up. But even that is sort of glamorous in Paris. I had a fine French breakfast at the Place Gambetta before heading to the city's south to visit the Marché aux Puces (flea market) at the Porte de Vanves. A plethora of 'brocante' was waiting for me and I really enjoyed thrifting and taking pics although I haven't bought anything at the end. The afternoon was reserved for my friends and we had a great and fun afternoon in a bar called Le Tournesol, a shopping spree at Bon Marché (seriously worth a visit) and the best cookies in town at 'It Mylk'. A cinema night made the perfect end to this day (and I watched a movie that depicted some French clichés in a funny way).

A visit in Paris must be accompanied by a brunch, too. Although not a French invention nor tradition, the city offers very good placed to enjoy a good brunch. This time we went to a place called 'Coutume' in the seventh arrondissement - the place is known for its excellent coffee but I would add also the excellent interior design. Traditional, high stuccoed ceilings, old 19th century columns counteracted by rough, plain concrete walls, industrial lighting, and plain white tiles really caught my interior loving eye. A shopping afternoon, yet another visit to friends and a good, long walk along the Seine made my day. 

And I must not forget: On Sunday I joined the French elections by joining my friend to an electoral office wearing my 'tricolore' vest. Enough said, je vous laisse. À bientôt!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Read More

No comments

Happy Six Months, My Dear!

Hello my friends, this time from Paris! I am currently enjoying some beautiful days in the City of Lights and I am - as usual - sharing many of my moments with you through Twitter and Instagram (just look for #igorinparis). A detailed round-up of this trip is yet to come in a dedicated 'From Place To Space' blog post.

Actually, I've almost forgotten that today is a special day: Today, my little 'Happy Interior Blog' is celebrating its first six months of happiness, love and fun. After six months I can tell you that this blog has given so much happiness to me, that I love it dearly and that it has become an inexhaustible source of fun. But all this would not have been possible without one very, very essential ingredient: YOU. Each and everyone of you. I am such a happy blogger to have you, my dear readers. All the happiness you've shared, all the love you've sent, all the comments you've written, all the feedback you've given - all that has made me truly happy and honoured. You all make my day. Every day. Happy weekend! Et à bientôt!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Read More

No comments

In Love: The Paris Print Shop

Some of you might know that I am emotionally bound to Paris. The City of Light. The City of Love. Well, above all it is a fascinating city. Now, this weekend I am off to Paris again for a four days retreat and it came as a sort of coincidence that just yesterday one of my fellow bloggers and great Paris lovers, Nichole of Little Brown Pen, has announced the opening of her new web shop 'The Paris Print Shop'. 

In her new online boutique you will find some of her finest shots of Paris. Her artful eye captures those tiny, little moments that convey the unique spirit of the city and enchant every art loving and Paris adoring heart. And how charming are the colour stories of her shots? Well, this weekend I will pay due attention to all those fine little details in Paris! Á bientôt, mes amis!

Photography by Nichole Robertson for The Paris Print Shop

Read More

No comments

5 Happy Inspirations: Vive La France!

Today was a pretty exciting day. I started a French conversation course after a ten years break of actively using French. I felt like a freshman at university. My bag, my French book and an outdated vocabulary were just the things I needed to travel back in time and be happy and laid-back after a long office day. So from now on I will be attending my French course every Tuesday evening and since I am in the mood, it is inevitable to make a '5 Happy Inspirations' post with a French 'je ne sais quoi'. Alors, on y va!

1. If you love Paris but live somewhere else (just like me), think of bringing Paris to your home. For example with this stunning wallpaper depicting a historic map of Paris as seen on Design*Sponge.

2. When I think of France, I also think of the French countryside style. I love the use of antique mirrors in varying shapes, rustic linens and worn textures for the touch of an easy-going countryside life, as seen on Rose & Rust.

3. Don't want a bold statement? Opt for a decorative cushion with a France inspired print, like this Paris Icons cushion by John Lewis. 

4. Nothing beats a fresh baguette from a French boulangerie. To be honest, it is one of the first things I do when in Paris. Baguette galore seen on Life Love Paper.

5. Close your eyes, think of Paris. I imagine Haussmann facades and airy apartments. Wooden floors, old fireplaces, high stuccoed ceilings, contemporary furniture. As seen on Marie Claire Maison.

Vive la France!

Read More

No comments

From Place To Space: Christmas in Paris

Hello my beloved readers in 2012! I hope you all had a fabulous and festive start into the new year! Some of you might know that I spent last Christmas in my second home town Paris. Thus, I decided to dedicate today's 'From Place To Space' blog post to the City of Lights and my amazing stay there. I spent some of the most relaxing and joyous days in Paris. But let me guide you through my little adventure and flirty encounter avec la ville que j'aime.

Whenever I arrive in Paris I am first and foremost drawn to the architecture and the plethora of stunning 19th century facades that line the streets and boulevards. I can't help but snap pics on the way with my iPhone and imagine how it would feel to actually live in such a grand building. Anyway, a bit of daydreaming is allowed, right? Then I was amazed by the festive decorations throughout the city that added a notch to the city's image as 'City of Lights' - it was even more sparkling, glamorous and twinkling than ever before. 

Christmas Eve was very intimate and romantic with a beautiful dinner full of French delicacies including the compulsory 'bûche de Noël' and a bottle of champagne. For a very first time, I even tried 'escargots' this year (also a Christmas tradition in France). On Christmas Day, I was invited to a fancy breakfast at the de luxe hotel Plaza Athenée with an adorable little ice rink in the hotel courtyard and a magnificent view of the Tour Eiffel. Can Christmas be any better?

Then it was about time to hit the stores for some last minute Xmas shopping. This time I discovered some amazing shops like 'Merci, Merci', 'Hier Pour Demain' and a few street lined thrift stores with amazing mid-century furniture, Moroccan decorations and other paraphernalia galore. Of course, a stop over at the famous Galeries Lafayette with its rocking Christmas tree was inevitable, too.

Apart from that, I enjoyed relaxing in Paris and meeting some old friends for dinners and walks, I wandered the streets and made little breaks in local cafés enjoying a good cup of coffee and yummy French pastries. Invigorated and inspired I returned to Munich and now I am ready to face a new and hopefully successful year with all of you! I hope I could transfer a bit of the festive and lovely atmosphere from Paris through my little iPhone snapshots. Á bientôt, mes amis!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Read More

No comments