13.2.12

snow & tulips ~ yes, it is...


this is to a happy & blessed Monday for us all my dears

   may a creative & peaceful week unfold before us,
  something so much needed
  taking into consideration 
  all the problems, misery, difficulties
  that also coexist in the world
 {people blessed with charismas} such are heavenly voices giving up on their lives,
 once {glorious nations} falling apart,
 not to mention the billions of people
 all around the world suffering 
 {hunger}, poor & inhuman life conditions

times like that,  having less seems not so important
 actually it magnifies the importance of everything
we are blessed with each one of us

and we are blessed with a roof above our heads
which also has a winter garden
and which in the meantime
is almost fully renovated & isolated, offering a direct view to the woods 

I guess it should be lovely in Spring here :*)

... envisioning gatherings & creative seminars taking place around the large table
sitting 8-10 people...

till then, inspire yourselves with a {table setting for two}
by amazing Nina Holst,
offering a non typical Valentine's environment,
focusing on nature's elements, pastels
and one adorable simplicity,
allowing the stars of the day (or night)
to be noone else but the ones involved.

absolutely adoring it
feeling very honored that our Shop's
is incorporated in such a wonderful way

see you here soon.
take care.
cherish & celebrate love each day .

11.2.12

Solid values ~ visions & silent destinations ~













well, happy Saturday there!
    today, after a week since the last post here,
 some pictures of our new reading corner part of our living room
 are coming to say hello to you...

 photographed in different weather conditions through out the week that passed,
like grey skies, blue skies, sunshine & snow falling...

 we've been actually having snow since some days now 
 & I do love it so with all my heart. 
 how about you?
 should you be living in Europe, the chances are high that low temperatures & snow
have come your ways, too... right?
 for me, a Greek girl grown up by the sea,  winters in Germany are all about the snow, 
 which makes then Spring's arrival so much welcome & worthy...

now here's a little thought in between all talking:

as this has turned out quite a long post, 
rather than at the end,
 I thought you might like to be listening to something 
while you are going through pictures & hopefully (ha!) reading.

so here's my suggestion:
a digital album, consisting of a collection of beautiful, ambient, acoustic music,
composed by some brilliantly talented people,
originating from all around the world,
dear friends from mother country Greece,
for whom a fully dedicated post is the least their
music deserves.

By purchasing the album for $5,
you are entitled to a full download,
while 100% of the earnings is contributed to the Red Cross Society in favor of Thailand.

here's a paragraph extract quotated from the full informative text found {here}:

"While the worst of the Thai floods has passed now, there are still thousands of flood victims that are facing numerous problems, including destroyed homes, health issues, polluted water, and many more. In response to this, Malaysia-based indie label, mu-nest, has teamed up with Bangkok-based design house/music label, Mink’s, to curate this fund-rising charity compilation album, to express what we feel for Thailand people in the depths of our hearts, and to help with what we do best: the most honest, simple, and subtle music."


One has to be  überhappy*

*personally built word combining German & English,
standing for happiness felt from the very deep inside

when coming along such efforts
finding place on the Internet.

{Mink}, partly responsible for making this happen
is a label whose products you want to get to know,
ones you cannot but simply love....
I might show you my favorite ones in another post...

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

this is my way of wishing you to have one
wonderful weekend
while
thanking you once more for your meaningful & truly heart touching comments 
on the latest post... {Marianna}... what a lady you are...
thank you so much my dear ~

... also wishing to let you know that I'm doing fine,
having spent a week alongside photographing corners of our new  home
& other jobs,
making teas, coffees, snacks & occasionally lunches & dinners
for three lovely men,
who would be:
 ~> my life partner (even though we have both totally destroyed each other' s nerves)
~> his best & childhood friend from Prague who has been a guest of ours 
&
~> our German technician who has made little wonders during the past two weeks
in what used to be a very problematic winter garden
&
 who all three btw share one more little thing in common:
they are all travelling to the East this month

My partner & his friend other than relaxing from their stressy & high responsibility jobs,
will be visiting quite a few different countries and cities,
them together, two friends since decades,
enjoying their silent bond,
while sightseeing...
and returning a little bit closer to the wonderful men that they are,
which perhaps they yet need to discover...
we'll see...

In between, I'll have all the time needed to set up home here,
while I'll be enjoying my mother's company soon to be arriving from Greece...
smiles :*) 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ummm, right... after all this rambling, 
how about some words about the pictures shared above?


yes?
Yes! here we go:

the room's direction is South Eastern,
(much like the main bedroom's, located exactly above it on the 2nd floor)
at the moment, 11th of February, during the last official month of winter,
the sun rises 45° to the left just behind the woods.

the light & actual sun shining inside - to my pleasant surprise - surpasses my expectations.
It can be really bright and warm in here reminding a lot of
the positive aspects of life in {the Penthouse}
this corner, much as the whole room and house, 
are a continuation of the space set up in our previous home.

being owners this time,
making investments is a logical decision
one which will pay back when the time of resell comes.
In the meantime,
we'll be enjoying & loving our home day by day...

It's quite nice that there is no need for temporary solutions,
like the {wallpaper samples}, used to dress up our previous reading corner's wall.

Instead, three different favorite designs have... jumped out of their frames,
got... magically (mmm, money helped too in fact) transformed into rolls of them
and will be anytime soon getting adjusted 
on the walls of three different rooms.
(Details & planning in a post to come)

In the last of the pictures above, you can see 
                                     the one we chose for the living room wall on the left as we enter,

resting on the {Besta cabinets} 
(which have now multiplied by 3),
 catching some sun rays next to {Ikea P.S Jonsberg vase}

Abstractly formed barks of birches
in shades of white, off white & silver grey,
colors, tones & hues that will be answered in varied ways & textures all around this space.

oh heaven....

From the fact that this sample was chosen three times - notice below -  to be part of 
our previous set up, it was clear that this is a favorite.





Also love the fact that actually now living by the woods,
it totally fits as a concept.

why?
 letting personal experience & studies speak, I seem to find that establishing contact & relations with a living space's external environment is a key factor to a sense of smoothness, balance & making most of one's reality.

I might adore turquoise,
but I'll wait for it to be used
the day we own a house by the sea...
other than my parents' {Apart 44} 

wishful thinking or a silent master plan?
well, one can never know ; )

till then, little touches of this color & shades of aqua are here and there, bringing a nice color addition,
which I' ll show you quite soon

take care & enjoy your weekends dears ~ xoxo

...........................................................................................................................

All pictures by Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos from my personal portfolio portraying our two living residences in Germany

3.2.12

this weekend, be your beautiful self


a {handwritten note} since about a year and a half, {one of the first shots made with my then new camera
 in the house} is still very dear to me,
 so very dear that I'm bringing it here {again} in order to wish you a nice weekend
  &
  together with it share lots of what has been
 firing my inspiration's brain cells since about last night I guess...

 {leather bags} by {Yvone Kone} as photographed by {Line klein}
in dark basic and earthy colours,
 found through {Lotta Agaton},
 one lady whose styling abilites are marking me lately...

 {Jill Sander's villa} in Germany's Hamburg...
&
probably my ever favorite tree,
as seen through a promising point of view
that lets me dream while awake...

and then
happiness can strike so easily when seeing
{these} three identical pendant lights in 3 colours,
hanging above a wooden table
surrounded by chairs in Danish design that 
make my heart skip...



mainly these images & {this reminder}
and it was enough for a collage / mood board... marathon to begin...
inspiration bringing inspiration...

isn't it in fact so magical when it happens?

here is what happened more or less, 
starting from the top left corner
and moving down ...





can you perhaps follow the steps?

the essence that I wish to bring to this weekend - that has almost arrived  btw - is to :

be my beautiful self,

after managing to be the worst person that I could just a week ago,
giving in to frustration, failing to see the positive sides
&
being temporarily stuck in
a very unproductive cirle...

I thought perhaps it would encourage you too
to do the same

this is why the final moodboard made today,
features the messages to be kept close to hearts & minds,
and be put into action:



have a happy weekend & be your beautiful self...
everyone has such sides,
it's totally up to us to bring them out
& insist on emphasising them when situations are difficult

............

risking to make this one of this usual long posts 
I'm often concerned require too much of your effort and attention,
there are few on line places & a very special thank you I'd like to share and point out
before "the end" is written for today...

So:

{this gorgeous online inspiring website} found via amasing {Desire and her blog}cannot but be adored by all interior & make over lovers

then, how super inspiring to watch all the pictures & videos over at  {Freunde von Freunden},
and find out about another {brilliant couple}...

and then last but certainly not least, {this} breathtaking life diary, whose posts as so real like the air that you breathe...  inspiring, enchanting, thought & feeling provoking...

{this is my most favorite post} from the ones I' ve read so far. Oh please to take some time to read it, you won't waste any of your time, I promise and while you do so listen...

For finding this blog, it's my dear friend Holy from {HvH Interiors}, that I have and want to thank... together with sending her a big hug, for having left a comment in the {previous post} which totally touched me.

You cannot imagine how comforting it is to hear & read positive things about yourself & your abilites from someone who knows both your good & bad sides in real life, when you actually need it the most, but don't dare to admit to yourself...

well my dears, one long day, one long post & hopefully what we'll experience as one long & happy weekend.

love being here with you & for you ! Till next time  ~ xox

....................................................................................................................................

All collages & the "happy weekend" note picture in this post are made and curated by Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos for Domestic Stories with Ivy. Thank you for linking back properly.

....................................................................................................................................

P.S: picture credit for the female figure in the snow used in the last collage {here}
via {this} so interestingly & well put together photo collection blog,
where I arrived thanks to Lyssan's from {Pure living Interiors} gorgeous sense of stlyle.

P.S 2: making the links to this post has so taken forever, still it is worth it. Hope you enjoy & cherish them

1.2.12

curves + triangles (aujourd' hui j' aime)


well, I'm currently really not supposed to be anywhere else other than corners of {our Cave}, or else our new  medium sized maisonette apartment, performing works of every possible kind all around,

  but
 life happens & online existence & happenings are part of it,
 at least so is the case here...
 there are nice things to share today.

 moreover, it is the first of February & coming to make a 
 "have a nice month!" post here,
 positively energizes my day, rest of the week
 and hopefully yours!

 before elaborating a little on the collage curated above,

 I'd like to ask you - unless you've already done so  ; ) -
 to pass by a few on line places I'm very happy & honored to be part of.

 Natalie - with whom we once held a {lovely give away}
 seems to have a very discrete & low profile on line existence,
 nevertheless her sense of aesthetics,
 color appreciation
 &
her own creations
are very compatible with mine
and I'm very fond of them.

I'm loving lots of her latest creations - which you can find {here} & {there}
&
I'm absolutely loving {the collage}- a tribute to Grey -
she recently created,
incorporating our {new kitchen corner}

Thank you Natalie!
........

and then...
{Nina Holst} is one lovely lady & talented stylist from Norway, founder of {Stylizimo},
one whose kind & soft manners
are her equipment for a strong on line existence

Since she "walked" into our shop some months ago,
I cannot help but feeling extremely honored & happy,
that fragments of myself are incorporated in her beautiful house's many rooms,
through pictures & little "sur measure" creations.

Maybe you remember {this post}?
... it's never late to check it out ; )

Today, I get to be guested at her blog
as {this print} of our shop is part of her freshly styled
with a dark cabinet I pretty much adore.

Thank you Nina!

......

now let me say a few words on the collage above...

curves & triangles

it is rather {evident} that I love geometry in all its expression in interior design,
but mostly of all,
I'm interested in creating spaces that while leaving a strong impact,
they do so gently,
almost magically,
secretly inviting you to return to them again,
even when you don't exactly know why.

there is a certain amount of mystery
created by a play between lines & curves...

believing that happiness lies in finding balance,

the existence of basic shapes in our living environments,
creates a sense of being grounded,
while also being free to take a walk in the clouds.

 happily pointy triangles of a banner much as this blog's logo
or the wallpaper banners {which I so joyfully create}
&
smooth, gentle & feminine curves found both in furniture and in objects
are features I love.

the collage I curated from recent images found via {pinterest},
represents well all the above.

~>  {this} delightful chair, so fabulously photographed here, 
with weathered leather adding so much to its charm,
is an odd to curves.

~> the {Eiffel tower} is a magnificent example of plasticity in architecture,
combining a powerful three dimensional triangular shape,
while every line is curved & beautifully emphasized by all the circular & semi circular iron details.
I can't get over its beautiful figure as seen through this fairy lightened {blurry image}

~> {that} hand crocheted A shaped dress is consisting of probably countless circles
(btw I spent some memorable teenage summers wearing a very similar dress, 
handmade by my crafty grandmother from my mother's side...
and I might as well try to find it when visiting my parental home in Greece this Spring)

~> last but not least
combines so nicely
wooden blocks,
a fabric banner & a wooden rocking... sheep!

that's also a lovely note to gentleness..
a harmless sheep...
  I might as well be closing this post with that.

enjoy your days 
have a great start to the new month ~
&
see you here again quite soon ~

thank you for stopping by & sharing love

much love to you, too ~ xoxo

...............................................................................................................................

P.S: an important note here: I'm sorry to not be able to properly credit some pictures so wonderful like the Paris one & many others. Pinterest is one amazing platform to create "reachable" dreams but through the 
enormous amount of repining, some original sources seem rather hard to be found.
U p d a t e: just  - 03.02.2012, 22:51 - came across this picture {here}...
so so happy to have found it in this very favorite blog of mine :*)
................................

collage curation: Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos 
picture credit given through the post - please read carefully & click on the {...}