Bloesem

kidsonroof

2009-12-16T05:39:35-05:00

DesignHome KidsOnRoof UnRaveled :: answers by Romy Boesveldt images by Ilya Yashkin

Dutch:: is directness- openness - simpleness but also boldness and little elegancy!

Entrance:: when entering my home you will notice the uten silo re edited by vitra and very much loved in our family of 5 with lots and lots of loose stuff/papers/keys that used to get lost before the arrival of the uten silo...

Style:: means... following your own rules and not get too influenced by other peoples opinions

Inspiration:: comes from nature

Gourmet:: is necessary because life is short

New:: in my home is the catherine kullberg lamp which we love

Hobby:: I always make time for too many things - can't choose

Outfit:: my favorite thing to wear is my super de luxe martin margiela boots and a necklace my friend and designer marion vidal gave me as a present.

{image above, Bo Buro}

Make:: I start creating when i wake up

Enjoy:: I can't live without my kids

......Thank You Romy and Ilya.......

Casa Collection...Romy and Ilya founded (my favorite design label for kids toys) KidsonRoof in 2005 and I think since then almost everyone online has seen some of their great products on a blog or website, because everybody loves their fabulous designs...you understand how happy I was when receiving Romy's answers in my inbox!

The latest Kidsonroof collection is Furniture VolumeZero and it's so high on my wish-list!!
Of course every child should have at least one Totem :) {TIME Style & Design's GREEN DESIGN 100}

2009-12-15T06:36:27-05:00

DesignHome RenS UnRaveled :: answers by Renee Mennen & Stefanie van Keijsteren

Dutch is:: Looking for limits and not being afraid of the unknown

Entrance:: when entering my home you will notice several unique items which originate from many different places, due to the fact that we adore both collecting items as well as special objects.

Style:: means creating our own environment on a separate manner

Inspiration:: comes from daily life

Gourmet:: is necessary for the reason that “gourmet” equals a moment of peace and togetherness

New:: in my home is a closet which we bought from the online shopping store “Martkplaats”. With a length of three meters and the possession of twenty drawers , the closet serves as an inspiration source to us.

Hobby:: One of our hobbies considers traveling. While visiting other countries and cultures, we get inspired . An other hobby consists of visiting markets in order to search for special items.

Outfit:: my favorite thing to wear is clothing of “Humanoid”. The latter is a beautiful clothes store in Arnhem. Specifically, the high quality of the clothes as well as the clothing material makes the items rather beautiful.

Make:: The moment I get inspired no matter where I am...

Enjoy:: The experience of everything what is around us.

.........Thank you Stephanie and Renee from RenS.........

The 'kopje kopje' series by RenS were the first designs that caught my eye and made me want to write about Stephanie and Renee's work on Bloesem...several places in the Netherlands already sell the products from RenS, but I know Renee and Stephanie would love to sell in your country too, so if you know a brick and morter or online shop who might be interested please send RenS an email, thanks for your help!

The latest designs from RenS, Renee and Stephanie, are the McTea, where McDonalds meets a traditional cup of tea, and the Langpootkast (=Longleg cabinet) where the little cupboard has been blown-up out of its normal proportions and the owner has to make a conscious decision about what to place in the one drawer above...

Stylish Gift wrapping

2009-12-14T22:07:20-05:00

Did you already start wrapping your Christmas Gifts...no, then please have a look at these gorgeous papers and ribbons, a new collaboration between Angela Liguori and Pikku Cloth and Wares...available right here..

lenneke

2009-12-13T22:36:00-05:00

DesignHome UnRaveled :: answers by Lenneke Wispelwey

Dutch:: is A wink of the eye.

Entrance:: when entering my home you will notice my friends&fun picture wall with little text messages that I have put on paper because they are too fun or special not to save them.

Style:: means being yourself always...(fashion can be bought, style you must posess)

Inspiration:: everyday life. Making the ordinary, extraordinary!

New:: in my home is an old green machine that i bought on the fleemarket. I didn't know what it was for, I bought it for the design and the colour, it is soo nice.

Hobby:: I always make time for having dinnerparty’s with my best friends (we don't do this often enough)

Outfit:: my favorite thing to wear is handsome flat shoes, I have a hate/love affair with high heels. They look so good, but hurt so bad.

Make:: I start creating when when I have an idea, I will try it out. I don’t sketch much, I love to sketch with the material.

Enjoy:: I can't live without a smile.

........Thank you Lenneke........

Do you remember seeing these images on Bloesem a little while ago...Yes they are from Lenneke and I'm so honored and thrilled that she has given us such a nice peak into her home...

More gorgeous images from her products are right here on her website if you have any questions for Lenneke, retail, wholesale, styling or custom made pieces please send Lenneke an email!

2009-12-11T05:41:47-05:00

Irene from Bloesem

Like I said the other day, I will try and start showing some images of our own home with you a bit more often on Bloesem...but please keep in mind that I'm not a good photographer at all and making them makes me pretty nervous...but I hope today these will give you a bit of an impression of the table our friends and I will be sitting at tonight...we're hosting a small pre-Christmas diner, I have kept the table decoration clean and simple, combined three colors of pure linen, light grey, white and a darker grey and added some red, green and beige colors...

I have turned on the air-con and instead of sitting outside tonight I'm pretending we are in 'a winter-wonderland', found an old Christmas cd from Stevie Wonder, so our first Christmas part can begin!

I hope you enjoyed the beginning of Let's Get Personal Tour this week, next week many more Dutch Designers will again show us a bit their homes and studios, hope to see you back, Have yourself a very nice weekend! irene xx

2009-12-09T22:45:21-05:00

DesignHome UnRaveled :: answers by Margo Slingerland

Dutch:: is "gezellig"

Entrance:: when entering my home you will notice? my rabbit collection, a pink fridge, my own designs and a lot of books and magazines.

Style:: means...be yourself

Inspiration:: comes from everywhere... flea markets, children's books, video clips, fabric shops, nice people, etc.

Gourmet:: is necessary because, it brings enjoyment.

New:: in my home is? some objects, I bought at my last trip, in Egypt.

Hobby:: I always make time for? running in the park, to clear my head.

Outfit:: my favorite thing to wear is? colorful clothes, combined with some cool accessories. I love to collect bags, brooches, buttons and necklaces.

{the images above show the new paper-brooches by Margo Slingerland}

Make:: I start creating when? ...all the time, but I am most creative in the evening, I think.

Enjoy:: I can't live without? my family and friends, of course, but as a designer I can't live without my work too.

........Thank you Margo........

an imaginary cup of tea...Margo’s intention with this tea-set made out of paper is to bring you in a calm and relax mood thinking of your carefree days of childhood…

Table-Invaders by Margo Slingerland...if you would like to receive any information about these stunning designs you can send Margo an email. If you would like to see more then click here for her website or flickr page.

2009-12-08T18:09:02-05:00

DesignHome Vij5 UnRaveled :: answers by Arjan van Raadshooven and Anieke Branderhorst

Dutch:: Stubborn, always a little bit different and unexpected, at least for design it is.

Entrance:: when entering our home you will notice a dark blue corridor with 5 glass ‘crystal’ ceiling lamps fixed on the wall. We inherited those from Anieke’s grandparents and found some at the attic of her parents. If you enter our home for business, this blue corridor will lead you upstairs to our design studio. If you enter our home as family or friend, of course you are allowed to open the blue doors to our living room or kitchen!

Style:: means so many different things! We think our style could be explained as simplicity with a twist, old combined with new, new learned from old, eclectic …

Inspiration:: a good idea never comes out of the blue, there is always a lead. Sometimes we actively search for inspiration by loosing ourselves into certain subjects. On the other hand we could also be surprised by things that coincidentally meet our eyes. This can be anything, from a nice picture or colour combination to an article of use we might have used for years already. Traveling also gives us a lot of unpredictable inspiration.

New:: in our home are our new dining chairs! We are very pleased with them. Arjan sees them as little architectural buildings J We found them in a retro/design shop in Eindhoven and painted the seats ourselves. The owner told us it were probably prototypes or a small scale production from the Italian brand Fasem. We haven’t seen anything like this anyway, so they are unique and special enough for us!

Hobby:: what’s that? We think our ‘hobby’ has become our work, although we really enjoy making time for our family and friends. Next to that, we really like to travel or relax in a nice hot-spring! 
Outfit:: our favorite thing to wear? Since Anieke worked at a Sissy-Boy store, our closet is mainly filled with their ‘special basics’. Timeless and comfortable! 

Make:: I start creating when? As soon as we start talking, discussing or brainstorming on some loose ideas, our creating process starts. We are convinced the best products are the result of a dialogue between different visions. That is why it is one of the basic principles of Vij5. 

Enjoy:: we can't live without our 2 black cats: Joey and Stein. Fortunately we are not superstitious at all ;) They are a perfect mirror for our moods: if we are stressed, they are as well. So indirectly they tell us to slow down a little and spend a nice evening with them on the couch. Those little animals can sometimes drive us mad by their naughtiness, but overall they always put a smile on our face!

........Thank you Anieke and Arjan........

Gorgeous designs from Vij5 are Stevia&Melk set, Table Confetti (please see images below) from the Leftovers range and of course the FlexVase, which Won the Dutch Design Award for being the best consumer product of 2009!!

Anieke and Arjan really would like to sell their beautiful designs in more shops in the rest of the world, so if you are a retailer, online shop and are interested please send an email to Anieke and Arjan from Vij5!

2009-12-08T03:51:54-05:00

DesignHome BB+++ UnRaveled :: answers by Kellie Smits

Dutch:: I (=Kellie Smits) think in designing: down-to-earthiness, simplicity, conceptualize, form follows functionality, openness are very Dutch.

Entrance:: when entering my home you will notice? A big long Grey mdf closet wall which divides BB+++ from our private home and which is filled with a lot of BB+++ garments. And at the end our black mdf ‘Anne Frank’ closet and the great yellow Dots of Tveit & Tornøe for hanging our jackets.

Style:: means? When one has style or taste I think that’s because one had developed his own vision by first being passionate then imitating, criticize and finally developing its own mix or vision. So I think style is a product of being passionate and active.

Inspiration:: comes from? Inspiration is everywhere, but depends on what you are interested in and open for. You can read a book several times in a certain interval of time and every time you read it it can inspire you on a different matter.

Gourmet:: is necessary because? It is cosy to fry all those small pieces of food in such a small pan yourself at the table and to experiment with it! And it is easy to prepare ;-)
New:: in my home is? I think more then 50% of all objects in my home are new, because we just moved from a very small apartment to a 3 floor house with garden. I designed almost all furniture myself and let it be made by a carpenter. But most proud I am on my new kitchen, which I did not design myself. It is the newest B2 model of Bulthaup and it is fantastic in its design!

Hobby:: I always make time for? Having dinner with friends (at home or in a restaurant). I think this is the most relaxing activity I can imagine. I love wine and food!!! And I love talking with my friends!

Outfit:: my favorite thing to wear is? At the moment I have bought two great dresses of the Dutch label Dutch-ess, which is the label of my friend. She creates great dresses, which are very wearable in daytime, but also very special!

Make:: I start creating when? When I didn’t do for a certain time or when I have finished my daily activities. So when there is space in my head I automatically start designing. It is not always easy with a busy life with kids and a company to work out all my ideas and work them out perfectly like I imagine them in my head, but they say it is good enough ;-)

Enjoy:: I can't live without? My kids and husband!
Above images of the latest collection designed by Kellie Smits for her own fashion brand Buisjes En Beugels+++.

............Thanks Kellie from Buisjes En Beugels+++............

2009-12-08T03:47:11-05:00

...with Dutch Designers...I asked them to unravel their own Design Home for us by asking them to finish the following sentences and show images of their own homes...the next few weeks Bloesem will share their answers with you...

Dutch is
Entrance, when you enter my home
Style means
Inspiration comes from
Gourmet is important because
New in my home is

Hobby, I always make time for
Outfit, I love to wear
Make, I start creating when
Enjoy, I can't live without

2009-12-07T10:14:55-05:00

Dear Bloesem,

3 years...Happy Birthday Bloesem… time to get personal!

I promised myself not to be too sentimental about Bloesem’s 3rd anniversary… seems I simply cannot help myself though… not that 3 years is a magic number to me but somehow this anniversary feels very different (I will try to further explain below… bear with me…)… so, here I am, very happy, proud and grateful for everything that happened since this first “welcome” to Bloesem post on 17 December 2006… blogfriends, magazines, newspapers and sponsors… and thankful to so many readers who find Bloesem a place worth visiting every day... I cannot express in words how much it means to me… Bloesem is so much a part of me… I guess Bloesem is just the perfect way for me to (sensibly) express my own feelings about things I love and touch me deeply… positive things that is, Bloesem ignores negativity, yep… quite convenient perhaps but blogging to me is about sharing positivity, in this case expressed in design… and believe me, I am normally not that well organized putting my feelings into words… basically, tears first, reason later…
Bloesem is also about sharing my honest feelings with you, my readers and sponsors… giving artists the exposure they deserve and helping starting entrepreneurs market their businesses…. if you ask me what defines Bloesem, I believe Bloesem is an open book, nothing to hide, good or bad…. no grey areas… whatever you think of Bloesem… I believe Bloesem is always about something… and that also defines me as a person… at least that is what I ‘d like to think…

Still a piece missing on Bloesem… not quite sure what 2010 has in store for Bloesem… inevitably Bloesem will change as I have changed over the last 3 years… something to do with giving more depth to the things I do… more challenging, less conventional perhaps…?

So what better way to test these ideas with some fellow Dutchmen and women… Dutch Designers… actually, they are in a league of their own, or so they think…(we’ll be the judge of that J…)… these Dutch designers don’t get excited easily… nor do they feel easily offended… quite cool-headed and talented actually, not easy to impress or get a foot in the door (especially not in their personal lives and homes…)… getting their attention might prove a challenge… and this is exactly where Bloesem would like to go… getting a bit more personal….not only showing their work to you, their designs, but rather only showing the work when we know a bit more about the person behind the work.

To give this idea a jump-start I invited a whole bunch of well-known Dutch designers, most of them I have already written about in the past, to share with us some snapshots of their homes, what they like to surround themselves with. I also asked them to finish a short interview, just some keywords and their thoughts and so you wonder, did they open up or were they holding back? … I am sad to say most…but not all did hold back at least a little (some who held back completely I simply will not post… how is that for unconventional…), to be fair, a selected few really opened their doors and for that I am truly grateful… and I hope you will welcome them with open arms, write about them, show their work on your blogs… as these designers understand how blogging connects all of us …

2010 …blogging…getting more personal is this where Bloesem is going? I hope so…here is a start…my background being Dutch…going Dutch…the Dutch getting personal…Let’s Get Personal…tomorrow two Dutch designers are opening their homes hope to see you then! And YES I will get more personal too, starting with some images of our own new home in Kuala Lumpur during the next few weeks…{ps. I would love to hear your thoughts, Like Holly was saying : Talk it out!}

Love, irene xoxo

Giveaway Week on BloesemKids

2009-12-07T00:31:41-05:00

The whole week I will be posting great Giveaways on Bloesemkids, really super-nice things you can win by just leaving comments...today I started with the Dwell Elephant Bookshelf from SpunkySprout and an Olli&Lime gift set...tomorrow stationery from Sarah Jane and a doll from Wendi Gratz and many giveaways will follow until Friday!!! (sorry for those who already commented, but you have to leave the comment over at B:Kids to be a possible winner)

Japanistic

2009-12-06T22:12:49-05:00

A shop that I really like to visit online is Japanistic...perfect gifts...funny apple tree banks, lovely ceramic bird dish, beautiful washi paper trays and happy notebooks...Bird Dish

Text-Isles

2009-12-03T05:42:09-05:00

I just got an email from Suzanne Shearer she is one of the artists from a collective of contemporary Shetland textile designers and they call themselves Text-Isles...I immediately fell in love with their work...you probably understand when seeing the images above from Andrea Williamson...and below from Suzanne Shearer her printed textile designs...Phatsheep ...

Rugs

2009-12-02T22:11:39-05:00

Just an example of what a difference a good-looking rug can do to a room...this rug is from the Kathryn Collection from Chandra and available right here ...

Sägen butik

2009-12-01T07:18:51-05:00

...And truly one-of-a-kind pieces handmade by the lovely Elin from Sägen butik (Sweden)...this year Elin wrapped/framed the vintage and charming porcelain in silver...resulting in beautiful rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces ... I also spotted this great bag in her shop....

Kuss

2009-12-01T07:10:50-05:00

Some jewelry gift ideas today ...beautiful Bird inspired jewelry by Buenos Aires, Argentina, based designer Sole Kussrow...Sole loves being a jewelry designer and all her pieces are entirely hand-made by her in a small workshop in Buenos Aires...please visit her online shop right here..

2009-12-01T02:06:04-05:00

Some images of an Open House Tour I shared on B:Kids yesterday, the house is from Gemma and she and her family live in the mountains surrounding the beautiful city of Barcelona...

love at first sight

2009-11-29T22:29:58-05:00

Thank you Handmade Charlotte for showing me...
and please can we change 'destination' ... Kuala Lumpur!

2009-11-25T06:58:38-05:00

You can win these beautiful Christmas cards and artwork by TskTsk...just follow this link...

Dolan Geiman

2009-11-25T06:12:49-05:00

Giving art to a spouse, boyfriend, lover is truly romantic I believe, so here is a suggestion handmade and eco-friendly artworks by Chicago mixed media artist Dolan Geiman...

Bookhou

2009-11-23T20:38:13-05:00

Seriously there isn't a thing that I wouldn't mind having in my house from the Bookhou collection...perhaps it's a good idea to order some as gifts instead...

Volksfaden

2009-11-23T20:30:51-05:00

How about a present for a crafty person in your family or for a good friend. At Volksfaden you will find unique fabrics, ribbons, nice patterns and lovely buttons...

Huset

2009-11-23T01:33:40-05:00

Easy easy...shopping at Huset is easy for me, only Scandinavian goodness...and although I'm only showing you two items, it doesn't mean that I don't like the new items from Almedahls right here...love it!

MothBallCharlie

2009-11-23T01:33:01-05:00

Lovely handmade gift tags, cards and stamps from MothballCharlie...right here in her etsy shop.

Artstream

2009-11-19T21:54:19-05:00

...and a selection of Art that I personally like and I hope you do too! Amy Ng, Ashley G and Heather Smith Jones all available at Artstream right here...more Christmas Gift ideas next week...wish you a very nice weekend!

Storefront

2009-11-19T21:52:23-05:00

Okay, what else shall I say...Alexander Girard, Bruno Munari, Esther Derkx, and a Bamboo owl for your wall ... have fun finding the perfect presents over at Storefront!

Indie Fixx Galeria

2009-11-19T10:56:15-05:00

Just a small selection of things I really like over at the Indie Fixx Galeria ... Kutz, Sloe Gin Fizz, Cori D, and BananaSaurus Rex...but there is so much more...

Moop

2009-11-19T10:55:05-05:00

This Market bag from Moop!
And they made it here...only looking at Moop's studio makes me like their designs :)

Rachel Ann Austin

2009-11-18T03:46:00-05:00

These are my favorite art works from the talented Rachel Ann Austin...although I'm Not a camper at all, i love the mixed media work with the green tents...Rachel Ann also has a new journal, which she ships for free through the month of December.

Lama

2009-11-18T03:43:40-05:00

The handmade brooches by Jimena are stunning, definitely a nice pick from the Lama shop, of course teapot by Ms. Lola Goldstein would make a nice addition to anyones kitchen too...

Elsa+Sam

2009-11-17T04:15:05-05:00

If you think you can only buy beautiful ceramic pieces like above at Portland based Elsa+Sam than I'm sorry to say, or should I say happy to say, you are wrong, well anyhow my lack of English is clear :) ...but Elsa just added a fantastic letterpress poster to her shop and she also sells these fun table-napkins. Wouldn't the lovely espresso spoon make a very nice gift?

Open House

2009-11-16T20:29:28-05:00

...just some nice eye-candy and inspiration in between my Christmas Gift ideas this week...a new House Tour with Tania from Ninon over at B:Kids...

This week on Bloesem...Holiday Shopping

2009-11-15T20:44:05-05:00

I'm going to do to something else this week in preparations for the Holiday Season...a gift selection available at all the shops from the Bloesem sponsors...I think these great shops really deserve to be highlighted and to get our support, because they are the ones that make blogging for me (and many others) possible, which means I can give exposure to artists and their work and create a platform for the arts and crafts ... every day this week you will get to see really nice picks and my favorites from these online shops, I have chosen my picks carefully and I hope it will help you in choosing your gifts for this year...

So please let me start with Twig, Elizabeth the founder and owner wa on of the first who sponsored Bloesem and after almost 2 years still is! My Christmas wish-picks from Twig...a handmade rag doll by Jess Brown wearing a Wovenplay costume, a new adorable print by Ana Ventura and happy confetti garlands from France...do you agree with my picks or is there something you like better, would love to hear :)....

Green

2009-11-13T04:23:24-05:00

and when visiting OWI, I immediately saw this amazing green coated floor...oh I wish we were allowed to paint ours!! Have a nice weekend...next week, Gift Ideas!

Wai Lin Tse

2009-11-12T00:30:24-05:00

Photographer Wai Lin Tse has captured my love for these kind of vases perfectly...I guess most of them are from West German Ceramics. {ps. would you like to win a lovely set of Holiday stationery click here}

Cowhide rug, yes or no...

2009-11-11T01:11:48-05:00

We are looking for some new carpets in our home and when I saw a cowhide rug the other day my husband's reaction was: 'no way we get a dead animal in our home'...and I agree this is not a nice idea (although he is certainly not vegetarian) but when seeing it again today in a room like this then I perhaps re-consider...what do you think? found via this nice thumblelog and the images come from this gorgeous shoot.

Studio Gorm

2009-11-10T06:31:06-05:00

Peg, a flexible furniture system made up of simple components and it's soooo beautiful! Made by Studio Gorm...two former students of the design academy Eindhoven, John Arndt and Wonhee Jeong, have now set up their studio in Rotterdam...

...and I really love the #3 Chair too, so elegant, soft and clean looking. I think we will see a lot more of Studio Gorm in the near future.

Kiki&Polly

2009-11-09T07:03:07-05:00

How about starting this week with some really nice art pieces by Lisa Golightly aka Kiki&Polly. These are called her Painterly Portraits and each painting is based on a submitted photo, done in acrylic on canvas and mounted to a beautiful bamboo panel...if you would like to submit your photo just click here to read all the information...talking about a really nice Christmas Gift :)

And I love these two prints form Lisa's etsy shop. So affordable and again beautiful presents for the upcoming Holiday Season. If you would like to visit Lisa's beautiful blog, please click here ...

I was just writing over at B:Kids that my baby boy is sick ... they call it Bronchiolitis ... so please understand not so much text this week, but I will show some really nice images and gift ideas here on Bloesem.

What a Treat...

2009-11-04T21:12:55-05:00

The whole week I have been planning to show the work by Jane Foster ... I'm in a 'retro' vintage mood this week (will tell you why next week :) ... and she perfectly fits in. Her work is so cheerful, bright, graphically fantastic and what a treat this morning to visit her blog to see that she was showing images of her 'of course' gorgeous home....yummie yummie...i'm enjoying this!
Jane lives in Brighton and has a studio at home where she sews, designs and screen prints. And yes like she says herself she is strongly influenced by Scandinavian design. Particularly design from the 50's and 60's! Her website can be found here and her wonderful products and creations are available via her bigcartel shop! Right timing isn't it just before Christmas!
I have added this print to my Christmas Wish-list and this one...

Ringo love

2009-11-02T23:03:18-05:00

I'm in Love with RINGO...

...a new creative workshop online, officially for children, but I think you will like it too...

Atelier Ringo is the brainchild of Morgane from Little Circus and Rosemarie Auberson. The image above is taken inside Morgane's lovely house which I found on her blog.