Gold ☥ White Life

Big Changes are coming...

2015-09-24T02:02:00.002+01:00

Hello everybody!

I know I haven't been blogging for so long. But there are many reasons for that, first of all I was in Greece for a month without a laptop... I didn't have much fun, as my partner and I went there not for vacations but to do some necessary "chores" which I'll write about in an other post. After that my macbook pro stopped working and I had to wait to buy a new one... I now have a new one and I'm more serious regarding blogging, which means that I had to remove old posts where I used photographs and pictures without permission.

Also I'm considering to go self hosting next months with a new template and stuff. I'm not sure if I want to transfer this blog or to go for a clean start. I would like my blog to be about my work in Interior Design, products reviews, travelling, interior Tips and maybe some DIY projects.

And for that reason I'll probably take a break from this blog as I want to research all my options and how the self-hosting thing works... If you have any tip regarding self hosting, or where can I buy templates, or how blog platform work etc your wisdom is welcome!

Thank you!

Andy

One week to London

2015-07-01T14:48:00.000+01:00

Chiswick Business Park

Last week I visited a friend in London and I spent a week there. To be honest I don't really like London, it's a big, chaotic, loud city and I prefer something more quite like for example Belfast. We (my friend Athena and I), didn't go out much, we stayed home and had loooong conversations regarding relationships, psychology, self-esteem etc... It was nice and relaxed and I think I needed as mush as she did. We only went out once (or twice I'm not sure) just for light shopping, I needed some summery clothes for my trip to Greece. When I moved to Belfast to be with my partner I didn't bring any summery clothes with me, the weather here is just amazing not too hot or cold, and thankfully I don't need too summery clothes, but in Greece with the 45 degrees you need to wear almost nothing if you want to survive the heat. Anyways, as you can see from the photo I visited the Chiswick Business Park, which was an hour and and a half away by bus from where I was staying. It happened my friend Cathrine from Athena, to be there for two weeks training! I hadn't seen her since I moved to Belfast more than three years ago! It was a pleasant surprise, the only downfall was that Cathrine had an infection in her eye and I went to the clinic with her, (she is now much better).

So one day I went to Chiswick Business Park to meet her and we went for coffee and dinner. The important info here is that this Park is an amazing place! There is an artificial lake, with ducks and fishes. There is this waterfall, a bridge, a place for games, green trees everywhere and an amazing architecture! I would love to work in a such place.

In conclusion, it was overall a nice experience, I was with friends and we had a great time! Now next week we are going to Greece, the situation there is horrible. Also I won't take my macbook with me because it's almost dead, my HDD is corrupted, my graphic card (chip) is damaged and it keeps freezing regularly and especially when I moving it. So, I don't know when I'll be able to post anything new but I'll try my best...

Andy

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick Review

2015-06-11T01:30:00.003+01:00

A photo posted by Andy (@andyathan) on May 15, 2015 at 5:37am PDT

Love this Lipstick, I don't usually wear lipstick or lip-gloss, but since I had a sample of this lipstick on my hands and tried it, I fell in love with it. Its dark rose colour and the soft texture make it perfect for every season.

Also I noticed how different a woman looks when she wears a lipstick with colour!
For example look at my picture before I apply the lipstick:

Even if I don't have a lipstick on my lips I could have apply some light rose or nude coloured lipstick, but when I applied the lipstick my whole face changes!

I strongly believe that this colour (No 9, rose stiletto) brings life to my face, as the before it's more plane and blank! The only con is that it wears off easily but maybe that is because I don't know all the secrets on how to perfectly apply a lipstick yet!

Hope you like it and if you have any suggestion/tip on how to make it last longer plz share it with me!

Read more of my reviews:
Dior BB cream + Dior Concealer, Diorskin here
Read the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Loose Powder Review here

CHANEL, SUBLIME DE CHANEL Waterproof Length Curl Mascara +

CHANEL BEAUTÉ DES CILS Nourishing Mascara Base Review here

Andy

SUBLIME DE CHANEL Mascara + CHANEL BEAUTÉ DES CILS Mascara Base Review

2015-06-10T17:12:00.000+01:00

CHANEL, SUBLIME DE CHANEL Waterproof Length Curl Mascara

CHANEL BEAUTÉ DES CILS Nourishing Mascara Base

First I use the Ted Baker eyelashes curler only in my right eye (at the left as it appears in the photo), to show the differences.

After thar I applied the Chanel base mascara only on my right eye (left eye in the photo),
next I applied the Chanel mascara to right eye.
and then (third photo) to my left eye.
The last photo is after two coats of mascara.

So do you notice any differences? It is hard to say, maybe with the mascara base the eyelashes looks more thicker? Dunno, but this mascara lifts up the eyelashes even if you don't use the curler.
Other than that it is an average mascara, my previous Sumptuous mascara by Estee Lauder it was much better.

Read my other reviews:

Dior BB cream + Dior Concealer, Diorskin Review here
Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Loose Powder Review here
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick Review here

Andy

CHANEL, Poudre Universelle Libre Loose Powder Review

2015-06-10T16:50:00.000+01:00

Before I apply the powder.

Now, as I said on my previous post (Dior BB cream + Dior Concealer Review) I'll write a review for the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Loose Powder.

Before I write my impressions I wanted to say that my previous face powder was a Bourjois compact powder with scent of roses which I loved, I wouldn't change it for anything and also it wasn't very expensive. But unfortunately I couldn't find this powder in the UK and I had to find something else. so after I looked up to several powder reviews I decided to use this one....

No 22, Rose Clair

I love it! It gives a glow, a freshness and a natural look which I also love! The truth is that even when I'm bored and I don't want to apply BB cream and Concealer, this Powder works perfectly. It lasts almost a full day, the texture is nice and also the scent.

Now that I've the pros let me say the cons, first of all it is an expensive powder, (maybe you pay for what you bought?) and also I would like it to have one more lid to cover the holes, cause if you turn it up side down all the powder falls out. Other than that I think it's a fairly good powder...

Next post Chanel Mascara

Read more of my reviews:
Dior BB cream + Dior Concealer, Diorskin here

CHANEL, SUBLIME DE CHANEL Waterproof Length Curl Mascara +

CHANEL BEAUTÉ DES CILS Nourishing Mascara Base Review here

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick Review here

Andy

Dior BB cream + Dior concealer, Diorskin Review

2015-06-10T15:22:00.004+01:00

Hello everybody!

Today I decided to finally write a review for the beauty products I bought (some were gifts from my partner) months ago, take a look at the list here...

I have to admit it! I'm not a beauty expert, I don't know much regarding make up, eye shadows, lipstick, foundations and all that stuff... But what I expect from my beauty products is to give me a natural look! So for that reason I don't use eye shadows, eyebrows pencils, or bronzes or lips pencils etc. (to be honest I have no idea how to call most of the beauty products).

Anyway, as I was saying, I want a natural look, and I believe that the products I use attaining that look!

So after watching dozens video tutorials on youtube, I gained a basic knowledge on how to apply BB cream, concealer and all the other stuff.

Here is a before Picture:

I know, I look like I'm ill or something.

First I apply the Diorskin Nude BB cream No 002, I've noticed that it doesn't provide a full coverage like a foundation, but personally I find the result satisfactory. The texture is very nice, not very heavy or too light.

As you can see, there is a difference, maybe some people want more coverage like a mask or something but that wouldn't be a natural look.

After that I apply the Dior Diorskin Nude Hydrating concealer No 001. I love this concealer and I don't know why! It is similar to BB cream, not full coverage, nice texture, neutral scent. But for some reason both these products provide a glow and a freshness and that is what I LOVE.

In conclusion I would say that if you don't need full coverage and you like a natural look, these products are the best! I know they are a bit expensive but personally I wouldn't like to put in my face a very cheap product as I have very sensitive skin. Also I have a combination skin type, a predisposition to acne and I need to be extra careful of the ingredients in all the beauty products I use, wrong ingredient and I'll be full of pimples and zits...

Anyway next post will be a review on the Chanel loose powder

Read the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Loose Powder Review here

CHANEL, SUBLIME DE CHANEL Waterproof Length Curl Mascara +

CHANEL BEAUTÉ DES CILS Nourishing Mascara Base Review here

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick Review here

Andy

Happy New Year! 2014 is finally over....

2015-01-06T04:30:00.004+00:00

2015

First of all happy new year!

Second of all, you can't imagine how happy I am that 2014 is over!

I should have written sooner but due to difficult circumstances I couldn't write, but let's take everything from the beginning...

In my last post (not the one with the recipe, the previous one) I was happy that September had come, after all, it is the month of my birthday! But unfortunately from the 1st of September until several days ago everything was going wrong!

I really don't know where to begin....

1st of September a light bulb burned out, my macbook stopped working, waters started to run from the wall. After several days, one of my teeth broke, an other one was hurting ( I had to change dentist). And then university started and I was depressed. My first project was a group one, I hate those projects. In the group we were 4 people, I was the only one from the foundation year. Anyway the group was just a disaster, I felt racism, and discrimination, like they didn't want me in their team. They didn't speak or talk to me, and when I was asking a question the answer they gave me was different of what they were doing! I'm sorry, I know my english aren't very well but still i can understand when someone is telling me "we are going to do the presentation in lunchtime" and by lunchtime they disappear and nobody cares about this f@£$@g presentation!

So yeah, I was very stressed and depressed.

After the project was over I started to recover, but I was fool to believe that was the end... By this project October was over, when suddenly on 1st on November someone set a fire to our backyard door! We called the fire brigade and we thought that this was a random incident.

You can see the fire;/

But before that we had an unwelcome visitor a rat...

Anyway, after few days I went to Glasgow, it was an one day educational visit to few places there! It was a DISASTER! No organisation at all! Some of the students went there from the previous day and the next day couldn't come to the visits due to hangover! ffs!

People were missing, we didn't have time schedule, it was awful! And when we had to go back to the airport, we didn't have enough time, so most of the people took a cab and the rest of us we had to take the underground and then the bus to the airport! The problem was that they were running and I couldn't! I didn't have eat anything all day (there was no time for that), and I don't have the physical strength, so i couldn't follow them. We were somewhere near BBC Scotland with limited lighting, empty roads, no residential buildings and I was walking as fast as I could to catch up with the rest of the group. I was alone in the dark, in a unknown city, without knowing where to go... Any way finally I found the group, but I was feeling my body shutting down, I couldn't breath or feel my legs, my face was burning.... Anyway after that I couldn't fully recover. I couldn't go to classes as much as I wanted, then I started a diet and after that I felt a fatigue... Anyhow, I feel a little bit better now....

10 days after I returned from Glasgow we had one more incident, someone threw a brick from the back alley towards our house and the result:

A broken window.......

One good thing happened I bought a new phone! an iPhone 6. But my happiness didn't last long :P

I have a new screen now!

Back at the university the situation wasn't getting better, and I think still isn't. There are some girls with an attitude of a Lord or smth.... I'm trying to be friendly but i receive only some cold "hellos". And i just wonder why? Is it because I'm foreigner or because I'm 7-8 years older than most of them?

I really don't know but I feel so bad and sad every time I'm in the studio which makes me want to leave. I don't like the environment. everything are cold, messy, chaotic and I can't think clear in there!

And the Christmas came, and the new year's eve. I'm tired of writing all the bad things that happened, so I'm not going to write anything about holidays...

The good outcome, despite the negativity some people had those days, is that we made two new friends!

Also we (my partner and I) are traveling to Stuttgart next week to see my sister and my parents (which I haven't seen the last 2.5 years)!

I wish 2015 everything go better....

Hope you enjoyed your holidays and excuse any mistakes you saw, it's too late and my brain can't operate properly...

Andy

Greek Traditional Feta - cheese Pie recipe

2014-12-28T19:55:00.001+00:00

In Greece, and particularly in Greek villages it is common for the old ladies to make pies. You can find a wide variety of pies, like chicken pie, spinach pie, leek pie, pumpkin pie, in fact you can add into your pastry whatever you want. Traditionally the women had to make and open the pastry, nowadays it is easier to buy it from a supermarket.

What you will need:

2 pastry sheets (you can choose puff or shortcrust)
400 gr feta or greek style feta cheese
2-3 eggs (if the eggs are small you add 3)
pepper (white or black) you add as much as you want
optionally oregano, any yellow cheese of your choice (add as much as you want), sesame
olive oil

Preparation

mix the eggs with the cheese and the pepper
with a fork smash the cheese to pieces, don't leave big pieces of cheese but also don't smash them like smashed potatoes
When the mixture is ready prepare the oven pan/ roasting tin/oven tray (whatever you use to bake) (i use the Mixture oven/serving dish, clear glass from IKEA)
add olive oil (not too much) to your pan/tin/tray and apply it all over.
Place the first pastry sheet
Pour the mixture on top of the first pastry sheet and spread it all over so it covers all the surface
Now place the second pastry sheet

What you need to do now is a little bit tricky, the edges of the first pastry sheet must cover the edges of the second!

After that, apply olive oil to the second pastry and if you want sprinkle sesame!

Prepare the oven to 180-200 (depending of your oven) and bake for 45 mins to 60min

until the pastry have a brownish colour....

Happy Cooking!

Andy

Looking for home in N. Ireland/ Ψάχνοντας σπίτι στην Β. Ιρλανδία

2014-08-29T02:32:00.000+01:00

Από που να ξεκινήσω και που να τελειώσω! Είναι αρκετά αυτά που πρέπει να αναφέρω δυστυχώς.

Πρώτα από όλα ας ξεκινήσω με την τοποθεσία, η Βόρεια Ιρλανδία δεν ανήκει στην Δημοκρατία της Ιρλανδίας αλλά στο Ηνωμένο βασίλειο. Και η Β.Ιρλανδία και η Δημ. της Ιρλανδίας βρίσκονται στο νησί που ονομάζεται Ιρλανδία. Αυτό λοιπόν σημαίνει πως αν κάποιος θέλει να έρθει να μείνει στην Β.Ιρλανδία θα χρησιμοποιεί λύρες και θα ακολουθεί το Αγγλικό σύστημα στα πάντα. Βεβαια κάποια πράγματα ειναι διαφορετικά στην Β.Ι. απ' ότι mainland (mainland ονομαζουν εδώ την Μεγάλη βρετανία).

Δεύτερον, η ζωή εδώ είναι πιο φθηνή, όσον αφορά τα ενοίκια και την καθημερινή ζωή.

Τρίτον, δεν πληρώνουμε νερό, στο υπόλοιπο Ην. Βασίλειο πληρώνουν.

Τέταρτον, υπάρχουν δύο τρόποι να πληρώσεις για ρεύμα και αέριο, είτε σου έρχετε λογαριασμός στο σπίτι, είτε ειναι pay as you go, έχεις δηλαδή καρτούλα πας στο ψηλικατζιδικο της γειτονιές την γεμίζεις και μετέ πας σπίτι στο μηχανιματάκι βάζεις την κάρτα ή τους αριθμούς και περνάνε οι μονάδες.

Και αφού έγραψα τα βασικά για την ζωή ας πάμε στην ενοικίαση σπιτιού!

Οι τύποι σπιτών που θα βρείτε εδώ (και στην υπόλοιποι χώρα) είναι όπως θα λέγαμε στην Ελλάδα "μεζονέτες", με το ισόγειο και τον πρώτο όροφο, σε μερικές περιπτώσεις η σοφιτα αποτελεί ένα εξτρα δωμάτιο.
Οταν το ενα σπίτι είναι κολλητά στο άλλο και απο τις δυο πλευρές, τότε αυτού του είδους τα σπίτια ονομάζονται terraces (τα οποία έχουν παντά αυλή από πίσω), η μονοκατοικίες (που μπορεί να εχουν όσουν όροφους θελει ο ιδιοκτήτης) εδώ λέγονται detached, και μονοκατοικίες χωρισμένες στην μέση που δημιουργουν 2 σπίτια ονομάζονται semi-detached, σπίτια που έχουν μόνο ισόγειο ονομάζονται bungalows, τα αγροτόσπιτα ονομάζονται cottages και αν έχετε πολλά χρήματα μπορείτε να μείνετε και σε κάποια villa, φυσικά υπάρχουν και διαμερίσματα, apartments, τα οποία μπορείτε να τα βρείτε παντού, δλδ σε όλους τους τύπους σπιτιών που εγραψα παραπάνω, οι ιδιοκτήτες τα χωρίζουν και τα κανουν διαμερίσματα - τρύπες. Και αφού είδαμε τους τύπους σπιτών ας πάμε προς τα μέσα. Τα περισσότερα σπίτια, πλην ελάχιστων εξαιρεσεων, είναι φτιαγμένα από ξύλο. Δηλαδή, ο σκελετός τον σπιτιών, τα πατώματα, τοίχοι κτλπ είναι όλα ξύλινα, και στο εσωτερικό βαζουν καποιου είδους μόνωση.

Πέμπτον, λοιπόν, το πιο βασικό από όλα είναι το σπίτι να έχει διπλά παράθυρα. Αν δεν εχει, όλη η θερμότητα θα φευγει και το σπίτι δεν θα μπορεί να ζεσταθεί με τίποτα. Για παράδειγμα, το πρώτο σπίτι που μέναμε δεν είχε διπλα παράθυρα, και λόγω της υγρασίας και τις διαφορας θερμοκρασίας, το παραθυρο στην κρεβατοκάμαρα γέμιζε νερά και εσταζαν μέσα στο δωμάτιο.

Αναρωτιέμαι τώρα με τι σειρά προτεραιότητας να τα βάλω. Χμ... θα τα βάλω όπως να'ναι και ο καθένας βλέπει τι ειναι πιο σημαντικό για τον ίδιο.

Έκτον, φυσικό αέριο και γενικότερα θέρμανση. Πολλά σπίτια δεν εχουν θέρμανση, με αποτέλεσμα να πρέπει να χρησιμοποιειτε κάποιο κλιματιστικό ή σόμπα. Η καλύτερη θέρμανση ειναι το αέριο γιατι είναι σχετικά πιο οικονομικό, το σπίτι έχει ζεστό νερό όλη την ώρα και αν ειναι Pay as you go, ξερεις τι κατανάλωση έχεις και πόσα χρήματα πληρώνεις. Εαν ενα σπίτι δεν έχει αέριο αλλά έχει πετρέλαιο, για να εχεις ζεστό νερό στην κουζίνα θα πρεπει να ανοίγεις είτε το καλοριφέρ είτε κάποιον ηλεκτρικό ταχυ-θερμοσίφωνα.

Εβδομον, ΠΡΟΣΟΧΗ μεγάλη στο μπάνιο! Τα μπάνια εδώ είναι απαράδεκτα. Προσέψτε να ΜΗΝ έχει μοκέτα ή ξύλινο πάτωμα. Το μόνο αποδεκτό είναι το πλακάκι.


Οπως βλέπετε το συγκεκριμένο μπάνιο έχει μοκέτα. Είναι τελείος ανθυγιεινό και δεν καθαρίζεται εύκολα, θέλει ειδική ηλεκτρική σκούπα. Ένα άλλο πρόβλημα με την μοκέτα και το ξυλινο πάτωμα (λαμινειτ) είναι πως αν πέσει αρκετό νερό στο πάτωμα, το νερό θα πάει στο κάτω όροφο (συνίθως τα μπάνια βρίσκονται στον πρώτο όροφο.), όπως εγραψα παρα πάνω τα πατώματα είναι ξυλινα με ενα εσωτερικό γέμισμα σαν αφρολέξ, δεν υπάρχουν λούκια να φύγει το νερό στην αποχεύτεση.

Επίσης σημαντίκό για το μπάνιο, βεβαιωθείτε ότι έχει ντουζ!

Το βλέπετε εκείνο το πραγματακι στην γωνία, στην μπανιέρα; Αυτό είναι ενα ηλεκτρικό ντουζ. Αν δεν υπάρχει αυτό δυστυχώς δεν θα μπορείτε να κάνετε ντουζ παρα μόνο μπάνιο ξαπλώνοντας στην μπανιέρα και ρυθμίζοντας τις ΔΥΟ βρυσούλες (βρίσκονται κάτω απο το ντουζ)....

Μία ακόμα σημαντική λεπτομέρια. Βλέπετε την βρυσούλα; ή μάλλον τις βρυσούλες; Είναι δυο μια για το ζεστό και μια για το κρύο. Είναι παντα ετσι χαμηλά που αν θες να πλύνεις τα χέρια σου, ακουμπούν γύρω γύρω στην πορσελάνι. Αλλά πέρα από αυτό πρέπει να ανοίγεις και τις δύο βρύσες και να πηγαινεις τα χέρια σου μια στην ζεστή και μια στην κρύα....

Ογδοον, μοκέτες παντού. Δυστυχώς τα περισσότερα σπίτια έχουν παντού μοκέτες, σε δωμάτια, σαλόνια, μπανια, καθιστικά. Οπως έγραψα παρα πάνω ο μόνος τρόπος να καθαρίσεις αυτές τις μοκέτες είναι ειδική ηλεκτρική σκούπα, στην οποία βάζεις νερό και σαπούνι και τις πλένεις επιτόπου. Προσωπικά το βρίσκω πλήρως ανθυγιεινο και αηδιαστικό και θα πρότινα σε όλους όταν ψάχνεται για σπίτι να προσπαθήσετε να επιλέξετε κάποιο το όποιο να έχει όσο τον δυαντόν λίγότερες μοκέτες.

Έννατον, όταν πάτε να κοιτάξετε για σπίτι καλό είναι να δείτε στην κουζίνα, αν υπάρχει ψυγειο-καταψήκτης και επίσης αν υπάρχει απορροφητήρας. Σε αρκετά σπίτια δεν το θεωρούν υποχρεωτικό.

Αυτά μου έρχονται τώρα στο μυαλό, ας κανουμε μια ανακεφαλαίωση:

Διπλά παράθυρα
Θερμανση, Αέριο, και μετα πετρέλαιο
Μπάνιο, ηλεκτρικό ντουζ ή ντουζιέρα, πλακάκι στο πάτωμα, μείκτη στον νιπτήρα.
Λαμινατε πατώμα σε όλους τους χώρους του σπιτιού
Κουζίνα, ψυγείο/καταψήκτη και απορροφητήρα

Αφού λοιπόν έχετε βρει το τέλειο για εσάς σπίτι μετά πρέπει να δείτε πως θα το νοικιάσετε. Πολλοί ιδιοκτήτες δίνουν στα μεσιτικά την διαχείρηση του σπιτιύ. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι εσεις δίνετε το ενοίκιο στο μεσιτικό και το μεσιτικό το δίνει στον ιδιοκτήτη. Όταν λοιπόν την διαχείρηση την έχει το μεσιτικό θα σας ζητήσουν ένα ενοίκιο παρα πάνω το οποίο όμως θα πρέπει να το βάλουν σε εναν λογαριασμό "κλειστό", και θα σας δώσουν έναν χαρτί που αναφερει σε ποιον οργανισμό τα έχουν κλειστά τα χρήματα. Αυτό σας εξασφαλίζει ότι θα πάρετε τα χρήματα σας πίσω.

(Από την άλλη αν την διαχειρηση την έχει ο ιδιοκτήτης μπορεί και να μην σας ζητήσει καθόλου εγγύηση.)

Το μεσιτικό αφού πάρει τα χρήματα, θα πάει στο σπίτι και θα κάνει καταγραφή, τι υπάρχει μέσα στο σπίτι, σε τι κατάσταση βρίσκεται κτλπ. Θα τα ομαδοποιήσει όλα αυτά και θα σας δώσει ένα αντίγραφο. Αν λοιπόν όταν φύγετε από το σπίτι, αυτό βρίσκεται σε χειρότερη κατάσταση από αυτή που είχε καταγραφή δεν θα πάρετε τα χρήματα σας πίσω.

Επίσης κάθε έξι μήνες το μεσίτικό στέλνει προειδοποιητικό γράμμα τουλάχιστον 14 μέρες πιο πριν και σας ενημερώνει για το πότε θα έρθουν για έλεγχο. Αν τύχει και έρθουν χωρίς προειδοποιηση μπορειτε να αρνηθειτε να τους βάλετε μέσα στο σπίτι.

Ελπίζω να σας βοηθήσει αυτός ο άτυπος οδήγός για την μετακόμιση σας στο Ηνωμενο Βασίλειο!

Α!! ξέχασα να αναφερω το πιο σημαντικό, που μπορείτε να βρείτε σπίτια.

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Το τελευταίο link εχει μέσα πολλά σπίτια από ιδιώτες και όχι μεσιτικά. Αν και μερικές φορές τα μεσιτικά γράφουν σαν "ιδιοκτήτες" αλλά αν κάνετε search τον αριθμό τηλεφώνου που δίνουν, βλέπετε αποτελέσματα στην αναζήτηση από μεσιτικά.

Για ότι απορία έχετε αφήστε σχόλιο....

Andy
xx

THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this post. Images on this post are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please comment to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Stock up my make-up "bag"!

2014-08-26T03:13:00.002+01:00

Alright honesty time!

I don't really have cosmetics/ beauty products. I only have some basics, for example a blush powder , eye pencils, my mascara ran out, and also my powder, I have a "lipstick like" concealer, which I don't use anymore and I would say that's all I have!

I was never really interested in make up, but now that I'm going to university for my main course I want to be like a proper lady!

So I searched on the internet for product reviews, my skin is very sensitive and I don't want to try any drugstore products. So I found some high-end products that I'm going to show you!

I'll probably ~~buy~~ them next week (the truth is that they'll be a gift from my partner, for my b-day!), and I'll tell you what I think...
so here are what I consider as "the basics":

Dior Diorskin Nude Hydrating Concealer £22.00

I had a sample of this Dior's BB cream and I loved it, so it's on my shopping list!

It is an amazing product, not heavy, not greasy, good coverage, nice scent.

Diorskin Nude BB Cream £30.00

CHANEL, POUDRE UNIVERSELLE LIBRE Loose Powder £36.00

CHANEL, JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush £31.00

CHANEL BEAUTÉ DES CILS Nourishing Mascara Base, £25.00

CHANEL, SUBLIME DE CHANEL Waterproof Length Curl Mascara £25.00

CHANEL, ROUGE COCO BAUME Hydrating Conditioning Lip Balm £25.00

I've also had a sample of this lipstick no.09 and I love it! So yeah, it's on my shopping list too!

I tried one more lipstick from an other company but I didn't like it. YSL lipstick it's smoothy, and even if it wears off easily, you can put a lip gloss on top and it seals it! I really love it!

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture £25.00

Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Volupte Lip Gloss £21.00

And this is the last product I need to buy, an eyeliner. I don't know if you consider Max factor as a "drugstore" brand or "high-end", but due to my lack of experience I didn't want to ~~buy~~ something expensive. Therefore I decided to try this Max Factor's liquid eyeliner, which I read good reviews....

Max Factor Masterpiece Glide & Define Liquid Eye Liner £6.99

As I said before, my partner didn't know what to buy me for my b-day, so he asked me to do a list with what I want. I want an iPad tbh, but I'm not going to be a proper lady with an iPad only!
So I did my list (as you can see above), also on my list was an eyelash curler, which I bought last week...

Here it is!

It is the first time I tried an eyelash curler and this Ted Baker baby does what it says,
it's very effective and I really like it.... Also, i really like the package/box... :)

Oh, yes I forgot to mention that I bought some brushes from ebay! I read good reviews from make up experts and I decided to try them! I'll show you a photo when they will arrive!

Andy
xx

DIY: Cast Iron Bird Door stop painted Gold.

2014-06-25T00:30:00.000+01:00

When we moved to this house, we had a problem, none of the doors could stay open!

Therefore we had to buy door stops! My partner didn't care about style, so he bought some IKEA door stops for his office's door and for our bedroom's door. But I wasn't going to compromise for my studio's door and I had to find the best door stop!

In the begging I wanted to buy one of these:

skull bird

But after that I wanted to buy Mulberry's door stop

The problem with mulberry's door stop is that we have high humidity in the house and I was afraid that the fabric of this door stop would gather all the humidity and it would be smelly after a while.

So I had to find something else, and I found it in a Home Bargains store!

It was a Cast Iron Bird, which was ugly but had potentials...

So here it is!

(The "before" photo is from web, I forgot to take a photo of my door stop before I painted it, but they are almost the same)

I painted gold and the after it's much better than the before..

Hope you like it.

Andy

HBO Game of Thrones Exhibition 2014, Belfast

2014-06-24T14:48:00.002+01:00

I really don't know how to start, I don't want to be fussy, but I can't help it.
It is obvious that I'm going to compare last year's exhibition (see photos here) with this year's!
So tell me how can I not be fussy when I am so disappointed?
But first things first.
This year the exhibition took place at Waterfront. Again, same as last year, people had to book tickets (which were again free). But the exhibition was SOLD out, 3-4 Hours after they opened the lines and I didn't book anything.

So after couple of days, I read on the internet that there was a queue! And of course I was very happy about it. In fact, I didn't want to go to the exhibition for me, but I wanted to go with my partner so he can see it too.
(last were, we had tickets, but the online system was faulty and gave us tickets for the morning and my partner couldn't leave his work. Of course we tried to change the time but there wasn't any other free time slot).
Anyway so we decided to go on Friday (we were thinking to go on Saturday), after my partner was off from work. And we did, thank god for that, next day (Saturday) they didn't have a queue!

The exhibition now wasn't as good as last year. This year, hey didn't exhibit many stuff from season 4, and I didn't find it very interesting.
Here are some photos:


I thought it would be nice to play a little bit with the photo:P

Andy
xx

From Helen's Bay to Bangor!

2014-06-23T01:57:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday a friend, my partner and I, we decided to go for a walk. Yeah! I love walking! NOT!
But anyway, we took the train from Belfast and we stopped at Helen's bay, where we started walking until we reached Bangor, after 2 hours and something!
I wasn't prepared for something like that, it was too hot, the sun burned my face, I got tired... I know I'm a little bit of drama queen, but overall I enjoy it! It was amazing to watch all these people at the beach enjoying the sun and the good weather, children were running and playing, laughing, people sunbathing. I loved it but yes after two hours I just wanted to see Bangor and nothing else. Bangor is a very beautiful town, with shops, cafes, sea, nature, fun! I would love to live there tbh.
Here are some photos:

We started from Helen's bay.

People enjoying the sea and the sun.

Here I am! collecting shells!

I was very very very happy when I saw Bangor!

Andy

DIY: An easy project to change something you don't like.

2014-06-12T12:00:00.000+01:00

For a long time I was searching for something to put inside lighters, and place it on the coffee table. I didn't really knew what I wanted, you know I was looking around the shops every time to see something eye catching! and after a long long time I found it at Debenhams!

here it IS!!!

source

I loved it and I bought it! BUT after I went home I realized that something was missing. It was beautiful I it was, but not exactly perfect. So i decided to painted gold.

So i took the lift top lid and cover it with masking take, I left the deer uncovered. I had bought a gold spray from B&Q, from some other projects (which I will post about them) and sprayed the deer with the paint!

and voila!

Before After

Really the after is much, much better. With this little touch, it changed completely and I love it even more! hope you like it...

Andy

Titanic Museum @Belfast

2014-06-11T12:00:00.000+01:00

Probably many people have seen the movie "Titanic" I can't say I'm one of them. But despite the fact that I haven't see the movie, I had to go to the Titanic Museum in Belfast, and the reason is simple. I had to see how the exhibition was made, what "tools" they used. For example it was a classic museum with white walls and spacious? or it was dark? did they use video, or sounds? or it was just images? I went to see the exhibition as an "Interior Designer", to get ideas and inspiration. Between us, I don't really care about titanic, it was a tragic accident of the past and that's the reason why I didn't want to go, until I had to. BUT the museum is amazing, sounds, videos, interactive projectors, models, images, and so much more things. I don't regret I went, I'm pleased, and believe me you should go, if you are in Belfast or anywhere in the whole island of Ireland. :D

Anyway, here are some photos, I took too many to post them all.

when you enter the exhibition you see how people were living when the Titanic was build. You will see stuff about the economy, jobs, products, etc

But after that you will see how they managed to build it and also you will see how it was inside

Here is me. Gazed the view

Andy

DIY: Concrete - candle holders!

2014-06-06T12:00:00.001+01:00

Do you remember my previous DIY project that I did almost 2 years ago: "Pringles -> Pencil holders"? If you don't remember it, you can see it here.
So this year I decided that I didn't really like the pencil holders anymore, so I thought to do something with them, when my father sent me a small bag of white concrete the idea hit me on my head!

1. I took my pencil holders.

2. My concrete was white, but I wanted grey, so I took water and I mixed some Windsor and Newton Galeria black Acrylic Paint.

3.After that I mixed the water with my white concrete. I didn't have specific proportions, my father told me that I had to create a smoothy - velvet mix. So I did. He also told me that if I add too much water then my concrete will need more time to dry.

4. Since my mix was ready, I filled with it my pencil holders.

I didn't fill it to the top, cause I wanted different sizes.

5. Then I needed to create a dent so my tealigtht candles could fit.

To do that, I used plastic glasses and put rocks in it.

6. after 24 hours my concrete candle holders were ready!

I cut the cast (pencil hondler), and removed the rocks with the plastic glass.

I wanted them to have an industrial look so I thought to leave them as they were Maybe in the future I could paint geometrical shapes on them. but we will see! Hope you like it, and of course you can use any kind of cast you want, and any colour you like!

Best

Andy

Shadow Games

2014-06-05T02:02:00.001+01:00

Playing with shadows. my partner's and mine:

Andy ;)

Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland

2014-06-03T10:30:00.000+01:00

On the first semester, we went to Helen's Bay coast to create an installation ( see the wee review on semester 1 here), we were very very lucky to have an excellent weather! And of course I took the chance to take some photos from the nature around us! There are some macro photographs cause I LOVE to look everything in every detail.
Anyway, Helen's Bay is very beautiful, amazing place and I wish I could go again this summer to visit it and to gather more shells!
here are some photos:

Best
Andy

KIN (by Richard Gorman) + Something About Some Thing To Do With Paint (by Susan Connolly) exhibitions @The Mac

2014-06-01T13:00:00.000+01:00

KIN

Since 9 of May and until 27 June, Richard Gorman exhibits his work "KIN" @The Mac, Belfast.

His Work, it is simple, minimal, but vibrant and colourful. All his paintings have a movement "in the box". The use of the word "box" is because all the paintings are painted on squared canvases or papers. Gorman plays with geometry and colour combinations. He does not try to create a meaningful work, rather he expresses him self and try to occupy himself by doing something he likes. What is interesting, besides the movement of the paintings, is the technique he uses, Gorman spent some time in Japan where he learned the traditional techniques (you can see the video here) and applied it in his work. When you see his work, the curves, the thick lines, the angles carry you away, to go with the flow. Even the simple white circle on black background, negative space, show a movement. To be honest it reminded me of the moon, it was like you could see the moon's movement.

Here are the photos:

Something About Some Thing To Do With Paint

Along with Gorman's exhibition another artist exhibits her work, Susan Connoly.(9 May - 22 Jun)

Again you can see a video with the artist talking about her work here.

I can't say that her work talks to me, but I really admire the fact that she wants the visitors to be able to see behind the painting! Yes, you have read right, be able to see behind the painting! I think this is amazing, the only way to see an exhibit artwork 360o is if it is a sculpture or a 3D work, but never a painting. But beyond this, I don't find her work interesting enough. Some patterns, layers over layers of paint, and cut outs... Anyway...

here are the photos of her exhibits:

Hope you like it, and if you are around go visit the exhibition.

Best

Andy

Bronzes Belfast Bronze casting Class Exhibition, The Crescent Arts Centre

2014-05-26T11:00:00.000+01:00

This exhibition took place at The Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, in October 2013.

I wish I could buy some of this amazing sculptures....

Superstition, Ned Jackson-Smyth

Climbers, Sydney Neill

Ode to the Sun, Robert Graham

Armillary, Paul Weir

The female of species, Dominic McCarthy

Kiss me, Dominic McCarthy

Der strümpfen trockner, Ian McAllister

Icarus, Randal Hayes

Best

Andy

Royal Ulster Academy of Arts, 123nd Annual Exhibition

2014-05-25T18:12:00.000+01:00

Last year I went to several exhibitions, one of them was at the Ulster Museum in Belfast. Here is some comments in some of the works, and photographs of the exhibits. I saw really amazing paintings, prints, sculpture. Overall it was a very nice exhibition

Avenue, source: personal archive

Brian Ballard

Oil on canvas, 150x120. In this painting Brian Ballard created a forest scene. Trees on the left and right side of the painting give the impression that there is a path between them. The colours which have been used are blue, green, yellow, purple and they suggest that the scene took place during the twilight. The lighter colours on the painting seems to be like the rays of the sun during the sunset. There is a texture due to use of palette knife.

There are blue lines on the ground suggesting shadows but also it reminds me of souls traveling, or little fairies playing around the trees.

Making News, source: personal archive

Paul Seawright

C Type Print 3/6, 127x152. In this photograph Seawright presents a TV studio, with lights, cameras, chairs, a desk and one person in the middle.The studio in this print is like a theatre, lights on the top, the news caster in the middle of the scene finished his act. The body language suggest that the news have finish for today and the “actor” - news caster feels relieved and relaxed. Also the title of the Print “Making news” brings up an antithesis of what we think about news and what really are.

Sea, source: personal archive

Barrie Cooke

Oil on canvas, 77x77. This is an impressionist painting. According to the tittle the painting is about the sea, the white colour suggests waves, and the green and purple the sea and rocks. In fact this painting doesn't seems to present the sea but snowy mountains and green meadows. A nostalgic painting about the beauty of nature.

Moss Side, source: personal archive

Elizabeth Magill

Oil on Canvas, 170x140. A green forest with white and yellow lines across the painting, Some threes are higher than the others and they have foliage only on top. It's like a snowstorm but also it looks like a magic forest with many little fairies and fireflies flying throughout the trees under misty sky.

Bouquet , source: personal archive

Sharon Kelly

Pencil and watercolour, 80x65. The mediums that have been used shows a minimalistic view of the bouquet and very good skill. In addition to that this minimalistic view doesn't reduce the volume of the drawing. One of the roses is painted with a pale pink watercolour, it could symbolize hope, or loneliness, or even an inner alienation.

Synaptic Spark, source: personal archive

James McCullough

Paper Sculpture, 66x114x13. A tribal sculpture in a frame, made by rolled magazines. The idea of using rolled paper to make things or art it is not new or even original. Some examples who use rolled paper to create art are the artist Nava Lubelski and Amy Eisenfeld Genser.

Portfolio by Nava Lubelski www.navalubelski.com,

River run, Amy Eisenfeld Genser, http://amygenser.com

Rock, Pat Harris

Garden Objects, David Crone

Song, Mark Shields

Dreaming - St. Lukes, Eddie Rafferty

Pulse, Karen Hunter

Disturbing the (Natural) balance, Majella Clancy

Itinerant, Mark Shields

Separate a dependent clause, Aga Szot

on top: Haven for William Scott, below: Poem for William Scott, Mavis Thomson

Hare, 'Absence Repainted' series, David Withers

The Journey, Jack Pakenham

Victoria Rebecca Patrick

Red Model, Simon McWilliams

Best

Andy

HBO Game Of Thrones Exhibition

2013-06-17T00:37:00.000+01:00

Last week I went to the Titanic Museum at Belfast to see the Game Of Thrones Exhibition... It was Amazing, there were items from season1, 2 and some from season 3...
I can't wait for season 4!
Here are some photos:

Andy

Quatrefoil vs Moroccan

2013-05-26T20:01:00.002+01:00

Last week i didn't post anything because i was planning my new office... I already decided about the desk but i'm still looking for a chair and a lamp;/
Also i'm thinking to buy a white bookcase but i really don't like the white back of the bookcase. So i was searching the web to find some nice patterns...
And then i got confused, many people don't really know what's the difference between Quatrefoil and Moroccan pattern. There are some sites who sell fabrics and wallpapers and they really don't know their differences, you can't sell the Moroccan pattern as Quatrefoil, it's just wrong.... So I decided to write this post about these two lovely patterns....

According to wiki:
Quatrefoil:

the quatrefoil is a type of decorative framework consisting of a symmetrical shape which forms the overall outline of four partially overlapping circles of the same diameter. The word quatrefoil means "four leaves", from Latin quattuor, four, plus folium, a leaf.^[1]) and applies to general four-lobed shapes in various contexts.

you can see here the basic shape and the pattern....

and now the most common Moroccan Pattern...

To see the differences look this one:

but there is also the Quatrefoil reverse pattern, but still you can't get confused

Hope it helps....

Andy

THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this post unless otherwise noted. Images on this post are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please comment to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Makris bro & Co

2013-05-14T16:20:00.001+01:00

The workshop Makris bro and co is the creative space where the brothers John and Christos Makris inspired, design and manufacture handmade products of low production and limited edition. The workshop was created in 2000 when the two brothers decided to deal, in addition to designing objects, and the construction and experimentation with a variety of materials and styles, mined through sculpture, Art Nouveau and art in general.

The furniture and fixtures that Makris brothers desigh and construct, are implemented with sculptural values with references to style and organic forms of Art Nouveau, maintaining their obsession with the materiality they use hot materials such as wood, and cold like glass, aluminum and bronze. The creations of Makris brothers with the balance between form and function are related to the logic of sculpture since it is a limited production design that leverages not only the potential of using high quality materials but also the experimental design,that is allowed by the small production creating objects that embody the values of handmade.

Aside from their individual projects, Makris Bro & Co collaborate with architects and professional designers and manufacture furniture, lamps and other household objects. From 2000 onwards, their work has been exhibited in Thessaloniki in the XV Biennale of Mediterranean Youth, 2011. Makris Bro & Co have many paricipations in industrial design exhibitions in Greece and abroad, while since 2010 they maintain a cooperation with m.a.d. gallery in Switzerland..

Ioannis Makris is a designer, sculptor and painter, Christos Makris is an electronic and cnc programmer.

I know Art Nouveau isn't everyone's style but you have to admit it, all these creations are extremely unique, beautiful, rough and gentle at the same time... I don't know about you but i haven't seen anything like this before and believe me the last month I'm looking for a table lamp for my desk and i can't find anything suitable for my taste and style. But when i saw these table lamps i fell in love with them, i wish i could buy one but of course when we talk about unique design and creation the prize goes high....
To be honest i can't give more than 100£, but if i could i would prefer to buy a unique designer lamp than a mass produce designer lamp. Because it's all about style and not fashion or trends.

You can like facebook Makri bro & co page here

You can contact with John Makris for more information :
mobile number: +30 6945564407
email: makrisbroandco@gmail.com

Andy
xx

More Style, Less Money: Chairs

2013-05-14T00:57:00.000+01:00

After a previous post about coffee tables i decided to write one more about chairs this time...


Bac Chair, Cappellini by Jasper Morrison £564

Ikea Elmer £50

Young & Norgate Wellington Chair £799

Steelwood Chair MAGIS Design by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec £328

Ikea ESBJÖRN £70


Ikea STOCKHOLM £100

Carl Hansen Elbow Chair £566.00—£625.00


Ikea BONJE £50

Arper Catifa £142.80—£410

Vitra DSX by Charles & Ray Eames £190

Vitra HAL Tube Stackable £184

Ikea ERLAND £40

Hay J104 by Jørgen Bækmark £154.00—£168.00

IKEA PS 2012 £50

Kartell Comback £392

IKEA PS 2012 £70

Calligaris L'Eau £125.50

Calligaris Jam £161.50 - £175

Ikea TOBIAS £65

Fritz Hansen Ant £315.00—£432

Normann My Chair £185

Grand Prix Chair FRITZ HANSEN Design by Arne Jacobsen £360

Ikea VILMAR $39.99

Ligne Roset Tv £505

Hay JW01 Upholstered £358.00—£472

Ikea BERNHARD £100

Hope you like the post and don't forget you can always buy an original chair or a replica or even better a similar original chair...

Andy
xx

THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this post unless otherwise noted. Images on this post are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please comment to said image and it will be promptly removed.