I am really stoked to share this really cute apartment with you. Here’s the scoop: My boyfriend, Hans (29) and I, Jennifer (27) have been living in this apartment together for two years now. After studying Fashion Design at ArtEZ in Arnhem and traveling through South America, I moved to Amsterdam in 2011. Here I founded Studio J|A|A|F, a design label that focuses on material and colour combinations. Besides the design label, I am also an interior stylist. Hans has almost finished his PhD in chemistry. Hans and I really like to make our home more personal by combining unusual things or working with out of the ordinary wall paper. The cabinet below the sink has been designed and made by us. We both love gardening, but unfortunately we live on the third floor. Our balcony is covered with pots and plants, but as you can see it’s getting quite green inside too. Jennifer and Hans’ apartment is super cozy, and there are lots of great ideas here – the black doors (a long-time favourite), the birch tree branches as functional art, vintage crate storage (also a favourite) and the bathroom is just awesome all around. Thank you for sharing your home with us Jennifer (and Hans)!
It’s been awhile but the emails haven’t stopped coming. It’s time to round up the crew. The Design Crew. Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don’t know what to do? You’re not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you …. that’s you lot… the readers! Hop to it. I know you have just the right solution. This week’s email is from Natalie.
Here are 3 (not very good) photos of my kitchen, which is basically black and white. Dark grey floor tiles, white cupboards, white walls & ceiling, laminate dark wood-effect work tops, dark charcoal splash back.
We used to have Moroccan red walls but found it too dark, although we liked the contrast with the white cupboards. We are in the UK so I thought a bright colour would have been good, then we painted it white. The rest of my house has white walls but we want a colour in the kitchen that contrasts with the white cupboards, without being too dark. The walls are mostly only visible above the cupboards so there aren’t any large flat areas. I’m having a dilemma choosing between ivory/buttermilk and a classic green-grey/mud colour. I prefer the latter but am worried it might be dull and depressing in the winter, hence this request for help!
A reader of our wee blog, Florencia Torresani of Uruguay, wrote us about a project she started with her friend last August. When she is not being a lawyer she is photographing the art and workspaces of well-known Uruguayan artists – textile designers, visual artists, composers, photographers, ballerinas, cartoonists etc. This is how creative folks in Uruguay live and work. This is Multitasker. Bookmark it.
Noelle doesn’t like her hallway and wants our help.
“Here are a few photo’s of the room… The problem I have with it is that it’s narrow, high and white. All of it. I’ve been thinking of putting wallpaper (that is not my bedroom btw) on the walls and painting the door a different color. Problem is, I can’t seem to make up my mind. It’s a 1920’s house and the outside of the door can only be painted in 3 colors. I wanted to paint the staircase and all the railings white since I can’t remove all of the old paint and glue. I do want some color in there and I’m tired of the white. I’ve picked this wallpaper because it adds color without being to dark or bright. Thanks in advance and I can’t wait to hear what everyone has to say.”
So what do you think? Any great ideas? I know you want to jump in and help.
I am in love with this loft apartment. It is the home of photographer Margrethe Myhrer (Jo featured her work here), her boyfriend Henrik and their baby daughter Alma, located in Majorstua, the west side of Oslo, Norway. Those beams! Those leather dining chairs! The concrete in the kitchen and bathroom! Margrethe’s stunning photographs on the walls! AAAHHHHH!!!!! This is a little slice of heaven. And with that, happy Friday dear readers!
P.S. For folks in and around Ottawa, don’t forget about the Ottawa Antique Show tomorrow and Sunday. I’ll be there so stop by the Daff Design booth and say hi!