BABY CAFE TOKYO

My dear friends across the globe? How are you???? Did you enjoyed your (long) (thanksgiving) weekend? I just had a wonderful weekend. We had my brother and sister in law here for diner and on Saturday we did some shopping here in Rotterdam. And today I have my day off but I'm feeling guilty. Guilty that I was not able to blog as much as I would love to. I couldn't find the energy and inspiration to do so. Do you know this feeling? Today I went out to a lovely cafe in Rotterdam. I had a good cup of coffee and I took the time to write and read. It was a great moment and I found lots of new inspiration for you. So don't be affraid. I'll be back! Todays inspiration comes from Japan. Tokyo based designer studio Nendo created the Tokyo Baby Cafe. This is a child-friendly cafe in Aoyama. This place was designed especially for parents with small children.  It includes plenty of toys, books and other thinks to keep parents and their children busy. It also offers the practical things such as nursing/diaper stations.


Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA? DO YOU HAVE SIMILAR PLACES IN YOUR COUNTRY?

images via Baby Cafe Tokyo

A VILLA THAT ROCKS

Good morning! How are you this monday? Are you ready to start the new week?
This weekend I found a great spot in the magazine of the Dutch Financial Daily. This villa is located in the village of Vals in the Swiss Alps.

Q.WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS NEW SPOT?

Situated deep in the mountains, the house is very hard to spot, which makes for a perfect gateway. The unusual architecture plan comes from architect Bjarne Mastenbroek from SeARCH and Christian Muller from Christian Muller Architects, and includes all the facilities a common house has, such as a guest room, an entertainment area, but also “specialized” interiors like an underground pathway. The entrance is a wide oval opening that you are driven to by some traditional stairs made in stone. But more important. This extraordinary villa is full of Dutch Design! If you take a closer look you will find the Dutchtub from Floris Schoonderbeek and the famous 'Knotted Chair' from Marcel Wanders.


You can book this lovely design villa via Villa Vals The costs per week are 1500 euro low season, up to 3000 euro in the peak season.





source: Freshome, Dutch Financial Daily

LIVING IN AN OLD SCHOOL...(VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES*

Happy weekend friends. What are your plans for this weekend??  Today I'd love to treat you with an old school building transformed into a gorgeous place. This typical Swedish school is located in a small town in the south of Sweden. The architects Mårten Claesson, Eero Koivisto e Ola Rune created a simple, elegant and peaceful place.


Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE?

This wooden floor is stunning!

images: At Casa

DESIGN HOTSPOT: AIRE DE BARDENAS

Hi Lovely readers across the globe. How is the week going? Do you need some new inspiration from Spain? Yes? Good news, today I will to show you a glimpse of the Design Hotel Aire de Bardenas. Enjoy reading!




It's getting a bit colder here in the Netherlands. Maybe we even get some snow and ice this weekend so what is better than a bit of day dream to go to Spain and sleep in this wonderful fairly new hotel. Hotel Aire de Bardenas is my kind of architectural heaven. Set in a dramatic landscape in Navarre, Spain, it was featured in the lifestyle magazine Wallpaper. Designed by Barcelona based architects Emiliano Lopez and Mónica Rivera, you can see more of their work here.

BLACK BEAUTY?

Happy Monday!!! How are you today? How was your kick-start of the new week? Today I would like to give you some inspiration in Black. Black can be a dominant and dramatic color in an interior. On the other hand it can also add some style and elegance to it. See below some good examples on how black can be really beauty. I would love to have such an awesome rug at home. Q.What do you think the use of black in interiors? I'm planning to paint one of my bedroom walls and the 'color' black and combine it with lots of white. What do you think about this idea?







These images are from photographer Tom Atwood.

HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD...

Let me take you to South Africa today.  This inspiring holiday home lies next to the Atlantic Ocean. Sea breeze and sunshine are included. This minimalistic, stylish home is a true beauty. Imagine a breakfast or diner at this gorgeous terrace...


Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE?

images: Cote Maison

A WEEKEND WITH LOVE...(VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES*)

My dear friends, thank you for visiting Urban Style Vibes* this week. Your lovely comments made me realize that the blogworld is so hearthwarming. And I have the feeling that I know many of you by now although we haven't met in real life yet. Wouldn't that be a great idea to meet with a group of bloggers one day in Amsterdam, Sydney, NYC, Stockholm or even Vancouver? 

Q. Blogger meetings across the globe. What do you think of this  idea? 

In the meantime I wish you a wonderful weekend. Enjoy to the max and love your friends and family. I'm inspired by this lovely new canvases from Made by Girl. You can order these affordable prints here.

See you back on Monday!

print via madebygirl

FRIDAY IITTALA GIVE-AWAY

It's time to prepare for X-Mas, don't you think? Todays give-away is from the Finnish designer brand Iitala. You can win 3 candle holders in blue or white.

How to apply:

1. Leave a comment below

2. Become a follower of Urban Style Vibes*

3. Display this give-away on your blog or Tweet this give-way

The winner will be announced by December 5, 2010

A GLOBAL MIND...DESTINATION ICELAND

..IS A JOY FOREVER. Today we are on a trip to the beautiful and very special island: ICELAND. I visited Iceland back in 2006 and I must admit I fell deeply in LOVE. I'd love to share some lovely images that I found on the internet from the Icelandic turf houses. These houses were built in the last century as a sustainable solution, offering superior isolation.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE HOUSES? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL TO ICELAND?

DUTCH DESIGN: POTTERY SUPREME

Today I fell in love with the work of Designer Lucille Berk from Pottery Supreme. She uses old cups, vases and other stuff to create these awesome design objects. 


Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA?

images via Pottery Supreme

KNITTED LOVE: WOLMER

Anna Loubser is ELLE Decoration South Africa’s decor editor and a designer with her own business, Wolmer. Her beautifully knitted vases, cushions, throws and handbags warm our hearts. This is true art. Maybe there’ll be some handmade gifts under the tree this year??


Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE WOLMER COLLECTION?

via: Elle Decoration Norway

MUST HAVE: DECORATE FROM HOLLY BECKER

My dear friends, how did you kicked off your week? Was it a good start? I just recovered from a back illness but I'm doing fine now. Thanks for all your kind words and e-mails that encouraged me! When I opened my mailbox again today I was exited about the announcement of the new Book of Holly Becker, you know the awesome blogger from Decor8. And guess what she will launch her own book in a few months from now. As a frequent reader of her blog I know she traveled a lot and worked hard to get this new book together. I must admit I can't wait to see the different homes in Europe and the US that she features together with co-author Joanna Copestick. The book will be out in March 2011, you can preorder it here via Amazon: Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home

and this is the lovely cover of the US version of the book (available in May 2011, so stay tuned:-)

images: Decor8

BOXED WATER IS BETTER?

Imagine water in a box. Entrepreneur Benjamin Gott named his company Boxed Water Is Better. With this initiative he would like to make the world a better place. Read more here. I try to drink as much tap watter as possible to save the environment.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS INITITIVE? WOULD YOU BUY THIS WATER?

via: NYT

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

If you love ski-ing and design. This is the place to be for you. This sophisticated design chalet in Oberlech is a real beauty. The architect Armin Kathan was born in this area and decided to create a lovely spot in the mountains with a view on the snow white mountains. In this chalet he uses a lot of natural materials.

I especially love the 'wooden bricks' as a decoration item. It's a simple idea but creates a lot of athmosphere.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

source: Cote Maison