TODAY I WANT TO BE IN JAPAN...(VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES*)

Imagine a home like this...that close to the sea. What a stunning view. Can you imagine to live in a place like this? This home is located in Japan just 1 hour from Tokyo.

via: At Casa

VOTE NOW FOR THE FINAL HOMIES 2011

Last week I asked you to vote for Urban Style Vibes* at The Homies 2011. First of all thanks for all your votes!! And here are the best of the best, hottest new home design blogs (according to you). I guess you know most of the blogs mentioned above. I think this is a great selection of well deserved finalists. I've voted for Table Tonic as my favourite for The Homies 2011. Table Tonic is a fresh relatively new blog (est in 2009) created by Louise Bell from Sydney. She also has a stunning webshop. Please visit Table Tonic here if you like.

Q. WHICH FINALIST IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

HAVE A FLOWERFUL WEEKEND!!!

It''s weekend my friends! Yesterday I gave myself this lovely bunch of hyacinths. Sometimes you feel you deserve a bunch of flowers and although my Mr. comes with a bunch once in a while sometimes you need to treat yourself. Do you know that feeling? It feels like spring is almost in the air. I would love to be able to give you all a lovely bunch of flowers today. Thanks for all your sweet comments, your votes for Urban Style Vibes* at the Homies and your continious inspiration. You really made my week special! I've read many of your blogs but unfortunately I have not been able to comment as much as I'd love. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. See you back on Monday!

images: Lise M. for Urban Style Vibes*

SAVE THE DATE: MEET THE BLOGGER EVENT AMSTERDAM

It's Thursday evening and I realize that have not been able to post the last few days. Today I would love to share a dream with you. Yes, I have a big DREAM! Last week I mentioned already that I would loooooove to meet you all this year. That's why I want to tell you about my idea for a Meet the Blogger event.


I'm organizing 2 Meet the Blogger events this year. The first event will be held in AMSTERDAM in the summer of 2011. Date will be fixed as soon as possible. The idea of a 'Meet The Bloggers' event is that we try to get as much as possible bloggers together on this date. We will meet in the lovely Story Hotel. The program will include some short presentation for fellow bloggers to inspire. And we will also invite some inspiring brands to join to the event. 

I have already contacted some lovely bloggers across the globe and the first reactions are so positive. I'm so exited!!! To get it all started I need someone to create a ' Meet the Blogger' logo, so that we can promote this event together via social media. If you are a designer and you want to create a simple, stylish logo, please let me know. I also need some enthousiastic people who want to work on the program. 

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS EVENT? DO YOU WANT TO JOIN US?

PS.I'm inspired by this lovely new canvases from Made by Girl. You can order these affordable prints here.

print via madebygirl

TODAY I WANT TO BE IN...MOZAMBIQUE (VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES*)

Today I want to be in Mozambique. This is Guludo Logdge. Guludo was set up by Amy and Neal Carter-James, a young English couple who passionately believed that a quality tourism product could be a powerful tool to enable poor, rural communities to work their way out of poverty. Mozambique was the chosen as the location, despite neither of them having previously been, simply because of it's fantastic tourism potential alongside extreme rural poverty; a place they believe they could have maximum impact and bring most benefits. Read more about the initiative here.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE?

images: Guludo Lodge

SNEAK PREVIEW: URBAN LIVING TREND

H&M Home is almost ready for the summer with this new spring/summer 2011. They defined different trends for 2011. Today I'd love to show you the Urban Living trend according to H&M. I'm looking forward to see more of their collection.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEW COLLECTION?

images via H&M Home

WORD ART

Hello my friends, happy Monday! How are you today? I just discovered the new blog from VT Wonen. VT Wonen is a Dutch interior magazine that I receive every month and now they have introduced their new website with a blog. I found this London inspired images from Not on the high street and there is much more inspiration. Unfortunately the  blog is in Dutch language but you might understand a bit and as there is little text you might be able to understand what they mean:-) And if not you can always Tweet me;-)

images via VT Wonen Blog

TODAY I WANT TO BE IN...MEXICO (VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES*)

MY DEAR FRIENDS, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I would love to be in Hotel Hafa in Mexico today: It had always been a dream for Marina and Christophe to have a small hotel near the ocean. After traveling on their sailboat for many years they came to Sayulita to visit the family. It didn’t take long for them to realize that they had found the place to make their dream come true. I love their relaxed interior style. And guess what it's affordable too. Prices start at $50,- a night:-)

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE?

images: Hotel Hafa

THE HOMIES: VOTE FOR URBAN STYLE VIBES*

My dear friends. Have you heard about The Hommies 2011? It's a great award initiative from the famous, gorgeous divine site of  Apartment Therapy.There are awards for all sorts of blogs, but no one ever pays enough attention to the shelter blogs. It's their way of surveying the blogosphere each year for the best new home design blogs and sharing what they find. It's not so much a competition as a celebration of the richness and awesomeness of shelter bloggers around the world. So I thought it would be a great resource for all of you to discover new blogs out there. And if you like, you can vote for Urban Style Vibes* too!!! 

How to vote for Urban Style Vibes*

1. Click here to register (simply enter your email, a display name and a password). 

2. You'll receive an email from Apartment Therapy - Click on the link to verify your email address.

3. Then come back here and click this link, pasting the following text, exactly as it appears below, into the comments box (VERY bottom of their page):

Name: Urban Style Vibes*

URL: http://www.urbanstylevibes.com/

I would looooooove to be in this list so please help me and vote!

HAVE A DELICIOUS WEEKEND...(VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES*)

My dear friends. I wish you a wonderful weekend!! Any exiting plans?? First of all I would like to thank you for visiting Urban Style Vibes* this week. Your sweet comments and e-mails are fantastic. I've read many blogs but unfortunately I was not able to comment on all your lovely posts but I must admit you really made my week!!!  This weekend we will have my 84 old grand-mother and my parents over for diner at our place and I will prepare a tarte tatin as a desert. A tarte tatin is an upside down apple pie. I found  a lovely recipe from Jamie Oliver. Click here to see the full recipe.

Q. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS THIS WEEKEND?

BEAUTY LIES JUST AROUND THE CORNER....(VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES*)

My friends, how are you today? I'm doing great. I just went to my weekly Yoga class so I'm fresh and inspired again. In my ongoing search for new hotspots across the globe I found one that is located just around the corner here in Holland. This is the beautiful restored bridge house design by architect Arjen Reas. A pretty cool mixture of modern urban elegance combine with the rough and basic fundaments from nature. This is almost my dream home. Imagine to have such a place....dream, dream, dream on...

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE????

images via Arjen Reas

WEDNESDAY GIVE-AWAY: 1 NIGHT IN THE CONSCIOUS HOTEL AMSTERDAM

Hi lovely readers, sometimes beautiful places are just around the corner and as I know many of international readers love to come to Amsterdam.So today I'm hosting a give-away to stay 1 night* in this beautiful eco-friendly hotel in Amsterdam.

The Conscious Hotel Museum Square in Amsterdam is an attracktive hote just around the corner of some beautiful Dutch museus such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk MuseumRijksmuseum. You are even close to a lot of lovely shopping streets such as the P.C. Hooftstraat, the Spiegelkwartier and the Van Baarlenstraat. And if you need some time to relax you can visit the lovely Vondelpark. and the

The name in itself gives you already the suggestion that this hotel is more than just an ordinary hotel. And that's true. In 2009 the hotel was rewarded with the Gold Green Key Certificat. Read more about the conscious philosophy here.

How to apply:

1. Become a follower

2. Leave a comment below

3. Post this give-away on Twitter or your blog

*Monday-Thursday, not available in the weekend. Booking will be done at least 1 month in advance.

BLUE INSPIRATION

Azure, cobalt, sapphire, navy, powder, midnight, Prussian, electric, indigo, royal, ice, baby, robin's egg, peacock, ultramarine, aquamarine, steel, slate, cyan, Oxford, Cambridge...So many colors, so much inspiration. My favourite living has all you need if you love the BLUES.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOR???

image via Curble

HALL OF FAME

Today I'm inspired by this urban chic, light hallway. What do you think about this spot?

image via Country & Garden

2 STYLISH BLOGGER AWARDS

What a week my dear friends across the globe. I need to tell you something. I feel so honoured this week because I received 2 Stylish Blogger Awards this week. 1 from the love Carole from Dear Designers' Blog and one from Nathasja from Northern Light blog So can you imagine I'm over the moon!! I'm thrilled. I've started Urban Style Vibes* 1,5 year ago and with my first post not knowing where this would end up. But the daily blogging makes me so happy. I've met so many nice people across the globe and this blog is also an expression of what I feel and where I want to go. So again: thank you lovely ladies!!

The rules for accepting this award are as follows:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award

2. Share 7 tings about yourself

3. Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great bloggers.

So, let's go 7 things about myself:
1. I'm a travel addict
You might have noticed on Urban Style Vibes* that I love to travel as much as I can. It can be a short weekend break or a big trip to the far East. It makes me so happy to see new place, meet new people and discover new cultures. I wish I could travel the rest of my life:-)

2. I love interior design
I can't get enough of home design. I love Scandinavian and Australian inspiration as you can see here on Urban Style Vibes*

3. I love blogging
Blogging means a lot to me. It gives me lots of inspiration and new ideas. Thank you so much for being a reader of Urban Style Vibes*

4. I can't live without my iPod
I use my iPod for my weekly running exercise. It's a great way to 'move' myself.

5. I will organize a 'Meet the bloggers' event in Stockholm and Amsterdam this year
I wish I could meet you all one day so that's why I will organize 2 meet the bloggers events this year. The first will be in Stockholm in the middle of the summer and the next will be in Amsterdam, the capital city of Holland. Would you like to join me? More information on these events will follow next week on Urban Style Vibes*. Are you interested in these events? Please let me know your thoughts.
The image below (yes it's me!) was made during Sail 2010 in Amsterdam.

6. I'd love to start my own business one day
I'd love to start my own business one day. I would love to be free as a bird to explore more and inspire others across the globe.

7. Last, but not least: I love my recently bought Hunter boots
I bought these gorgeous hunter boots in New York City two weeks ago and I love 'em! Especially in this winter weather.

And here is my list of 7 bloggers that I want to give the Stylish Blogger Award: 
1. Photographer and writer Elisabeth from Oslo shows images from various jobs she's done for interior magazines in Norway such as Elle Interior, Design Interior and Maison on Inspirational Spaces 


2. Another inspirational blog from Mia Linnman in Sweden Sweden is Solid Frog: It's all about interior design, art, architecture, fashion and other thinghs that makes life joyful. I also show some of my paintings from 2005 and forward.


3. Traveling to Brazil I found the lovely blog from Carmen Martin: Achados de Decoracao She offers you the best interior inspiration from Latin America and beyond.


4. Another inspirational travel and design blog is the Designer Pad. Based in New York City, Eduardo is a fashion designer with a keen eye on design and style.


5. I'm always inspired by the lovely blog from Caroline Schleiffers Lillelykke. Based in Rotterdam Lilly Lykke covers Scandianvian inspiration and lovely images. She also has a lovely webshop.


6. From Oz I love the blog from Jane, The girl in the brick house. She covers inspirational news and shows us the reconstruction of her lovely home.


7. Last but not least Lotta Agaton, this lovely designer from Sweden gives loads of stylish inspiration.


Congratulations!!! You all deserve the Stylish blogger award this week!!!


images: various sources

HELP: MY SEARCH FOR NEW CHAIRS...

Today I need your help. I'm in the mood for some redecoration in my home but I don't want to spent too much money on it because we might move to another place next year and at that time we might buy some new furniture that fits the casa, you know..So I'm seriously looking for new dining table chairs. We have a teak table (as shown above) but I don't like the chairs anymore. I feel they don't fit our interior which is based on natural colors with a modern twist (see below a glimpse of our living). We have a wooden floor, brown couches and white cabinets, shutters and lamps. Coming across many chairs all over the place isn't helping. However I came across some I really liked.

Please let me know what you think! You always give me the best tips and advice when it comes to decoration and redesign.

                                                                     a glimpse of our home...
And here are the chairs I liked so far:

The wonderful chairs of Philip Starck or...

                                                       Stunning Vitra chairs...or...

Lovely butterfly chairs..or...

The famous and gorgeous Panton Chairs..or..