SWEDISH TREASURE

Today I came across a new blog.  It's the lovely blog of Helena Karjalainen and
 although I don't read Swedish I loved what I saw there! If you are a frequent reader of Urban Style Vibes* you know how much I love the simple and stylish Swedish design and homes and based on your comments I think you fully agree with me! Take a look at and in this beautiful home. It's so fresh and airy. I especially love the white walls and floors and it's so spacious!!

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS HOME?

HAVE A SPLASHING WEEKEND!

My dear friends, how are you today? Are you ready for the weekend? I'm so ready for take off! The last months have been soooo busy and I feel I'm really tired now. While I'm taking a short blogcation as from next week I will treat you with some inspiring travel, design and urban style vibes posts.

PS. If you want to follow me while I'm away please check out Twitter and Facebook.

TUESDAY KELLY HOPPEN GIVE-WAY

Hello friends, today I am glad that I can announce a book give-away from Kelly Hoppen on Urban Style Vibes* I met with the team of Kelly Hoppen during the preparations of the Meet the Blogger event in Amsterdam last months. It's been great working with Kelly and I'm glad she offered me the book to share with you. 

Please leave your comment below why you want to win this book and if possible share the link of this give-away on Twitter or Facebook. The winner will be announced on August 20. 2011 Nr 2,3 and 4 will get a voucher code for Kelly's iPhone/iPad app.

I was also lucky to have the opportunity to interview Kelly Hoppen.


1. How did you started your business? 
I got my start by working for a friend of my step father. It was unpaid but I learned so much and was really prepared for my first paid job which was for a racing driver who was a friend of a friend. Word of mouth was what helped me get started and what keeps my business growing to this day. 

2.  Can you tell me a bit more about your latest project?

I am working on an amazing new resort in Mauritius. It's all top secret but it will be a luxurious new offering from one of the best resort companies in the world. Stay tuned for the news on it's opening which will happen in December 2011.

3. What is your favourite travel destination and why?

It actually is Mauritius so I was thrilled to be able to work on a project there! I get so much inspiration from my travels not necessarily from the destinations themselves but I find when I "switch off" on holiday new ideas always spring up. 

4. Can you give urban style vibes readers some tips to decorate for the summer season?

Never underestimate the power of accessories! Switching curtains to fabrics which are lighter in texture and colour do a lot to change the feeling of a space. Bright cushions are great for bringing in a pop of colour and can give a very different feel to a space without much expense. Fresh flowers are also in abundance so think about using them in your space to bring the outdoors in. Finally, if you have the budget think about defying the norms in terms of furnishing. Outdoor furniture can create the feeling of an additional room outside if it is solid in construction with modern lines and muted colours. Conversely, woven/wicker style furniture in a dining room adds a bit or whimsey and brings the outdoors inside. 


images: Kelly Hoppen for Urban Style Vibes* 

IMAGINE...

Good Morning lovelies! How are you? Are you ready for some summer vibes? I can't wait to start my holiday later this week. I only have 2 days to work and then I will enjoy my long holiday. Imagine to see the sundowning in the sea!! Just stunning! We will travel to Portugal to enjoy some sun, sea and good Portugese food. The image above was made @ the Beach in Holland. Later this week I will share some more summer vibes with you here on the blog. In addition I have a lovely give-away for you in mind which will be announced tomorrow so please stay tuned. Enjoy  your new week!

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

Come on friends, today I'd love to take you on a trip to Comporta in Portugal. This coastal residence is designed by LDA architects for a family that was looking for an 'ocean retreat' near Lisbon. The three 'cabanes' are inspired by the traditional fisherman houses. Each house is 50 square meter and the rooms are well designed. I love the simplicity and pureness of this unique place.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE? 

via: Cote Maison

WHAT ARE YOU READING THIS SUMMER?

 My dear blogger friends. Yesterday evening I've spent some time to read in my home design and travel books. I always love to find new inspiration and share it with you here on Urban Style Vibes*. My inspiration comes from other blogs, browsing the internet and of course some from the 'traditional' books. Over time I discovered that I tend to read more online than offline because there is so many choice from beautiful e-zines like Rue, Lonny Magazine etc. But on the other I just these coffee table books.

Here are 5 favourite books from me that I will read this summer:

1. Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home

2. The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

3. Great Escapes South America (Taschen's 25th Anniversary Special Edition)

4. Kelly Hoppen: Ideas. by Kelly Hoppen

5. Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces

Q. WHAT ARE YOUR READING THIS SUMMER? DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?

5 THINGS TO DO IN PARIS

Hello all, I'm back home from my splendid weekend in Paris. What a lovely city! I hope that you have been there once or more because it's worth it. I have been in Paris a lot of times so this time we decided to go off road and find out some new arreas and place that I haven't seen before. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my real camera so I can only treat you with some happy snaps from Paris made with my Samsung Galaxy S. Thanks to all the tips that I received from my Twitter friends I had lunch and diner in a few lovely places. We stayed in a simple hotel but next time I will definitely sleep in the amazing Mama Shelter hotel. We had a great afternoon drink in this hip and happening design hotel.

Here are five things that I could recommend for Paris:

1. Stroll around in Jardin de Luxembourg. It's a beautiful urban garden

2. Enjoy an afternoon or a day in Le Marais, hip and happening you'll love the design and fashion stores like Zadig and Voltaire, Ben Simon, Autour du Monde etc.

3.  Visit the Museum Caravalet to discover more about the history of Paris

4. Take a seat on a bench or lay down in the grass of Place des Vosges. It's one of the most beautiful squares in Paris

5. Enjoy the good food. The French know what eating culture really means. Here are some suggestions for good restaurants: Cojean, Chez Leon, Mama Shelter (sunday Brunch) 

If you want more tips about Paris, please read My Little Paris. This is a lovely website with loads of inspiration. They even have a lovely book out now. You can order it here: My Little Paris

Q. HAVE YOU BEEN IN PARIS? WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT PARIS? I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR SUGGESTIONS!

images: Lise M for Urban Style Vibes*

SNEAK PREVIEW IKEA CATALOGUE 2O12

 Hello lovelies, how are you? Are you ready for some new IKEA inspiration? I bet you are! I can't wait to see the whole new IKEA catalogue for 2012 but for now I'd love to treat you with the first sneak preview of the new IKEA Catalogue 2012 that I found on Ikea Fans and Cote Maison. This new catalogue gives me inspiration to prepare my home for the new Autumn season to come. The first items and the full catalogue will be avaible in the Netherlands in September 2011 so I guess we have some time to discuss the best items and mix and match before it's even in store. I love the simplicity of the new IKEA styles and see those lovely purple tones that will appear in the new season. And those lovely gray and camel shades are just stunning!

Q.WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEW STYLES AND ITEMS? I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS!

images: IKEA via Cote Maison

PARIS BOUND ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Hello friends. How was your weekend? Are you ready for a kick start this Monday? I have a busy schedule today and the rest of the week but before I leave you I will take you to Paris today. Paris is only 3 hours by train from Amsterdam so on Thursday, 'quatorze juillet', the national bank holiday I will travel with A.M. one of my friends to the French Capital. If you have any tips for me on where to shop, eat and enjoy, please let me know! I'm sure I will visit the Mama Shelter Hotel/Restaurant and I love to shop till you drop but I'd love to hear your ideas on where to go when I'm there. You always help me out to find the best hotspots on the planet. That's why I love blogging and social media. Together we can really make a difference!! Thank you so much in advance!

Above are a few happy snaps from one of my previous trips to Paris. Next week I will give you an update on my new experiences in this beautiful city.

ENJOY READING: MEET THE BLOGGER ATTENDEE LIST

Hello lovely bloggers, many people asked us to come up with the attendee list of the fist Meet the Blogger event in Amsterdam. And guess what? Here is the start of the list in undefined order! We are still adding new links so this is work in progress. I hope this list will help you to discover new blogfriends and network along the way. If your blog is not listed, please leave a comment below and we will add your blog asap! Janneke and I are currently investigating future Meet the Blogger events, workshops and opportunities across Europe (and beyond) for the near future. If you have any ideas, please share them with us below!

Decor8

Eco Beauty
Dear Designers
Heart Home Magazine
Arianna Interiors

Mariska Meijers
flavourites

Villa d'Esta

Stephanies Dreamboat

Style Cookie
Kopje Twee

Orange Farmhouse

April and May

Planet Fur

All the Luck in the world

Irideeen

Worldly Treasury

Eline Pellinkhof

By Petra

Ozowiezo
Home and Happiness
Appracadabra

Vosges Paris

Lille Lykke

Boulevard B

Spraakwater

Made by Malwina

Songbird is nesting

vtwonen.nl

Beau lifestyle

Rosas inspiration

Moola Stylista 

Miko Design

Beeldsteil

Wikkie Wikkie

Domestic Stories with ivy

Studio Soil

Ida Interior Lifestyle

The Style Files

Yvestown

Fabric of My Life

Het gehaakte sprookjesland

Bodie and Fou

Moois en Meer
Petite Passport
Lily's Cupcakes
Kelly Hoppen
101 woonideeen
The South is blooming
Starry Blue Sky
The Spirit of Abundance
Influenced by Style
Let's blog Design
Rivka Dieho
PIP-presentatie
Room55
La Maison D'Anna G.
Dutch Delights
Luxe Vida
Heart Destinations
Crafting Peace
Casa Holandesa
Style this simple
Space ID
Living in a prettyhow town


If you have attended the Meet the Blogger event in Amsterdam and your blog does not yet appear on the list above, leave us a comment below. We will add your blog asap!

H&M POP UP STORE

Hello Friends, I love browsing the internet for inspiring ideas. Today I came across this H&M charity pop up store at Scheveningen Beach in the Netherlands. H&M has been collaborating with WaterAid since 2002, including an initiative every summer whereby thei sell an exclusive bikini. This year they offer a whole beachwear collection dedicated to support WaterAid.

A variety of essentials for men, women and kids from H&M’s “Beachwear in Shades of Blue” line were available at the shipping container-style shop on the beach, and a full 25 percent of the sales proceeds went directly to WaterAid.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE AND DO YOU HAVE SIMILAR INITIATIVES IN YOUR COUNTRY? I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS!

via: Springwise