a little hamster » interior & design

We bought our dreamhouse!

lennebelle — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:21:57 +0000

The best beginning of 2012. Buying the house of our dreams one day before we went to Argentina. It has everything we hoped for. You can imagine how exciting I am and how nervous I was (glad we don’t buy a new place every year,…;-)

It’s a three level corner appartment in Kralingen neighbourhood, Rotterdam. Exactly 100 years old, build in 1912. It has so many windows, so much light, an open kitchen, all these old features like ceiling ornaments and stained glass everywhere, a bath, an amazingly cosy roof terrace from our bedroom and a huge attic which we will turn into our workspaces and last but not least a fireplace! (we will have to restore it) And it is only 150 meters from the best parc in the city. What else can you wish for?

We were looking for a new place in september, we checked this one out, kept in our mind and it’s the only appartment we visited, it was that simple and obvious this was the one! I could see all the small moments of joy in this house. Making dinner for friends, drinking my morning coffee on the terrace, the sun waking me up, the cat in the window, cuddling with my love on the couch with the fireplace on,….

A lot of work has to be done but I am thrilled to get started, to ‘design’ my dream kitchen and comfy bathroom and am already finding inspiration everywhere. When you have any reccomandations on what to check out let me know!

The design classic: Triplex lamps from Sweden!

lennebelle — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 06:00:42 +0000

Try-out drawings for the uber cool Triplexlamp!

It’s just great how one thing can turn into another! By making the businesscard for Petite Passport the girl from SHPPR asked me to make drawings for their new website and businesscard for Petite Etoile which led to creating the wedding invitation for Vanessa and probably the reason why Ulrika from Sweden (& blog Mackapar) and initatior of the re-invention of the vintage and super nice designer classic Triplex lamp asked me to do drawings for their brand!

These Triplexlamps will make you fall in love for sure! Check out the classic design, the story and designs.

A home should fit like a glove

lennebelle — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:59:11 +0000

I love where I live now, a cosy small appartment right in the city center of Rotterdam with an amazing view over the old harbour and the Willemsbrug (a bridge) When I moved in it was a more masculine place but over time it got more and more my personal touch and it really feels like home now. At the moment we are planning to move and find a new place together somewhere next year. I am used to live in appartments but I set my mind on a little house with an own front door, a little garden and a roof instead of neigbours above you. It will be a quest to find such a place. My old appartment was love at first sight. Check it out here. The one thing I know is when you walk through the door a home should fit like a glove.

This interior by Cheri Messerli really gets me inspired and no doubt it feels good when you walk through the door.

That ‘porch’ feeling must be wonderfull

lennebelle — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:00:44 +0000

Remember Villa Villekulla (dutch: Kakelbont), the house of Pippi Longstocking? It has been my dreamhouse for ages. Now we are thinking about buying a house/appartment together I am being more realistic. I just have a few wishes,…a place outside, an open kitchen and a fireplace. Besides I would adore an ‘entresol’ but that will be difficult (check out earlier post here)

And one day I would love to enjoy a home with a ‘porch’ just like Villa Villekulla! Hanging out together on the porch must be such relaxing with a porch swing, a rocking chair, many cushions and candles, fresh lemonade, a purring cat, good music and a nice sunset,….the ultimate ‘porch’ feeling.

First image via ‘Spell & Gypsy Collective’; check out all the images of their amazing home here and source of the other photos here.

lucky me

lennebelle — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:00:09 +0000

Lucky me! I found this cute ceramic vase at a huge thrift shop and the other day these emerald green mouth blown glass cups. Aren’t they oh so pretty! They are a good motivation to get this cleaning job done and afterwards I might treat myself finally with the fox claw earrings by Odette NY!

(The wooden handcarved frame I bought in Guatemala a long time ago)

Midsummer home clean out.

lennebelle — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:12:45 +0000

At this moment I am planning a midsummer home clean out. Sewing new white linen curtains and cushion covers, getting rid of all the cloths I think I will wear some day and never do, getting my administration in order and my cubboards and corners you never seem to clean spick and span. It will be so refreshing!

(image via Wiksten Made)

New point of sales: Friday Next & Gosto

lennebelle — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:19:17 +0000

I am so happy to let you know ‘lennebelle’ got two amazing new points of sales; Friday Next in Amsterdam ( image above) and Gosto in Blaricum (image below) Friday Next is a conceptstore with cafe, run by Esther and Pauline. Their collection of furniture is fabulous and they also have an interior design studio. I feel lucky to be part of their broad collection of jewelry labels like Wouter & Hendriks, MHL Studio, Charlotte Wooning and Bibi van der Velden.

Gosto is a design & lifestyle store owned by Sonia. When I first discovered Gosto I found so many familiar things I often see on blogs like items of Taska, work by Fine little day and Donna Wilson. This shop just makes you smile and makes you want to buy gifts for everyone you know.

Spoor 38

lennebelle — Mon, 02 May 2011 06:27:04 +0000

Just had a great weekend! Celebrating Queensday, a big happening in the Netherlands and had a picnic b-day in the park today. On friday I went to Spoor 38 with my sitster to get a present for her 30st birthday. Spoor 38 is in an old dairy factory filled with everything you desire for your interior when you love industrial and vintage. I loved the old cabinets and retro lamps. For my sisters we bought an old leather ball as decoration in her new home.

Home make-over

lennebelle — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:39:07 +0000

A new season is in the air and I feel like doing a small home make-over. New colours, new curtains, new cushions. No big changes just a bit different. I went fabric shopping and found this pretty taupe linen for curtains and bought a large piece of wood to use as a headboard for the bed.

Sometimes small adjustments can make a big difference! I love the colours on the spoons and added some photos from my old home! Do you have any tips, trics or ideas to do a home make over?

Miss Elmlid and the Bread Exchange Programme

lennebelle — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:09:59 +0000

My love showed me the website Fruenden von Freunden, a Selby like website with inspiring people and their homes. He pointed out one interview in specific he knew I would like; Malin Elmlid, living in Berlin, working as head of sales for Wood Wood and having her own little business with her Bread Exchange Programme.

I love the idea of baking natural and organic bread and sharing it with friends in exchange for other products or ideas! Malin also keeps her own blog: Miss Elmlid. Her story, work and interior got me inspired this weekend.