After regularly seeing her work pop up on social media here and there, Jana Rymen’s sense of style and eye for detail sparked my curiosity for her own interior. When she launched her own studio, I figured it was the perfect time for a chat about her home and work. “An aesthete who tries to see the beauty in everything”, that’s how she describes herself on her website. That’s the least you can say about this girl who combines art direction, interior styling, table dressing and food styling under the name of Studio Kroes. Where she got the inspiration for her studio’s name, isn’t too hard to figure out once you meet the curly haired Jana in person. Yes, it’s all about the hair.
Although I still love a beautiful marble print, terrazzo has slowly but surely been taking marble’s place as the go-to print for interior fanatics. The composite material of stone or glass chips mixed with cement is available in every possible color combination, speaking to both black and white aficionados and color lovers. Lately, the speckled texture has spread from floors and kitchen counters to paper and fashion accessories, so there’s no need for a new kitchen when you’re looking to incorporate some terrazzo into your home. In this collection I’ve gathered a few of my favorite terrazzo (printed) products, a tutorial to make your very own terrazzo coffee table and a bit of terrazzo inspiration!
DIY terrazzo coffee table by Heju. Find the instructions here.
It’s been quiet here lately, so I thought I’d share a little bit of what I’ve been up to. A few weeks ago I shot a project by interior architect Edith Macken, who designed the renovation of a typical seaside home for two book lovers. The result is a calm space filled with seaside colors, beautiful details and – of course – lots of interesting books. Have a look at her website or instagram if you want to see more of Edith Macken’s work!
When it comes to interesting cities in Belgium, Lokeren might not be the first one that pops into your mind, but there is one place that makes a visit to this Flemish city worth a visit. At Bar Copine, located on Lokeren’s main square, you can find anything from interior accessories furniture to delicacies, care products and fashion. However, Bar Copine is not only a shopping destination, here you can also stop by for a cup of coffee, a piece of cake and a healthy lunch or breakfast. When they asked me to shoot their new interior, designed by Man architecten, and their menu, I got the chance to try some of their dishes and let me tell you: these dishes not only look splendid, they taste absolutely delicious as well. Bar Copine is not only a dream come true for its owner Kim, but it is dreamy on its own, dressed in pastel hues, terrazzo and dashes of gold. So, next time you’re in the neighborhood of Lokeren and you’re in need of caffeine, something new or a meal… you know Bar Copine is the place you’re looking for!
For those among you who fell in love with Lies Mertens’ eclectic apartment, I’ve collected a few items that’ll help you bring that eclectic touch to your own home. You can do so by mixing design with affordable items and vintage feel with industrial aesthetics, and finishing it of with some quirky and tropical vibes.
While I’m already counting down to my next vacation (only 11 days until I’m cruising around Ibiza in a camper!), I wanted to share my last photos from Gran Canaria with you. As a lover of all things botanical, a visit to the Jardín Botánico Canarian obviously made it on my to do list. This garden was the life work of Swedish-Spanish botanist Erik Ragnar Svensson, who spent many years searching for a site where all of the highly diverse plant species of the Canary Islands could grow successfully. (Gran Canaria alone has a wide variety of microclimats and both forests, deserts, beaches and volcanoes, so you can imagine the huge diversity of vegetation when looking at all of the Canary Islands!) He finally settled on a steep slope close to the capital of Las Palmas, resulting in a lushious garden dwindling down the slope along narrow pathways and staircases. My sister and I spent our day admiring the enormous cacti in the Garden of Succulents and, well, Cacti, bumping into surprises like a waterfall, caves and places with names like “The Road of the Dragons” and “The Fountain of the Wise”, wandering through the Garden of the Islands and the Garden of the World and discovering the Hidden Gardens inside cute greenhouses. With its 27 acres, approximately 500 different plant species and over 10 000 cultivars of succulents, the botanical garden of Gran Canaria definitely is one of the most beautiful gardens I have visited, and I’ve visited my fair share!
Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo, Ctra. del Centro, Km 7, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain - website
A few months ago, when I was escaping the renovations in my studio until I could move into my new apartment, my friend Lies Mertens welcomed me with open arms into her two bedroom flat in a quiet neighborhood in Antwerp. The apartment, part of a 1930s art deco building that used to house a cinema, has undergone quite a renovation process before it turned into the cosy home and atelier that it is now. With every visit to Lies’ home it became more and more clear that her home was the perfect candidate for an INSIGHTS interview, and this sleepover was the perfect time to do so. However, sometimes life gets in the way of these interviews to get finished. That’s why I’m sharing this shoot only now, after Lies has already redecorated her apartment about a dozen times, but more on that later.
There are few things I love more than delicious food and good company, so when Iittala asked me to host a dinner for my friends to highlight their Reset the table campaign, I didn’t have to think twice. I invited Lies, Eline and Paulien, stocked up on flowers and wine, set the table with the dotted blue plates and light blue bowsl from Iittala’s Teema collection, complemented with items from their Kastehelmi collection. Pro tip from someone who’s clumsy and living on a budget: mixing and matching is the solution when you can’t afford to buy a whole set of tableware at once or when you happen to drop a plate once in a while, plus it gives your table setting an original twist! Iittala understood and made sure that all of their tableware goes together, allowing you to create a set that matches your taste perfectly. Good news by the way, you can win a set of Iittala tableware for two on my instagram right now! (Or just buy them here.)
In my previous blogpost, Liene and William told all about their ongoing renovation process and their “brutal chic” style. Brutal chic, you say? Think items that merge esthetics and function perfectly, classic design pieces, industrial elements and an occasional dash of kitsch. Next, combine all of these in beautiful still lifes for the finishing touch to an interior that tells a story. If you want to bring a little bit of their style to your own home, I’ve got just what you need in this week’s collection…
While Liene shares mostly fashion, make-up and hair inspiration on her Instagram account, it’s her interior that truly grabbed my attention. That’s why almost a year ago, I contacted her and her husband William for an interior shoot. As it turned out, their home renovation was still in full force, Liene just knew which corners to frame! We kept in touch and eventually they welcomed me into their home for a chat about their ongoing renovation process and William’s interior and furniture design business Wøti.
