A NORDIC VIBE

This optimally planned apartment in popular Vasastan, Stockholm is a ray of sunshine. The 670 square-feet pad is quite bright and airy with a decor on point with that dreamy Nordic vibe. Overall, the place shows off a minimalist yet soothing style with obvious touches of personal charm. Despite the serene look, each room says a lot about its owners without trying too hard. You can tell every single piece they used was carefully selected and placed. I particularly love how the richness of the wood furniture glows and brings warmth to the soft color palette.

Spotted in Fantastik Frank

SPANISH SPLENDOR

Please, come right in and take a tour of this stunning Madrid penthouse. An impressive semi-circular wall of floor-to-ceiling windows frames the modish living room decorated with mid-century modern treasures. This Spanish pad combines color and art seamlessly—by no means the owner of this sweet apartment is intimidated by color. She really has outdone herself by spontaneously using bright and saturated tones to unify the decor of this top-floor haven.

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WRITING ON THE WALL

There's nothing like creating art for your own home, but this London-born artist has taken this idea a step further. Well, actually, several walls further. Shantell Martin has made it a project to cover the whole top floor a Brooklyn brownstone with her whimsical line drawings. When she first moved in, her intention was to limit her drawings to parts of a wall in her room, but inch by inch her art spontaneously took over her office and laundry room walls. Apparently, she draws on everything that comes her way, which explains her crazy fun refuge. She's even taken bottles she found on the street as canvas to display her freestyle drawings. I wonder if her mom ever let her paint on the walls when she was little. She's definitely getting away with it now. And I'm glad she is, since I'm really digging her style. Have a designful and relaxing Holiday weekend!

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A SOULFUL STAY

Somewhere between soul and Art Noveau, the stunning Hotel Wiesler enjoys a privileged location in the dynamic center of the charming city Graz, Austria. The hotel consists of five former guesthouses converted into what the Wiesler is today. But between 1945 and 1954 the building was used a accommodation for British Army officers until it got renovated again into its original splendor in 1986. The successful combination of beautiful vintage fixtures and modern design symbolises the philosophy behind the new Wiesler—a surprising and exquisite choice of detail which makes this hotel so special. All 21 refurbished room offer plenty of space for new thoughts and an unforgettable stay.

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TRÈS COOL

“Your home defines who you are, and who you want to be,” proclaims fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. And I second that way of thinking. Through decor and artwork you can easily infuse your personality and style in your home. This Parisian flat is no exception to the rule. It's the striking artwork by young artists that provides a perfect framework for this eclectic home in the French capital. An open floor plan houses the kitchen, the dining room and lounge area, all surrounded by bold and fun pieces of art that most certainly make a statement about the owners. I truly belief artwork should reflect your spirit and not just something to fill your walls with. You honestly can do it without breaking the bank. All you need is a little imagination.

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ICFF: THE ROUNDUP

Once a year, New York City welcomes furniture and home decor designers and manufactures from around the world to showcase their new creations at ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair). So yesterday afternoon I headed over to this great spectacle ready for a design overdose. My expectations were surpassed. I was excited to see a lot of new talent among the veteran design houses, especially in wall coverings. The variety of materials and interpretations in wallpapers, tiles and finishes was quite extensive—actually more than I've seen in previous years. Another biggie was lighting (or maybe it was just me since I have a weakness for everything that illuminates). But seriously, the array of alternatives and designs was glorious. Last but not least, I was very happy to see a great deal of attention paid to the outdoors with a gorgeous and stylish selection of furniture and accessories for the patio and backyard. Overall, I spent a delightful afternoon drooling over such wonderful and inspiring work, but the cherry on the cake was running into design guru Karim Rashid. The fair will be open until tomorrow, so if you happen to be in this part of town, I recommend you stop by and see for yourself what's new and happening in the world of design. If not, here are a few of the many things that really caught my eye. Enjoy!

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SO TRUE...

I'm a firm believer that one should do what makes us happy. One of the things that makes my world go round is to find out what's next and best in the world of furniture design. So today, I'll be going to ICFF (New York's International Contemporary Furniture Fair) to see all the new and cool stuff we'll be seeing in stores soon. I'll  be in the look out for new trends and hot decor designs, so don't miss tomorrow's post where I'll be sharing the ins and out of this much anticipated event. 

RAW BEAUTY

Everything great always starts with a vision, like this fantastic lofty home in San Francisco's Mission district. Originally a Lucky Strike cigarette warehouse, the 1925 concrete building was converted into this sweet nest for British-born electrical engineer Clive McCarthy and his wife. After seeing the potential of the structure, he decided to buy it with hopes of transforming it into the contemporary home it is now. The whole building was gutted to create spacious areas for each room of the house, leaving the rawness of the original architecture seep through the design. How's this for industrial chic? Happy weekend!

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