Some inspiration to set up your perfect kitchen

Building up your perfect kitchen is a big challenge, especially if you cope with the restrictions of the small spaces assigned to this part of the room in most of the old style Berlin apartments. Most probably people here were not used to have big families and do not cook at home that much, therefore no need to waste a big room for that.

Which means that, from the beginning, when it comes to setting up your kitchen, you need to take into consideration your needs, including your habits as a cook. For instance, if you have a family of 5, and you cook all the meals, you definitely need a big space and a lot of appliances for your kitchen. Somehow, I discovered that if you are smart enough, you can easily adapt to what you have too. Me, I started to cook when I already had the current home where the kitchen is quite narrow, but I did a better space management. When I have to cook a lot, especially for the holidays, I am using the big table from the living room and it served perfectly my purposes.

If you are kosher conscious family, you might need some additional restrictions, as you need a sink and a counter separate for meat and milk.

I am personally a minimalist, but I still need some special requirements: a fridge, a heater, a good light - very useful especially when I have to cook during the short days of autumn and long winters, a special space for the three sorts of garbage - plastic, paper and usual, a counter with the toaster, coffee machine, an area where I have my basic utensils, a big space for my cleaning tools and substances, some space for my cooking books. a counter for my basic ingredients and dried foods - at least three separate types of pasta. I also need a special space for my many spices and another one for the pans and other cooking vessels. 

As I am still in the middle of the home redesign I still have a lot of things to set up in the kitchen, the floor covering is not yet decided, but for cleaning reasons, I prefer the vinyl, preferably a black - dark colour. Other possible options are wood or tiles. I will never ever have a carpet in the kitchen. Another element I need for my kitchen is a big window - at least one - as after a lot of cooking, you always need fresh air in the house. Especially if you are during the festival of Hanukkah, when you have to cook with a lot of oil. If you have a smoke detector in the kitchen - as I do - be aware that it might start sounding worry after the 3rd batch of latkes.

A lot of aestethic considerations are also important for creating a kitchen where you feel good and you can cook safely: the colour of the walls and how does it matches the furniture - for instance, light colours are creating the impression of a bigger space; the electricity settings that should always checked properly with a professional; creating a special counter for flowers and various fresh pots of basilicum or parsley among many others; a clock on the wall to count the time. I also added some nice photos on the wall, and some inspirational quotes, to make me feel good and entertain me intellectually during my kitchen chores. 

A table with chairs for the kitchen is a luxury, but it can create a family ambiance during the week, and a nice family space for sharing the daily plans and the achievements of the day.

If you have little children you should take seriously into consideration various safety standards, including by avoiding to set up in accessible places items that might be harmful. 

Generally speaking, setting up a kitchen is a serious, long-term and expensive adventure. But it can be a life-long investment and should be seriously considered, including by hiring the right specialists for the electric details, interior design and safety issues. 

Photos made at the Poggen Pohl store at Stilwerk, Berlin, Germany 

Starting my big renovation project!

After full eight years of living in the same house - which is so far a high record level as I never ever, even as a little kid stayed in the same house for more than maximum 3-4 years, maximum - little was it done to the original structure of the house. I haven't done nothing at all, except buying a big bad and doing some small adjustments after my lovely son was born.

People usually do have different reactions when they are coming to my house, but definitely, everyone agrees that I should do more to make this little corner of Berlin more for transforming it into my home instead of just using it as a stop and working office in-between my many trips. As the birth of my son changed dramatically my lifestyle - which means that I do not travel less, but I have a different kind of agenda meaning more focused on creating a warm and friendly home for the baby.

At the end of Pesach, looking for some new projects to share and create, I suddenly decided to start a very ambitious and frightening new project: completely renovating my house, on my own. I have no previous experience in this respect, and although more than once in the last hours I was thinking that what about deciding to move out of this house in less than a year, I realized that the novelty of the project is appealing enough to want to keep it straight and doing it despite all odds. I am sure I will gain enough experience and will have a lot of fun. 

My kind of life right now...Source: Pinterest

I am doing my project will being full time mom and also working on different writing and blogging projects at the same time. My time, as usual, is very limited, therefore I have to schedule the activities for each day. In the case of painting days, I should keep in mind that me and the baby we will shortly go out after the work is done, in order to avoid the smell of the paint. My plan is to finish everything within one month, with a relatively limited - but not small - budget and with serious time constraints. I will not work on Saturdays and on Fridays I am trying to finish everything as soon as possible.

Step-by-step

Here are my first steps for actually beginning

the process

Day 1

- Having a look at each room in order to realize what it doesn't work and what I don't like about the setting. I only have two rooms, a kitchen and the bathroom to fix, with the child's room with minimal investments as I already did some furniture decluttering already. I only need to fix small things, like changing the jalousies or painting the radiators.

- Assign for each space a color or a special style. For instance, I want my living room to be very cozy, I want my bathroom to have variations of silver and black.

- Set up the available budget for your investment. Start doing a little market research to more than 2 shops. Yesterday, I went to both Bauhaus and Poco for seaching for the best deals, and I've found good deals for different products. I took pictures and made a list of the things I need and where the price is better.

- Create a schedule of to-do-list for each room. For instance, I would love to start cleaning seriously every corner but if I have to paint first, I better start with paiting and leave the cleaning after that as there is a high probability that I might need to do some extra cleaning after anyway.

- See the limits of your technical abilities. For example, changing the taps and the lamp is obviously more than I can know via YouTube and Google. I want to do this last anyway, but until then I should also search for a technical expert that will help me. It saves nerves and money in case I may damage seriously the entire electricity system.

- Ask for advice. As my neighbour just finished her own DIY painting project last summer, I visited her yesterday and was lucky enough to leave with some brushes and recommendations. For instance, to always use some plastic cover when I paint to avoid damaging the carpets or the floor. 

- Last but not least, take measurements. As I will need wall tattoos and tapet and some new bed coverings and jalousies and so on and so forth, knowing the dimensions is a very important stage of the project. I carefully measured everything that I needed and right now I am more focused on what I can find for advancing my plans.

That's all for now. I promise to write more and more updates in the next days. For today, I already have a little plan and I am looking forward to it!

Le Creuset: Cooking in colours

Eating means more than gulping in a hurry pieces of food into your mouth. A healthy lifestyle involves a special table style, a discipline of gestures and portioning and, last but not least, special wares where the food is prepared and further served. With a leadership presence on the market since 1925, Le Creuset represents the happy meeting between high quality and style. I recently discovered the Beach Feeling and Chiffon Pink Collections and instantly fell in love with. 

The kitchenware part of the Beach Feeling collection are variations of cool mint and Carribean turqoise. The colours only are elegant enough to match almost every kind of furniture and table style. Regardless how low are the outside temperature, every item of this collection carries on a bit of sun and wellbeing. Exactly what you need for the long winter ahead, especially if you are in Germany. Most recipes to be prepared in those kitchenware are main menu dishes, rice and meat based, salads,  soups, but also tarts. 

Chiffon Pink is that feminine touch that you need in every house and kitchen. Most of the pieces are suited for elegant afternoon teas and cakes, but some light meals can be also prepared, like soups or stews or quiches. 

As it is quite difficult to make a choice between the two, I would personally mix the pieces of two of them, creating a pastel presence on the table and a good mood for everyone.

Some special features of Le Creuset products:

- Some of the products have as much as 30-year warranty;

- Thermoresistent to temperatures between 260C and -18C;

- Can be equally used for microwave and normal oven;

- Can be washed in the washing machine and are very easy to clean;

- Designed using the energy efficiency concept;

- Safe transportation and easy to carry, and in general ergonomic shape

Pictures taken at the Le Creuset section at the KaDeWe store in Berlin, Germany

The transforming power of Birdie Foscarini Lamps

With offices in Milan and New York City, Foscarini is an exquisite Italian design brand, actively involved in various artistic project. For the development of its products it collaborates constantly with famous designers and experts, in order to deliver the fittest and the most creative items. Their products are usually matching a variety of spaces, from living rooms or bedrooms, to hotel rooms and lobbies to bars or special restaurants. Everything is about finding the right place and creating the maximum effect for an unforgettable ambiance. 

I like many of their products, but nothing impressed me better than Birdie, created by the Milan architects Ludovica and Roberto Palomba. Their inspiration: a bird on a branch, an impression of elegance and delicate movement their lamps are producing. The models are either suspended in the air, or set on the floor, wall or table. Each lamp weight maximum 3 kg and uses either LED or halogen lamps

The small delicate lamps create special effects into a room, either it is a single one, or many of them. Especially the reflection of light on the light-metal materials brightens the space. The special effects create a cozy warm ambiance, exactly what you need for the coming long winter evenings. Each version is unique and can be easily removed. It usually suits the simple furniture, and a simply decorated interior. 

You might discover that just a simple lamp can completely change your mood and make you love your home more.

10 Wallpapers from Cole and Son

I am very interested in wallpapers, as more than the simple paint on a room wall, it can be a simple yet very creative investment in the interior design and general look of a room and house in general. In addition, you can change it often, without too much of a hassle, as it is the case with general painting. In terms of financial investment, it is also fine, as you need only to pay for the wallpaper and the special glue, without spending money on workers or other tools that you need time to learn how to use yourself. After a while, you can call yourself a wallpaper expert and in one day, your entire house can look completely different.

My latest discovery, with models that suit any room and type of house - from small apartment to mansions - is the Cole and Son, producing fine and high-end designed wallpapers for decades. You can order them online, and the website is available in both English and Swedish.

Here are my top 10 choices, out of too many to mention, but you have a look on the website to find the right wallpaper that suits your budget and your style.

1. Bamboo

Delicate prints, available in different colours, that bring a touch of elegance to any corner of the room.You can choose a complete make-over or to cover only one corner, the effect is the same.

2. Archipelago Border

It is a world in itself, that this wallpaper brings into your home. Think about the Alice in Wonderland lost in a forest of colourful vegetation. It is definitely my favourite design for my working room or for the library.

3. Luxor Geometric

Jazzy geometric labyrinths, creating the feeling of movement. This is what you need to give more depth and dynamism to your space. I see it as a wall in the lobby, as an invitation to the visitor to start the journey of discovering your world.

4. Plume

Inspired by tribal art from around the world, it has fine brushstokes of greys, charcoal black and metallic gold. It matches an elegant minimalist living room, preferably with pastel furniture.

5. Balabina

Named after the Russian ballerina Feya Balabina, this beautiful elaborated design with peacocks covered by a luxuriant vegetation are a good adornment of the bedroom, or some walls of the living room. It indulges stylish vintage furniture. It is available in different colour combination.

6. Orchid

This design of orchid resting on stylish leaves is available in different colour combination. It can embellish the lobby, or a corner in the living room, with a stylish colourful chair or couch part of the landscape. For fixing, a special glue is recommended.

7. Flamingo

When it comes to flamingos, my objectivity fades, as I can see them everywhere in any corner of the room. Thankfully, I can choose between different colours - blue, grey or yellow, for instance - and patterns, and why not, have a house full of them! As colours on screen might be different from the real design, it is recommended to order a sample - for 1.5 pounds - to figure out if the pattern is what you are looking for.

8. Woodstock

Brought to you from the psychedelic times of the hippy revolution, this wallpaper - available in different colours - makes you feel forever young and ready for a change. It suits simple yet colourful pieces of furniture. Where do you want it fixed, it is up to you, as it suits any kind of setting, as long as you are into pop-art.

9. Opera

A bit of sophistication and style are always in need. For a stylish furniture, this wallpaper created in 1959 remains in fashion. The luxuriant combination of flowers and fruits, resting lasciviously on three-tired structures can suit your living room very well. With such a view in the front of your eyes, even the long family dinners are tastier. 

10. Bellini

Named after the Italian composer Vicenzo Bellini, this wallpaper uses the motif of tiles, broken by curves forcing the eyes to follow the various shapes into a labyrinth of flowers and leaves. Out of the four simple colourings, this is my favourite, and I see it very well embellishing the kitchen. I bet it can make me more creative when cooking something new.

Pictures from the Cole and Son website, English version

Interior design inspiration in Osnabrück: NeuLanD

My travels often bring me near interesting stores where I can easily find inspiration for my next interior design ideas. One such happy encounter was at the beginning of the summer in Osnabrück, where I've discovered the happy-go-lucky NeuLanD store in the central Neu Markt area. 

The colours are inviting the passer-by to have a look and discover a different world of colours. The window might be not very stylish decorated by it has some interesting pieces of glass that will call your interest, at least if you are from my tribe of people in love with pastel colours.

On the other side of the threshold, the mosaique of colours and diversity of objects is inviting. As in the case of the window, do not expect some special set-up of the shop either, but once in a while I can ignore such a failure, for the sake of beautiful colours (again).

I've spent a couple of good minutes around, taking pictures and looking at the items, but no one didn't bother to ask me anything, which might be a problem when you are really looking for something special. But probably in such cases you just have to scream your needs and for sure someone will show up.

The prices are for everyone, from 2.5 Euro until close to 500 Euro, for the pieces of furniture. 

The bowls and cups of different sizes are always an elegant and stylish addition to your naked wooden shelves. 

There is also garden furniture, from the metal category, that can be embellished by pillows and simple uni table covers.

The items in the shop suit every room, from the kitchen to the bathroom. Not that much though for the children room, but just because you can buy for your little one, one of these chaotically colourful towels. Wish I was prepared for some shopping this trip! 

As a hobby artist myself, I've learn from this shop how important is to use the right colour for creating special effects without too much of a financial investment. Those fish may look very boring and unattractive in their first appearance, probably some colourless-metal, but the myterious turquoise changed completely the mood and the appearance.

If you are from the more sophisticated group of people that want to keep everything immaculately white, NeuLanD has some items for you too: those glasses that suit very well your Friday evening mood maching wine.

What to do with pillows? Some inspiration

Pillows come in different sizes and colours and patterns. Some of them are big enough to keep you company and offer comfort after a busy day at work, some may just catch some big dirty or destroyed corners or just to bring some life to a room. Here are a couple of ideas about how to use them. The samples of pillows where photographed during a recent visit to the German city of Osnabrück.

The pillow is a very mobile accessorize. You can change its location either in the room or in the house. The bigger ones can be just placed on the floor for watching your favourite TV series or for playing something interesting with your kids.

I personally prefer the pillows with a changeable cover. Thus, with a minimal investment, you can bring change into your room. In this picture, I am very much in love with the velvet covers, which are so elegant. Such a texture suits very well a lavish bedroom but also the living room.

Particularly for small children, the pillows can provide many funny activities and be a source of inspiration. The funny images can push forward their imagination without borders. However, funny covers aren't only for children, If you are a couple or individual with a good sense of humour, your pillow cover can be a healthy source of well being. I do have at home both variants, with the rectangular ones for the night sleep, and the squared for the decorations. The round ones are, in my opinion, well suited for sitting, but do have a decorative value as well.

The rectangular pillows are elegant and inviting, while the square ones can be a bit possesive and selfish. As in the case of matrasses, it is recommended to buy the best in terms of medical and health recommendations. Who wants to wake up with a bad head day?

What about you? What are your pillow choices?

Interior design inspiration: Fashion for Home

Wandering through this beautiful shop, situated in the very center of Berlin, I realized how important colour is for dramatically changing an environment. A single patch of colour can make a terrific difference in a space. This is the main lesson learned at Fashion for Home store.

The distinctive note can be given by a big piece of furniture, or by small accessories, such as a shining lamp or a creative carpet.

Two pillows of two from two different ends of the colours spectrum can bring life into an otherwise sober and I dare to say boring couch.

This chair is not only comfy - I had the chance of testing its welcoming hug - but eye challenging in his simplicity.

As I am trying lately to explore various chair sizes and designs, I've found interesting their collection. Either for the kitchen, the office or the cozy corner, there are many attractive models that make the room an intelligent geometry game.

I underestimate sometimes the power of discrete lightning. In this case, it beautifully highlights the carpet patterns and thus gives a completely new dimension to the room.

I am not a big fan of white rooms, but when you have only one piece of colour - the blue couch - the life in a white cube is much more bearable.

The pastel combinations are more than a seasonable fashion. Managed in right quantities, it brings joy into the room.

The keyword that applies to many of the items presented here is: elegance. Of the colours, lines or volumes, while keeping the standards of the practical needs of the modern space and the simplicity of style.

I particularly appreciated the copper lights, for the potential to reflect and therefore magnify the environment.

The colour of this chair reminds of some old times furniture, from the 1960s, but in fact added to the modern armchair, it cries modern life. Most pieces can be delivered in different colours.

The shapes are simple and easy to fit in even the smaller space. Economically designed, they answer the needs of modern families, looking for comfort and simplicity, quality and elegance. The prices are usually middle to high. The customer service is more than friendly, with knowledgeable personnel not only in matters of shop supplies but with an eye for interior design advices as well.

The visit at this store proved very inspired and a great opportunity to learn more and educate my eyes in the spirit of colours joy and modern design.

Rosenthal beauty

I grew up with Rosenthal porcelain ware that decorated our family table for various occasions, but somehow, as a teenager, I resented something I used to call outrageous luxury. However, as a fully grown up woman, I returned to the old memories and cherished there with more respect than I used to as a confused teen. 

Thus, I adopted many of my family household customs, especially of using special glassware for various occasions. The Berlin Rosenthal store, that I visit regularly to check for inspiration, succeedes every time to brought childhood memories back to life. And to give me some new ideas too. How may refuse a travel-themed table service? Not the traveler me, anyway?

The Ku'damm store presents various temporary exhibitions with works produced for the company by various ceramic and porcelain artists from Germany and abroad. 

Besides modernist bold designs, there is always something simple left in the collections. For instance, the nature-inspired patterns which I particularly love at a serious cuppa.

The Ku'damm store is designed with taste and reflects at a great extent the over 125 years of tradition of the company, the market leader in Germany in the segment of glass-ceramics.

Simplicity of lines of materials are often the result of hard work and long experiments in order to achieve the perfect shapes and finest compositions of materials.

 Rosenthal is part of the eating and living experience of many European families nowadays.

The colourful touch of some new items on the market reflects the need to catch up with the times, while keeping the highest standards. Just think how many middle-class women used to have Rosenthal part of their dowry and you will understand the relevance of this brand for the everyday life in Europe.

The headquarters are based in Selb, close to the Czech border, but have stores in big cities across the world and Germany, uch as Munich or New York.

From pieces of furniture to fine dishwares, some of them produced for high-end brands such as Versace, Rosenthal remains a European brand whose history is part of our histories as Europeans as well.