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Serendipity

I'd love to step foot inside this delightful Paris boutique. Big in size, it's even bigger in style. Aptly named Serendipity, the products are a range of 'happy coincidences' blending vintage and modern design for children's spaces. A unique idea when the store was founded in 2004, the concept continues today with a range of inspiring and eclectic pieces, including limited edition items sourced from around the world.

Here are a few of the gorgeous products on offer, but there are loads more which you can check out on their E-shop.

Clark Desk

Skate-board Shelf

Tree Trunk Side Table

Little Nobody Chair

Ronéo Drawer Storage Unit

Louis 22 Wooden Bed

Garden Bedlinen Kit

Caravan Crib

Doudou Kettle Snowy Owl

All images via serendipity.fr

Homes to Inspire | Vibrant Parisian Loft

This dynamic apartment immediately caught my eye while I was looking on the Marie Claire Maison website today. Located in Paris, It is the home of architect Anne Geistdoerfer and her family. Anne has injected loads of creativity and style into the light, open spaces. Designer furniture, pops of bright colour and fun, quirky objects are seen throughout the home.

The dining area is situated on the mezzanine floor. A white lacquered table has both a bench seat and gorgeous Norman Cherner chairs. The black and white photo on the wall above is by Derek Hudson.

I love the fuchsia pops in the all white kitchen.

Brightly coloured stools look amazing against the black and white floral sofa. Playful art and cushions give this breakfast area a whimsical feel.

This fuchsia resin sink (custom made by Kudeta) looks amazing against the white of the room. Fun kitchenware and Savon De Marseille liquid soaps complete the look.

A sweet girls room, full of treasures. I love the Ikea lamp which has been painted pink. The printed linen curtain looks striking and also provides a way of hiding storage shelves.

While the rest of the house is vibrant, the master bedroom has a pared-back, softer feel. Muted colours in taupe and purple look lovely against the wood of the side table and ceiling beams. I love the wall-mounted lamps.

Very much a girl's room, pretty floral bedding and cushions adorn the canopy bed.

There's a lot of pink in this gorgeous home, but the article says that Anne's husband had his say when it came to the 'everyday environment'. Hhmm.... I wonder what he thinks of the sink? I sure do love it - what about you? To read the entire feature, pop over here.

I'm excited to be starting a new series on the blog tomorrow. You can expect to see the very best of NZ design, so make sure you pop back! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

All images via marieclairemaison.com

Blog Love | Bodie and Fou

If you're not yet following the blog Bodie and Fou, I'm sure you'll want to after you've read this. Firstly, I recommend you check out the Bodie and Fou online boutique, where it all began. Created by sisters Elodie (Bodie) and Karine (Fou), it's a haven for design lovers, mixing European design and chic French style. Providing loads of creative ideas and inspiration you will find an extensive collection of carefully selected products for the home, including lighting and furniture, wallpaper and blinds, kitchen appliances, bed linen, babywear and more.

The store was launched in 2005 and the blog followed almost a year later. Starting out as a great place to let readers know what was going on with the shop, Karine says that 'eventually the blog became more of a creative space to share things, people and places that inspire me.' Lucky for us, Karine does just that, and everything reflects her exquisite taste and enviable French flair.

You can read about Karine's DIY projects and the decorating of her family home in London, as well as conversations with her gorgeous daughter Mila, who is seven. I love how family-oriented Karine is. As well as running the business with sister Elodie, she also works on styling projects with her photographer brother François Kong.

Photos from Karine's London Home....

European styling at its best, with a monochrome palette and warm brown leather. I love the photo wall.

A gorgeous DIY kitchen transformation. The black cabinets look fabulous paired with the stainless steel workbench.

Cluster Light by Kathleen Hills, from Bodie and Fou.

An old pallet turned into a coffee table. Of course I'm lusting over this cowhide rug.

Karine says 'I love blogging, I love sharing and I love the interaction with people, so being able to connect with so many people around the world is simply fantastic.' Her passion and energy is contagious and this has resulted in a fast growing blog which has been voted Top 20 Best Interiors blogs by VOGUE magazine, The Telegraph in the UK, Bolig magazine in Norway and Remodelista.

Not long after I'd fallen in love with Bodie and Fou, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there was a New Zealand connection. Karine's husband Steve was born in New Zealand and they regularly holiday here in Waihi, where Steve spent his childhood.

The New Zealand Typemap print, duvet cover, linen scarf and Urbanears Plattan headphones are all available from Bodie and Fou. Beautiful styling by Karine and photography by her brother François.

Karine and her family also have a holiday home in France which has featured in several top interior publications including Grand Designs and Home Beautiful Australia. Having undergone a big renovation, the result is a 'Southern-Hemisphere style beach house' which Steve describes as 'a little slice of New-Zealand in a far-flung corner of France'. Here are a few pics.

If you do check out the online store, and I highly recommend you do, you might want to have your credit card ready because not only do they ship worldwide, they have a fabulous sale on right now!

All images: bodieandfou.com and pinterest.com/bodieandfou

Check In | La Maison Pujol

Once a winery, La Maison Pujol has been converted into a charming boutique hotel by architect and designer Philippe Phi. Each of its five rooms have been decorated in an eclectic vintage style, with the addition of some modern pieces. I love the industrial oversized letters which feature throughout. It has such a wonderfully rustic vibe, beautifully captured by photographer Manolo Yllera.

The location is also breathtaking. Surrounded by vineyards, the hotel is in Carcassonne, one of the most beautiful villages in Provence. If I were lucky enough to be heading to the South of France I would most definitely like to be checking in here!

Check In | Unique Boutique

Here are a few one-of-a-kind boutique hotels I've recently stumbled across. Amazingly inspiring to look at, I can't help wondering how fabulous they would be to stay at. Oh, if only!

Mama Shelter, Marseilles

This stunning, boutique hotel in Marseilles is the second
Mama Shelter to open it's doors to hip travellers (there is also one in Paris). The design by Phillipe Stark is exceptional and not without his signature quirkiness. With surprises around every corner, features include a graffiti-daubed roof in the dining areas and words woven into the carpet.

The Pantone Hotel, Brussels

Designed by Michel Penneman and Olivier Hannaert, the award winning Pantone Hotel showcases colour like no other. "Built on an exceptional use of contrast; a white canvas provides clean space for saturated colours to pop". With one distinctive Pantone colour per floor, there is something for every type of traveller, ranging from vivid to more subdued. Each of the 61 rooms showcase unique photography by highly regarded Belgian photographer Victor Levy.

Kube Hotel, Paris

The Kube Hotel, designed by Raymond Morel and Christiane Derory is quite simply mind-blowing! With 26 guest rooms and 15 suites, guests get to experience pure luxury with an in-room jacuzzi, stunning views of Paris and if that's not enough, a levitating bed complete with colour changing LED lights underneath! Take me there now!!