Belgian Pearls

Kitchens I love and ‘Kitchens I Have Loved’

2012-02-14T14:53:00.001+01:00

Yes indeed, a kitchen post today! We all know that kitchens are one of the favorite subjects of bloggers. There is so much to read and to see about kitchens. From country kitchens to comtemporary kitchens. No matter what type of kitchen you love, you will find your dream kitchen somewhere at the unnamable amount of blogposts.

And I have to admit that I filed lots of kitchen images since I started reading blogs a few years ago.

Today I posted some images of my all time favorite kitchens.

But before scrolling down to these images, I want to introduce you to a new blog, titled ‘KITCHENS I HAVE LOVED’ .

The author of the blog, Billie Henninger, living in Canandaigua NY, started her blog to present her journey through kitchens she has loved in her personal life and those she has loved from designers. She will not only write about kitchen design but she even loves to share with us all things related to kitchens as cooking tips, art with the kitchen as a central theme etc.

Billie is one of the ‘first hour’ readers of my blog and from time to time she emailed me giving me a lot of tips or links, or books she wanted me to know, or interesting things about design she wanted to share! That is why we became friends. So Billie is a wonderful and generous person. And I definitely wanted to do something in return to Billie, now she started her own blog.

That is why I would love to ask you a favour. Please, may I ask you to go over to Billie’s brand new blog ‘Kitchens I Have Loved’ and to comment on one of her first posts? And you would please Billie even more if you decided to follow her blog. We, as blogauthors, do all know, we were so happy when we discovered someone had commented one of our first posts or when we noticed that the amount of followers was growing. Isn’t it? I definitely was! So why shouldn't we encourage Billie to go on writing beautiful kitchen posts.

Si I do hope you might do Billie (and even me) this favour. We would be very thankful !

Click on the logo of the blog to visit Billie at ‘Kitchens I Have Loved’

The following pictures I took from Billie’s blog.

Source Kitchens I Have Loved

__________________________________________________________

And now for all of you, the images of my all time favorite kitchens.

A kitchen by Beatrix Kleuver. http://www.beatrixkleuver.nl/

The private kitchen of antiques dealers Brigitte and Alain Garnier. http://www.garnier.be/

The private kitchen of Natalie Haegeman. http://www.nataliehaegeman-interiors.be/

Image found at Cote de Texas.

Image found at Eclectic Revisited.

Image found at FB Decorating with Stephanie Tuliglowski.

Image source unknown.

Image Amy Howard Daily.

Kitchen by Pamela Pierce. Photo credit Peter Vitale

Architect Benoit Viaene.

One of my favorite Belgian kitchens. Image source Belgian interior design magazine Wonen Landelijke Stijl n°41.

Image source here.

I might think that you all have seen the following 3 images going around in blogland last year.

It is a kitchen that is seen at the website of architect Kevin Harris.

Joni of the blog Cote de Texas posted the images of this most wonderful kitchen at one of her latest blogposts about a Tuscan villa in the US. Not only the kitchen of this house is beautiful, but the entire house is to die for! You really have to check out Joni’s post about the Kevin Harris Tuscan villa HERE.

Image source Kevin Harris via Cote de Texas Photo credit Chipper Hatter

I love everything about this kitchen : the kitchen floor, beamed ceiling, boarded kitchen island, the plastered kitchen hood, the chosen furniture.

If I will ever have the intention to redesign my own kitchen, these images will be my source of inspiration.

Image source Kevin Harris via Cote de Texas Photo credit Chipper Hatter

Do you have a favorite kitchen image?

Happy Valentine!!!

Greet

A thank you and houses designed for dogs

2012-02-10T19:36:00.001+01:00

A HUGE THANK YOU

To Bram De Vos, contributor at the Belgian newspaper NIEUWSBLAD.be for publishing an online photospecial about my home on their website.

Titled ‘A look inside a stylish English manor’

Sweet sixteen

2012-02-07T06:10:00.001+01:00

I remember the day you were born as if it was only yesterday!

The day I gave birth to a boy! You ! My son!!!

I was so proud to hold you in my arms.

Anthony was born on February 7th 1996.

Anthony 1 day old.

Me and Anthony at the hospital.

You brought so much joy and energy into my life!

France, Cannes summer 2008

I have always wanted to take care of you, to protect you! And to hold and comfort you when you felt sad.

I took you along the journey of life, with memories of good and bad moments, as life is.

And I tried to explain you as good as I could why things happened.

Summer 2011

Now I realize that you are grown up and that you need to go your own way. And I understand…I do!…But please don’t forget to share with me lots of beautiful or even the more uncomfortable moments in your life. I’ll be there to have fun with you, to listen to you, to support you, whenever you need me.

A few months ago.

I am so proud of the wonderful and good hearted person you became now.

Anthony and his godchild Alexa.

I love to see you laughing and enjoying time spending with your dearest godchild Alexa.

Anthony and his school friends.

I am so pleased to hear you enjoy making fun with your school friends.

Surrounded by ….girls, girls, girls.

Anthony and me a few weeks ago.

I do hope we will still share tons of beautiful moments together in future!

Happy Birthday Anthony!

xxx

Your mom.

Reading or dining?

2012-02-04T11:22:00.001+01:00

As it is weekend and very cold outside, what is more cozier than reading a good book or dining with your family?!

Why not choosing for your library to have dinner or choosing for your dining room to read a good book?

To have dinner surrounded by books ! Isn’t that a wonderful idea ?

Source Bunny Williams

Source unknown

Source Bunny Williams

Source here

Source Nicky Haslam Design

I wish you all a nice and cozy weekend!

Greet

Sliding doors

2012-01-31T13:13:00.001+01:00

The use of sliding doors could be a good solution for a possible lack of space in your home and barn sliding doors add a rustic touch to your home.

Source here

Source Splendid Willow

Source Pinterest

Source here

Source unknown

Source here

My favorite! Love patina and French profiling. Source unknown

Lefèvre Interiors

Do you love sliding doors? And did you used them in your home?

Greet

A library project

2012-01-28T14:36:00.001+01:00

A few months ago Natalie of Natalie Haegeman Interiors contacted us asking for help with the realization of a library project for one of her Belgian clients.

As my company Lefèvre Interiors is specialized in made-to-measure and custom-made cabinetry and paneling, we were very pleased with the opportunity to help Natalie with the project she had in mind.

Natalie started sketching the library and shared thoughts with her client.

Plan of the library room.

Current situation of the library room.

Many meetings later, my husband Jan took all the required measurements and worked out the technical plan of the library room.

Lefèvre Interiors technical plan.

Natalie’s client absolutely preferred to use French oak for the cabinetry.

French oak in the Lefèvre Interiors warehouse, sorted out for this library project.

Our warehouse

At this moment, about 3 months later, the execution of the library in the Lefevre Interiors workshop is almost finished.

Before leaving to our client’s home, we always build up the room in our workshop, which gives our craftsmen the opportunity to work out, in a comfortable way, all the details, as placing profiles, corniches,…to make sure the installation at the client’s home will progress as required.

The library built up at our workshop.

As you can see it is a very large room. More or less all cabinets are built up and we now have to place shelving and profiles.

Even the beautiful double doors to the other rooms (I haven’t pictures of them yet) are made in our company and have to be installed next week.

One of the library glazed double doors.

Our craftsmen at work.

Lots of drawers to install.

Extending shelf.

Small desk drawers.

The library will move to Natalie’s client’s home within a few days!

Jan and me love working together with interior designers and architects. Sharing thoughts about design and construction is an opportunity to learn a lot from each other.

As Natalie is an interior designer, she will decorate this library room with her own collection of fabrics and furniture.

So both, Natalie and me, can’t wait to see this library project finished !

To be continued…

www.nataliehaegeman-interiors.be

www.lefevre.be

Don’t hesitate to contact Natalie at info@nataliehaegeman-interiors.be or to contact me at info@lefevre.be , if you would love to help us with the design of your library or interior project. We would be pleased to help you.

Here are some library images for your inspiration.

Source unknown

Source here

Natalie Haegeman Interiors

Lefèvre Interiors

Source here

Timothy Corrigan

I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Greet

My book give-away winner and dreaming of summer.

2012-01-25T10:34:00.001+01:00

I am very pleased to announce you the winner of my Beta-Plus book give-away!

Congratulations to Cindy of the blog Oakview Cottage!!

I will send Cindy a copy of her favorite new Beta-Plus publication Exclusive Country Houses.

Thank you to all of you who signed in for this book give-away!

As the first month of this new year has almost ended, these images of beautiful conservatories and outbuildings make me dreaming of summertime already.I can’t wait to notice the first signs of springtime. Don’t you?

Source : Desde My Ventana

Source : Bijsterveld

Source : Eclectic Revisited

Source : Mark D. Sikes

Source : House & Home

Source : unknown

Source : Marie Claire Maison

Source : Shabby Chic Mania via FB

Luc D’Hulst (source here)

I would love to recommend you a wonderful book about conservatories & orangeries of Luc D’Hulst. This Belgian architect designs exclusive orangeries, greenhouses and winter gardens worldwide.

This book is a must have for greenhouse, orangery and winter garden lovers.

Conservatories & Orangeries, The Wonderful Creations of Luc D’Hulst Ivo Pauwels, Hans Fonk

Talk to you soon!

Greet

Blogmeeting in Antwerp

2012-01-21T15:06:00.001+01:00

Friday night (yesterday) we had our first blogmeeting ever with our group of Belgian bloggers! For almost 2 years we shared thoughts through blogging (especially about interior design, because most of us are involved in design in some way), but we had never met each other in person! So, we were all excited about this meeting!

The meeting took place in one of Antwerp’s most famous restaurants ‘Sir Anthony Van Dyck’ , were we had a fantastic dinner.The restaurant is named after the Flemish Baroque painter Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641). And is fully restored in the spirit of the 17th century by the Belgian antiques dealer and art historian Axel Vervoordt. The restaurant is housed in beautifully situated premises, in the historic Vlaeykensgang. Time spent here, is like time spent back in the days of Anthony Van Dyck.

Our table was placed in front of the gorgeous fire place.(Picture by me)

The advantage of a blogmeeting is that conversations are easy-going, it feels as we already know each other since a long time, by following each other’s blog.

Animated conversations as you can see!

We all felt embraced by the warm color tones of the restaurant’s interior,and we were enchanted by the pleasant created atmosphere.

And the food was excellent!

Notice the plastered walls (as an old Venetian plaster technique), the authentic tiled floor and that beautiful wooden bench! (Picture by me)

Clockwise : Sabine and husband Peter of the Home Interior and Lifestyle Blog; Natalie of Natalie Haegeman Interiors; David of the blog The Neo Lifestyle; my husband Jan; me; Annick of The Stitching Room; Veronique and husband Geert of Malvini; Sandy and husband Yves of the blog Miss Baptista .

Time went by and and before we realized it was time to say goodbye.

I dare to say that we all enjoyed this first blogmeeting. Tone is set for more to come! I am really looking forward to the next meeting and maybe there will be more of Belgian bloggers who would love to join us!

The Restaurant Sir Anthony Van Dyck is definitely worth a visit. It is one of the ‘Belgian Pearls’ I wanted to share with you. You will love it!RESTAURANT SIR ANTHONY VAN DYCK – ANTWERP www.siranthonyvandijck.be

I do hope you all enjoyed this post about our first blogmeeting!

Have a great weekend!

Greet

PS : You can still sign in for my Beta-Plus Book give-away untill Monday the 23th, midnight (Central European Time). Click HERE.

My Beta-Plus Book Give-away

2012-01-20T08:13:00.001+01:00

Today I would love to inform you about the newest Beta-Plus publications.

And I feel very pleased and honored to announce you that my company LEFEVRE INTERIORS is featured in ‘THE 100 BEST PROJECTS WITH RECLAIMED MATERIALS’ ,which is one of the newest gorgeous and inspirational Beta-Plus reference books.

This new series showcases a compilation of the most beautiful and inspirational reports of the Beta-Plus architecture and interior design series.

Cover ‘The 100 Best Projects with Reclaimed Materials’

Image source : Beta-Plus Publishing The 100 Best Projects with Reclaimed Materials

Cover ‘The 100 Best Kitchens & Dining Rooms’

Image source : Beta-Plus Publishing The 100 Best Kitchens & Dining Rooms

Cover ‘The 100 Best Interiors & Houses in Wood’

Image source : Beta-Plus Publishing The 100 Best Interiors & Houses in Wood

Cover ‘The 100 Best Children’s Rooms’

Image source : Beta-Plus Publishing The 100 Best Children’s Rooms

Cover ‘Exclusive Country Houses’

This book showcases seven recently finished, very exclusive country houses in Belgium and France.

Image source : Beta-Plus Publishing Exclusive Country Houses

Now, for my book give-away, all you have to do, is to visit the Beta-Plus website HERE, and take a look at the PREVIEW of the newest publications and come back here and tell me, by commenting this post, which one of the new 2012 publications is your favorite!

You can leave your comment until Monday the 23th of January, midnight central european time.

The random chosen winner will be announced on Wednesday, the 25th of January.

Good luck to you all!

If you are interested in the Beta-Plus Publications, you can place your order for all new 2012 titles at – 30% ! Click HERE .

To order 1 or more publications, click HERE .

www.betaplus.com

Termuninck 3
B-7850 Enghien
Belgium
info@betaplus.com

A huge thank you to Wim Pauwels, the owner of Beta-Plus Publishing, for listing Lefèvre Interiors in ‘The 100 Best Projects with Reclaimed Materials’ !

Greet

All images of this post are of the Beta-Plus website www.betaplus.com and posted with permission of Beta-Plus publishing.

Custom-made Lefèvre Interiors doors

2012-01-17T21:07:00.001+01:00

A beautiful door is as a beautiful piece of furniture!

If you are planned to build a new home, you can easily choose antique doors for your home! You can easily fit these doors in a house you still have to build. No problem, you can customize all the doorways to your chosen antique doors.

If you want to replace your existing doors through antique doors, it seems not always an easy job!

That is why a lot of our customers prefer to choose for new doors, which fit into the existing doorways of their home.

Each door that is made in the Lefèvre Interiors’ workshop is custom-made and made-to-measure.

Any size or style you desire, we are able to make these doors for you. Your doors can be created according the design plan of your architect or interior designer.

Very often people show or send us pictures of doors they found in interior magazines which they would love to see in their home.

Having an atelier with a team of craftsmen which are real professionals, causes not any problem to make the doors according to our client’s wishes!

Sometimes it happens that we have to make a door after an antique door that is present in the house for centuries.

Choice of the type of wood, profiles and patina are very important.

Lefèvre Interiors also pays attention to different styles of door fittings and handles.

Today I want to share some Lefèvre Interiors custom-made doors

An oak double door integrated in a French Régence styled paneling.

Detail of the above door. I love the French panel and trim profiles.

Oak doors without a trim but with a steel jamb, covered in plaster.

Detail of the above doors.

An oak sliding double door.

Different patinas can be chosen. The door above and the one below is stained in a tobacco color.

Detail of the above door.

The soft patina of the oak door of our bedroom is one of my favorite patinas.

Detail of the above door.

Country styled oak paneled and glazed door in my kitchen (towards the mudroom and towards the wine cellar) with steel jamb covered in plaster. Grey weathered patina.

Detail of our wine cellar door. Notice the profile detailing.

Oak door with steel frame.

As I already mentionned, Lefèvre Interiors pays a l lot of attention to the appropriate door fittings and handles.

Painted door in our orangerie with a steel jamb that is covered in plaster. Notice the skirting that extends on the door.

Detail of the above door.

Country styled oak boarded door.

French LXVI styled oak double door with hand carved ‘guirlande’.

Detail of the above door.

Painted LXVI styled door integrated in a paneling.

Painted door with antique glazing.

Painted English styled door.

Painted door again with steel jamb and no door trim.

English styled mahogany door with painted trim.

Detail of the above door.

A masterpiece. An English George III – styled door.

Detail. Hand carved profiles.

Making of doors in the Lefèvre Interiors’ atelier.

I do hope you enjoyed this post about my company Lefèvre Interiors .

If you want us to make your doors, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@lefevre.be.

We will be pleased to help you!

Greet

All photos Lefèvre Interiors

Inspiring images

2012-01-13T16:33:00.001+01:00

To start the weekend, I share with you some inspiring images I came across this week!

source here

Have a great weekend!

Greet

Sixth generation of Belgian woodworkers, specialized in exquisite front doors

2012-01-10T08:26:00.001+01:00

Specialist in designing and creating new exclusive front doors ‘with the charm of the past and the comfort of today’.

That is what Atelier Schrauwen stands for.

Jef Schrauwen, is the youngest member of a Belgian family line of woodworkers (since 1890), who runs, together wih his father Eddy, the family owned business for the sixth generation !!!

When Jef entered the company, the future and further development of the firm kept him busy. He worked out a new strategy and decided to specialize in creating new exquisite front doors ‘with the charm of the past and the comfort of today’.

I do feel a resemblance with Jef here. Entering our company years ago, I made the decision to specialize in paneling after 3 generations of furniture and cabinetmakers.

And I might think that Jef did not regret his decision because last year Atelier Schrauwen was honored with the award “Ambacht in de Kijker” (Craft in the picture), an award that was given by the Belgian Minister of small and medium-sized enterprises in order to promote the Belgian craft sector.

Jef with his grandfather Jozef Schrauwen.

Over the passed centuries, professional pride and quality of the delivered work were central values. Jef was determined to keep this family tradition in mind.

That is why he decided to specialize in front doors and to strengthen his passion for craftsmanship.

So every front door is custom made and made to measure, according the historical style characteristics.These frontdoors are installed in citizen houses and in mansions as well as in castles, in abbey farms and in historical buildings.

Atelier Schrauwen’s clients do appreciate quality and authenticity and every customer gets a personal approach by the owners themselves.

Atelier Schrauwen has to replace damaged doors by new ones at the renovation of old houses or they have to make front doors for new build houses in any particular style as doors in the neo-classical style, eclectic style, art nouveau or art deco style, country style,…

Neo-classical front door.

Eye for detailing.

Not a big machinery park but finding craftsmen is the biggest part of their need and concern.

Eclectic door.

Notice again the beautiful details!

Craftsman at work.

Art Nouveau styled door. Craftsmanship all over!

Typical sweeping ornaments of the art nouveau style.

Country styled door.

Gorgeous terrace door.

For more inspirational pictures, please visit the website of Atelier Schrauwen here.

‘A combination of centuries-old craftsmanship and 6 generations of knowledge with modern techniques, to guarantee the customer a front door for life.’ Jef Schrauwen.

ATELIER SCHRAUWEN

Sint-Lenaartseweg 45-49

2990 Loenhout

Belgium

Tel.:+32 3 669 65 23

E-mail:info@atelierschrauwen.be

www.atelierschrauwen.be

___

A lot of you do know that I love to write about our Belgian craftsmen . I hope to be a good ambassador (in the blogosphere) of our Belgian companies, and especially of all the Belgian craftsmanship that these companies and artisans represent. I do hope that my blog will be a source for finding out more about our Belgian cultural heritage and I will do the best I can to introduce you to more of our Belgian craftsmen in future.

To discover more Belgian craftsmen, please go at the sidebar of my blog where you will find this list of Belgian companies and click on the names of these companies to enter their website.

So today I am very proud to have introduced you to Atelier Schrauwen, a company that definitely belongs to my collection of ‘Belgian Pearls’ .

Greet

All images with permission of Atelier Schrauwen

A Regency styled library

2012-01-05T18:08:00.001+01:00

As I told you in my earlier post, I was preparing upcoming meetings with clients these passed days and was browsing into the Lefèvre Interiors realizations file and found these pictures of an earlier library project.

The library is installed in a Brussels mansion and is designed in the British Regency style.

The bookcases are executed in mahogany, that was very popular in the early 19th century Regency style (1811-1820).

This was our initial design sketch.

I remember me discussing about the Regency style with the home owner (the Regency style was his favorite design style) and we talked a lot about Thomas Hope (1769 -1831), who was not only a Dutch and British merchant banker, author and philosopher but also an art collector.

Hope was eager to advance public awareness of historical painting and design and to influence design in the grand houses of Regency London. He began sketching furniture, room interiors and costumes.

In 1807 Thomas Hope published sketches of his furniture, in a folio volume, titled ‘Household Furniture and Interior Decoration’ , which had considerable influence and brought about a change in the upholstery and interior decoration of houses. Hope's furniture designs were in the pseudo-classical manner generally called "English Empire". It was sometimes extravagant, and often heavy. It was a mixture of Egyptian and Roman motifs.

Household Furniture and Interior Decoration (cover) Amazon

Thomas Hope furniture and interiors

source here

0ur client finally loved this design.

Do you recognize the Egyptian and Roman motifs of Thomas Hope’s Regency design style?

I do love the way the wood is stained.

As you can see we are not only installing libraries in oak wood. We are able to work with the most noble types of wood, here at

LEFEVRE INTERIORS .

Next time I visit Brussels, I really have to see my client to take some pictures of this finished library room!

Greet

Pearls from Belgium

2012-01-03T13:53:00.001+01:00

I hope everyone of you have had a wonderful Holiday time and started this New Year in a perfect way!

Thank you so much for all the best wishes I received!

So we are back to normal and I will do the best I can to bring you this year a lot of interesting blogposts.

With my first post of this year I would love to spoil you with some nice images of Belgian interiors.

I hope you will enjoy these ‘Belgian pearls’ .

Home Development Co

Greet Verbeke

Frederik Van Pamel

Unknown

Dick Graaff & Theun van Beers antiques dealers Silver Objects Source : Magazine More Than Classic 2008/5 Photo credit Guy Obijn

Edith Gybels Source : FB

Walda Pairon

Home-World of Interiors

Natalie Haegeman Interiors

Edith Gybels Source : FB

Rik Storms

Axel Vervoordt

Vandenwijngaerden

Bijsterveld- Nina Balthau

I am very busy preparing some meetings with clients this week!

Talk to you soon!

Greet

Happy 2012 !!!

2012-01-01T00:49:00.001+01:00

Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve…

2011-12-28T21:14:00.001+01:00

First of all I want to thank everyone for all the lovely Christmas Wishes I received! So nice reading all of these nice words and wishes!

I do hope that you all enjoy a wonderful Holiday time!

Tomorrow Jan’s daughter Nele and her family will arrive to spend some time with us. So we are preparing their stay.

We will celebrate New Year’s Eve together! So we are looking forward to their arrival.

I might think we will spend a lot of time gathering around the fire place and watching Alexa and Tristan open their presents which are still under the Christmas tree. And we will certainly go for a walk in our neighbourhood, do some horse riding,…etc.

And yes of course we will prepare a wonderful New Year’s Eve dinner!

A precious time together with family!

This is a collage of pictures of passed New Year’s Eve.

Jan and me give everyone of you our best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Succesful 2012!!!!!

Merry Christmas !

2011-12-24T11:46:00.001+01:00

More Christmas atmosphere

2011-12-20T11:37:00.001+01:00

All around the blogosphere, the most wonderful Christmas decoration images are to discover.

Today I share some of my favorites.

Enjoy!

Château de Vaux le Vicomte France source http://en.parisvision.com/

Place Vendôme Paris source http://mode.glamourparis.com/

Bruges Belgium source unknown

source Desde my Ventana

source http://www.atticmag.com/

source Lefèvre Interiors

source Habitually Chic

source Linen & Lavender

Enjoy these last days of this year!

Decorating with glass

2011-12-16T15:40:00.001+01:00

As it is Christmas time, I love to put some time in decorating my home not only with typical Christmas ornaments but also with decorative accessories which are placed around the rooms of my house since no time. So maybe I will regroup them or rearrange them or put them together with other decorative stuff in another room of the house.

That is what I plan to do this weekend.

The pictures here below show some of my favorite decorations with glass candlesticks, vases and bowls, grouped together.

Maybe these images will inspire you to get your candlesticks, vases and carafes out of the closet and to regroup them in a decorative way.

The first picture is my favorite. And it is taken by my favorite Belgian photographer Claude Smekens. Be sure to visit his website to discover the most wonderful pictures of interiors and gardens!

Source : Magazine Landelijk Wonen Dec-Jan 2012 Photo credit Fotografie Claude Smekens

I do love glass candlesticks and carafes grouped together this way.

Source : Magazine Landelijk Wonen Dec-Jan 2012 Photo credit Fotografie Claude Smekens

A candle holder and a glass sphere.

Source : The Essence of The Good Life blog

Beautiful glass for the tablesetting.

Source : unknown

Group of glass pots.

Walda Pairon source unknown

Gorgeous candlesticks.

Source : unknown

Group different hights of candlesticks together.

Source : unknown

Glass bottles as candleholders!

Brigitte & Alain Garnier Antiques source www.garnier.be

Beautiful wine carafe and glasses.

Photo credit Efie De Grande

My living room.

Source : La Maison Charmante blog

Glass everywhere!

Source : unknown

Good idea!

Photo credit Efie De Grande

Picture taken in my living room.

Photo credit Fotografie Claude Smekens

Group of candleholder, wine carafe and sphere in my living room.

Happy weekend to you all!

Gorgeous new mountain retreat in Megève

2011-12-12T14:16:00.001+01:00

This month the new Hotel, named Le Chalet Zannier, opens its doors.

Le Chalet is situated in the famous French alpine village of Megève.

Image source : Artravel

The site has three alpine-styled chalets that have been totaly redesigned and renovated.

The design is very remarkable and chalet inspired. It seems as if the mountain design style concept of Axel Vervoordt is omnipresent, although he is not the designer of it.

‘The interior design is based on simplicity, imperfections of antique artefacts and the noble beauty that the passage of time gives them.’, is explained on The Chalet website.

The restaurant with its slipcovered chairs and mountain tables. Image source : Le Chalet Zannier

Pure natural materials as wood and stone are used all around the hotel.

Lounge room.Image source : Artravel

Earthy tones.

Decoration is not overdone but rather sober.

Image source : Le Chalet Zannier

Linen upholstered seats and furniture crafted by artisans.

Notice the texture the walls are given by a special plaster technique.

Image source : Le Chalet Zannier

“All different, each one of the 12 bedrooms evokes style, beauty and taste - it's a way of life never before seen in the mountains.”, is to read on The Chalet website.

Image source : Le Chalet Zannier

As you can see Le Chalet Zannier is an exceptional place, offering guests a unique way of living, the moment of their stay.

The hotel accomodates also a wellness area including indoor pool, sauna and hamman.

For more information, please visit The Chalet Zannier website :

www.lechaletzannier.com

Hotel Le Chalet Zannier

Le Chalet | 367 route du Crêt 74120 Megève – FRANCE

Tel. +33 (0) 4 50 21 01 01

contact@lechaletzannier.com

What are your thoughts about this delightful mountain retreat?

Art I love

2011-12-08T14:56:00.001+01:00

Paintings by the American artist RICHARD SERRA and the European artist JEAN-MARC LOUIS, are works or art I love.

Painting by Richard Serra Source : Nuevo Estilo

Painting by Richard Serra Source AD Photo credit Durston Saylor

Painting by Richard Serra Source AD Photo credit Scott Frances

Painting by Jean-Marc Louis in my living room Photo credit Claude Smekens fotografie

Painting by Jean-Marc Louis in my living room Photo credit Wim Pauwels for Beta-Plus Publishing

Source The Secret Shop by Michel Lambrecht Antiques

If you are interested in the works of art by Jean-Marc Louis, please watch this video or visit The Secret Shop by the Belgian antiques dealer Michel Lambrecht. You can walk through the different rooms of the shop and discover lots of paitings by Jean-Marc Louis. It’s worth a visit!!

Secret Shop. To enter click on image.

Video of paintings by Jean-Marc Louis available at Michel Lambrecht Antiques.Click on image.

Talk to you soon!

Some Enchanted Evening !

2011-12-06T07:24:00.001+01:00

Dear friends, this is the first time I join the ‘By Invitation Only’ series of our blogger colleague Marsha Harris of the blog Splenderosa.

Each of us participating in the ‘By Invitation Only’ group, has received an invitation to a fabulous virtual Christmas party in Tina’s new home.

The lovely Tina is the author of the gorgeous blog ‘The Enchanted Home’. Tina is building her dream house, a gorgeous new home, and weekly she shares with us the house updates!

I am so thrilled to be invited to this party and can’t wait to see her gorgeous home finished!

Here is the link to all Tina’s house updates : http://theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/search/label/house%20updates.

The party date is December 23rd.

Can you imagine, arriving at night at Tina’s new house?!

This is a picture of the entry hall of Tina’s earlier home. The Christmas decoration is so beautiful isn’t it?!

Santa Claus is on his way to bring Tina a Christmas tree for her new home!Dear Mr Santa,…don’t you think this tree will be just a little bit too small for Tina’s new home?!

I guess Tina’s Christmas tree is now standing somewhere in the entry hall of her new home!! I can’t wait to see!

Congratulations Tina on your new home!!

Let’s party!!!

A lot of bloggers will meet at this Christmas party! There will be live music, carolers, a lavish buffet and champagne passed around by waiters in tuxedos!!!

I am sure it will be a great and not to forget Christmas party!!

I am sure that Tina’s dog Teddy will join us and enjoy this party as well!

___

But question is: What should I wear to go to Tina’s party???

Here is my outfit choice.

I would love to ask our Belgian fashion designer Edouard Vermeulen of the fashion house NATAN to design for me a coat as this one.

And a little black dress as this one.

I love the simplicity and elegance of the Chanel styled coat and dress.

I have chosen for a handbag of the Belgian fine leather luxury goods company DELVAUX.

Brillant MM Delvaux

I would love to wear these gorgeous GUCCI black satin with paillettes embroidery sandales.

To me Gucci has the most gorgeous shoes in the world.

Ashley high heel sandal Gucci

And I will take a second pair of shoes with me in case my feet hurt from dancing! Again a pair of black suede Gucci pumps.

Sofia high heel pump Gucci

I have chosen for black WOLFORD panties.

Velvet de Luxe panties Wolford

And here is the jewelry I had in mind.

This CHANEL watch has stolen my heart.

As you do know I love pearls, so I have chosen for a pearl necklace and bracelet.

And very simple pearl earrings.

I would wear my hair the way Rene Russo did here.

And for my make up, I would go for the smokey eyes look.

Eye shadow Chanel Les 4 Ombres, n°93 Smokey Eyes

And I have chosen for the :

Lipstick Chanel Rouge Coco,n°18 Rouge Noir

Nail polish Chanel Le Vernis, n°18 Rouge Noir

My perfume ! Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.

So far my outfit!

___

I would love to bring my friend Tina lots of hostess gifts all the way from Belgium.

Here are my choices :

A key ring of the Belgian fine leather luxury goods company Delvaux for her new home keys, scented candles of the Belgian company Scapa Home, Belgian choclats, to share with her family, of the house Pierre Marcolini, a beautiful Belgian Beta Plus book about gardens to inspire Tina to do the landscaping of her new home, Belgian table linen of the famous Belgian linen company Libeco and my very personal gift : an oak serving plate made in our company Lefèvre Interiors.

And not to forget some gifts for our sweet Teddy!

And I have asked my friend Sande of the blog A Gift Wrapped Life to wrap them up with one of her most beautiful wrappings!

Image source : http://agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.com/2010/10/gilt-crystal-and-glamour-gift-wrap.html

Isn’t this one of the most beautiful wrapped gifts you have ever seen?! Thank you so much Sande!

___

So my friends, I hope you have enjoyed my post about this virtual party and I do hope Tina has enjoyed the 1st Christmas party in her new home!!!

This was my first ‘By Invitation Only’ post and I really enjoyed writing it!

Thank you so much Marsha for asking me to participate in this serie!

And I would love to thank Tina for the invitation!!!!

What are your thoughts about this virtual party my friends? I would love to hear !

Christmas Inspiration

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From me to you some Christmas decoration ideas.

How to decorate your Christmas table, your hall way, your console table,…

and some beautiful Christmas decoration items that caught my eye.

Enjoy!

Source unknown

Source here

Source unknown

Source My Lovely Things blog

Source Providence Ltd Interior Design blog

Source Simply Seleta blog

Source Magazine Homes & Gardens December 2011 Photo credit Mark Bolton

Source Eclectic Revisited blog

Source here

Source unknown

Source here

Find these Christmas lights at Riviera Maison.com

Find this Christmas tree ornament at Riviera Maison.com

Find these napkins at Libeco.com

Find this Christmas bell at Riviera Maison.com

Find these candlelights at House Doctor.dk

Find these candles at Affari.nu

I wish you all a great weekend preparing your home for Christmas!!

A new born, a fracture, a beautiful blog, exceptional books and a comment I was thrilled about!

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Congratulations to Luciane of the blog Homebunch, her husband and family with their new born son Matthew !

Welcome to the world dear Matthew!

___

As of course Luciane wasn’t blogging these days, I didn’t either!! Not for the same reason of course! No, last Friday I fell of my horse and had to go to hospital where the doctor noticed, after he had taken a CT scan, that there was a small fracture to one of my vertebrae. The past 2 days I had a lot of pain! Fortunately I didn’t need surgery! I am at home and need to rest a lot ! I do hope that around Christmas I will feel much better and that the fracture will be repaired!! I feel so sorry to not be able to ride my horse Mango for a certain time! I really felt a bit down the days before and had not that much enthusiasm to blog as you will hopefully understand.

Anyway, life goes on and today I feel much better!

___

I absolutely want to thank my friend Leslie Sinclair of the blog Segreto for the amazing post she wrote about me and the work of my company.

You can read it HERE.

Thank you so much Leslie, I feel very very honored!!

I do think that a lot among us have already heard about Leslie, the author of the blog Segreto and owner of the paint finishes company Segreto Finishes.

Leslie wrote a gorgeous book in which you will discover a lot of projects on which she has worked on!! Wonderful houses of which Leslie took care of the mural as of the cabinet finishes!

The Skirted Round Table wrote a beautiful post about Leslie and her company Segreto Finishes. And Leslie was even interviewed by the Skirted Round Table. To listen to this interview, please go here.

Source : Segreto Finishes via The Skirted Round Table

Source : Segreto Finishes

Leslie’s book Segreto is a must have! Please click on book cover to order it.

___

Our blog colleague Diane Dorrans Saeks, founder of the most interesting blog The Style Saloniste and author of lots of publications about interior design and desigers has shared with us this week her ‘picks of exceptional books of the season’.

As this book titled Marisa Berenson A life in Pictures

‘Marisa Berenson, A Life in Pictures’ by Marisa Berenson, with guest editor Steven Meisel. Introduction by Hamish Bowles and a Conversation with Diane von Furtenberg (Rizzoli)

Or this book,titled Intimate Chanel

‘Intimate Chanel’ by Isabelle Fiemeyer, with photography by Francis Hammond and with a foreword by Gabrielle Palasse-Labrunie (Gabrielle Chanel’s only direct descendant) (Flammarion)

Many more exceptional books to discover at Diane’s blog HERE.

___

I want to thank everyone of you for all of your lovely comments on my latest blogpost about the finished Lefèvre Interiors project ! It means so much to me!

One of the comments came of - I still can’t believe it – the London based and famous designer John Stefanidis!!!

John Stefanidis is a designer with a prestigious, inernational clientele. His company John Stefanidis Brands Limited is specialized in the architectural and interior design of both residential properties and hotels across the globe.

John has also created original fabrics and furniture ranges. See his website HERE.

You really have to know that John Stefanidis is one of my all times favorite designers and you will have noticed his name listed on ‘my favorite designers’ list at the side bar of my blog.

I learned to know about John’s designs and work by his first book ‘ROOMS’, Design & Decoration’ (1988), I bought years ago, at the start of my career as a decorator.

This book is full of practical ideas on lighting, placing furniture, mixing styles and arranging objects and is still a wonderful resource on design.

I still have it on the shelves of my library! It is one of my favorite books! Not so long ago I passed on the title to some of my friends who were looking for design inspiration!

Can you believe how surprised and thrilled I was to see John’s comment under my blogpost !!

Thank you so much Mr Stefanidis! Your comment means a lot to me!

Since his first book Rooms, Design & Decoration, John Stefanidis has written another 3 books, to discover on his website HERE.

Some pictures of John Stefanidis’ designs.

John Stefanidis via Architectural Digest – Photo credit Fritz Von Der Schulenburg

Every time I visit John’s website I am impressed by this hallway!! Gorgeous!

John Stefanidis via Architectural Digest – Photo credit Fritz Von Der Schulenburg

This mahogany-paneled library is one of my favorite rooms! Notice the Venetian mirror and the 18th century oil painting Black Hunter by John Wootton. John designed the inlaid low table.

John Stefanidis via Architectural Digest – Photo credit Durston Saylor

A dining room with several mirrored panels. One of them is leading to the kitchen. A George III mahogany table.

John Stefanidis via Architectural Digest – Photo credit Fritz Von Der Schulenburg

Elegant and warm room. I love the French chandeliers and the Stark carpet.

John Stefanidis via Architectural Digest – Photo credit Fritz Von Der Schulenburg

A renovation of an Athens apartment.

John Stefanidis via Architectural Digest – Photo credit Miguel Flores-Vianna

In both of these bedrooms John used beautiful fabrics.

John Stefanidis via Architectural Digest – Photo credit Fritz Von Der Schulenburg

I am glad to hear that John is a ‘bookaholic’ as much as I am.

“Where to put my books was a priority,” says Stefanidis, who sits in the small library.(Text AD).

Well I have to say that this was a priority for me too! The library was the first room in our house that was finished! I had to store my precious books!

John is also the author of the blog ‘The Developed Eye’ !

http://www.johnstefanidis.com/

___

I wish you a wonderful week!

Finished Lefèvre Interiors project – Before and After

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My readers who are following my blog will remember the post I wrote a few weeks ago about a project I was working on.

Earlier post HERE.

I told you about all the design ideas my clients had in mind and about the color scheme we wanted to bring in. There was a lot to think about before starting the project and the execution of the cabinets and paneling in our working shop.

We needed to order new seats and reupholster some existing bergères, ordering a new carpet and some new furniture. We had to think well about the way we should stain the wood for the paneling, the parquet floor and about a very important subject : the window treatment.

Meetings with the painter, the electricien, … had to be organized.

Weeks and many discussions later, plans were designed and the project could be started.

This was the moodboard, with my design ideas and color scheme, I already shared with you in my earlier post about this project.

And here are some pictures of the “before” situation. In some of these pictures you will notice the bergères which needed to be reupholstered.

Project in progress in our atelier.

Installation of the cabinets and paneling at our client’s home. Our employees and the painter-artist at work.

AFTER

Belgian linen is chosen for all the window treatment as for the new slipcovered seats.

Secret cabinets and drawers are hidden in this paneled wall.

The owners had a serie of 7 gorgeous paintings of our Belgian artist Pierre Alechinsky. The serie is named ‘The 7 Days of the Week’. So these works belong together and should not be split! We had to take care of the design of the paneling in order to create 7 panels to hang them up.

The linen upholstered new seats. The double door you notice in this picture is the one to the entry hall which is also given a refreshment (see following pictures).

Library corner with painted desk and cabinets and the reupholstered bergères.

Above the doors towards the kitchen we placed a painted panel to give the doors more ‘grandeur’.

Our clients decided to refresh the hallway at the same time. We brought on a painted wainscotting and created this arched passage to the staircase.

I am so thankful to the owners for their confidende in our company and their always positive approach in conversations which contributed to this successful project. A special thank you to the lady of the house for always serving coffee and biscuits and with whom I spent hours, having wonderful conversations, And of course I am very thankful for their permission to reproduce these pictures on my blog.

Also a thank you to the LEFEVRE INTERIORS employees for their incredible commitment to finish this project in a successful way.

A thank you to Jan Beyens of NEW INTERIOR who was so patient to demonstrate so much fabrics and for assisting us in making the right choice for the window treatment.

Thank you to the painters Karel and Bernard Duthoy for their exquisite work.

Although it is not a professional taken photo shoot, I do hope you enjoyed this post with these pictures taken only by me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Girandoles and my friend’s new webshop

2011-11-21T13:42:00.001+01:00

Now that Christmas time is coming our way, it's always nice to illuminate your home with beautiful lighting.

At this moment I am thinking about which lighting to use as Christmas decoration.

I came across some beautiful images of girandoles.

Source unknown

A ‘girandole’ (French) is an ornamental branched candlestick often composed of several lights. Girandoles came into use in the second half of the 17th century, and ware commonly made and used in pairs. A girandole has always been a luxurious appliance for lighting and in the 18th century, the French ciseleurs designed the most beautiful examples.Girandoles can be made of metals or wood. For table use is silver the favorite material.

Image source : Richard Goullet Décoration

Image source : Linda Chase Associates

Image source : Augustus Brandt Antiques

Image source : Alhambra Antiques

Image source : Laurence Helmer et Maison James via Proantic

To my opinion a girandole is one of the most appropriate types of Christmas lighting. Don’t you agree?

__________

Talking about lighting, I would love to introduce you today to the brand new webshop of my friend Natalie Haegeman of Natalie Haegeman Interiors.

Image source : Natalie Haegeman Interiors

Most of you do know yet that Natalie is a Belgian interior designer and that besides her job as interior designer, Natalie is specialized in custommade and handmade lampshades, using the finest fabrics.

By reading my earlier posts about Natalie’s work here and here, a lot of my readers asked me where to find these kind of lamps and lampshades in their neighborhoods. I knew that Natalie was working hard on a webshop, intending to offer her creations online.

I am very pleased to announce you that Natalie’s webstore is finally online now!!!

Beside lamps and lampshades, you will even find beautiful ideas for all of your Christmas gifts!

Click on the image below to enter Natalie’s online store.

A sneak peak of Natalie’s online store. All items shown in this mosaic are available at www.nataliehaegeman.com.

You will always find back the link to Natalie’s online store at the side bar of my blog :

So you would do me a favor to visit Natalie’s online store and to come back to tell me your thoughts about it!

And if you are asking me if my blog is sponsored by any of the mentionned companies on my blog : NO!!

I do not have the intention to make of my blog a sponsored blog, a blog that is not really mine! I do prefer being free to post about or to mention people who are, in my opininon, worth talking about.

I wish my friend Natalie lots of success with her brand new online store and I wish everyone of you a nice start of this new week and a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Bathrooms to die for

2011-11-17T12:34:00.001+01:00

I have always loved designing bathrooms. This is one of my favorite rooms of the house! As a child I have always loved the intimate atmosphere of this room, where I could spend some time for myself. And it never changed!

Yesterday I was browsing my ‘bathroom’ file, to find some inspirational images in order to prepare a bathroom design for one of my clients.

I would love to share with you some of my favorite bathroom designs

. I have always preferred a classic styled batrhoom as the ones on these images.

Crystal chandelier and wall sconce, the French ‘bouillonné’ (window treatment) and that gorgeous black and white floor.Château de la Verrerie source here

Beautiful oak paneling. Belgian designer Pieter Porters source Magazine Stijvol Wonen 15 jaar 2010 Photo credit Michel Verbelen

Hand painted wallpaper even for a bathroom! Gorgeous! source Cote de Texas

Romantic atmosphere of this bathroom. source Inspiring Interiors

A bathroom as a living room. source unknown

I have always loved a bathtube placed in an alcove. source Greige

source unknown

This is a bathroom design by my favorite Belgian architect and designer Philippe Timmerman.

Bleached oak cabinets and floor, beautiful curtains, furniture and lighting. Belgian architect & designer Philippe Timmerman source Philippe Timmerman Architectural Designs

Wonderful combination of the bathtube and the white marble. source unknown

I am not sure but I might think that a tadelakt technique is used for this shower here. Gorgeous not?! source Art & Décoration

Love the shutters! source Homebunch

Typical Belgian designed bathroom. Very well chosen color combination of floortiles and painted cabinets.source Marcus Soudant Interiors architecture & antiques

The design of this antique bathtube. And notice that candle holder! Great idea! source here

The cabinet and its patina is amazing! source Haute Design

It is all in the detail! Notice that beautiful stone carving! source unknown

Do you notice the built-in toilet? source unknown

Château styled bathroom. source unknown

No words need! Just beautiful! Décorator Frédéric Méchiche source Magazine Elle Décoration Juin 2011 Photo credit Jean-François Jaussaud

Another one of my favorite designers is Barry Dixon. I was so enchanted by these images of one of Barry’s bathroom designs I discoverd at my friend Trish of the beautiful blog Trouvas! Here.

Indeed a new bathroom with an old theme. Designer Barry Dixon source Trouvais

Designer Barry Dixon source Trouvais

I am in the middle of preparing the design of a bathroom that is rather more a small ‘cabinet de toilette’. Our client prefers to see a French styled design.

These are only first sketches. I am still working on it!

I hope you are as inspired as I am by these ‘bathrooms to die for’ !

Today I am loving…

2011-11-15T10:48:00.001+01:00

…this Belgian cupboard and wonderful chandelier.AUGUSTUS BRANDT ANTIQUES

The beautiful patina of this charming commode. SOFIE ODMANN BLOG

The blue china, delft tiles and gorgeous pembroke table. House & Garden October 2011 Photo credit Simon Brown

The antique tapestry on that table.ACQUIRED OBJECTS BLOG

The royal atmosphere in this room. LINDA CHASE ASSOCIATES source here

The intimate atmosphere and the gorgeous chandelier in this room. " border="0" alt="Interior Design / Thai-Cong Quach / Hamburg
" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jdZyajcWyoY/TsI1TkHRcGI/AAAAAAAAMxA/8LsHGiUUKcA/1_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="905"> THAI CONG INTERIOR DESIGN source facebook

This cool chandelier by Philippe Starck. THAI CONG INTERIOR DESIGN source facebook

And what about you? What is your favorite today?

Compositions

2011-11-11T15:55:00.001+01:00

Visiting antiques fairs, antiques dealers or interior design stores, sometimes it happens that you are so enchanted by a wonderful piece of decoration, as a vase, a plate, a candlestick, a silver object,…that you discovered between all those gorgeous items. You fell in love with it and this beauty seems so precious to you,that you promptly take it home!

You can’t wait to give it the appropriate place you had in mind! But suddenly this beautiful item doesn’t ‘speak’ anymore, it ‘says’ nothing at all!!!

It is awaiting entourage, to be embraced by other objects.

Do you recognize this?!

Sometimes we need a little help, a little inspiration to give the new object the attention it deserves.

That is why I love to file images of beautiful compositions. Whenever I come home with a new acquired object I love to browse into this file. It really helps me to create the most wonderful still .

Some of my filed images here could maybe even help you whenever you are searching for the best entourage of your new acquired thing of beauty.

A combination of glass and silver with a wonderful tapestry as background here.

source Bie Baert Antiques & Decorations Antwerp Belgium

Combination of wooden objects.

source Bie Baert Antiques & Decorations Antwerp Belgium

Love this still life a lot. As a 17th century painted still!!

source Bie Baert Antiques & Decorations Antwerp Belgium

Combination of books and wooden objects. Always wonderful.

source Bie Baert Antiques & Decorations Antwerp Belgium

Do you know Sabine of the Home Interior and Lifestyle blog? You don’t? Time to bring her a visit here. She is a very talented Belgian designer and blogger!

source Home Interior and Lifestyle blog Home World of Interiors St- Niklaas Belgium

A beautiful still by one of my favorite Belgian designers Walda Pairon.

Walda Pairon Kalmthout Belgium photo by me

I just love the way Walda is combining antique silver- and glassware.

Walda Pairon Kalmthout Belgium photo by me

Walda Pairon Kalmthout Belgium source unknown

Gorgeous fall-still of my friend Natalie of Natalie Haegeman Interiors.

I definitely will try to create a look a like at my home one of these daysl

Natalie Haegeman Interiors Brasschaat Belgium

I might think that a lot of my readers will have discovered the website of the Belgian antiques dealers Brigitte & Alain Garnier. At their website you will not only discover a wide range of gorgeous antiques they are offering but even beautiful stills of antique items. Brigitte is also a master in creating the most wonderful compositions! Take a look at the Garnier website.

A sneak peak of Brigitte’s creations here.

Brigitte & Alain Garnier Antiques Bruges Belgium

A collection of ceramic pots at AM PROJECTS.

AM Projects Puurs Belgium

This amazing image I found at the beautiful Swedish blog Mäster Henriks !

Swedish Blog Mäster Henriks Antik & Musik

My blogfriend Jermaine of the blog French Kissed is a very talented stylist and photographer and know how to compose wonderful stills!

Her blog is a real source of inspiration to me!

source Blog French Kissed

And last but not least, I highly recommend the gorgeous book ‘Patina Style’ written by my friend Brooke and her husband Steve Giannetti, of the blog Velvet & Linen.

Since Brooke offered me this book while visiting us a few months ago, it is on my coffee table! It is a wonderful source of inspiration and ables you to redesign your home with wonderful furniture and decorative items! For those who want to order a copy, click on the cover of the book. You will be inspired!

Cover Patina Style Brooke & Steve Giannetti

Images book “Patina Style’ Blog Velvet & Linen

And finally a few of my own creations at home.

Compositions by me

I do hope I inspired you today!!

I wish everyone a wonderful weekend!

Please open that door, I would love to come in…

2011-11-08T14:28:00.001+01:00

Whenever I see a door half opened or I can take a glimpse through a glazed door, my eyes are always focused on what’s behind.

“Secret” doors are the worst! My curiosity is completely sparked! I can’t help!

Do you recognize this?

Test yourself by looking at those images!

Lefèvre Interiors

Axel Vervoordt

Here you have a “secret” door. Source Pinterest

Château de Moissac

Source Boxwood Terrace

Source unknown

Again a “secret” door. Juan Pablo Molyneux via New York Social Diary

Source unknown

Lefèvre Interiors

Source Love Your Homes

And another “secret” door. Source Simply Seleta

Source unknown

Gregory Mellor

Shabby Chic Mania via Facebook

Source unknown

Talk to you soon!

IN TEMPO, a Belgian-Luxembourg world of interiors

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Although I do not know Brigitte and Luc Leroi, the people behind IN TEMPO, in person (I definitely have to visit them in the near future.), I do love their website and all their gorgeous antiques and home collection items.

IN TEMPO is a Luxembourg-Belgian based interior design company.

The owners Brigitte and Luc are willing to assist their clients in the decoration of their home as well as in the design of their garden.

“Our aim is to create a timeless and serene atmosphere by using natural materials with the help of real craftsmen. Wood, chalk paints, natural stones and pure linen are our favorite materials.” , they explain on their website.

The couple is passionated by interior and exterior design and they even have their own In Tempo Home Collection of seatings, furniture, lighting, home linen and fabrics.

And last but not least, they are always searching for unique European antiques with a soul.

They are always sending me,by email, an update of their recent acquisitions.

I have read a lot of articles about IN TEMPO in several exquisite Belgian and Dutch interior design magazines and I have to admit that Brigitte and Luc have a wonderful taste! That is why I want you to meet them today.

Their living room. Image source : here.

Seating of the In Tempo Home Collection.

Don’t you love this cupboard?

Linen fabrics.

Beautiful stills of decorative items.

What about this 19th century cupboard for sale at their website?

French 19th century cupboard

Or do you prefer a bleached oak cupboard?

Bleached oak cupboard, Ile de France, 18th century

This 18th century cupboard is one of my favorite items for sale at the In Tempo website here.

Painted cupboard, 18th century

A gorgeous combination of a bleached oak chest and footstool in this bedroom.

Bleached oak chest, 18th century

Bleached oak footstool, 18th century

All above items are for sale at the IN TEMPO website.

Next to antique furniture, you will discover a wide range of beautiful antique decorative items as well.

To discover your favorite item or for more information, please visit the website by clicking on the IN TEMPO logo.

Brigitte & Luc Leroi
13a rue de Clairefontaine
L-8460 Eischen Luxembourg
Phone: +352 48 39 68 E-mail: info@intempo.lu

Have a great weekend!

All images : http://www.intempo.lu

Beautiful finds

2011-11-02T13:49:00.001+01:00

I would love to share with you today some new finds I really love.

As this beautiful wall lamp, X-form, made by a master-blacksmith, I found at EMPEL COLLECTIONS.

image source : http://www.empelcollections.com/

The Empel Collections wall lamp used in a project of Ruys Interiors.image source : http://www.ruys-zeist.com/

Antler wall lamp at DAVID HUNT LIGHTING.

image source : http://davidhunt-lighting.com/

This gorgeous French styled bench at JULIETTES INTERIORS.

image source : http://www.juliettesinteriors.co.uk/

Detail of the bench.

image source : http://www.juliettesinteriors.co.uk/

Or this beautiful French LXV-styled bed headboard also at JULIETTES INTERIORS.

image source : http://www.juliettesinteriors.co.uk/

Detail of the board.

image source : http://www.juliettesinteriors.co.uk/

The checkerboard patterned chest at MOISSONNIER.

image source : http://www.moissonnier.com/

And of course a few Belgian finds!

This beautiful sconce with handmade shades at NATALIE HAEGEMAN INTERIORS.

image source : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Natalie-Haegeman-Interiors/153228454723424

Natalie is specialized in handmade lamps and shades! She will start her webshop soon! This will able us to order the most beautiful lamps and custom made shades!

image source : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Natalie-Haegeman-Interiors/153228454723424

For a preview of Natalie’s collection, please follow her at Facebook HERE .

To read my earlier posts about Natalie Haegeman Interiors, go here and here.

CAROO ZELLIGE shop in Brussels.

A wonderful shop were you can find the most extented collection of the Moroccan Zellige tiles!

It’s worth a visit!! Here.

image source : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Caroo-Zellige/174839792543537

And what do you think about this Belgian hand made, 4 m long monastere table ‘Pierre’, found at MALVINI FURNITURE FACTORY.

image source : http://malvini.blogspot.com/

Detail of the table.

image source : http://malvini.blogspot.com/

And I am very pleased to announce you a new discovered beautiful Belgian blog, named THE STITCHING ROOM.

You will discover beautiful creations you can order online!

image source : http://thestitchingroombrasschaat.blogspot.com/

To visit this new discovered Belgian blog, click on logo.

___

What are your thoughts about my new finds?! I would love to hear about it!

A sneak peek

2011-10-29T13:07:00.001+02:00

Dear readers, I want to thank you for all of your sweet comments and received emails on my post about Mango! I was so surprised and deeply touched by your lovely and supporting words. Thank you so much!

A few weeks ago I posted about one of the latest LEFEVRE INTERIORS’ projects we were working on HERE. The project is almost finished and yesterday we were very busy hanging draperies. We are not finished yet but I do hope that one of the next days I will be able to post a few ‘after’ pictures of the finished project on my blog.

Today I will give you yet a sneak peek into the room.

Lefèvre Interiors After (Photo by me)

Before (Photo by me)

I wish everyone of you a wonderful weekend! And thank you again for following my blog and being so interested in my posts! I so appreciate it!!

My new love

2011-10-27T15:43:00.001+02:00

I might think that some of you do know that I started learning horse back riding a year ago.

As a child I dreamed about learning horseback riding and having a horse of my own. But my parents were very anxious about it and that is why I had not the opportunity to start taking riding lessons in my childhood.

Since we moved to the countryside about 5 years ago, I noticed horses and horseriders all around because there are a lot of equestrian schools and horse breeding farms in our neighbourhood.

I told Jan that I was so sorry to not have had the opportunity to learn horseriding as a child and that I felt too ‘old’ to start now.

But Jan encouraged me and said that if I really wanted to start learning it, I had to take my chance, even at my age!

And so I did!!!

A year ago I pulled my boots on and took my chance! I took lessons dressage at a local manège and believe it or not, after a few falls and ups (literally!!!),

and many lessons later, I felt ready for my own horse!!! Can you believe it!

And here she is! My new love, Mango.

Mango

Mango is a 17 year old mare and is of German origine. Her mother is a Hanoverian and her father is an Oldenburg horse, both known for their gentle character.

I ride Mango since the month of May and she is so sweet, so adorable and understanding!! It is so important that as a beginner equestrian, you choose ‘a horse that is able to write and to read’ (a saying we often use here)! So Mango is a 17 years old mare and she is used to have beginners horse riding on her back.

In fact she learned me a lot these past months and she even loves to jump!! She won several jumping competitions.

I am definitely not aiming to start jumping!! Oh no! I will be very satisfied If I could make some progress in dressage in the near future. I will never become a professional equestrian but I don’t care!

My real aim is to enjoy being with her, to ride on her back a few times a week, to take care of her and to give her the opportunity to have a pleasant retirement. She deserves this!

Jan and me and our new family-member.

Sorry for the blurry photos, all taken with my cell phone!

Me, very concentrated of course!

With this post I want to thank my husband Jan for encouraging and supporting me to make my child’s dream come true!!

Thank you dear!

Autumn-time = Fireplace gathering

2011-10-24T12:27:00.001+02:00

I hope you all have enjoyed the Autumn weekend!

I enjoyed gathering around the fireplace with my family!

Autumn-time means fireplace gathering.

source 1st dibs Photo credit Melanie Acevedo

House of Porters

source http://www.e-magdeco.com/

Schouwen Standaert

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Kordekor

source here

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source here

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Isabel López Quesada

Vicki Archer Photo credit Carla Coulson

Peter Pennoyer Architects

My library Lefèvre Interiors Photo credit Fotografie Claude Smekens

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I wish you a wonderful start of this new week!

Display cabinets

2011-10-20T13:15:00.001+02:00

I have always loved display cabinets. They add a cozy feeling to your dining room or kitchen and showcase the taste of the owner.

You can change your displays by season if you like.

Charels Spada via New England Home Photo credit Bruce Buck

Beautiful dark stained cabinet on white painted walls in this dining room.

Joni Webb via Cote de Texas

I just love Joni’s gorgeous dining room!

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In a classic or contemporary dining room or kitchen, a display cabinet always fits.

source Cote de Texas

Axel Pairon

Beautiful green patina here!

source here

Love the shape of the shelves.

source here

Brigitte & Alain Garnier

Isn’t this a gorgeous idea to even put a sink inside the cabinet!

Lefève Interiors Photo credit Fotografie Claude Smekens

source Maison Charmante

Built in display cabinets.

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Charming cabinet with the seat (trunk) in front of it!

AM Projects

A Belgian late 18th century oak cabinet. Beautiful to display all of your Astier de Villatte ceramics and glasses!

AM Projects

Talk to you soon!

Book recommendation

2011-10-18T11:55:00.001+02:00

Dear readers, a lot of you email me asking about my favorite interior design books and where to find them.

The book Country Chic by the Dutch Interior Designer BEATRIX KLEUVER is one of my favorite interior design publications.

Beatrix Kleuver, who lives in the countryside, is a very talented interior designer and country living is a source of inspiration for all of her gorgeous designs!

Not only nature but even history are great sources of inspiration to her work.

In the book ‘Country Chic’ she takes us along the interiors of historic and contemporary country estates.

The book counts numerous beautiful photographs by the Belgian photographer Jan Verlinde.

This book is ‘a must-have’ ! Since I bought this book , I have it on my kitchen table and I love to look inside the book over and over again.

You will love visiting the website of Beatrix Kleuver !!!

http://www.beatrixkleuver.nl

Cover ‘Country Chic’ by Beatrix Kleuver Source Amazon

Source Wonen Landelijke Stijl Februari-Maart 2010 Photo credit Jonah Samyn

For a preview of the book ‘Country Chic’, please visit the website of Beatrix Kleuver HERE.

To order the book Country chic : www.beatrixkleuver.nl here or www.amazon.com here.

I really would love to hear your thoughts about the work and the book ‘Country Chic’ of Beatrix Kleuver !!!

Belgian craftsmanship - Handcarving craft for a staircase post

2011-10-13T20:44:00.001+02:00

I am so pleased to show you a beautiful carved staircase post at a client’s home!

A lot of you do know that our company Lefèvre Interiors is known for hand-made craftsmanship.

Woodcarving - One of our employees at work.

We are working on the redo of a staircase of one of our clients.

Our client wanted to replace the staircase column by a carved post and asked us for help.

Before

That is the new wooden carved post.

We need to complete painting the steps and stairway, but I couldn’t resist to share with you this part of the redo so far.

Do you love it?

I just love the style of the staircase post which fits well with the style of the antique French console table at the entrance hall.

The beautiful antique console table was found at Garnier Antiques.

Console table Brigitte & Alain Garnier Antiques

Stairecase post hand carved by Lefèvre Interiors

What do you think about it? I would be very pleased to hear your thoughts!

All photos by me.

Tree trunk ideas

2011-10-11T13:28:00.001+02:00

Did you know that you can turn a tree stump into a beautiful and original piece of home furniture and that it is a very nice idea to use a tree trunk slice as a tray or to turn it into lots of decorative items ?

Let me give you some ideas.

Furniture

Source here

Tree trunk seats on wheels. Very confortable to move them around the house!

Source here

As a side table.

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As garden furniture.

To use them as coffee tables you could place a piece of glass as a top.

Bleu Nature Source here

Or you can paint the table top (and/or the trunk itself) in your favorite color.

Bleu Nature Source here

What do you think of this gorgeous tree trunk bench?

Tree trunk garden bench by Jurgen Bey Source here

Source here

A tree stump as a sink pedestal !! Love this!!!

Or turn a tree trunk slice into a tray!

Source here

Besides the functional use, a tree trunk could be given a more decorative function and could be turned into the following items.

Source here

As into this gorgeous table lamp.

Or into a Christmas decorative item as Axel Vervoordt did at the entrance of his castle last year.

Photo by me at the Castle of Axel Vervoordt

Or you can use the slices as wall covering! How original is this!!

Source here

Or you could use a hollowed out tree trunk as a sort of vase!

Photo by me at the Castle of Axel Vervoordt

Axel Vervoordt removed a Rhododendron branch from his garden into this hollowed out trunk.

Axel Vervoordt source here

You can use it as an umbrella stand.

And a splendid idea is the put a serie of canes into it! Very decorative to place in your entry hall!

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All these examples above wouldn’t cost you that much if you could find a tree trunk in a nearest forest and if you could try to make your favorite tree trunk item yourself! Yes, a DIY project!

I do hope I inspired you today?!