It is not difficult to understand why the guardian announced this as ‘probably the most beautiful bookstore in the world’. It is a very unique and unusual location for a bookstore. Because of the design of the bookshelf, you are allowed to experience the architectural structure in a close up. The bookshelf is constructed as a walk-in shelf going over three stories. The designers, Merkx Girod, has been true to the church´s architecture, and that is what makes it so powerful. It must be magical walking up the stairs, and have a view from the third level; even stand at the ground floor looking up and experience the dimensions of the church probably gives an exceptional view. Great wow-factor!
Here are some photos of the pre-build model for the project, photos found via e-architect
Restaurant Fabbrica in Bergen, Netherlands is a modern style Italian trattoria. It is focus on materials and a genuine experience. The designers from Studio Tjep are inspired by the experience of enjoying a great dinner on a train while looking at nice landscapes. So therefore the cool and modern train cabins in wood and pastel colours. They have created a great balance between a feminine and masculine look. It’s brought in different style elements to get the right balance. It is feminine pastels with romantic chandeliers against a graphic and rough industrial style. And of course in any Italian trattoria you need a real pizza oven, and this one is definitely done with style, covered in mosaic Bisazza tiles. Their first Fabbrica restaurant was open in Rotterdam 2005 and is also worth a look.
Arkitektur og mote i et eksplosivt møte. Hotel The Exchange i Amsterdam er et samarbeid mellom Amsterdam Mote Institutt (AMFI) og Lloyd Hotel & Cultural Embassy. Åtte alumni- og avgangsstudenter fra AMFI er valgt ut og har designet de ulike hotellrommene. Konseptet er å kle rommene som modeller på catwalken. Selvom jeg ikke har bodd der selv enda, men utifra bildene å dømme, kan jeg nok garantere en unik og veldig annerledes hotellopplevelse i hjertet av Amsterdam. Les mer om den spennende historien bak konseptet og hotellet på hjemmesiden til The Exchange.
Architecture meets fashion. Hotel The Exchange in Amsterdam is a collaboration between Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) and Lloyd Hotel & Cultural Embassy. Eight graduates and alumni from AMFI have picked to design the different rooms. The concept is to dress the rooms like models on the catwalk. Although I have not lived there myself yet, but just by looking at the picture, I think I can guarantee a unique and very different hotel experience in the heart of Amsterdam. The Exchanges homepage tells you more about the special and exciting story of the concept and the hotel.
Er du i Amsterdam så er det en butikk du ikke må gå glipp av og det er Frozen Fountain. Etablert i 1985 har de fokus på moderne design og nye nederlanske designtalenter. Her finner du både dyre og billigere ting. Noe får du med deg hjem i kofferten og andre ting forblir på ønskelista. De har et stort utvalg tekstiler og jeg skulle ønske jeg hadde tatt mål av noen vinduer hjemme før jeg dro… Men neste gang! For meg så er det en glede og se design i “levende live” som jeg ellers bare har sett i interiørblader og på nett. Og da ser man også at det ikke er rart at ting koster det det koster når du ser handarbeidet på disse produktene. Blildene er tatt av meg, og desverre så gikk kamera tom for batterie når jeg var der så det ble ikke så mange bilder som denne butikken fortjener å få vist frem. Kan også tilføye at område butikken ligger i er meget fint.
Are you in Amsterdam there is one shop that shall not be missed and it is Frozen Fountain. Established in 1985, they have a focus on modern classical design and new Dutch design talent. Here you will find both expensive and cheaper stuff. Some of it will fit in your suitcase and other items will remain in your dreams. They have a large selection of fabrics and I wish I had taken the measure of some windows at home before I left … But next time! For me it’s a pleasure to see the design products “alive” that I otherwise only seen in interior magazines and online. And when one sees that it is not surprising that things cost what it costs when you see the craftsmanship on these products. Images are taken by me, and unfortunately my camera went out of batterie when I was there, so I don’t have so many pictures that this store deserves to be showcased with. Can also add that the store is located in the area which is very nice.
WEB: www.frozenfountain.nl // LOCATION: Prinsengracht 645, Amsterdam // OPENING HOURS: 13:00 – 18:00 Monday, 10:00 – 18:00 Tuesday till Friday, 10:00 – 18:00 Saturday, 13.00 – 17.00 Sunday
Sissy-Boy er et nederlands merke som ble etablert i 1982. Deres store Homeland butikk i Amsterdam (ved siden av Pols Potten butikken) har en fin kombinasjon av både klær og interiør. Butikken har også en liten koselig kafe der du kan få en matbit og noe å slukke tørsten med. Min personlige smak heller nok mer mot Pols Potten som har en mye mer moderne minimalistisk stil enn Sissy-Boy, men butikken er fantastisk flott. Og du finner alt mulig der, fine glass, lys, søte såper, rammer, små ting til barnerommet også selger Jielde lamper. Tror nok mange av våre leser vil like denne butikken som har et ganske rustikk preg over seg. Så anbefaler dere å besøke denne!
Sissy-Boy is a Dutch brand that was established in 1982. Their big Homeland store in Amsterdam (next to Pols Potten shop) has a nice combination of both clothing and interiors. The store also has a cozy little cafe where you can get a snack and something to quench your thirst with. My personal taste leans more to the look and feel of the dutch brand Pols Potten which has a much more modern, minimalist style than Sissy-Boy, but the store is fantastic. And you’ll find everything there, fine glass, light, sweet soaps, frames, small things for the nursery and they also sell Jielde lamps. I think many of our reader will enjoy this store that has quite a rustic feel to it. So I do recommend you a visit to this shop!
Du har kanskje hørt om Pols Potten, hvis ikke bør du garantert fortsette å lese. På min siste tur til Amsterdam, var et besøk innom Pols Potten flaggskipbutikk “et must”. Lokalene ligger i en gammel lagerbyggning med betong og vinduer du bare kunne drømme om, det er virkelig en fryd for øyet å være der. Jeg har sett deler av deres porselen i diverse butikker opp igjennom årene. Så det var fantastisk og kunne se hele kolleksjonen under et og samme tak. Pols Potten ble startet i 1986 da de begynte å importere Middelhavskjeramikk. De har siden den gang utviklet til det dere ser under på bildene og når nå et bredt publikum over hele verden med sitt ikoniske og tidløse design. Uttrykket er foranktret i den nederlandske design stilen. De tror på håndverk, og også på små opplag. Så skal du til Amsterdam så anbeflaer jeg dere en tur innom Pols Potten! Alle bilder tatt av Ideas To Steal.
You might have heard of Pols Potten, if not you should definitely keep on reading. On my recent trip to Amsterdam, a stop by Pols Potten flagship store was a must. Located in an old warehouse with concrete and windows you could only dream about, its a feast for the eye. I have seen their icon porcelain and glassware for years and was looking forward to get view of the whole collection under one roof. Pols Potten was started in 1986 when they began to import Mediterian earthware and has since then delveloped to reach a wide audience around the world with their iconic design. Which is all truly rooted in the dutch design scene. They believe in craftsmanship and also in small quantities. So if you are planing a trip to Amsterdam I do recommend a stop by Pols Potten. All pictures taken by Ideas To Steal.
Årets påskeferie ble tilbrakt i Amsterdam og de neste dagene kommer det masse tips og bilder fra nettopp Amsterdam. Restauranten MAZZO som dere ser bilder har svirret rundt på nettet en god stund og jeg var bare nødt til å dra innom dette stedet. Interiøret er helt etter min smak. MAZZO i neon lys setter den industrielle standaren. Røft med en fantastisk atmosfære. Og en perfekt sammensatt blanding av betonggulv, mursteinspuss, sort og tre. Og på toppen av det hele så har de mine favorittlamper fra Moooi Dear Ingo lampen med de mange armene. Og de er i godt selskap med Bestlite lamper fra GUBI. Så nå tror dere at jeg bare anbefaler interiøret, men nei… Maten…. FANTASTISK! Jeg spiste både lunsj og middag der, henholdvis pasta og pizza. Er ikke mange måndene siden jeg var i Roma og mulig jeg gjør noen italienere sinte her, men jeg må ærlig innrømme at både pizzaen og pastaen en 10 ganger bedre enn det jeg spiste i Roma. Restauranten ligger i Rozengracht som har masse interiørbutikker (post om dette kommer ASAP), så jeg anbefaler dere å droppe innom på både lunsj og middag når beina er litt slitene etter å vært innom titalls interiør butikker. Bon appetit!
This year’s Easter holiday was spent in Amsterdam. And the next few days I will give you are lots of tips and pictures from Amsterdam. MAZZO restaurant as you can see pictures from, had been around on different interior sites for a while and I just had to go visit this place. The interior is definitely my taste. MAZZO in neon lights set the industrial feel. Rough with a fantastic atmosphere. And a perfect blend of concrete floors, brick plaster, black and plywood. And on top of it all, they have my favorite lights from Moooi Dear Ingo lamp with its many arms. And they’re in good company with BestLite lamps by GUBI. So now do you think that I only recommend the interior, but no … The food …. FANTASTIC! I ate both lunch and dinner there, respectively pasta and pizza. Not many months of since I was in Rome and I may make some Italians angry here, but I must admit that both the pizza and pasta was 10 times better than what I ate in Rome. The restaurant is located in Rozengracht that has lots of interior shops (post about this coming ASAP), so I advise you to drop by for both lunch and dinner when your feet is a little tired after visited dozens of interior shops. Bon appetite!
PLACE: MAZZO // ADDRESS: Rozengracht 114, Amsterdam // OPENING TIME: sunday – thursday 09.00 – 01.00, friday and saturday 09.00 – 01.00 // WEB: mazzoamsterdam.nl // INTERIOR BY: Concrete
