COLLECTION_ Belgian design

collection-belgian-design-via-au-pays-des-merveilles

This week I’m presenting you with my favorite new Belgian designs of late, ranging from 4 meter long tables to tiny hammocks for air plants.

  1. Siblings Glenn and Sylvie Buydaert launched their label Bultin about a year ago, with these minimal lamps as their rather stunning first collection.  More info here.
  2. Photographer and designer Luca beel creates gorgeous “Luca Bowls”.  More pictures here. (You might have seen them before in this INSIGHTS blogpost.)
  3. Axelle Vertommen saves old ironing boards and residual wood from the trash and turns them into these unique shelving systems.  Read more here.
  4. Nicole Brock designed this ingenious modular vanity table, including a detachable suitcase.  More info here.
  5. Nathalie Teugels stands for magnificent minimal furniture in steel and marble, all handmade by Nathalie herself.  This magazine side table is one of my favorites.  Read more about her here.
  6. Leather accessory designer (and one of my best friends) Lies Mertens (you’ve seen her before on the blog here) designed this cute Hammock for the air plants of Phyt (which you’ve seen on the blog before here).  Buy it here.
  7. With The Lab Brewer, you can easily make your very own cold brew coffee or botanical gin, and impress your friends with your newly acquired brewing skills .  Get it here.
  8. This lovely mirror, called Dome, is designed by the Brussels based Hausmerk and made in Belgium. 
  9. Studio Sergeant developed Alfons, a clever extendable table that can seat up to 16 people and extends in small steps, ensuring it fits any situation and any space.  Find out more here.

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EXPLORED_ Thelma Coffee & Design in Leuven

EXPLORED_ Thelma coffee & design in Leuven-5

If the combination of white walls and marble already makes your heart flutter, try adding some pink terrazzo and an abundance of plants to the mix and you’ll end up in the wonderful world of Thelma Coffee & Design in Leuven.  Former dentist Katrien Vandenberghe always had a passion for interior design and was already freelancing left and right for interior projects, when she decided to follow her dream.  As of today she is treating the city of Leuven to a new hangout that blends coffee, design and fashion into a perfect mix.  Thelma, named after her daughter, offers a collection of foremost Belgian and Scandinavian brands (with something for everybody’s budget) in a beautiful bright space, created with the help of Lino from that other Leuven gem Koffie & Staal.   After spending all your money on LN Knits, Sternum necklaces, Phyt plants (remember the beautiful home of owner Sofie?) and Serax, you can take a seat and enjoy a cup of Mok coffee, a bowl of soup or some granola.

If I haven’t convinced you yet, just take a look at the pictures below and you’ll find yet another reason to plan a visit to Leuven.   Need another push?  We’re handing out a gift card worth €50 on instagram!

Thelma Coffee & Design, Vaartstraat 12, 3000 Leuven - facebook - instagram

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INSIGHTS_ Sofie Vertongen

INSIGHTS_ sofie vertongen - by hannelore veelaert for au pays des merveilles-43

Lately, everyone in our little country of Belgium has been falling for the epiphyte, and there’s only one person to blame. A few months ago, Sofie Vertongen started Phyt. a webshop for air plants, and it has been taking Belgium by storm.   After having seen a few pictures of Sofie’s beautiful apartment on instagram, I asked her if she wanted to share some thoughts on her home and let me photograph it. As it turns out, her interior was even more impressive in real life than what I had seen on instagram so far. No surprise, if you know that Sofie studied to be an interior designer.

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COLLECTION_ plants

collection_ plants via au pays des merveilles

From your reactions to the posts in my “insights” series, it is evident that you love plant filled spaces as much as I do.  That called for some extra inspiration!  I’ve collected other beautiful collections of plants, ideas on how to incorporate them into your own interior and pretty plants that easily survive.  For more inspiration, take a look at my pinterest board here.

  1. Airplants and terrariums from phyt., get them here.
  2. Photographers and founders of Have a nice book Salva López and Yosigo combined plants with bricks and wooden crates in their home.  More photos by Silvia Conde and an interesting interview with the duo here on the freunde von freunden site.
  3. Amsterdam plant shop Wildernis, find out more here on the binti home blog.
  4.  Nicole Valentine Don posing with all her plants.  More photos by Luisa Brimble here.
  5. Macramé plant hangers from Modern Macrame, learn how to make them here or buy them here.
  6. Retro wire plantstands by Modern Amsterdam, get them here.
  7. Folliage wall by The Merrythought, more photos here.
  8. Backdrop with hanging glass jars and succulents, find out how to make it here.
  9. Loopholes by atelier belge serves as an awesome home for plants.  More info here. (photo: @estalldesign)

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