Wall Decals

I just fell in love with (a lot) these wall decals and wallpapers. Especially the door trompe l'oeil. Am now considering covering my whole apartment in them. Ok maybe not, but the more I see the more I want to find that perfect spot for the awesome impact that comes with these.

 This is how taxidermy should be done! In pink that is.

Lacking a balcony or a garden the above will have to do. How dainty!

This kind of makes me want to cuddle up to it.

Too many white doors in the loft? Here's a fixer that will take two minutes.

 Home is where the bed (or cushions) are.

In winter these wallpapers will make you smile, in summer they will remind you of what's outside waiting for you.

How much will my husband love me if I put this in his office?

For these and many (many) more awesome designs visit the Couture Deco Website.

Kees your Iphone

Kees is a Netherlands based company that uses 3D technology to create Iphone cases. The awesome thing about it is that you can customize your own case. Chose from about 34 basic designs then add illustrations. Once the design is decided you can chose the material (rubber, velvet, fur..) and if you want writing on the sides. Et voila! The 3D scanner builds your Kees ('case' in the Netherlands) layer by layer.

I might have to go buy an Iphone (yes I'm probably the only one left without one) just so I can make my own Kees!

Valentine's List

Let me start this post by saying that I do not celebrate Valentine's Day. I, like many, think of it as a Hallmark holiday made to sell cheesy cards and boost the florists' annual income. However, it is almost impossible to ignore it and everything that goes with it, even more so with a toddler in the house. Hand made wobbly, sticky cards never looked so good.

Therefore I thought I would put those (many) hours of research on the perfect craft to good use, and add a gift guide for mommy and daddy fit for the occasion.

For Her:

1. Why not spice up the usual gift of sweets with these cheeky (no pun intended) Underwear Cookies by Sugar Lane Bakeshop?

2. Silicone trivet by Le Creuset. It looks like lace and will dress up any table.

3. Want to give and get something back? She'll love this delicious book and you'll love the result even more.

4. Tight on budget? Buy second hand romantic novels and cover them with this sweet DIY solution.

5. Coasters to lighten any girls' tea time. Available on Etsy.

6. Another budget saving gift that will have her melt, a home-made jar of her favorite treats, all wrapped up with a personal note. Great gift from the kids.

7. Heard about "Breakfast at Tiffany's"? So has she. This eye mask will make her feel like Audrey every time. Available on Etsy.

8. Save the jewels for a real occasion. This beautifully whimsical necklace will still get attention. Available at the MoMa Store.

9.  With this gorgeous apron by Akiko Amelia it won't feel like doing the dishes (really it won't).


For Him:

1. Salt & Pepper shakers that say it all. MoMa Store.

2. Outset Leather apron for those sweltering grill moments.

3. Appeal to the kid inside with these Lego cufflinks, which he can build up as he pleases. On Etsy.

4. A thoughtful gift which subtly lets him know he's yours. Although the generic 'boy' & 'girl' tags keep an open mind. Available on Etsy.

5. This adorable paperclip magnet is sleek enough he can pull it off on his desk, but sweet enough he'll think of you every time he clips a document. By Alessi.

6. He won't say but he's thinking it, VS models do (most likely) look hotter than you. Appreciate his honesty and indulge him just this one time by giving him the backstage pictures to every man's fantasy. Might be thankful enough to put it away and come to bed with you instead.

7. You most probably won't be skipping down the street in these Glovers at every occasion. It will, however, be a very special occasion when you do. Available on Etsy.

8. Cushions don't immediately scream 'masculinity', I do believe he will appreciate the simple lines and humor behind these LOVE scrabble cushions. Available on Etsy.

9. Lingerie is so passee. How about body paint lingerie instead? He will not forget what day Valentine's falls on ever again. Check your local listings for body artists in your area.


For Kids:

1. This beautiful butterfly mobile's intricacy makes it so much more grown up than a simple butterfly, which will mean she will cherish it for a lot longer. Available on Etsy.

2. You've heard of chalkboard paint right? I bet you've never seen it in these gorgeous colors before. Any shade your little one desires can be mixed up to brighten up any space. Paint by Hudson Paints.

3. These adorable chalk sticks are a perfect match with the aforementioned paint, plus the message is just too cute to pass up. Available on Etsy.

4. If your kids are into coloring but want to make something more than the usual paper card, these food markers are the perfect gift. Let them go crazy on heart shape cookies to hand out at school. Available at www.cakesupplies40.com

5. This red magnatab will keep kids entertained for a long time, and you don't have to worry about refilling the paper for all those Valentine's messages. By Kid O Distribution.

6. A simple but creative solution to those many Valentine's your kid wants to give every girl in school. All you need is a lollipop and some card, then the sky's the limit.

7. Who says food is only a way to a man's heart? Your kid's heart will be all yours with this play food set by Green Toys. Also available are sandwich, bagels, and many more.

Cool Kid Furniture

The Spanish company BM makes some pretty awesome kid furniture which you don't have to get rid of every time their taste changes with age, or mood swings. They split it into age groups, but to be perfectly honest I would love to sleep in a bunk castle myself.

Baby (0-6 Years)

Kid (6-12 Years)

Junior (12-18 Years)

Youth (18-24 Years)

Treetop Living

You must admit there is something very whimsical about tree houses. I am yet to find someone who doesn't respond in an excited, almost childlike way when I bring the subject up. I have been thinking about tree houses a lot lately, even more since my mother has been promising to build one in the garden behind the house for as long as we've had the house, approximately 10 years. As I decided to give into my curiosity and sniff around I came across some pretty cool stuff.

First of all I was delighted to see that there are plenty of options should you decide to stay in a tree house hotel. Don't we all? Below are some lodging examples. Not sure what the comfort level is for adults, but fun is guaranteed for kids (of all ages), it even has a giant zip line!

For more information check out http://www.treehouses.com/treehouse/treesort/prclst.html.

Tree houses have also become restaurants.

This beautiful tree top restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand, was created by Peter Eising and Lucy Gauntlett from Pacific Environments Architects.

And then there is the rest of those crazy creations whose sole purpose is to amuse.

Beach Rock Treehouse, Okinawa, Japan. By Kobayashi Takashi

Germany. By Bauraum Architects

JApan. By Takashi Kobayashi.

Free Spirit Sphere. British Columbia, Canada.

Hotel Concept by Swedish Architects Tham and Videgard Hansson.

Lantern House, Santa Monica, CA. By Roderick Romero

O2 Sustainability Treehouse, by Dustin Feider of O2 Architecture.

Now here's to hoping that one day I'll have my very own treehouse to retire to.