moroccan nook

Collecting is no stranger to me...

The precious handmade souvenirs from my beloved Marrakech are gathered on an old tiny table in the kitchen.

The vintage breakbaskets, coasters and a bottle cover and clever candle holder we use daily.

I love the kind of souvenirs, genuine for everyday use and not just decoration.

The items of my Moroccan collection nook are one by one handmade in the medina of Marrakech, with simple materials and the objects are of no great value, but to me they are priceless. They remind me of my travels to Morocco and bring back fond memories.

How i miss the Red city and its lovely people.

spring forward

All that natural light throughout the house!

Spring is definitely in the air.

Can't wait to open the garden doors and live outside more.
Yesterday I've started to work in the garden for a while and pruned the ginkgo tree in our front yard.

Even though we have to be patient, before we can have breakfast in the front yard again.
Well, for the time being, we can start with a cup of tea with a warm woolen cardigan on the garden bench. Nothing wrong with that either.

spring fever in sunny february

Henk brought me a huge bunch of yellow tulips from the market this morning.

The florist told him the Victorian interpretation of yellow tulips; there’s sunshine in your smile!

I have arranged the tulips in the big yellow mustard tin, which I bought on the berber market near the Atlas Mountains on my latest workshop trip in October.

On this sun-drenched Saturday in February it looks even more like spring.

The appreciation and joy in 'the little things' in life.

Cheers to the weekend!

eclectic & unique

Without defining our interior as typically eclectic, the unique & eclectic pieces (being brought home as souvenirs over the years) are exactly the pieces that last and make our home our home.

The mix with modern design and vintage furniture, don't make a typically Moroccan appearance.

naturals & textures

Natural colors and textures, ... and summer sense.

C /\ B /\ N /\

CABANA Magazine is about intimacy and explores that close relationship that every person has with interiors. Not only grand rooms but odd corners, exquisite details and the objects that make a room feel personal.

'Each issue is a journey through obsessive collecting, colors and fabrics brought to life with luscious photography that will inspire you to discover a new world.' - C A B A N A magazine -

The cover itself is already worth to get a C /\ B /\ N /\ , each one has a unique fabric cover.

This issue was a birthday gift for Henk from our newlywed friends and it adorns the 'new' harlequin table. Muchas gracias M & S!

between the eucalyptus & ginkgo

Summer in May, at least that's how it feels in the garden lately.

We have a new evergreen in the backyard; an Eucalyptus Gunnii tree.

The small eucalyptus stands beside the ginkgo tree on the terrace. The new tree is an evergreen tree. The small round gray-green leaves give off a delicious eucalyptus smell. Especially when the leaf is bruised, a strong eucalyptus smell is released. Good thing is, mosquitoes hate this smell, so perfect for long summer evenings in the garden.

This afternoon we planted the new evergreen, a remembrance tree for Henk's mother, who passed away yesterday.

After gardening (we also repotted some plants and sowed flowers seeds) we had a tea between the trees and it felt special...

crafted coaster collection

The current crafted coaster collection.

Collected over the years, found on Place des Epices and in the souks of the Medina in Marrakech.
All handmade from grass, wrapped with yarn cleverly.
The simple patterns and beautiful colors, some even sun-bleached on the spice square.
Not that i ever put so many hot pans on the table at the same time, but I think they look so attractive.
Normally they are pilled up on the kitchen bench, this time together on the family group photo.

It's nothing but visual pleasure...

kaftan mood

Kaftan mood.

I could wear kaftans all day every day, but I don't...

The printed photo on the wall is my all time favorite photo from Marrakech.

Streetart by Guim Tio Zarraluki, made during the Biennale in Marrakech 2014.

Have a look at this VIDEO, where you can see the artist at work.
(I've posted the video once before, but for those who have not seen it yet, it's worth watching!)

In the meantime the mural has disappeared from the wall in de Medina, but thank goodness we still have this print.

This shot with the passing man in perfectly toned traditional clothing, makes the mural even better.

lunch hour

Today I'm going to try one of the recipes from my new cookbook. I'll make the salad with avocado, apple, pomegranete and mint. Sounds okay right?!

La Famille has released a cookbook of their Moroccan-Italian recipes.
The cookbook was a gift from my friend and workshop partner Ank, because it's one of our favorite lunch places in the Medina.

wednesday winter woolday

Today I'm going to make a lot of tassels for the new stools I designed recently. I will be using the bobbins with bright hues, I brought from Marrakech.

Perfect project for this cold and rainy day, messing around with wool at the kitchen table.

around the world

New books on the pouf!
Son Minne and husband Henk visited London for the weekend. They stayed at my niece Afra and had a wonderful time.

They brought home some very inspiring interior books.
Gypset Living by Julia Chaplin and How We live by Marcia Prentice.
Both books are not typical interior design books, they contain creative interiors around the world.
Yesterday I flipped through the pages and got an overdose of inspiration...
Today I'm going to read the books one by one, at ease on the sofa.

attractive things

The daybed is getting more attractive by the day.
Some extra pillows and a cotton throw blanket* from India feel at ease on the sofa.

Our newest green inmate is a gift from Pippa, because it looks like a pineapple on a stalk. It's living in a Moroccan bread basket and is called Eucomis.
Pippa told me it's a garden plant (and it smells), so Eucomis will move to the backyard within a few days.

(* good find Rosa... i love dots!)