BIG NEWS EVERYONE!
We're officially moving to our new online platform, BloesemDesign.com! *throws confetti and pops champagne* It's been a long time coming and we're beyond thrilled to finally share with you guys this big step we're taking. Can't believe it's been almost 10 years since I started this blog as a space to share my interior inspirations.. So it sure feels pretty surreal to think how this blog has progressed and blossomed to a full-service creative studio complete with an amazing team behind it.
The blog posts from both Bloesem Living and Bloesem Kids will continue to roll out, but on our integrated platform BloesemDesign.com instead! Expect even more refreshing and quality content as we will be introducing more interesting columns to come, such as The Ladies Who Made It Online.. We just can't wait for you to check it out. In the meantime, we wanted to give you guys a big group hug for sticking with us, whether you've been here throughout or you've just come on board -- thank you for joining us on this wild ride. Excited for what the next 10 years will bring. For now, see you on the other side!
Xo, The Bloesem Team
Missing our home in Amsterdam this Friday afternoon..
Magazine clutter is very real.. fix it with this DIY.
Any weekend is a good time for a breakfast party, complete with this bagel bar.
If you're feeling extra fancy, we think a floral center piece will look amazing for the party!
Deciding between light or dark floors for your kitchen?
Very cool architectural planter.
Totally digging the nude, sandstone and slate colour palette.
This sleek bar stool will be a great addition to your home.
Knitting your own top is simpler than you think! Here's a tutorial.
Stay in the tropics all year with this lamp.
Xo, The Bloesem Team
Alison Lynch of Canada-based art studio - Burnish and Brush - takes our breath away with her mixed media art collection. Every piece is individually handmade, making each one truly one of a kind.. No two pieces are alike! Using strong, bright colours, sharp lines and different textures with special attention to detail, she finds delight in reflecting life's most meaningful moments in her artwork.. You can even work with Alison herself to create a truly personalised piece, which we think will definitely make an amazing gift for a loved one!
I for one am all for blush tones, but I find myself drawn to the soft blue tones these days.. It's no wonder Rose Quartz and Serenity Blue are the 2 (!) Pantone colours for 2016. One Pinterest spree later, we found some pretty rad ways to inject some blue into your space..
.. Bloesem on Pinterest
We love The Future Kept's amazing curation of well-designed items chosen by the owners Jeska and Dean Hearne, but we admire their philosophy even more. With their business revolving around their belief of "buy less, buy better", they share a selection of durable items handpicked by the owners from designers, makers, artisans and entrepreneur from all over the world. These items, ranging from blankets, kitchen goods, bags and even jewellery, are made to be cherished, kept, and last a very long time as a heirloom of the future, all while encouraging us to make more sustainable and ethical choices in our daily lives..
Can't go wrong with white..
Really easy mid century nightstand DIY to try out this weekend!
Or perhaps a DIY revitalising face mask if you'd prefer to kick back and relax during this break?
Some innovative and inspiring packaging..
The patio of this Moroccan home!
Got to love double duty pieces like this sleek tray table.
One of my favourite kitchen looks right now.. But can you believe this was actually made with a 3D programme? How completely mind-blowing! Definitely wishing it was real though.
These beautiful custom bar soaps are going to make amazing gifts.
Inspiration for all those who love bringing the outdoors in..
Xo, The Bloesem Team
It's been more than a year since we did a styled photo shoot for Mooi Goed's home accessories, but we still find ourselves falling in love with their designs all over again every time! Mooi Goed, which means Beautiful Goods in Dutch, offers minimalist home accessories of muted colours and timeless designs, which we think would be perfect for any home..
This cake platter for example.. Surely one of our picks from the Mooi Goed collection! Does the shape seem familiar? A subtle reference to the paper coaster everyone knows and recognises, and bent points along the frame for a little twist.. We are definitely digging the intricate details in this design! While it lays beautifully on its own, it still serves as the perfect backdrop for your cake or tart to be the true star of the show..
Image credits: Mooi Goed
.. Mooi Goed
Local and handmade products, you know are right up our alley.. Singapore-based jewellery label By Invite Only recently sent a box of their jewellery our way for a styled photo shoot and check out how they turned out! We kept it simple and minimal, to let these beautiful pieces take centre stage, much like how these trinkets and crystals will add some pizzazz to the wearer herself without overwhelming her or stealing the limelight! But definitely still fancy enough to take you from day to night. While some of these are handmade by artisans with a speciality in their area of craft, most of the jewellery are actually handcrafted by the owner of By Invite Only, Trixie! Since they don't mass produce, you'll find that most of their popular pieces get sold out quickly.. So if you like what you're seeing pop over to their page and shop away!
Have you guys been exploring the app a little more since our first Snapchat guide? I'm starting to get the hang of it but I learnt there are so many more functions and ways to inject creativity into your snaps, and just some all around fun.. Here are 5 more tips that you may not have known about. You're quickly on your way to becoming a Snapchat pro!
1) Captions
After you've taken a snap or a video, tap the letter 'T' on the top right corner to bring out the text function, and type away! Tap the 'T' again if you'd like to choose from the 3 different styles of text: small white letters on grey background, giant white letters aligned to the left, or that but aligned centre. If you're using the giant white letters, you can change the colour your text simply by scrolling up and down the colour slider.
2) Drawing
Tap the pencil icon on the top right to bring out the colour slider. Just select your colour and get creative! Draw the sun if you're taking a snap of the blue sky, add a moustache to the funny selfie you're taking, or even use it to write your caption in your own handwriting, just for that personal touch..
Now, where's the white and black colour option? Here's a little secret for you guys! When you're scrolling up and down the slider, continue to drag your finger to the 4 corners of the screen and through the different points in between, without lifting your finger. See how many more colour options and shades you can choose from? Hooray for blush tones!
3) Emojis
If you love your emojis then you have to check this function out. Tap the third button on the top right, which kind of looks like a little post-it, and you'll be able to access all of them. Select your favourite one and place them wherever! Pinch it to make it smaller, and drag it outwards with two fingers to make it larger.. Here's where you can get really animated, so feel free to add as many as you'd like. Or even try creating a whole imaginary scenario with just emojis! If you're having second thoughts about any of the emojis you've selected, then just hold and drag them to the trash icon which will automatically appear at the top.
4) Swiping left and right
Once you're done editing your snap, swipe left to unlock a whole list of fun things. Filters, timestamps, speed, temperature.. and even slow-mo, fast-forward and rewind for videos! When rewind function first came out, some of my friends got really creative and made "magic tricks" out of them. It was a real puzzling time..
If you've enabled location services on your Snapchat, then you'll sometimes get event-based and location-based stickers when you continue swiping left. For instance, during Chinese New Year they came up with a handful of beautiful festival-themed frames! Singapore also has her very own stickers. Travelling from city to city? Check out the various stickers and frames each place offers.
5) Special filters
This is a new one! Snapchat came up with a bunch of interactive filters that fits and moves with the face. Just tap and hold the face of your subject and you'll get the option of scrolling through the various filters which vary from day to day. For this, we're not going to spoil the fun for you, you just have to explore them yourself! But we'll tell you this.. You'll be surprised how imaginative Snapchat can get, and how absolutely hilarious these special filters can be! Kids love them to bits.
And we have to admit, we do too. If you haven't already, add us on @bloesemblog! Would love to join you guys on this platform..