Bloesem

Bloesem's home in Real Living Magazine

 

Last week Irene came home with the December issue of Real Magazine Australia with a smile on her face. She must have been happy with the feature. We all are! It looks great! Irene and family would like to thank Real Magazine so much for featuring them and their home here in KL. Being one of her favorite magazines, this December issue is filled with great Christmas decorating ideas too.

All pictures was taken by personal friend Marjon Hoogervorst. Im sure you recognize that name by now. She has beautiful pictures all over Bloesem especially in our Face-to-face a new Designer's Profile column.

The article starts off with what Irene and Rik wants in a home. "open spaces, high ceilings and a decent sized home office for Irene's studio." This place says it all. After getting to know Irene a little better I can really say that every inch of this home was thought for and added a touch of their personality and style even some toys on the counter by the boys.

Every piece that I point to has a story. "a mix of new and vintage pieces bough on trips to the Netherlands since their travelling adventures began in 2006." And yes, I even asked about the story behind the albino Chinese girl photograph on the wall. Creating a 'real home' sounds easier than done, Irene shares this thought too in the article. [READ MORE]

Living in Kuala Lumpur... a new friend

 

Last week I started a small series of posts about Living in Kuala Lumpur... the Good, the Bad, the Beautiful... and today I would like to end this week with 'Kuala Lumpur and a Friend'

We are approaching the end of another blogging year, time to get a bit sentimental and do somereminisces... perhaps even more this year than other years as Bloesem will be celebrating it's 5th anniversary real soon. 

{images: home of Ena, one of the founding partners of Wondermilk here in Kuala Lumpur}

Last year was a very special blogging year for me due to to the visit of a friend from the Netherlands. I'm talking about Marjon Hoogervorst, the Dutch photographer I have talked about a lot lately... she and I met each other via Bloesem and we decided of organising a blind-date here in KL with a mission to photograph as much as possible in one week...

Marjon has captured my way of living here in KL very well and she taught me so much about photography that I dare to show you more of my own images next year. I have asked Marjon to answer some questions for me and I am sharing my favorites pics with you from our shoots during that week. Hope you enjoy them!

     Let's Get Personal with Marjon Hoogervorst

C: contact... with Irene, that's where it all starts! The beginning of a great cooperation and lovely friendship!

A: always... looking for challenge, don't be afraid for taking risks. Just taking a plane to KL without knowing Irene (and stay with her and her lovely family), was just one of them...

P: people... love people in every way, I prefer real contact... I want to feel the energy! I felt a lot in KL...

Living in Kuala Lumpur... the Beautiful

Last week I started a small series of posts about Living in Kuala Lumpur...the Good, the Bad and today we do the Beautiful...

Living in Kuala Lumpur is truly a color feast. Not only the colors you see everywhere but also the 'colors' of the many cultures living here... three groups op people make this country, Malaysia so very interesting... the Orang Asli or the Malay, the Chinese and the Indians. Although they live very peaceful and happy together they keep to their own culture, food, habits, religion and festivities. Malaysia probably has the most National Holidays in the world :):) ... no complaints here!

   

Living in Kuala Lumpur... the Bad

{All images by Dutch photographer Marjon Hoogervorst}

Have you read part 1 of my series Living in Kuala Lumpur...the Good yesterday it started with the Good and how we enjoyed living in Damansara Heights the last 4,5 years.

But oh boy did we make a mistake by moving to this gated community. It has been one disappointement after the other. After having all sorts of trouble with our new landlord, broken promises, we received a 'warm-welcome' letter from the management office telling us: Get rid off your dog 'or else'... wow that was a shocker especially when nobody had told us before pets were not allowed ... would we have choosen this house with this information given uprfront... no of course not!... We as Dutchies take rules very seriously... so we started searching for a new home for this little fellow... 

It has caused me a couple of nights of no sleep and stress, how to explain to the kids that Poppy had to go and where should he go to? Luckily for me we have a wonderful, amazing and fantastic group of friends here in Malaysia and soon we were able to find a great new home for poppy with a family living in yes one of those bungalows :):)...

Ok, problem solved, let's move  forward, keep thinking positive and think of all the things we love so much here... FOOD, yes just like all the Malaysians we Love the local food ... the way we talk about the weather in the Netherlands, Malaysians talk about food and we have started to join them in this nice ritual... before breakfast, you think lunch, before lunch you think snack and before snack you think diner .... and the die-hards will go for antoher two meals in the evening and night... :):)

  

Travel report: Poco a zakka style cafe in Kuala Lumpur

poco, a Japanese stely little gem here in KL. No I haven't been yet, but Fenny from F for Fabulous has and she made some beautiful pictures for us and gives a small review.... right here at Bloesem's Travel page. 

An amazing terrace home in Kuala Lumpur

One of my best friends here in Kuala Lumpur is also one of the best interior designers I know personally. Less than a year ago she, Jo England,  told me about a new business venture she was going to start with two other people... buying run-down houses, completely renovate them and bring them back on the market... wow, I said not an easy or light project, but I had all the confidence in her that would succeed... and see here only a couple of months later. The first house is finished, done.. ready for a new tenant.

 My friend, Jo and her partners stripped down the house completely, opened it up but kept all the original elements. Using materials like steel and wood that they found throughout the house while renovating and re-using it to new doors, stairs, detailing and even a dining table is what I believe Jo her biggest strength... 

{sorry no links in this posts, just beautiful inspiration}

I'm not going to say much more other than ... Jo, you are a blessing for Kuala Lumpur, bringing design and inspiration to this city!