Thursday, 18 February 2016 by Irene Hoofs
A rainy day in Amsterdam actually led us to this gem of a find! While taking shelter inside Misc Store, we took our time to admire their curation of refined goods and stationery for the home and desk.. And boy, let me tell you we could have stayed there for hours.. Which we might have been, considering the sun was out by the time we were! Misc Store carries a carefully selected range of well-crafted pieces including stationery, furniture, design objects and more everyday items, whose clean designs and aesthetic qualities are sure to appeal to many. And for us, well.. Let's just say beautiful stationery is one of our weaknesses and Misc Store has to be heaven! The decor of this cosy store was definitely a feast for the eyes too, wouldn't you agree?
Wednesday, 4 November 2015 by Irene Hoofs
Hold the phone!!! We just uncovered a whole archive of images from our trip to Amsterdam earlier this year. Look forward to more shop stops including our visit to the extra fab Dreamboat! We spent a morning in this beautiful store and almost couldn't get ourselves to leave. We spoke to Stephanie Rammeloo about the concept behind the store and the designers she carries.. this is not the first time we are talking about her, if you recall our post on her amazing home in Amsterdam in 2010.
Much more to come very soon!
.. Dreamboat
.. Bloesem shop stops
Thursday, 22 October 2015 by Irene Hoofs
Happy 3rd birthday to this tiny little two storey shop in the 9 little streets of Amsterdam. Hear Hear is the lovely little store we heard so much about and made sure to stop by while we were in Amsterdam. Chock full of amazing finds and some handmade pieces by owner Rena (the nicest store owner by far, you have to say hi!), Hear Hear is a great place for gifts and souvenirs too!
We popped in and had Rena (who also makes the most adorable ceramic pieces) tell us 5 things we wouldn't have known about Hear Hear..
Rena's shared with us 5 random thoughts about Hear Hear:
1) People never know which way to open the door to the store and always struggle with it. Maybe there should be a sign.
2) This space used to be a catering business but the lady wanted to sell it to someone who would carry on with their passion.
3) The name "Hear Hear" came about because Rena loves the way the letters look on paper; how the letters E & A look together.
4) Her favourite moment is when the light comes in from the windows and she can watch "live" tv as people walk past and she catches snippets of their conversation.
5) Burly guys with beards always come in and ask "is this for girls or guys?" which she finds odd. If you like an item does it really matter who it is designed for?
For those of us who aren't able to pop by Hear Hear, Rena's online shop offers a great selection which is always inspiring to shop and very tempting. We all deserve a little treat once in awhile right?
Handmade polymer clay jewellery by Rena (owner of Hear Hear).
.. Hear Hear Amsterdam
Thursday, 7 May 2015 by Irene Hoofs
Located along River Valley Road, DREAM (what an apt name) is a haven for designers and enthusiasts alike, with their range of designer furniture and home accessories. Every corner of their spacious 18,000 square feet showroom offers interior inspiration for every and any space you are looking to revamp or furnish.
Walking through the showroom, you'll find that it is broken up into different sections to depict different rooms and styles. You'll find everything from smaller accessories to large pieces like beds and couches that can transform the entire look of a space.
Shop luxury labels like Knoll, Cappellini and Cassina, just to name a few. This weekend at their Rush & Crush Tent Sale you can also enjoy discounts on their collection. What better time is there to finally get that designer piece you had your eye on am I right?
We love the way each individual space is styled and yet it cohesively flows from room to room. Their matching on colours and textures is inspired!
We'll be heading down this weekend as well, so we hope to see you there too!
Image credits: Zara S.
.. Rush & Crush Tent Sale
..RSVP to the event here
..DREAM
Thursday, 16 April 2015 by Irene Hoofs
Just down the street from Anecdote, you'll find the multi-label store Collective Space Amsterdam, with an eclectic mix of everything from home accessories to clothes. The store seems pretty settled but from the sounds of things, they have many plans for the future and we will definitely be checking back in whenever we are in the neighbourhood.
Get to know Collective Space in this super quick "5 things":
ONE: "Feel free to step in!" Though the exterior of the store may look intimidating to some, the friendly staff in Collective Space Amsterdam hopes you will come in and have a look.
TWO: They have a beautiful patio at the back where they customers can get drinks and lounge about during the summer time.
.. More about Collective Space Amsterdam after the cut.
THREE: Currently Collective Space is located in a 2 storey establishment with only the first level functioning as a store but they have plans to open the basement in the future and convert it into a luxurious space with many other things to shop and look at.
FOUR: Though customers and visitors of the store space have sang it's praises, they feel that it is just the beginning and so much more can be done to make the space even better!
FIVE: Fun fact - Their current store space used to be a squash court.
This is the back which leads to patio outside. The light was beautiful and if you don't walk all the way to the end of the store you would totally miss this which I did on our first visit.
Image credits: Zara S.
.. Collective Space Amsterdam
Thursday, 2 April 2015 by Irene Hoofs
One of the first stores I popped into while in Amsterdam was Anecdote. A beautiful store as it is, was made amazing with the help of gorgeous morning light. Clothes right up my alley, exquisite interiors and welcoming staff made the perfect first experience.
Despite the success of the label, the Anecdote team has focused their efforts on their only store which is located along Wolvenstraat 15. At the same time they stock their pieces in their online store along with several multi-level boutiques across the world.
There is strength in a name like Anecdote, that everyone can understand and relate to, no matter where you come from. And honestly, what a perfect name it is.. it's no wonder their best selling item is the basic sweater with just the word "Anecdote" on it.
Get to know Anecdote in this super quick "5 things":
ONE: Many people mistake Anecdote for a Scandinavian or French label but they are proudly from Amsterdam.
TWO: Anecdote is a collection of easy to wear pieces, all day wear, so comfy you won't want to take them off. It's every occasion wear, taking you from home to the office and out for post-work drinks.
.. More about Anecdote after the cut.
THREE: They don't have a target group. Everyone can wear Anecdote. It is really about your own interpretation of the pieces and showing your personal style through the way you mix and match certain pieces in their collection.
FOUR: The label takes from the meaning of the word. It’s about the stories in our lives, our experiences and the collections are based on small pieces and stories that happen in the founder’s life.
FIVE: The people who work at Anecdote ARE Anecdote! The small team lives and breathes the philosophy behind the brand.
The quote on the wall when you first enter the store, setting the tone for the brand and for you to better understand what Anecdote is.
Image credits and text by Zara Salahuddin
.. Anecdote
