Friday 31 December 2010

happy new year - gleðilegt nýtt ár

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy New Year ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Bonne Année ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸. Gelukkig Nieuwjaar ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Feliz Año Nuevo ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ Gutes Neues Jahr ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Felice Anno Nuovo ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Gleðilegt nýtt ár ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪



photo: Edwin K Ben
 Fireworks at Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Iceland

YouTube: ABBA / Happy New Year
Super Trouper
music: Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson

Thursday 30 December 2010

oak perfection

If I had a kitchen like that I wouldn't need another room, I could simply live in this one and be happy!


photo credit: James Carriere for House Beautiful

Wednesday 29 December 2010

camping by the letter box

Today started with laziness that turned into creativity and then relaxation. It's a wonderful mixture. I forced myself to do some domestic chores while my girls covered the dining room table with paper, paint, pencils and paintbrushes. Then we began the fun. This is the beauty of the holidays.

Speaking of creativity. Yesterday I ordered a book that has been on my wish list for way too long, Amsterdam: Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bijkerk. I almost want to camp by the letter box! Some of you are perhaps familiar with the author who is a well known stylist and has a wonderful blog, or a (blog)house as she calls it. If you haven't already added it to your daily reads, I recommend you do so. Every time I open it I want to visit Amsterdam again or do something creative. Actually, we had planned on staying in Amsterdam for 2-3 days between Christmas and New Years but our plans changed. Hopefully, we'll go in January instead; by then I'll have received the book so the trip will be even more fun.

It's hard to choose a favourite entry on Pia's blog, but the one that touched me the most was the one called Paris: A Dream Come True and the ones that followed when she showed her 90 years old aunt the city for the first time. Since about 1930 it had been her aunt Joyce's dream to visit Paris. I think all the followers of Pia's blog wanted to be there with them.

Tuesday 28 December 2010

in this home...

photo credit: DaliDecals on ETSY

Friday 24 December 2010

merry christmas - gleðileg jól

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Merry Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Joyeux Noël ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸. Zalig Kerstfeest ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Feliz Navidad ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ Fröhliche Weihnachten ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Buone Feste Natalizie ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Gleðileg jól ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪


top-left: Craftjuice
top-right: unknown source
middle-left: Picnic by Ellie
middle-right: Saveur du Jour
bottom (my hometown: Reykjavik, Iceland): unknown source

Thursday 23 December 2010

blue & white patterns II

It's blue-white-floral-pattern-settee mood for me again (we've been through this before, it is a word!). Well, I've been feeling that way for many weeks; I've just been trying to spare you.

Yesterday, when I stumbled upon the website of Danish photographer, Morten Holtum, I had to give in. I think I've never seen Royal Copenhagen tableware presented as appealing and fascinating. Raw and beautiful - I love it. And I had to include that bedroom because this is exactly what I'm aiming for. I've kept my eyes open for a similar bench, perhaps a bit more modern, for our bedroom. Next year, I'll find the right one!

This is my last blue and white dose before Christmas, I promise.


photo credit: Morten Holtum

I also had to include this French settee-like daybed. I'm not going to tell you how much I'd like to have one exactly like this one. Think feminine-looking reading room.



Wednesday 22 December 2010

happy blue

I know that honeysuckle has been voted the colour of the year 2011 and some bloggers are already getting ready to bombard us with it but I'm feeling blue, in a positive way. I call it happy blue. I certainly wouldn't say no to that sofa (of course it's from Designers Guild - my house of worship), I wouldn't mind having a blue wall like that, and I would welcome the vase and crystal flower stems.


photo credit:
sofa: Designers Guild
room with blue wall: Timothy Kolk for ELLE DECOR
vase and flower stems: Z Gallerie

Monday 20 December 2010

white christmas

Antwerp is beautiful these days. The earth is white and there are people everywhere doing their Christmas shopping. Yesterday when we were driving in the city centre, going home from the party, it was snowing and the mixture of Christmas lights and snow seemed almost magical.

photo: Michael Hendrickx

I hope the snow will stay! Here is Robbie Williams dreaming of a white Christmas, with Ant & Dec and a choir to remember.


YouTube: Robbie Williams and Ant & Dec / White Christmas
music: Irving Berlin

Sunday 19 December 2010

party time

We will spend the day in the wonderful company of the Icelandic-Belgian families in Antwerp.
Four families – sixteen people from the age of 6 months to 51 years – enjoying a moment
before Christmas. Everyone is bringing something to put on the table, so we'll have a feast.

Enjoy your Sunday!

via Daisy Pink Cupcake

Friday 17 December 2010

comfy christmas

One of the perks of living abroad, far away from all relatives and close friends, is that at Christmas there are no parties to attend. It's all about relaxing at home in comfortable clothes and warm socks. Last year we were in Copenhagen and held our first pyjamas Christmas, as we call it. We wore organic cotton and had the most relaxed Christmas ever. A few weeks ago, I asked my children what they wanted to wear on Christmas Eve and they almost screamed PYJAMAS! None of them was interested in going shopping for something fancier (after eating and opening the presents they'll put on their new pyjamas anyway). So, for us it's comfy Christmas again and I'm all for it. However, if I was to dress up, and had a little extra cash for luxury, I'd definitely go for red.



watch: Dior
brooch: Avalaya
Calvin Klein bra: NET-A-PORTER
nail polish, Dragon 475: Chanel
Dior peeptoe court shoes: Flannels
Stella McCartney bow neck silk dress: farfetch
(with a little help from Polyvore)

Thursday 16 December 2010

french settee

I'm not quite done with French settees. I realized that my LatteLisa folder contained a few images so I decided to share some. I'm totally in love with the two living rooms. The first one is a 1912 Montreal home, but, unfortunately, I've lost the bookmark of the second one.

The furniture in the bottom-left image is not exactly a settee - at Maisons du Monde they call it a bench FLANDRE, an 18th century style piece - but I like it, so I had to include it.


photo credit:
top-left: Stacey Brandford for Country Living
top-right: unknown source
bottom-left: Maisons du Monde
bottom-right: Eloquence

Tuesday 14 December 2010

pretty holiday tables

I still haven't decided how to dress my Christmas table. I'm playing with all kinds of ideas: one day I'm in the mood for white and purple, the next day I'm all for red and white, or red and white with a touch of grey. Then I see something blue or turquoise and think how wonderful that would look. But yesterday I saw beautiful purple and golden glasses, which I have to take a better look at.

Here are some lovely ideas, simple, yet festive.


top-left: H.O.D.I.
top-right: House Beautiful
bottom-left: House Beautiful
bottom-right: Heal's

Monday 13 December 2010

mario testino

Fifty-four photographs by Mario Testino are on display at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum in Madrid. The exhibition is called Toto o Nada and ends on 9th January 2011. So, if you are interested and find yourself in Madrid, you know where to go.

Here are some of my favourite Mario Testino moments for American Vogue: Marion Cotillard, Sarah Jessica Parker, Keira Knightley and Beyoncé.

photos: Mario Testino

Sunday 12 December 2010

welcoming & warm

In my opinion, this is perfection; modern country meets rustic. The colour combination is beautiful and each item has its place. I wouldn't change a single thing. And look at that cooker! I'd love one in my kitchen.


photo credit: Luca Trovato for House Beautiful

Saturday 11 December 2010

nine years

It's been nine years since my younger daughter was born – unbelievable how fast time flies! Last year, on her birthday, we were living in a temporary apartment in Copenhagen. We had recently arrived in Denmark and the children weren't attending school. When we weren't strolling around Copenhagen, which is wonderful in December, the girls were busy making art. This is a stamp collection they made and it brings back so many good memories.

photos: Lisa Hjalt

Last year, the birthday girl, who always knows what she wants, asked for a sandwich with bacon at The Laundromat Cafe (I highly recommend it if you find yourself in Copenhagen. We really liked the one located on Elmegade, in Nørrebro. And yes, as the name indicates, you can do your laundry while enjoying coffee or a wonderful meal). Today she asked for lasagne with kidney beans and almond cake with meringue, which I recently was experimenting with.

Of course I will deliver.

Friday 10 December 2010

christmas countdowns

I don't use any form of Christmas countdowns, probably because I have three children who make sure I don't forget. But I have to say that I really like these DIY solutions.


top-left: apartment therapy
top-right: Martha Stewart
bottom-left: MommyQ
bottom-right: unknown source

Thursday 9 December 2010

red, white, country & cute

Red and white at Christmas simply can't go wrong. Decorating with berries can't go 
wrong either. 

I like the minimal country style presented in the two dining rooms below. 

via Good Housekeeping
Michael Partenio for ELLE DECOR
via Home for Christmas

Wednesday 8 December 2010

i think of angels

I found sad news in my inbox this morning from a friend who is in mourning so I had to post this beautiful song, called I Think of Angels.

The performers are Icelandic musicians, siblings, and the song was written in the memory of their sister, who died in a car crash early in the 90s.


image via ffffound
YouTube #1: KK & Ellen Kristjánsdótttir / I Think of Angels
YouTube #2: live on Norwegian TV music: KK

Tuesday 7 December 2010

glittery christmas

I really like these shades of blue and turquoise. Maybe glittery blue and silver ornaments 
are the thing for me this year? Whatever I decide about ornaments, these wine glasses are 
so elegant and would be perfect on our table. I hope I find similar ones. 

via Z Gallerie
via Z Gallerie
via Interior & Exterior

Monday 6 December 2010

grey & classy

My latest post have been all about Christmas so I felt the need for a little imaginary shopping – something grey and classy. Well, the Valentino chiffon-embroidered jersey T-shirt is lavender and beautiful so I had to include it. You won't see me wearing that dress but I have a soft spot for ruffled skirts.


Casadei shoes: farfetch
French Connection coat: Oli
Louise bag by Rika: La Garçonne
bracelet & flower clip: Nordstrom
Alice + Olivia dress: NET-A-PORTER
Valentino jersey T-shirt: NET-A-PORTER
(with a little help from Polyvore)


Sunday 5 December 2010

k&a recipe: spice bread (loaf)

Today I posted a new recipe on kitchen & aroma: spice bread (loaf). What's better in 
December than the smell of cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg coming from the oven?

photo: LatteLisa for kitchen & aroma

Saturday 4 December 2010

holidays essentials

I just realized we haven't gone imaginary shopping for some time. With the holidays approaching, I've been spending some time online to get some ideas for my Christmas table. I still haven't decided on a colour theme because I haven't found anything in purple that totally grips me. Currently, I'm open for red. It's classic and it can't go wrong.


 Luminarc champagne flute glass: Amazon
square platter & reindeer mug: John Lewis
standing stag & glass tea light holder: Heal's

Thursday 2 December 2010

cinnamon fever

I was baking spice bread yesterday with, among others, cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg. It's something I bake frequently, but yesterday it was especially Christmassy, probably because we had lighted many candles and were enjoying mandarin oranges.

Yesterday's Christmas mood made me think of cinnamon sticks, which are ideal for decorating, and cinnamon buns, which I haven't made in a while.

I love December.


top-left: Eva Lindh / photo: Sara Danielsson
bottom-left: Chica Schmica
bottom-right: Savory Sweet Life

Wednesday 1 December 2010

official christmas mood

It's December so I'm officially in a Christmas mood. I've now got red letters in my header and my 'au revoir' greeting is also red. Let's balance it out with white and light blue snowflake crafts, shall we.

Have a wonderful December, everyone.


photo credit: Frances Janisch for Country Living