Tuesday 31 May 2011

zürich in rain

photo credit: ditav_v on Flickr
I was bicycling in light rain this morning when my mind took me back to Zürich, where I spent a year when I was younger. Zürich is one of those cities where I instantly felt at home. In certain kind of rain – I call it European rain which probably makes no sense at all – my mind always takes me back: I'm walking the narrow cobbled streets with an umbrella, wearing a long dark olive green anorak. In my bag there is usually a travel book and a novel. I find a café where I can enjoy looking out the window. I order hot chocolate (back then I didn't drink latte) and a slice of chocolate cake or pancake and then I simply sit there as long as I want, feeling at ease.

I found a photo of Zürich in rain as soon as I got home. To my wonderful surprise I also found a blog, MyKugelhopf, written by food and travel writer Kerrin Rousset who lives in Zürich. It contains so many beautiful photos of the city, food, etc. I've already added it to my 'UK & Europe' blogroll.

Monday 30 May 2011

balcony flowers

The other day we were driving when suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw something red and when I turned to look I saw a long balcony lined with red roses in ceramic vases. The building wasn't anything special, but that particular balcony completely changed the way one perceived it. I almost wanted to ring the bell and ask what's with all the red roses? Our downstairs neighbour has filled the front of her balcony with various types of flowers and it looks beautiful. Ours is still looking a bit bare but I've got big flower plans. Below are a few photos from my balcony flowers folder.

Today I'm a guest blogger at a measure of... with a five-word memoir. It's the blog of the lovely Heather who lived in Chile when I started following her last year but has now moved back to the USA with her husband and given birth to a baby boy, Rowan. Heather is a wonderful writer who isn't afraid to open her heart and if you haven't added her blog to your daily must-reads I recommend you do so.

Wishing you all a wonderful Monday!


photo credit:
top-left: Martin Stringer on Flickr
top-right: Pierre at Venice Daily Photo
bottom-left: LatteLisa*
bottom-right: White Gables Pavilions


* photo taken in the town of Steenbergen, The Netherlands

Sunday 29 May 2011

summer shopping

Yesterday I realized that we haven't gone imaginary shopping since January! I realized it when I came across that cute 'vintage is love' tote bag (the owner of the house I posted yesterday runs the online shop that sells it). So, here are some items I thought would be ideal for summer whether you own a beach house, a cottage or you simply want to pop up your home and make it look more summery. That Rob Ryan vase is on my wish list!


Pavina glass: Bodum
cushion & tray: John Lewis
coasters: Zara Home
tote bag: m & b vintage
Rob Ryan ceramic vase: BODIE and FOU

Saturday 28 May 2011

built to look old

This suburban Chicago house by Lake Michigan isn't old, it was built to look old. In my opinion, the hall is perfection and I really like the uncluttered vintage style and use of white paint. And oh how I wish that white wardrobe were mine.

What are you guys up to today? It's on my agenda to make biscotti and buy peonies.


photo credit: Steven Randazzo for Country Living

Thursday 26 May 2011

picnic in the park

Do you know the feeling after cleaning the bathroom so thoroughly that you're almost afraid of using the shining sink? I'm talking about you-can-see-your-reflection-in-the-porcelain clean! With Adele in my ears I did just that and now I'm rewarding myself with blogging.


I neglected you guys yesterday and went picnicking with friends in the Park Spoor Noord, in the north part of Antwerp. The schools finish early on Wednesdays so it's perfect to spend sunny days like that, allowing the children to play and have fun. In fact, we had such a wonderful time that I completely forgot to take photos!

The picnic-planner stuck the Icelandic flag into the ground so we could easily find her. When everyone had showed up we didn't remove the flag so I wondered whether the people around us were thinking with contempt look at these Icelanders marking their territory everywhere or if they were simply thinking my god, these people can eat! Well, there were some Belgians in the group so they had their share of the food.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

photo credit: 
top: Lisbeth Dahl
bottom: from Set with Style by Caroline Clifton-Mogg,
photograph by Simon Upton via {this is glamorous}

Tuesday 24 May 2011

volkstraat charm II

It seems like Volkstraat, which is an old cobblestone street, charmed you guys yesterday so why not go there again. Next to Caffé Internazionale – and no, I do not get a free latte for mentioning them – is an organic bakery, de Biologisch-Dynamische Bakkerij (just go ahead and pronounce it anyway you want, no one will blame you). I don't know how to describe it but entering is sort of like stepping into another world; it has an old charm to it and everything looks so yummy. The friendly staff is a bonus.

I hope to see you in Antwerp one day! 


photo credit: Lisa Hjalt

Monday 23 May 2011

volkstraat charm


I decided to give you another peek into Antwerp today. This time I'm taking you to Volkstraat street in the district of 't Zuid (the South). It's a trendy district that started blooming again in the mid 1980s and I always get the feeling that everyone there is either an artist or going to/coming from an art gallery. You get the picture.


Volkstraat is full of shops, cafés, and beautiful buildings. It's simply wonderful to walk there and breathe in the atmosphere. I took these photos yesterday when we went to Caffé Internazionale, the first café I went to with the Icelandic girls who live here (I've told you about it before). If you look at the photo of Volkstraat above, the café is to the left where you see the awnings. Apart from a sore throat my latte was simply wonderful; we sat outside in the sun, feeling a light breeze blowing, which was refreshing. May I add that when we were sitting there a very active volcano, Grímsvötn, was erupting back home in Iceland. Let's hope it won't cause another air travel chaos as Eyjafjallajökull did last year.

I hope you had a nice weekend and that you're ready to tackle the week.


photo credit: Lisa Hjalt

Friday 20 May 2011

on my coffee table

For a few days I've been winking at a new book on my coffee table and now that my busy days are over I'm about to start reading it. It's a biography, Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life by Justine Picardie, over three hundred pages long and contains many photographs. It's a beautiful hardcover and I cannot wait to relax on my chaise lounge and enjoy the reading.

I'm wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

photo credit: Lisa Hjalt

Thursday 19 May 2011

quick hello

Just a quick hello with a few photos of homemade crispbread – healthy and delicious.

photo credit: LatteLisa for kitchen & aroma

Wednesday 18 May 2011

midweek greeting

I'll be busy until Friday so I simply wanted to say that I'm already looking forward to viewing your
blogs on Friday with a large bowl of latte and biscotti.

I hope your weekdays will be fun and fruitful!


photo credit:
Lisa Hjalt

Tuesday 17 May 2011

home of an artist

Imagine being an artist and living in a place like this one! German artist Katrin Arens turned this
ancient nunnery into a home and a studio. It's located in the Italian region of Lombardy, by the
river Adda, not so far from Milan. I love the white, crisp and raw look.

I think it's best to let the photos do all the talking (I left one out so click the link below if you
want to see it and read the article in French).


photo credit: Maire Claire Maison

Monday 16 May 2011

hi there antwerp

photo credit: Lisa Hjalt

We had to postpone our trip to Lake Genval on Saturday but we went for a little drive instead. We drove through the Kennedy tunnel to the other side of the Schelde river, to a district called Linkeroever, which translates the left river bank. From there the view of Antwerp is simply gorgeous, at least in my opinion: You see the Cathedral of Our Lady in all its glory and its surroundings. The Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries (also called Benelux Countries, which stands for Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). On the riverbank in Linkeroever there is a wonderful green area with many playgrounds for children, beautiful trees, and benches where you can relax and enjoy the view and activity on the river.

I have a busy week ahead and I hope yours is starting well.

Saturday 14 May 2011

joanna henderson

photo credit: Joanna Henderson

Some time ago I found the website of photographer Joanna Henderson and to my wonderful surprise
I realized that a kitchen photo I had posted in February, without finding the source, belonged to her.
I contacted her right away and she gave me permission to keep that photo on my blog and post a few
others.

I'm not pretending to be an authority on photography but I know when I see beautiful photos. There
is something about the lighting in Joanna Henderson's photos that I absolutely love and I find myself
drawn to the beautiful interiors she has photographed. I have to add that it wasn't easy choosing
which photos to use in this post so I hope you visit her website to view her work.

I'm off to Lake Genval to enjoy a lazy Saturday. Have a wonderful day!

Thursday 12 May 2011

dreamland

This is actually a guest post by my almost six-year old who chose the images and came up with the title. He even said the word dreamland in English when I told him that his post had to have a title. I have to say that I'm impressed. It was funny watching his reaction when going through my ideas folder; he knew exactly which photographs he wanted to use and they're all from Country Living, taken by three different photographers.

Finally, an important message from my son to you all: Dreamland means a land of dreams and go buy a new sofa.

You heard him people, go buy a new sofa!


photo credit:
top-left: Robin Stubbert for Country Living
top-right: Wendell T. Webber for Country Living
bottom: Aimee Herring for Country Living

Wednesday 11 May 2011

k&a recipe: biscotti

As most of you already know I love latte (as if the name of my blog hasn't already given that away). What I love even more is dipping a biscotti into my latte. I never buy biscotti, I always make them myself and today I'm sharing a biscotti recipe on my food blog, kitchen & aroma. The recipe is from my friend CafeSigrun, whom I've already introduced you to.

I probably don't have to tell you that I'm enjoying latte and biscotti while writing this post. Have a wonderful day everyone!

photo credit: Lisa Hjalt

Tuesday 10 May 2011

white & serene

I decided to stick with cottages today. This one is on Fire Island, NY, and belongs to Alex Bates, the creative director of west elm (could someone please phone them and ask them to open a shop in Europe a.s.a.p.). Again we have the colour white but now with some blue shades. The living room looks serene; I can easily picture myself reading a book with the fire burning. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love the vintage look of the kitchen – the light blue Martha Stewart latte bowls in that cupboard, mon dieu! And I really like the oversized chess pieces out on the deck. Please click on the link below to view more of the beautiful photos by William Waldron.


photo credit: William Waldron for Country Living

Monday 9 May 2011

red, white & vintage

I have to say that I wouldn't mind having a house in the French countryside, where I could embrace my love for vintage style. I'd fill it with white and then add at least one colour to spice things up, just as the owner of this Hamptons home has done so fabulously with red (click on the link below to see more images). A girl can dream, right?

I hope the weekend treated you well and that you have a wonderful week ahead!


photo credit: John Kernick for House Beautiful