SJP x 73

Today's (or more like last week's aka I only got around to posting about it today) major interior envy: Sarah Jessica Parker's West Village brownstone. Haven't you always wanted to know what her place looks like? Well now's your chance (and don't tell me I'm the only nosey person around here ;)! In this unconventional Vogue interview, you can catch a glimpse of SJP's super cool house. I was pleasantly surprised by the lived-in feel of the interior - from the super cool green velvet sofa (I never would have thought this would be a good combo, but I think I need one... NOW) to her light-up globes, this place is right up my alley. 
I also loved the crazy 73-question interview that Vogue did with SJP as part of the "house tour". Fun, super-fast and inspiring. Here are a few interesting tidbits from the interview:
SJP's favourite movie is The Way We Were.
Vietnam is a country she would like to visit the most.
A book that she read in school and that positively shaped her was To Kill a Mockingbird.
Apparently, we should all be following @thewordoftheday.
Her favorite drink is Coca-Cola.
Watch the video for more (and tell me which part of her house you liked the most! :). 

It's Been Awhile.

Well hello there!

I can't believe the last time I blogged was (*gasp*) June 3... 2013! What the what?

So much has happened since then... I:

• visited Helsinki (twice!), Maastricht, Rotterdam and last but not least, Hamburg (I totally fell in love with this ultra hip & super friendly city)
• saw a lot of great films and read some amazing books (have you read this one yet? If not... DO IT. NOW.)
• fell in love with Prague (hipster) cafés. There's so many cool cafés popping up all over the city - they're my new obsession! If you'd like to keep up with my café gallivanting, check out my Instagram. A word of warning: if you're not into latte art, don't even think of clicking on the latter link
• got into pilates, power yoga and working out in general. While I may never be a true gym rat, I'm totally enjoying keeping fit (I'm also currently trying to put together the perfect fitness wardrobe... not very wallet-friendly, let me tell ya!)

Why have I been gone for so long? I guess I just needed a (looong) break from blogging. I gotta admit, I don't read as many blogs as I used to. I still love the blogosphere, but I'm more careful with what I check out on a daily basis.

Having said that, I am super excited to be back. I already have a few posts lined up, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at least some of you haven't given up on me. Till next time... or should I say, see you soon? :)

Iittala Leimu lamps

I've been pinning up a storm lately, which has led me to rediscover my love for Iittala. I first got to know about Iittala when I was living in Helsinki (couldn't have been more fitting :). Finland has definitely shaped my appreciation of clean & simple design that's also highly functional (yup, I think it must be prettttty clear by now... I LOVE simplicity :).

This is why I'm totally head over heels for these Leimu lamps. They were created by Norwegian-born & London-based designer Magnus Pettersen for Iittala and were exhibited at Clarkenwell Design Week. I love the use of the word 'Leimu' as well - it means 'flame' in Finnish and since the use of light is a really important part of Nordic design, I think they couldn't have picked a better name.

The lamps have concrete bottoms but they are mainly made of glass. Pettersen has indicated that he wanted to 'combine opposites in a lamp'. Don't you think this lamp totally evokes cold & warmth? I love everything about it - the shape, the materials, the orange glass shade. Sophisticated yet cozy! Coming to an Iittala store near you this September (totally adding this to my wishlist ;).

Story via Dezeen
Original article by Dan Howarth, photos via Iittala

Basics

Lately I've been into basics - simple blue shirts, dark jeans and chic flats. Basics have (more or less) even taken over my Pinterest boards. And yeah, I've been into a sort of J.Crew/preppy-ish/Emmanuelle Alt-ish aesthetic for quite some time, but these days I'm a fan of a more pared down look. That's why I'm in love with last week's new purchases:

1. My first Ray-Bans! I've been dreaming of these sunglasses for a few years now and now they're finally mine!

2. Vagabond flats. Vagabond is my favourite (accessible) shoe brand. Leave it to the Swedes to make high-quality shoes that are simple, cool and elegant. Major love!

Have you bought any fun new things lately? Let me know!

P.S.: The weather in Prague has been really crappy lately, but this weekend I'm actually secretly happy that it's raining (shh!). I think I'll just stay at home with my new book (shh #2 - even English majors need a break from Virginia Woolf sometimes ;). Hope your weekend is relaxing and cozy!

Role Model.

Robyn 'Dancing On My Own' (Official Video) from Robyn on Vimeo.
Do you have role models? I think it's important to have people who inspire you to go the extra mile (did that just rhyme? I'm trying to be all deep and this is what comes out... great). Robyn is definitely one of my role models - despite outward appearances, she hasn't always had it easy. She's had to work hard and in the end she's come out on top. I love her music but I also love her take on life. She rocks. 
P.S.: I know my blog has been in hibernation mode as of late, and it makes me sad because I miss having all the time in the world to blog. I have decided that I will set myself some blogging goals and see where that takes me. I love writing and I love blogging, and I'm excited to be back! :) 

Signs of Spring

These are my personal signs of spring. What are yours?

Plus, here's what's been keeping me busy lately:

Revenge. I love this show! Nolan Ross (played by Gabriel Mann) is my favourite character. Awkward, snarky, sarcastic AND a (really young) billionaire. Sexy. :)

Music by Mumford & Sons. Bliss. They played a gig in Prague yesterday and I'm super bummed it was sold out. Everyone's raving about it now.

Excited for some amazing concerts - I'll be seeing Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding in April and The XX in May. Music awesomeness awaits!

My style crush isn't a girl... or a guy. It's the coolest dog ever. Can I have all of his outfits, please?

I'm still obsessed with my Galaxy SIII Mini phone & Instagram! Here's my Instagram account.

Trying to read as many books as possible and failing miserably. I really haven't been reading that much lately and I'm not too happy about it. I need to step my game up because I want to finish NaNoWriMo this year!

P.S.: Sorry for the sporadic posting lately... I spend way too much time on the computer, so I'm trying to do other things when I'm not working (still failing miserably... but hopefully I'll get there).

Betty & Me In Paris

Today's post is totally French-inspired. And no, I'm not in Paris at the moment (I wish I was, though!) - but I did feel a bit like a Parisian after my visit to Paul today. I always wonder if Paul truly is a Maison de Qualité Fondée en 1889 or if it's just a huge Czech patisserie chain & a clever marketing ploy. Seriously, does anyone else have Paul in their country? OK, I guess it doesn't matter because their stuff is pretty good (apart from the macaroons... I guess one really needs to go to Paris to get the real thing). Today I treated myself to a raisin snail and it was trop bien (today is also National Cheesy Post Day, didn't you know?). I'm such a sugarholic. Like I need something sweet after every meal. :(
Anyway! I thought I could combine my French-pastry-eating endeavours with a lovely French-themed video (which also features food!). I came across 'Betty in Paris' last week and immediately fell in love. If you love Paris, Amélie, macaroons and/or are a bit of a dreamer, you'll adore this video. It reminded me of my own visit to Paris in 2011 - as cliché as it may sound, it really was one of the best holidays ever. It's actually funny that I'm saying this because I was always one of those 'hmm, Paris... it's a bit overrated, isn't it?' people. Turns out I had to visit it twice in order to fall in love. And yeah, when I was in Paris 2 years ago, I really did feel like Betty (National CPD all over again...). 
'Betty in Paris' is part of the Olive Us series - the latter is made by Ben and Gabrielle Blair and features their six(!!!) kids. The Blair family is American and they've been living in Normandy for over a year. You can check out Gabrielle's blog, Design Mom, here. 

Betty In Paris from Olive Us on Vimeo.
Video via Prêt à Voyager

New World

Today I visited two palaces in the National Gallery (free this weekend :) and afterwards I decided to go for a walk in 'Nový Svět' ('New World' in English). Nový Svět is an area close to the Prague Castle - it's composed of narrow streets and picturesque houses. I'm such a sucker for old street lamps, cobblestones and cozy little houses, so I adore Nový Svět. I'm really proud of the photos I took as well - not because they are exceptional - my Photoshop skills are still non-existent - but because I managed to pry myself away from my phone & Instagram and actually took the above photos with my *gasp* CAMERA. I still love you, my dear IXUS...

I love how the streets were super empty and the street lamps were just being switched on. Really magical. Next week, I want to go back and actually visit the café you can see in the last picture. It's got a fireplace as well! 

Julian's 11th Dimension

Just a song for tonight. The Strokes are back with a new song and while everyone seems to hate it, I'm in love. OK, I do love Julian's (yes, of course we're on a first name basis) deep voice, I just love love love the new song. I've been on a Strokes high & came across this song which was part of Julian's solo project. I'm totally digging the 80s vibe. This man can really do no wrong. :)

Danish Days

Eek - I can't believe the last time I posted was January 3rd. I feel like so much has happened since then. I've been quite busy with work stuff & got really addicted to my new phone & got even more addicted to Instagram (you can follow me here - social media buttons are in the works!). Oh and I also sprained my hand last week (damn those icy streets of Prague! also, thank you, unknown gentleman who tried to help me, I appreciate it :) - it's nothing too serious but as you can see, I've been quite busy.

I've also been enjoying ALL THE SNOW (even though it kind of caused my injury...). Prague looks so pretty clad in white and since I'm not a huge fan of summer and heat, this kind of weather is right up my alley. Plus, what could be better (and cozier) than watching Danish crime TV shows when it's freezing outside? I hope I don't sound like a granny, but I admit I'm totally into the Danish TV show The Killing. I just finished the second season & it was just as amazing as the first one. Next up - me wearing a traditional Faroese sweater, just like Sarah Lund.

Last week, I went to see the Danish film The Hunt, which was also pretty epic. Or more like jaw-dropping. It's definitely no walk in the park (watch the trailer here and you'll see what I mean) but I loved it. Mads Mikkelsen killed it. Seriously, what is it about the Danish? They (& their hotness) can do no wrong in my book.

Today I thought of posting a few Instagram photos as part of my big 'return' to the blogosphere, but then I realized that I don't really want to duplicate content like that. I might do it in the future, but what I love the most about my favourite blogs is the fact that they produce fresh posts that I find really inspiring. My goal for 2013 is to produce (super awesome) original content! Which brings me to my question of the day: what kind of posts would you like to see more of on this blog? Illustrations, exhibition reviews, fashion stuff, design and interiors? Or something else (new) altogether? Let me know! :) xx

Photo sources: 1, 2

Burberry Spring/Summer 2013 Campaign

Today the Burberry Spring/Summer 2013 Campaign with Romeo Beckham came out (you might have already seen the shorter 'teaser' - it came out a few weeks ago) and I gotta say, I like it. Burberry campaigns are always fresh (I know a lot of people have been complaining about Romeo Beckham's modelling debut, but I actually think he was the perfect choice for the campaign - the kid's a natural :), don't take themselves too seriously & are paired with really good British music. Hats off to Christopher Bailey, Burberry's creative director - he resurrected Burberry as an iconic British brand & gave it his own youthful twist. Plus he knows just how important social media is in this day and age - Burberry's Facebook page is pretty awesome. I always love watching interviews with Christopher Bailey, he really does seem genuinely passionate about his work. Time to start saving up for that trench coat...

P.S.: You can watch my favourite Burberry campaigns here and here. I just love them!

2013 Resolutions

This will be a super duper quick one (I just took a shower, my hair is still wet and I've got a New Year's Eve party to go to... ahhh!!).

I love making lists (don't judge me :) so I thought I should make a New Year Resolution list (I was inspired by Lois's '28 before 29' list, which is way better than mine). I kept it short and sweet and really focused on things I TRULY want to accomplish or get done in 2013 (more on NaNoWriMo later... this is one of my biggest goals for 2013).

Happy New Year everyone! See you in 2013 (exciting!) - I know it will be a blast!

Gore Design Co. Sinks

Apologies once again for not posting for a few weeks. I promised myself that I would NOT apologize anymore - after all, this is my blog and I would like to post whenever I'm inspired to do so and not because I feel I have to. On the other hand, I would definitely like to post more frequently... Ugh, I promise I won't bore you with the same old speech every single time I'm a bit behind my 'blog' schedule (seriously). 

So, how come I haven't posted in yonks? I think there came a point where I was just getting a bit fed up with all the Christmas-related posts on all the blogs I read. Yes, this sounds a bit Bah-Humbug-ish and I swear I still love all those blogs dearly (& Christmas!) but it was just getting a bit too much. And then I got sick on Christmas Eve which didn't really help with my blog amnesia. I did have a really nice Christmas, all things considered. Buuut... I think I'm ready for a new chapter and I'm really excited for 2013! Bring it on!

Today I wanted to put a spotlight on some awesome design. I haven't really posted about anything design-related (apart from Joke's Gift Guide, which was, obviously, a guest post :), so I thought it was about time. 

I recently came across these awesome sinks by Gore Design Co., an artisan studio from Tempe, Arizona, specializing in custom concrete surfaces and interiors, and immediately fell in love. Even though I'm not sure if I'd buy them for my dream house, I still think they're pretty cool. 

I really love design that's 'different' and maybe pushes the boundaries a bit. And I even love design which may not exactly be my cup of tea - I know that may sound strange, but I guess I can simply appreciate things even though they're not conventionally 'pretty'.

What do you think, are you a fan of these sinks?

Tomorrow, I will be posting about New Year's resolutions, so stay tuned! And thank you so much for coming back to the blog & commenting, I really appreciate it! :)

P.S.: I'm now on Pinterest (well I have been for a while, I just never informed you guys - oops!). Totally addicted! :)

All photos by Gore Design Co., via Design Milk

Lovely Cards

I loooove getting things in the mail! Seriously, I think I'm one of the few people who still send letters and postcards on a regular basis (although I have to admit, I haven't sent anything in a while.. and I'm not happy about it). This is what was waiting for me when I got home today - two lovely cards from two different countries. One from my friend Gígja from Iceland and another one from Simone from Taiwan, who also sent me really cute washi tapes (soo exciting!!! :). Thank you guys, you really made my day! 

Guest Post: Dutch Design Gift Guide

I'm baaaaack. I feel like I have been saying this way too many times lately (way too much for my liking anyway). Anyway, back to something more exciting: today's post is by one of my favourite people ever, Joke! I asked her whether she'd be up for compiling a Dutch design gift guide a while back (as you can see from her tumblr, she's got a great eye for design) and she came up with some really cool stuff! I know this gift guide is a bit late, but that's totally MY fault - Joke sent it to me some time ago. Also, I'm pretty sure some last-minute Christmas shoppers (or am I the only one? ;) will appreciate these rad ideas. 

Hi Third Culture Cool fans! Martina asked me to come up with some nice gift ideas. So here is some Dutch design inspiration!

1.       For anyone who is forced to take their shot of caffeine from the office coffee machine; Rob Brandt’s crushed cups at least make it look good.

2.       For the bird lover who wants to give her garden visitors a three star dining experience; Marcel Wanders Birdhouse.

3.       For your friend who just loves a good leather bag; My Paper Bag by Ramon Middelkoop.

4.       To brighten up your kitchen; Tejo Remy’s famous Milk Bottle Lamp (single).

5.       For the IKEA-lovers out there. A Dutch-Swedish collaboration; PS Jonsberg designed by Hella Jongerius.

6.       This lamp which will put a smile on everyone’s face; Miffy!

7.       Interesting (and expensive…) World Skin Colors Scarves for your friends from all over the world by Reineke Otten.

Thank you SO much, Joke! What's your favourite item? I just love the Miffy lamp - I will definitely have to buy it one day. :) The crushed cups are pretty amazing as well.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

Baby, It's Cold Outside.

Today I got my wish - snow! It's been snowing for a few hours now and Prague suddenly looks completely different. The Old Town especially looks really magical (except for Old Town Square.. I'll never be a fan of the Christmas market there, wayyy too touristy & crowded). I met up with my friend Jitka in the afternoon and we went to a cozy little cafe close to the Charles Bridge. Afterwards, I just had to snap some super touristy pics on said bridge. The pic of my friend and I was taken by a really funny man who first insisted on taking a picture with me ('the photo will be really nice if I'm in it') and then finally offered to take a pic of the two us. :D All in all, I had a really cozy day today! 

What have you been up to?

P.S.: So many blogs have really cool Christmas posts this year, so here are some Christmas-themed links for your enjoyment:

Christmas in Copenhagen.

Fun gift ideas by Maiju, whom I interviewed a while back. 

DIY Christmas tree.

Brittany from The House that Lars Built has asked her favourite Scandinavian bloggers to share their personal Christmas traditions in her 'My Scandinavian Christmas' column. Every day leading up to Christmas, a different blogger shares their story.

Cool Christmas giveaway.

A really touching Christmas ad.

Aaaand... a thrifty Christmas gift guide. 

Emerald 2013

Firstly, I'd like to apologize for going AWOL - it was not my intention, but sometimes life happens (OK, I think my 'cheesy statement' limit for this post is officially up :). I am getting really excited to blog more over the holidays (a gift guide may be in the works ;).

Today I wanted to talk about the colour emerald green. Why? Every December, Pantone releases its colour of the coming year and this year, emerald green ('17-5641 Emerald' to be more precise) is the 'winner'. Check out Pantone's Holiday Look Book Pinterest board, which features emerald green-inspired gift ideas. Plus, isn't this emerald iPhone 5 case really cool?

What do you think of this choice? Personally, I love it. It's a bit strange for me to say, though, because I've never really been a fan of the colour green (not only emerald, but most shades of green). That all changed this summer though - I think I got bored of always (ALWAYS) buying pastel-coloured clothes and, well, things in general. I also fell in love with this nailpolish - it so wasn't 'me', but I think that's why I loved it (and love it) even more. Sometimes you need a crazy pop of colour in your life.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the whole emerald subject. Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas holiday season (I'm still waiting for snow). x

Story via Whitney Port
Photo from Christmas Stock Images

Guest Post - Washi Tape Christmas DIY

Today's post is a bit of a blogging milestone - it's the first guest post here at Third Culture Cool. I recently asked Jana from Mode de Boulangerie, one of my favourite Czech blogs, whether she'd be up for writing a guest post for my blog. Needless to say, she was more than happy to do so, and in return I contributed to her blog (I compiled a Christmas gift guide, check it out!).

I guess Jana is a mind-reader because her guest post DIY is washi-tape-themed (and you all know my obsession with the latter ;). (English version in italics)

-----------------------

Dobrý den! Dnes jsem tady na návštěvě a proto jsem chtěla přispět něčím, co mě baví, co mám ráda, co mě tak trochu vystihuje. Ráda se obklopuji krásnými věcmi a snad se mi v tomto duchu daří zařizovat i naše bydlení. Proto jsem se rozhodla o příspěvek typu DIY, který mi bude navíc blízký i tématicky. Tvoření ve spojení s interiérem mě neskutečně naplňuje a je to můj největší koníček hned po mém blogu. Tvoření s washi páskami je velká zábava a když si tím ještě zkrášlím bydlení, tak to vůbec nemá chybu. Kdo mě čte pravidelně ví o mé posedlosti po parůžcích. Miluju jeleny! Proto, když jsem viděla tento obrázek, bylo rozhodnuto.

Hello! Since I'm a 'guest' on this blog, I wanted to contribute with something that I like, something that's 'me'. I like to surround myself with beautiful things and I tend to decorate my house keeping that in mind. This is why I decided to do a DIY guest post which would also be close to my heart thematically. One of my biggest hobbies - apart from blogging - is working on the interior of my house. Working with washi tapes is a lot of fun and when I get to make my house prettier when using said tapes, it's even better. My regular readers know that I am obsessed with antlers. I love deer! This is why, when I saw the photo below, I knew what I wanted to do.

Pro toto vánoční období mi bude ozdobou jelení hlava vytvořena washi páskami. 

This Christmas holiday, my place will be decorated with a washi tape mounted deer head.

Thank you so much, Jana! Isn't this a really cool idea? And really easy as well (perfect for people who aren't such skilled crafters.. *cough cough*.. ME). This year, I won't be able to make this mounted deer head (not enough space). Hopefully that will change sometime in the near future.

First photo by Therese Winberg, styled by Linda Åhman, via PLAZA Interiör.

Birthday

Today is my birthday (I'm 27... I feel ooooold). I just wanted to share the above pic of me back in the day - check out my hipster hair (and my emo expression.. ha)!

I spent the day with my family eating lots of good food.

AAAND... this video totally made my day! Joke, you rock.

Interview with Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen

Today I bring you guys a special treat! I recently came across the artist Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen and I immediately fell in love. His dream-like paintings were unlike anything I had seen before. I was interested in finding out about the inspiration behind Henrik's art, so I asked him whether he would be up for an email interview. And he said yes! His answers are honest and thought-provoking. Definitely a rising star in the art world! 

What prompted you to become an artist? Tell us about your personal journey.

I have always done and enjoyed art. Mostly drawings. It is probably the only thing I've been remotely good at. But at the same time, I didn't really manage to pull off exactly what I wanted. It wasn't before I reached the age of around 21, under my education for being a teacher, that I discovered oil painting, and with that decided that it was indeed an artist that I wanted to be. With oil painting I could do what I previously had failed to do.

Which artists inspire you the most? Are there any young artists such as yourself which are among your favourites?

I find inspiration in a lot of different artists, both living and dead. From concept art to classic fine art and photography. Many of these artists are young, in their 20-30-40's. 

Your paintings are one-of-a-kind - in my opinion, they represent a return to realism while also retaining a very individual, 'contemporary' quality. And then there is also the indescribable dream-like quality of the art - it is as if we have all seen these paintings in a previous life. Can you tell us a little bit behind this concept?

Thank you for that. I'm always striving for better craftsmanship in my art, as I think that modernist art have neglected it for many years. It seems that the appreciation of a well executed piece of art, with solid craftsmanship is on an offensive. A renaissance. I agree that a good idea is important in art. But if the idea is the only thing with the piece, it should be an amazing idea. Which I think many of the conceptual artists today don't have. Of course with some exceptions. 

I have certain works with very concrete motives, and some that I simply don't know how to describe with words. I have always been fascinated by art that is both beautiful and dark. Art that is subtle and dual. That has perhaps rubbed of on the way my paintings look.  

I feel like your art is very 'Scandinavian' - the subtle hues, the soft emotions... Is your art influenced in any way by your nationality? Do you think the fact that you're Norwegian permeates your artworks?

I do believe that growing up in Norway has a lot to do with how my paintings look today. On the other hand, much of my inspiration has come over the internet. I also think that it's hard to define a specific style as typical Scandinavian. We have all sorts of art. But I'm sure the long winters have an effect on the mind. We do have black metal as one of our biggest exports. 

How do you think your style will develop in the future? Would you also like to beging working on completely different projects?

I have no idea. I live from painting to painting. It's so many things I want to do. Luckily I have a lot of years left to do just that. 

What was the most exciting point in your career so far?

I would have to say that making the cover on Hi Fructose vol. 24 was pretty damn cool! I have loved that magazine a long time.

Which of your own artworks is your favourite? 

I personally like the pieces where I have challenged myself with complex buildings and backgrounds the best. But the pieces I enjoy the most in the process is without doubt the portraits. I love painting portraits. 

And finally, a question I have to ask... What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Bust a move! And also, practice a lot. 

Thank you so much, Henrik!
All photos courtesy of Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen.
Thank you Simone for the inspiration!