BLUEPRINT FOR MY FUTURE APARTMENT

See the entire home right here

I'm going crazy for Alvhem, the Swedish real estate website which I mentioned in my previous post. The vibes, colours and looks for all these homes are beyond stunning and I'm drawing a lot of inspiration for the future through their styling.

It's actually insane how fast taste changes. In the time span between when I stopped blogging and right now, my taste has changed dramatically. What I used to preach and pander on about " Drama, colour, movement " is something that's quickly fading into the background to make way for.... nothingness. No colour,  no movement. Just stillness and pared back colours and textures ( or lack there of )

The oatmeal and dust coloured bedding completes the bedroom to make it truly a nest of comfort for the owner 

This apartment grabbed my attention immediately. We tend to go through thousands of photos in a month of idyllic surroundings, rooms and destinations but rarely do we ever find the " OMG" moment. This was it for me, I found my oh my god moment. This room is the blueprint for wherever I move out to in the future. Most likely, it will be an apartment and although that thought brings joy to me, it also stirs up fear as well since my last three living situations came with awful neighbours who made my life hell. 

Clear, glass vases are sparkling to the eye and inject an immediate 'clean' and 'sharp' feel to any room 

The gorgeous thing about this apartment, is that it has all the good parts about the Scandi look minus the 'budget' vibe that came with it as the trend set deeper and deeper into the interior design world. I love the colours here, the natural fibers and the no fuss, no detail cleanliness that comes about that. My favourite pieces of furniture has got to be the round, white dining table and the wooden chairs. The entire apartment is decked out in only around ten colours with four being the leaders of the medley.

Although colour is receding further and further away for me in relevance, I will always have a place for it in my heart. I always feel like reiterating that because I don't see myself as one of those people who 'hate' colour. But when I look at my own life I never wear it or use it. But I love it... colour is an emotional experience for me, I can't let go of it completely. I suppose it's not being forgotten entirely, but rather it's taking a different turn.

This shot compelled me to save it to my computer because of how similar the set out is to the apartments that you find in Melbourne. All the other apartments on Alvhem are perfect but the design and aesthetic is really something that is more common in Europe and not in Australia. With this one, the design is generic, I've seen it many, many times on real estate websites in Melbourne and so it was a realistic and helpful choice for what is immediately achievable. 

Avoiding colour and pattern guarantees the home to have a more calming and serene atmosphere - two things I'm always trying to seek more of in life 

Another thing that I love about this apartment is that its look is easy and inexpensive to achieve. You can virtually get everything you see at Ikea and that's absolutely fine by me. There's no shame in shopping there like some people think there is. If you're a young person, realistically, where else are you going to go? If you have a good eye, nobody will care where you get your items from. Trust me, I and everybody I know do it all the time.

The best part is that I won't have to spend a fortune to complete this look for when the big day comes of me moving out again. What's the blue print for your future apartment or ideal home?

LATEST PURCHASES : WRANGLER, COS, UNIQLO, ASOS

 Guys, I know what you're thinking. Yalei has a shopping problem. I totally don't blame you for thinking it but I wish I didn't have this feeling of needing to justify my spending but I swear that my funds are totally under control! Haha, how do I even lead on from here? I decided to go to Chadstone on the Labour day long weekend because Chadstone is seriously one of my happy places. It sounds so silly to have a shopping center as your happy place, but whenever I go there I immediately switch to Chadstone mode which is literally forget your problems, your responsibilities, your anxieties - just browse, look and shop. 

If that isn't the best PR spin then I don't know what is and the funniest thing is, it's totally true. I had one thing in mind when I went there and that was to get the Rayon blouse from uniqlo. This is my FAVOURITE item from Uniqlo. I own three of them now - the light blue, the navy blue and the white. These feel so good on, really silky and slinky and they fall on the body in the most flattering shape. Right now they're reduced to $39.90 so I knew I had to grab the light blue which I'd been coveting for a long time. 

When I find a good print that I like, usually there's a 95% chance of me purchasing. That figure ups to 100% if the cut of the top is good. Good patterns are very hard to find. Usually most of them are either too retro, too naff or just wrong in general. This one was perfect because it's modern and not retro or naff at all. I tried it on and the colour was super flattering as well. I also liked it because it's quite reminiscent of the tie dye tops that Proenza Schouler did as shown here

Although denim is worn by pretty much everybody, it's still a common complaint I hear around with women ( especially, dunno about guys too much ) that denim shopping is a pain in the ass. I get where they're coming from because jeans are very hard to work with and double so if you're trying on REAL denim. For me though, denim is my favourite item of clothing. I think I own around five or six pairs of jeans which I think is a lot but I am definitely looking to start buying more pricey denim because let me tell you, the fit and feel is SO different from regular denim. 

I bought these Wranglers yesterday from Universal store. It was so funny because I went in with no intention of buying anything and ended up leaving the store with these. I don't regret the purchase one bit though because they fit perfectly. They slim me down and make my legs look longer than they are and best of all, they're real denim. It made me see that more times than not, you get what you pay for because these are my most expensive pair ( $140 ) but they feel as if they are.

Asos is like my go to when I'm literally bored and have nothing to do and want to browse somewhere that's cheap and affordable but still has good designs that are gonna look good. I haven't bought from them in a while but its made somewhat of a resurgence for me and this top is the latest item I've bought from them. You can have a look at it here, it's still on sale. I've gotten more into wearing darker colours lately because I've actually been making myself do it. I'm more of a light colours girl - beiges, greys, whites and the like. But dark colours have that instant maturity factor and you know how I'm always on that journey of trying to look older. 

I really love this top for its flowy shape and also the embroidery detail on the front. It's a really flattering top that would suit all body shapes and sizes and looks awesome with just a simple necklace and some jeans.

Denfair design loop is officially on now and I've got some events I'm going to go to for PFF. Keep your eyes peeled next week for those entries! There'll be photos of lots of nice furniture and tapestries and textiles as well. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend

Also, if you're interested here's my latest published piece on Est about A-Place, a new concept air bnb located in Warsaw, Poland 

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DESIGNER DIARY : JAIME BERIESTAIN

The Philosofia Book Cafe here
" We had to buy some 4,000 volumes to emphasise the book-cafe concept" 
I can't get enough of this stunning cafe. The golden glow of the interior creates a truly intimate atmosphere, stunning

More shots from the Philosofia book cafe . I adore the display case for the pastries and cakes and the open book stand just above it. Crazy for this space 

There are some spaces which are designed to make you want to be in them. Jamie Beriestain's spaces are those types exactly. Whether this was an intentional part of his design process or not, the warmth and femininity of his interiors communicates comfort and luxury which is what motivated me to feature him on Designer Diary this week.

Beriestain established his design and interiors studio in 2002 after ten years of study in his native homeland of Chile. His firm has amassed an impressive clientele including but not limited to Hilton Hotels, The Waldorf Astoria, The Mariott and The Hyatt Regency. Restaurants as well as residential projects are included also in his practice with regions such as Europe, The Bahamas and Ibiza included. Today, his team consists of up to 28 people all working around the clock to put pen to paper, bricks to mortar on his designs.

In 2016, Architectural Digest awarded him as the " Best Interior Designer of Spain " which is needless to say, a huge privilege and achievement putting him on the priority list of brands and commercial enterprises all over Europe.  

Diputacion Apartments here, Young yet refined choice of objects for this shelfie. Loving the bright pop of Orange and the set of blue vases on the top shelf 

Diputacion Apartments here, I am getting a slight Japanese undertone in this apartment from the light wood to the greenery 

Saint Gervasi Residence here, One of the focal points of this project was to instill a natural flow when entertaining and receiving guests : " It is an apartment designed to receive guests in the traditional way, with clearly divided areas : one for social life ( living room, dining room, terrace ) and the other for private life ( rooms, bathrooms..etc ) "

Saint Gervasi Residence here, "The initial concept was to create a Paris-Style noble apartment"

Saint Gervasi Residence Here

It's unsurprising that restaurants and hotels form a large part of his work as his vision and aesthetic go hand in hand with the ideal hospitality experience. The soft lines and plushness of his designs are nurturing and comforting, no matter which project we're looking at there is a softness to it all. Simply being in his interiors would bring a true sense of being 'well looked after'. 

Geneva Residence here

Geneva Residence here 

Geneva Residence here

Hotel Almanac Barcelona here, Really liking the golden glow that seems to be a frequent feature of his lighting design 

Hotel Almanac Barcelona here

Hotel Vincci Mae here

"The first thing needed is to understand and know my client well.  I need to know their needs, how they like to live, the colour scheme that they like, the type of textures they prefer to be in contact with" source

I like thinking about this quote from a decorating perspective. We often overlook the dozens of details that come together to make up a living experience for us. For me, Colour and materials matter to me the most. I love texture as a visual communicator and not just as a tactile one. I find smooth surfaces to be my favourite but then again, I also love the pixellated roughness of stone and iron. Colour, something which I'm crazy for is also something that affects us quite immediately. Our preferences tell others more than we think, giving all sorts of clues on how we 'like to live'. 

Pujades Residence here, Uplifting tiling and greenery combination 

Pujades Residence, here 

Pujades Residence, here 

Hotel The One, Barcelona here, My favourite is the booth and the row of round feature tables. Another aspect of Beriestain's work that I love is his choice of materials. Marble, leather and suede seem to be staples 

Hotel Almanac Vienna here, Bright, beautiful and Boutique 

Rambla Residence here, This walk in closet makes getting dressed feel like a real life shop experience 

Impar Restaurant, here, Part of Beriestain's design includes making a point of displaying objects in attractive and interesting ways. The glass lined casing and the masses of crockery in the back shelves make an example of this 

Impar Restaurant, here, The opening of Impar is set to be this year ( 2018 ) 

Be So Lounge & Bar here 

Hotel Paseo De Gracia here, Very trendy decorating happening here with the pastel pink chairs and globe lighting fixtures 

Jaime's Concept Shop here, He goes on to explain, " The initial concept of this shop was to design a space like it was an extension of my home and lifestyle. Actually, many of the products in the shop are also in my home"

Chic and stylish spaces with European ideals are at the centre of Beriestain's work. His spaces show sensitivity to visual and tactile experiences and are prime examples of luxury done right. Knowing ones own style values and having an allegiance to them allows designers to make a stand for their vision. How does he want to be remembered?

"The dream of any designer is that their designs are timeless.  That has been my goal since the beginning" source

We don't think this will be an issue given his masterful hand at beauty and proportion. 

All rights of photography belong to the original publisher, photography credit is always provided if known 

SHOP VISIT : HEIDE MAKERS MARKET / HEIDE GALLERY / NEW PURCHASES

You never hear about garage sales anymore. I think with the success of selling things online and via Facebook, people just don't' want to bother with having live sales in their home. But if you do, let me know and I'll definitely go 💁

There's nothing I love more than going to garage sales, antique markets and markets in general. The feeling of having that cup of coffee in your hand, the hours ahead to leisurely browse alongside the mounds, stacks and racks of gorgeous, colourful and interesting things to look at will always give me a thrill. Last Saturday was so hectic because I had a garage sale, a market and a gallery visit to do.  It turned out to be such a great day because I met this really lovely girl at the bus stop and we ended up hanging out for the whole day and exchanging contact details at the end! You really don't see what's coming in life and this was such a prime example of that. It all happened because there was a one hour wait at the stop and I was getting annoyed and slightly panicky about what to do. We ended up talking and found out we were both going to the Heide Market. Needless to say, the bus came a lot faster than if we both had to wait alone!

Before that, I headed to this garage sale which was held in Abbotsford. I haven't been to a garage sale in ages so I was excited to see what I would find. I did buy two items which I was really happy with ( scroll down a bit further to see what I got ) You can see the lovely selection of bowls, vases and ceramics at the garage sale here. I was contemplating getting the pink salt shakers just behind the green tea cup but the naggy voice arose again, when do I actually use salt or pepper? I loved the coke bottle-esque vase just behind and the candle stick holders were great. If only I had my own apartment though! This is the stuff I'd be getting for sure!

I loved these little bags that the owner had laid out. The colours and patterns are beautiful but unfortunately they didn't really suit my body shape ( yes, bags and clothes are similar in that way that they can work for or against your shape ) It's perfect when you go to a garage sale where your taste and the sellers taste align. That's when you know you're not going be leaving empty handed. 

So here's what I got at the garage sale. This warm coloured jumper and this Turkish cushion cover. I was very impressed with the jumper because it was so NEW. And I loved the cushion cover for the bold print and colours. The fact that it was made in Turkey also granted it bonus points. I spent $10 overall for both which was a bargain. I can't wait to wear this jumper when the weather gets more chilly. I'm really aching for winter to be honest. Summer and I just do not get along whatsoever. 

The front of Heide 

One reason why I love markets more than shopping in shopping centers is that it's more local and community based.  I love how the products are made directly by the owners of the stalls. There's something just way more intimate and genuine this way. It goes even further if it's a farmers market because I love that from the ground, washed and then straight to you delivery. I think both commercial brands as well as market goods have aspects which are great, but the sense of intimacy that you get when you go to a market and see the owners representing their own goods is really special.

Eye poppin' goodness HERE at Claire Ritchie's shop 

Of course I had to include cushions in this post! You know I'm a real cushions addict 

The market was small to medium sized I'd say and overall I was pretty into all the stalls. They had a lot of ceramics and jewellery and also baked goods too. I'm avoiding dairy, meat and flour products to help my skin stay clear so I didn't indulge in any of the beautiful baked goods that was on offer, but how I wish I could've!

I liked these simple, abstract paintings by Kara Mandell. You can visit her website here 

I really liked these bath robes, especially the one in the middle.  They are by Tassel and Twine here

Beautiful gemstone necklaces 

What kinds of things do you use these bowls and ceramics for? I feel like they're almost too good to use for food! 

How stunning are these soap balls? I love the colours so much. 

These bowls were my favourite items at the market. The gold rims are beautiful and they'd make a good place to put your jewellery.

These gardens which were next to the markets reminded me of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. They had a similar set up exactly like this with a vegetable patch as well. The grounds in Heide didn't feel like they were in Australia. Some parts really looked European. I think it definitely has to do with the trees and the types of plants that they had. There weren't any gum trees or Eucalyptus trees to my memory. 

Jennie found some garlic that had been dug up in a veggie patch 

We headed over to the gallery to have a look. We contemplated not going because of the entry fee but then it began to rain so we decided to while our time here to wait out the rain. 

Love textured paintings! 

When I was younger, I used to hold this belief that art was only good if it looked 'real' or 'accomplished'. But I now know that that isn't the case and I'm glad that it isn't the case because then we'd be missing out on the complexities behind these so called 'simplistic' works. The artist exhibited here ( Jenny Watson, read more about her exhibition here ) shows us that the intent and the experiences which guide her work is what really matters. She also has a distinct style which helps her work remain memorable to some viewers. I just think that response " Yeah, But I could've done that " shows that the viewer kind of doesn't know what's going on, as arrogant as I may sound. You can't determine the depth of a work simply by looking at it. It's harder than that. 

I think the best part of Heide was the founders of Heides home ( John and Sunday Reed, read more about them here). There were two residential properties which were converted into gallery spaces. This was one of them. I'm not sure if they had two homes or what the story behind it is, if you know feel free to leave a comment about it. 

This particular building was really seventies. They even had a conversation pit which is such a staple of seventies interior style. The house wasn't too far from the main gallery. It was such a peaceful space, you couldn't hear anything from anywhere when you were inside. I had never been to Heide before so I had no idea that it was split into three separate sections. Now that I'm passionate about decorating and furniture, I like to visit properties so I can imagine what kinds of work I'd do and what potential decorative objects I'd use to help beautify the space. I of course, was imagining all sorts of things for this seventies home. 

The fireplace in the conversation pit 

I loved this space!

This was the second residential property. The thing that struck me most about this home was how European it felt ( Are we in Heide or are we in Europe here? ) The ceilings were so high, the detailing very ornate and grand. You didn't feel like you were in the middle of Bulleen / Heidelberg. There was a real feeling of sanctuary in this home. 

Again, my decorating mind sprang into action when I saw all the nice, old fashioned details and the higher than high ceilings. I thought of Persian rugs, silverware and framed abstract paintings. I also fancied big dining tables with table runners and lots of vases with flowers. I liked this property slightly more than the seventies looking one. It had a more warm, homey feel to it. I would've loved to have called this place home, it was really quite stunning. 

 The glass casing over the book shelves was really beautiful. I think it was done to protect the books but I actually think it adds something extra to it. I wish I could have a library just like this. What a great way to escape without even leaving the front door.

Had to take a photo of this old fashioned toilet. Look at the blue flowers on the rim! So much work.

 Finally this was the shower. I took a photo of it because of the square window. I thought it looked really cute.

Last but not least, this is something I picked up at the market. It's a lemongrass candle from the brand Light and Glo which you can visit here. I'm no different from most girls in the fact that I love candles! I was convinced to purchase this one because of the size and the price, it was only $20 which made it very affordable. It's a wood wick candle, so it's a bit different from the usual run of the mill ones that we're used to. It burns OK but what's a little annoying is that it crackles so if you're in a quiet room, that's all you're hearing. But the smell of the candle is really relaxing and I love citrus scents so I'm not unhappy with it. Plus I like the white ceramic pot that it's in.

The colours children! Everything I got ( including my very latest purchase, the incredible Mac tinted Moisturiser in Terre Neuve ) 

Such pretty flowers on my way to the garage sale. Purple has grown on me more and more over the years. What used to be a colour that I actually hated has now become one that I actually love and would even consider wearing!! 

I had an amazing day because it was SO jam packed. I actually got up at 730AM to make it to the garage sale on time and to make sure I didn't arrive too late to Heide. I think the fact that I made friends with a total stranger was another big highlight. On the way to the bus stop to get back to Heidelberg station, it was raining really hard and I imagined how nervous I would've been having to find my way back alone since it was a completely new area. All in all it was a successful day and you can be sure there'll be more market posts in the future!