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Posted on January 15, 2017

At home with Romantique and Rebel – Interior Pastel Chic

Decor/ Featured/ Rebel Alexa/ Romantique
Rebel living Room

Rebel’s living room

Over the years we’ve shared with you our favourite outfits, our favourite food, our favourite places and pastimes. Now it’s time to open the doors to our homes! Both Rebel and I recently revamped our homes: Rebel completely overhauled her house in Hamburg she shares with Mr Rebel. I moved from London to Berlin just a few months ago.

Rebel:

My style is simple and minimal. The most important accents are colours and black and white photos, framed in Ikea’s Ribba. Iconic fashionistas of their time, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe are strong women I love looking at every day!

Pops of colour:

Colour is one of the best ways to make a place homely and stylish. On my wall, I combined white, grey and lavender  to create a graphic, light accent wall.

A mint chair by Kartell provides some colour and a contemporary retro feel.

Wooden floors and white carpets provide a calm canvas for the colours and graphic photos.

Interior design Audrey Hepburn

Rebel room

Decor: I love setting accents with cushions and throws which I swap every 6 months to fit the seasons. In spring, I love tulips to decorate the flat and banana leaf plants. I work out on the “Concept 2” rowing machine, the same the German football national team sweats on!

Romantique:

One of the best things about moving  to Berlin was to rent a flat twice the size of our previous Wimbledon condo and to furnish it with my own pieces. Goodbye to the days of having to live with landlord’s furniture (think black leather sofas…) and wardrobes in the living room due to lack of space.

In Germany, rental flats are completely unfurnished, some even without kitchen, as people tend to stay many decades in the same flat. So for the first time in years, I could let my imagination run free and create my dream home!

Romantique living room

Pastel colours 

I love my interior  design to be like my wardrobe: Classic, with a playful romantic twist and burst of colours! I  always dreamed about a pink accent wall! This statement wall colour in the living room is called “Wolken in rose” (clouds in pink), a grown-up grey-ish pink, pretty but not too sweet.

A quilted white leather sofa (Landskrona by Ikea) emphasizes the dreamy look. The rug repeats the pastel theme with pink and turquoise geometric pattern.

Mix cheap and expensive

Just like with outfits, I like mixing and matching iconic interior design classics with low budget furniture like Ikea. The standing lamp shade “Constanza” by Luceplan fits with every style and mood, revamping any lounge just like a statement handbag would do!

Romantique's dining area

Romantique’s dining area

Combine old and new 

I love iconic mid-century pieces as they can easily be mixed with antique architecture. The colourful Eames chairs (psssst, they are not authentic) give the country style eating table a modern look.

The bedroom has an airy feel and is very bright, reminding me of a breezy Hotel room by the beach. The turquoise wardrobe (Pax, Ikea) and matching chestof drawers complete the maritime look.

Turqoise bedroom romantique

Balcony with Italian mosaic table. Our gorgeous "Altbau" flat is located in Berlin's trendy Prenzlauer Berg.

Balcony with Italian mosaic table. Our gorgeous “Altbau” flat is located in Berlin’s trendy Prenzlauer Berg.

Posted on December 2, 2015

Stylish Advent Décor

Decor/ Featured/ Romantique
Stylish Red Gourmand Advent Wreath

This is my own advent wreath: Wrapped in traditional red bows. I loved the gourmet theme with frosted winter berries, cinnamon sticks, mushrooms and sugared gingerbread.

Now that it’s getting cold, dark and miserable outside, it’s time to snuggle up and decorate the house, transforming it into a cosy, magical winter hut to shelter from the howling wind outside.

On my recent trip to Berlin, I visited my favourite flower shop in Potsdam. The owner is a passionate and gifted lady, who creates stunning advent wreaths in the winter time.

The tradition of the advent wreath is a very old one: For centuries, homes in winter have been decorated with the evergreen branches. In the darkest time of the year, when nature sleeps under a deep blanket of snow, they bring light and the hope of new life into the house.

Combining this winter tradition with Christmas has been a relatively recent occurence. A Lutheranian pastor in Germany invented the advent wreath in 1860. In a children’s home in Hamburg, he hung a wooden wreath from the ceiling, lighting a candle every day to celebrate the lead up to Christmas. A few years later the wooden ring was adorned with evergreen fir, red ribbons and Christmassy embellishments. The 24 candles were replaced with four to make the decoration suitable for private homes.

Cream and green coloured advent wreath

Today, you can chose from many different variations of the advent wreath. In UK abodes, you will often find one hanging on or beside the front door. In Germany, it’s traditionally put on a coffee table, crowned by four candles.

Here are my favourite creations for you to enjoy and be inspired by!

Advent wreath adorned with real pomegranates, iced berries and branches.

Advent wreath adorned with real pomegranates, iced berries and branches.

lighted advent wreath with white ice skaters

I love kitsch! Hence I adore this lighted advent tree embellished with fairy lights, pine cones, feathers and baubles.

This hanging  advent wreath looks like one of the very early incarnations that were first created in the late 1800s. if I ever own a big house, this is what will be gracing my hallway!

This hanging advent wreath looks like one of the very early incarnations that were first created in the late 1800s. if I ever own a big house, this is what will be gracing my hallway! Mummy Romantique in the background  is fittingly dressed in a Santa red coat.

This beauty is now sparkling in Mummy Romantique and Rebel’s home: themed like the white winter wonderland.

This beauty is now sparkling in Mummy Romantique and Rebel’s home: themed like the white winter wonderland.

A rustic creation of brown and bronze colours and retro ice skates.

A rustic creation of brown and bronze colours and retro ice skates.

Advent spray  fir branch

This decorated fir branch is perfect for sideboards.

 

Posted on November 19, 2014

Stylish Christmas Decor from Germany

Berlin/ Decor/ Romantique

 

Moss green and brown fir cones

Moss green and brown fir cones

 

 

Christmas is my favourite time of the year! In Germany, Christmas is the biggest holiday and many Christmas traditions, such as the Christmas tree and the advent wreath stem from Germany (as you will have heard me mentining on more than one occasion previously)!

This year I am going to spend Christmas in Australia, swapping Gluehwein for  stubbies and bitterly cold Christmas markets for Bondi beach.  To get into the festive spirit, I’m going to decorate our tiny London apartment during the pre-Christmas period. Think lovely ornaments and traditional wooden nutcrackers and figurines from the Ore Mountains.

Gingerbread houses, cinnamon swirls and cheeses - a scrumptious Christmas bakery

Gingerbread houses, cinnamon swirls and cheeses – a scrumptious Christmas bakery

 

During my last visit to Berlin, I re-visited my favourite flower& décor  shop in Potsdam near Berlin, home of the Castle Sans Souci. Every year, this shop houses an extraordinary Christmas décor exhibition. It’s the most creatively & lovingly decorated Christmas store I’ve seen, always rejuvenating my festive spirit every year. Enjoy the pictures and get drawn into the world of frost and Santa claus!

Ice skates in the snowy Christmas tree decoration

Ice skates in the snowy Christmas tree decoration

If you happen to visit Potsdam, you can find this magic gem of shop in the Dortustrasse

If you happen to visit Potsdam, you can find this magic gem of shop in the Dortustrasse

Flower shop and christmas decor Potsdam Germany

Red Hanging ornaments christmas decorations germany

The Christmas Bakery has opened!

The Christmas Bakery has opened!

 

Check out the shop’s last years Christmas Decoration here.

Beautiful Potsdam is always worth a visit. Stroll in the romantic gardens of castle Sans Souci

Beautiful Potsdam is always worth a visit. Stroll in the romantic gardens of castle Sans Souci

 

 

 

Posted on May 25, 2014

A Summer Party with Parisian Flair

Accessoires/ Decor/ Romantique

Les Nereides Covent Garden Shop One of my favourite jewellery shops, Parisian designer Les Néréides-N2, hosted a summer party this weekend. The shop, situated in London’s bustling Covent Garden, has been enchanting me for quite some time now with their whimsical,  Parisian themed and quirky-cute jewellery.

To start off the bank holiday weekend in the right mood, my French colleague Bérengère and I finished work early on Thursday to pop in to the shop for some delicious macaroons, mini carrot cakes and refreshing lemonade. The always friendly staff lovingly decorated the shop to celebrate the first warm days of the year with  a mini summer party.

Bérengère had a hard time deciding between the funky fruit necklace and the adorable cherries. Both fun and fresh statement necklaces for the summer. It was a tough call, eventually the cherries won out and Bérengère was the envy of the office the next day!

Berengere romantique Les Neredies N2 Covent Garden Les Nereides N2 Covent Garden Bérengère is wearing a shirt from Tommy Hilfiger. I’m wearing a broderie anglaise coat by Max & Co.

Les Nereides N2 summer party

Les Nereides Party summer covent Garden Les Nereides summer party Les Nereides N2 Cherry necklace summer 2014

Posted on April 18, 2014

Happy Easter in Pastel Pink Denim

Decor/ Denim/ Romantique/ Wardrobe

pink denim just cavalli streetstyle london

For me, Easter time is the promise of summer and the colour opulenceof spring flowers. It’s about catching the first tentative sun rays inan outdoor cafe! So to go with that mood, a pink macaron coloured jeans it has to be. I’ve taken a leaf out of Diane Kruger’s style bookwith my pastel pink jeans, breton shirt and pink ballerina pumps.

For most of Easter, I’m in Berlin for a dental operation, while poor Mr Romantique stayed behind in London. I must admit that all the chocolate and cute Easter decorations in Germany made me recover rather speedily. Easter is almost as much of a big deal as Christmas here. Supermarkets turn into Willy Wonker factories where every chocolate brand, from Lindt to local chocolate manufacturers such as Rausch, compete over who creates the cutest chocolate rabbit.

Guess where this little fella is from...:-)

Guess where this little fella is from…:-)

Shopping malls install Easter markets displaying animated giant toy rabbits who engage in adorable activities such as conducting a classical concert out of an Easter egg or racing in a flying carrot! At home, I like to decorate the flat with bunny and chicken ornaments hanging from willow pussy branches or cherry tree twigs.

Easter  decor ranches with ornaments

No wonder Germany turns into rabbit land over Easter, the bunny as an Easter symbol has it’s origins here, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. German emigrants brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America in the 1700s.

Germany super market easter chocolate

London streetstyle pink denim jeans just cavalli hispanitas ballerina

I am wearing:

  • Pink denim jeans from Just Cavalli
  • Pink handbag from Bally
  • Pink ballerina pumps from Hispanitas
  • Blue cardigan from Max & Co
This fashionable easter bunny on a chair swing ride  is wearing a bang-on-trend vichy/gingham dress. Adorbs!

This fashionable easter bunny on a chair swing ride is wearing a bang-on-trend vichy/gingham dress. Adorbs!

 

Easter Rabbit Decoration at Boulevard Centre Berlin

Animated Easter bunnies at Boulevard Shopping Centre in Berlin

Posted on January 7, 2014

Return to the Boat House at Palm Beach

Australia/ Decor/ Romantique/ Travel

Boat House Sydney

A year on from my last trip to the lovely restaurant Boat House at Sydney’s Palm Beach, I revisited my favourite must-see destination. The boat house is a  beautifully decorated, relaxing restaurant built on a wooden pier, looking like out of an interior design coffee table book for “Romantic, rustic sea-side Chic”. Palm Beach, situated at Sydney’s north shore, is home to one of Sydney’s most expensive properties. It’s easy to see why: A beautiful drive through thick Sydney rainforest bushland  leads to the most unspoilt sandy beaches typical of Sydney’s North.

A lunch at the boat house is always a special, inspiring treat. Sit back, relax and enjoy the photos of my slice of heaven.

Boat House Palm Beach resized

The owner of the boat house combined their knowledge of interior design and food to create the boat house

The owner of the boat house combined their knowledge of interior design and food to create the boat house

Fresh flowers and fruit – a feast for the eyes!

Romantique on pier of boat house

I am wearing a blue gingham shift dress by Gant. Crossbody bag by Moschino. Metallic sandals by AGL.

Boat House Palm Beach

Fancy a sea plane flight to take in the Northern beaches? Sea planes start from the pier at the boat house.

Fancy a sea plane flight to take in the Northern beaches? Sea planes start from the pier at the boat house.

boat house from pier

Posted on December 19, 2013

Winter Fairy Tale: Romantic Christmas markets in Berlin

Berlin/ Current Affairs/ Decor/ Romantique

Gendarmenmarkt Christmas 2013

 

Christmas is my favourite time of the year (despite loving summer! ) and the highlight of this period is a visit to one of the traditional Christmas markets in Germany!

Berlin is the capital of Christmas markets with over 60 to choose from! If you are tired of the commercialisation that has taken over the holidays , head to the country of the Nutcrackers for a romantic and traditional Christmas .

The S-Class of the Christmas markets is without a doubt the “Weihnachtszauber at Gendarmenmarkt” in Berlin-Mitte. Located on one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Three impressive buildings provide the stunning backdrop: The French cathedral, the German cathedral and the Concert Hall. Popular for it’s unique hand-made products, you can find handmade presents such as traditional wooden carved Christmas figurines, handmade glass baubles and lambskin shoes. All the while the seductive scent of burnt almonds, chestnuts, baked apples, grilled sausages and spicy Gluehwein fills the air!

Romantique Christmas market

Typical stand offering candied fruit, gingerbread hearts and an array of Lebkuchen. Hat from Antoni & Alison, caot from Max & Co. Red turtle neck jumper from Uniqlo.

Christmas is a big deal in Germany, a time for introspection and spending time with your family, everyone gets into it. Stroll through the residential areas and you will see almost every window and balcony is decorated with light chains, star lampshades, reindeers and Christmas trees. Did you know that the advent wreath, glass baubles and the Christmas tree all originated in Germany between the fourteenth and nineteenth centuries?

  Gendarmenmarkt

Mummy Romantique buying traditional Christmas Stollen. Her monochrome dogstooth scarf is from Moschino. Snakeskin bag from Alberta Ferreti.

Mummy Romantique buying traditional Christmas Stollen. Her monochrome dogstooth scarf is from Moschino. Snakeskin bag from Alberta Ferreti.

German Stollen, a loaf-shaped fruitcake made of yeast, water and flour, is traditionally eaten around Christmas time in Germany. The treat, which was first baked in Dresden in the 14th century, is filled with nuts, raisins, candied citrus, and spices, and its form is said to represent Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes.

Tipp: Always cut a Stollen from the middle, this way the cake won’t dry out as quickly.

German Christmas Market food

The praline “Dominostein” is another Christmas sweet from Dresden, made up of three layers: Lebkuchen, sour cherry and marzipan, covered in dark chocolate.

The crescent shaped biscuits “Vanillekipferl” come from Vienna, Austria and are traditionally eaten at Christmas time. They are baked in Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Mr Romantique at the Christmas market

Mr Romantique at hte Christmas market

Ice rink at the Christmas Market at Alexanderplatz near the Red Town Hall

Ice rink at the Christmas Market at Alexanderplatz near the Red Town Hall

Carousel Alexanderplatz

christmas market Gendarmenmarkt

What would Christmas be without the story of Hansel and Gretel and the gingerbread house?

What would Christmas be without the story of Hansel and Gretel and the gingerbread house?

Christmas and the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm go together like mulled wine and mince pies!

Above:  Mug from Villeroy & Boch, Christmas edition 2013. Necklaces from Les Nereides.  Gingerbread house made entirely of Spekulatius (spiced biscuits), Leibniz butter cookies, cinnamon starts and Pfeffernuesse. Yum!

Posted on August 12, 2013

Romantique’s Wedding Count Down

Decor/ Romantique
Romantique wedding invites

Our wedding invites were supposed to reflect the scale of our wedding: Small, intimate, a bit quirky and full of love! To make these, I created a collage with the iphone app piccollage and had them printed on A5 photo paper.

 

My wedding is now just 3 weeks away and I’m beyond excited!

We are planning an intimate, civil ceremony with just 12 guests, all family, in a baroque roccoco venue in the heart of Berlin.

Even for a small wedding, things like a wedding cake, table decorations, bouquets, hair and makeup need to be organised.

The Flowers:

For the flower decorations, I was inspired by Margarita Missonis romantic wedding: Her bridal bouquet consisted of pastel coloured flowers mixed in with long grasses to give it a lose, just plucked-from-the field flair. I found an excellent florist in Berlin (Die Grüne Ecke) who makes the most beautiful bouquets (see below). For my wedding, the florist will mix pastel coloured florals and berries in what is called the “open Biedermeier” bouquet. A loose, romantic Missoni style bouquet. Not too stiff and protocol -y.

flowers romantique wedding
As a special touch, I arranged for mini-bouquets to be made up in green&white for the ladies of the wedding to make them feel more part of the event. Not to be forgotten, the men will wear traditional flower pins on their suits.

I loved the pictures of Margherita Missoni's uncoventional and cute wedding

I loved the pictures of Margherita Missoni’s uncoventional wedding. Her wedding bouquet is an open Biedermeier.

The Dress! (and accessories)

I don’t want to share my wedding dress here before Mr Romantique has seen it. However, I can reveal that its a beautiful, romantic dress in which flowers will play a part, just like in Margerita Missoni’s wedding dress. I bought mine from the J Crew bridal collection SS2013.  It also happens to go with the actual room in which we will get married. It’s called the “Rose Room” with the ceiling covered in hand painted roses.

What I can reveal about my hair on the day is that it will be crowned by flowers of the season. I got inspired by Kirsten Dunst, Alexa Chung and Audrey Hepburn

What I can reveal about my hair on the day is that it will be crowned by flowers of the season. I got inspired by Kirsten Dunst, Alexa Chung and Audrey Hepburn

Under the dress….

Something old, new borrowed and blue: The blue part is discreet as part of this understated garter from Fauve: I love the subtle, matching colours and the romantic ruffles.
Underwear is a crucial part of the wedding dress: You want the bra to sit perfectly, without it pinching and moving under your wedding dress. For the occasion, mummy R&R and I visited a proper lingerie store that stocks brands such as Aubade, Marie-Jo, Primadonna and Freya. I almost felt embarassed, having never been fitted for lingerie by a stranger before! My wedding underwear from Marie-Jo sits securely and looks and feels special, to match the occasion.

romantique garter

Table decorations:

I love gingerbread hearts: They are a quintessential German, they look pretty and they are sweet! For my wedding, they will act as place cards with  each guest name written on there  in sugar coating. Thanks to the Bio Ufa bakery in Berlin for customising the hearts for me!

gingerbread name cards wedding

The cutest wedding place cards

The cake:

For our intimate wedding, a conventional, multi-tiered wedding cake  wouldn’t be appropriate. I decided on a one tier heart-shaped cake topped with berries of the season and decorated with an iced edging to pick up on the gingerbread theme.  The cake will then be devoured on a cruise through historic Berlin.

Wedding cake one tier with berries of the season

Watch this space, I can’t wait to share the pictures of our special day.  Coming soon to a wildy popular fashion blog near you!
Boats Tour wedding berlin
Posted on June 30, 2013

Fashion Gardening

Decor/ Rebel Alexa

Lavender-Paris-decor

Purple fields as far as the eye can see. Lavender that smells heady like the ironing water of grandma. For me, that’s a piece of the South of France.

If you like the French Savoir Vivre Lifestyle and the nature of the South like me, than it’s simple to bring a little France into your garden or balcony at home., where ever you are. You need three things: decorative flower pots, plant soil and lavender.

Fashion-Zara-Coat

Saturday morning: I’m at the garden center, shopping for 17 of perennials lavender. The distinctive scent of lavender is strongest in the heart of summer, from mid-June to early August.  I’m wearing a leopard printed Coat by ZARA.

Lavender-plant-prepartion

Preparations: I had many pots to clean with the water hose and scrub with a brush before starting planting the lavender.

Lavender-Espandrilles

I  gardened in French espadrilles with the classical breton mariniere design.

Lavender-Garden-Hamburg

The final result: Blue glossy ceramic flower pots planted with lavender in front of my house. My piece of French lavender farms in nordic Hamburg.

Posted on June 18, 2013

Instagram best of Interior Design

Decor

See Rebel’s latest best of interior design pics on instagram. All pics are made by Rebel from her flat in Hamburg. Get an impression on Rebel’s living style.

Instagram-Interior-2

Decor#Bookshelf#Danmark#

Instagram-Interior-5

#Picture Frames#Chanel#Little Black Jacket#Luceplan#Constanza#

Instagram-Interior-3

#Kartell#Dinner#Decor#

Instagram-Interior-1

#Converse#Blossom printed Chair#Monroe Pillow#

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