Category Archives: Travel & Places

PLACES TO GO | NAEVAER RESTAURANT BY NORM ARCHITECTS

16 June 2017

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip
 

Norm Architects have managed to design another hip interior for the intimate new Naevaer restaurant in Copenhagen.

With a moody colour palette of dark greys, burgundy and black the industrial space has been given intimacy and tactile natural materials like stone, wood, metal and decorative plants with large foliage add warmth to the raw concrete walls.

It’s a casual but upmarket restaurant where you can enjoy fine wines from around the world and French cuisine should you be one of the lucky few who manages to get a seat in this hip new place.

 
Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

Norm Architects, Naevaer restaurant, Copenhagen, moody colour palette, intimate, dark, raw, industrial, tactile materials, large foliage, decorative plants, casual, style, trend, hip

 

 
MORE INFORMATION & PHOTOGRAPHY | Norm Architects with thanks
 
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PLACES TO GO | LE COUCOU RESTAURANT, NYC

21 March 2017

Le Coucou, NYC, restaurant, french, cuisine, daniel rose, soho, 11 howard hotel, charm, sophistication, industrial bones, brick walls, pale wooden flooring, crittall style windows, plush banquette sofas, roman and williams, sumptuous, mural, dean barger, brass, vintage, francophile, chic, trend

 

It’s a feast for all the senses at Le Coucou, voted NYC’s best new restaurant in 2016 by Time Out.

Run by Chicago-born chef Daniel Rose and supported by Stephen Starr the food is evidently first class due to Rose’s obsession about ingredients and his immersive training in France where he spent the past 10 years running his own successful restaurant Spring.

But I want to focus on the interior design of the space which is set within SoHo’s hip 11 Howard hotel in NYC. The dining room oozes French charm and sophistication though on closer inspection you discover the industrial bones of the building which come through in the white-washed brick walls, pale wooden flooring and the Crittall style windows and dividing doors. Yet interior designers Roman and Williams have managed to inject some cool sophistication and decadence by adding plush banquette sofas and vintage style upholstered chairs as well as the quintessentially French table linen. I like the touches of colour coming through in the olive green upholstery and slate bluey-grey sofas as well as the dark wooden dining furniture which adds some warmth to the large space.

Roman and Williams are interior mega stars having worked for Hollywood A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow as well as designing such iconic hotels as the Ace and The Standard Highline to name but a few. Known for their rich, dark and layered look they managed to make the space decadent but contemporary at the same time.

I can’t help but be drawn to the sumptuous bar area which features a hand painted mural by New York artist Dean Barger based on 18th century French landscape paintings. The bar itself is centred in the small space and features classic dark marble top and brass taps framed by a large liquor display set within a guilt mirror. The feeling is intimate, romantic and authentically French with a large crystal chandelier and original vintage sofas.

You’ve got to hand it to Roman and Williams it’s an interior that caters for the Francophile East Coast elite and I suspect will look even better with age adding more shabby to the chic.

 

Le Coucou, NYC, restaurant, french, cuisine, daniel rose, soho, 11 howard hotel, charm, sophistication, industrial bones, brick walls, pale wooden flooring, crittall style windows, plush banquette sofas, roman and williams, sumptuous, mural, dean barger, brass, vintage, francophile, chic, trend

Le Coucou, NYC, restaurant, french, cuisine, daniel rose, soho, 11 howard hotel, charm, sophistication, industrial bones, brick walls, pale wooden flooring, crittall style windows, plush banquette sofas, roman and williams, sumptuous, mural, dean barger, brass, vintage, francophile, chic, trend

Le Coucou, NYC, restaurant, french, cuisine, daniel rose, soho, 11 howard hotel, charm, sophistication, industrial bones, brick walls, pale wooden flooring, crittall style windows, plush banquette sofas, roman and williams, sumptuous, mural, dean barger, brass, vintage, francophile, chic, trend

Le Coucou, NYC, restaurant, french, cuisine, daniel rose, soho, 11 howard hotel, charm, sophistication, industrial bones, brick walls, pale wooden flooring, crittall style windows, plush banquette sofas, roman and williams, sumptuous, mural, dean barger, brass, vintage, francophile, chic, trend

Le Coucou, NYC, restaurant, french, cuisine, daniel rose, soho, 11 howard hotel, charm, sophistication, industrial bones, brick walls, pale wooden flooring, crittall style windows, plush banquette sofas, roman and williams, sumptuous, mural, dean barger, brass, vintage, francophile, chic, trend

Le Coucou, NYC, restaurant, french, cuisine, daniel rose, soho, 11 howard hotel, charm, sophistication, industrial bones, brick walls, pale wooden flooring, crittall style windows, plush banquette sofas, roman and williams, sumptuous, mural, dean barger, brass, vintage, francophile, chic, trend

 

 
MORE INFORMATION | Le Coucou
PHOTOGRAPHY | Ditte Isager via Roman and Williams with thanks
VIA | Yellowtrace
 
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PLACES TO GO | CAFE MOBY 3143 IN ARMADALE, AUS

7 December 2016

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

 

Simple design solutions and a stunning colour palette is what struck me first about the interior design of cafe Moby 3143 in Armadale, Australia. Executed to perfection by hip design studio We Are Huntly they took their cue from the curved windows and painted the brickwork facade a warm grey contrasting with the dusty pink and dark blue on the inside.

The soft colour scheme is beautifully balanced with white metalwork seen in the seating, tables and staircase as well as a polished concrete floor and dark blue metro tiles surrounding the kitchen counter and some large table tops. Copper accents in lighting and tap ware compliment the scheme giving a hint of art deco but I’m particularly smitten with the stunning rectangular metal framed lighting next to the serving hatch.

Oh, and did I mention that this establishment is run by local foodies Steve Svensen and Christina Higgins? Their combined experience reaches from London to Melbourne and they serve delicious seasonal selections as well as heavenly coffee creations. Oh, what I’d give for a flat white and breakfast at Moby 3143.

Get there before the guidebooks do.

 

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip,Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

simple design solutions, colour palette, interior design, style, styling, armadale, australia, design studio, we are huntly, brickwork, warm grey, dusty pink, dark blue, white metalwork, polished concrete floor, metro tiles, copper accents, art deco, lighting, trend, hip, Steve Svensen, Christina Higgins, seasonal selections

 

 
MORE INFORMATION | Moby 3143
INTERIOR DESIGN | We Are Huntly
PHOTOGRAPHY | Sharyn Cairns
 
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FUNCTION AND FORM | BLOGGERS TOUR ANTWERP PART II

10 November 2016

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

 

I’m continuing today with my round up of our first Function and Form Bloggers Tour Antwerp. So much more to tell you about this hip city that still seems to be slightly under the radar.

One of my lasting impressions of the trip was how much wooden furniture we saw; from solid and raw to highly polished, painted, stained or varnished. The craftsmanship was always outstanding and there was a palpable sense of pride in designing pieces that are of high quality and timeless functional design.

As was the case with table manufacturers Heerenhuis just outside Antwerp who let us a have a tour of their workshop and treated us to some delicious ‘fired bread’ by innovative local catering company Doppio. Run by friends Koen, Matthieu and Jules who pop up with food trucks consisting of a couple of traditional mobile wood fired ovens baking the most perfect pizza in 40 seconds. More about our visit to Heerenhuis in the coming months.

 

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Seasonal pop up store quatuor in the old town showing Ethnicraft, universo positivo and Notre Monde amongst other popular Scandinavian brands.

 

During our excursion into the old town of Antwerp we also got to meet local brands Ethnicraft and universo positivo who both craft highly functional contemporary furniture whilst caring deeply about the sustainability and durability of their products. We visited their current seasonal pop up store in one of the oldest buildings in Antwerp dating back to 1542 and built in the traditional Flemish style. Here you can discover their contemporary collection in this stimulating ancient environment – a real treat for the eye. More soon.

 

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Cabinet by Ethnicraft.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Mirror by universo positivo.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

St Vincents storefront on Kleine Markt 13.

 

More shopping had to be done at St Vincents which must be Europe’s hottest concept store right now. Their selection of unique design-led items from art, fashion, furniture, lighting, ceramics, stationery and more is totally on trend and I could have quite happily bought the whole lot.

The owners Henri and Geraldine are passionate about what they do and have swapped professional careers as an economist and lawyer for shop life and host regular inspiring talks, concerts, art exhibitions and private dining events at their store.

They also serve artisan coffee and tea daily as well as small snacks so you can sit down, relax and soak up the atmosphere whilst leisurely browsing their selection. And they’re open on Sundays – a rarity for continental Europe.

 

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Ceramics, glassware, utensils, decor, books, magazines, textiles, fashion and furniture all under one roof.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Loving the kitchen counter in the middle of the shop which serves artisan coffee and teas as well as little bites to eat so you can have a leisurely shopping experience or simply meet up in these inspirational surroundings.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Bio Bistro Native – great little place serving organic food in the old town.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Concrete boarding detail at Graanmarkt 13 by architect and interior designer Vincent van Duysen.

 

Talking of culinary delights we were lucky to dine in one of Antwerp’s leading design establishments: Graanmarkt 13, a restaurant, gallery, shop and penthouse which sleeps six and has been home to famous and not so famous creative figures from around the world. [You might remember me blogging about it here.] We had an absolutely fabulous three course meal served by chef Seppe Nobels before getting an exclusive tour around The Apartment on the top floor which was renovated and designed by another famous Antwerpian, architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen in 2014.

Even though we went to see The Apartment at night time and could not fully appreciate the views from the newly added top floor the atmosphere was distinctly comfortable and relaxed with a super sized deep sofa and a huge wooden table, seating 10. The space is a great example of Van Duysen’s aesthetic with polished concrete flooring and exposed beams giving an industrial edge but adding comfort and relaxed style with linen bedding, textures and textiles. You can imagine I did not want to leave this place that more recently was home to director Tim Burton during filming in the city.

It’s always a good sign when you return from a trip with lots of ideas and inspiration and Antwerp has kept me thinking and my brain busy since we returned. A lot more to explore and all being well a second trip coming up in 2017. Watch out for more posts on some of the tour’s highlights in the coming months.

 

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

We stumbled across Studio Helder in the old town and loved it’s collection of decorative designer pieces, lighting and furniture.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

The stunning showroom at table manufacturers Heerenhuis.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Tiff and Hege making sure to document our visit.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

Beautiful detailing and craftmanship at Heerenhuis

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, wood, craftsmen, doppio, innovative, fired bread, food truck, local brands, heerenhuis, ethnicraft, universopositivo, st vincents, concept store, graanmarkt 13, restaurant, gallery, penthouse, vincent van duysen, architect, interior design, seppe nobels, comfortable, relaxed, ideas, inspiration, flemish, pop up store, pr agency pentacom

 

 
MORE INFORMATION | Visit Antwerp
PHOTOGRAPHY | Annie Kruse unless otherwise stated
 

 

Our Function and Form Bloggers Tour Antwerp was kindly supported by City of Antwerp, Design Center De Winkelhaak, Ethnicraft, universo positivo and Notre Monde. All opinions expressed are my own.

 
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FUNCTION AND FORM | BLOGGERS TOUR ANTWERP PART I

2 November 2016

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, kaffeenini, design centre de winkelhaak, Eilandje, hansi ombrengt, p8 architecten, contemporary, modern, mas museum, gallery traan, veerle wenes, felix pakhuis, balls and glory, old docks, regeneration, Axel Vervoordt, Dries van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, royal academy of fine arts, modern belgian, aesthetic, brick flooring, pr agency pentacom

 

In the last couple of weeks you’ve probably caught some glimpses on Instagram of our first Function+Form Bloggers Tour Antwerp so today I’m going to tell you a bit more of what we got up to on our 3 day trip and how it all came about.

When Tiff and I started Function+Form last year we wanted to bring like-minded people together. People who shared our love for interiors, craftsmanship and design. People who would be excited and inspired by the same stuff – from clever details, beautiful materials and design across all disciplines from ceramics, furniture and textiles to photography, interiors and architecture. For want of a better word – we were looking for our tribe.

During our events it became clear to us that we were only scratching the surface. Our tribe was as keen and hungry to discover and explore our world as we were so we came up with the idea to organise our first Function and Form Bloggers Tour. A city break was an obvious choice but we wanted to go somewhere that had been slightly under the radar, somewhere we could truly discover – though in this digital socially-networked day and age this might sound like an oxymoron.

Our group came together quite organically and we teamed up with German PR agency Pentacom who wanted to introduce us to some of their interiors and design clients based in Antwerp. The owner Annekathrin Koch managed to put an amazing program together in collaboration with the City of Antwerp and the Design Center De Winkelhaak which gave us a great overview of the local design scene and take in the city’s vibe.

 

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, kaffeenini, design centre de winkelhaak, Eilandje, hansi ombrengt, p8 architecten, contemporary, modern, mas museum, gallery traan, veerle wenes, felix pakhuis, balls and glory, old docks, regeneration, Axel Vervoordt, Dries van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, royal academy of fine arts, modern belgian, aesthetic, brick flooring, pr agency pentacom

One of the most beautiful train stations in Europe.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, kaffeenini, design centre de winkelhaak, Eilandje, hansi ombrengt, p8 architecten, contemporary, modern, mas museum, gallery traan, veerle wenes, felix pakhuis, balls and glory, old docks, regeneration, Axel Vervoordt, Dries van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, royal academy of fine arts, modern belgian, aesthetic, brick flooring, pr agency pentacom

The Grand Hall in Antwerp Centraal train station.

function and form, bloggers tour antwerp, Belgium, Belgian, visit antwerp, cool, hip, style, trend, design, industrial, eclectic mix, kaffeenini, design centre de winkelhaak, Eilandje, hansi ombrengt, p8 architecten, contemporary, modern, mas museum, gallery traan, veerle wenes, felix pakhuis, balls and glory, old docks, regeneration, Axel Vervoordt, Dries van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, royal academy of fine arts, modern belgian, aesthetic, brick flooring, pr agency pentacom

16th-century Guildhouses at the Grote Markt and the mystical Giant throwing a chopped off hand.
 

Let me start by saying that I deliberately didn’t research the trip. Well, not in depth anyway. I wanted to go with little to no expectations and experience for myself what the city had to offer. We did start a Pinterest board where we pinned all interesting looking Antwerp related pictures but for the most part I was ready to go and see with fresh eyes. And boy, I was simply blown away.

Antwerp is hip, cool and confident and can hold it’s own next to the more established cities of ‘cool’ like Copenhagen, Amsterdam or even Berlin. Being the second largest port town in Europe comes with a history of influences from around the world and it’s artistic reputation in the 17th century led by Rubens and Van Dyck is well documented.

Belgian fashion designers have led the way for decades with established figures like Dries van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester and Dirk Bikkembergs who were all part of the famous Antwerp Six who graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts back in the early 1980s.

In terms of interior design Axel Vervoordt can be credited with establishing a Modern Belgian aesthetic back in the 1970s that relies on a rich palette of textures and neutral colours amongst sparsely furnished rooms with natural light being a key ingredient.

Since then Belgian design has grown from strength to strength meaning it was time for us to go and explore the scene in more depth. There were so many highlights during our 3 day trip that I’m just going to give you a flavour with my photos and I’ll elaborate on a few special finds in more detail over the coming months.

 

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One of the first warehouses to be restored.

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Some classic 19th century architecture in the old town.
 

First up was a visit to Gallery Traan tucked away in the old town who exhibits objects, subjects and themes with functional and subjective approaches that sit somewhere between design, art and architecture.

The owner Veerle Wenes was kind enough to give us a tour of the stunning multi-level gallery and her adjacent home that manages to combine modernist architecture with original period details like brick flooring and a huge ancient fireplace in her living room. The space and exhibits compliment each other so well that the line between them becomes blurred and I found myself admiring both in equal measure.

More of this exceptional space soon.

 

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We saw a lot of beautiful herringbone brick floors as above at Gallery Traan.

function-and-form-bloggers-tour-antwerp-07

The stunning space that is Gallery Traan. Currently exhibiting Johan de Wit.

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More objects and subjects by duo Muller Van Severen.

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Bloggers at work. Photo by Igor Josifovic.

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‘Happy coffee’ and great breakfast at Kaffeenini with an eclectic mix of furniture.

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The Mas museum.

 

Antwerp like most port towns is in the process of regenerating their old docks which are now too small for the enormous vessels crossing the oceans and the area called Eilandje is now transforming into the hip place to be. PR agency Pentacom organised a tour for us around the Eilandje with architect Hansi Ombregt of p8 architecten who was one of the pioneers in redeveloping a house on the ‘small island’. With the recently built Mas museum overlooking the Eilandje we climbed up to the top and got a great view of Antwerp and an idea of the sheer scale of the harbour which simply dwarves the city.

I’m in love with anything old and industrial especially when blended with contemporary design and we found a wealth of converted old warehouses which now house great restaurants, bars and cafes like Felix Pakhuis and Balls & Glory. This area is only going to get better and I look forward to my next trip when I’m sure there will be more places to explore.

For now I’m going to leave you with some impressions of Antwerp but check back soon for part II with more finds and things to do.

 

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View across Antwerp toward the old town from the Mas museum.

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Walk along the Schelde towards the old town.

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The Red Star Line museum on the Eilandje.

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Yours truly at the Mas museum. Photo by Ilaria Fatore.

 

 
MORE INFORMATION | Visit Antwerp
PHOTOGRAPHY | Annie Kruse unless otherwise stated
 

 

Our Function and Form Bloggers Tour Antwerp was kindly supported by City of Antwerp, Design Center De Winkelhaak, Ethnicraft, universo positivo and Notre Monde. All opinions expressed are my own.

 
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