Kengo Kuma for Starbucks

In an attempt to reflect the character of the country and of the surrounding neighborhood, Starbucks has abandoned its signature interior style for its new store in Fukuoka, the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. The new Starbucks cafe is located close to the Dazaifu Tenmangu, one of the major shrines in Japan which receives about 2 million visitors a year and the designers of the cafe, the Japanese architectural studio Kengo Kuma & Associates, aimed to make a structure that harmonizes with such townscape. The architects have used a unique system of weaving about 2000 thin woods diagonally in order to create a fusion of the traditional and the contemporary with natural materials. 

A New York Loft Apartment Unlike Any Other!

WORKac, a New York City-based architectural firm, recently completed a very ambitious interior project: the transformation of a 6,000 SF loft apartment that encompasses a full ground floor, half a basement and one third of a sub-basement: an “inverse triplex” for a family of four that loves to entertain. For more than four years, WORKac has collaborated with the family to create a new space for urban living that embraces diversity of materials and spaces, kinetic interventions to transform spaces and a highly developed sense of whimsy and the unexpected.

Home Decor Envy: The Small White Lacquer Office Table

A small white lacquer table/office in the dining room seems to be the signature of Alli Banks, the person behind Alli Banks Interiors. And why not? It is chic, simple and it can be used both as a small office table and as a buffet table!

Before & After: A Coat of Paint Cures the Blues

Source: New York Magazine

After trudging through ten for-rent apartments last fall, interior designer Kevin Dumais came across a split studio on the Upper East Side. At the time it had a margarine-yellow-and-baby-blue paint job and frilly window treatments, but all Kevin saw was potential. “The biggest design challenge was moving out of an 800-square-foot one-bedroom in Brooklyn to a 350-square-foot Manhattan studio.” Dumais says. “Since I work from home, I made every effort to create a professional and social living environment.” This entrance hall plays the role of kitchen, allowing the black kitchen bar to serve as a coffee station and storage space and (delightfully) enabling Kevin to serve a cocktail the minute a guest steps through the door. “Since it is a rental, the work I did is pretty much all cosmetic: painted walls, trim, and doors, plus new light fixtures and a ceiling fan,” says Kevin. Read more about this great renovation here.

For Teenee, Tiny Kitchens

The perfect solution by Alno... as long as these drawer-seats can hold your weight!

Home Decor Envy: Jackie Astier's Apartment

Jackie Astier, the well known stylist and editor who embraces maximalism, is photographed in her fabulous New York apartment for the latest issue of Elle Decor. I love her library and living room!

Splurge vs. Steal: The Pink Glitter Platform Pumps

Splurge: Jerome C. Rousseau Pumps from Saks Fifth Avenue, Steal: Carvela Platform Court Shoes from ASOS.com

Feeling ready to razzle dazzle? Choose one of those pink glitter platform pumps and impress the crowds!

You Can Leave Your Hat On

Photos: Jak & Jil

Sweet as Cioccolato

Cioccolato is a pastry boutique in Mexico which specializes in custom deserts for special events. In an attempt to rebrand itself, Cioccolato hired Savvy Studio for a full makeover including the interior design of their shop. The design studio developed a sweet and festive visual identity that uses brightly colored elements and memorable phrases, which go well with any kind of special event. It's refreshing to see that the designers took the risk and walked away from a safe (for a chocolaterie) color such as brown and dared to use white along with a few neon details!

Marni for H&M Spring Summer 2012

After the disappointing Versace for H&M Collection, the Swedish high street brand aims to satisfy its fans with the brand new Marni for H& M Spring-Summer 2012 collection which launches on March 8th. Wonderful patterns and colors, great shoes and fantastic jewelry will steal your heart and empty your wallet! See the entire collection here !

Currently Working On....

... a motivational archival A4 print in two different colors, blue and green. Both versions will soon be available for sale on my etsy shop! What do you think?

I Hate Cooking...

... but I'd be willing to reconsider, if I had this striking gold-coloured kitchen which is the work of the architect Dominic McKenzie. If you loved the kitchen, you can see the rest of the house here and more of McKenzie's work here.

Add to Cart: The ePure Phone

Isn't this the most beautiful thing you've seen lately? The Swissvoice ePure phone is based on a 2D computer icon that is inspired from an old-fashioned phone, looking timeless and yet high tech at the same time. Despite its retro roots, the ePure features a wireless handset with backlit display, alarm, speakerphone, customisable ringtones, and more. You can purchase it from Graham & Green or from Swissvoice's Amazon store!

Happy Valentine's Day with Artistic Gift Selections!

Selections: 1. From Tate Modern. 2. From MoMA. 3. From Whitney. 4 From MOCA

Museum stores are the perfect places to discover unique and artful gifts for all occasions! Even for Valentine's day!

Dress To Impress for Valentine's Day

Photo by Victoria Adamson.

A Sweet Valentine's Day Breakfast!

Which is the perfect breakfast for Valentine's day? Two cups of  hot chocolate with heart-shaped marshmellows in them! Find the ingedients and directions for this hot beverage on Martha Stewart's website and don't forget to use red cups for a hint of passion!

Converse Hearts Merrimekko...Once More!

Enjoy your long spring walks with comfortable shoes in bold colours and gorgeous patterns: after three successful collaborative collections, Converse and Marimekko announce the continuation of their third partnership, for spring 2012. In the Converse ♥ Marimekko Spring 2012 collection the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star, Chuck Taylor All Star PJ and Jack Purcell Helen shoes get a spring-like boost with five signature Merimekko prints, designed by Maija Isola and Annika Rimala. The new collection will be available starting from February 2012 at premium retail outlets, selected Marimekko stores and online.

Jason Wu's Office

For his studio, the hip fashion designer Jason Wu, has merged raw, industrial elements of the space with found items and lots of interesting pieces of art. But what steals the show is his journalism-chic wallpaper, a crafty collage of clippings from The New York Observer. It's a great DIY idea for your walls as well!

Home Decor Envy: The Nussbaum Apartment

The editor of Martha Stewart Living magazine, Darcy Miller Nussbaum, is known for her exquisite taste in ribbons and stationery. But what we discover through the pages of Architectural Digest's February 2012 issue is that she also has a great taste when it comes to home decor. With the help of David Mann of MR Architecture + Decor, Nussbaum has created a wonderful art deco space with plenty of minimal yet luxurious silver and gold details. I fell in love with every single room I saw on the pages of the magazine!

Photography by Nikolas Koenig

Trend Alert: Animal Print

If you are dying to try the latest animal print trend but fear you'll end up looking ridiculous, check these animal print accessories. You'll be able spice up your outfits without crossing the fine line between looking stylish and looking tacky...

This is a Bathroom..

... and don't let the fireplace, the Caucasian carpet ottoman, the funky art piece and the amazing armchair fool you. Jealous huh?

Add to Cart: The Cedric Table Clock

I don't know how you can tell exactly what time it is with this table clock, but I do know that it will look absolutely fantastic on your desk or library. The Cedric Table Clock is handcrafted by a European artisan for Studio Van den Akker, and you can find it here and make it yours with about $1.260. It is also available as a standing clock.

Splurge vs. Steal: The Black Leather Satchel

Whether you are a working girl or a college student, you probably need a stylish bag that can fit everything you need to get through a busy day: keys, wallet, sunglasses, cell phone, lipgloss, ipad, notebook, a snack and many, many more... Can you think of anything better than a black, leather satchel bag?

Splurge Bag: Proenza Schouler by Net-a-porter.com

Steal Bag: Zatchels by Liberty.co.uk

A Living Room Ready for Valentine's Day

Brooke Shields' Manhattan apartment seems to the perfect place for spending a cozy and warm Valentine's day! Architectural Digest has picked the apartment of the famous actress for its March issue which is out on the newsstands now, a few days before Valentine's day. Her Greenwich Village townhouse was renovated in collaboration with designer David Flint Wood and MADE architects. 

Shields, says that she toured brownstones all over Manhattan "looking for 'the one'. About four years ago she was shown a derelict (though landmarked) four-family brick house built around 1910, with a ramshackle ’60s addition. “It needed a complete gut,” she says, “but after a quick walk-through, I could see our future there. My bathtub in a niche by a window. Our daughters’ playroom on the top floor. A light-flooded, parlor-floor kitchen with a big hearth and a balcony. That kind of instant certainty is rare for me—I’m a Gemini—but for once, I was sure.”