This was 2011

Photo: Ditte Isager Photographer

Happy new year, folks! This was 2011. I hope it was a good one.

I am so grateful for the people I've met though blogging - you, dear Readers and fellow bloggers - and the things I've discovered. I blog purely for pleasure and your comments and emails always make me so happy. Thanks for visiting! I am content to be part of this community.

French Impressions VIII

 Hello, welcome to another edition of 'Impressions....', today from Paris. I'll give some explanations for the photos I chose.

Here is my favourite 'secret' passageway in the Marais. Do you recognise Place de Vosges (above) and the Hôtel de Sully (below)?

The other day we went to to the fleamarket Porte de Vanves and bought these two bistro chairs for 30 Euros. I must say that it is practical to travel with your own chairs on the metro - you always have a seat. Don't try this during rush hour, though.

I love the colourful shop fronts you can find in Paris. Here are two examples.

I absolutely love the windows in Notre Dame - the photo does no justice to the glowing colours.

The last photo shows the colourful syrop you can buy on the markets. They are all yummy which makes it hard to choose.

All photos: European Chic

Finnish living room

Photo: Pinterest

Dear Readers, I hope you all had relaxing holidays. It is good to be back in blog-land showing you a great Finnish interior I found on Pinterest. I love the exposed brick walls and the mismatched chairs.

I can not believe that I've never showcased a Finnish home on European Chic. This will be rectified in the future. If you know great Finnish interiors let me know.

Vintage vision in Berlin

Freunde von Freunde (FVF) has to be my favourite website, probably since they launched. It makes me want to move to Berlin just because the flats are so spacious over there. And now FVF has expanded - even to Paris. Yay! The featured flats are always so fresh, cool and, most importantly, unique.

In this flat I adore the fireplace and the pink walls. How gutsy! What do you like about this flat?

All photos: FreundevonFreunden

Portugese libary

Photo: Sonnabend Gallery, New York

Who wants to study in Portugal? Me! Isn't the Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra (photographed by famous photographer Candida Höfer) stunning! I would never look at my books being distracted by the ornamental beauty around me.

German Impressions IX

I remeber how much you, dear readers enjoyed seeing photos of various European Christmas markets on this blog.

Last weekend I popped over to Nuremberg, Germany to visit my friend C. who recently moved to this charming medieval city in Bavaria. We enjoyed looking at the artisan stalls at the large outdoor Christmas market (especially the Glühwein and famous Lebkuchen!), eating Frankonian food and a tour of the castle.  

All photos: European Chic

Norwegian kitchen design

Photo: Maison Interior Norway

I was inspired by this Norwegian black and white kitchen which is cool and cozy at the same time. I love the shiny black door against the matte wall finish. What a neat effect. The black and white tiles are a classic for a kitchen or a hallway.

Artist pad in Paris

I am leaning heavily towards French homes these days but this place was too good to pass. The window in the image above reminds me so much of my old flat. Doesn't this flat in St. Germain have great bones? The decoration is really quirky, I like that. There is no matchy-matchy feeling, yet everything works so well together. Of course, being an artist who draws large paintings helps.

All photos: cotemaison.fr