From kitchen inspirations...to a new little side table

Last week, I took this white "Have a seat"stool home.
I was planning to use it to sit in front of the wooden table we have in the kitchen as a step towards my Kitchen master plan* but in the middle of styling bits and pieces with Francois, I used it as a support to display the Familia cups.
And suddenly, it struck me that it would be be perfect as a little side table by our white sofa so since then, that's where it has been and it's just perfect to put our cups of tea nearby when Steve and I watch TV together...Voila...I thought I would share because I was happy with this :-)

My Kitchen Master plan* involves inspiration from these gorgeous, soft industrial kitchens:
- this one if I manage to get rid of Steve's oak table from Habitat one day....
- this one which I think is the one that is probably most like my style and looking at it...I'm thinking it could be nice to paint half of our wall in soft grey
- this one which I pinned on our fridge
- this one which inspired us to paint the door frame outside in black

Photography: François Kong | Styling: Karine Kong

Reade more >>

Sneak-peek of our AW 2012 Lighting collection

We are working flat out to finish our AW catalogue and upload all the current collection onto a brand new, stunning website which will be soon revealed. Until the, here is a sneak-peek of our AW Lighting collection...pure love.

To request your FREE copy, fill in the form here. 

Have a great weekend. I'm sorting out Mila's stuff on Saturday as suddenly she seems to have outgrown of everything especially shoes and Sunday, I'm shooting with Francois Kong Photography

Reade more >>

Industrial and Salvaged

This weekend I am off to a Masterclass which is part of Handmade Wellington 2012. This weekend- long programme is a creative and inspiring event, which combines many skills and handmade activities. A fellow designer and I are attending the 'Salvaged to Supreme - Industrial Art and Furniture' lecture where we'll see examples of salvaged goods turned into finely reconstructed furniture. Should be interesting.
Here is a Swedish apartment, which belongs to interior designer, Benedikte Ugland, that has a cool industrial vibe throughout.
It's a long weekend for us in New Zealand as it is Queen's Birthday Weekend - so enjoy!
Photographs from Skona Hem via Nordic Design.

Reade more >>

My styling job for BODIE and FOU

Last Summer, I went to France to shoot the BODIE and FOU Christmas catalogue with François (behind-the-scene photos I took here). We had one week to do a few shots which we did at my parents' place and thanks God for that, because my mum is a bit of hoarder and she had every single thing I had forgotten to pack (string, cellotape, industrial shelving, wooden planks), you name it, she had it!
I styled four shots (front cover, page 5, page 23 and page 28) and while I enjoyed every minute of it, I found there was a massive difference in styling a few things in my home to achieve a pretty look and styling a shot for the catalogue (let's say more pressure!)
However, my favourite styling job was by far, the workspace one, probably because it is very close to how I would style my own creative space at home, mixing inspiring images from magazines with more personal things like photos from Mila.
Doing a job I love, I'm a firm believer that is very important to surround ourself at work with things that are going to inspire us and bring you a little happiness so I also put a little pink artwork together to feature what Mila once told me: "Maman, tu es la reine des bisous" (Mummy, you're the Queen of kisses).
This workspace has a soft industrial vibe, inspired by the new House Doctor DK but also, all these beautiful images I collect on Pinterest and we had such an amazing response that it looks like we will do another catalogue and this, will become a regular feature (Yippee!).
Maybe we can have some guest contributors...
Below, top image is the shot finished and then coming altogether for the catalogue

 

On the desk: Industrial table lamp | Owl vase |  Mima Le Chat print | Ceramic heart | Paris map printPaumes books | Bird clothes pegs used as paper clips | hanging heart (on the wall) |

On the shelf: Clip on light | roll of Scrapwood wallpaper | wire letter tray and then the stool (the trestles are from Ikea).

Reade more >>

In the shop this week: industrial stool by House Doctor

The stool by House Doctor DK was one of the first thing I spotted on their stand at an interiors trade show where I took my mum. I loved the design straight away because it was exactly the kind of things I had in mind for our future kitchen (see pic 3).

While it would be great to have 6 original white Tolix chairs around our table, I thought this stool was a great alternative to achieve a similar look at a more affordable cost.

I also love the combination of metal and nordic wood that gave this stool, its soft industrial vibe and the little detail of the sentence "Have a seat' stamped in black on the wood.

When it came to style our workspace shot for the BODIE and FOU catalogue (pic 5), it was just perfect for the job and we've recently worked with Domus tiles on a commercial project to refurbish their trendy offices in Clerkenwell and hopefully I will have more photos to show you next month. In the meantime, you can see a close up of the stool on the last picture shot by François and styled by myself.

Photo 1. Trine Thorsen | Photo 2. House Doctor DK | Photo 3. Pierre Vasseur |

Photo 4. Red large metal letter, wooden desk, industrial table lamp | Photo 5 & 6. Photographer François Kong, stylist: Karine Kong

Le tabouret de House Doctor DK était un des premiers objets que j'avais repéré sur leur stand a un salon déco ou j'avais amené ma petite maman. J'ai adoré le design de ca tabouret de suite parce que c'était le genre de trucs que j'avais en tete pour le look de notre future cuisine (photo 3).

Bien que j'aimerais beaucoup avoir 6 chaises Tolix autour de ma table, je trouvais que ce tabouret était un bon compromis pour obtenir un résultat similaire.

J'aime beaucoup aussi la combinaison du pied en métal avec l'assise en bois clair nordique, qui lui donne une douce touche industriel et aussi le petit détail de la phrase "Have a seat' peinte en noir sur le bois.

Lorsque j'ai commencé a travailler sur le shot workspace de notre catalogue (photo 5), il était juste parfait et comme nous avons récemment travailler avec Domus tilessur un projet commerciale pour redécorer leurs bureaux de Clerkenwell (coin branché de Londres), j'espere avoir d'autres photos a vous montrer dans quelques mois. En attendant, vous pouvez voir le détail du tabouret sur la photo prise par François et mise-en-scene par ma pomme.

Reade more >>

The White House for Vogue Living by Mikkel Vang

These visuals by photographer Mikkel Vang made an appearance in Vogue Living magazine some time ago. I remember reading the accompanying article and really enjoying the interiors.
This place is the White House, an 1850's miners cottage that was brought back to life and re-furbished by Lynda Gardener, owner of Empire Vintage. Located in Daylesford, Victoria (Australia), this holiday rental has a great "part industrial, part New York" vibe.
Photographs via Mikkel Vang.

Reade more >>

Yellow + House Doctor = Lemon bliss

We received a big delivery* from House Doctor DK which gives me butterflies each time.
Our new arrivals include these colourful yarns, a quirky Owl lamp and who forgot to order the shades that go with it!! (ME!..duhh!), some gorgeous hooks and this Pipe light!

Now the Pipe light in yellow really fired up my imagination because he reminded me one gorgeous shots styled by Shane Powers which Holly featured on Decor8.

Having worked last week on a soft, feminine, boho workspace for our catalogue, I thought it would be nice today to look at achieving a feel-good workspace around yellow...

It is up to you if you want to paint a whole wall in yellow to create a feature but I think yellow, although very cheerful, is a tough colour and it can be tricky to find the hue of yellow that will really work with the natural light in your home. However, it is very easy to inject touches of yellow and achieve a feel-good mood around your workspace.
You can put together a little moordboard like Leslie with fabrics, images of things you're dreaming of (i.e. this CV lust-have clutch bag)

(C) A Creative Mint

Or simply paint an old picture frame in yellow and add a few lemon touches with pretty art prints and illustrations on your wall.

(C) Whole lotta lovely

(C) In my house

Or you can paint an old chair found in a second-hand shop and add more masculine accessories so that the space works for you and your hubby. The London weekend print is similar to the one above and the clip-on light by House Doctor will work as a treat!

Reade more >>

I love this

and the rest of the house is pretty cool too!

Via Home Designing

Reade more >>

I like this...

I think the contrast I like the most when it comes to interiors is when sleek, contemporary designs like this gorgeous cluster light are enhanced against rustic, vintage, industrial materials.

Via Casalil

Reade more >>