I am in love with Amsterdam!

A few weeks back I participated in the inaugural European Meet the blogger conference held in Amsterdam. It proved to be a very well attended and successful event with over 100 bloggers from all over Europe. It was great to put faces to virtual names; the start hopefully of long term friendships. I particularly enjoyed hearing the stories of how some bloggers started then expanded, truly inspiring. Lise M. from "Urban Style Vibes" and many others are to be congratulated for making it happen. Guest speakers were Holly Becker from Decor8, Angelie from Lily's cupcakes and Natasha from Flavourites.

Conference over it was then time to explore and Amsterdam is now one of my favourite cities because of its beauty, amazing design and yet, for a major city, areas of solitude. There aren't many cultures as open and blunt as the Dutch which for some can be quite disarming. As someone who has been cast in the same mould I find it amusing and refreshing. The Dutch are very welcoming and always so friendly.

After nearly avoiding certain death from all the cyclists whizzing by one learns how to look both ways twice when crossing the road so not to be taken out by bikes, cars or trams. I do like the fact that they cycle everywhere no matter the weather and the more on a bike the merrier. Its amazing what you can do on a bike...

Did you know there are over 200,000 boat houses and some of them are quite amazing and stylish? I so wish I could have seen them from the inside; talking about inside while walking in Amsterdam so many times I looked through a window thinking it was a stylish shop and I found myself looking into a person's house, not a place to set up a net curtain business it would seem. Apologies to the ones that saw me do it but it shows how beautifully decorated most of them were.

Coming from a country where socializing is part of my DNA I embrace how the Dutch also do it, like it is a part of their work/life balance. I also found it to be more economic to eat out in Amsterdam than London. There are endless possibilities to sample cuisine from around the world; here are some really great choices Hostaria, Bar Italia, Bar Moustache, Portugalia, etc. I would avoid most places in Damrak, the street just ahead of Central Station. The locals rarely eat in this area and that should give you a clear indication.

There are amazing markets; on the Singel canal between the Koningsplein and the muntplein is the Bloemenmarkt ( the only floating flower market in the world); also the market on the Lindengracht where you can get fresh veg, fruit and fish or just go to see what's on offer - its great to take stunning colourful pictures.

I found Jordaan one of the coziest and quirkiest districts with lovely little shops where you can buy nearly anything. The nine streets is also a must, loved wondering around exploring art galleries, jewellers and designer boutiques (may I say I did not succumb to my desire to buy everything). Vondelpark is just stunning, and since it was so hot I welcomed the shade the trees provided and the coolness of the lake sides.

Obviously I had to go to the fashion district ( oh hubby did treat me to a lovely waistcoat ) and ended up finding a furniture shop which I now absolutely love - Riviera Maison has a New England nautical theme; their merchandise is available on line and they will ship overseas plus they do have a representative in Surrey. I was greeted with such helpfulness and buying in Riviera Maison is an experience in itself - their customer service is superb.

I also found another shop, Sissy Boy, a great name instantly memorable and I really like their furniture. The layout was so well done that I just had to take pictures so you knew what i meant ( I have to say I was told off for doing so, shades of my experiences in Hong Kong).

I so enjoyed my trip, it has whetted my appetite to return. If you have been there lately or are going do let me know of your experiences.


www.aguilarinteriors.com

Pictures via Jurriaan Hoefsmit, Riviera Maison and my own.

Come dine with me !

If like me you enjoy entertaining and having friends around then you need to set up the right space for it. Here I will be giving you some ideas to achieve the right look. 

Nowadays either by choice or not, most households don’t have a separate dining room; it's either part kitchen, part office or part living room. If this is your case then you want to make sure to have lots of practical storage.

If you want to either splash out, create a dramatic feel or even a modern country feel there is something out there for you.

-Feature wall

Why not liven up a plain dining room with an eye-catching focal point. Think wallpaper, paint, wall art, wall stickers, quirky shelving or even a great mirror – Remember to keep your design to a single wall for maximum impact.

Ideas:

о   Wide horizontal stripes - makes a shorter wall seem longer.

о   Paint walls in a bold shade - dress your table with a dinner service, glassware and napkins in complementary hues for a coordinated look.  Red is a great colour for stimulating conversation and appetite. 

-Dining tables

If you have a large family or a lot of visitors then a table with a built-in extension leaf is your best option. It will also double as a work area or a place for kids to do homework. 

Materials: 

о   Glass/Perspex - Perspex or glass dining room tables instantly create a light and spacious effect although attracts dust constantly.

о   Wood - Ages beautifully and looks great in both casual and formal dining room. Wood furniture is heavy and difficult to move and store. Depending on the quality and type of wood used they can be expensive.

о   Veneer - Less expensive then wood and great for their impermeability. Less durability than wood and prone to chip at edges.

о   Marble - Extremely durable and sturdy, but it does require regular maintenance, including regular resealing.

There are a plethora of materials and as you see they all have their pros and cons so you will have to decide which will work best for you and what type of mood you are trying to achieve.

 Shapes:

о   Round - Round tables are conducive to conversation providing a cosier and more intimate setting; albeit a round table is not ideal for large gatherings because although you can see others, you may have to shout across the table in order to be heard. 

о   Oval  - Oval tables are classic and often come with removable leaves which makes them practical as the size can change depending on the number of people you need to seat.

о   Square - Square tables provide intimacy and are a great solution to seating a small number of people. Group two square tables to create a larger rectangular seating arrangement for additional guests. 

о   Rectangular - Rectangular dining tables are probably the most common and are possibly the best shape since most dining rooms are also rectangular. It also allows you to seat a greater number of people.

 -Mix and match

The days of matching dining room sets have long gone, and a much more relaxed style is now coming through. For an eclectic look mix the decor up and go for chairs that don't match or even go for a set of mix and match dinner service. It will certainly make a statement!

-Flooring

о   Wood flooring - Natural wood is a stylish and practical flooring option for an eating space. It blends in well with both traditional and contemporary dining room designs and definitely a great choice due to hygienic reasons.

о   Hard flooring - Granite, marble, slate, travertine, limestone, sandstone, terrazzo, concrete, metal, glass and tiles. Impervious to water and spills so becoming good material for floors. However one of its disadvantages is that it is hard and unforgivable, so anything dropped will most definitely break.  

о   Soft flooring - Vinyl, rubber, linoleum and leather is smooth, resilient, hard-wearing, warm and requires low maintenance so if treated well it can last for a decade or more. Then you have carpets and rugs which offer a great choice in colour, pattern, and texture. Natural-fibres flooring such as coir, sisal, jute and you will find this in a range of natural colours and textured weaves that will complement any type of décor. 

 

-Pendant lights over the table

Pendant fixtures will establish a design statement through their clear visibility. Lamps suspended above dining room tables cast a soft pool of light, creating a cosy and intimate atmosphere. In a modern dining room, a cluster of brightly coloured lights adds a sense of fun but if you have a long table then a row of sleek suspended will create a contemporary look.   

-Curtains

If you are lucky enough to have a separate dining room then by hanging floor-length curtains you will significantly soften the space by adding texture and colour. It will also feel luxurious and add drama. 

 

-Space-saving furniture

If you're short on space then look for clever solutions, i.e. stools that tuck under the table, coffee table that converts into a dining table, foldaway furniture, or even stackable chairs. 


 

 

Chairs can play their part decoratively; choose yours to add a splash of colour to an otherwise understated room. 

 

If you're going to have a dining table in your kitchen, you need to allow an ideal space of 1.25m between the table and units - this will allow you to open doors of units comfortably.

Be Imaginative, you have no excuse for not having a dining area; remember that even the smallest of spaces can make room for mealtimes. So go and be creative.

www.aguilarinteriors.com

Pictures via lovehome.co.uk, homeandgardens.com, deardesigner.co.uk, neophotography.co.uk, alldoing.com, hit-decors.com, elledecor.com, greatinteriordesign.com, housetohome.co.uk, housebeautiful.com, rosannainc.blogspot.com, homeworkshop.com, eclecticrevisited.wordpress.com, housedesigning.info, gretchenopgenorthdesigns.blogspot.com, designhey.com, inspirebohemia.blogspot.com, design-elements-blog.com and liliumdesigns.blogspot.com.