Klooftique Blog

I found this amazing home in Brussels filled with stunning vintage and mid-century furniture via the fabulous myscandinavianhome.blogspot.com, which I highly recommend whenever you’re in need of some eye candy and decor inspiration. I think this is such a great space – the furniture is enviable, the industrial feel, the cool tones and especially the floors that remind me so much of our first home in Woodstock, Cape Town. There are so many original ideas here that I’ll be tucking into my ideas folder, that’s for sure…. (All images courtesy of Louise Desrosiers for milk magazine.)

Such a relaxing living space. Fab couch, coffee table and sideboard.

Mad about that floor...

Close-up of that sideboard

I'd love to get my hands on these chairs. We used to sit on similar ones – the el cheapo version, no doubt – when I was at school

Clever kitchen storage. Love the wood-clad extractor!

Cool shelving system

Shelving detail – this is great

Devil's in the details, such sweet blown glass pendants

Blackboard paint – so useful

Savvy storage

A much more stylish take on my student boudoir

Later, Julia

We’re just loving the oh-so-cool furniture on the floor right now. Soothing, grey tones and a bit of woody grain are a recipe for tranquility and calm and look so good in the late summer light that Cape Town’s bathed in right now. And paired with Buhera baskets or my beloved bamalekes and you’ve got a winning interior that is as much a nod to rich African traditions as it is to what’s happening right now in the decor world.

Miami daybed in Davos Slate, R11 900 (incl VAT)

Cheers, Marianna

Buhera baskets from R450 (incl VAT)

Cubist IV chair in grey weathered Zambezi leather, R7200 (incl VAT)

Kudu heads, R1200 each (incl VAT)

Habitat TV unit in French Ash, R9500 (incl VAT)

The HUSH pod by Freyja Sewell

My kind of chair

When the world gets too much...

I spotted this amazing chair by Freyja Sewell on Apartment Therapy the other day. Anything in felt works for me, especially when used in a dynamic design such as this. Sewell’s HUSH is made from 100% wool felt and its cushions are stuffed with recycled wool fibres. ‘It is essential to continue to develop new ways of allowing people to comfortably co-exist in these increasingly densely populated environments’ says Sewell. ‘By creating an enclosed space HUSH provides a personal retreat, an escape into a dark, quiet, natural space, or state of mind. HUSH can also be transformed to provide more traditional open seating.’ A cool concept, I’d definitely get my hands on one these.

More felt love – stacked felt square stools by Knoll

Milan is one of my favourite cities. So many people tell me how they can’t stand Milan but I’ve loved it ever since my husband took me there to meet his family in 2001. We were there a few months ago and I noticed quite a bit of vertical gardening happening in response, I imagine, to the alarming levels of air pollution in Milan. And so I’m fascinated by Boeri Studio’s Bosco Verticale, a 27-story tower block currently under construction in the Porta Nuova district. What sets it apart from your average apartment block is that it will be fortified with 700 balcony-perched trees – basically it will look like two massive topiaries smack bang in the middle of the city and all these trees will absorb carbon dioxide and protect the inhabitants from radiation and noise pollution. Can’t wait to see the finished project.

An artist's rendering of Bosco Verticale currently under construction in Milan

No blog of mine is complete with some Scandi lovin’ and I’m really loving Danish design studio Gubi. Established in 1967, they’re based in Copenhagen and design everything from lighting to seating and more. They’re about ‘chasing forgotten icons… Each piece is exquisite in its own right with a story to tell, capturing a fleeting moment in history which remains relevant to this day.’ Original, amazing stuff you want to fill your home with and so I’ll leave you with these images as inspiration for for the week ahead…

Gubi Bonaparte chair

Grasshopper floor lamp by Gubi

Semi Pendant lights by Gubi

Jacques Adnet’s leather wrapped mirror for Danish company Gubi.

Gubi 1 chair

Later, Julia

I recently joined Stylizimo.com which is an amazing community site where people share their homes to inspire each other. It’s a little intimidating; I’m blown away by some of the places on the site and my home isn’t quite where I’d like it to be so I ain’t sharing yet. For now, I’m enjoying the process of turning a house into a home – the journey is exciting and interesting and never-ending – and I don’t think you’re ever finished when it comes to your home, it’s so much a reflection of who we are and that’s always changing.
But what I would like to share with you today is Norwegian stylist Nina Holst’s pretty black and white home. She’s the founder of Stylizimo and I love her eye and the way she’s put her home together – just the right amount of playfulness and restraint. Check out her her blog at blog.stylizimo.com.

Workspace

Moodboard

Diningroom

Table setting. Love those salt & pepper grinders

Living room. Smart mag storage.

Living room details, love a little glitz.

View from kitchen into living area

The bedroom. I have been loving that bedspread long time...

Later, Julia

We’re up and running and firing on all cylinders after the annual Christmas mini-break. There’s loads of exciting new stock on its way to the shop this week but in the meantime I wanted to update you on the arrivals over the past couple of weeks. We’ve been a little slack on the blogging side of the business – the beginning of the school term, the end of hols etc has been all-consuming but we’re back on track!

Loving these cubes in MDF, so versatile. POA

'Z' Level unit in white MDF, R6200 (incl VAT)

Imported scarves, R100 each

'E' side table in kiaat, R2800 (incl VAT)

Solid kiaat stools, POA

Steel stools in assorted colours, R385 each (incl VAT)

Have a fabulous week,

Marianna x

Happiest 2013 to y’all. I thought I’d kick off a new year of Klooftique blogging with some of the year’s up and coming decor trends. Timeless and beautiful, the following key looks are amongst my all-time favourites and I hope that you’ll be as inspired as I am to incorporate a few of these ideas into your own home…

Emerald Green
I recently blogged about Pantone’s 2013 Colour of the Year, and am still so excited about this hue and all its possibilities. It’s a strong colour, make no mistake, but it’s amazing paired with cool white and pops of brights and I’m especially fond of an accent wall splashed in this lush, cool tone.

Green, white and brights.

That ballsy combo again...

See how well it works as an accent colour?

Large floral patterns
Clean lines and muted tones a-la-Scandi style may be my first love, but I am very fond of fabulous, colourful floral prints and am currently fantasising about a chair or drapes in a classic Colefax and Fowler print. Or perhaps a statement wall papered in vibrant blooms?

Coveting right now....

I think florals work best teamed with white and one strong accent colour pulled from the print.

This rich floral perks up the otherwise earthy tones. Love it.

Industrial vintage
This is such a great trend and happily, I think it’s here to stay. Repurposing is obviously huge and will remain so as we ease out of our ‘throw away’ mindset and it’s certainly a look that’s accessible to all  – anyone can go on a salvaging mission or renew what they already have. All it takes is patience, perseverance and a basic knowledge of DIY (or access to a DIY expert!).

My love for wooden pallets and their many uses is eternal.

White flooring is mandatory with this look.

Great style doesn't need to cost an arm and a leg.

3-Dimensional wall tiles
This is something I’ve seen popping up a lot recently. Modern and versatile, 3-dimensional tiles give a certain depth to a room to create a fabulous living space.

3-Dimensional wall tiles by Turkish designer Yigit Ozer.

I like this application of the trend. Playful and fun.

Later, Julia

We’d like to wish all our customers the happiest 2013 and to notify everyone that Klooftique is open after a much-needed mini break. We’re kicking of 2013 with some fab new stock – pop in soon and take a look!

Oxford chairs in luxe antique corn leather, R7500 each (incl VAT)

Nguni bench (1200 wide), R5500 incl VAT

Open Cube side tables in stainless steel and MDF, R1800 each incl VAT

Nguni hide cubes, R2200 incl VAT

Miami day bed, R11900 incl VAT

Smart storage is crucial in the living room, not only because it keeps the space uncluttered so that people can feel relaxed but it also makes it easier to locate what you need, when you need it. There are so many cool options when it comes to clever ways to maximise space ie. multitasking shelving systems and modular furniture such as coffee tables with shelves or sofas with built-in storage (not a fan of the sofa storage, but each to their own).
I am a huge fan of floating shelves – they’re sleek and unobtrusive, you can add cabinets underneath them to create even more storage space and they’re a really convenient way to dress up a wall when you’re too skint to shell out on good art.

Stylish shelves and cabinet below – such a great storage solution

Putting your walls to good use

Recessed shelving works well in smaller spaces

An imaginative, fun and affordable idea – line the insides of drawers with wallpaper and mount them as a collection on a wall. And I also love the low-slung cabinet which doubles up as much-needed extra seating. Win!

Invest in space-saving furniture – a coffee or side table with drawers or shelves, an exquisite statement piece such as an antique cabinet and ottomans with lidded storage compartments that also provide extra seating. If you need to consolidate all entertainment equipment such as stereos, PVR etc and don’t feel the need to compulsively rearrange your living room then designate one wall and choose/build a solid cabinet that can take the weight and offer total concealment.

Nifty mag stashage

A wooden soft drink crate is repurposed as a book/mag box and can be hauled out from under the table and used as an extra surface for parties, etc

The kind of statement a cabinet should make

Later, Julia