B E L G ' C H I C a certain look at Belgian style

Book on Jules Wabbes

2012-02-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

For those of you still trying to get your hands on a book on the Belgian designer Jules Wabbes, his daughter, Marie Ferran-Wabbes, worked on this re-edition (above) available in French, Flemish and English. There is also an exhibit in the works that will take place in Brussels, in October of this year, at the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles (Bozar).

ENGLISH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/modulefiles/books/218/jules-wabbes-engels.jpg

FRENCH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/boeken/p/detail/jules-wabbes-frans

FLEMISH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/boeken/p/detail/jules-wabbes

Daniel Ost - Garden Design

2012-02-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

Daniel Ost - most famous for his incredible sculptural flower arrangements - is now venturing into garden design. Above are some pictures of the green spaces he designed for the DE UIL house (previously blogged about here).

http://www.danielost.be/

Jules Wabbes at home

2012-02-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

This is Jules Wabbes's house now lived-in by his wife, Marie Wabbes, a children's book author. His daughter, Marie Ferran-Wabbes, also an author, wrote the only reference and stunning coffee-table book on her father. A collector's item, it has been out of print for a while now ... but hoping that, with this new "Wabbes revival" ... the book will be re-published soon!

This is a house I know very very well, and it is one of the houses that have influenced my Belgian style.

The pictures in this post courtesy of http://www.owi.bz/
Photos by Jean-Pierre Gabriel

Jules Wabbes Revival

2012-02-15T15:00:00.000-08:00

"For the last few years Jules Wabbes (1919-1974) was high-up there on the vintage list for international design dealers. As a result his original designs reached astronomical heights in price and desirability. That’s why the premier representative of Belgian design in the 1960s and 70s is currently re-edited by Belgian design-house Bulo, lightning house Wever & Ducré and carpet house Bic-Carpets.

Initially an antiques dealer and decorator, in the 1950s he designed the interior for several Sabena aircrafts. A series of interior design commissions followed, including the International Science Hall at the Brussels Universal Exhibition, the royal couple’s apartment on board the Belgian marine ship Godetia and the offices of the Crédit Communal or the Générale de Banque.

A lover of beautiful materials, he created desks, tables, bookcases, mobile furniture, storage furniture, lamps and seating, in addition to the furniture Wabbes had made to measure or adapted for customers who commissioned him to fit out their interiors: beds, lights, door handles. All these different designs could be ordered in different sizes, materials or finishes. These were the foundations of the international reputation of his designs, designs of simple form and timeless elegance.

We don’t say the re-editions are cheap, but they will save you some money if you want to invest in timeless and elegant classic. And let’s be honest, aren’t you tired of seeing Vitra designs and Kartell everywhere…"

This post via http://www.ilovebelgium.be/

You can also check this previous 2009 entry from Belg'Chic on Jules Wabbes here.

Jos Devriendt Vases

2012-02-14T11:38:00.001-08:00

Beautiful vases by Belgian designer Jos Devriendt. The above picures (and more) courtesy of Los Angeles Gallery MATIN.

De Uil House

2012-02-14T11:12:00.000-08:00

"Belgian designer Jos Devriendt shows a selection of his work in the De Uil house. This art-deco house was originally built by sculptor Karel Aubrouck and is now renovated by Vigilando Interiors. The owners work, live and also have their gallery in the house."

This post and many more photos of the space @ http://www.owi.bz/

Stable Conversion

2012-02-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

"Another day, another white loft. It says it’s time to loosen up the definition of “loft” – a home does not necessarily need to be located in a city to have the elements of loft living, especially with conversions. Case in point: Check out this awesome stable-turned-live/work space from Brussels. Not many details are known, but here is the description of the space from the photographer Ocvirk Kus Danica’s profile on OWI’s website:

“A former stable house has been converted into a photography studio, office space and living area on the top floor.”

What makes the space so great are the original elements of the structure that have been simplified with white paint and concrete. They have used the stalls as rooms, keeping the main area open save a long dining table, chandelier, and swing. And how about that oh-so-stunning circular window that serves as an anchor for the space. The benefits of practicing restraint (notice not one thing is hung on the wall) are perfecting exemplified here, where the uniqueness of the building takes center stage."

This post via http://www.loftenberg.com/ where you can see a lot more views of the space.

Azerty Awesomeness

2012-02-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

This post via http://streetartbelgium.com/

Teva Living - Sustainable Furniture

2012-01-29T15:32:00.000-08:00

Check out these pieces from Teva Living that are Belgian inspired, crafted from solid pine timbers salvaged from old buildings, carefully handcrafted, and left unfinished for a rich look. Each plank is sanded by hand for a lived and charming look. California-based (near Los Angeles) each piece is eco-friendly, made from recycled/reclaimed wood and are completely affordable!

http://tevaliving.com/

La Classe - converted space

2011-12-23T10:34:00.000-08:00

"La Classe is the name that owners Anne and Jean-Luc Laloux – both specialized in architectural photography – have chosen for this old village school they have converted into an accommodation for groups and seminars.

Located in the heart of Denée, a small village in Belgium, the 1863 building can now accommodate up to 21 people in seven bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.

“The interior combines high quality materials, space and simplicity. It has a very peaceful atmosphere” says Anne Leroux.

“All the paintings, objects and installations have a connection to the old school, but in a humorous way. Children go crazy when they see the school chairs hanging on the main wall of the kitchen!”

La Classe can be booked all year long, from €1,900 for a weekend to €3,120 for a full week."

This post via http://myinteriordesign.us/

Official Website: http://www.laclasse.be/

Draw Me A Gaze

2011-11-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

"Kris Van Assche and Barbara Polla launched the third edition of their magazine Londerzeel a month ago on Paris Fashion Week. The presentation of this edition “Draw me a gaze” was a celebration of art, illustration, literature and creativity in general. A little something else then another one of his fashion shows for a Dior Homme or for his own label. Read the rest of this entry » ... "

http://www.krisvanassche.com/

This post via http://www.ilovebelgium.be/

Wind Paintings by Bob Verschueren

2011-11-07T23:02:00.000-08:00

I've just fallen in love with these "Wind Paintings" by Bob Verschueren. Discovered on the very cool blog I love Belgium (where you can read the full article) ... I hope you will also let yourself be swept away by Bob Verschueren's website."

http://www.bobverschueren.net/

BELGE EPOQUE - a NY TIMES article

2011-10-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Belge Epoque

By MONICA KHEMSUROV

September 21, 2011, 7:30 pm

Photographs by Tim BarberBarbara Cuglietta, left, and Lilou Vidal at their gallery, VidalCuglietta.

Before Christina Vantzou, a Kansas City, Mo.-born art student, fell in love with an American expat during a layover in Brussels seven years ago, she had never given the city a second thought. She assumed it was as bland as everyone said, and when she packed her bags and moved there soon after, she found plenty of Europeans who agreed. “The people I was hanging out with at the time referred to it as the Mexico of Europe,” she says. “Everyone wanted to go to Paris or London or Amsterdam, and Brussels was just this weird place in the middle.”

At first, Vantzou stayed mostly for her relationship and for the hefty artist’s stipend she received from the Belgian government, having secured E.U. citizenship by way of her Greek father. But then a funny thing happened. Not only was she discovering that there was more to the cultural scene than she’d imagined, she was also watching as other artists — Parisians, even — began settling in the city. Long ignored or even mocked by its neighbors, Brussels seemed to be entering a kind of creative renaissance. “Where it used to be like ‘Brussels? Why the heck would you move there?’ these days it’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ve been hearing about all the stuff happening there,’ ” Vantzou says. “Brussels used to be this forgotten place, and suddenly people are talking about it like they were talking about Berlin 10 years ago.”

Brussels may not quite be Berlin — it has less than a third of the population and none of the sexy post-Wall iconography — but its creative scene is thriving. And perhaps because it has flown under the radar for so long, or because its coalition government is perpetually in shambles, it has remained extremely affordable. Just as the allure of Berlin in the 1990s lay in the fact that young people could run clubs out of abandoned buildings or start their own galleries for next to nothing, a new generation of Europeans is beginning to fixate on Brussels’s cheap rents and lack of competition. Dispelling old notions of the city as boring and conservative, they’ve spent the last few years opening the kinds of hip bars, restaurants, galleries and shops that used to be more rare here.

This may sound dubious to anyone who has traveled to Brussels in the past decade, visited the museums and flea markets and the designer flagships along Rue Antoine Dansaert, stuffed themselves full of pommes frites and concluded there was nothing more to do. Brussels “is definitely not a city where everything is obvious, announced and organized,” explains Dimitri Jeurissen, the Belgian creative director of BaseDesign. “There’s a huge amount of cultural offerings, but everything is so understated. You have to scratch the surface to get to the essence of what’s going on.” Possibly because of their country’s history of being dismissed, Belgians have tended to keep to themselves and let their achievements go unnoticed. That independence has done wonders for the city’s creative output but nothing for its marketing skills, the lack of which have obscured Brussels’s charms for even the most clued-in travelers.

Emmanuel Perceau, who opened the clothing boutique Mapp; Café le Fontainas.

When I first visited, in 2005, there were artists but no contemporary art center like Wiels, which runs a residency program and hosts evening performances by the likes of Nils Bech, a kind of Norwegian Kalup Linzy. There were designers, but no avant-garde design shops like Diito and La Fabrika. There were parties, but not organized affairs like High Needs Low, which fills a former train station with a cool crowd every three months. And whereas in the past I might not have ventured beyond the legendary Belgian couture mecca Stijl on Rue Dansaert, I discovered on a side street new boutiques like Hunting and Collecting, a sprawling concept store that opened last year with racks full of emerging fashion talents and an installation by Confetti System. Aside from the nook carved out for young Belgian notables like Christian Wijnants, Sandrina Fasoli and Jan-Jan Van Essche, the shop could just as easily be in Paris or New York.

Niels Radtke and Aude Gribomont — who left their jobs as an event producer and a fashion editor, respectively, to start the store — were uncertain about doing so on their home turf. In the past, Radtke explains, the couple’s peers could be viciously skeptical of new things. “Hype means nothing here,” he says. “If Belgians like something, they go for it, and if not, they stand around and watch you go down. But we could never have found this kind of space in the middle of Paris, and Brussels really needed a place like this.” Not only is Hunting and Collecting succeeding, its events have become a kind of social linchpin for the A-list, which can now flit between it and Mapp, another shop down the street with a similar experimental bent and a Parisian expat D.J. at the helm. Radtke doesn’t believe this could have happened eight years ago. “I think it’s a generation change,” he says.

Nicholas Lewis calls it the Eurostar effect. Three years ago, he helped found the magazine The Word to catalog everything going on here. The rise of the E.U. was inspiring Belgians — and those from Brussels in particular — to adopt a more European identity. “People are traveling a lot more,” Lewis says, pointing out that the distance from Brussels to Paris by train is just over one hour. “Our readers can be in London, Paris or Amsterdam all week and come back on the weekends, bringing inspiration with them. They come back wanting more from Brussels.”

That interconnectedness has also made them confident about staying, as they realize they can work in Brussels and still speak to an international audience. Sandrina Fasoli, the fashion designer, sees the effect more and more among her colleagues — like the designer Cathy Pill and the fashion editor Benoît Béthume — who attended the city’s prestigious La Cambre school and stuck around instead of leaving for Paris. Fasoli and her design partner, Michael Marson, keep a workshop and a small store in Brussels, despite the fact that they sell “mostly in Japan, Korea and other parts of Europe.”

The fashion-design duo Sandrina Fasoli and Michael Marson at their shop, left; Niels Radtke and Aude Gribomont, owners of the new concept store Hunting and Collecting.

Perhaps most telling is the influx of Parisians, who would have previously equated moving here with falling off the map. Lilou Vidal, co-founder of the Galerie VidalCuglietta with Barbara Cuglietta, says she felt doors opening for her in Brussels that never would have opened back home in France. After putting in time working for the local dealer Catherine Bastide, the two found their own affordable loft space downtown, filled it with work by established and semi-unknown artists and had more than 300 people at their first opening last fall.

Even Almine Rech, who owns a top contemporary gallery in Paris, moved to Brussels and opened a space (not far from Barbara Gladstone’s). “We’ve had a lot more visitors in the last two years,” she told me when I dropped in on her 10,000-square-foot former garage off Avenue Louise. “People are coming from London and the U.S. now that they hear Brussels is cool.”

Cool it may be, but the city isn’t letting go of what the artist Zin Taylor, a Canadian transplant, calls “a kind of dark surrealism.” Taylor, who shows with VidalCuglietta, says there have been nights when he winds up in a creepy underground swingers’ club from the ’60s, or sipping $2 wine at a 150-year-old bar. “You go in and out of these pockets of strangeness. That’s what it’s like living here.” And that’s why Brussels, with any luck, will never exactly be the new Berlin or Paris; it’s too steeped in its own quirkiness. On my own night out, I went to what I thought was going to be a raucous party for The Word at a local bar, only to find that the place was no more than a tiny cafe on an empty residential street. “This is the kind of place Belgians love,” insisted Lewis, who called the next day to tell me that by 2 a.m. — long after I had retired for the night — people were dancing on the tables.

ESSENTIALS: BRUSSELS

Hotels
Concept Hotel
High-design B&B.
39 Grand-Place;
011-32-474-03-24-70; concepthotel.be; doubles from about $220.

Odette en Ville
A 1920s house with eight monochromatic rooms.
25 Rue du Châtelain; 011-32-2-640-26-26; chez-odette.com; doubles from $360.

Pantone Hotel
Colorful newcomer.
1 Place Loix; 011-32-2-541-48-98; pantonehotel.com; doubles from $100.

Restaurants and Cafes
Café le Fontainas
Mixed gay-straight hangout.
91 Rue du Marché au Charbon; 011-32-2-503-31-12.

Les Filles-Plaisirs Culinaires
Catering studio and restaurant with cooking classes.
85 Rue Vanderschrick; 011-32-2-534-04-83; lesfillesplaisirsculinaires.be.

La Meilleure Jeunesse
An art-crowd favorite.
58 Rue de L’Aurore; 011-32-2-640-23-94.

Shops and Galleries
Almine Rech
Brussels branch of the Parisian gallery, with a shop for artist’s editions.
20 Rue de L’Abbaye; 011-32-2-648-56-84; alminerech.com.

D&A Lab
Artist-designed furniture with a Surrealist strain.
27 Quai du Commerce; 011-32-475-94-90-69; dna-lab.net.

Diito
Contemporary furniture plus midcentury finds.
62 Rue de L’Aurore; 011-32-2-646-16-10; diito.be.

Galerie VidalCuglietta
Downtown incubator for emerging artists.
5 Boulevard Barthélémy; 011-32-2-502-53-20; vidalcuglietta.com.

Haleluja
Sustainable-fashion mecca from the owner of Stijl.
6 Place du Nouveau Marché aux Grains; 011-32-2-513-42-50; haleluja.be.

Hunting and Collecting
The Opening Ceremony of Brussels.
17 Rue des Chartreux; 011-32-2-512-74-77; huntingandcollecting.com.

Mapp
Wang and Vibskov in back; music and books up front.
5 Rue Léon Lepage; 011-32-2-551-17-67; thisismapp.com.

Night Life
Libertine Supersport
Saturday night party for visiting D.J.’s. At K-Nal;
1 Avenue du Port; libertinesupersport.be

High Needs Low
Culty quarterly dance party in an old train station.
Gare du Congrès; highneedslow.be.

Dille & Kamille - Natural Simplicity

2011-10-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

This very cool concept store not only sells beautiful, simple, eco-friendly and practical objects, but is also "an epicerie" which means it sells food and serves as a cafe as well. With locations all over Belgium and Holland, Dille & Kamille specializes in the "simple". Each store is divided into 10 sections which include the following departments: new arrivals, kitchen, table, house, cleaning, bath, kids, stationary, and garden. Supermarkets redefined!!!!!

This post discovered on http://www.remodelista.com/

Official Site: http://www.dille-kamille.be/

The Bulb Pendants

2011-10-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

This wooden Pendant Lamps, called The Blub Pendant Lamps was designed by Belgian Design Studio Fermetti.

This post via http://www.modecodesign.com/

A loft - reconstructed - in Bruges

2011-10-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

"The house, which is the main character in this intensive renovation, is located in a historic building in the heart of Bruges, on one of the Belgian city’s main shopping streets. This new project offers an exciting mix of material old and new." To read more and see more picture ... click here.

This post via http://www.ichalcarper.com/

D&M : From Clay to Art, Concept to Design

2011-09-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

Belgian supplier D&M, a market leader in Europe for all modern pottery and tableware. “From Clay to Art”, “Concept to Design”. The most creative Belgian minds provide a stylish return to the essence of things. Pure materials and natural feels. D&M embraces the power of simplicity.

Industrieweg 23 - 2630 Aartselaar - Belgium
T +32 (0)3 888 42 00.
F +32 (0)3 844 84 85
mail: info@dmdepot.be

http://www.dmdepot.be/

Stijn Cornilly Landscape

2011-09-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

Stijn Cornilly is a Belgian landscaper, creative in the design and construction of stylish, low maintenance gardens.

“An important specialization of our green business is bringing structure and strength in the garden. Boxwood, holly and yew are ideally suited as basic elements for a good garden design. They are a permanent fixture in the garden. A fixed value of remaining strength and decorative green opposite example, the colors of seasonal flowers and plants.” explains Styn Cornilly on his website.

This post via http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/

The art of displaying objects

2011-09-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

Belgians have definitely mastered the art of pairing beautiful objects in such a way that makes each individual piece stand out within all its warm, raw, and minimal beautiful imperfections.

Images from http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/

Inspirational Spaces

2011-09-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

Loving these typical Belgian tones and raw materials ... image taken from the very cool blog http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/

WildSpirit Furniture

2011-09-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

A few favorites designs from Belgian http://www.wildspirit.be/en/

"The goal of Wildspirit is to convert renewing ideas into signature pieces. Its unique character, its multifunctional and the combined use of wood and leather are the soul of the collection. Wildspirit works with external designers like Michael Bihain, Twan Verlinden, Alain Berteau, Axel Enthoven and Erik Jansen. They were selected because of their similar philosophy to Wildspirit: an expedition for intelligent, aesthetic and durable design objects. Out of respect for their creative integrity, Wildspirit gives their designers carte blanche. The Wildspirit designers create their objects with a twist which gives the product a multifunctional goal. For this reason, all the signature pieces of Wildspirit can be integrated easily in multifarious interiors."

Tintin - in 3D

2011-05-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

...

2011-05-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

This post via http://pzazz.dialogcrm.com/

z33 - Gallery

2011-05-27T19:29:00.001-07:00

Check out this very cool gallery ... http://www.z33.be/en. The exhibitions (past & present) should speak for themselves.

Z33 is a house for contemporary art.

Through projects and exhibitions Z33 makes the visitors look at everyday life in a new way. Artists confront visitors with impressions and experiences that encourages them to look differently at everyday aspects from the lives of every person.

Z33 is an initiative of the government of the Belgian region Limburg and it is situated closely to Brussels, London and Amsterdam.

Z33 is a unique laboratory and meetingplace for experiment and innovation. As a house for contemporary art, Z33 is a driving force for its region.

Z33 wants to draw the world to Limburg and show Limburg to the world

Zuivelmarkt 33
B-3500 Hasselt
t +32 (0)11 29 59 60
info@z33.be

Frederic Geurts

2011-05-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

The Aluminum Plane by Frederic Geurts is gigantic. It measures 17,5 meter by 4 meters and the sheet is 3 mm thick. Frederic only had a paper scale model before he folded this on location. It’s part of his (un)balanced exhibition at z33 in Hasselt, Belgium.

BRIDGE by Michael Cross

2011-05-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

‘Bridge’ by Michael Cross at Z33.

The Bridge is a series of steps which rise up out of the water in front of you as you walk from one to the next, and then disappear back underneath behind you as you go, leaving you stranded with only one step visible in front of you, and one behind. The bridge ends in the middle of the water, where you find yourself totally isolated and cut off from the shore. You return the way you came. The mixed feelings of peace, isolation, relaxation and fear that the piece elicits are powerful. The project is on-going will ultimately lead to a permanent installation in a lake.
This post (from 2008) via http://www.todayandtomorrow.net/

NR53

2011-05-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

How do you sell your house? Indeed, you make a website for it. NR53 isn’t your average house, it’s the house of Sietze Kalkwijk, a dutch designer, in Antwerp Belgium. Actually I posted his black radiator lamp before.

This post via http://www.todayandtomorrow.net/

Hunting & Collecting ... leather

2011-05-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

Loving these very simple leather versions of some of the most standard paper products ... from Brussels-based store Hunting & Collecting.

Hunting & Gathering in Brussels ...

2011-05-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

Hunting and Collecting in Brussels is the work of former fashion editor Aude Gribomont and event producer Niels Radkte, who have pooled their creative talents and love of fashion, art, and design in the creation of this concept store. Blurring the line between art gallery and store, Gribomont and Radkte feature a heady mix of rotating artists in a nod to our global, nomadic culture. Their Online Store is equally innovative.

This post via http://remodelista.com/

HGTV is looking for one more house in Brussels ...

2011-05-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Are you or someone you know an American living in BRUSSELS, Belgium?

Then HGTV is looking for you!

Home & Garden Television (HGTV) is launching a new series that will feature the stunning home properties of American expats Living abroad and we’re currently looking for fun, outgoing, enthusiastic homeowners in Brussels RIGHT NOW!

In each episode, the host will explore four homes looking for great design ideas and highlighting the value-added elements within each space. From interior design to the lifestyle and culture of the area, the homeowners will give viewers a first hand look of what it’s like to live overseas. This will be one of the most artistically shot programs on the network so don’t wait to be a part of this amazing opportunity!

If you’re interested in applying, please contact our casting producer immediately and email photos of you and your property to:

Thank you!!
Sami Hartman
shartman@highnoontv.com
+1-303-872-8709

Everything you can imagine is real ...

2011-04-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.xavierhufkens.com/

Xavier Hufkens
Sint-Jorisstraat 6-8 Rue Saint-Georges
Brussel BE-1050 Bruxelles
T +32 (0)2 639 67 30
F +32 (0)2 639 67 38

Open Tuesday to Saturday,
noon to 6 pm

Imagine the potential ...

2011-04-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

OK - I cheated ... these spaces are in Holland ... but since we're neighbors ...

But imagine the potential!!!!

This post via http://www.alexandrasiebelink.nl/

ATTN: expats living in Brussels

2011-04-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

Are you or someone you know an American Expat living in Brussels, Belgium?

Then HGTV is looking for you!

Moka & Vanille - Bed & Breakfast

2011-04-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

Moka & Vanille, a restored farmhouse turned guest house located in Heusden-Zolder, a village in the Belgian province of Limburg. Owner (and interior designer) Dorien Cooreman has meticulously overhauled the interior, creating an understated, luxurious sanctuary—custom-designed linens, ceramics by Anja Meeusen of PTZE Porselein, and solid oak pieces from furniture maker Malvini.

This post via http://remodelista.com/

Hangar 41 - Antwerp

2011-04-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Jan Michiels, the man behind Antwerp hot spot Hangar Eenenveertig, also manages the equally happening hotel Room National as well as several other bars in town. Hangar Eenenveertig (known familiarly as Hangar 41) overlooks Antwerp's Scheldt River and was designed by Belgian architect Jo Peeters. Peeters retained all the elements of a traditional European grand cafe but added a contemporary vibe with moody dark gray walls, end-cut wood walls, and astral-looking pendant lights from Moooi. Go to Hangar Eenenveertig for more information.

This post via http://remodelista.com/

Le Typographe - old fashion printer

2011-03-31T22:41:00.000-07:00

The Typographe is an old-fashioned printer that only uses old-style mobile leaden and wooden characters. Everything is handmade to order, from printing to assembling ...

Rue Américaine 67
1050 Bruxelles
(00)32 2 345 16 76
http://typographe.org/

This post via http://ensuiteblog.blogspot.com/

Let's get inspired

2011-03-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes its hard to get inspired, thankfully the I Love Belgium team is lucky to have informative readers. That’s how the Inspiration Pad by creative director Marc Thomasset of advertising agency TM has come our way.

Why is it that notebooks end up with curly drawings, sketches and other randomness in the corners…because they’re dull. If a notebook is meant to be an empowering document, then the generic college-ruled spacing ruins it all. For those who want the fine balance between lines and freedom, there’s Marc Thomasset.

The Inspiration pad reinvents the age old sketch pad notebook by small modifications. A variety of angles, curves, and perspective lines open up a whole new world. That’s why this pad is an excellent tool for laying down the foundation of inspired sketches.

In Belgium you can find the Inspiration Pad at the Bozar Shop and Cook & Book. For those abroad: the TM online shop will let you buy 24/24.

This post via http://www.ilovebelgium.be/

Malvini - Puur and heavenly simple furniture

2011-03-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Loving the look of malvini's simple pieces of furniture inspired from the past ...

"Impassioned by furniture from the past, as well as natural materials, we, at Malvini create our own, contemporary furniture. All our furniture is produced in our own workshop and is manufactured from massive wood, according to the classical method of furniture making.

Models are still drawn by hand, on scale, in order to achieve ideal proportions. Malvini only uses functional constructions, not ornamental ones. Malvini can offer you several classical pieces, for both indoor and outdoor use.

Malvini prefers working with natural, hard-wearing materials, which give the furniture a rich and timeless look."

You can see the whole line and read more @ http://www.malvini.be/index.html

Ronald van der Hilst - Part 3 (landscapes)

2011-03-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

"For me, design is a language. When I design gardens, I ‘translate’ what the client puts forward and requests into a garden that fits like a custom-made suit - where I have shaped the style, the characteristics, and the forms into a single story, a harmonic whole. The lines of force form a stage for the poetry of the garden: the incidence of light, moments of time, the seasons, scents, and so on. So many elements constantly play a role in the garden ... every day of the year. Therefore, the garden should be arranged so as to radiate every day of the year! Design begins (for me ) with language: I start by writing a text in which I crystallize for the client and myself what the lines of force will be. That is the concept."

This post and more @ http://www.ronaldvanderhilst.com/

Ronald van der Hilst - Part 2 (planters)

2011-03-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

This post & more via http://www.ronaldvanderhilst.com/

Ronald van der Hilst - Part 1 (Vases)

2011-03-27T18:49:00.001-07:00

"The crystal tulip vase 'Bulbe' that I designed in 2005 for Val Saint Lambert, is to me proof of a new path that I have chosen. The open-mindedness in which I've made this design for Val Saint Lambert inspires me and gives me new energy for product designs as well as for the garden and landscape designs."

This post via http://www.ronaldvanderhilst.com/

The Vase re-imagined!

2011-03-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

*
**

The exaggerated over-abundance of Valentines love may be gone, you still have the physical proof standing on your table. Whether you received flowers from your lifelong partner or that desperate “I won’t be alone on this day” one night stand! A reason for the I Love Belgium team to make a selection of vases, going from plastic to crystal, stressing the beauty for love and flower.

*Let’s start with the classic bouquet. Instead of jamming the flower stalks in a narrow vase opening, designer Stéphane Rouffart created his Brero vase. Its power lays within its simplicity. The central point of the vase is bloqued amongst the stems allowing only the water tank to be seen. An a-typical vase design which perfectly adapts itself to all sorts of medium size bouquets. For those romantic souls who can’t have enough, you even have a lush red version for those red roses.

**But maybe your guy/gal isn’t the type who’ll buy you a bunch of red roses, instead he/she’ll carefully picks out that one perfect blossoming flower. Almost a hidden sign of love, just like the hidden vase by .MGX. A complex sculptural design made possible through Rapid Manufacturing. If you look carefully you can just about see the actual vessel; hidden deep within an orderly disorder of vein-like structures. In fact, you could be forgiven for thinking that here’s the model of a human artery feeding the living organism placed inside it. Or how love can be translated in so many ways.

See more here.

This post via http://www.ilovebelgium.be/

Cushionized Sofa

2011-03-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

Lazy (sun)days, don’t we all like them? Preparing for one is quite easy as they only demand a few ingredients. A good movie, finger food and a whole bunch of pillows. If you want to bring this recipe to a higher level, then the I Love Belgium team found the perfect solution. The Brussels based designers Linda Topic and Christiane Hoegner created pieces that will bring you to that highest level of laziness!

Christiane Hoegner’s cushionized sofa uses the smallest element of the sofa as main component. When it’s usually used to adjust and customize your personal comfort/laziness level, it is now multiplies and piled up to the shape of the sofa. Dealing with our everyday life and the search for the lo-fi sensations in the necessity of a high-tech world. A piece well succeeded! Maybe you’ll want to add a loose pillow to cover your eyes (Scary movies, you know).

This post via http://www.ilovebelgium.be/

Mini Egg House by dmvA

2011-03-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

"This project is one that is hard to name so I am calling it the “Mini Egg House”. The project scope was to create a mobile office unit for Xfactoragencies. The architectural design firm behind the project was dmvA of Belgium. I cannot be certain how an egg was chosen as the inspiration, but I am sure there is a great story behind that. Despite its small size, the house has a kitchen, bathroom, a bed and a lot of shelving for storage. It is interesting the way that the nose can open to provide a way to open the house to the outdoors. The photographs can be credited to Mick Couwenbergh, Rini Van Beek and Vercruysse Frederik."

This post via http://www.furniturefashion.com/

http://www.dmva-architecten.be/

Humble Ceramics

2011-03-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

Love these simple, earthy ceramics made here in Los Angeles.

“The simplicity comes from my own preference and frustrations (of what I don’t see in the market place) as handmade pottery has a tendency – in my opinion – to be too busy (in colors and shapes). The simplicity of the piece allows for the element that is put inside to shine.”

And with most pieces ranging from $25-$50, they’re totally affordable (mother’s day, ahem). If you’re interested in purchasing or finding out more you can email Delphine at austerechic@gmail.com. She’s also looking for stores to carry the pieces.

This post via http://laurejoliet.com/blog

More @ http://humbleceramics.blogspot.com/

The Upside (Down) Dome

2011-03-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

"When visiting the St Michiel Church in Leuven, one might overlook that the church has no dome. Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh build an installation that takes this seemingly trivial fact as a starting point and generate the missing dome in a remarkable way. The installation casts light on the architecture of one of the most prestigious baroque churches of the Low Countries from a contemporary perspective. Using the design technique of the catenary, a new structure emerges in the church. The Upside Dome is a real size scale model, comprised of hundreds of meters of chain, which is literally and figuratively the counterpart of the unfinished dome. Pieterjan Gijs (1983) and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh (1983) studied both architecture and work together under the name Gijs Van Vaerenbergh in a multidisciplinary practice with an important focus on public space."

This post via http://hasko.posterous.com by way of http://www.mymodernmet.com

Location:
St Michiel Church
Naamsestraat 57a
3000 Leuven Belgium

The Home Project

2011-02-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

Following the previous post ... from the people who brought you (M)eating .... is the actual store (The Home Project) where you can get all the incredible furniture and objects you see in these pictures. Clean, modern, yet warm and cozy Belgian style 101 ... in an old industrial building, not too far from Antwerp.

http://www.thehomeproject.be/

(M)eating - meeting & eating

2011-02-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

What if you had to organize corporate meetings in an environment that was conducing to creativity and inspiration? What if you needed practicality, comfort, discretion, and good food? What if that was done in a cozy and relaxed atmosphere with delicious food? And what if you could buy the objects and furniture as well? Well .... in a refurbished industrial building not too far from Antwerp, you can do it all ... welcome to (M)eating - a spin off of The Home Project (see upcoming post) ...

At this time, all is organized in Flemish (so is the site) .... hopefully, the English version will happen soon!!!

For more information, contact info, etc ... http://www.meating.co/index2.php

Axel Vervoordt - Gallery

2011-01-30T17:03:00.002-08:00

"In the Vlaeykensgang, located in the city center of Antwerp, Axel Vervoordt has opened a new exhibition space. The focus will be on ZERO and GUTAI art, an international movement of the sixties, who sought harmony between man, nature and technology in which light played a dominant role."

This post via http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/

More info @ www.axelvervoordtgallery.com

Tour & Taxi - an exceptional space

2011-01-16T13:53:00.000-08:00

Tour & Taxis is a unique place in Brussels. Located right in the heart of the Belgian capital, this site, with its exceptional architecture, brings together occupants with widely differing ambitions, outstanding events, delicious restaurants, services, and is truly a city project with benefits for the entire district. Managed by Project T&T (joint venture between 3 real estate companies, Extensa, Royal Properties Group and IRET), Tour & Taxis allows you to immerse yourself in an urban experience brimming with history and charm. Imagine shops, restaurants, galleries, private offices, spaces for music events, artistic events, performance halls, clubbing, etc ... if you can imagine it, they have done it! Talk about living architecture and creativity!

Above are just a few photos of the original site before its transformation. For a gallery tour of the renovated building - click here.

Brussels Antiques & Fines Art Fair 2011

2011-01-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

Brussels Antiques & Fines Art Fair (BRAFA) will open its doors in Brussels January 21 - 30, 2011. This year's exhibition will be taking place in the heart of Brussels' recently renovated Tours & Taxi Building. BRAFA is considered one of the most important and inspirational Fine Arts & Antiques Fairs in the world.

Olivier Theyskens - On the other side of the picture

2011-01-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

"While we wait to see where Belgian designer Olivier Theyskens next ends up, we can linger over the beautiful pictures of his work in Assouline’s Olivier Theyskens, The Other Side of the Picture, plus ponder more news from the Belgian fashion world.

Going against conventions, Olivier Theyskens dropped out of La Cambre when he was twenty years old, only to start a business in his own, unique way. His gothic creations took the fashion industry by storm, and Theyskens quickly became an icon.

In 2002, he decided to shut down his own line in favour of stints at Rochas and Nina Ricci, respectively. The latter didn’t prolong his contract last year, and fashion lovers are still holding their breath to see where he will end up next.

In the meantime, we can linger over the beautiful pictures of his work in Assouline’s Olivier Theyskens, The Other Side of the Picture, set to be released this spring by Assouline"

The above post via http://www.xpats.com/lifestyle/olivier-theyskens

Below is one of my favorite pieces from the New York exhibition "L'air du temps" which took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art ... designed of course by Olivier Theyskens.

This book is available at the Austere Chic Store @ Amazon.

Giant Wooden Clip by Mehmet Ali Uysal

2011-01-01T05:04:00.000-08:00

This giant wooden clip is currently being showcased in Belgium, in the Chaudfontaine park as part of a contemporary art exhibition. Designed by Mehmet Ali Uysal, the unusual park addition replicates the clip, a common smart tool used to hang clothes.

This post via http://cubeme.com/

Le Pave - Bed & Breakfast

2010-12-05T23:28:00.001-08:00

A lovely B& B in the Flemish country side of Belgium ...
More at http://www.lepave.be/

Le Pave Bed & Breakfast
Meersestraat 16

9667 Horebeke
Belgium

int'l + 32 (0)495-23-53-75

Piet Blanckaert - Sublime Landscape Architect

2010-12-05T22:54:00.000-08:00

Loving the minimalist style of Belgian Landscape Architect Piet Blanckaert. From the largest majestic spaces to the tiniest ... let the images speak for themselves ... you can see more at http://www.blanckaert.com/

Acknowledgment - Remodelista

2010-11-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

A big Thank you to the fabulous Remodelista for including Belg'Chic as one of their favorite fellow blogs in their section http://newsstand.remodelista.com/ . We are under "European Sophisticates". Yeah!

Belgian Artistocrate - Delphine Boel

2010-08-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

These are some of my favorite pieces from Belgian Artistocrate Delphine Boel.

Ethnicraft eco-friendly furniture

2010-07-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

"In the mid Nineties, two young Belgian entrepreneurs started importing & selling unique, ethnic Asian furniture and decorative objects. Driven by the phenomenal success and the rapidly increasing demand of certain models, they set up their own production unit of repeatable teak items not long after.

Over a decade later, Ethnicraft has established itself as an internationally renowned company – a pioneer in designing, producing and distributing emorational? wooden furniture with a contemporary and timeless design. No longer only in teak, but also in oak and walnut.

Only a small local Belgian company in 1995, Ethnicraft has now grown into a global company with various branches worldwide."

This post and more via http://en.ethnicraft.com/

Converted Factory in Brussels

2010-05-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

You can see more pictures and read about it in English here. In French here.

This post via http://willowdecor.blogspot.com

Vincent Van Duysen's home

2010-02-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

Belgium architect/designer Vincent Van Duysen's home. See more pics and read the blog and this post via http://designformenmag.com/

Vincent Van Duysen's official site: http://www.vincentvanduysen.com/

Vincent Van Duysen KITCHENS

2010-02-03T13:35:00.001-08:00

In addition to designing suavely minimalist residential and commercial projects, Antwerp-based architect Vincent Van Duysen has designed earthenware bowls for When Objects Work and cascading crystal chandeliers for Swarovski. We especially admire his kitchens; see more of his work at Vincent van Duysen.

This post via Remodelista

Nathalie Dewez - Lights

2010-01-18T05:51:00.000-08:00

2
3
4

Loving the sleek design of Belgian designer Nathalie Dewez's lights. Above are a few samples of her work:

0- Labajour
1- La Plic
2- Disk Light
3- Prism
4- Lamp06
5- Mobile07
6- Sol-Air
7- Candle Clock

Groenhoven Estate

2010-01-18T05:40:00.000-08:00

Located on a vast private park near Brussels, in Belgium, the Groenhoven Estate dates from the 17th century; the property has been called the first "eco-castle" in Europe, with giant solar panels and a recycling system for rainwater. Architects Bateille & Ibens renovated the interiors, seamlessly integrating modern elements with a collection of Old Master paintings. The estate now functions as a venue for conferences, weddings, and other events.

This post via http://www.remodelista.com/

Official Site: http://www.groenhovenestate.com/galaxy.php

Alain Berteau chair

2010-01-16T22:02:00.001-08:00

Loving these stunning chairs designed by Belgian furniture designer Alain Berteau. Discovered on the blog Remodelista.

Available through http://www.wildspirit.be/

Carsten Holler

2010-01-16T21:36:00.000-08:00

Loving the work of Belgian-born Geman artist Carsten Holler produced for the National Gallery of Canada in 2007. You can see more images @ http://www.airdeparis.com/holler/2007/ottawa.htm

Kaki Restaurant - Brussels

2010-01-10T20:07:00.001-08:00

Loving this very cool Brussels restaurant called Kaki, designed by Pam & Jenny Design Studio.

Eva Eun-Sil Han

2010-01-10T19:58:00.001-08:00

Eva Eun-Sil Han currently resides in Belgium and uses a multitude of mediums to accomplish her unusual compositions.

This post via http://www.changethethought.com/

More @ http://evahan.weebly.com/

Daskal & Laperre in Brussels

2010-01-09T04:01:00.001-08:00

An elegant, restrained interior by architects Daskal & Laperre, featuring the hallmarks of Belgian design: slouchy linen-covered sofas; sanded, oiled floors; and a muted, sophisticated color palette throughout.

This post via http://remodelista.com/

More samples of their work @ http://www.daskal-laperre.com/

Modern Attic Conversion

2010-01-05T02:06:00.000-08:00

A great attic conversion from Belgian architects broekx-schiepers

This post via http://www.remodelista.com/

Chauncey - menswear

2009-12-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

Chauncey, a Brussels-based menswear label is the idea of designer Nathalie Bouhana and her photographer partner David Sdika.

Having previously designed knitwear for Hermès, Salvatore Ferragamo and Anne Valérie Hash, Nathalie has an eye for luxury knits.

Creative, minimalist but exclusive, Chauncey prides itself on European craftsmanship. No eccentricity, but modern design. Extreme precision and the highest quality yarns and manufacturers. An "elegant gentleman traveler" look with a slice of Belgian surrealism.

This post via http://www.chauncey.be/index.html

BELGIUM - the movie

2009-12-09T03:06:00.000-08:00

"Belgium, the movie" is the first film in HD about Belgium. It shows the most important and most beautiful places of this little known country. The stability of the images is amazing and the shots, which were taken over a period of 8 months, are filmed in the best circumstances. We take the viewer for a journey through time. This film has been filmed entirely from a helicopter with a High-Definition (HD) Cineflex camera.

The film is available on DVD in three languages (English/Dutch/French).

www.robberechts.tv

Martin Margiela Book

2009-12-09T02:37:00.001-08:00

"Graduating from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the 1980s, Martin Margiela (and his contemporaries in the Antwerp Six) transformed global fashion with his aggressive restatement of traditional fashion design and a polemical approach to luxury trends. Working first with the house of Gaultier, Margiela absorbed the radical design of Japanese deconstruction, making it wholly his own with the founding of his own label in 1988. Margiela propounds a singular, enigmatic look, moving beyond the recognizable tropes of deconstruction—a monochromatic palette, out-sized garments, non-traditional fabrics, exposed seams, or roughly appliqué-d details—to develop a fully considered worldview, one with elegance, mystery, and menace in equal measure. This book provides an inside look at the design process from a craftsman who creates pieces prized for their originality, delicacy, and daring. In the spirit of Margiela’s garments, the book is a work of art in itself, designed exclusively by Margiela and complete with silver inks, ribbon markers, a variety of lush paper types, twelve booklets, and an embroidered white-linen cover. This book provides a window onto the intimate, handmade world of a unique designer."

This post via http://www.rizzoliusa.com/

Paper Fashion @ the Antwerp Mode Museum

2009-12-09T02:24:00.000-08:00

Expensive fabrics are dismissed from the Haute Couture and Designer outfits made from paper that were on display at the Belgian Fashion Museum. Pieces included in the show were detailed Chanel couture, Issey Miyake and Anna Piaggi, among st others. Above are just a few examples of this past exhibit ...

The artsy space also welcomed collections of books, magazines and records, everything fashion related, as well as two exhibits per year.

Mode Museum
Nationalestraat 28
Antwerp, Belgium 2000
phone: +32 3 470 2770

This post via http://www.madeupdisease.com/

Garnier Antiques - 100% Belgian Style

2009-12-05T16:42:00.001-08:00

You wanted Belgian Style? So here it is ... pure 100% undiluted Belgian style! This is the property of antique dealers and interior designers Brigitte and Alain Garnier. I stumbled upon their stunning place on the blog Belgian Pearls where you can go to see more pictures of the interior ... If this doesn't make you drool, I don't know what will! It's nice to be Belgian sometimes ... just don't tell the French.

More @ http://www.garnier.be/
Read more @ http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/2009/09/open-doors-at-garnier-antiques.html

The placement of objects

2009-12-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

I always remember how my grandmother used to cluster objects together to create beauty and warmth ... above are just a few pictures taken from the very cool (warm) blog http://www.belgianpearls.blogspot.com/

North Sea apartment

2009-11-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

Knokke lies on the easterly extremity of the Belgian coast, close to the Netherlands border. It is a place of shifting horizons and sweeping vistas, its quiet drama heightened by the extraordinary quality of the light, the blues, greys and ochres of a prospect of vast skies, sea and rolling dunes giving way to the lusher greens of a nature reserve beyond the shore.

The apartment wraps the western end at first floor level of one of two new apartment buildings designed by Marc Corbiau. The apartment incorporates north, south and west aspects, ensuring good natural light throughout the day and a range of views across sea, town and landscape. A key challenge for the interior architecture was to harmonize the potential for a rare quality of expansiveness with the functional needs of the program Generous private quarters incorporate bedroom, dressing, shower and terrace.

The remainder of the floor plan is left spatially fluid, preserving internal vistas of 20 meters whilst accommodating the functions of kitchen, dining, living and library, with a choice of places to sit, work or relax, inside and out.

This post by and via John Pawson

Ghent apartment

2009-11-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

This scheme encompasses the basement and raised ground floor of an existing building on the Korenlei promenade, close to the bridge of Sint-Michielsbrug, in the Belgian city of Ghent. The brief was for a pair of apartments, each able to accommodate seamlessly the dual functions of living environment and office, whilst also offering a sympathetic context for art - collectors of modern and contemporary art and furniture, the clients acquired a series of pieces specifically for the project, in response to the evolving design.

On the lower floor, kitchen, dining, working and living spaces are brought together in a single fluid territory, which also functions as self-contained office, with windows framing a series of views across the water to the old town. Private quarters are located at one end of the floor plan.

The upper floor is arranged to take advantage of the generous ceiling heights and enhanced natural light and aspect. The design refines the existing spatial divisions to create two elegant offices in the heart of the floor plan, framed to one side by open living space and to the other by a second set of private quarters.

One of the defining experiences of the finished spaces is the way in which very simple surfaces and spare volumes frame views of the filigree towers and ornamented gables of the Old Town, these counter-pointed by a series of extended internal vistas.

This post by & via John Pawson

Catherine Francois - Tomorrow's Man

2009-11-17T14:56:00.000-08:00

This incredibly difficult installations took place on the beaches of Belgium's Knokke-Heist where this sculpture, titled "Tomorrow's Man" by Belgian artist Catherine Francois, was placed on one of the many tide breakers. The real performance was to see the piece interact with nature as it was literally submerged by the north sea until it finally fell on it's side sinking into the sand.

"Tomorrow's Man" ... trying to achieve a balance between man and nature ... placed between land and sea, watching him disappear and reappear ... having an attitude of humility towards the immense power of the infinite sea ..." - Catherine Francois

It took a few trials and errors before the sculpture could be reinstalled safely and is now available for viewing but I'm not sure for how long. Check back later ... I might know by then.

Michel Clair photograph ...

2009-10-21T22:33:00.001-07:00

Discovered on flickr.com, I love this photographs from Belgian photographers Michel Clair.

Laure Kasiers (Textile Designer)

2009-10-19T19:37:00.001-07:00

Above are samples, textures and inspirations from the website of Laure Kasiers, a freelance textile designer based in Brussels, Belgium. In altering the "purpose" of materials, she is promoting the use of technical materials and production scraps... She addresses, through research on structures and the concept of mobility, the concept of contrasts — thanks to careful selection of materials and colors. Her production is characterized by thickness and high density, offering tactile and sensitive relationships between comfort and warmth.

You can read more about Laure here

A renovated farmhouse ...

2009-10-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

Outside of the busy city of Antwerp, Belgian antiques dealer and designer, Henri Charles Hermans and his wife Natasha Hermans, also a designer, decided to relocate their business and their home to this wonderful 19th century Farm. Henri Charles Hermans, who once worked and studied under the famous Axel Vervoordt, found this property to be the perfect canvas to showcase the couples wonderful minimalist Belgian design style. Formerly a fruit farm in the Belgian countryside, it took several years to restore the home. Read more here ....

This post via http://willowdecor.blogspot.com/

Mean and Mister Jones

2009-10-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

If you like simple elegance: in design, interior design, graphic design and so forth ... check out the exquisite taste of Belgian design firm Mean and Mister Jones! From the choice of font on letterheads, to the texture and/or shades of color used, to the way an exhibition space is set up ... every detail is breathtakingly simple and beautiful. None of the elements compete with each other, rather, they complement each other in the most graceful way. In my opinion, Mean and Mister Jones is the design equivalent to J.S. Bach for the eyes. Love it!

You can see more images at
http://www.meandmisterjones.be/
http://www.krop.com/meandmisterjones/

Patrick Van Overloop (Ceramics)

2009-10-19T16:59:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share some of my favorite pieces from Belgian artist potter Patrick Van Overloop. As in everything, we must be able to pick and choose using our aesthetic resonance, so these are my favorite pieces ...

Karin Draaijer

2009-10-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

A while back, we admired (and posted on) the work of Interior designer Karin Draaijer in Belgium Week: Karin Draaijer. Recently, Draaijer sent us a batch of photos of her own house in Belgium, which illustrates her talent for color and composition: "I like to use antiques but to arrange them in a modern way," she says. Go to Karin Draaijer to see more of her work.

This post via http://www.remodelista.com/

Julie Krakowski

2009-10-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Julie Krakowski is a Brussels-based French textile designer who gets inspired by marks left by time. She is an artist I discovered through a very cool blog called "2 or 3 things I know". Her work mimics various textures such as flowers, rusted metals, cigarettes, etc. Though I wouldn't want to actually wear any of these textiles, on a visual and photo-graphic plane, I find her work and these images to be very mysterious and beautiful at the same time.

"Work based on the marks left by time. Graphic work on the unpredictable and uncontrolled creation of rust on paper. Examination of the confrontation rust and preciousness. The rust embodies the notion of change, wear and tear, the staining effect, dirt and the fact that one is repelled by rust, whereas the precious is signified by silk, fashion, the body and attraction. It is an ambiguous play between fashion and trash, change and sublimation."

- Julie Krakowski

Diner in the sky

2009-10-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, read about this quite sometime back and still finds it pretty cool. Dinner in the sky can be rent for 22 people on 8 hours basis (Basic rental cost: table+crane+logistic & security staff 7.900,00 € and Transport in Belgium (table + crane) & client location scouting at 750,00 €).

Dinner in the Sky is an event that can be organized anywhere (golf court, public place, race track, castle, vineyard, historical site…) as long as there is a surface of approximately 500 m2 that can be secured. Of course, authorisation by the owner is also required.

This post via http://tinsiders.blogspot.com/

Delvaux

2009-10-09T11:10:00.001-07:00

"In 1829, Charles Delvaux added a shop window to his Brussels studio. His handcrafted travel trunks quickly gained universal admiration amongst the cognoscenti. In 1883, Delvaux became a warrant holder to the Court of Belgium. And, in 1898, the House was the first to patent a model (the Edison trunk). Spurred on by this success, the range was further extended to include luggage, boxes, suitcases, and more. Never forgetting ladies’ handbags, which the House has offered since the beginning of the 20th century." You can read more here.

Delvaux is currently having an exhibition at MoMu Fashion Museum in Antwerp. If you go, try to stay at Hotel Julien!

Delvaux - the world’s oldest fine leather goods firm - has created a limited edition Newspaper Bag for the magazine Monocle.

Folon Museum

2009-09-26T23:54:00.001-07:00

Famous Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon put more than five hundred works just twenty minutes outside of Brussels, in the farm of the castle of La Hulpe. This charming and characteristic building in the middle of the marvellous Solvay Park is home to more than forty years of creation.

Watercolours, engravings, posters and sculptures are presented in an original and lively setting, creating a dialogue between the works of art and the poetic place that houses them. Music, films and optical effects enliven the route. The result is a strong, magical and astonishing exhibition.

This post via http://www.fondationfolon.be/index_en.htm

Fondation Folon
Ferme du Château de La Hulpe
Drève de la Ramée 6 A
1310 La Hulpe
Belgium

02/653.34.56 –
02/653.00.77

Judith Schils - Artist

2009-09-22T17:52:00.001-07:00

Loving the work of Judith Schils, a Belgian artist I discovered while browsing the artist roster of the Leuven-based Cypres Gallery. The work above is the last drawing in a series called "18 pianos" ... worth looking at here. On the very top is a drawing called "towers", but part of a different series ...

DANSCAMDANSE International Film Festival

2009-09-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

DANSCAMDANSE is an international film festival focusing on the interaction between dance and visual media: the different ways dance is a formal subject of film, or a source of inspiration. The festival aims to be the voice of a continuously growing number of choreographers and visual artists. A focused opportunity for exposing new dancefilms creations and a platform for reflection on these themes.

DANSCAMDANSE festival deals with the special relationship between dance and the moving image, between the physical aspect of dance and the pure quality of projected light. This relationship can flourish from both directions; in one way as a presentation of mainly choreographic works recorded/produced for the camera or, on the other hand, as an interpretation of dance, translated into a film.

The festival is a chance to join cross borders between dance and film, creating a stage for different ideas and visions to reach one another.

This 3th edition focuses on uncompromising, un-comformistic experimental dance films in a broad perspective (only single screen format).

DANSCAMDANSE is interested in new, original and personal ideas that can arouse interest and exchange. The festival is not a competition but, instead, a meeting for promotion, inspiration and new discoveries.

DANSCAMDANSE is an initiative of the MahaWorks Organisation in collaboration with Art Cinema OFFoff and Flanders International Film Festival-Ghent-Belgium.

MahaWorks
DANSCAMDANSE
Zandberg 1
9000 Ghent
Belgium

website: http://www.danscamdanse.be
email: info@danscamdanse.be

This post via http://www.danscamdanse.be

Pictures via post via http://obscureobjectfilms.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/brussels-film-and-dance-festival-april-26th-danscamdanse/

Secret Belgian Binding

2009-09-09T01:56:00.001-07:00

As said to be rediscovered by Hedi Kyle, the secret Belgian binding is a unique non-adhesive binding method that includes sewing 3 pieces of bookboard together to form the case, and sections sewn onto the thread case.

This post via
http://cailun.info/index.php?/archives/364-Duotone-volume-Part-I.html
http://cailun.info/index.php?/archives/372-Duotone-Part-II.html

HOW TO do your own Secret Belgian Binding at
http://cailun.info/index.php?/archives/319-Secret-Belgian-Binding.html

Sara de Bondt Studio - Word As Image

2009-09-09T01:21:00.000-07:00

Sara de Bondt is a London-based Belgian graphic designer who has been running her own studio since 2003. Before that she worked for Foundation 33. She studied graphic design at Sint-Lukas, Brussels (B), Universidad de Bellas Artes, Granada (ES) and the Jan van Eyck Akademie, Maastricht (NL). She has given workshops/talks at Beckmans college Stockholm; Ecole des Beaux Arts Lyon; Ecole de Recherche Graphique Brussels and Laus Symposium Barcelona. She regularly collaborates with James Goggin (Practice) and is Associate Lecturer at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design.

Clients include: Phaidon Press, Mead Gallery, Black Dog Publishing, The British Council, Turner Castle Architects, MIT Press and Afterall Books, Camden Arts Centre, Book Works, Counter Gallery, Design Vlaanderen, Victoria and Albert Museum, Wiels Center for Contemporary Art, Jewish Museum Munich.'

This post via http://jameslaurie.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_05.html

More on Sara de Bondt @ http://www.saradebondt.com/

ANIMA - Brussels Animation Film Festival

2009-08-31T17:54:00.001-07:00

A N I M A - Brussels Animation Film Festival

The site and 2010 program is currently under construction, but there is enough information for those of you who might be in Brussels at time.

DVD compilations featuring "the best of" is available per year of the festival at the link below.

More info at http://www.animatv.be

Bernard De Clerck BOOK by Beta-Publishing

2009-08-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

Belgian house "Beta-Publishing" is coming out with 3 new titles this September. As always, you can buy them blindly and know you will own yet another stunning and inspirational volume on design & architecture ...

One of these titles is dedicated to Belgian architect Bernard De Clerck. His designs testify to a great respect and appreciation for Belgium's rich architectural heritage: both in his new construction projects and his numerous renovations. This ambassador of “Flemish Living” argues for the return of traditional values in a contemporary context - in which the comfort of living is central. Traditional craftsmanship, a historical approach, an exciting mix of old and new, and a passion for weathered materials and details ... these are all characteristics represented in Bernard De Clerck architectural “story”.

More at http://www.betaplus.com/en/publications/208/

Hotel Julien, Antwerp

2009-08-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

What a shock when I stumbled on these images from this 11 room gem-of-a-hotel, in Antwerp! Chic, elegant, charming, warm, cosy and beautiful ... what else could you ask for? Check it out!

This post via http://theaplusb.blogspot.com/2009/07/hotel-julien.html

More at http://www.hotel-julien.com/home.html

More images at http://www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/belgium/antwerp/hotel-julien/gallery

"Ledder No.1' by CasimirMeubelen

2009-08-27T21:12:00.001-07:00

CasimirMeubelen is a Belgian manufacturer founded in 1995 by Casimir, one of the most important Belgian contemporary designers. The whole collection is designed by him, which gives the company a very strong profile and recognition value.

Almost all of the pieces are made of natural materials such as solid wood and leather and stand out by their simplicity, shapes and craftsmanship.

‘Ledder no1′ combines the function of a portable set of steps with the function of a storage unit. The ladder’s rungs have been transformed into book cases and shelves of unequal sizes. By placing these storage units on the back of the ladder, the ladder leans against the wall with even greater stability.’

This post via Daily Tonic

Koen Demuynck

2009-08-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Just thought this was an interesting piece ... by Belgian Artist Koen Demuynck. Sometimes, liking just one piece is enough ...

More at http://www.koendemuynck.com/

Jos Devriendt - The end of the vase

2009-08-17T21:23:00.001-07:00

Jos Devriendt is a Belgian potter/artist who designs and creates ceramic vases (amongst other things). His exhibition "The end of the vase" was a survey of his twenty year quest for design, aesthetics and symbolism. And his remarkable analysis of this search was his decision to leave the flowers where they are; in nature. Or, how an ending can be something hopeful.

More of his work can be seen at the Matin Gallery, a stunning Los Angeles Gallery specializing in minimalist ceramic and furniture designed and created by artists.

More info at http://www.matin-gallery.com/

House conversion in Bruges

2009-08-17T20:39:00.001-07:00

51N4E architects, converted and old shop into a contemporary weekend home in the old center of Bruges, in Belgium! The facade and the assets of the old house were kept intact. In the back, the architects designed a wooden organic room. The double- height space is entirely covered in timber planks, start of as an arch which gradually lifts asymmetrically towards the back, framing the tall trees of a the neighbors garden. Interesting about the interior is the contrast between the old stair and the shiny super furniture that is new designed. The confrontation between the historical and contemporary is what makes this project so special. More pictures can be downloaded here!

This post via http://archide.wordpress.com

More at http://www.51n4e.com/

More at http://www.owi.bz/

Billykirk Shoulder Bag

2009-08-17T20:04:00.001-07:00

It’s too bad that so many of the bags we like are either military or close to military, but we just find the leather goods of wartime beautiful by virtue of their stripped-down functionality, simplicity and complete lack of pointless, purely decorative features. This ridiculously beautiful bag is the No. 95 Shoulder Satchel by Billykirk and it’s a fairly faithful copy of a WWII Belgian military map case. It’s entirely handmade and the company even casts its own sturdy white brass hardware. Why can’t more civilian bags be like this – free of bling, glitz, chacha, weird anatomical looking folds, pointless, slouchy, ruched wrinkledness, and dopey hardware? We don’t understand the bags being churned out by the big couture houses at the moment. This Billykirk bag is quite transcendent, too.

This post via http://blog.ounodesign.com