Barcelona living – USAME in use

For some time now, I have been wanting to share the work of USAME with you, and so I was delighted that in the past days I saw images  (featured in Spanish magazine Interiores) of their pieces, in use, at the home of one of its founders. Feast your eyes, dear friends!

Using simple and clean lines, USAME‘s Esther López Aguilar and Marisol González Nohra create furniture and other pieces with reclaimed wood, iron and other noble or natural materials, such as sack cloth. Examples of these pieces are the chair and coffee table above, in Esther’s very lovely lounge.

Simple lines are a good choice and work really well in such a beautiful apartment, which has colourful mosaic floors that are so typical in Barcelona modernist buildings.

The lamp in the right-hand corner (above) and the round table (below) are also USAME products. By the way, USAME means “use me”. A name well chosen, wouldn’t you agree?

The original decorative elements in this apartment are stunningly beautiful and were left intact, such as the impressive ceiling in the studio (below) and the mosaic floors throughout the apartment, with the exception of the kitchen and bathrooms, which were completely redone (not shown).

The bedroom is as bright as the rest of Esther’s home and also incorporates pieces by USAME: the head board and the very industrial bedside tables, made with reclaimed scaffolding, galvanised pipe and recycled sack cloth.

If you want to find out more about USAME, then check out their website and Facebook page.

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Room Service

Hello all! Quite a bit later than usual, but here I am, kicking off a new week with some images from Room Service, a design gallery that showcases some really cool stuff, and can be found on Carrer Àngels 16, here in Barcelona.

Representing several Dutch designers, such as Piet Hein Eek and Maarten Bas (as well as others), and also some Spanish ones like for example López y Rivera, Room Service offers its customers a very healthy platter of what is hot in product and furniture design at the moment.

I’m in love with these beautiful baskets, designed by Piet Hein Eek and produced following Fair Trade Principles. Good looks and good ethics; what’s not to like?!

Room Service also regularly showcases products by FRESH*, the result of a collaboration between O|CULTS and Room Service Design, and which are designed by young Spanish designers

If you happen to pop in, make sure to check out what’s on offer at Room Service, for there is something for everyone (with a well filled purse), and don’t forget to check out the photographs that line the walls also, for they tend to be pretty gorgeous.

For more info and updates, check out the Room Service website and Facebook page.

El Recibidor

While in Sant Antoni the other day to shoot photos for last Tuesday’s blogpost, I decided it was high time to take you to El Recibidor. You see, it has been here for a while now (in fact, one year) and is a fabulous shop to go get your vintage fix.

In a long space that is full of gorgeous pieces from the 50s 60s and 70s, sourced mainly from the UK and Germany, you are bound to find something you “need”. And at a very reasonable price too!

But it’s not only furniture you’ll find at El Recibidor, but fun paraphernalia also…

… as well as a fabulous selection of lamps, vases, record holders, perfume bottles and not to miss: superb posters from those wonderful years where quality and style were just that bit more interesting.

Be sure to pop in (El Recibidor is found on Carrer Viladomat 9) and have a wander among the many treasures you’ll find in this fab shop. And if you are in town on Saturday, make sure to go, for they will be celebrating their 1st anniversary with drinks and a contest. The best dressed (in 50s or 60s style) gets to win a selection of vintage goodies. Are you going to miss it?

El Recibidor opens from: Mon – Fri: 4pm – 8.30pm and Sat: 11am – 2pm + 4pm – 8.30pm

*** El Recibidor now also has an online shop! So pull out your credit card and buy those lovely items from the comfort of your (vintage) sofa: www.elrecibidor.com

Cool for kids

If you have been following my blog for some time now, you know that I delight in all things handmade… that is why I am very happy to share some furniture with you today that is cool for kids, and handmade in Barcelona!

A team of 4 (3 brothers and a lovely lady) make up XO in my room, and between them, they take care of 10 kids, as well as design, handcraft and market the furniture they make.

And they do it well, in my opinion! For they create simple furniture that is fun, colourful and sturdy. Just what kids need!

XO in my room‘s handcrafted pieces are also highly practical and hard-wearing, and that shows.

But they are not afraid of adding a touch of whimsy, such as the gilded swirly details at the head of these cosy beds that any kid would happily dream away in feeling like a princess or prince…

I love the way they market their lovely products and style their photos, and it makes me think that they have a lot of fun conceptualising and making them at XO in my room. Good reasons to choose any of these handcrafted pieces, don’t you think? Luckily for all of us, they are available in their online store!

Want to find out more? Then check out the XO in my room website and Facebook page.

(all images by XO in my room)

Carolina Blue

Doctor Dou 11

There is a new arrival to my neighborhood: Carolina Blue. Located on Carrer Doctor Dou 11, it is a lovely shop run by mother and daughter team Carolina and Maria Luisa.

Table ware

Pretty plates and mugs

Experienced decorators of haberdasheries, to which they introduced new styles and a retro vintage vibe some time ago, it was only a matter of time before the project to set up a shop became a reality, and so now we have Carolina Blue.

Vintage touches

Nice things for your home

Vintage and recycled furniture

At Carolina Blue you’ll find furniture (both recycled and newly made) and a delightful range of deco objects (ranging from gorgeous mirrors, wooden crates to wire baskets among other wonderful finds), as well as ribbons and yarn for your crafty projects or beautiful ceramic table ware.

Handy bags from Peru

Nice nesting tables

Baskets, tables + chairs

At Carolina Blue you will also be able to find regular photography or art exhibits, as well as commission decoration projects by the lovely Carolina or Maria Luisa.

Going natural

This evening from 6pm Carolina Blue celebrates its opening, and I have it on good authority, that it will be a party to remember! If you can’t make it don’t worry, you can stop by any time from 11 am – 8.30 pm (Mondays thru Saturdays). If it’s information and updates you are after, you can either go to their website or to the Carolina Blue Facebook page. Happy decorating!

Carolina Blue

Haberdashery, decoration + furniture

Restored and recycled

Carrer Viladomat 30

You probably know by now, that I have something of a soft spot for the handmade and recycled. So you can probably imagine my delight at knowing that a new shop, where furniture is restored and recycled has recently opened. Valnot is its name, and you can find it in the part of town where a lot of new places are sprouting up at the moment (the Sant Antoni area) on Carrer Viladomat 30.

Upstairs workshop

It is a two-level space, with the workshop upstairs and the shop area downstairs. For a nominal fee you can also bring your own stuff to restore or recycle, and make use of the owner’s know-how and tools while you’re at it. Not a bad idea, eh?

The shop is quite full, but all things are displayed with taste and without feeling too cramped. I’ve already spotted a few items I wouldn’t mind having, so no doubt you probably would find something to your liking too. Check out the slideshow for a sneak peek…

Scandinavian treasures

Gidlööf Mobles Escandinaus Vintage

Do you like furniture from the 50s, 60s and 70s as much as I do? If you do, I think you’ll enjoy this post about these Scandinavian treasures which can be found in a spacious shop called GIDLÖÖF. Fancy having a look?

Cozy entrance

Located in a quiet pedestrian street between the Mercat del Born and Parc de la Ciutadella, you’ll easily spot GIDLÖÖF thanks to the cozy displays at the entrance.

Doméstico Shop

Front view

If like me, you love good design, and living in stylish surroundings, then you will enjoy what I am sharing with you today, for I am taking you to Doméstico Shop, a sunny treasure trove of divine design that can be found on Plaça de Sant Agustí Vell 16. Ready?

Casa La Ricarda – inside

Entrance

Following last Tuesday’s post about the gorgeous Casa La Ricarda, today I’ll be sharing images of the inside with you. Be prepared to delight in a house that is still as it was originally more than sixty years ago. Ready for Casa La Ricarda – inside? Here goes!

BCN Handmade – Amato Sole

Annamaría Amato + Ramón Solé

Hi! Today we start a new month, and I am starting a new section for the blog. I hope you like it!! The section is dedicated to all things handmade that are produced in Barcelona, and meet the following criteria: well made, beautiful, stylish, different… I’m kicking off this section today with a lovely couple who recycle and restore items that have been discarded by others, and which they have either found on the street, or been given by friends. They are Amato Sole.