Leave the world behind you

If like me, you’re addicted to browsing through decoration and design blogs and websites, you’ve definitely come across interiors with this mural world map sticker! I was surprised to find it while shopping for some home furniture at ID Design in Sin El Fil. It’s discounted (around 40usd instead of 100…). It’s not veeery big but it would look really good on the right wall in an apartment, or office. 120cmx60cm I think.

Black on white. And the world is yours.

Wonderland Cake

I’m writing this post with the chocolate taste still in my mouth… we were trying to figure out what cake to bring our friend at the office, hesitating between classic versions, when Woody proposed his baker friend’s special cakes. Kit Kat, Finger or maltesers? he asked, showing me pictures that were simply too good to be only on paper and almost too good to be real. Kit Kat it was! And it was…simply amazing!

After Rods blew his 39 candles :) it was time to put any summery hate of chocolate on hold for a while…and it was so damn worth it! :)

So not only was this cake esthetically gorgeous, it was also delicious.

Sara’s home bakery (you can check her on Facebook) is a startup enterprise, operating from the baker/artist’s home in mansourieh. Just call Sara Brummana on 70 787 686.

Care for another piece?

Made in the himalayas

Why do remote, secluded civilizations respect the environment that much and we don't?? Aren’t we the ones aware of the severe environment issues?

I guess that’s because we lost our relation with nature. Our need for one another. Our respect to one another. Long gone. Pouf. Strangled with a plastic bag.

So when my mom (who just loves the art and culture of India, Nepal, and all that part of the world) took me to check out that shop, I kind of felt I was part of something good. Hundreds of thousands of kilometers away from me, high in the mountains of the Himalayas, villages live off these handmade products. The tree they use and protect at the same time is called Lokta. And what they make of it is paper. This ancient himalayan process is 2000 years old. It is done only once every 2 to 3 years, by cutting the young stem when it’s only 30 cm tall, thus allowing to protect this highly precious resource. The outcome is raw, colorful, original and unique decorative objects. Notebooks, frames, albums, mirrors, funky animals, boxes, slippers, rugs… I personally got my friend a set of lovely paper boxes for her baby’s room, and some bird danglers.

The wrapping paper and the bag are very special too.

“Elephantine” is in the beginning of Gemmayze, right before “Alcove” pub, in the little street on the right.

Take your time there, cause it’s important to look closely to enjoy (and discover surprising hidden items).

You're gonna need more vases

This place is the most charming flower shop you can find J  “Bohemian chic” would define it i think. The good taste of its owner, Rana, just makes it so easy to offer an original and beautiful bouquet! Whether “champetre” or sophisticated, her creations seem to come out of an interior design magazine.

The shop feels as if it was parachuted straight from Paris, but with the warmth of a lebanese florist J The final touch is when she adds the bee sticker to the wrapping of the bouquet. Lovely.

The Flower Pot is in Mar Takla, Hazmieh, right next to Byblos bank, on the road down to “La Rose”. So for all those of you who moved to this suburb as I did, (thus the non-writing for a while) this is the address to head to before a dinner invitation, or to add life to your home. My dad always told me how important it is to always have flowers at home. I think he was right.

Don’t wait for special occasions.