Relooking d'un mur de mon bureau

Lors du weekend pascal dernier, le temps était tellement gris que je suis  restée à la maison ...

En fait non, il a fait beau mais je suis comme même restée enfermée pour relooker mon bureau. Dingo, n'est-ce pas?!

Rangement et ordre

J'ai besoin d'ordre pour bien travailler. Et donc il me fallait des étagères pour ranger mes papiers et autres outils de travail ... mais aussi pour mieux disposer mes poteries vintages. On ne se refait pas n'est-ce pas! ;-)

C'est ainsi que j'ai placé des étagères vintage et allemandes de la marque "Element System". Cette marque existe toujours mais mes étagères datent des années 70. Je les ai achetées chez Troc International pour 29 euros. La bonne affaire !

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Element System - Les planches[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Element System - Les barres et équerres métalliques[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Element System - La première pose de la première barre métallique[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Element System - Les équerres posées ...cela donne.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Element System - Le tout posé.[/caption]

Je suis très contente du résultat. Le noir, le bois et le mur vert se marient parfaitement. Une atmosphère vintage que j'adore!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Element System - Le résultat final[/caption]

Qu'en pensez-vous?

MesDécoVertes

Sources Photos: Faites par MesDécoVertes. Demander accord au préalable.

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Le festival du film fantastique (BIFFF) 2013 - Bruxelles

Aller à ce festival c'est vivre une expérience cinématographique complètement différente. On peut dire que c'est aller à la rencontre d'une autre culture avec ses propres us et coutumes.

Rentrez dans une salle du BIFFF et vous pénétrez un univers parallèle. Vous ne serez pas là seulement pour regarder un film comme dans une salle de cinéma classique mais pour le "transcender". En effet, les "grands" habitués du BIFFF apporteront leurs visions et commentaires totalement décalés. C'est comme une deuxième bande-son ! Et donc une nouvelle histoire!

Ce festival prenait ses quartiers normalement chaque année au Passage 44.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="477"] Passage 44 - Bruxelles[/caption]

Après un passage à Tour et Taxis, il a pris possession cette année du Palais des Beaux-Arts (BOZAR).

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="551"] Le Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles - Entrée[/caption]

Oui! Un de nos hauts lieux culturels bruxellois construit par Victor Horta (Mouvement Art Nouveau): Expositions et rétrospectives artistiques, concerts de musique classique, ... y sont organisés.

Mon premier film a été projeté dans la prestigieuse salle Henri Le Boeuf ... Un pari inimaginable mais 100% réussi.


[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"] La salle Henri Le Boeuf - Le Palais des Beaux-Arts - Bruxelles[/caption]

Le BIFFF est le festival de cinéma le plus fantastique (à mon humble avis ;-))

A côté des projections de films d'horreur, sci-fi ou fantastiques, le festival est connu pour le body painting et make-up fantastique.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] BIFFF 2013 - Des personnages étranges hantent le Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] BIFFF 2013 - Envie d'une séance de maquillage?[/caption]

Et pour terminer voici quelques photos "atmosphères" de l'évènement:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="407"] BIFFF 2013 - Un hamburger aux oignons frits ... bon par trop pour moi![/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] BIFFF 2013 - La salle de "réunion"[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] BIFFF 2013 - Défilé des affiches officielles du BIFFF, depuis l'année de sa création, signées par de grands noms de la B.D. et autres dessinateurs.[/caption]

MesDécoVertes

Sources Photos: Faites par MesDécoVertes. Demander accord au préalable.

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How To Spot Vintage That's Less Shabby And More Chic

It’s clear that vintage furniture is back in vogue; it can add such character to a house and is often cheaper and better-made compared to buying brand new furniture.

However, like anything else, furniture ages and you need to be careful when buying vintage homeware, because sometimes you can be left with something that is more ‘shoddy cheap’ than ‘shabby chic’. Let me let you in to a few secrets when it comes to furnishing your home vintage style.

Wood

It is possible to get some great wooden buys from charity shops and flea markets - however you want to look out for wooden pieces that have scratch-resistant surfaces, this will ensure that it is as durable as possible. This is easy enough to test before you purchase it – attempt drawing a thin line with your fingernail across the wood to see if it makes a visible dent, if it does then it will be worth looking around for something of better quality.

Also check for veneers — a veneer is a thin piece of premium wood that covers a lower-quality piece of wood. Double-check that the base piece is solid wood or plywood, the only problem with veneer is that it limits the number of times an item can be refinished.

If you can see that a piece is being held together by staples or nails, or whether there is any visible glue lines, this is an indicator that it is not the best quality. You should only choose wooden furniture that has been held together by dowels and screws, this will make it much more durable.

Upholstery

It is easier to tell quality-vintage homeware when it comes to upholstery. More often than not, you can see if the piece is clean, well looked-after and good quality from the fabric. If your sofa has removable cushions, you will be able to have a look inside - good quality sofas will have a block of foam that is wrapped in a protective cover, this is to make it long lasting. It is thought that foam only cushions are much less comfortable and they are also less durable, meaning you will get much less wear from them.

In terms of comfort, the best way to test the feel of the specific piece is by sitting in various spots to see whether you tip or sink.

Another quick handy tip – if the cushions are reversible, you’ll get twice the wear!

However, if you really like a piece that isn’t well-made, these tips shouldn’t stop you from buying it. Just don’t expect it to last as long as you’d like!

Becky is a vintage-lover and often shops in flea markets and charity shops. She also likes shopping for inspired vintage homeware from http://www.nutscene.com/.

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London For Nature Lovers

While in London, most people enjoy taking in all of this historic city’s sights and sounds, including the local culture and cuisine as well as the museums, shopping, and royal sites. But if you love the outdoors and the natural environment, you can find ways of fulfilling your need for fresh air and outdoor fun while you are enjoying everything else that London has to offer. Take a look at some of the more popular natural spaces throughout London, listed below, and make sure to squeeze in some time during your stay in this magnificent city so that you can reconnect with nature and wildlife while having fun with your entire family.

Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park

This 4-acre wetland, marsh, and meadow also features lovely lakes and streams that are perfect for calming your frazzled mind and reconnecting with the natural habitat that is host to a variety of plant and animal species. This is a bird watcher’s paradise, as there are so many different bird species that call the meadows and marshlands home, but you can also look for smaller animals along the trails, including frogs, toads, dragonflies, and newts, to name just a few.

London Wetland Centre

This 105-acre wildlife preserve, which is a nice escape from the nearby bustling, crowded city streets, was created in the year 2000 by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Here, you can enjoy beautiful and tranquil lagoons, pastures, and islets, as well as view a variety of birds or just sit and relax on one of the many benches. Visit the centre to find out how you can participate in one or more of their special activities, including guided walks, educational tours, bat watching walks, pond-dipping sessions, and even wildlife photography classes. Or, if you prefer to go it alone, you and your family can walk the trails and enjoy the serenity, as well as the abundant animal and plant life that surround you. A café with an outdoor terrace is perfect for getting a refreshment at any time, but you are also allowed to bring your own foods to enjoy a peaceful picnic on the grounds of the London Wetland Centre.

Boat Tours

See London from a whole new perspective by purchasing tickets for one of its many boat tours. Whether you are looking for a high speed ride to get your adrenaline pumping or a more relaxed cruise that will take you along the city’s main rivers and canals, there are many boating companies that each offers their own specialised, guided tours on the waters that surround the city. Enjoy moving along the River Thames or simply take the opportunity to see London’s major sights from the water for a whole new view.

Ice Skating

If you are visiting London in the winter, take advantage of some outdoor ice skating fun. You can choose from a variety of outdoor ice skating rinks that allow you to enjoy the physical activity while breathing the fresh, cold air and taking in the sights around you.

Jeffery Durrans 

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Unusual Fashion Choice Of The 1970's

I was recently reviewing some of my photographs from the 1970’s. The exercise was a useful reminder of how we all dressed in that era and inspired a few fond memories of some of the unusual choices I made for my own clothes. I say unusual because that is how they appear now but at the time they were all the rage. I was clearly heavily influenced by celebrity endorsement before the concept had even been invented!

The Bay City Rollers

For those who are too young to remember, the Bay City Rollers were a pop sensation in the mid 1970’s inspiring hysteria in young girls that was up there with Beetle Mania. Looking back it is hard to see why! At the time I got wrapped up in the whole phenomenon which naturally meant that I had to wear the band’s signature outfit. This consisted of calf length trousers with tartan stripes up the side, a tartan shirt or shirt with tartan trim and a tartan scarf around the wrist. You will have guessed by now that the band members were Scottish! Seeing the fashion as a passing fad (how insightful) my mum made my trousers from an old pair of jeans and some tartan ribbon. What no one at the time seemed to register was that the calf length bell-bottomed trousers were highly unflattering, particularly on women and only served to thicken your waist and make your legs look enormous! It all goes to prove that no matter what it is, if a celebrity is wearing it, people will buy it.

Flares

The flares of the 1970’s were another trend which for most would have been best ignored. These trousers and jeans created an unflattering silhouette and flapped around your legs. Another unfortunate side effect was their tendency to drag along the floor and then soak up any and all moisture which would rise inexorably up the legs making it look like you had taken a paddle. Whatever the fashion world dictates that I should be wearing in future years this is one style to which I will not be returning!

Starsky and Hutch

This American cop show was another 1970’s sensation with the principle actors, David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser becoming major sex symbols. These days it is strange to imagine that a cop show could spawn a fashion trend but this iconic show had achieved such stature that this is exactly what happened. Detective David Starsky’s signature cardigan became highly prized and I was the proud owner of a close copy! The cardigan was a chunky garment fashioned from cream Aran wool which featured a dark Mexican motif around the middle and was tied with a belt. It made me look fat which was quite an achievement as I weighed all of 7 stone but I loved that cardigan anyway. I note with interest that people are still looking for Starsky knitting patterns and that one is available on Ravelry, the knitting social network.

Impressionable

It is easy to write off these ridiculous fashions as the result of my impressionable youth but the truth is that people of all ages make the same mistakes. Never mind what suits you or what you actually like, if one of your heroes is wearing it you have to have one. No wonder celebrity endorsement has taken over the world because it really works!

Sally Stacey is a frequent guest blogger and a fashion fan. 

Picture License: Creative Commons image source

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Des designers belges avec un amour du bois - Salon Bois&Habitat

Vendredi dernier je suis passée au salon Bois & Habitat (édition 2013). Ce salon avait lieu au Palais des Expositions de Namur (Belgique).

Juste à l'entrée se tenait un long podium mettant en scène des objets et meubles créés par des designers belges. Le dénominateur commun de tous ces objets design? Je vous le donne en 1000: le bois ! 15 objets, pour 15 ans d'histoire du Salon.

Les designers présents:

Mathias Van De Walle, Elric Petit, Irina Scrinic, Gaultier Poulain, Emmanuel Gardin, Michaël Bihain, Hélène Boularan dite LN Boul, François Dedeur, Nicolas Bovesse, Marina Bautier, Thierry Bataille, Kaspar Hamacher, Mathieu Gabiot, Gaëtan Van de Wyer et Jean-François Parisse.

Voici quelques photos:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Bois & Habitat 2013 - Designers Belges[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="360"] Bois & Habitat 2013 - Designers Belges[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="360"] Bois & Habitat 2013 - Designers Belges[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="360"] Bois & Habitat 2013 - Designers Belges[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="360"] Bois & Habitat 2013 - Designers Belges[/caption]

Une mini expo en partenariat avec le magazine Déco Idées.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="360"] Bois & Habitat 2013 - Designers Belges[/caption]

MesDécoVertes

Sources Photos: Faites par MesDécoVertes. Demander accord au préalable.

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Creating The Perfect Vintage Home

Vintage is a lasting trend in both fashion and home-wares; from the house with a singular 1890s vase, perched on the mantel, to a terrace crammed to bursting with 50’s Americana.

Vintage Home Interiors

It’s best to start with the basics. A house from your chosen time period is a good blank canvas. From here you can use vintage decorating materials to adorn your home. There are dealers who sell vintage wallpaper, paint and curtains; curtains in particular are highly sought after. In terms of colour and style, consider the room you will be decorating. Small rooms will look tacky if crammed with memorabilia, while larger rooms can look cold and bare if minimalism isn’t achieved correctly.

Tips:

· Be careful with the paint however, as health and safety was not as stringent in the past as it is now, and some old paints can be toxic.

· Remember to steam curtains and any other soft furnishings to ensure pests are not brought into your home.

· Vintage fabrics tend to be delicate. Handle carefully.

Vintage Furniture

License: Image author owned

When your home is decorated to your satisfaction, it’s time to pick furniture. One of the cheapest – and most earth friendly – ways to do this is to buy old classics and have them professionally restored. A beautifully made chesterfield or vintage leather sofa can be worth thousands; the cost of re-upholstery is a small price to pay for restoring a stunning piece of retro chic which will be passed through your family for generations. Vintage Ercol furniture is particularly worth restoration; especially as the frames are carved from quality wood, and curve sensuously.

Tips:

· Check for woodworm on all wooden objects – the creature can decimate a house’s woodwork in very little time.

· Measure the cost of restoration against buying an item in better repair. Buying vintage is better than buying new, but some vintage items are too far gone.

· Keep vintage furniture out of bright sunlight if possible to reduce sun bleaching.

Vintage Home Accessories

Time for the finishing touches - the little extras that give your home that real vintage sparkle. I would strongly suggest setting up a Pinterest board or using a notebook to gather clippings. You can get inspiration anywhere – a fascination with dark Americana means I love defunct / half blown neon signs, coca cola memorabilia and diner chic. There are hundreds of magazines extolling the virtues of the perfect plates to adorn a Welsh dresser, or where you can get an authentic absinthe trowel. Once you have a look you like, acquire pieces slowly. Going overboard, filling your home with cheap approximations, or wasting thousands on average tat simply because it bears the label ‘vintage’ – just say no.

Tips:

· Inspiration is key. Trawl Pinterest and ask friends for any old magazines.

· Hunt everywhere. Etsy, eBay, jumble sales, car boot sales, charity shops.

· Choose carefully. 5 exceptional pieces will have far more impact than 200 dancing Tiki girls.

Written by Helen Mitchell, writer for Plumbs Reupholstery.

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