Wabi Sabi

With this blog, I’ll let you discover Wabi Sabi; one of the most beloved interior design trends of the moment! As a huge fan of the Scandinavian 'Hygge' style, I feel a deep connection to it. Now, I'm excited to explore Wabi Sabi; follow along for some cozy inspiration!

Wabi Sabi

Let’s start with some background about this Japanese philosophy first. Rooted in this philosphy, we are reminded to cherish the beauty found in nature's imperfections. This perspective allows us to embrace the lifecycle of all things, recognizing that flaws contribute to their character.

Wabi Sabi comes from two words that together highlight the charm of imperfection. Wabi means that kind of beauty found in asymmetry and roughness, like an unglazed handmade ceramic figure. Sabi is the beauty found in the passage of time, in someone or something’s aging landmarks, like wrinkles around the eyes or stains on the surface of an old mirror.

Wabi sabi teaches to love the simplicity and transience of life. Taking a moment to appreciate the beauty in our surroundings and live with gratitude.

The fact that Japan and Scandinavia are some 8,000 kilometers apart cannot stop interior designers. From the long-distance relationship between Japan and Scandi countries, a deco style was born where aesthetics and harmony take center stage.

Hygge

The Hygge interior and lifestyle, originating from Denmark, is known for its focus on coziness, comfort, and creating an inviting atmosphere. It is all about finding joy in everyday moments and embracing the simple pleasures of life.

There's nothing like a warm cup of tea by the fireplace and a good book to embrace that hygge life. Slow down and enjoying the little moments.

Wabi Sabi versus Hygge

These two lifestyle concepts have gained popularity in recent years and are often associated with creating a cozy and harmonious living environment. But what exactly are the differences and similarities between Hygge and Wabi Sabi?

• Hygge and Wabi Sabi are all about creating a harmonious space that feels just right and cozy.

• Hygge, rooted in Danish culture, encourages a warm and inviting atmosphere.

• On the other hand, Wabi Sabi, from Japan, teaches us to find beauty in the imperfect and fleeting moments of life.

• Hygge embodies a visual aesthetic of warmth and simplicity and soft textures, creating spaces that feel like a warm embrace. On the other hand, Wabi Sabi encourages us to find beauty in the imperfect, the asymmetrical and raw textures.

• Hygge encourages us to create cozy and comfortable spaces, while Wabi Sabi reminds us to cherish the imperfect and transient aspects of life.

How to design?

Wabi Sabi follows nature’s rules, so that is the key value in designing an interior the ‘Wabi Sabi way’. An essential feature is creating an immersive ambiance: peaceful and honest, and with a strong synergy between the objects, colors and individuals. A Wabi Sabi home consists of a minimalistic look, pale colors, rough textures from organic materials like wood and ceramics.
Decor with minimalistic furniture and follow brutalistic architectural lines. Choose modest colors and consider to add some washed linen, to emphasize the aspect of imperfection and modesty!

My designs

Throughout this blog post, you’ll find my visual interpretation of the Wabi Sabi style. Included in mood boards, color palette and more. Pay attention to all the details, and feel the vibe of this amazing interior style! Hopefully, I managed to give you some inspiration and joy with my creations. Can’t wait till my next assignment!

Hasta luego,

Bianca

Career switch at 47?

Is mid-40s a crazy age to be thinking about a career switch? If you ask this question to 10 people, you will get different answers. And that's okay, too. Ultimately, you make the decision to take such a step yourself. And there can be all kinds of reasons for that. Not being happy in your current job, a deep dream inside that finally has to come true, it just happens to come your way. And is all this age-related? No way! There is no limit and you should do what makes you feel happy, right?

I recently started the Interior Design course. For me it is not a retraining or a career switch, but an additional addition to my current package as a self-employed person. I already work as a photographer in real estate. How nice is it to combine this with interior design? I've always liked interiors. I watched interior design programs and had my own ideas and feelings about them. One appeals to you and the other appeals to you less. I am not the type of person who can change or move something in the house every week. If it looks good, it looks good. I get restless when I drag the couch, move the plants, change the accessories. Or regularly changing the color of the wall.

Before we moved to Spain we lived in Heerhugowaard, in The Netherlands. A nice house, lots of space in the kitchen/living room with an open staircase and with a spacious bay window in the kitchen. I already had an idea: gray floor with a rodeo couch and a blue wall on one side. My husband didn't see it that way yet. But once in the store and looking for gray tiles, something brown and blue, he was quickly won over. We bought most of the furniture online. That can be a risk, but in our case it worked out well.

We soon found out that the kitchen did not have a nice layout and actually made the space smaller. It had an L arrangement. Such a shame when you have a big spacious space and it couldn't be used to its full potential. We quickly decided to replace the kitchen. At the kitchen store, of course, we again chose something that is not usual. A kitchen island that we didn't want to cook on, but a high cabinet wall with a cooktop in it. We could then use the kitchen island nicely for space and where the dishwasher would also go. The kitchen became white, with a gray kitchen top. And it was perfect. It couldn't have turned out nicer.  And so it became a beautiful entity: the kitchen and the living room. We also chose a round dining table, the centerpiece of the entire space. Practical? It looks really nice in a space. But when Covid -19 showed up, suddenly we were both working at home. We had a home office room for one, and the other worked at the kitchen table. Then a round table is not really suitable. Eventually we decided to put a desk in the kitchen. There was room and it was stylishly sensible too. We also gave the toilet and hallway a metamorphosis. And at a later stage we also tackled the bathroom. No big changes, but we did change the tiles and the bathroom furniture. The space there was not that big, also because there was a bathtub and a high bathroom cabinet by the door. So you see that even with minimal change you can create something nice. When we put the house up for sale, and the real estate agent walked around the house, I also received a compliment on how beautiful the house looked. The floors everywhere the same, the details, the layout. Nice compliment, right?

And now, decorating our new home in Valencia. Fortunately, in this house we have a lot of freedom for choosing materials. The kitchen, totally different from the one in Heerhugowaard. Here we chose an army green kitchen, low kitchen, without high cabinets. And slightly softer green walls with white herringbone tile. In the living room mustard yellow with deep blue. Our bedroom have the colors gray, blue and pink and the en suite bathroom gray and blue. We have the other rooms in neutral scandi colors. We have received many compliments about the use of color in the home. And that's nice to hear. And especially for here, because Spaniards are quite fond of white, white and more white. No offense, but there is little atmosphere.

And so I made the decision to go into this beautiful profession. Something I have always enjoyed, I am now going to convert to the professional side. I have already done several chapters. And in this course I am working on a complete interior design plan. What I already have in place, I like and I am really very curious about the end result. In another blog I'm going to take you through my interior design plan.

Became curious, what I could do for you? Be sure to keep following me here and on my socials.


Hasta luego,

Bianca

The promenade of Altea

A few weeks ago we went to Altea. Altea is a jewel of the Costa Blanca. Where before we went to the old part of Altea, this time we went to Altea Beach. The sun was shining nicely and there were still a lot of people out and about for this time of year. After all, the sun shines a lot here, so there will be people at any time of the year. I am not a beach person and luckily my husband is not either. Our dog, however, is and loves to dig in the sand. Unfortunately, many beaches in Spain are not accessible to dogs. And so it was no fun for our doggie. Walking on the beach promenade. A wide promenade with restaurants, a playground for children and even a mini agility course for dogs.

What I noticed right away was that this promenade also exuded a sense of tranquility. The idea that I was walking in a large landscaped garden. Round shapes, a modern look and the white color of the pavement make it look beautiful. You can also sit here and there, enjoy the sun, the sea, your children and just be yourself with nature. The promenade is made for pedestrians. But don't be surprised if you see a skater riding a skateboard on the round shapes of the boardwalk infrastructure.

This promenade made me happy. And I have never seen a boardwalk like this before. Especially if you have the space, where there is room for beach lovers, restaurant visitors and those who enjoy a quiet walk and enjoy the sun and the sea, this is definitely a perfect space! Young and old strolled along the boardwalk, the benches were used to sit and relax for a while, as well as for athletes to work out. My husband walked doggie back and forth after doing his trick on the mini agility course. What about me? I grabbed the camera out of my bag and went to check it all out and capture it. I took the most beautiful pictures between all these people, but in the meantime I also observed the tourists, but certainly also the locals.

If you are planning to visit Altea, I would recommend you to do both the old part and the beach of Altea. It is a big difference, but definitely worth it. Start with the old town and then chill out at the beach. Have a drink and a bite to eat in one of the restaurants.

More information about the promenade. The new boardwalk is a renovation of the old boardwalk. This project will start in May 2021. Altea's new promenade is 4,700 square meters. There are also 200 new trees such as medlars, lemon trees, orange trees, tamarinds, pomegranates and poplars.

Hasta luego,

Bianca

Spanish vibes (E-book)

When you live in Spain, you also have a lot to see. Where we live, the weather is good most of the time, so that means a lot of getting outside and going out. We moved to Spain early last year and for the first year we spent a lot of the weekends discovering some of the beauty of Spain. Close to Valencia, but also a little further away. A small village or a bigger city. A true paradise for a photographer. Something I couldn't really do in Holland anymore, spending a day photographing. Holland does have some nice cities, but you quickly end up in the center with a church. That's not precisely what makes me happy. I'll go for those nice little balconies, alleys, villages where time has stood still. And what about doors? I'm hooked on (old) doors. What's behind them? A story you would never know if the door remains closed. Besides all this, I also love nature and architecture. Beautiful stately buildings. Not surprisingly, I have a thing for architecture.

So much beauty and it would be a shame if I didn't share this with you. And so I have collected something beautiful from 21 places in Spain in an E-book. With a few small tips. But it's mainly about the photos.

And I'm not an influencer to tell you where to go, where the Instagrammable spots are, where to eat the best. There is a lot to do about mass tourism and let's all 'just' enjoy what you find beautiful. That might just make traveling and discovering countries and places fun again.

The E-book has 130 pages and the photos are monochrome. If you like black and white, then you are definitely in the right place. It's not that I always edit in black and white, but sometimes it gives a photo something extra. And I'm honest, it definitely doesn't work with all photos.

In my E-book, I take you to Tabarca, among other places. Tabarca is an island near Alicante. Not too big and nice to spend a day. It has atmosphere, locals still live there, and you can take nice pictures. And if you like the sea, that makes it complete. After all, you can't get there without a boat.

I don't think you could have mentioned Tabarca already, Cuenca probably not either. I'm not going to give too much away. The power of the pictures are bundled in the E-book. Should you like it, you can order the E-book for a few euros.

There are many more beautiful things on the shelf. Because this year too, of course, we are not sitting still and Spain is big and there is still more to discover. Perhaps the next project will be a coffeetable book, in color?

Hasta luego,

Bianca

October home living month

From the beautiful autumn colours outside to the cosiness in your living room!

And so we have already entered October. In the Netherlands October home living month has started. Although, I don't know if we know and use that term here in Spain as well. Anyway, no matter where you live, everywhere it is October. The idea behind October Living Month is to make your home nice and cozy for the dark days, because yes: summer is over. Here we still live outside and there is no sign yet to make it cozy inside. In fact, we do not have the typical autumn here. Do I miss autumn? Yes, in a way. The green colors of the trees slowly changing to a range of colors: yellow, orange to red and brown. That color palette is beautiful. Warm colors that give you energy and positivity and a sense of sunshine in your home. 

As a true interior junkie, of course one has to go all out. Paint the walls from a light color to a slightly warmer shade. Maybe another couch or a chair to chill in. Shop till you drop for the cutest accessories. Some will tackle all the rooms in the house, while others will stick to the living room. You don't have to go all out to get the feel of your home. You can keep it small and not that expensive. 

In this blog I will give you a few simple but fun tips. Where I'm not a fan of candles at all, I think candles come in first place for many people and this also comes pretty quickly in beautiful candle holders on a table. Candles, of course, come in all colors, shapes and sizes. As beautiful as it can be, remember safety, dear people. Your pet is walking around, too. From candles , I cross the bridge right to enlightenment. When we moved to Spain and were in our first rental apartment (new construction), we had difficulties to get used to the lighting in the house. Bright white walls, little color, the light from the lamps as if you were in the dentist's chair. We never get used to this, really. And we do see it in many more houses here, little ambient light. Whether it is because we (Spaniards) live more outside, and the degree of coziness inside does not matter. Because in terms of furnishing it is not very special here. And they don't spend a lot of money on that either. We are still waiting for the key to our house, but I do know, there will be mood lighting in the house and the walls already have a (warm) color. And when we are not outside, I do want to create a cozy place inside. 

You can also look for it in accessories. Many autumn accessories are timeless, so you can use them again nicely for the next season. Think of mushrooms, pumpkins and pine cones. Maybe you can find them made of wood. Wood represents a natural effect, but also exudes warmth and rusticity. Perfect to think of wooden accessories at this time. 

If you are very creative, how fun is it to make something DIY for your home. You are busy doing nice creative things, and so you can already make it cozy while you are crafting around. Pinterest is a good platform to get lots of ideas. At many garden centers they have various workshops to make something nice, around this time. And is also cozy with several people. 

And here is also a creative. Something I enjoy doing, being creative all day long. That is why I have a profession that involves a lot of creativity. In the color palette of my interior designs, I naturally take the season into account as well! I let the deep autumn colors recur in designs and mood boards. There is a lot of inspiration to be found: inside and outside in nature. Recently I started a study to work with Procreate to offer beautiful things in the field of interior design. And a study in interior design. I am sure you are going to read and see more about that.

I have something nice for you. Because creating atmosphere in your home can be done in many ways. As many of you probably know, posters are always good. A small poster in autumn atmosphere to transform your interior into the cozy atmosphere of autumn. If you click here, you can download the poster for free. Print it on thick paper or put it in a nice frame and you're done. 

I wouldn't have to think about it right now, but snuggle up on the couch in your lounge suit with a plaid and watch a fun series. Have you already added a series you are going to watch? Rom com or lots of action, or maybe that one horror movie. Great for Halloween! Have you already got your plaid? And what color did you fall for? A neutral color or yet a warm color? A friend of mine crocheted a yellow plaid for me a few years ago. Really a nice warm color. I haven't laid under it yet, but it has been an accessory in the house. And it's definitely going to be one now. One wall of the living room has a warm yellow color. Perfect match! 

And where the plaids are on the couch, we are also going to make room in our closet. The shorts, the bright summer dresses, the flip flops, that white crochet bag, everything is going to make room for sweaters. Sweater weather! Writing about it like this, I realise that this season really does have something to offer. What is your favorite season? And don't answer impulsively with “summer". Autumn really does have something to offer. And if you don't like all that rain, just make sure it's extra cozy inside. 

As I write this, I have my eyes closed and am thinking of a perfect autumn day. Getting a breath of fresh air on the beach, strolling through a cozy Spanish village. Maybe grab a terrace somewhere for a café con leche or (if you like it) a horchata (a Valencian drink made from tiger nut milk). In my case, I'll have un té verde and my husband will go for that café con leche. They might have something delicious to go with it. How about a cinnamon roll or a cheesecake? So yummy! And after a good walk, coming home and enjoy comfort food for dinner. Comforting autumn meals, surely delicious after all those evenings of BBQ and salads with bread? A good lasagna, a cheese fondue, delicious! Although I can also eat this when it's 30 degrees. Many people will call me crazy, but it's just delicious! 

Food stands for conviviality. Good food at a nicely set table. What you may not know about me, I love tableware. Plates, wooden boards, cutlery, glasses. You really shouldn't leave me alone in a store, because I buy everything from the entire store. I love setting the table in a theme with beautiful dinnerware. For autumn you can think of many beautiful set tables. And mouthwatering dishes. 

I hope you are looking forward to autumn with a cozy living room where you can cocoon, enjoy a cake, at home or elsewhere. Remember, Winnie the Pooh said, “home is the comfiest place to be”.

Hasta luego,

Bianca

My working life in Spain

Just under a week and we're already heading towards October and I'm still enjoying the sun. But what do you want, if you live in sunny Valencia. Not yet in our house, we are still waiting for the key. We've been told it can't be much longer. If we are to believe the contractor, we will move before November. It would be nice if I could take you with me in our house. A glimpse into my life, a peek into my home. And yes, also a look into my work and behind the scenes. Studio Property & Object will be born in our new home. Behind the scenes, I've been working on this for a number of months. But I'm waiting for the key so I can really get started. 

Studio Property & Object is all about architecture, interior, food and product. But more on that later. For now, I'm going to take you into my life. My name is Bianca, my legal name is Benedicta. And that's quite confusing here in Spain and for myself. I don't know any better that I'm Bianca, for 47 years. So to keep it simple, I'm Bianca to you too.

My bed was in Sittard, a town in Limburg, in the south of the Netherlands, close to the German border. I moved to the big city for love and was allowed to pick up my life in Amsterdam for more than 2 years. There was a big difference with where I came from, I have to be honest. Zaandam and Heerhugowaard were also reviewed and since March 2023 last year we have moved to Valencia. Valencia is also a big city, but very different from Amsterdam. Valencia has a relaxed vibe and the city has so much to offer. It has also been a big step we have taken to leave the Netherlands behind. But the Netherlands was no longer for us. And I don't really know if the Netherlands really belonged to me. I am a Mediterranean in everything, in terms of feeling, thinking, eating. Although I am more fond of Italian cuisine than Spanish cuisine.

Who is Bianca anyway? If friends had to describe me, I think everyone would say 'a busy bee, a creative bee'. And that's true. I have to be busy, do something creative. Photography is a great passion, but so is drawing. After years of working in the office, I finally dared to take the step and choose for myself to do what I like. Doing what I like, what makes me happy and being creative is a big part of that.

Together with my husband, we have a dog friend. Before we went to Spain we had a Sheltie, but unfortunately we had to put it to sleep a few days before departure. Vegas had a heart problem. He has been with us for almost 10 years. And now we are enjoying a mini Australian Shepherd. A completely different dog, a lot of energy. Shadow really is a shepherd, as long as he can keep the flock together. He loves water and sand and can get sweets from you all day long. Vegas has inspired me to take beautiful pictures of dogs in street style. And I also sought my creativity in beautiful art work of dogs/cats.

Feel free to take a look, if you like dogs. https://fotografiaelegante-perro.com/

My first blog on my website. Nice if you've already read this far. And want to read even further! The blogs will be a nice interpretation for Studio property & Object. Every now and then there will also be something fun to read about traveling, Valencia or another city. Probably something you can sit down for a while with a cup of coffee or tea in your hand.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do now. Drinking a cup of tea, getting away from the computer for a while, and watching my dog Shadow enjoy his zoomies.

Hasta luego,

Bianca