Shop Crush : Produit Interieur Brut

Major, mais alors, major crush on this shop! 'Woohoo' is all that comes out of my mouth, {well, rather 'oh la la' since this is a French shop}. Based in the Paris suburbs, Produit Interieur Brut's selection is a mix of true vintage pieces and industrial reeditions {meaning new but vintage inspired pieces}. Produit Interieur Brut ships worldwide on a per kilo shipping price basis. Go have a look at their entire shop selection ici. J'aime pas, j'adore!

Collage realized with original shots from Produit Interieur Brut

My visit chez Ravel

Poterie Ravel is a 170-year-old company located in the provencal village of Aubagne. Ravel is known for their beautiful and high quality terracotta plant pots and homeware collection. The company has also just launched a line of textile homeware, from kitchen towels to tablecloths, beach towels or fabric by the yard [and I must admit I was not able to resist their linen grey tablecloth - pictures to come, c'est promis]. Ravel is just an amazing experience: from the moment you enter their facility, you feel transported into the "art de vivre à la Française", the urge to plant flowers in pots arises, you want to touch the lavender bushes to get the smell of Provence, dress a nice table and cook a healthy homemade meal. Their staff is courteous, passionate and highly knowledgeable about the Provence traditions and eager to share with the visitor. Such a treat!

{Photos by me with the kind permission of Poterie Ravel}

Shop Crush : Zilalila

Two creative hearts passionate about pure materials and hand made products are behind the Zilalila brand : Sam and Anita, both stylists, created this brand in 2010 and are based in the Netherlands. Socially conscious, Zilalila's mission is to reconcile style with sustainability and fair trade [their production units benefit over 2500 families and local communities members in India and Nepal].
Nest, their XXL cushion made with pure New Zealand wool, is handknitted by women for a fair trade production unit in Nepal.
I can hear you from here... What does Zilalila stand for you're asking? Literally "the one becoming the many and the many returning to one". Beautiful concept, beautiful products, I am sold!

{Photos via Zilalila}

Shop Crush : Couleur Chanvre

Couleur Chanvre was born in the French Rhone Alpes region, a region where old dyies and silk factories have slowly been converted into lofts, apartments, supermarkets or museums. To preverse the artisans know how, Couleur Chanvre works with local manufacturers and eco friendly materials and processes of creation. One goal always remains : "to create an accessible and seductive product that is respectful of its environment in all senses of the word."

I have a few pieces from the Couleur Chanvre collection from my previous life in the South of France and I will tell you this : the flower pocket linen tablecloth and bed linens I acquired from their shop have surpassed any of my expectations and still look and feel brand new after many years of use and washes. I am sold - and actually eyeing more of their yummy hemp tablecloths to bring back with me this summer... Gorgeous!

{Photos via Couleur Chanvre}

My visit chez Merci

Oh la la, what a store! I spent almost an hour with a friend at Merci and I was speechless the entire time I believe. How can I describe? Pure beauty, deliciousness, industrial heaven, creative mix of yumminess... There is no word in the vocabulary to clearly describe this amazing concept store. A 3 level showroom, an herb and vegetable garden, a cafe, a restaurant.... I could have spent my day [and money I don't have] there. Seriously.

But the best about Merci is not their product line, it's the concept the store is based on. Merci was born with founders Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, previous owners of the Bonpoint brand. Both work fully pro bono, asking their suppliers to reduce their margin or designers to offer their services for free (gold medal products). Thanks to this great chain of hope and charity, all Merci profits go toward helping poor kids on the [very poor] Island of Madagascar. So when you shop Merci, you actually do something good for humanity. Hence the name, Merci.

I asked a Merci rep' about their expansion plans. Yes, they will expand, no they don't have a date but are debating between opening more Merci stores or selling the concept to distributors. I can hardly wait. A suivre...

{Photos by me with the kind permission of Merci}

Sandbox time!

I have realized while browsing through old posts that it's been a while since my last sandbox. I also happen to have been drooling lately over the new Design Within Reach catalog that I received in my mailbox... Lucky me, their catalog is about "The Language of Nordic Design".
For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of my sandbox, it is a time when I pretend I am loaded with money [or my morning wish came true] and spend it like it's going out of style [yeah, right]. Bienvenue to my DWR sandbox...

{All photos via DWR}

Wishbone Chairs (Wegner) and Unfold Pendants (Muuto)

Ant, Series 7 and Grand Prix chairs & Panton VP Globe Light 

Jacobsen Swan sofa and Egg footstool

Stacked Shelving System & E27 Pendant (both Muuto)

Coatrack Dots (Tveit & Tornøe for Muuto) and 3 Leg Ant Chair (A. Jacobsen)

Wegner Shell chair and coffee table & Bourgie Lamp

Tractor Counter Stool (Bassam Fellows)

London Lamp (Charlie Bowles)

Poet Sofa (Finn Juhl)

Line Credenza (Nathan Yong for Folks)

Sapien Bookcase (Bruno Rainaldi)

Hello, my deer...

Oh la, la, this is not a coup de coeur, this is a real love affair! I stumbled upon this gorgeous concrete deer trophy - I'm usually not fond of taxidermic displays of deer skulls but this one is exactly what I would settle for. Better, I am ordering this deer for myself [birthday coming + mother's day + good girl's gift to self... do you follow me? ;-)].
Because you are deer to me - that was an easy one but I couldn't pass it - I've even hunted the web for you to check where to buy it! 2 options : on this website, or directly through the designer, Lotta Rubum. But please be patient, this lovely deer is so popular in Scandinavia that it is currently out of stock and expected to ship out from the designer in 2-3 weeks. Happy shopping my deer!

Top and bottom set: Photos by Jessica @ Vita Villa Vila
Middle set : Photos via Gotlandsliv