Category Archives: Travel

Joanna Laajisto designs ‘Pikku Napoli’ restaurant in Helsinki

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At the end of November, the Pikku Napoli restaurant opened its doors in a former shipyard area close to the city center in Helsinki. The area is an up-and-coming meeting spot for food and culture and the design of the artisan pizzeria is done by renowned Finnish design studio Joanna Laajisto.

The interior design of Pikku Napoli: an eclectic combination of patterns and materials

An exposed ceiling for an industrial effect matching the shipyard surroundings

The interior concept of the restaurant is inspired by its rugged shipyard surroundings. The functional components in the ceiling are still exposed, giving the interior an industrial touch, yet everything is painted in a warm cream color, just like the ceiling for an elegant effect.

While usually in industrial buildings it’s the ceiling that is darker, in this beautiful design it’s the other way around with the cream color on top and the dark stained wood walls and the tiled flooring on the bottom.

The Tekiò Circular pendants from Santa & Cole distantly remind of a lifebuoy, which is another hint to the restaurants’ shipyard environment, yet at the same time they spread the softest light throughout the space to create a cozy ambiance.

A mixture of materials for a timeless yet contemporary look

The dark stained wood walls and custom modules like the bar and storage provide a rich backdrop for classic materials like green leather, brass details, and different patterns in the ceramic tiles. The overall aesthetic looks eclectic and playful, yet in a soft and elegant way.

The combination of mid-century-modern elements, the playful patterns in the tiles and the striped round table and the industrial look makes for an interesting design that sort of happened upon coincidence as studio Joanna Laajisto was taken aboard the project only after unexpected reconstruction needed to be done on the sight.

Photography by Mikko Ryhänen

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Vipp Shelter: a modern Scandinavian cabin in the woods

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The black steel Vipp kitchen in a modern Scandinavian cabin with an all black interior

I wrote about the Vipp shelter in Sweden a long while ago, but since this beautiful cabin recently received a makeover with the newest Vipp furniture pieces and accessories, it was time to write a little update about the two-person living space with large windows and a mesmerizing lake view.

A small living space with an ultra-wide view

The Vipp shelter is only 55m2 (around 600 square feet) big, yet this compact cabin design with a black steel structure has everything a design lover could wish for. The Vipp shelter has a very dark-toned interior from floor to wall to ceiling, to keep the focus on the beautiful surrounding nature.

From the combined living room and kitchen, you have a wide view over the neighboring lake, which can be opened up to live one with nature. Since the kitchen, dining area and lounge area are all in one single space, you can enjoy the woods from anywhere, which makes it a perfect fit for outdoor lovers.

The bedroom is located on the second level of the Vipp shelter, with a skylight that gives you a view of the stars at night. The loft bedroom fits a queen size bed and is located above the Vipp bathroom.

The cabin interior

The cabin is fitted with a Vipp kitchen in black metal which is fully equipped with all the Vipp kitchen accessories. To add a bit of contrast, the full bath has a white metal module, which works well in this space.

Both the dining area and the lounge area got an update with the most recent Vipp furniture release and I think it has a very warm and inviting look.

A modern cabin stay or a prefab home

You can book a visit for 2 nights in this beautiful forest retreat, but you can even order this prefab home and create your own cabin in a remote location of your choosing. The metal structure is so much more modern than a logic cabin and it’s a luxury version of small vacation homes.

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A lovely stay at the Schgaguler Hotel

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Travelling far away or by plane is still out of the question currently, but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a little break close by, does it ? I was invited to discover the beautiful Schgaguler Hotel this week and I was so impressed by both the hotel and its beautiful surroundings. The Hotel is located in the Dolemites in South-Tirol, Italy and just a train right away from Munich. It was founded by Elisabeth and Gottfried Schgaguler in 1986 as an apartment residence and completely renovated in 2018 in collaboration with the Milan architect Peter Pichler and Designer Martin Schgaguler.

The goal of the extended renovation project was to bring an authentic, minimal and contemporary design to the mountain landscape and the iconic peaks on the building remind of the famous mountain chain ‘der drei Zinnen’, which is such a lovely reference. While eye-catching on the outside, the interior certainly doesn’t disappoint either. With its modern design and clever use of both wood and concrete, the light flooded rooms get a minimal and stylish look, which is elegant yet modest, adding emphasis on the mountain views which can be admired from every single window. I think the hotel serves as the perfect mountain getaway for design lovers. In the entire hotel you can find large photographs by Martin Schgaguler, which stand out so nicely against the light palette of the interior.

My sister and I enjoyed two lovely nights in this place and even though this was just a short trip, we got to take two long hikes in the mountains, which are easily accessible from the hotel. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the mornings, headed outside to enjoy nature and then came back in the afternoon for a relaxing spa session and a dinner at the hotel. The restaurant overlooks the mountains as well, which you can see in the pictures and it’s such an experience to have dinner or breakfast with such a stunning view. This short trip really recharged my batteries and I feel so ready to go back to work again. Since this really is such an easy spot when you live in Munich, I’m sure I will be back for another trip, maybe in winter this time as I think the views must be even more stunning once everything is covered in snow.

All pictures are taken by me, except for the three last ones, which are press photos from the Schgaguler Hotel. This post was written as a result of a press trip sponsored by the Schgaguler Hotel, however all opinions are my own of course. If you would like to know more about the hotel, or check for availability, you can have a look on their website.

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A relaxing weekend at the Bachmair Weissach hotel

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I didn’t take a long vacation yet this summer, which hasn’t been such an issue since we are having such great weather here in Munich over the last weeks, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery for just a few days, to relax and recharge your batteries don’t you ?

We had the most amazing weekend at the Bachmair Weissach hotel and now I’m back home all relaxed and ready to start the workweek again. The Resort & Spa hotel is just an hour drive from Munich, at Tegernsee, which makes it the ideal weekend destination. As soon as we left Munich, I was in full on vacation mode and the environment of the hotel in between the hills and the lake makes it beyond believe you are only a one hour drive away.

What I like most about this place is it’s interior and general atmosphere. The entire Spa & Resort is a mixture of traditional Bavarian elements mixed with modern design and carefully selected art pieces which makes for a very luxurious, yet cozy vibe that makes you feel welcome and relaxed.

A delicious breakfast is served in the round Pavillion building (in the first pictures) which has the local river streaming underneath it. The black bentwood chairs, mixed with brass accents on the tables, little pink flowers on the table and the classic windows and ceiling make this space so fresh looking and the perfect spot to start the day.

After breakfast we went on to a very relaxing day at the Mizu Onsen spa and outdoor pool, where we spend hours trying out the saunas, hot and cold pools and just relaxed and had a drink in the outdoor area. The spa is designed according to the Japanese bath ceremony and won the ‘Luxury Spa Resort’ prize, which I can totally confirm: it’s such a great experience and it really feels like time stands still here. 

There are different dinner options at the hotel, but the highlight of our culinary experience was the dinner at the Mizu Sushi Bar, which has top-chef Franz-Josef Unterlechner preparing delicious Japanese food since this year. Also here, I was both amazed by the food as well as the interior, which is a mixture of Japanese touches, with modern elements and local traditional materials.

I had visited the hotel last year in spring time when it was still colder and back then I had spend most of my time in the spa. This time the weather allowed us to be more outside and enjoy the outdoor pool with the mountain view. I’m so in love with this place, I think I should make it a yearly tradition. Maybe next time I should try it out in winter ?

All pictures are taken by me, except for the spa one (didn’t want to take my camera there). This post was written in collaboration with the Bachmair Weissach hotel, but all words and opinions are my own of course. If you would like to know more about the hotel or see more pictures you can visit their website or have a look at my Instagram stories of the weekend (in the Travel highlight).

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My visit to the Vipp Chimney House

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Last week I got the amazing opportunity to visit Copenhagen and stay in Vipp’s new 3rd hotel room designed by Studio David Thulstrup: The Chimney House.

This historical landmark, built in 1902, once was a water pumping station but has been entirely renovated into a cutting-edge, modern building equipped with Vipp products and curated art pieces, all while retaining the charm of the original architectural shell.

David Thulstrup, architect and founder of Studio David Thulstrup. about the project: “For me it was a dream architectural project, from the strong gestures of the building to the finest interior detailing. I was encouraged to make it edgy, and with that I wanted to add the personality, comfort and aesthetics of a private residence. I wanted people to feel at home.” 

I arrived late at night so it was already dark, but as soon as I opened the arch doors in steel-framed glass, I was blown of my socks. You can clearly recognise Vipp’s signature design language throughout the space and just like their products, which are known for quality and durability, you get the same feeling about the entire house as well. 

The downstairs area has a fully equipped Vipp kitchen in black, which was so nice to try out and my absolute dream kitchen. A large dining table (with their new leather dining chairs) next to the kitchen island  stands under the 8.5m heigh ceiling, which looks straight up to the Chimney. A sofa area with  the new Vipp sofa and a fully stocked design library next to it make for a perfect cozy evening spot.

Upstairs there are two bedrooms (you can see the master bedroom with the connected walk-in closet in the pictures) with a bathroom in the middle. The floors in the house are a mixture of wood and grey terrazzo, which is continued in the bathroom as well. I’m in love with the mixture of the terrazzo and the white bathroom furniture. Such a great combo !

I have visited the Vipp shelter a few years back as well, now I just need to see the Vipp Loft in person and then I have experienced all three of their exclusive design concepts.

This post was written in collaboration with Vipp, however all words and opinions are my own of course. You can read more about the Chimney House here, and find almost all the products that are photographed here.

 

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A relaxing weekend at Bachmair Weissach

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A relaxing weekend at Bachmair Weissach - via Coco Lapine Design blogA relaxing weekend at Bachmair Weissach - via Coco Lapine Design blogA relaxing weekend at Bachmair Weissach - via Coco Lapine Design blogA relaxing weekend at Bachmair Weissach - via Coco Lapine Design blogA relaxing weekend at Bachmair Weissach - via Coco Lapine Design blog

This weekend we had a little getaway to the beautiful Bachmair Weissach hotel at Tegernsee, just a short train ride away from Munich. The hotel is a century old family hotel originally built in 1862, which was returned to its former glory with original furniture and Bavarian authenticity combined with modern elements.

The hotel has a large Wellness and Spa area – the Mizu Onsen Spa – modelled after the Japanese culture of bathing where you can spend hours relaxing and escape the city and work routine. The hotel has a heated outdoor pool (see the last picture) which was very comfortable even in the colder spring temperatures we were having during our stay. The Spa includes two saunas, a hot steam room, a Japanase Onsen and many different resting areas where you can relax. On Monday we stayed at the Spa the entire day going from one area to the other.

On Sunday we explored the Tegernsee area on a (very photogenic) bike and managed to pedal all around the lake, which was a great day trip in beautiful surroundings. Afterwards we had dinner at the Mizu sushi bar where chef Kudo Chiori prepared us an array of small and delicious courses. I read that you can even do a sushi course there, which will be something for our next stay. The night before we had dinner at the ‘Stube’, where we had a variety of delicate Bavarian specialities with a modern interpretation.

The spa experience, combined with the surrounding nature and the variety of high quality food options made our stay unforgettable and I’m sure we will be returning soon.

Our accommodation was sponsored by the Bachmair Weissach hotel

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A visit to the Frama Studio Store

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A visit to the Frama Studio Store - via Coco Lapine Design blogA visit to the Frama Studio Store - via Coco Lapine Design blogA visit to the Frama Studio Store - via Coco Lapine Design blog A visit to the Frama Studio Store - via Coco Lapine Design blog A visit to the Frama Studio Store - via Coco Lapine Design blog

While I was in Copenhagen two weeks ago I passed by the Frama Studio Store, which is built inside an old pharmacy. The building and historic interior elements are absolutely gorgeous in itself. Combine this with the modern and contemporary Frama design pieces and you have an amazing showroom.

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Nobis Copenhagen

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Nobis Copenhagen - via Coco Lapine Design blogNobis Copenhagen - via Coco Lapine Design blogNobis Copenhagen - via Coco Lapine Design blog
Nobis Copenhagen - via Coco Lapine Design blog

A few days ago I traveled to Copenhagen and stayed at the beautiful Nobis hotel, which I blogged about here when it first opened a few months ago. If you follow me on Instagram you probably have seen some posts and stories passing by of this beautiful place.

The interior in the hotel (designed by Swedish architect Gert Wingårdh)  is a mixture of old and new. New surface materials (like marble and Dinesen wood) blend in seamlessly with the heritage elements of the building that are kept intact. The history of the building is combined perfectly with contemporary design pieces which creates a warm an genuine experience with attention to detail.

Their personal definition of luxury is a hotel that is elegant, comfortable, friendly and efficient, but without all the unnecessary excess and artificial service associated with traditional luxury hotels. I think they absolutely nailed this.

The hotel is right next to Tivoli Gardens and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum so after devouring my deliciously healthy breakfast at the Niels restaurant on the ground floor,  I went straight into the city and did some sightseeing and Christmas shopping all from within walking distance.

 

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Vipp Hotel

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Vipp Hotel - via Coco Lapine Design blog Vipp Hotel - via Coco Lapine Design blog Vipp Hotel - via Coco Lapine Design blog Vipp Hotel - via Coco Lapine Design blog

Danish Vipp just opened up a Vipp Hotel in Copenhagen. This is the second luxury getaway the brand has built after the Vipp shelter in the woods. Instead of offering many rooms in one location, they offer just one room at various locations. This beautiful Vipp loft – which I would love to visit by the way – serves as an opportunity to experience the Vipp philosophy of good design in places out of the ordinary.

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Visit to the Vipp shelter

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Visit to the Vipp shelter - cocolapinedesign.comVisit to the Vipp shelter - cocolapinedesign.comVisit to the Vipp shelter - cocolapinedesign.comVisit to the Vipp shelter - cocolapinedesign.com

I had seen pictures of the Vipp shelter ever since it was built and always wanted to visit this beautiful and modern cabin in the woods. On Monday I actually had the chance to see it with my own eyes (as you might have seen on my Instagram) and it was just everything that I had imagined and more.

The weather was so nice during our visit and with the glass panels on both (entire) sides of the shelter you really have the feeling of living in nature. The interior elements are carefully chosen to keep the focus on nature and everything you see in the shelter is Vipp. With the forest on one side, the lake on the other and glass panels in the ceiling to look at the stars at night, the shelter really is taking you back to nature (with the added comfort and style of course).

The pictures you see are taken by me during my visit, but you can see more pictures of the shelter and how it was built here.

 

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