I've always loved libraries. When I was a kid, I often spent my afternoons and during holidays even whole days in the reading room of our local library. I wasn't always reading Dostojevski or anything (in fact I've never read Dostojevski ;)), it was just that quiet atmosphere of being surrounded by books, papers and magazines that I liked so much. And the chocolate I smuggled in of course... I still think there's not much that beats some good reading while illegally eating chocolate!
Last week I visited a pretty special library, that made me at least as excited as I used to be in those illegal-chocolate-eating library times: Yvonne's jeu de paume library! When I visited her at her office here in Den Bosch (a pretty interesting former prison), I had the chance to flip through all the jeu de paume books she offers in her shop (which are a lot!). And I think I found my absolute favorite: the new Copenhagen Apartments book. In fact this last week I've been flipping through it at least once a day, and I'm still discovering new and inspiring things all the time. I'd say, if you've never bought one of these brilliant Japanese books before: start with this one! You'll be hooked immediately...
Btw: I saw about 10 of these nice chairs available at our local thrift shop, oh how I wanted to take a few home... They're so simple and elegant!
A nice part of 'reading' (all is in Japanese except for the names of the featured designers, which is at least something!) jeu de paume books is that the books function as little libraries themselves. A lot of the featured interiors inspire me to search for more information about the designers behind the interior and their work. For example the interior above is graphic designer Sofie Hannibal's house, while ceramicist Anne Black lives in the apartment pictured below. Seeing their great homes makes me want to learn more about the other things they make.
A new Danish designer that I discovered through this book is Maj Persdatter, who designs beautiful fabrics/wallhangings and not to forget lives in one of the coolest places ever (and then I mean éver! Oh, I know I'm starting to turn into this person that no one believes anymore when she says that! ;)).
On Maj's website you can find a lot of images of her work, I think it's absolutely beautiful!
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