Category Archives: General living and fun stuff

Great photography sells a home!


In an older post I already touched the subject; how good photography sells a house. Or rather, how bad photography doesn’t! People hunting for homes usually look online first. The very first thing they see of a potential home is a picture. If that picture doesn’t immediately grab their attention, chances of them buying the house are slim. I have a hard time understanding realtors who don’t live up to this golden rule. Why would a rule that applies to groceries, cars, clothes etc not apply to what might very well be the most expensive purchase ever?

Somebody who understands this is Dennis van Duijn of O Kijk! Panografie. He specializes in panoramic photography, and puts his talents to use for presentations of homes for sale as well as museums, restaurants and hotels. A recent project he shot, a houseboat in Rotterdam, sold  within a matter of weeks after it was put on the market. I am pretty sure the presentation had something to do with it. The price, a friendly € 315.000,- might have had something to do with it too; but that’s Rotterdam for you! A similar boat in Amsterdam would have set you back an easy €150.000 more.

Nate Berkus’ show canceled


Bad news for fans of pretty guys and interior decorating. The Nate Berkus show is no more. Or, will be no more as Sony and Harpo decided to pull the plug on it. This was announced just before the new year, just after my post about Nate’s own home.

Nate got his lucky break as a regular guest advising on home decorating on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Fuchsia felt flower pillow by Cushlab


Remember my post about Anthropologie? Imagine my surprise when Sinterklaas brought me the Pansy Petite Vase this year! I love the massive yet frail ceramic flower on it. It reminds me a bit of a the famous Carrie Bradshaw corsage. In the November issue of 25 Beautiful Homes I saw a great pillow with felt fuchsia flowers to complement the look. Maybe I should treat myself….

Pansy Petite Vase Anthropologie

Fuchsia and Yellow felt cushion by Cushlab (sorry for poor image)

Sculpted china fish; Shoal chandelier


This truly magnificent chandelier is crafted from bone china fish. They ´swim´ around a beam of light. Designed by Dominic Bromley of Scabetti and a steal at around $5.000….

Shoal chandelier