mother's day muse: valeria vasi
Spain
On this Mother's Day, we celebrate all the amazing moms who have found a way to balance their careers with their roles as mothers. We honor their dedication, creativity, and hard work, both in the workplace and at home, and we thank them for all they do to make the world a more beautiful place. Here's to all the moms who are using their talents to create stunning works of art, while also raising the next generation of honest souls! Please find our lovely interview with Valeria Vasi. Her pieces express the inspiration taken from design and art but they also convey the importance of finding the perfect balance of artistic expression, utility and functionality.
Presenting the Achioté Project in Costa Rica - Interview with architect Dagmar Štěpánová
Costa Rica
Sustainability, exclusivity and uniqueness – just three words that can be applied to Formafatal’s new project in the Costa Rican jungle. For those who dream of a tropical getaway but prefer to avoid the luxury resorts, the Achioté villas are the perfect choice: lush surroundings, magfinicent ocean views, and carefully thought out design and concept. Behind the pair of the villas we found Formafatal Studio, a Costa Rica and Czech Republic-based architectural studio, founded by Dagmar Štěpánová. In the past few years her designs gained a great recognition in the international design media, and there is nothing surprising in that.
Interview with Ebonie Bohlin from Maison de Base
Clay walls, rustic pottery, linen and wool materials. Looking at @maisondebase Instagram page, we could almost smell the unmistakable odor of an old cottage house in the Mediterranean countryside. The senses get even more activated when we check their Youtube channel, where the singing of the birds and the sound of the balmy wind can also be heard. Behind the project, we find a lovely couple, Ebonie and Martin, who left their fashion industry background and busy city life behind, in order to live in a more simple way. They started by restoring an abandoned farm and building a house using only natural materials in Portugal for 2,5 years. After that they found their new project and home in Italy’s Puglia region: an old house that is still under their renovation.
she she Retreats: Contemporary wellbeing for Her in 2023
Spain
Nature heals and so are connectivity, inner peace, rituals, movement, nourishment, creativity or even adventure. If you are seeking for such experiences in one place, look no further — she she retreats may offer it all. "Our retreats offer daily movement, delicious food, art workshops, essential oils and time for relaxation, without a strict schedule or enforced detoxing - because we know that many women arrive on our retreats needing a break from their demanding professional and personal lives. Both of us like to live well and enjoy daily pleasures - like a glass of organic wine or fresh baked sweets - and so we want our retreat guests to feel right at home with us, that they can really let their hair down and indulge in a magical retreat experience." This year's been different for obvious reasons, yet developing healthy routines to support our own wellbeing has become top priority. Join one of the she she retreats in 2023. The retreats are for her, who seeks adventure. And if you've been wondering too, we've asked Albertine and Steph, the lovely founders to explain; who is she? Read on!
Casa Balandra: Experiential Guest House
Spain
Casa Balandra is a creative residency & guest house on the island of Mallorca. A space to share, create and celebrate conviviality. The place where you can hide and rejuvenate find your inner balance and dig into your childhood memories. Our team really wish to enjoy the summer breeze here, but until then we had a chance to make a lovely interview with Isabella.
Discover Basel during Art Basel 2021
Switzerland
Basel is commonly considered to be the cultural capital of Switzerland; it is home to 37 museums, an impressive number for a city of its size. Just a couple of days in prior to Art Basel the anticipation is rising: artworks are arriving in droves, gallerists are packing their suitcases, and the booth walls are up in Herzog & de Meuron's impressive building. Art Basel’s 2021 Swiss edition promises to be a memorable reunion for the art industry. Basel has it all not only for the art-savvy; it's urban and green at the same time, vibrant and family-friendly, innovative and traditional. Strolling through the picturesque old town, admiring world-renowned works of art, shopping in the pedestrian area, the city has its own blend of high-quality life. Besides visiting Art Basel, don't forget to look up from time to time, the city if filled with star architects' buildings. Welcome to Basel, let our ambassador, Sydney show you around!
Special Tokyo guide by Julianna
Japan
During the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 — besides following the Games — a part of our digital playtime was browsing Tokyo’s hotspots thanks to the wonderful Local’s Lore community. Never having been to Japan, finding Julianna who worked as a volunteer at the Games was a pure bliss. Especially so, as there were only two non-Japanese volunteers working at the Tokyo Olympics. One of the lucky ones is a 24-year-old Hungarian student, Julianna Molnar. She studies art history at the Japanese capital’s Ochanomizu University and had initially come to Japan because she is very interested in contemporary Japanese art and culture. We sat down with Julianna to talk about her experiences at the Games, life in Tokyo and her 10+1 must-visit-spots in the city…
Experience Tokyo with Mai Shiratori
Japan
All eyes on Tokyo. Around 5000 to 6000 athletes from more than 200 nations were to join the parade in Tokyo today as the official kick off of the Olympic Games. Tokyo is everything you can ask of a city to be; it’s a place where you can experience past and future coexisting next to each other. You will find centuries-old forms of performing arts still play on stages, yet just a few corners away public artworks picturing anime robots. Its traditional culture and passion for new is nothing but unique in its own right. On the occasion of the upcoming games we’ve asked Mai Shiratori writer and trend researcher to take us around in Tokyo after the pandemic. The guide includes tranquil cafés and tea houses, hidden restaurants and stores filled with artisanal craft goods. Discover Tokyo with Mai!
Travel Photographer Muse: Interview with Lavinia Cernau
Do you have the feeling that some photographers can capture the deepest desires of the soul? We have this thing with Lavinia's imagery. They make us feel like we are standing right in the sunset light by the sea, wild and free. In her photography, she is embracing the essence of summer; the sun-drenched streets, the saltiness of our naked skin, the eternal lightness of holidays by the beach. While scrolling her Instagram feed, the one thing you wish for is being her muse; the "sunset seeker" in her perfectly composed photographs. Lavinia Cernau is a travel, fashion and lifestyle photographer based out of Transylvania, Romania, with an unquenchable thirst for the Mediterranean. Lavinia’s visual perspective seamlessly brings together color, light and narrative. Her work is invariably imbued with a sense of nostalgic freedom and summer sensuality in candid scenes where her subjects feel honest and at ease. Read on for hear thoughts on traveling and literally heart-warming visual imagery.
Take us to Venice, CA - Interview with Alyssa Ponticello
United States
Guys, meet Alyssa, a formerly LA, now Venice based content creator, storyteller, photographer and the founder and editor of Runway Chef! We had the pleasure to interview Alyssa about her passion; cooking, which she calls a second language of her and her favourite hotspots around Venice and LA. Alyssa believes that food and fashion play integral intertwining parts in creating a beautiful and balanced life. She believes in things that are easy and undone, rustic yet clean, achievable yet luxe, stress-free yet inspiring, humorous yet real. She believes in living a life well loved. Get a glance to her life in Venice, CA and prepare to have serious travel and food cravings!
Own way of Inspiration: Interview with Simon Schmidt
United Kingdom
In the midst of the overwhelming world of social media, there are still quite a few true treasures to find and Simon Schmidt is definitely one of them. Every project he approaches or caption he puts out there makes Instagram a better place. We couldn't wait to have a conversation about his creative processes, living in London and the importance of global union, especially in these challenging times. Simon is a German-born media curator and director based in London with a skill-set ranging from photography, styling to graphic design. Simon is hugely passionate about using social media as a voice to elevate conversation and evoke a narrative that represents the psyche of the young generation. Read on, every word is golden.
Summer Escape with Hannah Gabrielle More
Sri Lanka
We invite you to sit back and enjoy the journey through the lenses of Hannah Gabrielle More, a travel and interiors photographer based in London. Hannah's photography is not only beautiful, but her signature earthy tones and minimal compositions are just as calming for the eye as they're for the soul; they make us want to live in the world she is capturing. We've talked about her recent trips to Tokyo and Sri Lanka and also about living in London and her favourite hotspots in the city. "I shoot a lot of interior portfolio’s when I’m in London, which means I get to explore different neighbourhoods, so it’s nice to play tourist in a new area for the day and means I can stay inspired by the things on my doorstep. I feel most inspired when exploring new places so find travelling affects my practice more than anything else but as much as I love leaving London, I always love returning home." Hannah’s also in the midst of building THIS IS ELSEWHERE, an online journal featuring design-led hideaways and launching her own print collection of dreamy places. Enjoy this sweet summer escape with Hannah!
Cape Verde Photo Journal: Aylaan Moodysson
Cape Verde
Thanks to our friend and photographer muse; Aylaan Moodysson, we've been taken to the untouched island of ocean blues, wind and sodade; Cape Verde. Sodade or saudade, is a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for an absent something or someone that one cares for and/or loves. "Cape Verde really is a place that rewards doing some research upfront. The islands are fairly diverse, and I think each of them has its own sweet spot." Are you ready to escape and switch the urban vibes for breathtaking natural landscapes? Take a closer look at Aylaan's personal photo diary she took in Cape Verde just before the pandemic.
Dreaming of Australian Summer with St. Agni
Australia
As summer is approaching, we've interviewed the St. Agni team behind our favourite handmade loafers and linen clothing. Founded in the coastal town of Byron Bay, Australia in 2014 by Lara & Matt Fells, St. Agni is a luxury lifestyle brand built from humble beginnings. The Label was created with a vision to create functional, refined, quality pieces that Lara couldn’t seem to find elsewhere. Before the item is considered comes the concept and the feel of the collection. "In another life Lara would have been an Architect – Architecture and Art inspire St. Agni designs and surface time and time again in the initial concept. The company lives by their “Less is more” philosophy and practise this across all aspects of their business in an effort to avoid excess of any kind." The Company cherish the handmade process, the art and creation that goes into each pair and the personal element involved. Let's celebrate this thoughtful approach fashion!
Enter The Loft
Netherlands
After quarantining for months, no matter how big or small, yet our living spaces - our homes, have become inevitably a forefront topic. While searching for inspiration we've stumbled upon The Loft - Amsterdam's beloved interior design agency. The Loft prides with one single passion; seeing spaces work their magic on people. They bring spaces to life by decorating them with all their favourite finds in the field of furniture, arts, accessories and curiosa. Their passionate team searches the globe for the most talented artists and craftsmen and bring you their finest creations. They create atmospheres where people feel comfortable and at home, by combining natural materials with soft colours and characteristic furnishing with inspiring accessories. We've talked about Amsterdam, future dreams and their latest residential project which is impossible not to fall in love with; The Dune House. Read on for Sara's and Floris' recommendations in Amsterdam and beyond that are close to their hearts.
Insider’s City Guide to Thessaloniki & Beyond
Greece
The museums of Thessaloniki are a great opportunity to take a peek into the city’s long and rich history. For the classics, visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture, the White Tower or the Roman Agora of Thessaloniki. For a look into the city’s art scene, visit the Municipal Art Gallery located in the preserved, Casa Bianca or MOMus - Thessaloniki Museum of Photography.
Mother's Day Muse: Louisa Chalatashvili
Georgia
To celebrate Mother's Day, we interviewed our long-time muse; Louisa Chalatashvili about motherhood, the most kid-friendly spots in Tbilisi, her most inspiring travels and her passion for photography. It’s no secret that Louisa is one of our favourite photographers and more than that; a real muse, a mother and our ambassador for Tbilisi. Formerly lawyer by profession, Louisa turned her passion, photography into her full-time job. What we find amazing in Louisa’s photography and her aesthetic approach is that the energy and vibe of the new-wave Georgia shines through. The way she plays with subtle tones, harmony and magical lights is impeccable. She’s showing the new face of Georgia and Tbilisi; hip hotspots, its breathtaking nature and the striving creative scene. On a personal note, Georgia is a country where you can experience the sea, mountains, and culture in one trip but also the kindest of people and a real gastronomic treat. Speaking of gastronomy, Louisa and her husband are running a super cool restaurant called Cafe Daphna that prides with homemade 100% organic Chacha and artisan Khinkali variations. Enjoy the virtual journey to Tbilisi with Louisa!
Life-Long Island Dreams with Vianca Soleil
Philippines
Have you ever wondered what it is like to live on an untouched island; a place where you have your own secluded beach, palm trees in your garden and collecting seashells becomes your daily zen moment? We've asked Local's Lore muse and ambassador, Vianca Soleil about her life-long dream; calling Romblon her home. Vianca Soleil Roquero, the creative soul behind one of our favorite Instagram accounts, lives a true island life in Romblon, Philippines. We also talked about her current favorite project which is overseeing the construction of her home she designed, both in terms of architecture and interior. Yet it’s not only a home being built, but also a lifestyle. A lifestyle that is slow and humble filled with creativity and simple pleasures. A lifestyle worth living. PS the rumour has it that Vianca is soon turning her home into an authentic eco resort, so you may as well experience her lifestyle if you’re seeking for a true escape in the land of no crowds and no distractions but in the realm of untouched nature.
Mexico City's NR. 1. Destination for Design Lovers: Studio IMA
Mexico
What does being driven mean to you? How would you describe someone passionate? We’d use two words; Bettina Kiehnle. Bettina is the superwoman behind the Mexico City based hybrid design & art space called Studio IMA. She dedicated herself to visiting millions of shops, showrooms, vintage markets, galleries, art and design fairs and museums; also buying magazines and books on design, architecture and art to study more on these topics in prior to launching IMA. “Where I went or traveled I looked for the best designer stores and visited and analyzed them, and that's how the IMA inspiration started.” After graduation she moved back to Mexico and rented an apartment to live, and in a few months this apartment also became IMA in August 2018. This is what IMA stands for “In My Apartment," because IMA is really in her apartment.
Antwerp Diaries with Ellen Wauters
Belgium
For the Local's Lore community there is nothing new about our love towards the city of Antwerp, nor for design, secret hotspots and passionate like-minded superwomen, like Ellen Wauters. Let us introduce our latest local love-concept; Jackie Bohème and the visionary woman behind it. Jackie Bohème was founded by Ellen Wauters and tells her unique real estate story. She combines her intuitive and mindful power into real estate concepts that feel good and awake positive energy. You can engage in Jackie’s aesthetic adventure by booking a getaway in L’appartement Jackie, or by welcoming your guests for an event or stylish gathering in Maison Jackie. Both locations were curated by Jackie and her circle of designers who got to work their magic on the spaces. Want to add a little bit of Jackie to your everyday rituals? Then take a look at our Atelier Jackie webshop, a refined selection of items that embody the Jackie Bohème lifestyle. For your home, your wardrobe or on the go. Even if the "on the go" has to wait.