New Design Hot Spot Buchbar In Antwerp

September 20, 2014 • Antwerp • Coffee

Design hot spot Buchbar in Antwerp photographed by Frederik Vercruysse

new places that i am desperate to visit as soon as i get wind of them keep popping up all over antwerp. i swear sometimes it feels like a conspiracy to try and lure me back to my hometown. but even though that’s not happening any time soon, i’m happy to add these shops, cafés and bars to my never-ending list of must-visits for whenever i’m in town. and right now, BUCHBAR is all the way on top.

just take a look at these gorgeous photos frederik vercruysse made of the interior. i love the simple design with pops of color – it feels modern but cozy at the same time. the combination of the plywood kitchen in the front and the racks of books in the next room make it feel kinda homey, don’t you think? i love when a space strikes just the right balance between design and personality.

it’s not all about the interior design though – the contents of this place are well worth the detour, too. coffee by antwerp roastery normo and a selection of books curated by the owner – who clearly has a very good eye for striking visual culture – should keep you happily entertained for a while.

all photos by FREDERIK VERCRUYSSE at INITIALS LA, design of buchbar by DRIES OTTEN

Coffee With Denham

August 15, 2014 • Amsterdam • Coffee • Style • Travel

i’ve always really liked dutch brand DENHAM. a couple of years ago i was fortunate enough to take a behind-the-scenes tour of their headquarters (a bit further down the prinsengracht) and interview their head designer. they have a really cool way of looking at fashion and denim – always rethinking denim heritage to modern classics with a twist.

so i already knew i love their designs, but i had no clue they were into coffee as well. around easter, i noticed a little denham boutique right down our street that i hadn’t seen before. it turned out to be denham’s showcase, service and coffee shop – strategically positioned to point shoppers and tourists the way to the denham men’s and women’s stores close-by.

we popped in for an espresso and a quick look around, and i fell hard for their ‘double dutch’ collaboration with amsterdam clothing boutique TENUE DE NIMES – a grey sweatshirt with a neat little scissor and stitch symbols print. if you have a denham jeans that needs repairing, this is also where you could have it fixed by one of the guys sitting behind the sewing machines in the shop window.

photos by stephanie duval