{favourite five: designer nina freudenberger}

There is no doubt that city living is eternally cosmopolitan and exquisitely chic, with energizing inspiration at every turn, and whether through the real-life catwalk on the sidewalks, the refined architecture, the flowing colors in paintings on the walls of art galleries or the sights and sounds of majestic opera houses, dreams of bringing the beauty and class of this world into one’s living space are only natural. Bustling cities mean small cozy quarters, and modern fashionistas often struggle with making the most of limited space in their urban settings.



New York-based architect and interior designer Nina Freudenberger knows that when it comes to urban dwellings, space is sparse, but that doesn’t mean that style should be compromised. Nina attended the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Architecture.



Shortly after, she moved to Manhattan to accept a position at the prestigious interior design firm, Kondylis Design, where she worked for four years as a senior designer, before leaving to begin her own company, Haus Interior. A stylish boutique shop and interior design service located in the trendy Nolita neighborhood, the company is a favourite home design destination of many, including fashion designer Zac Posen.





Nina’s talent for putting a modern spin on traditional spaces has won her the praise of industry experts, features in the glossy pages of every major design magazine from Elle Decor to House Beautiful, and the IFDA’s Rising Star award; she is also listed as one of Trad Home's 20 "New Traditional" designers.



Born in Munich, Nina loves sourcing pieces for her boutique from abroad, and finding young international designers to support. This week, she shares with us her:

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{top five favourite pieces of decor from around the world}

1. Giarimi Design, Sweden – love their beautiful etched glassware.

2. Nouvel Studio – speaking of glassware, we love carrying this collection from Mexico.

3. Brushes – the Institute for the Blind in Berlin employs 15 blind artisans to create these absolutely stunning, all natural brushes.

4. Airedelsur – from Argentina, their beautiful pieces are truly works of art.

5. Scent & Feel – physically located in Miami but made in Tunisia, these fouta "Turkish hammam" style towels are absolutely stunning, they feel great and look wonderful in the bathroom or on the beach.

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay

~ laily


{images: trad home; headshot of nina freudenberger from the designer}

{matchbook magazine}

. . . by now, you most likely will have heard about matchbook, a new online magazine that launched last week -- considered a field guide to a charmed life, it is filled with an enchanting mix of classics, letterpress and paris, and many other wonderful things and even more so, delighted to have been a tiny part {here} of the premier issue . . .

happy monday! hope your week is off to a perfect start,
xo

{p.s.} a fun checklist

{images from strikes our fancy & matchbook magazine}

{currently reading: lonny magazine}

. . . hello! an overcast thursday afternoon and how the week has flown, but bright days await, and even brighter dreams & plans . . . dashing out the door, but leaving you with a few favourites from the latest issue of lonny . . .

hope you're having a wonderful week,
xo

{images: photography by patrick cline for lonny magazine; via lynn via twitter}

{online magazine: fashion156}

. . . fun new London-based online magazine, fashion156, has new issues every 12 days and lovely, lovely editorials



{images: fashion156 discovered via lace & tea}

{sesame magazine + an interview}

Lately have been adoring all things Australian, including Sesame, an online fashion magazine from Melbourne that focuses on emerging talents in fashion, illustration, art and music . . .

“I think I’ve always been a bit of a magazine addict,” says Nadia Barbaro, [Sesame's founder]. “I have a ridiculous collection piling up around the house.” Sesame was born three years ago as a print magazine, but Barbaro was soon swayed by the Web. The heart of the site is, of course, Australian fashion, and twice a year, Barbaro plucks the best local designers, artists, and musicians to feature in gorgeous fashion spreads. “It’s pretty girly,” says Barbaro, “Doesn’t every girl want her own magazine?” -- excerpt: Jamie Cooke for Nylon magazine


Issue Seven has just been release and it's all interactivity and animation intermingled with dreamy stills, wood nymphs and rainbows . . . also fun was the chance to answer a few questions with Nadia, who is also a stylist and Sesame's talented creative director:

. . . and to be included in the magazine's Blogs We ♥ category along Lucy from The Design Files and the always fun and fashionable Susanna from Style Bubble; thanks so much to Nadia for being so cool despite my answers arriving nearly too late . . .

{view the new issue + read the interview}