Make things happen

My blog post for Interiors UK is live. I hope this helps a few of you who run a business...

Image via Pinterest

A glimpse from our weekend styling

We have recently received the most beautiful linen collection....

The kind of washed linen I have been searching for a while and finally found during my last trip in France...

At the moment,  François and I are going through the process of styling and shooting everything for the Summer brochure but I really wish I had a shop to show you everything...

Everything is so stunning, soft and tactile and I'm totally in love with the hues of dark grey, sky grey, blue grey and vintage pink we've received. 

Here is a glimpse of the kids linen apron in sky grey behind the handmade doll Pigmée...but there will be gorgeous aprons for adults too, linen scarves and bed linens for everybody. 

Be prepared to have your bedrooms moving onto the next level of gorgeousness :-)

Photo: François Kong | Styling: Karine Kong

Nous avons récemment reçu une magnifique collection en lin de linge pour la maison...Le genre de Lin lavé que je cherche depuis des années et que j'ai enfin trouvé lors de mon dernier voyage en France...

Pour l'instant,  François et moi sommes en train de tout shooter pour la  brochure de cet Eté mais qu'est ce que j'aimerais avoir un magasin pour tout vous montrer...

Tout est si beau, sublime, doux, tactile....du pur bonheur et je suis complétement dingue des couleurs que nous avons reçues: gris foncé, gris couleur ciel, bleus gris, un rose à l'ancienne...

Voici un petit aperçu du tablier en lin pour enfant caché derriere la jolie poupée Pigmée mais il y a aussi de beaux tabliers pour les grands, des écharpes en lin et de magnifiques housses de couette. 

Préparez-vous à ce que vos chambres passent à l'étape chambre canon :-)

Spring is SO around the corner

Last night we came back from a wonderful week of skiing. The snow was fab, the weather was very sunny and we all look like pandas now but I'm feeling incredibly energized and while I was away, the blog was listed Top 10 French Inspired Style & Design blogs by Stacey Lindsay, a correspondent for Remodelista
This morning, I'm going to pop in the office to pick up some of the gorgeous linens we received and have an inspiring styling/shooting day with François. 


Amazing how just one yellow item makes you crave for Spring. I so want a yellow pair of trousers! 
Have a wonderful Sunday!

1. Marjon Vorstin 2. Weekday Carnival (Batgirl print from here) 3. Via Sarah Klassen

4000 dans = 20% OFF ♥♥♥

That's it, we've reached 4000 fans! Thank you so much for your support, for your messages, for interacting with us. It's really cool and I love it
As promised to celebrate this, we are offering an exclusive 20% OFF* on everything at BODIE and FOU including sample sale and clearances for a day. 
So Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend! It's half-term so we're off skiing for a week 


*Offer ends on Saturday 18/02/2012 at midnight

Our home in London {the Koushi lamp}

About two years ago, I fell madly in love with the Koushi lamp which was on display at concept store MERCI in Paris. The Koushi lamp was designed by Mark Eden Schooley, who is not only a talented designer but an inspiring photographer.
By the time I came back to Paris a few months later, all the Koushis had gone from MERCI. 
I tried to source it to add them onto our collection of lighting on BODIE and FOU but got nowhere. 
I contacted Ay Illuminate in the Netherlands as they produced a very similar lamp designed by Nelson Sepudelva but it turns out that these lamps were too fragile for mail order. 
I couldn't find it anywhere in the UK and in the end, I managed to find some at Serendipity, another nice concept store for kids in Paris. Unfortunately, the size I wanted, had to be made to order and after two years of searching high and low, in the end I decided to make our own.

Steve made the frame and I sewed a light and beautiful fabric onto the wire frame. Out of respect for the designer, I will not reveal how we made it. It was not that easy to get the frame a nice rounded shape and ours is probably not as nicely finished as the real deal but it fits perfectly with the master plan I have in mind in our lounge....which is almost reaching goal...Waiting for a Paola Navone sofa (which I will not make) and all our lounge will finally be finished.


PS: The STAR window sticker is from Brume, the Feathers art print on the wall from here,  the pallet table was one of my DIY projects

Photo 1: François Kong | Photo 2: VT Woven | Photo 3: Pinterest

SS/12 BODIE and FOU brochure - sneak peek

Here is a sneak-peek of the forthcoming the SS/12 BODIE and FOU brochure (you can request the current Winter catalogue or a copy of the forthcoming one here).
I'm so excited by our new collection and I really can't wait to show you the rest of what we have coming for this summer. I think the BAU pendant light below is stunning and although the Familia mugs are not new, I've always loved their organic shape.
During my last trip to France, I finally found THE collection of gorgeous and soft bed linens in washed linen I have been looking for years and also some beautiful bed linens with stars for children...just magical! We're planning to shoot them in 2 weeks once we have received some stock and samples.
When it comes to styling, I have to say, I'm hugely enjoying the creative process. I still have a lot to learn to become a great stylist. I'm....(for the time being)....pathetically slow and thanks god, I'm not paid by the hour to do this but I'm having a ball.
The only thing is that now I have to undo each shot each week, to move onto the next one, unlike this workspace shot that I styled in my mum's home and that I can see behind her each time I skype her :-)
Have a great day. Tomorrow I will post a picture of the handmade Koushi lamp I made.

Photo: François Kong | Styling: Karine Kong

BAU pendant light | Familia mugs | ceramic cross | masking tapes | Rose scented candle | owl vase

Voici un petit apercu de la brochure Printemps/Eté de BODIE and FOU (vous pouvez demander le catalogue Hiver ou une copie du prochain ici).

J'adore notre nouvelle collection et il me tarde vraiment de vous trouver toutes le sbelles choses que nous avons trouvé pour cet Eté. Je trouve que cette suspension BAU en photo ci-dessous est magnifique et bien que les mugs Familia ne sont pas nouvelles, j'ai toujours beaucoup aimé leur forme organique.

Lors de mon dernier voyage en France, j'ai enfin trouvé LA collection de lin que je recherchais depuis des années ainsi que de tres jolies couettes pour les enfants avec des étoiles...elles sont magiques! Nous avons prévu de les shooter dans 2 semaines une fois que nous aurons recu les stocks et échantillons. 

Quand il s'agit de mettre en scene des photos, je dois dire, que j'adore vraiment le processus créatif. J'ai encore beaucoup de choses a apprendre pour etre une excellente styliste photo. Je suis...(pour l'instant) méga lente et heureusement que je ne suis pas payé a l'heure pour faire cela mais en attendant je m'éclate.

Le seul point négatif est que maintenant je dois démonter chaque mise-en-scene afin de laisser place a la prochaine. Alors que cet espace de travail que j'avais crée dans la maison de mes parents pour le premier catalogue, trone toujours au mur puisque je le vois derriere ma mere a chaque fois que l'on se skype. :-)

Passez une bonne journée. Demain, je mettrais une photo de la lampe Koushi que j'ai réalisé.

In the shop this week: the iconic ball chair

I'm a huge fan of these ball chairs! We have had one these in black and white at home for the past 5 years and they have been regularly moved from Mila's bedroom to our lounge and while I gave the black to a friend, the white one is now sitting in our 'recently refurbished' kiwi-inspired garden.
Once our back garden is completely finished, a few of these ball chairs and the matching slide coffee table will look simple and contemporary, the way I like it.
Last year, Meg Matthews bought the fuschia ball chair for her home. 


I felt really inspired by the new soft pink ball chair which will look amazing in a nursery or a girl's bedroom (see pink pink you stink moodboard) while the turquoise, yellow and fuschia ball chair are right on trend to create a gorgeous West coast style at home.

Pink, pink you stink

I was working on a post for the Ball chairs but I felt really inspired by the new soft pink ball chair which is really pretty. 
I'm usually not a fan of pink (she says, sporting bright pink fluo nail varnish)...I think what bothers me the most about pink is the label attached to it (i.e. pink is for girls and blue is for boys) so I regularly revolt against this but as I'm starting to long for baby no 2, it's cold outside, my back is hurting and I have been in a right mood for the past week, today I'm craving for some softness, cuddles from my child and soft hues of pink and grey for a nursery.

Doudou ABC poster | Tutu | Miss Lilac soft toy | Pigmée garland | Pigmee handmade doll | Family tree print (on the wallpaper) | Penguin wallpaper | Soft pink ball chair | Rabbit lamp | Birds on a wire blind

In MILK Decoration no 5, you'll find....

In the MILK Decoration No 5 which will be back in stock at the end of February, you will find gorgeous family portraits like this one which is about the Jeffcot family. 
Natalie, Nick and their son Arthur live in the north of Melbourne in Australia and have created a fun, little bit kitch but happy family home. As they run the fabulous Arthur's Circus, an online shop dedicated to vintage toys, their home is very much inspired by the old toys they regularly find during their family outings.

Natalie is also a great photographer! You can see her work here
All the PAUMES Books will also back in stock at the end of Feb' Enjoy!

Dans le MILK Decoration No 5 qui sera de nouveau en stock a la fin du mois de Fevrier, vous trouverez des supers portraits de famille comme la famille Jeffcot.

Natalie, Nick et leur fils Arthur vivent au nord de Melbourne en Australie et ont crées ensemble une maison fun, un peu kitch mais joyeuse. Comme le couple est derriere le fabuleux magasin en ligne Arthur's Circus, qui est dédié aux jouets rétros, leur maison est fortement inspirée par tous ces vieux jouets qu'ils nichent.

Natalie est aussi une super photographe! Vous pouvez voir son travail ici
Tous les livres de PAUMES seront également en stock a la fin du mois de Février. 

Facebook Weekend Offer: get 25% OFF...

I'm loving this House Doctor DK shot...so yummy... and our inspiration for our first Facebook Weekend Offer

This weekend, you can get an exclusive 25% OFF on House Doctor DK delicatessen range.

Wishing you a nice weekend ♥

* Offer applies to jars of pesto and tapenade, while stock lasts. Offer ends on Monday 13/02/2012

A last glance on Winter time

Yesterday I spent the day styling our next SS2012 BODIE and FOU brochure working with hues of blue, natural wood and linen which was very inspiring. Yet...in the evening, it started to snow outside. So while I can't wait for Spring to arrive, this afternoon I fell in love and inspired by this collection of moody autum shots Blue Colette is collecting on her tumblr. Isn't this gorgeous!?

In the shop this week: Finland Children rooms by Editions PAUMES

Last October, we announced the launch of Tokyo Home Ateliers which is delightful and very unique.
This month, I'm very excited because they've finally released a new book on Children's room which like all the others is filled with creative ideas, colours and heaps of personality. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Family Style series (Family Style in London, Paris Family Style), the workspace ones and all the kids ones.
Finland Children's rooms will be available at the end of February and the rest of the collection too so you can pre-order them now if you wish

This is how it works

♥♥♥ Facebook love

Wow...we've reached 3845 fans today ♥♥♥ Thank you very much for all your support. 
Aurora was telling me that when she joined our little team in April last year, we had about 800 fans, Such a nice growth for a small business like us. I used to love the interaction on Twitter but since we launched our Facebook page, I much prefer the interaction on Facebook, at least we can share images and I love being able to connect with everyone on Facebook plus I made some many nice friends as well, it's definitively worth it!
So 155 fans to go and we will offer 20% OFF to everyone on everything at BODIE and FOU when we reach 4000 fans! Have a great day

Handmade garland by Pigmée | Shanna Murray wall sticker | Handmade doll by Pigmée

Behind-the-scenes of a busy weekend

We had a busy but fulfilling weekend...
On Saturday, Mila & I managed a trip to Ikea in less than 1 hour 30 and her bedroom is now sorted with cute storage boxes (photos next week) and came back home just before the snow started to cover beautifully the streets of London. On Sunday, we all went for a long walk in the park early morning before everybody else arrive to make the most of the snow. Afterwards, Steve and Mila went to the cinema while François and I started shooting some nice summery shots for the BODIE and FOU SS2012 and BODIE and FOU Kids.

Someone on Facebook was telling me how nice it was of Mila to pose for me taking a picture while François was doing some tests....Not quite, she was not looking at me, she was trying to watch FREE WILLY which was on TV ;-)

Bat print from here
Tutu from there (I love the frills of these tutus, they are wonderful!)

Little DIY project: magic decals to personalise jars

While the streets of London are covered with snow, we are shooting the first images of our Spring/Summer catalogue in a corner of my kitchen which seems a bit odd but necessary to be able to release it in May and so far so good... I really love the Summer vibes of these first shots and the new BAU pendant light is beautiful!
During our lunch break, I discovered this fabulous tutorial by Kristine from  The Painted Hive to make labels on Ikea jars. She is the queen of decals tutorials because this other one she posted earlier looks equally fab so if you're stuck at home today, I think it's something you may enjoy reading to do it some other time. Have a great sunday

Click here to read the instructions

Happy thoughts for the weekend...

This has been an exciting week for us! After spending a month putting to bed 2011, we have now kicked off the work on our 2012 collection and our Summer catalogue and I'm feeling really inspired by all the new, gorgeous things you will have this year. 

The next batch of Ball chairs (stock arriving next week) will get featured in Living Etc, The Times and a few others cool interior magazines and although I know I had at some point said that I was not keen on pink, the new Ball chair in soft pink is, as Mila would say, just delicious!

We've also received a big delivery of MT masking tapes which Sophie is busy adding to the site and they should all be live by Monday (think fluo, bright yellow and orange....we're onto a colourful Summer!).

Our beloved Batgirl print & Feather print should be back in stock next week.

On the family front, I'm taking the minx to Ikea tonight to get some white boxes for her bedroom and achieve THAT level of organization. She wants another, bigger Pigmée doll in her bedroom so we are currently negotiating her room being tidy for more than a weekend Vs the new Pigmée doll...

Have a great weekend!

Parma Lilac

This is the calming, minimalist home of Interior Designer of Janie Jackson, who has turned her Notting Hill home into a showroom for her online shop Parma Lilac (one of my favourite online stores)
In a few seconds of madness a few years ago, I thought we ought to do the same with BODIE and FOU :-) I liked the idea of having people around....Steve not so much....not that he doesn't enjoy having people around but having gone through the first year of trading, operating the business from home and having all our stock in every single room of our flat, by the time we moved the business into a warehouse a year later, there was no going back EVER to mixing work and family life to that extend...except when we are shooting our catalogue and talking of which, we've started working on the Summer one so if you wish to receive a copy, click here or follow our progress on facebook