Our new offices...simply gorgeous!

What a week! 
Last week was pretty busy in Paris but this one is not doing too bad either ! :-)
We finally moved to our new offices on Monday (I LOVE THEM!!) and we all have been busy unpacking far too many boxes to set up our offices as quickly as possible but I'm glad to say that we are now back to normal.
Our packing team started dispatching orders yesterday again and the backlog will be cleared by the end of day today providing things you ordered are in stock. Talking of which, all these items are now back in stock: UP print, Pirum Parum print, ABC poster byGraziela, Circus print, the Rabbit lamp and the clip on light.
We also have a photoshoot scheduled with Curio magazine & Francois mid-Feb so I think our showroom will be open to the public shortly after that but I'll let you know nearer the time. Have a great weekend!
PS: And thanks to VosgesParis for her gorgeous black star (last image), it looks just perfect in our new offices!

BODIE and FOU Showroom | Styling & Photography Studio
231 The Vale Acton, Second floor, London W3 7QS
Tel: +208 450 5600 | thegirls@bodieandfou.com | www.bodieandfou.com 

What a

LIFE, WISDOM & INSPIRATION

Here is a list of 42 lessons life taught to Regina Brett, an American author. It was too good to not share it. Have a great weekend!

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it..

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. 

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...

14 Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

15. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

16. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

17. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

21. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

22. The most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

25. Always choose life.

26. Forgive but don’t forget. 

27. What other people think of you is none of your business. 

28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does...

31. Believe in miracles.

32. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

33. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

34. Your children get only one childhood.

35. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

36. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

37. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

38. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

39. The best is yet to come...

40. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

41. Yield.

42. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Let me show you Maison & Objet in Paris Part 2

One inspiration room I really enjoyed at Maison & Objet was "Nourritures Premieres" - an exhibition gathering beautiful, natural objects...wooden chopping boards, handmade wooden stool, stonewashed linens, art made from shells, woollen baby blankets and this beautiful, yellow linen throw (last image) which will be part of the BODIE and FOU Spring Summer collection (in stock next week).
Today is my last "free day" in Paris as I'm attending another trade show on Saturday so I'm gonna go & check out my favourite shops. Just follow me on Instagram if you want to come with me...
Bises

My home in ELLE DECORATION UK | Fresh thinking

Well...Feb has been a great month PR wise....
First there was this interview on interior trends 2013 in RED magazine and today I received the pdf of my home, featured in ELLE DECORATION (Feb issue out now). I think the same photos got also published in a Danish or Norwegian magazine but I lost track (maybe BOLIG).
I know some of you are already familiar with my home after seeing it in MILK magazine but lots of new people joined us, I've added a few links at the end of the post to some of the products featured on the photos.

Lounge: The white sofa is the Ghost sofa by Paola Navone (one of my favourite designers along with Jacqueline Morabito).
You can read about the Koushi pendant light I made for my lounge here and the pallet table here. The paper bag with typo is from concept store MERCI in Paris and the big floor lamp used to be available here.
The white ball chair in front of my B&W moodboard is from here and I used japanese masking tapes to stick family photos on our wall - it's very simple and won't leave marks on your wall like blue tack.
Lounge: The table is from Habitat, green chairs from Ikea and the wooden stool from BODIE and FOU. Our tableware is by Vera Wong from the "naturals' collection and cutlery is vintage silver.
In the room next to our lounge: The blue chair & white cupboards are vintage finds and I got the lovely basket from a beautiful Deli that has now closed down (which is a real shame because I loved working from there).
In the bedroom: the white lamp is an old model from Habitat purchased 10 years ago and the bedroom was there when we moved in but it was yellow with real dark floorboards so while Steve sanded the floorboards, I painted the bedroom in white and the wall behind our bed in Pavillion grey by Farrow & Ball.
The big vintage mirror was a gift from my sister 20 years ago. I picked up the Sweet Dreams letters in New-Zealand and we will soon have a wooden rosary similar to the one I have at home in our collection.
Wishing you a fab day!

Batgirl print | White Paulistano chair | Ghost sofa by Paola Navone | Wooden pendant light in kitchen | Typed love print | stonewashed white & grey duvet cover & pillows in bedroom

Photography by Michael Paul | Styling by Karine Kong

Let me show you Maison & Objet in Paris Part 1

I saw a lot of beautiful things at Maison & Objet early this week and I've taken so many photos that it would be virtually impossible for me to show them all to you on the blog but you can see most of them on Instagram.
Talking of which, I really want to thank all of you for your comments and interaction on Instagram. It is really wonderful for me to interact with so many of you and share my inspirations and discoveries in Paris. In the previous years (pre Instagram) if I was doing the show by myself, I would get super excited about something with no-one with me to understand my excitement. I can't tell you how annoying this was :-) But now it's amazing! I feel so many of you understand why I get so excited by things, it's really enjoyable :-)

I loved the Marie-Claire Maison cafe, which featured the Scrapwood wallpapers but what caught my attention was how they gloss-painted wooden picnic tables and I thought that could work too for our new offices (I quite fancy something light & airy....and white!)

 I saw some beautiful stands with amazing sofas and wooden tables...my executive desk in a few years once B&F has conquered the world ;-) Just kidding, I doubt we will ever became that 'corporate' but the furniture was beautifully made.

 I love this picture I took with my new iPhone 5. I was quite pleased with the B&W composition and the move from the woman walking...so there we go, a bit of self-appreciation

But my coup de coeur at NOW! Design was GUBI - a Danish company that you are likely to see soon on BODIE and FOU. These mirrors are circled by leather and are just superb!

Inspiring mood boards from M&O in Paris

Here is three inspiring mood boards I spotted at Maison & Objet yesterday. Beautiful aren't they!?
I love "Be the type of person you want to meet"...and it's only when I posted these images on the blog that I spotted what it says on the second one: "The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother"
Simple and loving...I think I'm gonna stick it on our fridge when I'm back in London, not that Steve doesn't do that already but I think it's a beautiful, gentle mantra to have at home...
Have a great day, I'm off to MERCI
PS: Can you spot our stools on the last one?

 Voici trois mood boards que j'ai photographié a Maison & Objet hier. Ils sont beaux n'est ce pas?!
J'adore "Soyez le genre de personne que vous souhaiteriez rencontrer" et c'est

seulement lorsque j'ai posté ces images sur le blog que je me suis apercu de ce qu'il y avait d'écrit sur la deuxième photo: "La chose la plus importante qu'un père puisse faire pour ses enfants est d'aimer leur mère."
Simple et plein d'amour. Je pense que je vais le mettre sur la porte de notre frigo quand je rentrerais à Londres - non pas que ce soit ce que Steve fasse déja mais je trouve que c'est un mantra beau et doux à avoir a la maison.
Je vous souhaite une bonne journée, je pars chez MERCI
PS: Est ce que vous avez vu notre tabouret sur la derniere photo?

Styling from the weekend | News from Paris

Actually I didn't style these rooms last weekend since I'm currently in Paris (you go follow my Parisian adventures on Instagram here) but it was still a weekend job for Francois & I and I can't wait for us to move into our new studios/showroom.

Apart from that, I'm having a great time in Paris. The Eiffel Tower under the snow was truly magical and I'm really pleased with the photos I took with my new iPhone 5 (I know I'm a total geek!).
Yesterday, was really exhausting at the show but very inspiring and I saw some really beautiful things and gorgeous B&W patterned wallpapers which I'm hoping to add to our new collection.
I'm going back today and I will work from the cafe at MERCI tomorrow so come and meet me if you're around (and if you're not a stalker!)

(C) Photography: François Kong Styling: Karine Kong

En fait, je n'ai pas fait le stylisme de ces photos le weekend dernier vu que je suis à Paris (vous pouvez suivre mes aventures parisiennes sur Instagram) mais Francois & moi avions quand même travaillé  le weekend pour photographier notre nouvelle collection de lin :-)
A part cela, tout se passe bien à Paris. La Tour Eiffel sous la neige était juste magnifique ce weekend et je suis fan de qualité des photos prises avec mon nouveau iPhone 5 (oui je suis une totale geek!)
Premieère journée hier à arpenter le salon Maison & Objet...je suis rentrée claquée mais j'ai vu de très belles choses, notamment de très beaux papiers peints en noir & blanc que j'aimerais beaucoup ajouter à notre nouvelle collection. 
Je retourne au salon aujourd'hui et demain je travaillerais du café de chez MERCI. A plus...

A Sunday in Paris

I'm in Paris for the week and this morning we took Mila & Lily to see the Eiffel Tower under the snow...What a visual treat!
You can see more of my photos on Instagram 
Have a warm, happy Sunday bises

4 ways to create storage in your bedroom

I dont know about you but since we came back from our Christmas break, I have been in a clearing kind of mood. 
I think it's a reaction to the TOO MUCH of everything at Christmas...too much food, too much toys, too much waste, too much clutter - and not enough exercise, not enough time for oneself.
At work we are sorted...we are moving to new offices so it's the perfect opportunity for us to clear our desks and cupboards to travel light and start fresh.
At home, it's a different story...
To start with, we're not moving but we also came back from Xmas with an insane amount of toys and other bits & pieces that  need to find some place so while I'm tackling my home, here is four ideas to create storage in your bedroom, the guest bedroom and the kids bedroom. 
Happy clearing & sorting!

1 | 2. Ikea Family Live | 3. Hotel Maison Pujol photographed by Manolo Yllera | 4. Trendland

In collaboration with Wren Kitchens - fitted bedrooms by Wren  | All opinions and layouts my own

Je ne sais pas si cela vous fait pareil mais depuis que nous sommes rentrés des vacances de Noel, je n'arrete pas de ranger et jeter... Je pense que c'est une reaction au contre-coup de Noel...trop de bouffe, trop de jouets, trop de gaspillage, trop de bazaar - et pas assez d'exercise et de temps pour moi.

Au travail, c'est réglé...on emménage dans de nouveaux bureaux donc nous en profitons pour faire le tri sur nos bureaux et dans les placards pour voyager léger et partir sur de nouvelles bases. 

A la maison, c'est autre chose...

D'abord on ne déménage pas et puis on est surtout revenus de France avec pleins de jouets et de cadeaux qui maintenant ont besoin de trouver leur place dans la maison donc pendant que je "Feng-Shui" ma maison, voici quatre solutions pour vous permettre d'aménager des espaces de rangement dans votre chambre, la chambre d'amis et celle des enfants.

4 of my styling ideas for our new offices....

Gee...we haven't moved in our new offices yet that we already have a photoshoot scheduled! Crazy!
Francois has been commissioned by Curio magazine to shoot our team and our new studio/showroom  in February and while it's totally manic at the moment, I feel there is nothing like a good deadline to get you (well me) cracking with the interior design of our new offices.
I have been compiling inspiring images of workspaces on Pinterest for a while now and here are the first 4 plans of actions I want to tackle to create an office environment that feels welcoming, nurturing and friendly:

1) Replace our old Ikea desks (sorry Swedish giant it's time to move on!) by 2 or 3 FORM tables for the team and line them up in a row to maximise the space and create a friendly environment,
2) Replace our dry-wipe board by a couple of blackboards to keep track of our deadlines and projects and pin inspiring mood boards,
3) Mix chic industrial furniture with contemporary designs and gorgeous prints like this Feathers print or the Batgirl print to achieve a look that reflects our brand ethos,
4) Use these clipboards to display the flatplan of our mail order catalogue, mood boards and 2013 priority projects (i.e. pop-up store, new catalogue, etc...)

1. FORM table from here | 2. Via | 3. Styling/Photography: Karine Kong | 4 Decorative clipboards from here

Wow...nous n'avons meme pas encore emménagé dans nos nouveaux bureaux que nous avons déja un photoshoot prévu! Dingue!

Francois a été commissioné par Curio magazine pour photographier notre équipe et notre studio en Février et bien qu'on est du boulot plein la planche en ce moment, je me dis qu'il n'y a rien de mieux qu'une petite deadline pour que je m'attaque a la déco de nos bureaux.

J'adore compiler des images inspirantes de bureaux sur Pinterest et voici les quatre premiers trucs auxquels je vais m'atteler pour créer un environnement de travail accueillant, relaxant et agréable: 

1) Remplacer nos vieux bureaux d'Ikea (désolé le géant Suédois mais il est temps de passer a autre chose!) par 2 ou 3 tables FORM pour l'équipe et les mettre en ligne afin de maximiser l'espace et créer un espace de travail sympa,

2) Remplacer nos tableaux blancs par des tableux noirs pour noter nos deadlines, projets et ajouter quelques photos inspirantes dans le mix,

3) Mélanger des meubles aux lignes industrielles avec du désign contemporain et mes illustrations préférées telles que l'affiche Feathers ou celle de la Batgirl pour créer un look qui nous ressemble et traduit les codes de notre concept store et de notre marque,

4) Utilisez ces clipboards pour afficher le chemin de fer de notre catalogue, mood boards et projets prioritaires pour 2013 (par example: un pop-up store, le nouveau catalogue, etc...)

Love at first sight...

When I was in France over Christmas, I bought copies of Marie-Claire Maison and Cote Sud. The first one featured the holidays home of Isis-Colombe Cambréas, the Founder and Editor of MILK magazine (which featured my London home last November) and it was simply...love at first sight

Over 10,000 followers on Pinterest

This morning, I'm off to HOME with Sophie to source gorgeous things for the new BODIE and FOU collection and then on Friday, I'm to Paris to attend Maison & Objet and then Playtime and will spend a week there but I noticed that we had reached over 10,000 followers on Pinterest - what a delight!
Are you on Pinterest? If not, give it a go! I think it's the best thing since sliced bread...and the internet...and skype
Have a great day!

It's a dog's life....

Why bother sleeping on his cushion when Lucas can have a nap on our Paulistano chair?!
Get yours (the chair not the dog!) here 

Batgirl print | Do What You Think Is Right print | Black washi tape  (on the wall)| White Paulistano chair | White ball chair

Metro tiled Kitchens | 3 inspiring kitchens to achieve the look

Since I posted about this shop converted into a home, I have been thinking about metro tiles. I think they are a great option to update a kitchen on a small budget as tiling a single wall is sufficient to make an impact. My favourite is the first one below. 
The black and white contrasting scheme feels modern and contemporary while the wooden units and pendant lights add a relaxed vibe to the room. With its copper finish, the Kant lamp would be perfect to achieve a similar look. Same goes for the Kathleen Hills black pendant lights that come in different shapes (I have used them in our kitchen in France)
On the opposite site of the monochromatic spectrum, Photographer Paul Massey went for an all-white kitchen displaying white pots and pans and using distressed wood to give it a country style look - the result is a room that is airy and welcoming.
The third one (which is from a home in Australia) is clean, sleek but is a bit too predictable for me, however I love the metro tiles against the concrete worktop - a combo that I would have pushed further. 
Which look do you prefer?

{Thank you for leaving a comment. Reading them always makes me very happy}

1 | 2 | 3

Depuis que j'ai posté cet article sur ce magasin qui avait été transformé en maison, j'ai beaucoup pensé aux carreaux de métro qui sont toujours une bonne solution pour créer une cuisine au look un peu industriel. Ma préférée est la première qui avec sa gamme monochromatique de noir & blanc, donne un style moderne et contemporain, mais qui en meme temps, adoucit par le bois utilisé sur les unités de cuisine et la facon désinvolte d'accrocher les suspensions. Avec sa finition en cuivre, la lampe Kant est parfaite pour obtenir un résultat similaire. Pareil pour les suspensions noires de Kathleen Hills qui sont disponibles en plusieurs formes. Je les ai utilisé dans notre cuisine en France.

A l'opposé du spectrum, le photographe anglais Paul Massey a préféré opter pour une cuisine toute blanche en mettant en valeur pots et casseroles blancs et en repeignant tous les meubles chinés dans des brocantes en blanc - le résultat est un style un peu country style mais très aéré et accueillant. La troisième cuisine (d'une maison en Australie) est simple, moderne mais elle manque un peu de personnalité je trouve, par contre j'adore les carreaux métro contre le plan de travail en ciment - une combinaison que j'aurais accentuée. Laquelle préférez-vous?

SS 2013 collection | Behind the scenes

As we were staying in our home in France, Francois and I started shooting our SS 2013 collection* in the four bedrooms.
Here is a sneak-peek of the new collection (more to come next week) and this beautiful blue stonewashed duvet cover and matching pillow cases are now online.
*Make sure you request a copy of our next catalogue out in May

Comme nous sommes restés dans ma maison en France pour les fêtes, Francois et moi avons commencé à shooter la collection Printemps-Ete 2013* dans les quatre chambres.
Voici quelques photos (j'en posterais plus la semaine prochaine) et cette magnifique nouvelle couette en lin lavé bleu et les taies d'oreiller sont maintenant en ligne dans la boutique.
*Make sure you request a copy of our next catalogue out in May