Hamburg

Canal along Ludwig Erhard Strasse

Jacket: Maje

Jeans: J Brand

Handbag: Chanel

Hamburg is an eclectic city, with modern shops, winding canals, fresh seafood, and plenty of history. We spent a quick day trip exploring the city. I was in awe of the mix of architectural styles, from the brick expressionist Chilehaus built in the 1920s to Kirche St. Nicholas, the tallest building in the world during the late 19^th century.

Kirche St. Peter

Junfernstieg Pier

Au Quai Restaurant

Other Hamburg sights, shops, and eats:

Sights
~The Junfernstieg Pier for a boat cruise
~Rathausmarkt for a view of the main town square

~Hauptkirche St. Michaelis for a glimpse of the bronze dome that guided ships sailing up the Elbe

Shops

~Giselle for French brands, Grosse Bleichen 21

~Secondella for designer discount, Hohe Bleichen 5

~Urban Outfitters for bohemian accessories, Gansemarkt 45

Eats

~Au Quai for an overflowing seafood platter, Grosse Elbstrasse 145

~Café Sommer Terrassen for a café with live music on the canal, Südring 44
~Rive for a Michelin-rated experience, Van-der-Smissen-Strasse 1

Sunburst

I've spotted sunburst mirrors all over design blogs, so I had some great inspiration to incorporate an inexpensive option in my home. This Target sunburst mirror’s bronze finish fits perfect with our antique treasures. To add a bit of modernity but also tie in with mementos from our travels, I sewed pillows using Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon and Kravet Riad fabric.

Feeling Green

Kelly green may be my favorite color. It works well as both an allover hue and a pop of color to a neutral-toned outfit. This DVF Maja Dress just arrived in the mail, and I can’t wait to wear it. The best part is the button detail down the back. Here are some other lovely pieces I spotted recently.

~Asos: Portfolio Envelope Clutch

~Diane Von Furstenberg: Maja Dress

~Marc by Marc Jacobs: Michaela Blouse

~Marceau: Cutout Dress

~Tibi: Swirls Blouse

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

I love elegant desserts {see here, here, and here}, but sometimes I just want a flavor that brings you back to your childhood-the Oreo. The base for these cookies and cream cupcakes combines vanilla cake with crushed Oreos. And just in case you didn’t get enough sugar, they are topped with clouds of vanilla buttercream and Oreo pieces.

Cookies and Cream Cupcake Recipe

Cake

½ cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 cup milk

12 Oreos, crushed

Vanilla Buttercream

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup shortening

4 lbs. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

¼ cup milk

10 Oreos, cut in half

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For the cupcakes, in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix until combined. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add half of flour mixture to egg mixture, and mix until incorporated. Add milk, and mix again. Add remaining flour mixture. Batter will be thick. Stir in crushed Oreos. Line two muffin pans with 20 cupcake liners. Drop large spoonfuls so each liner is ¾ full. Bake for 20-22 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean, and tops should be slightly golden. Let cool completely.

For the frosting, mix butter and shortening until combined. Add powdered sugar gradually. Frosting will be dry. Add milk and vanilla. Mix on medium-high speed until frosting is light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. I used a 13mm round tip and a large piping bag to frost. Top with ½ an Oreo. Makes 20. These were gone pretty quick.

Bookcase Styling

I love the geometric lines of this Ballard Designs Bourdonnais bookcase, but I can’t find anything similar in Germany. Since I'm always up for a good project, I used an inexpensive Ikea Billy bookcase and Ikea Observator metal cross braces. I spray painted the braces black and used three for each bookcase. Add all of your favorite books and throw in some miniature busts, hat boxes, and crystal candlesticks. Simple. In keeping with the black and white color palette, the office also includes a clothes rack with some of my favorite pieces and my vintage American Tourister luggage.

Part 2 of this project will be adding moulding-embellished top panels.

Black and White Stripes

Continuing with the black and white motif in my office, next up is custom drapes. I love this black and white stripe drape project, but I wanted to use silk dupioni. So I bought 3 yards of black silk dupioni, 2 yards of white silk dupioni, and 5 yards of drapery lining. I cut out 8 ½” strips, keeping the fabric 54” wide. I sewed the strips together {5 black and 4 white} with a ¼” seam, always measuring to make sure they were even. Then, I sewed the lining to the sides, keeping the panels finished but free at the bottom. Black drapery hooks finished the project.

Two Silhouettes on the Shade

I’ve had some projects in the hopper for a while, so I’m excited to share the results. I love the idea of silhouettes, and to personalize them, I used profile photographs. After printing out the photo to size, I cut out the profile, traced it onto canvas, and then painted freehand using craft paint. They are now hung in my black and white-themed office {more on that tomorrow}. To complete my collage, I added some black and white photos from my wedding in Paris, vintage Vogue illustrations, and Napoleonic artwork.

Grand Bazaar

Geometric tiles from the Grand Bazaar

An endless maze of stalls selling pottery, gold jewelry, hanging candle lanterns, silk scarves, and rugs, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar was a great place to spend afternoons wandering. Just don’t stop too long at a stall or you will be bombarded with requests to look at the shop’s wares! My favorite find was a set of geometric tiles. When we returned home, I mounted and framed them with an aged gold frame.

Entrance to the Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar, photo from here

Spice Bazaar

And I couldn't pass up the Spice Bazaar, a smaller vaulted building. While still crowded, the Spice Bazaar was a trove of spices, teas, dried fruits, and nuts.

Medieval Wonder

Hagia Sophia

First a basilica, then a mosque, and now a museum, Hagia Sophia is one of the seven medieval wonders of the world. Its grand Byzantine architecture is rivaled only by its opulent interior, complete with gold mosaics and marble pillars. This was definitely a highlight of our trip to Istanbul.

We also spent time wandering through the massive gardens of the Topkapi Palace, a former residence of sultans. Then, to channel luxurious train travel of the early 1900s, we stopped at Sirkeci Station, once an endpoint of the Orient Express that ran to Paris.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace

Sirkeci Station, photo from here

Meze

Meze at Hamdi et Lokantasi

Of course I started the highlights of our trip to Istanbul yesterday with sweets. Today, the savory flavors take center stage. A meze platter was always a welcome afternoon respite. The dizzying array often included hummus, haydari {tangy yogurt and dill dip}, kisir {spiced bulgar}, şakşuka {roasted eggplant with tomatoes}, acılı ezme {salsa}, and dolma {grape leaves stuffed with rice}.

Chicken and sweet rice {cinnamon, almonds, and apricots} at Amedros Café

Lamb kebab and almond-studded rice at Sultanahmet Köftecisi

Turkish Delight

Chocolate baklava from Baklavaci Said

After a long hiatus, I’m back. I just returned from a trip to Istanbul, and the city was amazing. From the maze of streets in the Grand Bazaar, the mosaics spanning the vaulted ceilings of the Hagia Sophia, or the delicious baklava and lokum {Turkish delight}, I was on sensory overload. To start, here are some of my favorite sweets from the trip.

Turkish delight from the Spice Bazaar

Marshmallow and rosewater treats from Cigdem

Bird’s nest with pistachios {kadayif} from Saray