design store – Spoonful of Home Design

Visiting Copenhagen was quite a last minute decision in the planning of our Europe trip this year, but it was truly one of the best last minute decision made as we really enjoyed this city a lot.

Apart from the Scandinavian high prices, there are many reasons to love the capital city of the world’s happiest country. Beautiful architecture, lots of water and parks, new Nordic cuisine, stylish people on bikes everywhere and of course, Danish design and the many design stores around.

Illums Bolighus is the store that you shouldn’t miss if you only have time to visit ONE design store in Copenhagen.

“Imagine, no counters and formalities, the future – and it is gorgeous – is arranged in displays you could practically move into. It is the only shop in the world which can truly call itself the MOMA of modern living” – Noted travel writer Temple Fielding on Illums Bolighus in the 1950s

Located at Amagertorv, the main shopping belt of the city, the flagship store is a 10,000m2 design emporium of modern design. Erik Jørgensen, Carl Hansen & Søn, Louis Poulsen, Normann Copenhagen, Gubi, Muuto, Hay, Ferm Living and many more … Illums Bolighus has it all.

I felt quite overwhelmed throughout my 2 hours spent in the store because there are just so many things to look at! (and just too many things I feel like buying!)The department store has a total of 4 storeys filled with little knick-knacks, home accessories, glassware, ceramics, lamps and furniture. Beware that you might just spent all your vacation money here because honestly, the stuffs here are really pricey and seriously good-looking :P

But of course you don’t have to buy sofa in order to visit here. In my opinion, it is totally worth a visit to just inhale or soak up the unique beauty Danish design.

Even the window display with the Panthella lamp feels ethereal.

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Hello guys! It’s been a while since my last post!

I’ve just gotten back from a short vacation in Paris, Amsterdam and Copenhagen and can’t wait to share some of the design shops I’ve visited in this trip :)

In our previous trip to Paris last year, we were so busy visiting the museums and all the famous sites (oh well, that was our first ever holiday in Paris… and how could we give up the Eiffel, Notre Dame Cathedral and The Louvre etc), I had to give the Merci a miss due to time constraint.

Second visit to Paris, we were much more relaxed this time, and finally made our way to the well known Merci concept store located in the heart of the trendy neighbourbood of le Haut Marais.

Merci is a general goods store founded by Bernand and Marie-France Cohen (the couple behind the luxury children’s clothing brand Bonpoint). It is a charitable concept store, which all the proceeds are going to children charities in Madagascar. The store was opened in 2009, housed in a sunlit lofty building converted from an old wallpaper factory and has since listed as one of the top places to visit in any kind of Paris design guide. I have probably seen a million pictures of Merci store in Pinterest and read numerous blog posts about this chic, eclectic store, but still felt really excited when I saw the iconic red fiat in the courtyard! Walking through the paved courtyard and stepping into the store, you’ll find a rotating exhibition. Right now they are having an installation of cloud-like structures, floating above the collection of household cotton sheets. It was really very pretty! The ground floor and the half floor up has menswear, womenswear and accessories; as well as the Aesop and Annick Goutal boutique.