I had arranged for a long time to visit Bergen the previous week, and I thought it would be a good idea to create a small Bergen guide with hotels, restaurants and cafes to go. Today , separately from the guide I sharing some photos I took from the hotel I stayed at, the Bergen Børs. Quite new in Bergen as it barely has more than a year under its belt, Bergen Børs is one of the most beautiful hotels to stay at , not just in Bergen.  Located by Torgalmenningen , the hotel is occupying the upper floors of the old stock exchange dating back to 1862,designed by Franz Willhelm Schiertz, right next to Bryggen ( my room had Bryggen views and it was a delight to sit by the window and sip my morning coffee). On the third floor you will also find Bare Restaurant, one of Bergens best modern Nordic restaurants (also with views towards Bryggen) that serves only the best organic produce from the regions farms. Insidentaly, not only Bare has one of the most delicious menus I have ever tasted (in my opinion you must try it at least once when in Bergen) , but it is where breakfast is served as well. Such a unique experience to have your morning meal right at Bare, with the delightfully gigantic windows and the warm atmosphere.

Norway in general is missing boutique hotels of high design standard. There are many hotels that have high accomodation standard but unfortunately not many that fit in the category of design hotels. While there are some details amiss ( probably something only me and a handful of others would notice), Bergen Børs is one of the hotels that deserves more attention and I am hoping that it gets it. De Bergenske that has Bergen Børs under its umbrella also has Villa Terminus and Zander K hotel in the area, two completely different hotels since Villa Terminus is a small boutique hotel and Zander K a very modern hotel, however both fill a gap into the hotel category I mentioned above. So glad to see De Bergenske bringing such quality in Bergen!

// Photography and Editing by Katerina Dima

There were many great venues this year to visit in Stockholm during the fair, in fact so many that while I had RSVP to only as many I thought I would be able to attend, time between them , transportation and weather made it impossible to follow my schedule to the letter. I missed for example the opening night for Spatial Sensibilities, an exhibition curated by Frama showcasing their selection of products and first previews from the Permanent Collection in the newly renovated apartment of Architect Andreas Martin-Löf. I made it there the next day however and I had just enough time to chat a little bit with my friends from Frama and shoot some of the space available (the whole apartment was not ready yet). From what I have seen I can tell you that there is a lot to look forward from Frama this year but also, this is going to be an apartment that will be featured a lot in magazines and blogazines. When I was shooting the sun was shining so bright, it created beautiful but also very dramatic shadows all around the apartment. I edited the photos for todays post a little bit differently than usual in order to bring out the feeling of the moment, I hope I did it justice and you like them.

Check Frama for their news, and look out for one of my favorites (unfortunately the photos did not do them justice so I am not posting any) of the new Japanese cutlery!

I have been in Stockholm for the whole week, yet this time around it was even more hectic than before so I didn’t have time to update the blog at all. You see I decided that maybe I should do a cool sort of vlog type video, instead of neverending stories on instagram, so I will take you to the backstage of the experience this time around. However jokes on me, first of all this meant I had even more work to do plus it took so much more of my time, and second and even worse, as you might know if you are following me on instagram, somewhere between a cancelled flight back home yesterday and rebooking the next one, my luggage didn’t make it home with me. I am still waiting for it , all my cameras and equipment is inside, but I did have some of the material on cloud (not the videos) so I could edit some of the photos on an old pc at home and start sharing the week with you. (While scrolling down, right click and open in a new window the photos that are horizontal like the one below to see them in bigger size!)

I will start with where I stayed during the week, at the hotel Mornington located in Nybrogatan 53 Stockholm city. I seem to always stay in this cozy hotel during the February Furniture and Light fair, and if you have read my instagram post about it here then you will know why. It is one of my favorite hotels regardless in Stockholm so I am beyond grateful I am able to stay here every year so far, it is warm and cozy, with great breakfast and facilities, while it is in the heart of the city right next to the metro station and Alma (and all bathrooms are filled with LA Bruket toiletries). And if this wasn’t enough , I just discovered a great sushi place next to it that is budget friendly (generally there are great restaurants around for an elevated food experience plus the hotels own restaurant). If you decide to visit Stockholm there are many hotels to choose from, but Mornington for me is definitely one of the best (plus it is listed as one of the 10 top hotels so it is not only me).

Ask for a room on the second floor so you can get a similar to the one I am showing today ( I stayed in the room 212 and Elisabeth  stayed in 210 so we were right next to each other with mirrored rooms!) , and enjoy a cosy stay! Every room is slightly different however, here is some highlights for this room for me :

1. Extended almost walk in wardrobe : It was covered with a curtain so everything in my room was neat while I could just pull the curtain and leave the mess inside (safe, fridge, closet, iron board, iron,soft bathrobe, hair drier were all in there).
2. Big working area with big windows : This is somewhat of a standard but I really liked how mine stretched so far from wall to wall.
3. The bathroom was right next to the exit door in its own hallway, I felt like I was in a suite!

// Photography and Editing by Katerina Dima

Advertisement // Sponsored post in collaboration with PillivuytA few months ago, I was lucky to visit the place where the Pillivuyt Porcelain is being produced today , in the beautiful town Mehun-sur-Yèvre near Bourges. The team treated us ( we were a full group of Scandinavian bloggers) to a very special weekend due to the occasion of Pillivuyts 200 years Jubilee. We toured Mehun-sur-Yèvre, walked through the streets of Bourges nearby, learned the history of Pillivuyt, visited the factory and talked to the people that work there creating every beautiful piece, before we headed back to Paris for an amazing night. Today I will take you with me in that tour, and I hope at the end, you will not only fall in love with Pillivuyt, but also with its people and their passion for this porcelain that has been in thousands of peoples houses for 200 hundred years now.

But first, let me introduce you to Pillivuyt. In 1818, a young Swiss man, Jean Louis Richard Pillivuyt, bought an old brick factory in the heart of France in a village near the Sancerre wine area.Together with his son Charles Pillivuyt, they created history. Jean Louis Richard had great plans when he took over the old brick factory in the village of Foëcy. Instead of producing brick, he wished to produce porcelain for the French kitchen and the better bourgeoisie.

Mehun-sur-Yèvre a village close to Bourges share much in common. One of the first things that pop is the architecture , the inviting atmosphere and the welcoming people. The city has a long tradition of art and history. Apart from the cathedral, other sites of importance include the 15th-century Palace of Jacques Cœur and a sixty-five-hectare district of half-timbered houses and fine town-houses. You can walk around easily in the center and never get bored of the sights, the houses, the feeling of walking in a mid century french town. I highly recommend it.

After a day of enjoying Bourges, Pillivuyt wanted us to not only have a good time, but appreciate what gives Pillivuyt its unique profile. What makes it so special that it has lasted for 200 years and as it stands, easily 100 more? Pillivuyt has character and not just because it looks beautiful and undeniable quality. There is deeply rooted within its concept the French attitude, from good food to great presentation, to everything that involves setting a spectacular dinner that you enjoy with wine even in an everyday basis. The inspiration comes from Frances old castles, the luxury and uniqueness of its cuisine, the vast knowledge of fine wine and dinning. What better place to find that out but the phenomenal Hôtel de Panette, where we were treated with wine tasting and local delicacies while we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon. Just by looking at the photos of Hôtel de Panette (photo above and below), you can see what I mean, if that is not the embodiment of French luxury, I am not sure what else will best describe it. It is also now I think quite clear where Pillivuyt is coming from, and where it gets not only its inspiration but also its history.

The next day , we finally headed for Mehun-sur-Yèvre, where Pillivuyt is being produced today in its entirety. From the very beginning, it has always been Pillivuyts philosophy to create beautiful and durable porcelain.A craft that meets the high quality standards that both professional cooks and private food lovers have in the kitchen and around the dining table.

It has made Pillivuyt the porcelain of a very special casting. Porcelain created in collaboration with the best and most passionate cooks in their subjects. Porcelain that meets the highest standards of functionality, durability and design. Porcelain sets are made of field patches with a high content of feldspar and quartz. It’s the factory’s unique porcelain pulp which, together with an extremely hard glaze, makes the porcelain extra resistant to impact and impact. All the porcelain from Pillivuyt has its own stamp at the bottom, this is the factory’s quality assurance and your guarantee that porcelain meets the quality requirements that Pillivuyt has set for generations.

While taking the tour of the factory, we were lucky to not only learn about the process and the history (both photos above from their archived designs,molds on the shelfs as well as originals that are not produced or never have been produced, or where only produced once for a special occasion) but also see it step by step. Every piece of porcelain you own from Pillivuyt you should know is made by hand, almost 100%. From the cast, to treatment, the only process that is automated is transport, some washing stages and of course burning. However even the smallest piece, from a cup to a handle, everything is handmade, hand colored, and treated with care and the outmost respect. An important detail to know that I think makes the whole process even more special. The molds are not permanent, as they will suffer from use. If I am not mistaken no more than 50 pieces can be made from a single mold before even the mold needs to be made anew. The mold is also handmade!

Before the porcelain from Pillivuyt lands in your kitchen and is set on the table, it has been through a long process. It has been treated, designed and burned with a dedication, precision and love to give you the strongest and best porcelain.Pillivuyts porcelain pulp contains, among other things, raw materials such as kaolin, clay, silicon soil, feldspar, alumina and quartz, which are made on secret recipes.The production is based on the fact that the porcelain mass is processed and filtered in heavy machinery, where impurities are sown and most of the water. 

First burning lasts approx. 16 hours and takes place at 1000 oC. Other shipment lasts between 19 and 27 hours at up to 1,400 oC. The high heat makes it possible to achieve white, glossy and impure products of perfect quality. The burning at the high temperatures is essential for porcelain strength and the furnaces are together with the porcelain mixture, a vital part of the production. The latest and most modern furnaces were built and installed in 2003, but several of the furnaces have been active since the beginning.At the factory in Mehun-sur-Yèvre, 22,500 pieces of porcelain are burned daily.

One of my favorite processes, the soft clay and kaolin that is molded then the scraps or any misshapen pieces are gathered so they can be reduced, recycled and reused!

After the porcelain is cast and molded, there is the stage where the pieces are still soft, not having been burned neither glazed yet, they gather on shelves ready to be taken in the furnaces and finishing touches. The raw materials show, the rough surfaces even though cannot be used for service, they seem like work of art waiting to be displayed to a gallery.

One of the examples of this in between stage that I love so much,  can be seen above, handled with care by the expert worker. Pillivuyt has very strict guidelines when it comes to size and imperfections. Even though every single piece is hand made, it is very important to them that they look as identical as possible. Even a millimeter of misshape will lead to the piece to be discarded in the recycle bin, while smaller mistakes will make it to their outlet. Only the pieces that make it through strict quality control are sold in the stores, an impressive achievement and a testimony to the passion and integrity Pillivuyt has always displayed for 200 years. It was one of those recycle bins I almost dived in to find some pieces that I wanted to bring home (after politely asking since this is still material that will be reused therefore equally valuable), and by chance I found the photos of its preparation. You can see one of the pieces that made it home with me below where I use it as a vase and storage. It is very soft, though it keeps its shape perfectly, but it feels almost like chalk, I also treat with with love and care and it is the perfect reminder of my visit to the Pillivuyt factory!

The outlet ( as seen in the photo above), can only be found in the factory premises, but if you happen to be in Paris, it is really worth a visit, it is barely 2 hours away by train and it can always be combined with a tour of Bourges as well!

What is my favorite design from Pillivuyt ?A few months ago I made a table styling for Pillivuyt , you can see it here, where clearly you can see that my favorite is the Plisse line.  However , when it comes to Pillivuyt, it is really hard to chose one as a favorite. Toulouse is a series that is great for baking and serving, and I always end up combining those two.

// Photography and Editing by Katerina Dima – Last photo courtesy of Pillivuyt

 Find me on Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Feedly | Snapchat | Etsy

▲

© 2013-2018 ONLYDECOLOVE.COM

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The post :Pillivuyt 200 Years Celebration Jubilee  , appeared first on Only Deco Love