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Our Berlin Dining Room

November 26, 2013

My friend Kaho of Chuzai Living told me that she loved seeing posts about my home and it made me realise that in the past I’ve neglected this category a lot. Only because when it comes to my home I am shy about posting photos unless I’ve finished decorating it already. That’s why I only posted a photo of my bedroom in Jakarta when we moved here because it was only in the last months of our stay there that I finished decorating it. (Expat life quirk: when you are finally done decorating, it’s time to pack up and move!) So here I am taking Kaho’s advice on posting more about home interiors, even if I feel like it is still a work in progress. It would be fun to see the different transformation and see how my style and taste are changing as the years go by. I hope you enjoy the photos!

DINING ROOM BEFORE PHOTOS

Just before and right after the movers delivered our shipment from Indonesia.diplo home dining room before berlindiplo dining room beforediplo home dining room before berlin-002

DINING ROOM AFTER PHOTOS

diplo home dining room-007

KOI INDUSTRIAL DINING TABLE AND CHAIRS

This is my beloved dining table, which can seat up to 8 people. I got it from KOI Kemang together with the seats. I adore the industrial details like the metal table legs and the steal rod frame of the chairs. I fell in love when I first saw them. Initially I had very dark wood and thick legged dining table and chairs, but when we had an inkling that we were moving to Europe, I decided to get a dining set that had thinner legs to give the illusion of space. Thick wooden legs and dark coloured wood would make our space seem smaller. What do you think? The only drawback of these gorgeous chairs are that the rubber attachment at the bottom that KOI provides sometimes breaks (I know it’s telling me to lose more weight haha!) or gets lose. This wasn’t a problem in Jakarta where we had marble flooring that didn’t scratch easily. Now in Germany we have parquet flooring so before delivery of our furniture, TD and I made sure to get thick, durable and hardwearing like IKEA’s EGEBY sisal carpet that would be able to protect the floor. We got the biggest one (2meters long) and it wasn’t big enough so we got the thin long one too. They only had a 1.8 meter long one which we settled for. I don’t think anyone will really notice hehe. The important thing for me, as a renter, is not to have to pay to fix the flooring after a few years. 😉 I also got the industrial-looking kitchen trolley from KOI Kemang. I wrote about decorating our radiator wall with a photo wall HERE.

diplo home dining room-002

PAINTINGS

The blue painting entitled”FLY” and the yellow painting of a mother shielding her child from the rain using a banana leaf were the very first paintings we ever bought. We got them in our favourite art gallery in Yogyakarta. The other painting is one depicting whipped cream was done by my friend K. Cristi and she dedicated it to celebrating the sweet things in life. The painting of the Chinese girl (pictured above) is from an exhibit in KOI Kemang as well. HERE are the details of the art gallery based in BALI. I bet you they also ship orders internationally if you are interested in any of their paintings.

diplo home dining room-003

DECORATING THE BUFFET

I am learning how to create vignettes to keep my decor looking neat and organised. I got this tip from Karl Schuneman’s The First Apartment Book.

diplo home dining room-006

This is a little bar I set up that is both decorative and practical, containing items that we use more often, like…

  • Full Bottle Service – a wine lover’s multitool It’s a corkscrew, foil cutter, pour spout, and rubber stopper in one nifty tool (won a Red Dot Design Award)
  • WMF Clever & More All-purpose Opener so versatile! Can open screw caps, champagne corks,can lids, crown caps or beverage cans.
  • Auerhahn Candle Snuffer I love the simple, modern and oh-so-luxe design.
  • Silver lighter – isn’t this the sleekest lighter ever? I got it in Rossman pharmacy. Normally lighters are sold in bright colours that do not go well with my interiors so I was really happy to find this cheap lighter that looks right at home in my bar. We use it often for lighting candles to brighten up these dark Berlin days. #WinterIsComing
  • Vanilla scented candle IKEA

diplo home dining room-009

DINING TABLE TOP

I usually have a few things on our dining table at any one time, sometimes a box of chocolates or sometimes a cookie Jar, but I always have a  candle, scented oil and tissue box around. Usually I also place my salt and pepper mill here too (I don’t know where it went haha!). To make it look neat and uncluttered, I place them all in a tray. Trays are useful for creating vignettes or grouping together items that are used for the same purpose or used in the same location in the home.

diplo home dining room-008

These items I have were collected painstakingly and one by one during our post in Jakarta and some during our stay here in Berlin. I hope you like how I did my dining room! If you have any comments or suggestions, I would love to hear it. Questions are welcome too!

13 Comments · Diplo Home

Comments

  1. Mirella McCracken says

    November 26, 2013 at 8:08 PM

    Love it, very earthy!

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      November 26, 2013 at 8:54 PM

      Yay! The rustic look is what I am going for. Thanks for dropping me a line Mirella!

      Reply
  2. Didi Paterno-Magpali (@didipaterno) says

    November 26, 2013 at 10:13 PM

    I love, love, love, love, love that dining set!!!! And that lamp…so nice for reading / sewing tapos meron comfy na chair / couch. Sigh.

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      November 26, 2013 at 10:36 PM

      I’m happy you think so Didi! Can you believe that the lamp broke in the shipment? The price of the expat life aye? Until now we are still waiting for our insurance money from Santa Fe so we can replace/fix it! I hope we get to it soon! =)

      Reply
  3. Joy says

    November 27, 2013 at 7:40 AM

    Sooo gorgeous, thanks for sharing! You have such a knack for putting together all of the neutral colors together in a way that is catchy and never dull. If you have some time, I would really, really love and be grateful for a post about your lovely cabinets lining the dining room. It looks simliar to your fantastic entry way furniture. I love it both for the external clean lines and all of your practical touches inside. I’ve even shared it with friends who are considering designing their own pieces, and they are always super-impressed!

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      November 28, 2013 at 12:26 PM

      Dear Joy, wow! What a wonderful compliment. I loved how you put it “external clean lines and practical touches inside.” You totally get what I am going for. =) I’ve been meaning to post pictures of my buffet, after all it is the piece that I am most proud of. Can you believe that it’s the second one I’ve had. The first one (exactly the same except for the dark colour) was purchased from me by my friend. The funny thing is, because I feel so strongly about the buffet, I am afraid to do a post that wont do it justice. I am so happy you asked.. I will try to overcome my fear and finally do a post on it! You just made my day!

      Reply
  4. Deepa says

    November 27, 2013 at 8:55 PM

    Everything’s looking great!

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      November 28, 2013 at 12:26 PM

      Thanks Deeps!!! =)

      Reply
  5. Tala says

    November 30, 2013 at 11:08 AM

    Lovely home babe! You have a talent for designing! Your Jakarta-made stuff fit perfectly well with your Berlin home 🙂 What a wonderful marriage of your two homes! Hope I will get to visit this one this time! I miss you!

    Reply
  6. Kaho says

    December 2, 2013 at 5:47 PM

    Absolutely gorgeous!!! I love how clean yet warm it looks. I recognize the painting from KOI!!! Thank you for mentioning me in your post. Yes, I do love seeing your design posts. That’s how I first fell in love with your blog! I agree with Tala. You have a talent for designing!

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      December 2, 2013 at 5:55 PM

      Dear Kaho, how could I not mention you in my post. You are my perpetual inspiration and my very first blog friend. =) I am so happy you and Tala think so! Thank you so much.

      Reply
  7. Mitz Logarta Leviste says

    December 3, 2013 at 12:48 PM

    Hi DW! I love your posts about your home too! 🙂 I hope to read more soon 🙂

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      December 3, 2013 at 7:58 PM

      Thanks Mitz! So happy you enjoy my Diplo Home posts! You know what? A big inspiration for me is the furniture of Cebu and Kenneth Cobonpue. I try to keep my home earthy and neutral too! I wish I lived there so I could wait for Kennet Cobonpue’s sales LOL!

      Reply

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Welcome

Hello! I’m Ayessa, trailing spouse to a diplomat, mama to DiploBaby and DiploDog and founder of Declutter MNL. I love talking about how to achieve a minimaluxe lifestyle one step at a time.

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GOOD TO KNOW GUIDE

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HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport? We are very lucky th HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport?

We are very lucky that the Geneva Airport is very near because it is located 4 km northwest of the city centre. It takes us less than 15mins by car & is easier to get to than airports outside the city.

BUT also means that many of the Geneva residents suffer from AIRCRAFT NOISE POLLUTION. 

In some parts of Geneva, like Vernier, Meyrin, Bellevue, Versoix, etc will have the airplane pass on top of you or very near you. This is something to consider when you are MOVING TO GENEVA & looking for a home.

When we were in @bioparcgeneve recently, it felt like airplane after airplane was going overhead every few mins. The poor animals were screaming each time.

A  report by the European Environment Agency(EEA) in 2017 said that 12% or 73,500 Geneva residents have their hearing disturbed by aircraft noise. Probably the figures have risen with the natural increase population & travel?

“The EEA describes noise as a pervasive pollutant that directly affects the health and well-being of humans and wildlife. Populations exposed to high noise levels can exhibit stress reactions, sleep-stage changes, and clinical symptoms like hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. All of these can contribute to premature mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) reckons that humans exposed to noise levels above 40 decibels at night experience adverse health effects.

Across Europe it is estimated that noise contributed to at least 900,000 additional cases of hypertension in 2011.” - @le_news_ch 

DID YOU KNOW that owners of homes affected by the noise can request for soundproofing to be paid for by GVA? 

Check if your home meets the conditions for FREE SOUNDPROOFING c/o Genève AÊroport here:

https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Geneve-Aeroport/Questions-Reponses-FAQ/Bruit#

SAVE or SHARE this now with someone you know who might be moving to Geneva or is already suffering from aircraft #noisepollution. 

#UDWinGeneva #UDWgenevagoodtoknow #expatingeneva #diplofamily #expatlife #genevaswitzerland #expatingeneva #filipinoingeneva #pinoyingeneva #movingtogeneva #movingtoswitzerland #movingtogeneva #genevaexpats #switzerlandexpatlife #geneva #genevaswitzerland
MERCADONA HAUL Whenever we go to Spain, we love t MERCADONA HAUL

Whenever we go to Spain, we love to go to @mercadona. It might be small but has a good affordable selection. It’s my thrifty Spanish MIL’s favorite.

We were so lucky that we had a @mercadona right beside our hotel Marina Badalona. Very convenient.
Our favorite things to bring home are:

☕️ frozen porras (bigger than churros)

🐑 baby lamb chops (the only lamb I eat coz it’s not malangsa & all you need to do is fry till crispy in olive oil with S&P) it’s called Chuletas Cabrito but TD calls it lechal 

🐽 chicharon or crispy pork rinds

🥔 Homemade potato chips. The best potato chips for me are from Spain. I don’t know how it’s so much yummier! The olive oil???

🎣 canned Sardines & tuna for me and Yaya B

TIPS:

🧊 For frozen items, we usually ask the hotel before we buy if they can put it in their freezer until we fly.

✍️ I usually bring different sizes ZIPLOCK BAGS, MASKING TAPE & MARKER when we travel so we can put everything in, label with our name and room number.

📸 then I take a photo so we can just show it to the staff and they can easily find it in their freezer.

✈️ When it’s time to pack, I placed our beach towels around the frozen packages coz I know they will SWEAT & I don’t want our other things to get wet 💦 

What  grocery do you usually like to shop for when in Spain? Where do you buy them?

#udwinbarcelona #udwinbadalona #udwtraveldiaries #udwtraveltips #udwtraveltip #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW C FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW Calisthenics Park 

📍Chem. des Tuileries 140, 1293 Bellevue

After the lovely BIOPARC we headed across to this chill park with ample PARKING that had so many things for kids & anyone who wants to move & work out:

⚽️ The kids wanted to kick around a football so we borrowed a ball from @boxup.app (they also have pumps, 🏓, 🏐, 🏀, etc) just download the app & turn on your Bluetooth & follow instructions! Return after 3hrs.

👟 Outdoor gym - this was a huge hit with the kids

⚽️ football - this too!

🏀 basketball court

🏓 Ping-pong 

🏐 Beach volleyball court

🤸🏻 Monkey bars

🛝 small playground

Thanks for the wonderful afternoon guys @lidia_otilia_botezatu! 
How lucky are we to have these beautiful, clean open spaces. And the free rental gear is AMAZING! so convenient.

This is in Geneva, about 15mins drive from where we live.

SAVE THIS on your list of PARKS to visit!

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. It’s not as close as the bioparc but bring earplugs/earphones if you are sensitive.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
BIOPARC GENÈVE Yesterday was a holiday in Switze BIOPARC GENÈVE

Yesterday was a holiday in Switzerland (except for Geneva). It was raining & miserable so I wanted to take @diplobaby out for a few hours. Thankfully midafternoon it stopped raining.

We met with our friends @lidia_otilia_botezatu in @bioparcgeneve and had a lovely time in this volunteer run zoo.

TIPS💡

🆓 It’s free for families on your FIRST visit!

🦢 you walk inside animal enclosures so wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty/stepping on poop. We wore boots & happy we did

🅿️ there’s parking inside on wood chips, if it’s full there’s another pavement parking (free up to 4hrs) across the roundabout 

🦔 Do not feed or touch the animals no matter how cute they are

🗺️ There are 2 routes (purple & blue) and 1-1.5hrs #diplshould be enough 

❎ Park closes at 4pm

SAVE THIS NOW if your looking for a fun & not too you can do in well und2hrs. It’s nice that you can go inside unlike most zoos so it’s quite unique.

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. @diplobaby who is super noise sensitive did not mind as much as I thought he would because he was so entertained by the animals.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
MARINA BADALONA HOTEL At first we were going to MARINA BADALONA HOTEL 

At first we were going to stay in the heart of Barcelona, where we stayed 8 years ago (I didn’t even know that @diplobaby was already in my tummy at 2 weeks old) but the “hotel” is now expensive with no amenities & small rooms. So TD found a hotel in #badalona - a 20min taxi ride from Barcelona city center - that was so fabulous & slightly less expensive.

SAVE THIS NOW for future trips to Barcelona

WHY I LOVED marinabadalona
🤍 All white interiors was so beautiful & calming
🤍 Gorgeous view of the Marina 
🤍 Everything was so aesthetic, even where you tap your card to enter the room
🤍 Massive bed
🤍 Electric curtains
🤍 Lots of closet space & hangers
🤍 2 TVs
🤍 Refrigerator
🤍 White/cream Nespresso & kettle
🤍 Architecture & interior design is sooooo me!
🤍 Small rooftop pool with unbelievable views (need to do a separate post)
🤍 5min walk to the beach
🤍 Gorg esplanade
🤍 Yummy restos beside
🤍 Mercadona right beside - so convenient!

FEW RECOS FOR IMPROVEMENT:
✌️ Loved the textured wall paper, but it’s difficult to keep clean inside the bathroom
✌️ The bathroom surface area was a bit small & our stuff kept falling off the sink
✌️ Not a single chair in the family room so when we had room service we had to eat standing
✌️ No salt & pepper with room service so we called to ask & were told we would be charged for them taking it up. After TD clarified that there was no S&P with our meal, they said they would bring it up. The person brought a small bowl of of salt & pepper combined. The salt was for DiploBaby’s salmon, but he can’t eat pepper, I wanted both for my pesto. Had to run down in my slippers & the resto staff were very apologetic coz who serves a mixed S&P ever? They gave me individually packaged ones which I really appreciated.
✌️ Since the hotel has a pool & is by the beach, I wish there was a place to hang & dry swim suits. Our suits & watershoes did not dry in the tub.

All in all the value we got from staying in this hotel was so high compared to a more expensive hotel in Barcelona. No hotel stay is perfect.

Now, would I stay there again? YES PLEASE! Would you?

#udwinbarcelona #udwinbadalona #udwtraveldiaries
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