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Le Souq Modern Indonesian Home Decor

September 16, 2013

Where can one find the perfect keepsake/souvenir – that is both useful and stylish – of Jakarta?  LE SOUQ was the perfect place for me before we left Jakarta, our post for four years.  One of my souvenirs of The Big Durian was literally Durian-shaped, haha!  I love this store because of the unique, quirky designs and reasonable prices (for Jakarta standards).  This is mainly a photoblog, so you can see the kind and style of items they have for sale.

INDONESIA CERAMIC Le Souq kemang jakarta
INDONESIA CERAMIC Le Souq kemang jakarta-001
INDONESIA CERAMIC Le Souq kemang jakarta-003
INDONESIA CERAMIC Le Souq kemang jakarta-004
INDONESIA CERAMIC Le Souq kemang jakarta-006
INDONESIA CERAMIC Le Souq kemang jakarta-005
Le Souq interior decoration kemang jakarta-001

This shop has so many chic items and eclectic styles that it can be quite overwhelming – so many colours, textures and shapes! The first time I went, I didn’t buy anything because I was just on cute-ness overload – I was practically hyperventilating with excitement!

Le Souq kemang jakarta-002 The lady who owns the store, Mira Noordhoek Hegt, had the brilliant idea to have symbols of Jakarta drawn and then she placed them in framed prints, greeting cards and even ceramic pieces (this is a one time project so very limited supply). 

Here are the sample of the ceramics, called The Big Durian Collection, from serving plates to espresso cups and teapots. I got the teapot because it’s a great conversation piece that I can use when I host tea. You can see that the images are images that would bring memories of Jakarta flooding back. The perfect souvenir for someone who was posted to Jakarta (like me!).

The other souvenir I bought is the Durian jar, the perfect souvenir and symbol of The Big Durian! It’s made of wood and available in different attractive colors. Guess what color I got?!? The white one, of course!

Le Souq interior decoration kemang jakarta-002

She has a wide assortment of lampshades and throw pillow cases. If you are looking for unique prints, this is the place to go.

Le Souq interior decoration kemang jakarta

How cute are these Buddha candles?

Le Souq kemang jakarta-007

The owner of store also loves African-inspired prints/design.

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Le Souq interior decoration kemang jakarta-003

At the very back of the store you will find stairs going to the basement. Yes, you heard me – there is still so much more! There are two levels in the shop. The stairs are very steep so if you are afraid of heights or have problems climbing, this is something to consider carefully. I am not usually afraid of heights much but I was holding on to the banister for dear life. I was very determined to go down and take pictures for the blog! =)Le Souq kemang jakarta-050

Le Souq kemang jakarta-060
Le Souq interior decoration kemang jakarta-006
Le Souq interior decoration kemang jakarta-005
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I just love everything in the store! It’s too bad our container was full already. I still pine for the white Buddha lamps with neutral and white lampshades. Just divine!

I feel that the items are priced well – for the quality and look, it’s quite affordable. For those who love this chic aesthetic and have an eye for prints, this is definitely worth braving  Kemang macet (traffic) for!

What do you think of Le Souq? Did anything in the photos above catch your eye?

The design of the products distinguishes itself by a unique mix of different styles and cultures. The owner of Le Souq has travelled the world and lived in Europe, the US, Africa and Asia. She has assembled a collection of interior design products that reflects the best of all of these worlds.

Next to using high quality materials and trendy designs, we try to give your interior some “joie de vivre”, some fun, in order to give it a heart. This style of “Happy Chic” interior decorating is already well known in Europe and The United States. We think Jakarta is ready for “The New Chic”. Your home is the most important place on earth in these hectic times:it should have a luxurious feel, you should feel comfortable in it and it should put a smile on your face, too!

LE SOUQ INTERIOR DECORATING

+62 (0)21-7195672

Jl. Kemang Raya no. 72 lot K, Jakarta Selatan, 12730, Indonesia

Directions: It is very near this famous restaurant in Kemang and park inside the parking area, because it is in the same compound. The facade is pictured below.

GOOD TO KNOW: If you are purchasing alot of items, especially newly arrived expats, there is a discount for bulk purchases.

Le Souq kemang jakarta-008

6 Comments · jakarta shopping

Comments

  1. lydia says

    September 17, 2013 at 6:05 AM

    It’s definitely chic & will drop by there soon! thanks for the post, we really miss u guys here & hope is well! 😀

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      September 17, 2013 at 9:54 AM

      Hi Lydia! Thanks for dropping by my blog sweety! We miss you guys too! When are you visiting? =) Enjoy shopping in Le Souq!

      Reply
  2. antonia says

    September 17, 2013 at 9:48 AM

    le souqqqq..i’ve been wanting to go there since i read at chuzai living…love love love…

    this reading make me happy 🙂 just to look at the pict and the selection of the stuff

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      September 17, 2013 at 10:13 AM

      Hi Antonia, I say you should definitely go for it. Make a day out of it and eat delicious food in Sala, the quaint but superb resto beside it.

      Reply
  3. Kaho says

    October 8, 2013 at 6:05 PM

    Lovely photos!! I miss the shop! I love the new selections that the shop has especially in the basement!! I have one buddha candle, but I haven’t been able to brave myself to light it yet! 🙂

    Reply
    • diplomaticwife says

      October 8, 2013 at 8:48 PM

      Hey Kaho, I can totally relate to you about not wanting to light pretty candles. I have to remind myself to spend out. I have some candles that are so old the scent disappeared haha! I hope you find a nice occasion to light your buddha candle!

      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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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 Aéroport 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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