Where to shop in Lausanne: Micky's House

 

Never in our lives have we wanted a large loft more than the moment we stepped foot into Micky's House located in Quartier du Rôtillon. A specialty furniture shop that houses two levels of hand-picked pieces, you will be drooling over items as small as a spoon and as large as an airplane wing desk (yes, a real airplane wing turned into a desk).

Upstairs, or ground level rather, you will encounter more of the day-to-day home pieces. Light fixtures and pillows, tea sets and glass jars, organizers and throws; it feels similar to walking through an antique market, only things are less cluttered (though the slight clutter at Micky's House adds to the charm) and more curated for a specific taste.

And unlike an antique market, you don't need to sift through mountains of trash to find a treasure--the owners of Micky's House have already done that for you; every treasure carefully chosen and waiting to be taken back to your home.

 

Descend the stairs and it's as if you've encountered an entirely different store. The shop transforms from quaint and delicate home furnishings to an expansive warehouse-like showroom; bold candelabras cascading from the ceiling, stainless steel boat propellers supporting glass tables, and Union Jack motifs stitched into carpets and couches.

It feels as if the old and new worlds collided and created a beautiful marriage of elements: leather and steel, iron and silk, wood and glass. The structures themselves are museum-worthy, only these items are readily available to purchase and take home (hence our desire for an apartment  a house a mansion large enough to house some of these pieces). Most of these pieces are hand crafted by the British designer Timothy Oulton, whose love for the past merge with modern design techniques, giving each item a uniquely stylish flair.

But furniture collections aren't the only thing to be found downstairs at Micky's House, there is also an entire wall dedicated to travel accessories and handbags, all handcrafted by Timothy Oulton as well. From leather duffel bags with vintage racing designs to modernized metal trunks, there is something for every style and taste.

 

As if you needed more reasons to check out Micky's House, there is also an area for food and drink called 'Micky's Bar' which serves coffee, happy hour drink specials, brunch, and can also make food to take away.

So whether you are in the market for some statement furniture, or, like us, would just like to wander and ogle beautiful and unique pieces, stop by Micky's House for some inspiration then meander into Micky's Bar and stay awhile.

Micky's House

Rue du Flon 12

Quartier du Rôtillon - 1003 Lausanne

Horaires 

lu-ve: 09h - 19h

sa: 09h - 18h

Téléphone + 41 21 351 52 52

http://www.mickyshouse.ch/fr

Photo of the Week: Spring forward

Photography by Gabriel Garcia Marengo

This weekend. A glimpse of a gorgeous spring-like moment, when the sun-deprived lausannoises find a bright spot amid the shadows. We soak it up now because we know that March can be long and spring can be fleeting.

We are reminded to hold our breaths - the warmest days are coming...

Lausanne Street Style: Nikki

On a cold and dreary day, a cute [vintage!] coat, hat, gloves, and bag make all of the difference. And we love that most of what Nikki is wearing can be purchased right here in Lausanne!

On Nikki:

Coat: Fizzen (vintage)

Pants: Vera Moda

Hat: Globus

Gloves: H&M

Boots: Clarks

Bag: Coach

Photography by Gabriel Garcia Marengo

Where to shop in Lausanne: Mise En Bière

It doesn’t look like much from the street. In fact, you can pass the shop without really knowing it’s there (and it took me quite some time to find it, even with my I-phone navigating me). Above the doorway hangs a sign that reads, ‘Tailleur’—something that has no doubt misled several passersby. But if you do discover this shop, you will immediately succumb to its charm...and the hundreds of bottles of beer you desperately want to try.

Claude is a man who knows what he loves. He always loved beer, but pragmatism steered him toward a 9-5 job in an office with cubicles and a boss. Sound familiar? It wasn't until last year that he decided to ditch the corporate scene and join forces with his friend Daniel, the founder of Mis En Bière. And both he and we are so glad he did.

   

His eyes light up as he recounts his early connections to beer--it all began with a man named Jérôme Rebetez who lived in the same small area of the Swiss Jura. Claude had a fascination with Rebetez (who went from brewing small batches of beer in his parents' kitchen to winning international awards), and carries with him a sense of pride that such a small town in the Jura is now on the international beer map.  Rebetez now owns one of the most prestigious breweries in Switzerland called BFM, which brews the infamous L’Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien, a unique sour ale which uses wine yeast in the fermentation process. This beer, which is at the top of Claude's 'favorite picks', was featured in the New York Times.

Claude has several 'favorite picks'...but in a store with literally 350-450 different varieties of beer, you can't blame the guy. From sour to sweet, hoppy to malty, soft carbonation to spritzy, rich or light, thick or thin, slick, creamy, velvety, subtle...it's all there, right at your fingertips. But undeniably one of our favorite things about Mis en Bière is the shop's relationship with local breweries. Who knew there were so many talented brewers in and around Lausanne? From our friends over at Docteur Gab's to Les Faiseurs de Bière, Trois Dames, and Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes, there is so much to discover and appreciate.

So if you haven't already, pay Claude and Daniel a visit at Mis En Bière where you won't only be swept away by the sheer volume of beer, but by the shopkeeper's genuine love for the craft.


Visit the shop's website here

Lausanne Street Style: Naomi

Black is the new black. You can never go wrong with a monochrome look, especially when you add a pop of color to your lips or play around with different patterns and textures, as seen in Naomi's fur accents and reptile skin bag.

On Naomi:

Coat: Zara

Scarf: Vintage - given to her by her mother

Bag: Bata

Boots: Bongenie

Lausanne with Kids: Baby Sensory

 

We live in an age where we have an inexhaustible amount of information at our fingertips. This can be an easy trap for new parents...and one I almost fell into.

As I was preparing for my first baby, I was overwhelmed by the 'do's' and 'do-nots', the never-ending advice, the parenting books and blogs that tell you what you should be doing, how you should be doing it, and signs that you are doing it wrong. By the time I had my baby, I couldn't help but feel pressure to stay up-to-date with the newest strategies and practices to help my daughter grow and develop properly.

Let me share with you my findings:

There is no single right way. The most important thing, I've found, is to love your child the best way you know how. Simplifies things doesn't it?

And in the practice of loving my daughter, I wanted to find an activity that we could enjoy together, that would be mutually beneficial, and, if I'm honest, take some of the pressure to entertain her off of me for a small part of the day. This is how I found Baby Sensory.

Baby Sensory is a 60-minute class, for babies from 1 week to 13 months, that introduces baby and parent to loads of different sensory activities. Developed by Dr. Lin Day in the UK, this class allows parents to learn new ways to interact with their little ones. From sing-alongs to sign language, light shows and puppet shows, baby massages and tickle time, the class is led by a trained specialist who takes you through a series of activities, most of which are replicable at home.

The thing I love about Baby Sensory is the pressure is off. For an hour, I can sit with my baby and engage in a creative process that is led by someone else. Samantha, the head of Baby Sensory in Lausanne, is an energetic and knowledgeable leader who completed her training in the UK last year. She creates a warm and nurturing atmosphere, not only for the babies, but for the parents as well. 

 

Within the series of activities, Sam builds in some time for the babies to interact with one another amongst the large variety of toys and play-mats provided, while parents are able to engage in some 'adult chat'. We are able to share stories, have a laugh, and watch our little ones develop motor as well as necessary social skills. 

Sam is also a great teacher; she has a heart for this and it is seen clearly through her interaction with the babies, the quality of activities she creates, and the way she encourages parents throughout her lessons. I would call her 'a natural', but she has had plenty of practice with four little ones of her own.

 

Is Baby Sensory the answer to all of my wishes to create a well-balanced, intelligent, and socially adept child? Maybe, maybe not. But it is a place where I can relax, a place where I can enjoy my daughter, a place where I can trust that she is completely enjoying her time and making new discoveries. Perhaps the light show isn't going to help her become a Nobel-prize winning engineer (well, maybe not directly), but it does guarantee a hard-earned nap after each class. And for that, I am grateful.

You can join in on a class anytime! For more information on Baby Sensory in Lausanne see the information below:
Samantha Jeunet-Mancy
Baby Sensory Switzerland
www.babysensory.com/ch
tel: 078 851 53 61
Or visit their Facebook page

And if you would like to read more about the Baby Sensory movement, visit the official website here.

Lausanne Street Style: Claire and little Lisa

We couldn't help ourselves with these two! We spotted Claire's vintage and designer ensemble from across the market and were impressed with the ease of her look, but her ability to look so chic at the same time. And how could we resist when little Lisa wanted to pose with her mama as well?

On Claire:

Coat: Isabel Marant

Boots: Vintage

Scarf: The Kooples

Purse: Vintage

Photography by Gabriel Garcia Marengo

Valentine's Day Giveaway

Winter's winds can be harsh on our lips...the very lips we use to kiss the ones we love. Now you can protect them with Kiehl's LIP BALM #1. We are bringing back one of our favorite beauty brands for this LG Giveaway!

To enter, just leave a comment below telling us where the most romantic place in Lausanne is and why! Entries accepted until Friday, February 14 (Valentine's Day) at 5:00pm. We'll announce the winner on Facebook shortly thereafter.

Good luck, and pucker up!