Amsterdam, Beyond the Postcard

by Arnaud | Jun 16, 2026 | Events, Taste

5 min read

Amsterdam, Beyond the Postcard

Whenever people hear I’m going to Amsterdam, the same things come up. Bicycles. Canals. Coffee shops.
But within a few hours of arriving, I’m reminded that the city’s real magic lies somewhere else entirely.

LISETTE

Amsterdam is a city best explored on foot. Walking through it feels like wandering through an open air museum, where every street reveals another beautiful facade, another perfect window, another carefully tended garden. The houses seem to compete, not in grandeur, but in charm.

What always strikes me is the abundance of flowers. Roses climb up historic facades, fig trees stand proudly in front gardens, and window boxes overflow with seasonal blooms. It’s impossible not to notice that flowers are woven into Dutch life. They aren’t reserved for special occasions. They’re part of the everyday. Real flowers, fresh flowers, growing wherever they can, making ordinary streets feel extraordinary.

The same philosophy extends indoors. Peek through a window and you’ll often spot a vase of fresh flowers on a table or desk. It’s a small detail, but it says something about the Dutch approach to beauty. You don’t wait for a celebration. You simply make everyday life a little more beautiful.

And then there are the signs.

Without stepping into a single shop, Amsterdam offers a masterclass in typography. Traditional cafés and bars still proudly display their names in hand painted lettering, often in the famous Amsterdamse Krulletter, or Amsterdam Curly Letter. Developed in the 1940s and perfected by generations of Dutch sign painters, these elegant swirls and flourishes have become part of the city’s identity, decorating windows and facades with a craftsmanship that refuses to disappear. It’s a wonderful reminder that even something as practical as a shop sign can become a work of art.

I arrived yesterday to one of those perfect postcard days. Soft clouds drifting across a blue sky, bicycles quietly passing by, roses in full bloom and beautiful hand painted signs catching the afternoon light. There was no need to visit a museum or gallery. The city itself was enough.

Perhaps that’s what I love most about Amsterdam. It doesn’t separate art from everyday life. Flowers belong on the streets. Beautiful lettering belongs on shop windows. Historic houses are meant to be lived in. Beauty isn’t hidden away. It’s simply part of the daily routine.

And maybe that’s the best souvenir the Dutch have to offer: the idea that ordinary life deserves extraordinary care.

Ordinary. Art. Ordinary Again.

by Arnaud | Jun 16, 2026 | Design

5 min read

Ordinary. Art. Ordinary Again.

I’ve always believed that the most beautiful ideas come from the most ordinary places.

LISETTE

One of my favourite patterns started with a simple plastic chair. It was one of the very first designs in the Banal series, a celebration of the everyday objects we often overlook. I loved the idea that something so familiar could become a piece of art, simply by looking at it differently.

Years later, that story has come full circle.

The pattern has found its way back into everyday life as Sila Duduk, our new collection of stools. I love the journey it has taken. An ordinary object became art, and that art has become an ordinary object once again, ready to be part of someone’s home and daily routine.

Sila Duduk, which means “please, have a seat,” is designed to be wonderfully useful. It can be a stool, a side table, a bedside companion, a footrest, or simply a cheerful splash of colour in a room. Small enough to fit anywhere and versatile enough to become indispensable, it’s the kind of object that quietly finds its place in your life.

There’s something deeply satisfying about this cycle. Good design shouldn’t live behind glass or only on gallery walls. It should be touched, used, enjoyed and lived with. The best objects are often the ones that make everyday life a little more beautiful.

Ordinary. Art. Ordinary Again.

It’s a simple idea, but perhaps that’s exactly the point. Beauty is all around us. Sometimes we just have to look twice.

Exclusively available at Kasturi.

The cookbook I should have bought

by Arnaud | Jun 9, 2026 | Food

5 min read

The cookbook I should have bought

It’s a dangerous thing, putting a bookshop inside a supermarket.

LISETTE

The other day, while wandering through the beautiful, and eerily empty, Market at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, I stumbled across a little collection of cookbooks. There weren’t many left, but every single one looked thoughtfully chosen. One, in particular, caught my eye: Your Daily Veg by Joe Woodhouse.

I didn’t buy it but I should have.

Joe Woodhouse grew up on farms in England, became a vegetarian at the age of ten, trained as a chef, and later worked as a food stylist and photographer before turning his hand to writing cookbooks. His approach to cooking is wonderfully simple: let the vegetables do the talking.

This isn’t one of those vegetarian cookbooks trying to imitate meat. Nor is it about complicated techniques or impossible-to-find ingredients. It’s about making everyday vegetables exciting, seasonal, and utterly delicious. Think roasted aubergines, comforting potato dishes, creamy mushrooms, grilled asparagus, and clever little combinations that make you wonder why you never thought of them yourself.

Even Nigella Lawson is a fan, describing the food as joyful, seasonal, and full of flavour without being fussy. That’s probably the best way to describe the whole book.

The irony isn’t lost on me. I found one of my favourite discoveries of the month in what might be the loneliest beautiful supermarket in Kuala Lumpur. I still don’t know how the place is surviving. During my visit, I was the only customer. Nobody came in. Nobody left. But perhaps that’s exactly why it’s worth a detour.

You might discover a beautiful ingredient, a wonderful bottle of olive oil, or a cookbook you didn’t know you needed. And if you’re lucky, perhaps you’ll even persuade them to give you a little discount.

As for me, I think I need to go back. Hopefully the supermarket will still be there.

And hopefully, so will the book.

Some things just Klic

by Arnaud | Jun 9, 2026 | Taste

5 min read

Some things just Klic

Some projects are complicated.
Some take endless meetings, revisions, and second-guessing.

LISETTE

And then there are those rare occasions when everything simply… klics.

A few years ago, I met Chris while working on The Campus. What started as a project turned into a friendship and a creative partnership built on trust, good ideas, and a shared ambition to create beautiful spaces.

So when he invited NALA to work on his newest venture, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Introducing KLIC, a brand new tennis destination behind Putra World Trade Centre.

We’ve had the privilege of working on the branding and interior identity, helping to shape a place that’s modern, welcoming, and full of personality. It’s one of those projects that reminds me why I love design so much. It’s never just about logos or colours. It’s about creating places where people want to spend time.

The courts are ready to play.
The café is still on its way. The reception is still being built.

But I rather like that.
There’s something wonderfully optimistic about opening the courts first. Play the game now. Finish the details as you go. Don’t wait for perfection to enjoy the journey.

Working with Chris has been an absolute pleasure. One of the nicest things in business is finding people you genuinely enjoy creating with. The second project is always special because it’s built on trust, and trust is one of the most valuable things you can earn.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created together, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.

So if you’re looking for a beautiful new place to play tennis, watch this space.

KLIC is opening soon.

And sometimes, the best things in life simply… klic.

The loneliest beautiful supermarket

by Arnaud | Jun 9, 2026 | Travel

5 min read

The loneliest beautiful supermarket

The other day, I wandered into what might just be the loneliest beautiful supermarket I’ve ever visited.

LISETTE

Hidden inside the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, it has almost everything going for it. Beautiful branding, elegant interiors, thoughtful graphics, and shelves curated with obvious care. There was even a tiny book section. Almost sold out, but the handful of books that remained were wonderful, including the one featured in this newsletter.

What struck me wasn’t what was there.

It was who wasn’t.

I was the only customer in the entire supermarket.

I took my time, wandering through the aisles, looking at the displays and admiring the details. Nobody came in. Nobody left. For that brief moment, it felt as though the whole supermarket had been designed just for me.

And it made me think. I have always believed that good design works. Beautiful spaces matter. They make us stop, look, and appreciate the world around us.

But perhaps beauty alone isn’t enough. Perhaps even the most beautifully designed places need something more.

A story. A community. A reason for people to make them part of their lives. A shop, a café, a supermarket, or even a fashion brand can have wonderful interiors and beautiful products, but without soul, they’re simply pretty rooms waiting for someone to walk in.

Good design opens the door. People keep it open.

Perhaps that’s the missing ingredient. Not another renovation or a new logo, but little rituals and familiar faces. The butcher who knows your name. The coffee you always order. The recommendation for a good book. The feeling that this place belongs to you, and you belong to it.

Just across the road is another supermarket(Isetan), full of people. It may not be as carefully designed, but over time it has built habits, trust, and loyalty.

Those things can’t simply be bought. They have to be earned.

I hope this supermarket succeeds. I’d hate to see a space this beautiful disappear. It has enormous potential and, with a little luck and the right story, perhaps it will find its audience.

It was also a quiet reminder for me. Whether we’re building a supermarket, opening a shop, or creating a brand, beautiful design is incredibly important.
But beauty is only the invitation.

It’s the story that makes people stay.

« Older Entries

Next Entries »