Behind Lilly Orelia
Hi there, and welcome to our blog! We are Jolien and Ignace, a young couple from Antwerp, Belgium, excited to share a new chapter of our lives with you. We recently bought our first apartment (we had to wait for 1,5 years before we could move in) and in the process, we discovered a shared love for interior design. We realised that creating a space that feels like “us” is about every small detail that turns a house into a home.
Why We Started This Blog
This blog is more than just a way to document our journey—it’s a space where we want to bundle our ideas, inspire others, and share everything we learn along the way. Our aim is to take you along on the journey as we transform our new apartment into our dream space. From colour palettes and cozy corners to the inevitable mistakes and learning moments,… Besides, this blog will serve as our personal journal as we grow and make life decisions.
Our goal is simple: we want to bundle all of our thoughts, ideas and inspirations into what we call our “idea box”. Think of it as a space where we store our collective creativity – whether it is a cool furniture piece we found in a local shop, a DIY project we are working on or a struggle we are facing while trying to balance functionality with style. We want to inspire others who might be going through similar experiences, whether you’re renting your first apartment, purchasing a home, or simply giving your space a refresh.
And because no project is without its hiccups, you can expect us to talk about the challenges we face too—whether it’s finding the right furniture, managing our budget, or making decisions together as a couple.
Our Vision for the Apartment
We want our apartment to reflect who we are: a balanced and minimalist design with cozy touches that make it feel warm and welcoming. A place where we can enjoy our morning coffee (see photo) or host friends for dinner, all while feeling relaxed at home.
While we have plenty of ideas, we’re also learning as we go. Every room presents its own challenges, and we’re embracing the imperfections. After all, the beauty of creating your own space lies in making it yours—even when things don’t go exactly as planned.
What to Expect
We’ll be updating this blog regularly with room-by-room progress, mood boards, new projects, shop recommendations and reviews of products we love (and maybe some we regret!).
Whether you’re looking for inspiration, advice, or just curious to see how our project unfolds, we hope you’ll join us on this exciting journey. We’re thrilled to have you here.
Feel free to leave comments, share your thoughts and ask questions along the way. We’d love to hear from you – what inspires your home, what challenges you’ve faced and any tips you might have for us as we continue our journey.
With love,
Lilly Orelia
One reply to “Welcome to our journey: making our first apartment our home”