Kim's personal links
MY FAVOURITE DECOR SHOPS IN OTTAWA
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kitchen remodel in my last house
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my twin sister's mostly kid's rooms decor blog
I have some more European chic interiors for you because I may be a bit obsessed. This time it is the home of Adri & Silvia by Milan-based interior and product designer Pietro Russo. I adore the simplicity of this home which only emphasizes the dreamy architectural details. This designer is even more talented in the products he has crafted, including some beautiful lighting (see photo #5) and the room divider bookshelf in the 4th photo.
What do these three holiday rental properties have in common besides their Mediterranean locations? And besides their minimalist design whether old or new? And besides all being via Welcome Beyond? They're all united by the fact that we'd rather be there than here. Stop dreaming and go.
I'm on a mission, a colour mission and the interwebs have taken me to La Minervetta Maison, a boutique hotel in Sorrento, Italy. With a decorating style not for the faint hearted it draws its inspiration from fishing villages and all things nautical, the Memphis movement and the whole 80s vibe. Fun and in your face it's the perfect spot for one piece swim suits, floaty kaftans, incredibly large floppy straw hats, platform espadrilles and enough gold jewellery to drown you in the crystal blue Mediterranean Sea. Part theatre and movie set, part Italian maximalism. But sadly my quest continues for the ultimate colour overload. As much as the hotel makes me want to whistle Neapolitan love songs there are still all those white walls.
Aptly named the Arch House, Italian architecture firm A2BC has taken minimalism to a new level with the renovation of this Milan apartment. It was an operation of purification of the elements built over time that have marred the structure and the original historical characteristics of the space. This process has brought the soul of the place to light; twelve arches strung along the bearing structure that longitudinally divides the apartment in two creating three separate zones transversally: living, dining and kitchen, and bedrooms. Communication between the environments only occurs at the arched passageways. The project develops through the enhancement of these classical architectural elements that become the protagonists of the spatial scene. White as the dominant color and the concrete floor underline the intent to maintain a neutral approach in order to highlight the architecture of the space and its characteristic elements. I have a couple of archways in my home - and now I want MORE! Those concrete floors with all these cats would be awesome too.
Taking an old structure and, restoring the beautiful original details while giving it an eccentric modern vibe in the decor is something I gravitate towards and I am doing with my own home. Rome based interior designer Ilaria Miani takes this to another level with her spaces. Miani’s passion for restoring abandoned farmhouses, palaces and villages is inspired first and foremost by the building itself. A bit of colored plaster still holding onto a crumbling wall; a stone niche carved by ancient hands; or the sagging massive wooden beams that once supported an existence that has long since faded are her starting points. Tiles are handcrafted of clay and baked in nearby kilns; tables and beds are forged with the same hammers that have been used for generations; and chairs carved by carpenters using ancient tools. The landscape too, informs and inspires. Whether it is the rolling hills of Tuscany, the gentle waters of a Venetian canal or the cobbled streets of Rome, Miani’s treatments speak the same language, evoking and reinterpreting a timeless language. While Miani’s creations are rooted in the past, they are very much a thing of the present. Her own designs – modern, sleek and colorful – encompass every detail of her projects. From the chairs and the lamps to the forks and the linens, the effortless casual sophistication that has become her trademark, creates a uniquely cohesive whole.
Thu, 30 Jun 2016