The artist's beach shack

Artist David Bromley's Byron Bay lair no less. Art and soul, living large and outrageously. A series of charcoal coloured cottages and sheds complete with outdoor baths, airstream and rusty truck. And you can buy it. It's a "steal" at just over $1.5 million AUD. He will be taking his impressive art collection when he goes ... except for those daubs on the walls. Imagine having David Bromley originals on your walls ... literally on your walls. Fun, quirky and not to everyone's taste it screams art as a way of life, not a trapping of success. I have been real estate stalking in Byron Bay, New South Wales as part of a week that will be heavy on beach shack beauties. Link here while it lasts.

Click to read more ...

To let ....

Looking for somewhere to rent? London, SE1 not too far from the Tate Modern, the Old Vic and the Young Vic. Walk to the city via the Millennium Bridge.

"This impeccably restored one-bedroom loft apartment with roof terrace is situated in the historic Ragged School, close to Borough Market. Set over two floors, the flat has all of the characteristics of a classic loft, including exposed brickwork, vaulted wooden ceilings and massive warehouse windows. Styled and furnished by the renowned photographer and stylist Zanna, it is in our opinion one of the most atmospheric apartments in central London."

Amazing building, amazing space, amazing fit out. Industrial, rustic, quirky and fabulous. Furnished or unfurnished. (Furnished please .... love the old shop fittings and the wall of old cupboards gives me goosebumps.) Available immediately. I'd move in in a heart beat but I can't afford the rent. £2,924 pcm / £675 pw. If you rent it can I sleep on the couch?

The Ragged School via The Modern House.

Click to read more ...

Stalking OTT

Spring has sprung in Australia and what does that mean? Blossom and hay fever, spring cleaning and auctions. After a long barren winter with scant few properties to real estate stalk suddenly I am spoilt for choice as I trawl the listings. A double offering today. A rollicking overdose of kitsch and boulle and ormolu wrapped up in luxury and tempered (just slightly) with white. A confection of a house at the best of times, the owner has claimed it as their own and ramped up the volume. Blackamoors and Chinese dragons, marble, large art and coffered ceilings. The interiors make me smile. This is certainly the perfect party house. My favourite part, though, must be the gardens and the creeper clad exterior. Talk about kerb appeal. St Kilda West near the beach in Melbourne. Link here while it lasts.

I cannot take credit for finding today's houses. Fellow stalker Andrea beat me to them. Happily she sends me links.

Click to read more ...

Interior tailors

Original, creative, tailored, at times a little quirky. Soft furnishings are not often associated with these terms but then the work created by London-based Violet and George is not your average garden variety curtains and cushions. Their unique designs are born of their passion for textiles within interiors. Hairy goat ottomans, Spanish flamenco ruffle drapes, men's tailored eames chairs and sexy lampshades are just some of my favourites from their portfolio. And for something completely out of the box (and definitely not for everyone) what I can only describe as a carnivorous bunny powder room. Now that's quirky.

Click to read more ...

Time stands still

A man with a dream, an obsession, a domestic drama that unfolds through ten rooms over almost 200 years. House as museum, house as living history, house as an unfolding play. Dennis Severs' House, Spitalfields, London. No electricity, no mod cons. It is as if the members of an 18th century merchant family have just stepped out of the room. Half eaten meal, beds still warm, the litter of everyday life. You can read more about the artist who uses his visitor's imagination as his canvas and the friends who keep it going  here.