Break

This is just a quick note to say that I unfortunately need to take a short break from the blog. I have a test on Wednesday at work that I need to pass in order to potentially get a promotion (gotta love the hoops you need to jump through to get anywhere in the government). I had better dedicate all of my free time until then to studying, something I absolutely detest doing. Jo will be here with her regularly scheduled programming so do not fret. On that note, I leave you with some photos of lovely, summery outdoor spaces because I'd rather be hanging out in any of these than sitting at my dining table studying.

House Beautiful

Walker-Warner Architects

Architectural Digest

Architectural Digest

Misool Eco Resort

Marit, a DTI regular, wrote us recently about her resort in Indonesia and we had to share this dreamy place with everyone. Those of you living through a terrible winter (like myself), I am warning you that the photos below might result in a few tears shed so I recommend having a tissue on hand. "Your blog has been a big inspiration to me as we've been designing our resort and home in West Papua, Indonesia. We're an eco resort in the true sense of the word, using only reclaimed wood in the construction of our 11 cottages, dive shop, restaurant, and pier. I could go on and on about that stuff, but I think the aspect that might be of most interest to you is our Water Cottages, designed by UK-born but Australian-based architect Viv Faithfull at WH Architects in Melbourne. There are 8 of them built on stilts over a tranquil lagoon."

"I designed the sideboard in the first photo and our Javanese craftsmen built it. It took 18 men to move it into place! The rattan furniture was made in one of the local villages. Together with Conservation International, we made a project to bring rattan artisans from Bali to Papua. The local villagers now have an income that doesn't rely on unsustainable exploitation of marine resources. And we have great, locally made furniture!"

*sniffle sniffle* See? I told you! Thanks so much Marit for sharing your incredible home with us. Maybe one day....

Outdoor favourites

Light Locations

I've gone through my files and found my favourite "outdoor rooms" for 2008. I love living outside as much as possible and if I had spaces as stylish as these I doubt I'd want to come back inside. Whether a chair pulled up casually in a favourite garden corner, a private place on a veranda or an architect's dream melding outside with in there is inspiration a plenty.

realestate.com.au	Alison Miksch
Claesson Koivisto Rune	Lucyina Moodie

William Hefner

Secret Gardens

Eric Staudenmaier	Eric Staudenmaier
Reed Davis	Shootspaces

Sandy Koepke

Marie Claire Maison

Quentin Bacon	Magni Design

Sandy Koepke

Lucyina Moodie

Landart

It's a clever name, Landart Landscapes. This garden design firm creates that connection between outdoors and in that we all crave, that extra space, the outdoor room that we all covet. It helps to be based in Sydney with it's beautiful climate and relaxed lifestyle. It also helps to have such a design connection with nature. I so want the apartment balcony with the fish tank. Come on summer! (Apologies to our Northern Hemisphere readers :P)

Images from Landart Landscapes

The studio of Andrea Marcus

Jessica of the blog The World According to Jessica Claire promised a while back to send me some photos of her visit to the studio of artist Andrea Marcus. It's located in Stoney Lake, just outside Peterborough, Ontario. "The gardens have been featured in a few magazines here in Canada and I thought you'd especially love the little bedroom overlooking her workspace. Can you imagine waking up every day and facing the waterfall? It truly is one of the most serene and heavenly places I've ever been." Heavenly is right. It looks so incredibly peaceful, and Jessica's photos perfectly capture that. (Thanks Jessica!)