Reader's home #2

This next home is that of Melody, and it has an interesting past: "We moved in a little over 2 months ago and we're still settling in.  The bf, chi and I transitioned from a 600sq ft apt, to this massive 1330 sq bungalow. It's on Henry Ford's former estate on a very old island in Miami Beach called Hibiscus Island. Ford's VP built it in 1930 and it's passed through a few owners since. It's very bohemian, quiet, eclectic and inviting. Aside from some weird history that i've read about ford and his cohorts, we love this location. (One of my bungalow neighbors has a tiled swastika inlay-ed in her floor. She keeps it very hush hush with an Ikea rug over it at all times. Apparently the Nazi's were big into Ford's assembly line thing- and the dude is even mentioned in Meinkamph).
Anyways, back to my home... The main space that we use as our livingroom has 15 ft ceilings and a wonderful view of the bay. We have a couple who lives on a boat docked outside, you can spot it in one of the shots.  I have a mix of taxidermy, thoughtfully selected sentimental bits, tons of books in our fireplace bc the boy is an avid reader, an ever growing family wall of childhood pics and memories and some handmade treasures and prints picked up on etsy. The kitchen, as I've been told was his butler's quarters. The Chi Parker loves to sunbathe in the kitchen bc the terrazo floors heat up nicely. My bar is rarely stocked, but holds some of my fave pieces: a found book 'poems/tiny apts', an antique chemistry vessel and a scull decanter my uncle made 45 yrs ago.  All in all the space is air enough that we dont feel cramped but I'm sure i'll keep filling it up with more yummy things."
Melody has entered her home in The Selby/CB2 contest so go here for her entry and to vote for her. Thanks Melody - your home is fab and WHAT A VIEW!!!

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Reader's home #1

I've got 2 reader's homes for you today. This one comes from Ragnhild, a Norwegian who has spent the last 6 years in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is a freelance architect, graphic designer and photographer who lives in a large apartment with her friend Katrine, who bought it as a renovation project last summer. They have both worked very hard to turn the apartment into a stylin' pad. Here is a little tour of their home (Check out Ragnhild's blog "Mine Venners Hjem" which means "My Friends' Homes" = she visits her friends' homes and their friends' homes and takes pictures and writes about their spaces, in both Norwegian and English).

A globe from a local secondhand store lightens up the living room, - together with ”Hans” the penguin. A stack of the Norwegian interior magazine, “Nytt Rom”  (New Room) works perfectly as a side table.

The chairs are also from the local secondhand store and the dining table is from Katrine's childhood. The table got a tiny makeover with a bucket of chalkboard paint. My collection of architecture and design books is placed directly on the floor in lack of a bookcase. The photographs are my own. The nice wooden floor was discovered under several layers of carpets, boards and concrete.

The Bouroullec brothers’ well-known algues are decorating the wall behind the sofa from Bolia. The algues were a gift from a friend and former colleague. The yellow bird pillow was purchased at Habitat during a trip to Brighton. The graphic black and white pillow is home-made.

My favourite chair was bought for a very reasonable price at a “staff-auction” at R.O.O.M. and has been named “Haiald”. In the black leather chair lays the sheepskin rug “Ludde”. The pouf in front of the chair is from Granit and is filled with quilts and pillows for overnight guests. My mum bought the radio in the window with money she got at her confirmation.

In my bedroom stands Ewan McGregor’s directors chair for Habitat. A very helpful and patient moose from Hay is hanging over the chair.

Helmer, the drawerunit from Ikea got a new life with help from a dymo labelwriter. The little wooden monkey is a gift from a friend. Some of my own photos are hanging over the drawer unit.

An old beer case from the Carlsberg brewery works as a cd rack. The newspaper rack is yet another treasure from the local secondhand shop. The wall behind is stripped for many layers of wallpaper and has now become our own “Buenos Aires” wall.

The tiny dinosaurs in the bay window are a gift from a good friend.

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Reader's home - Dana's Italian villa

This next reader's home is that of Dana Frigerio. It's located in Lake Como, Italy and was built around 1914. Her husband is an architect with a passion for books, and Dana is a garden designer with a passion for interior design. Their furnishings combine both Western and Oriental antiques with some contemporary pieces. It's a stunning home that really showcases Dana's passion for design, and WOW check out her kitchen!!! (P.S. Their current focus is on their garden which I can only imagine how gorgeous it will turn out. And Dana has a gardening blog so have a looksie). Thanks Dana!

Reader's home - Sandra's den

Here's an email I received the other day from Sandra: "You featured my dining room on your blog before (HERE) & I've slowly been working on the rest of my home. I'm sending pics of my den which I've been putting together in dribs & drabs w/some really good bargains via consignment shops & ebay. I really enjoyed seeing other readers' homes & thought to send this in." And am I ever glad she did. Her den is a cozy mix of many styles but is a wonderful cohesive space with lots of global influences. I love it Sandra!

Reader's home #3

This last reader's home comes from a longtime reader of DTI, Ypille: "Recently, I've had the pleasure of reuniting with one of my best friends Graes Israel-Kiernan, after 9 years of not seeing each other. Both Graes and I are avid Desire to Inspire readers/subscribers and when I went to her house for a vacation, I just had to photograph it and send the pictures to you ladies.
Graes, her husband Jeff and their 2 young-lings Liam and Sebastian just moved to Wexford, PA, near Pittsburg and was able to acquire this extarordinary mid-century, well crafted 25-year old home. Per Graes, the original owners of this structure was a surgeon and his glass-artist wife who had this house custom-made according to their liking. And with Graes' talent and eye for design, usage of classic and modern furniture and her proletarian approach to life, this house in my view has become the most spectacular of all the houses I've stayed in.
Graes owns a bookstore and loves to garden as well, this is made evident in the theme of design all around her house with the presence of books, bookshelves and plants which are practical yet appealing for homes. Other than repainting the entire interior to Graes' preferred colors, there has been no major remodeling done as of yet and Graes, being the creative and honest designer that she is, pulled this one off and transformed this timeless house and stamped her mark on every room, signifying that this house is now her home!"

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