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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
For as long as I can remember I have dreamt about buying a very old home in Europe that is filled with glorious original details and maintaining that while modernizing bits as needed. This home in Italy was pretty much left intact by architecture and design firm Archiplan. Original materials were sealed to maintain their longevity, and some modern touches added to rooms like the kitchen and bathrooms. The result is stunning.
No matter how my taste in interior decor changes over the years, one style has never wavered - a very rustic, centuries-old home filled with vintage and modern furnishings. The Ampurdán House whose interior is designed by Serge Castella is absolutely stunning. Pairing Panton chairs (one of my all-time favourites) with a big old reclaimed wood table surrounded by ancient architecture and an oversized piece of modern art for some extra zing is just about the best thing ever. A diamond in the rough. (Previous feature of his work here)
How about this for a summer country getaway? The original and reclaimed features in this home are just to die for. From the portfolio of interior designer Caroline Holdaway (in case you missed last week's feature of hers here). This property, originally two keepers cottages in West Sussex, is a cherished second home for my clients who wanted to enlarge to create space for entertaining, provision for guests and ancillary accommodation. Two extensions were added and a glass link to capitalise on the views of the glorious Sussex Downs. Reclaimed oak and elm timber was sourced and laid for flooring and reclaimed York stone slabs were selected for interface areas with the outside. The newly constructed rooms were all given character by the use of reclaimed timber wall muntin. Oak beams were found and mechanically hollowed out to conceal the necessary modern steel supports marrying new construction with the original part of the building. Lime plaster was used to soften edges and a harmony of new and old sit peacefully together.
There is something about a home that is left raw and natural that always gives me heart palpitations. I nearly fell out of my chair when I spotted this apartment that was featured in one of my favourite magazines, Milk Décoration. Formerly a watchmaker's shop in a building constructed in 1905 in Østerbro, Copenhagen, it is the home of Niels Strøyer Christophersen, co-founder and artistic director of Danish design studio FRAMA. The patina, the history peeking out through peeling paint is perhaps too raw for most, but I think it's absolutely beautiful. Photos: Nathalie Krag
I thought I would follow up the last rustic home with another because WHY NOT. This is an 18th century stone country retreat in Cotswold, U.K decorated by interior designer Caroline Holdaway. It is such a beautiful structure, you could pretty much fill it with anything and I would still be totally smitten. Old floorboards, stone walls, beamed ceilings and some vintage furnishings makes this the coziest little getaway.
Fri, 28 Aug 2015