A gorgeous Spanish home

I have just a quick post for you all today as I am trying to enjoy a gorgeous warm and sunny weekend. I spent yesterday at my sister's cottage and today I've got some yard work, spray painting (my shoe shelves need another coat of sealant as many of my shoes ended up with random neon pink marks) and other random chores to get through - anything I can think of to do outdoors. I saw this home on Nuevo Estilo and fell in love. It's my favourite scenario - and old home that has been renovated and brought to life with mostly contemporary decor. It's extra special as it's located on the stunning island of Mallorca, in the Mediterranean Sea. Oh, and it's available for rent as a vacation home here. 

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A renovated mill in Italy

A big thanks to Deb for giving us a tip about this gorgeous Italian mill, photographed by Stefano Scatà. Dating back to 1570 and located in San Bartolomeo di Breda di Piave, Treviso Italy, the mill is now an inn called Locanda Rosa Rosae and is owned by Elisabetta and Silvio Stefani. It's a gorgeous, jaw-dropping mix of old and new that is my absolute dream - to take something really old and modernize it while maintaining as much of the old charm as possible. *sigh* How rewarding that must feel when accomplished. 

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Chesa Wazzau

The slow movement. I have always been attracted to slow food but now I'm falling for the idea of slow design and slow holidays (if I can call it that). I love the restoration of significant buildings to their former glory and instead of hiding them away in private hands, throwing open the doors as a hotel/holiday rental to experience all the cultural richness of the area. You have seen my obsession lately with Italian idea of albergo diffuso now I have fallen in love with this Swiss 17th century Engadine farmhouse, Chesa Wazzau in the village of Bever just a short drive from St. Moritz. A typical Engadine house had everything under one roof, house, barn, family, cows and now paying guests. A house party is in order don't you think? The long table is already set.

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Pared back stalking

Real estate stalking in the hills above the ocean at Lorne in Victoria. An interior pared back. Simple style. Not too much. Just enough luxury and space. Lots of space. A little bit linen, a little bit french, a little bit casual elegance, a lot Aussie bush. And a view, such a lovely view. Not what I would call me usual taste but add just a little more boho, some art ... I'd move right in. Such beautiful surroundings. So much potential.  (Just wish that some of the images weren't stretched.) Link here.

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Alia Bengana - part 2

This next project by architect Alia Bengana is quite different from the previous one. It's a 450 square metre home in Algiers, designed to preserve the existing greenery as much as possible: thus the main entrance located along a stone wall which penetrates inside a double-height space, is carried out by climbing stairs directly in line with a palm tree which is viewed in its entirety through a glass wall. All the entrances of the houses have been designed as paintings open to the surrounding nature, framed by palm trees, orange trees or yuccas. I love it when architects pay this much attention to the beauty of the surroundings and frame the views within the structure. Brilliant.

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