Where did the weekend go?

Hello? Hello Complaints Department? Yes hello. I would like to know where the weekend went to. 48 hours. I was promised 48 hours and I'm certain it was far less. Friday I was at work and "poof" it was Monday and work again. Sorry? Not your problem? Quality Assurance Department? It's not the amount of time but how I spend it. Now you tell me! If I had known I would have spent the weekend at Son Gener on the island of Majorca. A mixture of old and modern. Austere and elegant. There's a pattern appearing here in my recent choices. Simple luxury. OK Complaints Department put me through to Welcome Beyond. Thanks!

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La Finca by Uxus

Uxus crafts experiences that people fall in love with. Brand strategy, architecture and interior design. "We fuse rational design solutions with artistic sensibilities, striking a perfect balance between emotional connection and tangible results." What they really do is design beautiful dreams ... like this farm in Mallorca, Spain. Rustic counterbalanced with sophistication. Historic with new. Cooling, cave-like interiors with dramatic exteriors. Luxury with simplicity. Chiaroscuro balanced with harmony. An undeniable beauty. (Kim featured their Amsterdam canal house 3 years ago and it still sits in the front of my inspiration file ... exactly where this house is going too.)

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Swedish home

Why are the Swedes so good at getting it right? Casual yet stylish, comfortable and cozy, family focused and perfect for entertaining friends. Yesterday's apartment prompted Anna to send us a link to her sister's home which is currently listed for sale. What a lovely house! What a shame to be selling! I'm sure that the owner is heading on to greener pastures but still .... imagine leaving those posts and beams, the rustic floors and ceramic stoves. Love the open plan living, dining, kitchen with clever central storage and the attic! Swoon! I'm seriously thinking of immigrating to Sweden.

P.S. Anna's sister is called Linnea and you can see more of her lovely home on her blog Linneas Blommande Värld.

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Feedin' my needin' for Sweden

Are we still in love with the "Swedish apartment look"? I still am. Lots of white, fabulous parquetry floors, period features, large windows with streaming light. Cute kitchens, compact bathrooms, white and white and in this case punches of rich colour.  What about that kakelugn (tiled stove)? Oh my what I wouldn't give for a kakelugn. The dark floors in the white kitchen are doing it for me too as well as the glimpse of green from the hallway. For sale here.

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Stuart Membery

Fashion designer, artist, furniture and homewares designer, Australian icon Stuart Membery. Welcome to his piece of paradise in Bali. Stuart's home is elegant and relaxed, catering to all the senses. A tropical paradise as it should be. A little OTT, a lot of fun Stuart's compound consists of a main house with extensive outdoor living areas and a guest house all wrapped in the lush greenery of the tropical gardens. And of course it is the perfect showcase for Stuart's latest range of furniture and homewares. Gorgeous rattan and wicker, carved timbers with an asian plantation touch, lashings of blue and white. I'm booking my ticket for an extended stay or at least dreaming of where to place a rattan chair or two in my place. You'll find it all on his website.

Photography by Tim Street-Porter.

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