A renovated apartment in Paris

I love European architecture and the wonderful classic apartments that I come across when doing blog research. This simple, modern 60m² apartment renovation in the eleventh arrondissement of Paris by Septembre Architecture pushes all the right buttons. Some marble and custom cabinetry in the kitchen, some brass and hex tiles in the bathroom, glass doors and beautiful moldings. The rooms of the apartment are aligned to optimize the circulation and create a visual continuity. The suite of spaces seems to extend to infinity with a large mirror at the back of the apartment. Each room has a specific floor treatment, weaving a true Jacquard weave between wooden floors, painted wooden floors, hexagonal mosaic and polished concrete. Photos: David Foessel (Check out more of their work here and here)

Escape

Some days start with such promise then come crashing down. Some days just suck. Some days I wish I could run away to a hideaway where  the rooms are simple yet beautiful, the tick of the clock is actually the sound of a giant irrigator in a far field and the view is a never ending paddock of rich brown soil. No disturbances, no responsibilities, no one else. Today I'd like to run away to Quamby Home, a newly renovated 1870s holiday house in rural Tasmania. If you decide to run away yourself one day you can take 9 of your family and friends with you. Today I'll just escape by myself.

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Non-designery

The owners of this Cremorne, Sydney house wanted their interiors to be lived in, warm, inviting and "non-designery". Their Queen Anne style home was redesigned and extended by Luigi Rosselli architects but they turned to interior designers Decus to weave the magic that saw traditional meet modern, Danish mid century sit with family friendly custom build and everywhere glorious art. Light, bright, modern with a nod and always stylish but never precious. Beautiful, unique, fun.

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More tumbling block inspiration

I had the day off Friday so high on my priority list (aside from taking an elderly lady's cat to the vet, because I apparently don't have enough of my own cat problems) was going to get a sample of the tumbling block tile. When I saw it in the store again I immediately started having heart palpitations. And the second I lay the sample tiles on my floor, I knew they were the ones. I am so smitten with these damn tiles. I repainted the wainscoting with some samples of Parma Grey and Off black that Farrow & Ball provided me and I am sold on black (gloss though), and had husband hold up the roll of Amime I had and I know based on my last post alot of people aren't really feeling this combo, but I think I have to go with my gut on this one. I really dig the European vibe this pairing gives, and think it is a bit more sophisticated and unexpected than my original choice. And I think this will make me happier in the long run. 

I spotted this apartment yesterday on Living and thought it would be an appropriate post today. It is the summer home of an Italian family, a joint project of Studio CaSA and Margherita Serboli Arquitectura. This 97 sq m apartment located in Eixample, Barcelona is now bright and modern, with some original details maintained such as window frames and vaulted Catalan terra cotta ceiling (soooooo gorg!!). The cement tumbling block patterned tiles in the living and dining room are a really fun way to add pattern to the apartment and break up up the expanse of white in the open space. The pastel colours aren't really my thing, but are really cute for a summer vacation pad. I would totally Airbnb this place. (Photos: Roberto Ruiz)

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The White Room

White, blanched, chalky, snowy, milky, ivory, clean, spotless, pale, light, colourless, pure, unblemished, achromatic, without hue. The White Room by Barcelona-based Italian architects CaSA is a minimalist holiday apartment in Sitges, Spain just a few steps from the beach. At just 36 sq m with 11 sq m of terrace this tiny, shiny white box was renovated on a very small budget and is now a light filled refuge, a peaceful place for introspection for its owner, a French Art historian and curator, professor at the Sorbonne University.

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