Displaying posts from December, 2011

Linn emailed us a little while ago with her cool kitchen remodel.

“I really just wanted to share some before and after pictures of my tiny kitchen which my husband and I spent a few weeks remodeling. Our small bungalow is from 1946 and it has a rather tiny kitchen which we wanted to preserve the integrity of, yet update and give a new fresh feel. We installed a black and white (marble and granite) checkerboard floor, refinished the old wooden cabinets and drawers, installed a stainless steel counter and tiled the walls with subway tile all the way to the ceiling. We did all of this ourselves on a budget of little over $6000 (including buying new appliances).”

Befores then afters… obviously 🙂 Great job Linn and Linn’s other half! Check out all the details on her blog The Home Project.

I sang the praises of London-based photographer Simon Eldon only 3 months ago, but he contacted us recently to let us know he’s always updating his site. Sure enough, I went over to have a peek and there were new goodies ready for another post (including some he shot for digital magazine Heart Home I blogged about yesterday). These are fantastic shots as always, and I especially love that blue kitchen.

Still looking for last minute gifts? All done and deserve something special for yourself? Need a little design book inspiration? There is still time to visit a bricks and mortar bookshop (remember those from pre-Amazon days?) and pick up a copy of Martyn Thompson – Interiors. Come on let’s face it. We are all hard core interiors addicts and this is a book will feed that addiction so well. Thompson’s work is moody, dark, the antithesis of picture perfect. His photographs reek of atmosphere. He tells stories with shadows. A painter’s approach almost to what he captures through his lens. From the homes and creative spaces of John Derian and Thomas O’Brien to Achille Castiglioni and Hella Jongerius this book is so beautiful in the hand, so lush. Still a couple more shopping days left. Buy it for someone you know will appreciate it… yourself.

Today is a great day. My French test is finally done (so please say a little prayer that I got the mark I needed) and I can finally have my life back and hopefully finish my Christmas preparations – well, present shopping and wrapping is all as I won’t have time to bake/decorate or anything else. Before I get my arse in gear for all that I thought I’d take a few minutes and point out that there is a UK digital interiors magazine called Heart Home that you all MUST check out. It’s frankly up there with Rue and Lonny. Seriously. A big thanks to Carole, one of the mag’s 3 editors, for emailing us to let us know. Here are some of my favourite photos from the 2 issues they have launched so far. 

An abandoned stables in the western province of Cáceres in Spain carefully renovated by architectural and development firm Ábaton. A stunning family home that not only makes you want to pack your bags and book a flight to Spain because someone made a mistake… you’re sure this is your home… but also makes you feel warm and fuzzy because it’s sustainable as well. Solar panels supply energy during the summer while turbines take advantage of the two streams that run through the property providing electricity in the winter. Rain water is returned to the ground. Materials are recyclable.  Large expanses of stone floors provide thermal mass. Una casa de inspiración.