Displaying posts from June, 2012

Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don’t know what to do? You’re not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you…. that’s you lot… the readers! This week’s problem is from Mercy in Edinburgh.

I have a balcony facing Holyrood Park and all its glory. However, it is a blank canvas – concrete floor and black railing. Ideally, I would like to create a green haven for al fresco dining, sun bathing on rare sunny days and star glazing cove at night. The railing offer no privacy and it would be great to avoid any glaring eyes. The design would need to require minimal care as I would not have time to trim, pluck, weed,…. Tips welcomed.

(These photos) taken on a wet Summer (!) evening. Balcony is east facing and normally gets the morning sun. Oh a couple of other areas to address as part of the balcony’s revamp:< birds flying over. Great to watch but they can drop their remnants! balcony looks into neighbour’s bathroom window!

I’ve got one last reader’s home to share this week. It’s actually a reader’s mom’s home. We received this email from Linn: I recently came back after visiting family in Sweden. My mom lives on the Baltic island of Gotland where she lives in a picturesque house, and the sunroom and patio in particular are just lovely. In the sunroom there is plenty of light and she has a huge dining table with room for many, classic Swedish rag rugs on the floor as well as other comfortable furniture and nice details. The sunroom leads directly out to a stone patio where there is a cement wall with real windows that block the wind, lots of candles and lanterns, and a great view. All in all, this space is just so charming and comfortable to spend time in, I’m beyond jealous myself! I’m jealous too! I am especially fond of the huge patio with the walls that make it look like another room of the home. I would spend every moment of decent weather out there. And it’s extra gorgeous with the candles and string of lights.

You may remember this home I blogged a couple of months ago that was submitted by photographer Phillip K Erickson. He kindly emailed to let us know about one of his latest projects, called The Maryland. As usual Phillip’s awesome photography makes this relatively dark and moody home appear dramatic and SO intriguing. (I am in love with the built-in surrounding the stove).

(Update: As mentioned in the comments, the guy who designed and lives in the place runs City Home Collective – a very friendly and hip source for real estate and other similar related resources)

My posts today seem to be about the view. Life would be very pleasant poolside in this Albert Frey home in Palm Springs. Fabulous photography by Jason Madara. Now where’s my drink? I’ll have another one please.

Perched on the rolling hills behind the coastal playground of Byron Bay in Northern New South Wales is a recently built Queenslander style home. Verandahs circle the living space, reaching out to the view. It is all about the view. Casual, colourful, laid back. Living here would be like being on holidays all year round. I’ll be taking drinks by the pool. Be a dear and bring one down to me. Link here while it lasts.