Displaying posts from July, 2012

Jo isn’t the only one who enjoys stalking real estate sites. Savills is a great resource for spectacular properties in the UK and abroad (Savills is HUGE. They have more than 200 offices and associates throughout the Americas, the UK, continental Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East). I came across two properties that caught my eye (so far, as I could spend hours on this site). This first one is seriously knocking my socks off. It’s a 2,885 sq ft 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom apartment located in Fulham, London. I adore the layout of the living/dining/kitchen – how they all blend seamlessly and then OMG those windows and soaring beamed ceilings. I think it’s a genius idea to have the kitchen cabinets continue into the living room. It would be awesome as a library if you didn’t want open shelving and preferred a minimalist look, and then your books won’t get dusty! (P.S. Note the to-die-for Douglas fir flooring). The designer furnishings in neutral colours are just the icing on the cake. I also must give a nod to the lowered ceilings in the media room (actually a mezzanine) – perfectly cosy. (Link here)

This next one is a 7th floor apartment with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in Battersea, London. The views are what got me (although both are waterfront). Hard to miss it with one entire side of the apartment being a wall of glass. I think it’s sort of unusual how the owners opted to have the dining table in the center of the large living space. It acts as a divider and creates 2 distinct living rooms (or reception rooms to Brits). I REALLY need to find that large black and white striped rug – LOVE!!! (Link here)

Deep, rich, sophisticated. The dark side of interior designer Melissa CollisonSwoon. Design and food and travel. A magic carpet ride of style and colour.

Simple luxury and luxuriously simple. An eclectic mix of old and new whether casually elegant or out and out glam. Layers of texture and eras. Today’s interior designer is Sydney-based Melissa Collison. But there was so much I loved about her portfolio I couldn’t choose. What to do? I’m focussing here on the lighter side of Melissa’s work. Oh don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean light weight. Oh no. There is nothing frothy and inconsequential about these rooms. The attention to detail, the mix of eras and the quality of finishes as well as the joy and creativity. These are happy rooms. Fresh and vibrant and young. But wait till you see Melissa’s dark side.

Back in January I blogged about a new e-magazine from Lithuania called Lamų slėnis (Llamas’ Valley). The photography is spectacular, so I thought I’d do an encore and show you photos from one of their latest issues. (I just noticed they have a new issue out a couple days ago – might need to do another post!)

I’m feeling a bit patriotic today so I thought I’d feature a Canadian architect I discovered recently. Ian MacDonald‘s firm is based in Toronto, and he has won a whole bunch of awards for his residential designs including three Governor General’s medals and six Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence. WHOA. I am REALLY smitten with the first exterior photo below – those porthole type window pod things are such a cool idea (I see something like that on the top of a tall, narrow house).