Displaying posts from July, 2020

Poodle & Blonde. A step back to retrolicious times. Featuring a PINK BATHROOM that I would never want to update, and 2 of the most rad beds I have ever seen. Available as a location home through JJ Media Group/JJ Locations

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you have to drag yourself into work on a weekend it helps if it’s somewhere stylish. Summit House, a flexible work space in London by Note.

P.S. How is everyone going? I am incredibly lucky to live in a part of the world where the virus is pretty much contained but I know most of you are not so fortunate. I hope you are all staying safe and staying home and that one day soon our only complaint will be about going into work on a Saturday.

As many of you know by now, I absolutely adore Mexico, and have dreams of moving there one day. When Edward sent us photos of his incredible home in Mexico, I was so excited to share it with you all. It’s stunning, and I love how you have no idea what you’ll find on the other side of the very unassuming front door. My wife and I are from England, and live in the beautiful city of Merida, state capital of the Yucatan in Mexico. Many of the old colonial buildings in the city centre have been renovated, some very grand, some quite modest. Casa Cool (CasaEA64) is an old colonial but with contemporary addition. We used a local architect with  their construction people. The house is in the city centre (Barrio of Santa Ana), but as you can see from the garden, quite secluded for a city property. The architects drew up the plans taking into account our requirements.
My wife and I did the decoration using our possessions and stuff acquired from our travels. The plan was not to make a Mexican ¨theme¨ house, but to keep it all rather eclectic. We tried to keep it simple and free of clutter, thinking that empty space is as important as ¨things¨. The idea was to continue with the high ceilings because of the heat in the Yucatan. But we also wanted every space to have its own source of natural light. We wanted to blur the distinction between interior and exterior. Thus the large sliding windows by the kitchen which is the heart of the home. Internal courtyard means plenty of open doors to assist airflow. Bedrooms are air-conditioned, but we rely on natural cross breezes for ventilation in the living spaces. Ceiling fans and air-gaps provide this. Floors are white polished cement with local pasta tiles in diamond pattern to mimic the Moroccan Beni Ouarain. The patterned floor tiles in the studio are original. There are 3 Scottish portraits hung vertically in the entrance. The frames of these were made from the cedar wood of the old original front doors which were beyond saving. Little things like that provide a bit of a link with the history of the house and added a touch of character to the place. This home could not be more perfect and if I get the opportunity to move there one day, I hope to be able to find a home this enchanting. Architect: Taller Estilo Arquitectura Photography: Apertura Arquitectónica

I had to share one other impeccably executed project by cityhomeCOLLECTIVE. We sought to honor the bones of this Craftsman bungalow, but wanted to avoid sinking into a literal interpretation of the era. To this end, we kept the original trim, flooring, and window casings, and struck balance and interest by integrating contemporary and mid-century light fixtures, furniture, and art with pieces that lent texture, color, and patterns to the space. Art played a big role in the transformation, and we used clean, modern pieces to slice through the heavy, dark seriousness of the Craftsman aesthetic. This one hits home because my home is also a Craftsman and I too wanted to honour the architectural details and keep it current.

Certainly no beach shack this Hamptons weekender for a young city couple is part mid century, part transitional, a little whimsical and always with a subtle sophistication. I never understand why people actually leave these “weekenders” to return to the work-a-day rat race. I’d be investigating work from home options. Bridgehampton home by interior design studio Dumais.

Photography by Eric Piasecki