Displaying posts from April, 2023

Light, bright, fresh and fun. Add surf side cool and family-friendly and what do you have? A fabulous vintage cottage redo in Laguna by California-based Raili Clasen of Raili CA Design.

“Donhead House is a handsome Grade II listed building with a complicated history. A house existed on the site in the 17th century, although nothing above ground now exists thereof. In the early 18th century the house was rebuilt and then saw subsequent phases of alteration in the late 18th century, early and late 19th century; each phase has added something of interest to this palimpsest.”

The current owner Dame Nathalie Massanet has set about an ambitious programme of work with
Archer Humphryes Architects ( in collaboration with Donald Insall for conservation and Philip Joseph as interior designer) to create a ‘single family dwelling suitable for contemporary life’. Repair, restore, refurbish and reimagine this building for the 21st century.

Originally built as a Tailors called Smith and Hobbs which employed several seamstresses working on the old Singer sewing machines and producing fine quality suits and tweed mostly for the hunting and racing set. A Grade-II listed building, the property was completely restored to its current shape in 2103 by uber-cool Gloucestershire-based salvage and vintage firm Original House. In keeping with the regulations, the exterior had to be kept as close to its original appearance as possible, so a specialist was brought in to strip off the old cladding and replace it. With its new, immaculate coat of corrugated iron, the building has clear visual links to its manufacturing past. The newly-created space, intended to be used both for entertaining and as a guest house, was designed to feel wonderfully cool and contemporary, forming a real contrast between the outside and inside. Feeling far from traditional or fusty, The Old Tailors mixes vintage industrial furniture and lighting with contemporary design and colours, creating a unique salvaged interior topped with freshness and individuality and all the charm and character that history can provide.
Book your stay at this fabulous little getaway here. Photos: Emma Lewis.

Such pretty, happy candy-inspired colours in this 3 bedroom apartment in Hampstead. A child’s dream. And frankly some adults too. Could you live with these colours, particularly all that pink? Maybe not my first choice but I’d find a way to rock it 😉 Available as a location home via Shoot Factory.

Formerly the Church of St John, constructed in 1896 on the outskirts of Ford in Wiltshire, the building has recently undergone a thoughtful and sensitive conversion, creating spectacular spaces for living and entertaining as well as three lovely bedrooms. Extending to 2,844 sq ft internally, the building retains its ecclesiastical integrity yet provides a number of cleverly designed, intimate spaces. The structure was built entirely out of distinctive, honey-coloured local stone and a barrel-vaulted ceiling.
My dreams of living in a converted church will never die if I keep finding homes like this 😉 Currently for sale via Inigo.