Lexington, Kentucky designer Isabel Ladd‘s mottos are ‘More is more, less is a bore’ & ‘Beige is NOT a color’ & ‘Mix + DON’T match’. Words to live by for sure, and are very much exemplified in her maximalist portfolio. Really fun spaces with lots going on – in a really good way.

“The barn” is the guest house from my previous post and designed to be polar opposites to the main house. A dark exterior of shō sugi ban wood with a more fun, colourful and eclectic interior including a dreamy plaster spiral staircase with snake railing, a lofty Parisian-style second floor, a powder room with a mix of hand-painted tile and ochre zellige (an obvious favourite), reclaimed Belgian brick and petit granite flooring, a 2 story brick fireplace…..this is really special and just as fabulous as the main house. Designed by Studio MTN; Architect: Brunelle Architects; Photos: Aimée Mazzenga.

This Sun Valley, Idaho mountain home isn’t your typical ‘mountain modern chalet’ style. It is restrained, monastic, very much subdued in colour palette and architectural details, and has a luxe, Belgian vibe that embraces light so beautifully. As much as I love homes with history and old world architecture and doses of colour, this would 100% be what I would want in my second home. That primary bedroom is GOALS. I love a really dark and textural bedroom sooooo much. Designed by Studio MTN; Architect: Brunelle Architects; Photos: Aimée Mazzenga. (Stay tuned – the guest house coming up next!)

In the heart of a wooded park of more than 1 hectare, magnificent stately home from the 15th and 16th centuries, fully restored with taste and precision. French ceilings, beautiful heights, stone walls and floors, period fireplaces, majestic spiral staircase, parquet floors. On the ground floor, open-plan fitted kitchen, dining room and living room with fireplace, winter lounge under veranda, large reception room, pantry. Two bedrooms on one level with their private bathrooms. On the 1st floor, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms/shower rooms, dressing room and storage. On the 2nd floor, convertible attic. A separate apartment with 1 bedroom and bathroom, living room-kitchen. A dovecote renovated into an atypical duplex with 1 bedroom and bathroom, living room-kitchen area. Wooded park, garden, gravelled interior courtyard, secure parking for 6 vehicles. Swimming pool. Tennis court in need of renovation. 3 cellars.
Such beautiful details in this home, and not extravagant but absolutely liveable. For sale via Kretz for €1,365,000.

Collected, designed, and imagined elements form the foundation of a living space inspired by a walk from Portofino to San Fruttuoso. I’d add that this is giving Miami vibes with all the fabulous pastel colour combinations. This 90 sq m concrete box has been completely transformed by Fabian Freytag and it is now soft around the edges, very easy on the eyes and has lots of quirky and creative details that make this apartment stand out. Photos: Kozy Studio.