Here, the choice was made to open up all the windows to maximise the amount of light but also the number of views to the outside world. The kitchen is completely open to the living room and stands out for its colour, but is discreet in that it hides all its cupboards, offering a kind of extension to the living room, reinforced by the presence of a large mirror above the worktop, which plays with the volumes and has fun blocking the view with a play of reflections. The bedroom has been designed as a glazed hut set into the flat. Made entirely of rough-hewn planks, it provides just enough space for a double bed, a dressing area and a discreet passageway to the bathroom, which is dressed in pink and marble. Playing with perspectives and offering unobstructed views, while at the same time highlighting the uniqueness and specificity of each room, makes the small square metre definitely more lively and livable.
Marianne Evennou does it best, taking a tiny 35m2 apartment in Paris’ 1st arrondissement, and making it seem much larger. Bright, colourful and full of style. Photos: Grégory Timsit.

The interior of a coastal home in Devon

Posted on Tue, 9 Apr 2024 by KiM

The original farmhouse from the previous post ended up undergoing a major renovation after Dan Pearson Studio introduced the homeowners to 6a architects.
Stripped back to bare its thick stone walls, with externally insulated slate-clad facades, this early-twentieth century house has seen a complete reconfiguration of its internal volumes and a transformation of the visual and physical connections with the surrounding coastal landscape. Previously raised on a plinth above a basement, the ground floor has been lowered to the level of the surrounding ground, elongating the existing openings. With three floors spread over the north end of the house connecting to two floors to the south, each space has a distinct volume & ceiling height, with the central stair giving clear views through the whole house across three axes. A series of air-dried oak beams make up the exposed primary structure spanning between the existing stone, and larger structural interventions within this masonry are made in in-situ concrete, cast against timber formwork echoing the timber panelling throughout the house. 
The resulting home is so spacious and quite beautiful, though I am saddened that most of the stone walls were painted. It does lighten the spaces but you loose all the wonderful texture.

This extraordinary property on Devon’s south coast is set within 130 hectares of arable farmland and open, rolling fields that fall gently away to the sea. Our task was to rethink the use of land around the house to marry the requirements of a working farm with the desire for a series of modulated garden spaces for beauty, production, leisure and play, as well as providing better access to the living quarters. The grassland surrounding the property was extensively remodelled, with new wildflower meadows and woodland roundels established. We kept our touch light, drawing on the local vernacular, restoring and replacing dry-stone walls, encouraging wildlife through the introduction of a new ornamental pond.
This project is going straight into my inspiration folder. I have never had much outdoor square footage to work with having lived in the city all of my adult life but my next home may end up being out in the country with acres of land (I hope) and I know landscaping with that much property to deal with would be daunting. This space had everything I could dream of – a pond, a greenhouse, old stone walls, a pool….EVERYTHING. Landscaping by Dan Pearson Studio. Photos: Ngọc Minh Ngo.

Lived in by the same family for nearly four hundred years, the house now offers 21st Century standards of comfort, combining elegant modern décor with old world charm. The house has recently been re-designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber. A magical place surrounded by 62 acres of gardens & grounds.
The best part about this incredible home that looks like it’s straight out of a period drama, is the current family is offering it for stays (9 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms!) – see more here for details.

An eclectic 1892 home in Charleston

Posted on Fri, 5 Apr 2024 by KiM

Old world vibes, but make it a mix of worlds in this circa 1982 home in Charleston designed by Alecia Stevens. It’s eclectic from another time, with antiques that are European, Asian, British, Middle Eastern and everything in between. I really love this, and that every piece seems to tell a story and all together they tell quite a beautiful story. Photos: Kirk Robert.