This drop dead gorgeous cottage in the Cotswolds is the weekend home of designer/decorator couple Duncan Campbell and Luke Edward Hall. Full of colour, exuberance, whimsy, and an unparalleled eclecticism, this home is so freaking fabulous I can hardly stand it. If you ever thought about getting a second home thinking it would be a great excuse to try out colours that you don’t have the nerve to use in your primary home, here is proof that you need to make that happen! (Though as you will see in an upcoming post, this talented duo went as crazy with colour in their primary residence). Photos: Miguel Flores-Vianna & Billal Taright.

I have received several new books lately and I will admit that this one might be my favourite, as I could move right into this house. Our Way Home: Reimagining an American Farmhouse, by Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill, with Laura Chávez Silverman, photographs by Chris Motallini and published by Rizzoli: The glorious Connecticut property of Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill (of the architecture and interior design firm Hendricks Churchill) illustrates how a late nineteenth-century farmhouse can be adapted for stylish and comfortable twenty-first-century living. The historic property, Ellsworth, is a showplace for their shared aesthetic and sensibility of designing for real life, and not for formality. At the core is a house of pared-down traditionalism with references to Shaker tranquility, Arts & Crafts practicality, and bohemian chic. Whimsical wallcoverings, striking colors, a mix of contemporary furniture and antiques, exciting works of art, and comfort abound—turning a workaday house from the nineteenth century into a creative laboratory of the twenty-first.
This book really showcases their unique style and love of vintage and every detail in each room is worth noting and saving as inspiration. I had to stop myself from taking photos of every page. This one is a must-buy.

Next up is a book that might not be as much “at my level” as the previous book but it is also a must to add to your book collection, because it showcases the work of one of the greatest designers of our time.

John Stefanidis: A Designer’s Eye, written by John with Susanna Moore, published by Rizzoli. This long-awaited monograph brings together fifty years of work and demonstrates how the interiors guru has drawn on a global range of influences for his designs as well as his furniture and fabric collections. John Stefanidis established his design practice in Chelsea, London, in 1967, attracting a discerning international clientele with his carefully considered, vibrant, and beautiful transformation of homes worldwide. If there is such a thing as a Stefanidis “look,” it combines an original use of vibrant color, an eclectic aesthetic, great sensitivity to proportions, and comfort matched with international flair. This lavishly illustrated survey—with images taken for the foremost shelter magazines and unpublished photographs from the designer’s archive—closely follows Stefanidis’s trajectory from his professional start in the late 1960s to his most recent, celebrated projects.
I have been a fan of John’s throughout our many blogging years and it is an honour to have this book in my collection. He is a master at his craft and the beauty of these pages is all the proof you need.

Next up is one that is completely outside of my wheelhouse but I agreed to give it a go anyway and am I ever glad I did.

Classical Shindig: Amateur Artistry from the Simple to the Sublime by Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper, published by Susan Schadt Press: Make the acquaintance of two of New Orleans’ most beloved hosts and concert pianists, Michael and Quinn, who sure do know their shindigs. From seasonal celebrations to iconic book clubs to lavish parties for friends, family, and charities (both local and national), Michael and Quinn have seen, done, and decorated it all. Enjoy the pair’s authentic sense of style and design in their lush home and garden while exploring the joys of throwing unique and personal events. The pages are filled with hundreds of delightful photographs captured by twelve renowned Southern photographers that showcase the abundance of Michael and Quinn’s New Orleans Garden District home. Come away with hosting, interior design, and entertaining tips and tricks that even an amateur can execute.
This book has a little bit of everything – some fabulous interior design, tablescaping like you’ve never seen, and even includes thirty recipes! Everything you need if you’re big on entertaining…or love being entertained! I’m dying to check out the recipes in detail and who knows, maybe this will make me want to throw a party. And a side note that this book would be a perfect host gift to bring to gatherings you are invited to over the holiday season.  

A listed 14th-century monastic guesthouse, with almost 2 hectares of grounds in the Falaise region, on the borders of Normandy. The gothic edifice has been painstakingly restored over a period of thirty years, starting in the early 1970s. At the edge of the park, there are a coach house and a former lodging. On the opposite side, a pedestrian gate leads to a path through a wood with a pond. The estate also includes a barn and its meadow, surrounded by a wall, around 100 m from the main house. The rectangular, two-storey Gothic building is built of dressed and rough-hewn sandstone masonry. The corner buttresses are of limestone. Inside there is a solid oak quarter-turn staircase, slab-paved floor featuring red hexagonal terracotta tiles, wood-panelled ceiling supported by exposed beams, walls of dressed and grouted rubble masonry, ribbed and cross-vaulted ceilings, capitals and central columns of coquina limestone, ogee and stained glass windows, Caen stone fireplace…. This is the type of historic home that is so beautiful it brings me to tears. I can’t imagine being fortunate enough to own something this magical. For sale via Patrice Besse for €840,000.

The majestic footprint of the home needed an equally compelling design. This masculine rustic retreat was made with natural materials, organic accents, and an elevated approach for maximum comfort. We were able to translate the rugged surroundings into livable yet tailored spaces for this client and their family. From woodsy brown stains to neutral yet impactful tile, stone, and marble, each room feels like a retreat. The kitchen and dining nook have this moody and intimate feel to them. From the dark countertops to all of the complimentary natural stone, it is such a timeless combination. Rugged and elegant at once, the transition into the breakfast nook and dining space is seamless! We drew a lot of inspiration from Europe in this project.
This may be “rustic” but I’d add in there “elevated” and “refined”. It’s top-notch cabin living but no way are you letting people wander around with muddy boots on. Another one designed by Light and Dwell (maybe obvious because of their signature use of furry chairs…and now I need a furry chair). Photos: Michael Clifford

Sharing another fine example of maintaining original details that are 100% worth saving whilst adding some modern touches along with colour and pattern in this gorgeous home designed by Sophie Rowell of Côte de Folk. Reupholstering that sofa in this whimsical Svenskt Tenn fabric and the terracotta stone floor in brick pattern were both brilliant decision. Photos: Chris Snook.