This Marin County, California compound takes cottage style living to a whole other level of cool. Commune Design left it dark and “woodsy” and I love that because it adds so much drama and a sense of richness to the home. Add in all of the outdoor hangout spaces and you would definitively be spending your days outdoors enjoying the beautiful weather.

When muted, neutral colours set the stage for something beautiful…

Every inch of this 5,000 square foot farmhouse in Brentwood was approached with muted precision. A stunning art collection, curated by Candace Worth of Worth Art Advisory, drives the design. Every room is a balance of collections: art, antiques, handmade items, modern pieces, and books all thoughtfully layered. Much of the home includes furniture thoughtfully designed and selected by Full Scale Inc. from the owners’ previous Connecticut home. Ken Linsteadt Architects edited the Colonial home down to its purist form, with a natural flow that is neither forced nor complicated. The home is a reflection of the homeowners’ refined taste: restrained yet engaging. A soft, subtle design allows fine details to shine through. By M. Elle Design.

Classic and timeless, elegant and sophisticated, neutral and serene. A delicious sampling from several projects by interior designer Amy Meier.

If you’re idea of summer fun is hanging out, mixing drinks and chilling out by a firepit, then this backyard space is for you. Another really well executed design by the very talented Fig Landspaces. You’ll be the cool kid in the neighbourhood with a space like this.

My sister came across the website of Fig Landscapes (a landscape design and construction company based in Byron Bay and Sydney) recently and sent it along to me because she thought it would be inspirational for the huge landscaping project my husband and I have begun on our property. She was right! In our backyard I wanted to do a crushed stone path leading to a BBQ pad, a raised vegetable garden and a gazebo, with plants growing along its edge. This Woolooware project has done exactly that and it’s beautiful, along with the rest of the space – especially love the fire area.