Charlie Rice is the sort of person you’d want for a neighbor. Not only because his bungalow is always brimming with joyful gatherings, freshly cut flowers, and the occasional swing band on the front porch, but also because—if you’re lucky—you might even clinch an invite to one of his famous five-course dinner parties. It was important that the home’s bones be allowed to shine. We let its original spirit guide us. We retrofitted an antique oak-back bar with mirrored glass and lighting to create a cozy glow reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy. Nothing has ever felt more quintessentially Austin than this entertainer’s jewel box bachelor pad.
Super dramatic and eclectic, this small (768 sq ft) home definitely makes for great fun with friends. And bonus for going dark and moody with the kitchen. By Avery Cox Design. Builder: Richard Gift. Photos: Lindsay Brown.

Formerly a customs post for controlling merchandise on the Canal du Midi, the building was bought by a noble family from Toulouse who, with the help of an Italian architect, completely redesigned the building based on the Italian palazzi to make it more comfortable. Grand staircase, private courtyard, orangery. Today, this property is a sleeping beauty surrounded by enchanting parkland. The château comprises 3 floors of 420 m² each and more than 1,000 m² of outbuildings.
I know I would be quite happy living here and breathing new life into this beauty. Located in Castelnaudary in southern France and for sale via Poncet & Poncet for €1,250,000.

Designer Jenn Feldman gut-renovated her family’s 1935 Colonial Revival-style home in Los Angeles and I adore the end result. A mix of contemporary and antique furnishings, a vibe that is a bit classically elegant and on the other hand a bit modern. It’s a wonderful home for cozy family gatherings and will stand the test of time. Photos: Amy Bartlam

Those Londoners sure do consistently have fun with their interiors. Always a delight to the eyes with colours and patterns, and Sascal Studio really added some pizzazz into this formerly soulless white home and now it’s yelling from the rooftops “come on over and hang out!”. That jib door powder room under the stairs is the freaking cutest! Photos: Angus Williams.

This 1850s federal-style brownstone in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston is already as cute as can be, but Nina Farmer got her hands on it and added some really bold colours, sheen and patterns and upped the personality factor by 1000%. I am adding so many photos of this project to my inspiration folder, but particularly of the kitchen. I am soooo tired of boring and bland kitchens and this one could not be further from that. Photos: Jared Kuzia.