A few months ago I was dreaming of escaping to paradise or beyond, vacation homes showcased by Welcome Beyond.  Chris from Welcome Beyond has promised to feed my holiday fantasies with new properties soon but in the meantime I’m taking a virtual vacation to berge in Aschau im Chiemgau, Bavaria, Germany. Managed by Nils Holger, a furniture designer, berge is all about the details. “It’s all about designing ‘berge’ not in a classic style, but to penetrate through to every detail. When there was no suitable door handle, we had it crafted by a blacksmith. The towels and bath robes were custom-made for the house, an old man in town turns wood into the bowls we use and for silverware we didn’t buy something just because it was nice or cheap, but only what was best suited.” As a design junkie those words are music to my ears. Raw timber, Glühwein and snow. The perfect trinity for a girl sweltering in cyclonic humidity.

Have you noticed how things never stay the same? Like personal taste? I have seen my likes and dislikes change and coalesce, firm and falter over these past few years. I have always admired the work of New York based interiors and landscape firm Rees Roberts + Partners. I think I had a crush on their work way way back (so did Kim even further back). Then I was drawn to their cool, sophisticated urban interiors. All elegance and class. I was revisiting their site the other day and was drawn immediately to this Croatian house. A new work? Must be. I hadn’t noticed it a couple of years ago otherwise I would have remembered. It is so fabulously rugged yet stylish with just the right touches of casual elegance and midcentury classic pieces. But maybe it’s not new. Maybe it was there all along. Maybe I’m just looking at it with new eyes, a new awareness. All I know is I love it!

Stalking! Oh how I have missed stalking. Truth be told I have actually been trawling through page after page, suburb after suburb of Australian homes but no rewards. Christmas leading into January is the quiet time for real estate in Australia. Coupled with a stagnant market and banks that are so tight with their money I haven’t found a home that took my fancy. Until today. How about this St Kilda, Melbourne home? Clean, contemporary lines, interesting art (wish I could see into the room downstairs with the baby grand and the gallery wall) and privacy… definitely needed with a bathroom like that one. I know all the lights have to be on for the real estate photos but wouldn’t you like to see this place with a little less overhead light and a lot more table and floor light. Once again the price will make you shake your head. Link here while it lasts.

Our January weekend holidays are almost over. Can I hear a collective “about time” from a large group of you? I know. I know. The DTI addicts need their weekend fix 🙂 In the meantime jump over to my page and see what has been going on at the new old house.

Stylist Mikael Beckman recently shared with us a taste of Christmas (here) at Svenskt Tenn. Now spring is on the way so with a few simple but stylish changes Mikael brings in the promise of the new season. Love his concept sketch. A quick, free and easy style that conveys the message perfectly.