Ever notice the difference between editorial photography and architectural photography? One conveys a story, the other an idea. The first is often styled and “contrived”, a set, make believe. A room is tweaked and tarted to fit a storyline or an editor’s vison. Architectural photography is a showcase. It tells the truth and trumpets the details of a designer’s work. It concentrates on the big picture as well as the intricacies. Dianna Snape is one of this country’s best architectural photographers. She takes the designer’s creation and captures it for posterity, to educate and inspire. The rooms are beautiful in both but photographers like Dianna understand the architect’s vision and her images are records of the beauty, as important as plans and elevations.

How amazing is this extension by Phooey Architects in Fitzroy North, Melbourne? It’s rustic yet it’s modern. Timber battens conjure ideas of woven baskets half completed. Internally it’s simple yet stylish. A funky inner city home just a little bit different from the neighbours. Love the architects’ profile… “young, enthusiastic & progressive in design practice. They enjoy a coffee in the morning & a beer at night. In between, they are inspired & motivated by their diverse city community.” Fiddlesticks! Architects and their designs should always be so cool! (Photography by Dianna Snape… more on her tomorrow.)

Live/work, green, sustainable, re-use, recycle, style, substance and fun! Chicago architects Wilkinson Blender wanted to save energy and materials with clever design and scrupulous reuse of materials from the original tavern building in this remodel. They even installed wind turbines on the roof to augment photo-voltaic cells. The roof top garden is perfect for entertaining that is if you can drag your friends away from the games room or the togo sofas. It’s smart, it’s stylish, it’s green and it’s sexy.

First photographer for 2011. Jonas Gustavsson. Swedish born and New York based and fabulous. What do you think of Anna Sui’s wardrobe (3-7)? If I remember correctly she bought a second apartment in her building and converted it into her closet. The ultimate walk in robe and captured in all its OTTness (not a word I know!) perfectly by Gustavsson. I love the composition and angles of the photos. Somehow the rooms feel so full, bursting with inspiration. There is an intimacy. Like snooping while the owner is out. The holiday season may be finished but I still can’t get enough of Scandinavian cosy winter homes.

Last day of my 3 day New Year’s break and I have scrubbed and painted, weeded and mowed the lawn, entertained friends and started work on Kelvin’s man cave (here). I’m exhausted in a good way and now I am racing to get this post completed before an ugly thunderstorm hits. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a small farmhouse in the country to run away to on weekends? A fireplace, a big eat in kitchen and a pool right off the back deck. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was this house? Mr Bank Manager any chance of yet another loan? Pretty please? Link here while it lasts.