Oh dear! That makes me sound quite inappropriate. That’s not what I meant. What I do mean though is that I love this little worker’s cottage in inner city Melbourne I found while real estate stalking. Bright and fun and quirky and cute. White walls bounce the colour pops around, the little girl’s room is so hubba bubba bubble gum pink that I can almost hear waves of giggles, the backyard is pocket handkerchief size perfect. Who needs large when 2 bedrooms in the inner city is just right. Link here while it lasts.

P.S. A few of you may recognise this house but we’ll keep it our little secret don’t you think 😉

Nestled amongst the trees on Barrier Island, New Zealand is this sustainably built home by Crosson, Clarke, Carnachan. Opening out to the site it embraces the landscape, borrowing its beauty. It is a simple home but its simplicity sits strongly with the majesty of the surrounds. External walls mimic the tree trunks while walls of windows dissolve the barrier between inside and out.

I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that New Zealanders build the best beach houses. This is a big concession coming from an Australian. We pride ourselves on understanding the beach culture and our architects are some of the world’s best but it just seems that the Kiwi’s just do it better with the bach. For those of you who don’t know bach is the kiwi for beach house. But it means more than just the building. It’s the memories. It’s the summer days and the salt spray and the barbeques and the fun. It’s about summer rituals and roughing it and making do and fishing and wet swimsuits and sandy towels. Even when it’s a luxury bach. It’s stunning but it is still not overly precious. After all it really is about the sand and sea and the view and those long days with family and friends. A series of connected pavilions on a dramatic site at Kuaotunu by Auckland based architects Crosson, Clarke, Carnachan.

Just had to share one more from Feldman Architecture. I loved the kitchen in the Old Bernal House in my previous post and I really like this one too. It’s in a 1950’s ranch house in the SF area and stays true to the original home. Actually I’m taken by a lot of their kitchen designs. (I know you will be too when you click on over to their website.) Light, bright, contemporary and not at all MacMansion. Understated, sensitive, practical and stylish.

Contemporary with an understated beauty. Open plan with light and space. Indoor outdoor connection. The Old Bernal House, San Francisco by Feldman Architecture. A family home with space for all. Love the open kitchen/dining with its large windows to the outside and the office wall of books connecting the upper loft space. A modern extension that enhances the original home.