Rising like a dark tower through the dense vegetation is a modest one bedroom house. Changes of level and expanses of glass provide views that slice through the tree canopy while the house seems to tumble down the steep slope. Black cladding helps the structure disappear into the forest. A wonderful getaway, an adult’s cubby house. The Blackpool House at Waiheke, New Zealand by Glamuzina Paterson Architects.

“Hi! Come on through. I’m out here on the porch.” That would be my usual greeting to callers if I owned this Upstate New York home by CWB Architects. I might just never move. A place to daydream and drift off, a place to relax, to listen to the gurgle of the stream that runs by. I think the one thing I love more than that porch is the property’s name… Bug Acres of Woodstock. Now you know the reason for the porch.

Run away! Run Away! It’s Monday. Let’s keep the weekend going with a virtual getaway to the Hospedería Convento de La Parra in the Extremadura region of Spain. We could call it a retreat. It is a 17th century convent after all.

“Sorry. You are not going to find a television set here, not even a radio tuner. Only spaces for reading, a table for playing board games, corridors for reflection, cloisters that will bring back to you the smell of orange blossom, lime, wood, rest, peace, water and sun.”

Aaaahhh! A heavenly cure for Mondayitis.

Older apartments have a lot going for them. They are often bigger and, dare I say, better built but what you gain in extra square metres and solid walls is counterbalanced by tired old decorating schemes and years of use and abuse. Tart the old dears up and that’s a different story. The scope of work in this William St, Melbourne apartment included renovating the bathroom and kitchen and the addition of an entertainment unit in the living area. Shiny, bright and new. The perfect inner city pad by Katherine Wills Design.

before…

It’s Saturday. Most of us are relaxing far away from the workplace grind. We don’t have to return to the hamster wheel to earn our living until Monday. If this was my workplace though I’d never want to come home. Too cool. Melbourne interior designers Mr Mitchell explain the idea behind the Blonde Robot offices the best.

“Three young forward thinking business partners had a simple goal with the fit-out of their brand new head office: make it look like a cool pub. Being based in the centre of an industrial area, the closest cold beer was too far for knock off drinks. They wanted to create a warm, relaxed environment that provided their team with the pub you have, when you’re not having a pub.”

My resumé  is in your inbox Blonde Robot.