“Tom just shook his head when I painted the entry hall. The kids tell everyone mummy ran out of purple paint. It’s not purple by the way. It’s Evening Shadow.” I’d barely crossed the threshold and I knew I was going to like her. “Come into the kitchen. Don’t mind the mess.” If she only knew what my kitchen looked like! I could hear small feet thumping up the stairs and stomping across the floor above. “Don’t worry. They’re just acting out because I told them to be good while you were here. They’ll be down and sweat as pie when they know there is cake.” She turned around and smiled, placing a slightly lopsided carrot cake on the table. “How long have you lived here?” I asked. “Feels like forever. It’s only been three years. Tea?”

Making up stories again to match this wonderful old vicarage from jj LOCATIONS.

If there is a heaven on earth then it must be in New Zealand. On a ridge above Matiatia Bay a series of concrete pavilions farewell the setting sun. Rough and monolithic meets soft and luxurious. Manmade meets the beauty of nature. Shelter meets spectacle. If this truly is a slice of paradise then I could sit in the sunken lounge for eternity and drink in the view. Island Retreat by Fearon Hay Architects and Penny Hay.

Like a theatre set of brilliant white, this modern extension to a double fronted mews house in Hyde Park, London allows the owners’ pieces to take centre stage. Art Deco meets decadence meets minalism with neoclassical whimsy and luxury. Sinuous and sensual and at times stark. Part folly, part living space, part sculpture. I have a vision of an operatic fat lady in vintage Paco Rabanne and house slippers gliding across a minimalist cube towards a Fornasetti milking stool while warbling Wagnerian lieder and sipping Nespresso. And I mean that is the best possible way! Love it. By Andy Martin Architects.

It’s the final piece of jewelry for a room. The last layer that brings a space to life. It’s an expression of who we are and what we love. It’s the art we put on our walls and one of the most common questions I get asked by friends and readers is “Where do I get affordable art for my walls?”

Arte Limited is an Italian gallery that sells exclusive art prints, photographs and contemporary art at an affordable price.

“All our art is created by the artists we represent. Our artists are credited and own the copyright to their own works. On behalf of our artists we sell their works printed in limited editions that we produce in-house.”

So when Arte Limited approached us to review their prints Kim and I jumped at the chance. We loved what we saw on the website. So much so it was difficult to choose which works we wanted. Decisions made, the prints were sent swiftly and safely to our doors. It was love at first sight when I opened the mailing tube. You’ll have to wait to see what we chose. Our art prints are at the framers. I’ll just say that Kim went down the black and white illustration route and I fell for some super colourful photography. I’ll be sure to pop up pictures when they are up on my walls.

This post is in partnership with Arte Limited.

If you live in Australia you know these apartments. Tired old brick exteriors with tired old plasterboard interiors. Wall to wall carpet with a collection of interesting stains, swirling, dripping plaster slapped onto the ceiling and aluminium sliding doors with safety stickers. If you were lucky and lived on the top floor (always no more than four floors or the developer would have to spring for a lift) the “architect” may have thrown in a “cathedral ceiling and clerestory window”. No redeeming features except the size of the rooms. Say what you like about those old apartments they at least had a little more room than today’s incarnations. Now take an 80s apartment in a wonderful inner city location (Brisbane readers should be able to tell by the bridge and the tennis courts across the river) and drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st century and you have a hipster’s pad with room for baby and barbie. Very cool. By Alexander Lotersztain and derlot.

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