“I thought that I would let you know that we have just added a simply stunning new property in Italy to our collection – it opened in August 2012…

Here a short description: The 14th century home is located in Civita di Bagnoregio, a medieval town only accessible by a pedestrian bridge. The house itself sits on top of Etruscan caves and tombs and a beautiful Roman water cistern, all of which are accessible from inside the house and open onto a beautiful hanging garden 4 stories down and through the cliff. There is a heated pool inside one of the largest caves and a unique wine cellar for guests inside the roman water cistern. The whole setting is simply amazing – please view the images attached below.”

Chris Laugsch
Welcome Beyond

Stop it Chris. Stop messing with my head and my wandering heart. Another stunning getaway to add to my list. My “longing”list… longing to escape, longing to runaway and live forever in a 14th century home in an Italian village only accessible by foot bridge. Longing to step back in time and longing to enjoy the luxury. Domus Civita via Welcome Beyond

Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don’t know what to do? You’re not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you …. that’s you lot… the readers! This week’s email is from Sol of Casa 13 who lives in Puebla, Mexico.

The last year we bought a house and we’ve been doing some little stuff, but I don’t see any big change. Maybe is because of the color (everything is a little monochromatic), or maybe because I can’t see what else can do. Here is a little of our house before…

And here is the major change we have done till now…

Some of the plans are to change the dinner, put some things in the entrance, some large art in the stairs… but first is to finish the living. Can you gave me some guidance? Thanks a lot.

It is the end of the week and a girl’s mind turns to gardening. Well this girl’s does. As the days grow longer and the temperature rises, the leaves burst forth on the branches and long forgotten bulbs shot “surprise” as they pop out of the soil, my day dreams of a lush and lovely backyard may just come true. They would that is if I left them in the creative hands of Sydney-based Secret Gardens. Perhaps a bright yet shady backyard retreat like this first garden in Randwick? Or a more sophisticated and casually elegant garden that marries contemporary landscape with a traditional home in Kensington? Either would be perfect.

The beginning of the week saw me stalking small country cottages. Today I’m wandering the streets of inner city Melbourne. Two worker’s cottages caught me eye. The first is in South Yarra, Melbourne. (Link here.) The second in Fitzroy, Melbourne. (Link here.) Two homes small in footprint but big on style. When you are surrounded by all the temptations of inner city living a home is more of a base for exploring and experiencing what is on offer around you than a mega McMansion in the ‘burbs where the house itself is more the destination. (Dare I say to almost theme park dimensions in some cases… then again I always was an inner city girl 😉

A creator of beautiful images, an artist balancing his composition, an alchemist of light. New York-based Hector Sanchez is my new photographer crush. Passion and beauty, colour and composition.