Remove yourself from the modern world with an escape to a medieval watchtower overlooking the Carpini valley in Umbria, Italy. Secluded valleys, breathtaking vistas and a 12th century building lovingly restored with a minimalist bent. Mighty stone and wood marry with steel and glass while luxurious but minimalist furnishings reflect an austere past but a hedonist present. Moravola.

“The mind slips sideways a haven away from the modern world, the body unwinds as senses reawaken.”

Beautiful wide planks of wood sent a frisson of lust through DTI readers. Oak and Douglas fir made readers pin and like and share and save to inspiration folders. Easy to see why the flooring from Dinesen caused such a fuss. In an age of man made and faux and plastic and “that will have to do”, it is a joy to behold the beauty of the natural wood celebrated. Wide and mighty. A statement. OK. OK. Just so darn sexy in a roll around and stroke the floor kind of way. To feed our addiction for these perfect planks Dinesen has sent us more images from an apartment designed by Anouska Hempel. Enjoy!

A mood, a vibe, a certain something. Like a mumur, a ripple in the calm that builds and grows and reverberates. It’s a flag, a marker, a passage that doesn’t state the bleeding obvious but uses passion to tell the story. It’s a photographer that takes light and bends it, traps it, caresses it to capture the mood, the meaning, the beauty. Images with an artist’s eye. Photography by Siren Lauvdal. Gorgeous.

Stalking today in the little country town of Woodend, Victoria. A sweet cottage overflowing with period features. So cute you want to pinch its cheeks and tell it how pretty it is. Pressed metal, tongue and groove walls, honey coloured pine floors marry with a relaxed and shabby modern country look. Perfect for a weekender away from the madding crowd of Melbourne and a short drive to the mountains or perhaps a picnic at Hanging Rock. Rose Cottage (built in 1905) has just one more feature you’ll need for when I come to visit. A separate studio. I promise I won’t bother you except at meal times. Link here while it lasts.

P.S. Blog friend Tricia Rose of Rough Linen is a finalist in the Martha Stewart American Made Awards. Her beautiful, handmade linen sheets and duvets are one little luxury everyone should have in their life. You can vote for her here. What does this have to do with the cute Woodend cottage? Nothing… except I would want to re-zhush the bedrooms if they were mine and Tricia’s Rough Linen would be perfect.

A muted and almost monotone palette with pops of fluoro or grounded with black. Rustic and decayed juxtaposed with shiny and new. Organic with manmade minimalism. Over exposed and high contrast. It’s a look we have come to associate with Scandinavian photographers and Danish photographic studio Yellows is a pin up for achieving the look. Editorial work for RUM magazine and commercial work for Light Years, Fredericia Furniture, Louis Poulsen and Bo Concept just to name a few. Gorgeous, edgy photos full of inspiration.