Displaying posts labeled "Fireplace"

A little slice of heaven in the Basque country. This old farm is now a stunning private residence that is as beautifully neutral as can be. Lots of wood used throughout that adds such a wonderful element of nature that exudes so much warmth. This is cabin style taken to a whole other level. Designed by Gilles et Boissier. Photos: Jerome Galland.

“This white-clapboard 1854 Greek Revival house rests on five acres of rolling hills in upstate New York. The historical narrative we contrived involved a refined, eclectic European family who had migrated in the nineteenth century to begin life anew in the Catskills. The decor therefore represents a fusion of old-world finery and New England practicality, layered and cultivated over time. For authentic texture, we preserved the original fireplace of rough-hewn brick. In the bedroom, the decorative olio encompasses Indian block-printed fabrics, Tunisian and Turkish carpets, a Louis XVI–style chair in worn green leather, and a pair of gilded and painted Italian oak beds dressed with an African Kuba coverlet. A cosseted refuge from the city.”

A wonderful make believe story for a wonderful all too real house. For when geting away is a getaway in time and place (but with all the modern conveniences). Fall Clove by Billy Cotton.

This jaw-dropping home in Lincolnshire, England is currently for sale via Inigo, and has me dreaming and scheming of living there and cooking in the kitchen with its original three-arch stone fireplace, and then lunching in the garden surrounded by all that beauty, and afterwards wandering among the topiary trees….. *sigh*

Cressy Hall is a striking Georgian hall, surrounded by nine acres of verdant gardens and meadows and the bucolic Lincolnshire fens. Grade II* listed, the house has an exceptionally handsome façade and a plethora of original features inside, from a sweeping, sculptural wooden staircase, to the shutters that frame each sash window. A set of stairs lead to a complete set of 18th-century cellars, including a boot room, a wine cellar, a game larder, a wet and dry room plus a coal cellar, all set against a combination of herringbone brick and flagstone flooring. From here, a doorway opens into the studio; a particularly bright and voluminous room, it is lit from above through a glazed ceiling, with a mezzanine running along three sides. Currently used as a painter’s studio, it could easily be an office or expansive study, and has its own separate entrance. The staircase ascends to the first floor, where four bedrooms can be accessed via the central hallway. The top floor is home to three further bedrooms, a linen room, and a billiards room with fantastic striped wallpaper. Outbuildings include the old stables and a workshop, now with planning permission to convert into a one-bedroom cottage. These are flanked by a tool shed and a three-bay open store/woodshed. There is a very spacious garage and a large barn. The garden extends across nine acres, and a combination of formal and kitchen gardens. The garden is most notable for its incredible topiary, such as the yews at the front of the house and a box wave hedge that runs along the driveway. The vista runs the whole length of the garden, past a walled kitchen garden and through a clipped yew circle. Parallel to this is a pleached lime walk leading to a small summer house.

I’ll let the designer describe the approach to this fabulous Beverly Hills home.

“For this archetypal 1920s Spanish-style house in Beverly Hills, we conjured a relaxed, youthful atmosphere in opposition to the formality of many nearby homes. Painting the living room’s beamed ceiling white significantly altered the space’s complexion, providing a luminous backdrop for texture-rich furnishings. A low-slung yellow velvet Mario Bellini sofa sits on a Moroccan carpet laid wall to wall, while a built-in banquette boasts multicolored Majorcan ikats. The kitchen’s wallpaper is by artist Alviro Barrington — part of a collection of contemporary art with works by Laura Owens, Tracey Emin, Richard Prince, and Josh Smith. The result: an unpretentious environment in sync with the rhythms and rituals of contemporary life.”

Light-filled, colourful and downright fun. Beverly by Billy Cotton.

A historic home with most of the original features maintained, whilst being updated and giving some modern touches is the the type of home I crave and am always so pleased to find and share here. Like this 300 year old Colonial home in Connecticut designed by Ryan Lawson, where he painted out doors/windows/trim in black and added lots of textures with fabrics and rugs to make it really cozy. Inspirational! Photos: Stephen Kent Johnson; Styling: Colin King