Displaying posts labeled "Outdoors"

Tucked away in a tranquil Tuscan Valley is an early 1800s farmhouse surrounded by olive groves and rows of grapevines. Fully restored and thoughtfully designed by Studio Magness, the property serves as a special place for family to gather together away from hectic city lives. Glowing in the singular Tuscan light, the exterior of the property is anchored by stone walls and Cyprus trees. Inside, accommodations for entertaining abound and rooms are filled with light from deep-set windows. Shadows from a large tracery window enliven the simplicity of the stair. Tile flooring, the ceiling rafters and beams, custom stair rail, and interior shutters provide lovely character while the sleek kitchen, with its beautiful finishes and cabinetry, beckon.
This home(s) is so spectacular I am speechless. To own such beauty and be able to escape every day life in a place this magical steeped in history….. Architect: Brian E. Boyle; Photos: Richard Powers.

I don’t really have the words to describe how beautiful the Mallorcan farmhouse of Tatiana Baibabaeva and Tyson Strang of design team Terra Coll Home is. But I have dreamt of visiting Mallorca for many years and this is exactly what I imagine staying in. Rustic and natural and rough around the edges. Most, if not all photos by Salva López.

I spent a good hour hunting for a decent property for sale to share when I finally spotted this gem and nearly fell off my chair after checking out these views of Lake Como. Then to my surprise as I started saving the photos and glanced at the description I learned this was once the home of artist and designer Piero Fornasetti!!! Ah mah gawd!
Nestling in 3.7 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens with woodland is this luxuriously renovated 4 bedroom villa with guest house, enjoying panoramic lake views from its enchanting location in Varenna. It underwent extensive renovation in the 1950s, so as to make it the most striking testimony to his unmistakable style, of which it retains many distinctive elements, both inside and outside. The property was enlarged and entirely renovated in 2021 and has 2 living levels as follows: on the ground floor is a large entrance hall and living room with fireplace and dining area, large kitchen, study room, storage room, bathroom and porch overlooking the magnificent garden. On the first floor is the master bedroom with bathroom and walk-in wardrobe, two spacious bedrooms, bathroom and balcony. Adjacent to the entrance is a small guest/caretaker’s house, about 40m2, consisting of a single room with entrance and bathroom, also renovated in 2021, it has a panoramic terrace on the roof, with a spectacular view over the entire lake, all the way to the tip of Balbianello. For sale via Prestige Property for €2,800,000.

Colours and shapes, whimsy and exuberance, bespoke and antique, eccentric and grand. Belgian designer Jean-Philippe Demeyer is in a league all his own and I’m a fan. Check out this post from several years ago of what was (and maybe still is) his home.

On a dilapidated 30-acre avocado orchard near Lake McDonald in the Sunshine Coast’s hinterland, Anchor&Belle collaborated with Blackwood Architecture to design a modest accommodation blending into the hillside. The two pavilions optimize the north-facing orientation, privacy and valley views. The open-plan interior, with vaulted ceilings and natural timber palette, captures abundant natural light. Thoughtful material choices, including rustic timber cladding, connect the cabin to its locale, fostering harmony with the surrounding landscape and embracing the Queensland climate.

More and more my heart (and mind) is turning to small house living with big bold views. Make it off grid and add a veggie patch and animals and I’m in!