Displaying posts labeled "Reader’s Home"

I hate Facebook for the most part, but was reminded recently why I still have an account. Because without it I would not have noticed this incredible renovation project by Emily Arbour. Emily has a gorgeous home in Almonte, a small town outside of Ottawa, and her home was in desperate need of an update. What I saw on Facebook sure captured my attention, and when I went to check out the full story on her blog, I was blown away. The transformation of her kitchen, sunroom, foyer, family room and powder room is fantastic!!! Congrats Emily! I bet you and your family are loving every bit of it. (She has tons of details and sources in her blog post).

A big thanks to Karina, of little town life, for sending along these wonderful photos she took of an apartment in Vienna. This is such a bright, inviting family home. And despite the decor being fairly simple it has some fun statement lighting and vintage pieces that add a bit of funk and takes it to the next level.

When long time reader Vika Pecherskikh of Compelling View Interiors shared these photos of her home I immediately knew she was a kindred spirit. You see she has an addiction to love of beautiful chairs just like I do. In every room there is a vintage treasure. Her decorating firm in  the Washington DC metro area is passionate about homes and emotions they evoke, creating spaces that have a sense of narrative and authenticity. You can see more of Vika’s ever evolving home and the treasures she finds on her instagram page.

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, Catherine has 2 apartments in the gorgeous southern France town of Carcassonne, and this one I am head over heels in love with. Look at those mirrors – and they match the moldings!! And those windows!! I am really craving a trip to France now. I have never been and now am dying to go more than ever. Thank you so much Catherine for sharing these with us! (Available here on Airbnb)

Catherine (of the blog Taste of France) has been following our blog forever, and kindly emailed us recently with some photos of a couple of 17th century apartments in Carcassonne, France that she owns and renovated over the past year. Not an easy feat it seems as she had to adhere to strict requirements of the Batîments de France (and expensive headache). It started as one gigantic (2000 square foot) apartment that we split in two because there were two entrances. That meant adding a kitchen and bathroom, but our possibilities were dictated by the historic authorities. The last renovation seemed to have been in the 1970s; we changed all the windows, wiring, plumbing and had all the ancient tomette floors restored. It was a challenge, with 2-foot-thick stone walls (just try running wiring through that), and other walls made of straw and lime. But it was above all a labor of love. We decorated with antiques. The furnishings either were bought from the previous owner or come from local brocantes, flea markets and the like. Also leboncoin.fr which is the French equivalent of craigslist. I made the drapes myself. You can’t buy 3.5-meter drapes readymade, and custom was out of my budget. The apartments are vacation rentals and we don’t see the attraction of going on vacation in France in a place that has the same Ikea furniture found around the globe; everything is locally sourced. The building is older than Haussmannian, dating to the 1600s, but it was renovated a century later with lots of high-relief moldings above the marble fireplaces. Doves, flowers, lutes…. I’m seriously ready to start scouring the internet for a deal on a flight to France so I can shack up here. So gorgeous!!!! Here’s the link to the Airbnb listing if you’re interested in a dreamy France vacay. (Stay tuned tomorrow for the other apartment).

Had to include at least one before the renos. Here is the bathroom before…

And after!!!