Displaying posts labeled "Stone"

As I grow older my craving for minimalist living grows. I find the need to live simply, plainly, honestly more important. It will mean divesting myself of “things”, of clutter both within and in the spaces I live in. And if welcoming minimalism into my life means creating a kitchen like this one by Atelier Leymarie Gourdon then I have a lot to look forward to.

Photography by BCDF Studio

“Arniano is a romantic, elegant and secluded farmhouse villa thirty minutes from Siena. Situated in a rolling landscape of green-black cypresses and hilltop villages, Arniano commands a panoramic view across southern Tuscany at its rural best.

The house is a rare find and has been lovingly converted into an unusually light and airy property by acclaimed interior designer Camilla Guinness. It is exquisitely furnished with a mixture of grand bohemian chic and simple Italian style, creating a beautiful, comfortable and much-loved family home.”

I’ve long had Camilla Guinness’ red and white striped garden daybeds saved in my inspiration files. Now it’s time to drink in the simple beauty of the rest of her Italian home Villa Arniano

This 13th century castle is an intrinsic part of the Puy-de-Dôme department and has a rich past closely linked to the royal history of France. Restoration works began in the 1990’s and are still ongoing. A superb example of heritage restoration supervised by a master architect specialised in French Historic Buildings, an architecture historian and a host of landscape gardeners. The current owners have poured all their energy into breathing new life into the property and its activities, modernising it without changing its architecture. Its natural setting, the building itself, its large function rooms and reception areas, its landscaped vistas, the gardens and the still-water pool, as well as its secret passageway through the dry moat are all assets and delights just waiting to be explored.
An absolutely breathtaking property, with sooo much history and love poured into it over the years. For sale, and more info via Patrick Besse.

Warmth and charm were infused into this 1790’s farm by clearly defining the personality of every room – yet having small moments of connection to make the home feel complete. We worked with the home’s existing floor plan to maintain the historical character and updated all the finishes, paint colors and furnishings so it’s liveable but not too precious.
This is how you pay homage to the history of a home. With charm and comfort oozing from every corner. Another project designed by Washington based Cameron Ruppert. Photographer: Stacy Zarin Goldberg. (Link here in case you missed my feature last week of a much bolder but equally charming home)

Long narrow gardens can be very awkward to plan out but it seems landscape designer Butter Wakefield has an incredible solution for this London townhouse’s space. She incorporated an intricate set of interlinking paving circles, each one different joined together with a ribbon band of cobbles. With the addition of a dining space, massive planters with trees to provide privacy, a row of wall lanterns and a trough-style fountain and you have yourself a garden that will be the envy of all the neighbour’s. (Photography: Ellie Walpole)