When I was thinking about how this blog was changing – away from design to more personal posts about coastal living and some of our favourite places to explore and walk – I wasn’t sure how to integrate design into this format. Would it jar? Possibly. But some design led posts still feel like they fit here, and particularly when you combine contemporary architecture with a sustainable ethos and a striking coastal location, as with Majamaja, which is situated just outside Helsinki.
One of the main things that made me want to get back here after a break was simply blogging about things that catch my eye. Design I love and houses to get excited about. You know when you see something interesting and just want to write about it? That’s why I blog. And one of my favourite houses that I’ve shared here was back in 2013 when I came across the C/Z House in the Portuguese Azores, designed by SAMI Arquitectos – a minimal and contemporary black timber-clad house with flowing open plan spaces designed for family living, and with large windows and glazed walls creating an indoor-outdoor flow. While simple and graphic, the house also blended with its natural environment, as if hugging the rugged landscape.
I feel I should start this post by wishing everyone a happy New Year – although I’m wondering if it’s still okay to write this at the close of the first week in January? A few days too late perhaps? But as this is my first post of 2017, it feels right to mark a new beginning. Let’s be honest, January isn’t the easiest of months – spring still feels a long way off – so when I was thinking about what to feature as the first post here, I realised that a little bit of escapism might be in order. Which brings me to a question: anyone else fancy packing their bags and heading to this chalet in the mountain village of Andermatt in the Swiss Alps?
So it’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted an International Fridays feature and it almost didn’t happen again today (deadlines, deadlines…) but I spotted this fantastic holiday home on Fantastic Frank’s site and had to share. I could live by the sea at any time of year – I’ve nothing against chilly winter beach walks – but during the summer months with the longer days and evenings, there really is no place I’d rather be. Continue Reading…
Seeing these images (which I spotted on this post from Desire to Inspire) simply reminds me why I need to renew my subscription to Inside Out magazine. I’ve always loved this publication – I have a stack of back issues sitting in my office. Sure, every issue features great looking homes, as you would expect, but also the styling and photography always has that special something, and then there’s the magical natural light that seems to infuse every interiors shoot. Continue Reading…
You know when you see an image popping up on Pinterest or Tumblr and you’ve no idea where it came from but it grabs you? Well, the photo below of the kitchen, with the geometric black and white tiling, is one of those images. Continue Reading…