Interior Design Sense

I have been sick with yet another cold all week, but my spirits were instantly lifted the other day when I saw that we had received an email from Fabien, whose home in France (which he shares with Frédérique) I had posted back in June of last year. It seems Fabien and Frédérique have recently moved to another part of France and although their home is not decorated completely, they wanted to share it with us. And am I ever glad I did because once again the photos are beautiful and in the world of interior design where so often it’s all frou-frou and expensive furniture and each item is placed JUST SO, it’s nice to see how “normal” people live. (They are updating their website Harmonie intérieure and it will include some gorgeous raku pottery that Frédérique is working on – a couple photos of it are after the jump). Thanks again Fabien!

I was expecting something just a little different. Spa in the living room? There are BBQ facilities as well and retractable roof. Is this the ultimate bachelor pad? Check out the big red lips on the stairway artwork, pinup girl on the drawing board, the black mock croc bathroom (almost missed the headboard!), big TVs in the bedrooms and minimalist kitchen. I just described this to my husband and he wants to move right in. Real estate stalking sure does throw up some “interesting” pads! Have a great weekend everyone! (Link here while it lasts.)

Today’s reader request comes from Jennifer: “I am in need of some help with my large stone fire place! Our fire place is the focal point of a fairly large room. It is freestanding and it is field stone that has been painted white. The room has rough wood beams and trim that has also been painted white (by previous owners). I am trying to put the room together. I’d like to see some images of furnishings in rooms that have large stone fireplaces. (I am trying to figure out what kind of furniture will go best with it.)” Below is a mix of all sorts of stone fireplaces because I could not find enough with field stone and I figured why not take this opportunity to showcase all kinds of stone. IMHO, if it’s painted white I think you can pretty much go with anything. I vote for mid-century modern (see the Lili Abir Regen photo below), or a casual rustic vibe (like the Cdn H&H photo). Whatever you choose Jennifer, you’re lucky that you have a fireplace. I had one in my last house and sooooo miss it.

Aidlin Darling Design	Joe Schmelzer
Jonny Valiant	Eric Piasecki
House of Pictures	Jordi Canosa
Jennifer Worts	Emily Summers
Canadian House & Home	Francesco Bittichesu

Lili Abir Regen
Agnes Bourne

Toying with space. Deconstructing floors and walls and reconstructing a big communal space. Old facade and new internal configurations. Is it thinking outside the box? Floating and fusing and looking just a little like an Escher print. House and studio transformed by Zecc Architecten and Studio Rolf.fr in Rotterdam.

Every once in a while I see a home featured on a website that makes me sit back and sigh in delight. This is one of those homes. My twin sister sent me the link to this home which I think is in Finland (since the site is) and is the home of a family of 5 where the mother creates beautiful knit objects and the father is a carpenter. I absolutely adore the rustic, natural, neutral and handmade vibe of this home. I think I’m going to save just about all of these photos in my inspiration folder. (More, including the gorgeous kitchen, after the jump).

Sometimes I like the wabi sabi, the imperfect peeking out of a perfect room. Don’t get me wrong I also love a well groomed space. In fact I’m always in awe that a room can be perfect even if it is just for the moment a photo is taken. I guess that means I’m drawn to all the images in photographer Andy Barnes‘ portfolio. The hint of peeling paint or the stylist’s carefully crumpled and precisely tossed scrap of paper, the manicured living room.  Andy’s work is about the everyday and the beauty found within.

Antonia Hutt is an Los Angeles based interior architect whose “understanding of the exceptional and her love for refinement” have attributed to her sophisticated and strong design aesthetic. her work is well known through publications in House Beautiful, In Style, Metropolitan Home and Elle decor to name a few. Here is a little peek into Antonia’s world…(and there’s another peek here from a post Jo did a few years ago).

Morgan of Seattle, WA emailed about the recently completed remodel of her mid century modern house and wanted to share her new spiffy kitchen. Here is some info from Morgan: “Here are a few “before” shots of the kitchen…the pictures are the fuzzy wide lens shots that realtors take…it was way worse in person “

“A wall came down, the 20 year old laminate floors and formica countertops came out and my dream kitchen with an island went in! We bought this circa 1956 house in Northwest Seattle last spring for its kitchen-remodel potential. Galley kitchens are the norm in Seattle and mid century houses are rare in the close in neighborhoods. When we found this house, we were so excited to have a home where the kitchen was the heart! I had a folder on my desktop full of images from desiretoinspire, ready to put to good use in our design process. Thank you for the inspiration!
The backsplash tile is Villeroy-Boch in an awesomely European large format- 12″ by 36″. After falling in love with $70 a foot tiles at Ann Sacks it was a huge relief to find this at $12 a foot! The cabinets are walnut and the countertops are white quartz.” I love it all – the walnut cabinetry and the backsplash are HOT, and I’m a sucker for white quartz countertops. Great job Morgan!!! Check out the after photos after the jump!

The following was from an email we received from Davina: “I wanted to share a project with you, a short documentary I am working on called MINKA, about a 250-year-old farmhouse in Japan that was restored by an American journalist and his adopted Japanese son. I’m in the midst of raise finishing funds for the film via Kickstarter and am trying to reach as many design lovers as I can. This is the link to my fundraising page.” Everything about this video is just so beautiful – the story, the farmhouse, the cinematography. I just had to share it. And I really REALLY hope Davina is able to collect the funds to finish the film – it’s a really touching story.

Here is the trailer:

“Minka” trailer from Birdling Films on Vimeo.

It’s a tiny house with Grand Designs. This itsy bitsy 5 level Surrey Hill’s house is the creation of Woods Baggot principal Domenic Alvaro. Domenic and his partner Sue Bassett could not afford the price tag of a house in this trendy inner Sydney suburb. What they could afford was a carpark. So this is what they did. Bought a 3 car space and built up and up and up. Featured on Australia’s LifeStyle Channel as part of their Grand Designs series you’ll find so much more on their website. Befores, afters and video walk throughs as well as more clever Aussie homes. Clever design solution! Stunning views! To die for roof top garden! The steps would keep you fit!