Interior Design Sense

I typically LIVE for the weekends. During the week between the day job, blog, cooking dinners, tending to the cat herd etc. I get hardly any chill out time. On weekends I manage to squeeze some in between running errands and house chores….but I am dreading this weekend. I have to get my hair cut/coloured, dig out my summer clothes from the dungeon basement, decide what I’m bringing on my trip south (we leave next Saturday), stock up some blog posts, cut 140 cat nails…. Unfortunate plans but hey, at least at the end of it there’s a beach and lots of sangria. (Hope you’ve got a more interesting weekend planned than mine). The photos below from the portfolio of photographer Pierre Wester are just what I need right now – some eye candy to take my mind off of my TO DO lists. (I’d love a holiday in the cabin-esque home in the first few photos).

Beautifully curated contemporary interiors. Desert deliciousness and minimalism giving maximum impact. Rooms as art and furniture almost as sculpture. Simply stunning homes from Barbara Hill Design. Is minimalism tugging at my heart? Maybe …. just maybe when it this good. Hill was a gallerist and it shows in her careful curation. (Link found via fab blog you are the river.)

Today’s reader request is from Bonnie: i saw the ‘casually draped sofas‘ but i was wondering about slipcovered sofas. can they be chic? i have very young kids and i love white and cream sofas. dilemma. so i’m thinking my only options are leather or slipcovered sofas? am i right? can you do an entry on this? thanks. I have cats not kids so I’m no expert on sofas that are kid-friendly but I think your best options would be as you mentioned, slipcovered or leather. I think you should go for a white slipcovered one – that way you can throw the cover in the wash with some bleach if the kids decide to dump a glass of fruit juice draw you some pictures on it. Below are some photos mostly of white slipcovered (at least they look like it) sofas with a few cream ones and a couple dark colours thown in for the hell of it. Hope this helps!

Fri
Sköna hem
Hus & Hem
Sköna hem
Sköna hem
deko.

As modern as the homes he captures through his lens Sydney based photographer  Simon Whitbread’s portfolio celebrates contemporary architecture. Clean, crisp and carefully curated his photos may be minimalist but covey the architect’s aesthetic with maximum effect. Favourite? Love the large painting as backdrop to an über minimalist kitchen.

Right before Christmas I blogged this dreamy modern home belonging to Anne and her husband Sam. I fell in love with it immediately and I really should show some photos of it to my architect. Anyway, back in August there was a photo shoot at their home and published last month in the magazine Design Bureau (check out the story here). It was photographed by Alan Foreman and his photos are GORG. I think there is something to be learned with the following photos…if you’re not really keen on how you’ve decorated, a half naked model sprawled around your house can help as a distraction! (This wasn’t Anne’s case though – her house was FAB before the model showed up). Thanks Anne!

We recently heard from Neslihan, a student who says she’s lucky to have managed to move to a studio this year and decorated it in a very short time. Here’s some info she provided: I’m a Turkish girl studying masters in architecture in Netherlands. I live in Delft and my apartment is in the center of the city. The building is an old bakery warehouse dated circa 1900. It’s renovated last year. Wooden and steel beams and steel columns are original. Also window frames are original details from the old construction. The open space of the apartment is around 25 m2. Together with the entrance and bathroom it’s a total of 30 m2. Her apartment is  cozy, the openness of the space is fabulous, and I am digging her furniture placement. She’s not a bad photographer either! So without further ado, let me introduce you to Neslihan’s home.

This morning I’d like to take a moment to introduce a new advertiser. This is another one I got pretty excited about. FarFetchers is a bit like 1stdibs, but perhaps a bit more affordable. Below is a bit of info on this shop that I would likely pass out in if I got to visit it in person. And frankly, once someone mentions the words JIELDE and TOLIX, I’m pretty much SOLD.

FarFetchers was formed in 2010 to help interior designers, architects, and home owners find the right elements for their designs. We operate as a sourcing service to the trade and the serious home owner/decorator. We also have a listing service for products of select dealers all over the world. The two services work hand in hand. We list products and display the showrooms of dealers carrying European industrial products, rustic country antiques, French Art Deco, Mid-Century classics,  you name it we can often find it. Whether you need a Belle Epoque Carousel horse by Gustave Bayol, a Jules Leleu wardrobe, a Jielde factory lamp, or a set of marble bistro tables and vintage Tolix come to us and let us help.

One fun thing about our site is the showroom browser. We try to capture the excitement of antiquing in Europe, poking around the back corners for those discoveries that make the experience irresistible. Some examples of showrooms that we’ve captured are European industrial, Antiques of Sport, Classical antiques and Asian pieces, French Art Deco, and French country and rustic.

I spent some time perusing their online shop and came across the following awesome pieces…

Scandinavian modern at its finest. Fabulous rooms and sets created by design journalist and stylist Cia Wedin. White, bright, boho and stylishly relaxed.  Cia ‘s portfolio is a visual treat. No wonder we can’t get enough of scandi homes!

Audrey Carden and Eleanora Cunietti are the creative brains behind London based firm Carden Cunietti. They started out with a shop in London’s Notting Hill in 1996 and became renowned for their dramatic, eclectic accessories and interiors fittings from around the world. Their focus is now on their thriving interior design practice in central London, and their work has been featured in magazines such as House and Garden, Vogue, and Elle Decoration. Their use of dramatic, luxurious textures and furnishings is totally on point. (How about that dressing room in the 4th photo? *SIGH*)

More sneak peeks from Freedom’s Autumn 2011 collection. Remember this is not released until mid March when you’ll get to check out all its loveliness in the catalogue or in store. After yesterday’s brights today it is all farmhouse linen, recycled timber, white with stainless steel and lush leather. Favourites? Love the Sommerfield sofa chic with its laundered soft-touch linen/cotton, the old school architect’s office vibe of the Journal occasional pieces and the Providore stainless steel topped table.