Friday, February 17, 2017

The beautiful 'Cloverdel' cottage and gardens

I think I should start a series on beautiful Australian holiday rentals - of course I'd need to personally test them all out, and I'd need someone to join me of course! My latest find is Cloverdel. Owned and designed by Annabel Buxton, the cottage is located in the heart of the Macedon Ranges, a mere 55 minutes drive from Melbourne. Available for short-term stays, private and public events, guests are invited to enjoy the tranquil 1.5 acre garden which includes manicured lawns, seasonal wetlands, flower gardens and a beautiful variety of trees looking out over Hanging Rock and Mount Macedon. Inside, the decor is wonderfully cool and pared-back with white wood clad walls, a monochrome scheme and touches of warm wood - offering the perfect respite from the midday heat and a blissful night's sleep.  Who's in?!











Credit: photography Sharyn Cairns. Cloverdel is available for short-term stays and private and public events such as weddings (imagine?!), corporate events, birthdays and kids days. 

It's the type of oasis you'd walk into and instantly feel relaxed, don't you think? The sights, sounds and smells..... the tranquility of the gardens. So lovely!

We can't all transport ourselves to Cloverdel unforutnately but we can incorporate a few of the ideas int our own homes - here's a few items I love: wishbone chairs, this grey marble chopping board is similar, AJ table lamp, this and this bird bu Danish architect Kristian Vedel, white butterfly chair.

Dreaming of going down under? Here's a little more inspiration for you to enjoy.

Other Friday link love for the weekend:

5 'winter warmer' modern saunas

Have a *relaxing* day!

PS Speaking of far-away places I've just arrived in India for ten days. I've never been here before and it's somewhere I've dreamed about visiting for a  long time - so excited! I'm going to do my best to stop by every other day with a post but bear with me if I run into difficulty with wifi etc. In the meantime, don't forget to enter the give-away to win a beautiful rug from Nordal and the Instagram give-away to win a fab photography print! 

Thursday, February 2, 2017

A dreamy holiday home in a former miner's cottage

Tell me Aussie friends - what is it about Daylesford, Victoria with it's beautiful array of houses?  The latest property to catch my eye is Vintage House Daylesford, captured by Sharyn Cairns.  Set in an acre of land with views over Wombat State Forest and Doctors Gully, the 1860's miner's cottage has been beautifully restored to it's former glory by owner, interior designer Kali Cavanagh.  Available for rent for 6 to 8 people the main house and garden room have been decorated in shades of white, black and everything in between and furnished with a blend of antique, vintage and industrial pieces. Personally, I'm longing for a soak in one of those salvaged lion claw bathtubs! How would you wile away your day?













Credits: photography Sharyn Cairns interior design / styling Kali Cavanagh (shared with kind permission). Vintage House Daylesford is available as luxury accommodation and photo shoots. 

How heavenly?!

I'm feeling particularly inspired by the garden room - this is just what we need at my man's family Swedish summer cottage.  Must pin immediately!

It's also taken me way longer than usual to write this post because I keep day dreaming about how to re-arrange my bedroom to create space for a bath tub! I've worked out the only way I could do it would be to do away with my home office! Hmmmm. Seems a bit radical....but then again....?!

Is there anything that's got you day dreaming?! 

Get the look from Vintage House Daylesford: white and grey stonewashed linen bedding, buy beautiful made to measure linen curtains here, source vintage industrial pendant lamps here. Try Ebay for a salvaged claw foot bathtub.

I've just noticed there are now over 60 spaces to drool over in my 'holiday home' archive - how will I get anything done today at all (mind you, with no home office.....that would be OK, right)?!

Have a *dreamy* day!

PS I got a note from the post office this morning - I think it could be my mobile - yay!

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

A wonderful home from home on Ibiza

Have you ever been to Ibiza? I've never been. I think it's because my sister lives in Mallorca - so it's our go to place in the Balearic Islands. But I'd absolutely love to visit someday. And now that the beautiful design hotel La Granja Ibiza has come on the scene a trip might just be imminent! Set on a farm, La Granja Ibiza has nine guest rooms and a freestanding guesthouse marked by 'classical Iberian architecture and traces of  Moorish influences', not to mention cool dark walls and simple, rustic touches.  The pool and kitchen area bring guests together - while cozy nooks found inside and out provide moments of 'simple solitude'.  If you like a little action, you can always head down to the farm to meet Coco the 'all-knowing pig' and learn about biodynamic agriculture through a series of workshops, classes and community-based projects. I'm loving the sound of 'lucid Sunday' and 'Other Thursdays' rituals too. Meet you there this summer?!











La Granja Ibiza. Found via  (My) Unfinished Home with a big thanks! 

Could you imagine staying here?!

Yesterday I was dreaming of spending the day besides Daniella's pool and today - this one in Ibiza. Sigh - another day, another pool, if only it were all real!!

Get the look from this beautiful Ibiza design hotel: bedroom - pick up charcoal linen bed covers here, these wooden workman stools are similar, I love Private 0204 rugs. Sitting room - buy off-white linen by the half yard here to cover your sofa.

If you'd like to dream over more design hotels today I'd definitely recommend checking out this idyllic holiday home in the South of France (heaven!), your very own Tasmanian island hide-away and a Brazilian escape in lush tropical gardens.  The question is, which corner of the world should we visit first?!

Have a lovely day!

PS It was a pleasure to be interviewed by My Domain on the subject of 'Lagom in the home'  yesterday. Thank you for inviting me guys!

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

My dream holiday home (and garden room)!

If I ever visit Australia (which I hope to!) I'm going to be in home-from-home heaven. Seriously, I already have my accommodation mapped out! I'd simply rotate through all the homes designed by uber talented interior designer Lynda Gardener! You'll recognise The White Room, The Apartment St Kilda and The Estate Trentham from previous posts (all stunning in their own way), and today I discovered a fourth home (yes there's a fourth!). Located in Melbourne, The White House Daylesford not only offers guests a cosy main house, decorated in classic rich hues and furnished in a beautiful blend of vintage finds, it also has the most incredible 'garden bedroom'! Get ready to feel truly inspired!
















Photography- Marnie Hawson (shared with kind permission). Interior design - Lynda Gardener. The White House Daylesford is available to rent privately and as a location for photo shoots, film etc.

That bathroom?! *siiiiiigh*. That garden bedroom?! Just everything! EVERYTHING!

The problem is, if I stayed here, I'd never want to leave, how about you?!

Get the look: pick up a vintage electric fan here, I usually source my vintage industrial lamps here. The best tip I received lately is to buy vintage army blankets - they're always incredibly warm and come in beautiful army green colours - perfect!


I'm going to be dreaming about this space all day, I hope it's inspired you too!

Monday, November 21, 2016

Step inside a beautifully simple Swedish island retreat

I hope you had a wonderful weekend? We went to visit friends at their summer cottage on the east coast of Skåne, which was lovely and soooo relaxing! I always find these cottages provide such a perfect way to switch off - partly because the Swedes have got it so right by keeping the decor simple and pared-back, offering the essentials but without distraction. This lovely holiday home on Gotland, an island off Sweden's east coast beautifully captured by Erik Lefvander and stylist Anna Mårselius is a perfect example of this. Home to Johan, Joanna, Melina & Ziggy, the muted colour scheme is complimented by strictly natural materials throughout for a calm living space centered around enjoying the simple pleasures in life: nature and each other.












Photographer Erik Lefvander / Stylist Anna Mårselius shared with kind permission. Featured in Residence Magazine.

So beautiful! Could you imagine spending your holidays here?

It really is such an inspiring space. I love the oil lamp over the kitchen table, bespoke wall to wall sofa lined with cushions and bedroom with space for the entire family. What a well thought out home!

Is there anything that stands out to you?

I'm such a big fan of Gotland and have featured many, many beautiful homes from the island on here before, some of my favourites include a charming 19th century house, a simple island retreat, and a beautiful home in soothing grey.

Hey, I've got an idea. Shall we just skip the working week and head there instead?!