Weekend (at last)

Looking forward to relaxing and recharging...

Via here

The last couple of weeks in pictures

One cannot photograph Babylonstoren enough... THE most beautiful farm, garden, buildings, donkeys, turkeys, geese... the list is endless. It is just a severe case of jaw-drop-ation around every corner...

Charcuterie and fromagerie

The Green House

Beautiful tiles in the Farm Shop

One of the outbuildings, the farm dates back to 1690

Just a fraction of the exquisite gardens...

Giant twig-twine balls

Then it was off to Hermanus for a seaside holiday. Touted as the best shore-based whale watching area in the world, it is one of our favourite homes-away-from-home. First stop before arrival... the Bot Rivier Kroeg (pub) - front and center of the village. Surprisingly stylish and old school... almost as if Ralph Lauren himself, had styled a corner or two.

Bar

Ties, cricket bats, rugby and horns

Once in Hermanus, we met a very entitled parrot, who was quite at home with his master's bull whips. Cackling in delight every time a demonstration was carried out...

Romantiques Bygones and Collectibles

Love these... read some of the product descriptions 

Collection of sailor caps

Mannequins and trunks

Die Kelders (famous for caves in sandstone cliffs)

Hermanus from the Old Harbour

Hermanus from the New Harbour

Multiples

When a collection becomes an art installation. So beautiful and intricate...

Via here

Bowerbird and Sibella Court

Creating beautiful interiors with the things you collect is the ideology behind Sibella Court's fabulous new book Bowerbird. Photographed by Chris Court, I cannot get my hands on it fast enough...

All images via here

Profusion...

Simply HAD to...

Via here

Watchful Gaze...

Compelling composition of art above the mantel. Perfect in its artful array...

Image via here (originally Côté Paris)

Multiplication…

A few posts ago, I mentioned how much I love groupings of objects – less not being more in this case. The same philosophy applies to cabinets with multiple drawers, a collection of hats, rows of hooks, ramekins or aqua apothecary bottles against the light of a window… forming unexpected vignettes. Stephen Falcke (a very talented South African interior designer) states that the trick is to build visual layers: in one of his rooms, he has taken multiple Zulu Imbenges (grass-woven bowls), transforming a large wall into a dazzling display of elaborate pattern. When collecting, focus on scale and numbers – it could yield surprising results.

From the top: 1) Neville Trickett, 2) Stephen Falcke, 3) Please Sir, 4) Brown Button, 5) Remodelista, 6) Craig Strydom