Wall Treatment

Making the very most of decay...

Via here

Cuprum

I would think that this would probably constitute the ultimate dream kitchen...

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Socialist Chic

How is this for off-the-charts cool? Rick Owens' Parisian apartment was once the headquarters of the Parti Socialiste and in particular the office of President François Mitterrand. Notwithstanding the slightly austere nature of the rest of the apartment, this room (photographed below) is a perfect example of contemporary style that retains the elaborate detail in the embellished walls and cornice. And, of course, what's not to love about the cheeky taxidermy monkey thrown in as an amuse-bouche...

See more of the apartment here. Photography by François Halard

Open

Via here

Friday...

And a happy weekend to all...

Via here

No Pretence

Functional... and beautiful.

Via here

Whitewash

Via here

Sleek

Via here (Designer: Benedini Associati, Photographer: Mark Seelen)

The Right Ingredients...

The kitchen in Franca Sozzani's Marrakech house, photographed by Ivan Terestchenko... 

Via here (Published in AD Spain, June 2011)

Warm and Inviting...

Not joking when I tell you that the wind (dubbed the Cape Doctor) has been blowing 15 conjoined-hurricanes here in Cape Town. The kind of night-time-howling that makes one cower under the covers, simply waiting for that moment when the roof blows off. I have photographic evidence of damage incurred to date (next posting). In the meantime, until summer decides to reveal itself, here is what I would call the perfect winter kitchen...

Via Martynthompsonstudio

Three Months in Cape Town: A Snapshot.

Here are just a few of the daily wonders encountered since returning to Cape Town...

Biscuit Mill, Woodstock

A brightly-coloured row of buildings in Woodstock

Kalk Bay photographed from Boyes Drive

Penguins on Boulders Beach, Simonstown

Boats, Simonstown

Whale season in Hermanus (husband and daughter on the promenade)

Breakfast at the Alphen Hotel (moi and daughter)

Home

A partially obscured Table Mountain as seen from Kloof Nek Road

The extraordinary Drakenstein Stud

Drakenstein Stud - reminds me of a Goyard stripe

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

Spring has sprung. Bella braves the chill.

Government Walk looking a lot like Rome from this angle

Some of our other children

The blinding white beauty of the Swellendam Church

Drakenstein Stud at sunset

A rather startling encounter in Riversdale - our pug, Persephone and Warthog

Cape Town has fab coffee - skull in your latte, anyone? @Truth

Cooking in the kitchen

Kitesurfing in Kommetjie (not me!)

Sunday lunches with friends

Normally, I would not be seen dead in my PJ's with zero make-up, however, this is a typical morning in our household (before tea). Notorious B.I.G on top of me and Persephone in my arms. Happiness is...

Photos by Philippa Berrington-Blew and Craig Strydom

Demarcate

I am seriously partial to the concept of metal-fenestration-as-an-interior-wall. It provides a natural light source, while adding a strong industrial edge to any room...

Via here

Vaulted

Via here

Homestore Kitchen

Much of my previous kitchen was tiled in subway from floor to ceiling, and I must admit that I never tired of its pristine and gleaming whiteness. The spectacular kitchen of British chef, photographer, and design impresario Alastair Hendy rekindled my obsession with those thin rectangular slabs - my new kitchen may be clad shortly...

See more at Remodelista

Reflection

The kitchen reflected in one of the cabinets. Bright and early yesterday morning...

Little (and big) boxes filled with ticky tacky...

The 40 foot truck, containing all we own, is supposedly arriving tomorrow. I say supposedly... because apparently and I quote: "The port is a moving target, so we don't really know." Hope all my things are relatively unscathed from a 6-week stretch at (rough) sea. Wouldn't it be nice if everything looked like this (below) after the monumental unpack...

Butler's pantry at Mills Mansion Poughkeepsie, NY... via here

Pia Ulin

Love these images via photographer, Pia Ulin's site...

The perfect balcony...

Beautiful doors and simple, clean kitchen

Gleaming white floorboards

Via here

On Display

Via here

Perfection

The marvelous Alex Macarthur strikes again...

Now this is a fabulous cabinet. What every kitchen needs...

Via here