Ballinlough Castle, County Westmeath

See more here. Via here

The Hart and the Hunter

Whew! Things have been insanely busy here. Went straight from shooting a film into mom mode for our provincial swimming championships with my daughter for 5 days.

Not to mention trying to absorb the enormity of the passing of Nelson Mandela. There are simply no words to adequately express the gratitude we have for our noble former president who epitomised selflessness...

In the meantime, I found this fabulous treasure in Los Angeles (The Hart and the Hunter) via Remodelista...

Read more here

Hurwundeki

The wonderfully eclectic Hurwundeki Cafe in Bethnal Green, where you can simply add the chair you just sat in, to your bill, should it take your fancy...

 Via here

Unaffected

Via here (Photographer: Manolo Yllera, Architectural Digest, March 2012)

Still Life

Via here

Cassina

Founded by Cesare and Umberto Cassina in 1927, Cassina launched industrial design in Italy in the 1950's. Cassina's reputation as a leader for design innovation has not diminished, and today there are stores in Milan, Paris, New York and Tokyo...

Via Rydeng and Cassina

Take Your Pick

Via here

Happy Birthday Tata Madiba

Wishing you continued peace, love and strength from our nation and the world...

Paul Emsley's extraordinary portrait of Nelson Mandela

Sten and Lex

Aren't these fantastic? The extraordinary work of Italian Street artists based in Rome - StenandLex...

Via here and see videos of art in progress here

Who could resist

Such a charmer...

Via here

An Unexpected Trip

My mother is the strongest person I know. She was rushed into the operating theatre just over two weeks ago after learning that she has cancer. I flew to Johannesburg to help with her convalescence, and she is recovering remarkably well. I knew she was feeling better when she said: I need an elixir, preferably in the form of an antique shop. I happily obliged (and snapped these pics in the treasure mine we jokingly refer to as the gift-that-keeps-on-giving - JAB Louw in Melville)...

44 Stanley

Mum and Henry's home...

Weekend (at last)

Looking forward to relaxing and recharging...

Via here

On Display...

Photograph by Timur Artamonov for Elle Decor, February 2013 (via here)

Worn around the Edges...

My favourite kind of home...

Via Lavish Locations 

From the home of Federico de Vera and Randy Saunders: a collection of De Vera–designed necklaces (made of gold, coral, and a variety of found trinkets) hang from a yellow Eames wall hook and a wooden hand carved in nineteenth-century Germany...

 Via here

Golden Lining

Appartement de Madame Victoire, Versailles...

Via here

The Life of a Cat

Enviable...

Photo by Philippa Berrington-Blew

Branches

Giant, sculptural branches placed in urns make great alternatives to a traditional Christmas tree. Adding a few artfully arranged mercury glass balls would do the trick beautifully...

Via here