Impeccably Edited

If I had a beach house, this is exactly how I would decorate it. Interior designer Gregory Mellor's unerring eye has ensured perfection in every possible way: color palette, carefully scavenged junk shop finds - not overdoing (o-dee-ing) the 'beach-theme'. When asked to describe his style, Gregory said: "Constantly evolving, but my main focus is comfort, which is influenced by the South African and Australian way of life. I always try to throw in quirky things, too, to keep things interesting". Like the trophy collection which began with a cup that his great-grandmother won in a gardening competition...

From the portfolio of Gregory Mellor
Here & Here

Through the Looking Glass (Number III)

The third in the Through the Looking Glass series of photographs.

Corner of my desk

Kuilfontein Stables

The journey from Cape Town to Johannesburg is often brutal. The scenery is breath-taking, but the road is ruler-straight and endless... mirages form in the distance and the landscape blurs on the periphery. Big sky country. Destinations become apparitions until finally... a welcome sign emerges - Kuilfontein.

A family farm since 1876, the converted stables provide the beautifully appointed accommodation with every amenity and comfort (each named after a champion racehorse, bred on the farm).

The Cape Dutch farm house is magnificent, and a swim in the white-washed springwater pool is a welcome relief after 'glistening' all day. Not to mention a bottomless, pink Gin and Tonic in the 'pub' with an inverted trough serving as a bar counter. 

Penny and Leigh Southey are the consumate hosts - joining guests in the pub for stories and a hearty laugh. Dining by candlelight in the carmine-coloured diningroom (previously the feed room) extols a life less ordinary. Inevitably, a darling cat or dog will lie at one's feet, gazing longingly in the hope of a morsel of Karoo lamb. Prepare your palette for an experience at breakfast - cactus fruit and prickly pear, preserves and homemade-practically-everything amongst the many treats. Guests are truly treated like old friends. 

Winding down the farm road for home, one sighs with wistful pleasure. Until next time...

Penny's father's WW II South African Air Force Uniform - note the coat hooks (pub)

Diningroom

Ostrich eggs and horns at Reception

The main (and private) house

What a fab pool

Farm Gate

I love this barn

Karoo sunset (with the inevitable windmill)

Inside the barn

Dining by candlelight

Kitty

Homemade on the farm

What a life!

Website: here

Photographs by: Philippa Berrington-Blew

Breaking Point

I am truly at the end of my tether. Here's why:

1. Ever been forced into a home project that becomes more mammoth by the minute (and literally bankrupts in the interim)?
2. If aesthetics are involved, then mortgaging one's own privates is worth it. But when 'The City' mandates the removal of paint from exterior brick, with the blanket rule of "all paint or no paint" (so draconian!) then I get hostile.
3. I am all for removing peeling paint, but not at the expense of the conservation of the brick. Preservation is my chief concern. ALWAYS. In fact, the brick actually has a lovely veneer. However, some of the pesky paint would not budge (baked into the brick), so it was suggested that we power-wash/sandblast the brick.
4. Me: totally anti... really concerned about the aggressive nature of those alternatives.
5. I was right (what's new?). One blast of the power-washer, and the 1865 mortar began to erode and eject in huge chunks.
6. Stroke was imminent. Stress and anxiety is not my strong point. Yelling at full volume, I almost got run over (standing in the middle of the street) and halted the mission immediately. There is only one way to remove the paint from this gargantuan elevation — by hand!
7. If 'The City' has a problem with the small fraction of brick with paint adhered to it, would they prefer it if I removed those delinquent culprit-bricks from the side of the house? Are large gaps preferable? Or perhaps demolish that entire section?

Whatever pleases thee, me lords...

GRRRRRRRR...

Perilous

Some of the crew

Note 80 foot cherry picker to the left and man on fire escape

the invasive nature of power washing

paint flecks flew everywhere and stuck... practically impossible to remove

Photographs by: Philippa Berrington-Blew

Infused with light

It is turning out to be an exceedingly trying week. Having to deal with old house issues (none aesthetically gratifying, unfortunately). Self-help guru, Richard Carlson, once said that stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness. I submit to that diagnosis! But, before trying on a strait jacket for size, perhaps decompression via the halcyon images of photographer Nicolas Mathéus is preferable (add to that an entire tub of ice-cream and several hundred of those petit-fours).

website here 

Through the Looking Glass (Number II)

The second in the Through the Looking Glass series of photographs.

Napoleon’s Court (Musée Louvre), Paris

By: Antonio-M.

Man vs. Beast

As I've often said, I am neither a hunter nor a trophy kind of gal, but I am devoted to museums of natural history and one of my favorite haunts is Deyrolle in Paris. A colossal omission to our Paris itinerary was not knowing about the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature. It will be a priority next time. I was tickled pink to read that the museum has a policy of placing thistles on priceless chairs to avoid bottom cheeks at all costs!! The museum, housed in the Hôtel de Guénégaud in the Marais, is the epitome of good taste in all that is 'huntin', shootin', fishin'. Built by François Mansart in 1651 in the Marais for the royal treasurer François de Guénégaud, it is yet another ridiculously magnificent example of 17th century French architecture.

Via here, here and here (and good old Wiki)