journal

There’s something about Casa di Monti in Puglia, this vision in white set on an arid Mediterranean parcel of gnarled olive groves and bunny-eared cacti. As a minimalist confection of stone, cement, glass, and corten steel—all rather cool ingredients that lend it a terribly chic, magazine-ready aesthetic— it emanates a surprisingly earthy, approachable vibe. This […]

When we visited Hillside Drive in Topanga recently, we couldn’t help noticing the unusual light fitting above the dining table. It’s shaped like a barrel, but completely rusted and perforated with countless tiny holes, some of which have crumbled away completely. We asked owner Jill Young Rosenast what it was and where it came from – […]

Nestled into the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Loveland, Colorado, Martak Passive House, the 2017 Grand Overall Winner for Green Home of the Year, has a delightful bit of fun up its nature-loving sleeve. At the end of the upper bedroom and over the office hangs a net bed, light and airy, strong […]

Let’s take a moment to express our love for adjustable shelves — an invention perfectly adapted to the real-life problem of putting stuff away. Then there are the clesks of Krisel Glass Cabin, which are the ingenious confection of owner Jared Eberhardt. Clesks are closet-desks, in essence cheerfully adjustable shelves that offer a place to […]

Villa Filottrano in Marche, Italy has been restored using traditional local and recycled materials with colorful and authentic Cementina tile work. Cementina is a glazed porcelain stoneware with a surface that recreates the aspect of hand-trowelled cement. Massimiliano Bruni and his wife purchased the tiles in Colle Sannita in the province of Benevento, 80km from Naples, from […]

German artist Tilmann Krumrey, influenced by the Bauhaus movement and a father who was an interior architect, is best known for his sculptures of the human form. He also owns our Glockenbach Loft in Munich, Germany, a former warehouse converted into a live-work-gallery space with constantly changing selections of art… Including this kitchen, a great piece of art […]

The walls of Villa Yucatan in Merida, Mexico were constructed using the ancient Mayan technique of chukum — a procedure used in the past to seal water cisterns and reintroduced in 1996 to create a polished and sleek finish that’s elegant and earthy. Within these walls, in the master bedroom, you will find a love letter. A painting […]

Hacienda La Fabrica in Merida, Mexico is a historical hacienda that has been beautifully restored and gracefully repurposed. Purchased as a ruin by Josefina Larrain and her husband, the hacienda evolved through years of their hard work and attention to unique details. One of those details — and our favorite — is the Sea Shell Grotto. Cyndy Berger, […]

Rescued from ruin by architect Anna Noguera, Girona Townhouse in Spain highlights the ancient beauty of the 16th-century townhouse with a skillful and subtle restoration. With every detail carefully designed, the art dressing the stone walls in the master bedroom is as meaningful as the restoration itself. Conceived by Barcelona-based artist Mònica Sans Carré, this particular piece was […]

12 Hofmeyr is a colorful and eclectic guesthouse located in Cape Town, South Africa. Designed with a mix of old-world elegance and modern style, each room was inspired by an individual theme and brought to life by some of the city’s most prominent local designers. While talking to Jessica Heynis, the owner, about the design and inspiration […]

Vier Zimmer in Munich, Germany, is a historic townhouse that has been reimagined with a cool new concept. It’s a hotel with only four apartments, where guests can meet while cooking, playing games or having a beer, bringing people from every age, origin or class together to amplify the idea of community. The design is […]

Veneto Country House in Venice, Italy, has a remarkable collection of curious art, treasures and furnishings from around the world. Found throughout the house, inside and outside, the collection of vases is not to be missed. We talked to Stefania Gastaldo, the owner, and found the coolest story behind these gems. “My husband and I […]

The Bracy House in Cape Neddick, Maine, was built in 1890 by local resident Horace Bracy. It remained in his family for generations all the way until 2015, when it was discovered by Traci Roloff — an architect and textile company founder. She restored the cottage and gave it a contemporary look fit for modern country living. […]

Captains Rest in Tasmania, Australia, is a cozy coop located in a village of waterfront cottages and filled with an adorable medley of objects. Inside, we found a collection of antique oil paintings that write stories on the cottage’s walls. Sarah Andrews, the owner, started collecting the paintings on her travels, wandering and sailing around the […]

The Itapororoca Beach House in Trancoso, Brazil is surrounded by beautiful ocean views and decorated with warm personal touches. Francesca, the owner, inspired by her art-dealer father, has spent her life briefing art, and the result is a wonderful collection of treasures from around the world. A brilliant example is this wall piece composed of three […]

The Greek island of Syros is an undiscovered gem rich in ancient and neoclassical architecture. Here, we’ve discovered two beautiful villas covered in handcrafted details. Our favorite? The nautical rope lamps. We did a little fishing and discovered two different approaches to their creation… Kokkina Villa’s rope-crocheted lamps were designed by Ilektra – the owner and […]

Restored to bring out the house’s traditional character and structural features, Vidovici 9 in the Island of Cres, Croatia, has an interesting mix of contemporary and provincial style. When the owners were cleaning the house before the construction, they found a pot hanger made by hand out of cast iron. This piece is a couple of hundred […]

Casa Dos Passaros in Alentejo, Portugal is a pretty amazing revival of old world elegance and the art of graceful style. When you enter you are welcomed by the beautiful hand-painted hall that gives this house its unique name: House of the Birds. Co-founder and artistic director of the brand SIÈCLE Paris for the past […]

It’s always fascinating to discover more about the chic nomads behind our properties – as well as the objects within their homes. When we came across La Romaine Villa, an 18th-century vacation home rental in France, we really fell for its stylish mix of designer furnishings and vintage finds – as well as the striking art […]

Once a fisherman’s house, the Moorish Townhouse in Olhão, Portugal was recently given a sleek and contemporary makeover. But its roots were not forgotten, with simple decor and fun features like this decorative sea urchin sculpture. We were thrilled to find out that the owner himself made it, using sea urchins found at Ishla of Armona. This […]

Our Countryside Retreat in Alentejo, Portugal is a family-friendly home designed by the well-known Portugese architect, João Favila Menezes. We love the cool merge of clean architecture, wild land and vibrant interiors… and we were instantly intrigued by this whimsical wallpaper found in one of the bedrooms. The owner shared with us the inspiration behind […]

The Lake Como Apartment in Italy is a crisp and modern restoration of a historic apartment that features cool contemporary style and some of the most amazing views of Lake Como. Along with some vintage inspired design we found this interesting wallpaper add on, a wing personalizing the wall above the bed. The owner chose this […]

The Slow Life Hideaway in Montepulciano, Italy is an ideal place for peace and discovery. There you can reconnect with nature, experience the rustic beauty and the delicious flavors of Tuscany. Inspired by slow life and nature Karin Lijftogt, the owner, was able to reconnect with her “former life” as a fashion designer in Milan […]

The Heinz Julen Loft in Zermatt, Switzerland is composed of epic proportions that still manage to be warm and inviting. The interiors take a familiar context with custom furnishings and art straight from Julen’s own furniture workshop. So many pieces caught our eye but when we saw the cube chairs we wanted to know more! This […]

Every detail our owners add to their chic properties is part of the story they are trying to tell. We love finding the coolest ones and learning more about what makes them so unique. This time we went to one country: Italy, and in two different regions and two very different houses we found one […]

La Camera Ancona in Le Marche, Italy is a rural apartment set on a beautiful Italian hilltop. It has been carefully and respectfully restored with chic new details and understated modern style. There, we found this feature wall adorned simple black and white stripes and a small colorful detail… We also discovered that the idea came from the […]

Kith & Kine is a sharply crafted 19th century apartment that sits at an interesting crossroads in London, England. Right behind it you’ll find hip, buzzing Shoreditch where London’s vibrant tech community work and play. To the north is Islington, a more established residential place with a history of politics and left wing journalism and across the […]

Dangar Island is a blissfully remote community just an hour north from Sydney. There, overlooking the Hawkesbury River, you will find our modern Dangar Island House. Each bedroom is decorated with an eclectic collection of one of a kind vintage pieces and eye catching art and furnishings, but the collection of black and white images by the artist, Greg Geraghty kept […]

When Boris Kajmak, a Croatian artist and designer, found Kuca Fotografa, it had been empty for many years. He decided to bring it back to life by restoring its charm and preserving its original features, using local materials and elements of contemporary design. We were drawn to many elements, but one of the most interesting features […]

Photographs are a full expression of feelings, ideas and observations. They store memories and tell stories. This is one of the reasons why Kuca Fotografa, a charming cottage in the old town of Novigrad, Dalmatia – Croatia, caught our attention! Once the home and studio of wartime photographer Nikica Karavida, it has been given a new lease […]