journal

We love the stories that houses tell when you dig a little beneath the surface. Take La Maison des Arenes, a converted 17th-century townhouse in Arles, France. When we asked owner Gaetan Le Penhuel about the row of photographs behind the master bed, he told us that they are the work of his partner, Italian […]

Can Miret in northern Mallorca is an inviting space full of delightful finds. Among the vintage Eames chairs and one-of-a-kind contemporary art works, we spotted these elegant handmade bowls adorning the walls of the kitchen. We asked owner Annedore Streyl where she found them, and she told us they are the work of German ceramicist […]

A kitchen is a special kind of sanctuary. It’s not only a space for inspiring creativity, but it’s also a room for gathering and sharing. So it makes sense that it should be a thing of beauty. That’s why we’ve fallen for the kitchen at Valletta Vintage DOMA in Malta. An elegant, open-plan room designed […]

The Circus Apartments are a collection of newly-built, state-of-the-art urban pads in the heart of Berlin, with different styles and accommodation options. A home away from home with a touch of the unexpected, and details that make every room unique. Our favorite? The wallpaper! Sourced from different artists and shops like ARTE and TapetenAgentur, designer […]

Some art stops you in your tracks. That was the case with these murals by Sonia Cucculelli, which we discovered on the walls of Dai Nonni, the apartment she inherited from her grandparents in Lecce, Italy. Sonia is a professional illustrator, a graduate of the Accademia dell’Illustrazione e Comunicazione Visiva, and loves animated drawings, the […]

There’s an old rule of design everyone must follow: if you have an opportunity for a trapdoor, you take it! Take Giovanni Settesoldi of Umamma in Tuscany for example. When designing this unique escape in the Italian hills, he couldn’t help but incorporate a hidden gem into the house, and a trapdoor leading to the […]

The Chambourcin Cottage is a bright, contemporary one-bedroom cottage set among vineyards on the North Island of New Zealand. The cottage was built in 1975 by architect Steve McGavock for his parents, but was recently renovated by interior design team Bibby+Brady. The print in the living room caught our eye, and we knew we had to find […]

In the hills of sun-soaked Puglia, within a vast stretches of orchards, olive groves, and gardens, you’ll find the lovely Tenuta dell’Alto. This lavishly expansive villa was restored from 19th-century ruins and brought back to life with a tender eye for preserving its historical integrity by owners Patrizio Fradini and Mark Steinberg. Though keen on […]

Sun-soaked grounds and sprawling vistas are just the beginning at Mas La Romaine in Provence, France. Owner and interior designer Meilin Bristiel restored the 18th-century art-filled home with eco-friendly updates for the lowest environmental impact, and is committed to continuing to make choices that better the planet. And she’s not all talk. From her use […]

Some of our BoutiqueHomes are filled with so many eye-catching details and intriguing decor, it’s hard to choose just one thing to feature. From the moment we listed the Dubrovnik Coastal Villa we were faced with this predicament. The historic Croatian house built in 1938 is loaded with design gems and unique finds we were […]

The Bunkers is a special property within vast stretches of polder on the border of Belgium and Holland. From the remains of two farm buildings and war-torn ruins, owners Margaux and Axel Corman have brought new life to these historic grounds which served as bunkers during both world wars. There are plenty of intriguing details included […]

When it comes to design, one spark of inspiration can set you off in a completely new direction. Just ask Cindy Steinman, owner of The Brexley in Scottsdale, Arizona. “I had already had a design drawn up for what was to become The Brexley,” she explains, “then I saw this amazing door on the internet. […]

Just like people, home furnishings have stories to tell. Each chair, credenza, and table lamp carries a history that deserves appreciation, even if it’s been long forgotten. This idea is one of the key concepts at the core of VLAB Design, an Italian furniture company created in 2008 by Francesco Iervolino and Valerio Rinaldi. They revive old, discarded objects […]

Each listing on BoutiqueHomes is carefully selected so that we only bring you the best of the best from around the world. One thing that sets our homes apart are the hidden treasures that sometimes go unnoticed! That’s why we highlight some of these features in the Found section of our online journal. Read on […]

From the ruins of a dilapidated 20th-century farmhouse, the Malderen Barn in Belgium has been brought back to life by owners Michel Rochette and Birgitta Seghers.  They’ve reinvigorated the space with a bright color palette, sleek appliances, and modern decor. Birgitta has played a particularly special role in creating the barn’s new interiors, as the artist […]

Five years ago, if you had told Priscilla Carpenter Witte that one day she’d be painting a mural in a bathroom at a boutique hotel in Bali, she never would have believed you. The New York State native moved to Venice, Los Angeles in search of sunnier pastures but found so much more. She became […]

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 […]

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 […]