Snippets of a beautiful tropical living

Probably the best way of living.
most of the images from Tom Scheerer

A minimalist country home

Love how this gorgeous country home in Mallorca has just the right amount of minimalist and still feels warm and elegant.

images from Nuevo Estilo

My current project

I wanted to apologize for the less frequent posts. I just started working on a new project in the Upper West side decorating an apartment in a pre-war building. I've been leaving home early and coming back late in the day. I promise I'll be posting pictures as soon as I have the time to download them to the computer.

image from Southern Living.

COMO Shanbhala Estate

Don't forget your drink! Or, perhaps you won't even need one, where you will have plenty of water surrounding to keep you fresh in this perfect paradise on earth. Welcome to COMO Shanbhala Estate in Bali, a residential health retreat.

Global chic

Global Chic is a mix of furniture, textiles and accessories from different parts of the world. Some stunning room examples below.

Urban environments

Our latest issue features a number of different views on how to live in urban environments. High land prices and the understandable desire to live close to work and minimise commuting means architects are having to be increasingly ingenious about how to create liveable space on challenging, compact sites. This brought to mind another pair of city houses we featured as finalists in last year's Home of the Year award, the Whare Mahanga/Twin Houses by Scarlet Architects, photographed by Patrick Reynolds.

The houses are the white buildings at the centre of this picture. They're owned by architects Jane Aimer (whose family lives in the left-hand side of the pair) and Lindley Naismith (who lives with her partner John Balasoglou in the right-hand house). The houses are actually part of a small community: Lindley's parents live in the red cottage with white verandah, which Lindley renovated a few years ago, and the new homes were designed to encourage interactions between the occupants. This shot shows the back yard of Jane's home, with the white slider open to Lindley's back yard.

In many ways, the homes are like modern, elevated versions of terrace houses, with the staircases forming ingenious light wells in the centre. The rooms are located at alternating half-levels on the way up the stairs.

Botanical print

Love the idea of these botanical print dividers to hide the T.V. when not in use.

image Southern Accents.

Have a friendly weekend

I hope you get to spend some good and fabulous time with your friends and family this weekend.

Powder room

Probably the smallest room in the house. Powder rooms are therefore the perfect place to experiment with.

Chinese lattice Wallpaper from Bob collins

Update; Bob Collins wallpaper can now be purchased in NYC through Todd Romano.

Tom Scheerer opted for the wallpaper in brown for this very good looking powder room and foyer.

Kelly Wearstler chose the black one to keep this game/sitting room intimate.

Meg Braff revived her office using the wallpaper in blue.

I absolutely love this wallpaper. In which room do you like it the most? I honestly can't pick one. I love it in all three colors. I know what you are thinking. Where to find it. I think you can order it here.

Modern Chinoiserie

I prefer rooms that don't scream a specific theme or era. I've been accumulating images of rooms with little influences of Chinoiserie. I love that each of these rooms has just the right amount of Chinoiseire-inspired details that go from padoga chandeliers, lacquered furniture, wallpaper, Chinese figurines, etc.

In this Michael Smith room above de gournay wallpaper adds a garden touch.

Miles Redd

 Kendall Wilkinson

Above the very romantic room designed by Celerie Kemble.