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House Destinations - South America and Mexico

October 01, 2019Sommer Pyne

We’re exploring Central and South America next on our House Destinations around the world. There are some amazing countries to visit in this part of the world plus real variation from the jungle to mountains and stunning coastlines. We can’t wait to go back and visit.

Photos by Simon Upton for Architectural Digest

Tropical Holiday House in Trancoso, Brazil

First up is the tropical hideaway in Brazil that is owned by US news anchor Anderson Cooper. Situated in the lesser know Brazilian town of Trancoso, on the Atlantic coast it’s quite tucked away. Cooper enlisted fashion designer turned hotelier Wilbert Das to build him a vacation home in Trancoso, Brazil. The estate comprises of four buildings set amongst lush vegetation including mango, cacao, jackfruit, banana, and açaí trees.

The image above shows the master suite that sits on timber stilts to create shelter for an outdoor seating area beneath it. It feels like grown ups treehouse.

The treehouse theme continues with wooden cladding throughout. Crisp white muslin drapes over the four poster bed and adds drama to the room.

In the main structure of the house is the living/dining room, kitchen area and veranda for outside entertaining. Handmade local craft and vintage pieces like the Bahian cocktail table that sits with pequi-wood stools perfectly blend into the structure of the home. Das’s Uxua Casa home collection, which include the indigo-dyed throw pillows, woven-reed rug, and sectional sofa finish the room of nicely. Mostly the colour pallet is neutral, however feature wall brighter up room in true South American style.

In the kitchen there is a real juxtaposition of old and new, concrete countertops and shelving complements the reclaimed-wood cabinets. The black earthenware is beautifully displayed on open shelves and the large vintage glass and brass pendant is a great feature.

We love this assortment of terracotta pendants lights hanging over the rustic style family dining table and benches. This is something that could easily be replicated inside your home over your family table. If only we had the same climate as Brazil and could eat outside every night.

The pool area has an organic shape that flows around the lush jungle surroundings making it feel lagoon like. Tatajuba wooden planks form the decking area which houses the lounge furniture and outdoor bar area.

This nook is in one of the guest bungalows and features a lampshade made from reclaimed sail. What I love most about this nook is that most of the things are vintage or reclaimed, making it unique and original.

Who wouldn’t want to curl up with a coffee and good book on this terrace. The terracotta tiles are a gorgeous contrast to the lush green lawn. Reclaimed wooden furniture fill the space and the macrame inspired chair looks sooo comfy.

The reclaimed wood and mix of vintage continues throughout the property in the bathroom. Door frames and window frames also feature reclaimed wood. We love the contrast of the white walls. Finding vintage pieces and repurposing them in your home is a great way to upcycle and add character to your home.

To finish it off this little slice of jungle heaven comes complete with an outdoor shower in a carved out tree trunk. Plus a huddle of hammocks to lounge in.

Key features we love :

Boho Hammocks
Outdoor shower in carved out tree trunk
Tree house inspired master suite
Muslin covered 4 poster beds
Reclaimed wooden furniture

Source - Architectural Digest

Photos by Andres Garcia Lachner for Wallpaper

Joya Villas - Costa Rica

These two modern villas sit in the rainforest of Santa Teresa surprisingly well thanks to the use of predominantly simple raw materials of steel, wood and concrete. The wooden screens and floors ensure that the property is rooted in local traditions and building techniques.

Designed by Studio Saxe, a sustainable organisation that prides itself on maintaining a balance between the natural environment and modern architecture.

This floating staircase is a beautiful example of good architecture. Clean lines are a strong feature throughout this home. In any home with so many hard surfaces it’s important to soften the look with soft accessories.

As this property sits in the jungle/rainforest plants are hugely important and we love this indoor/outdoor planted area in the bathroom. Plants breathe life into any room and this living indoor garden is a great way to bring the outdoors in. We were considering something very similar in our house but it proved to be quite expensive due to extra drainage and excavation.

Bi fold door open up the entire property, creating a smooth transition between indoors and outdoors.

The kitchen has an industrial feel to it with the steel columns and exposed beams, mixed with cool concrete surfaces. The Marble countertops add a touch of luxe. We love the open plan of the kitchen and design is perfect for entertaining.

Key features we love:

Simple lines
Floating staircase
Mix of industrial material like steel, concrete and natural wood.
Bi-fold doors

Source : Wallpaper

Mayan Minimalism - Tulum, Mexico

Last up in our around the world tour is Mexico. This minimalist home in Tulum feels more like a boutique hotel. Set in a rich green Mayan jungle on the outskirts of the town with white sandy beaches, this property is hidden away and feels like a place to leave your troubles at the door and relax.

The property is designed around the spectacular swimming pool and interior gardens with a fire pit and lounge overlooking the jungle from sunrise to sunset. The open lounge area is simply furnished with wooden furniture and oversized cushions.

Constructed entirely of monolithic concrete forms, the tree line of the jungle adds a sense of calm and cool central living areas. Almost completely unadorned, the design allows the architecture and jungle center stage.

This corner plunge pool with hammock above it is the perfect place to cool off and relax. Three of the bedrooms have their own plunge pool, now that’s what a I call luxury! This is a great feature if you are thinking about renting a property out as a side income.

What we love about this property is the simplicity of the design and complimentary furniture. The bamboo ladder is not only practical but a great feature in any room. You can hang towels or accessorise with eucalyptus or dried flowers for a more decorative effect.

The bedrooms are small and have been kept simple and sparse with built in beds that blend in with the floors and walls. We love the architectural window design. The outdoor bathroom area in the above right image has a statement wall made of local stone that is used as the backdrop to the shower.

The open air bathroom is gorgeous and feels very luxurious with the marble vanity area. Who doesn’t love an outside shower?! Perhaps not in the UK but definitely when we’re on holiday. I love the luxe but simple design of this bespoke sink. It’s always a good idea, if you have the luxury to commission a local stone maker or your builder to create something that is unique.

This bathroom above is beautiful, the soft stone colour adds so much warmth and is effortlessly stylish.

Key features we love:

Private plunge pools
Hammocks
Jungle location
Outside bathroom

If you’ve missed any of the previous blog posts in this series don’t worry you can catch up below:

House Destinations - Australia

House Destinations - America

House Destinations - Scandinavia

House Destinations - Balearic Islands

categories blog
tags house destinations, house curious, brazil

House Destinations - Australia

July 31, 2019Sommer Pyne

We’re taking you on a journey around the globe as we share our favourite design led homes that are bursting with interior and architectural inspiration. Each week we’ll be visiting a new country, sharing hand-picked drool worthy homes for you to feast your eyes on. First up we’re starting with Sydney, Australia, my home town.

As a city Sydney has so many varying characteristics from chic city living to beachy vibes, laid back living, colonial history and a love of the outdoors. Mix this in with influences from Asia, UK and India as well as Australia's own hot and rugged landscape and you have an exciting and eclectic selection of interior trends to pull from when designing your own home. We have picked 4 home styles that represent this cocktail mix of interior design.

Spatium Warehouse

Annandale, Inner West, Sydney

First up is this industrial warehouse space that has been transformed into a multifunctional space. Cleverly designed to be used as a family home and a workspace. The building is located in Sydney’s Inner West suburb and was formally a 3 unit warehouse space with metal foundry and automotive workshop.

In November 2013 Joe Sidoti, acquired the property. Inspired by a passion to bring new life into it’s worn out walls. Joe’s vision was to transform this vacant warehouse into an exquisite family home and still respect and display it’s warehouse history.

The former warehouse in Annandale has been opened up to have a double height living and dining area which is flooded with natural light from the courtyard and terrace. A mezzanine floor links the bedrooms above. The history of the building has been uncovered and restored revealing the building's past. Windows have been restored and the structure has a raw industrial feel to it which is softened through the interiors and furnishings.

With bi-folds doors the interiors flow into the courtyard which is a key trend when it comes to properties in Australia, making the most of the great weather.

Photo by Prue Ruscoe and Robert Walsh via Madeleine Blanchfield

Queen’s Park House - Sydney

This home isn’t all that it seems from the offset. Based in a heritage conservation area in Sydney’s East suburb, the challenge from the homeowners to the architects was to give a modern update to the house whilst keeping the existing facade, so that the house continued to blend in with the houses on their tree lined street.

The architects kept the facade, plus the two front rooms and part of the roof form of the original home which seemed the most suitable for the street. By doing so the property flows and allows the two storey extension at the rear to remain somewhat concealed. The structure behind blends into the roof due to the clever use of the folded form and angles that merge with the existing slate roof.

There is a modern, open and airy feeling to the homes living areas that reaches out in to the garden. The rear of the property is lower creating 4m high ceilings which adds a different dimension to the property. Windows and glass feature throughout allowing light to flood in. A large cantilever over the veranda provides much needed shade from the Australian sunshine.

The materials and palette used on the exterior and interior have been quite simple with black, white and timber being key. The neutral interiors, mix natural wood, white walls and concrete floors. The properties furniture, fixtures and fittings follow suit and add softness with soft furnishing and a touch of luxury from the marble in the bathrooms.

This building really proves that you can keep original features or even the front of a house and blend it with a modern extension seamlessly. With simple updates at the front like the fence and paint refresh to tie up the look. It is simple but stunning.

Lana’s Forever home

North Shore - Sydney

Our next property is Lana’s Forever home which was created by our favourite ladies Three birds Renovations and as we do with all their renovations, we fell in love with this home in Sydney's North Shore. It’s totally up our street and we want to move in.

The design has been influenced by the greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos and the modern hotels that keep popping up. There is such a huge trend at the moment for this modern boho look.. The property has gone through quite a transformation, however Lana has kept original features such as the front door, shutters and cornicing whilst adding the Three Birds stamp on it.

There is one key colour, white , which is used throughout the house from the walls, floors, and furniture. She mixes in accents of natural wood and marble for a luxury feel. There are splashes of soft colour which break up the monochromatic interiors. Blush pinks and oceanic blues are picked up in the soft furnishings, the rug in the living room which reminds Lana of the ocean and a fish scale tile wall in the bathroom that is a great statement feature.

The indoor/outdoor feel was a non-negotiable for the property and is a theme in most Australian properties. And of course a stunning and inviting pool which was a late addition rounds off this stunning property.

Since the renovation and design process Lana shared a few words of advice in hindsight.

Be open to the opinions of others, a visiting tradesman remarked on extending the space to open up the living area which wasn’t part of the original plan. He had seen 100s more properties in his career and looked at the house with fresh eyes.
Having your heart set on certain design features might not always work on the specific property. "I had my heart set on floor-to-ceiling mirrors in my room, as I thought it would open up the space and bring the outdoors in. I was so set on it that Bonnie had to stage an intervention! She said it was too modern and flashy and didn't suit the Mediterranean look. I was so annoyed at the time, but I knew that it didn't suit what I was trying to achieve so I had to let it go. Now, I have pure white wall with a beautiful piece of art on it and it's just perfection."
Re-evaluate what is important to you and how you’ll use the space when planning. "We have two kids, we're not having any more and we don't love having house guests – so we didn't need a guest room collecting dust and taking up valuable floor space,"

Ocean House

Great Ocean Road, Lorne, Victoria

Just 1hr and 45min drive out of Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road and you’ll find the Ocean House. It blends into the rugged wilderness surrounding it and sits above the crystal clear swirling ocean below, blink and you’d miss it. Designed by architecture company Robert Mills Architects and Interior Designers it is simply stunning.

The glass and timber pavilion really does sink into the landscape around it. Complimented by the soft colours of the chalk-rubbed hardwood and polished concrete, the house features circular bedrooms, curved staircases, wrap-around terraces and a rooftop deck with an open-air bath, it’s a real place to escape.

The interiors feature statement furniture pieces tie the exterior and interior together. Est magazine visited the Ocean House and wrote that ‘Sinking into the Piero Lissoni sofa to soak up the sea views is a sure treat when it comes to getting comfy at Ocean House. Other notable design objects to grace its halls are the Andrew Lowe table and Patricia Urquiola bed, as well as the lower floor curation of furniture by De Padova, Jardan and Eero Saarinen – some of Rob Mills’ favourite designers’.

We love the timber ceiling and how all the materials and design blend into the landscape. The biggest take away for me is to to draw inspiration and have respect for the natural surroundings. Everything works so beautifully together. You can tell that every detail has been carefully thought through even down to the soft furnishings that compliment the natural timber and polished concrete adding calming tones to this Ocean House.

Tune in next week as we reveal our next series on our global house tour x

categories blog
tags interior blog, interior design, interior inspiration, house curious, housecuriousblog, house destinations

March

March 04, 2019Sommer Pyne

March is an exciting month as there is lot’s going on, the days are getting longer and sunnier with spring on the horizon. It’s time to get outside and embrace the warmer weather. To help inspire you we have a round up on all the different things to get up to this month in and around London.

Tom Daley’s Banana and Blueberry Pancakes

5th March - Pancake Day

Have your frying pans at the ready because Pancake Day is just around the corner. If you’re looking to perfect your pancake toss at home or venture out to explore some yummy treats check out the previous blog post for inspiration. If you live in the Greenwich area of you fancy a good giggle, check out the Flippin’ Good Pancake races at Greenwich market on the 2nd and 5th March. For more info just click here.

7th-10th March - The Affordable Art Fair - Battersea

The Affordable Art Fair returns to Battersea Park this month. Whether you know your Hockney’s from your Hirst’s, or are simply looking to dip your toe into the world of contemporary art. Friendly, expert gallerists will be on hand to help you choose the perfect piece to suit your space, taste and spend. Discover an array of original artworks from their curated collection of living artists, all priced between £100 and £6,000, and find that perfect piece to bring your home to life! For info click here.

8th March - International Women’s Day - WOW Festival at the Southbank.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. To mark the day why not attend WOW festival.

WOW festivals began in the UK in 2010, launched by Kelly at Southbank Centre London, where she was Artistic Director, to celebrate women and girls, taking a frank look at what prevents them from achieving their potential, raising awareness globally of the issues they face and discussing solutions together.

This year WOW presents an incredible line-up of events to mark the launch of The WOW Foundation and begin the countdown to 2020 – the 10th anniversary of WOW. The programme includes two very special conversations, including on Friday 8 March – International Women’s Day – with Angela Davis, and with Naomi Klein on Saturday 9 March, as well as two full afternoons: WOW: What Now? and WOW: What Next? led by Jude Kelly – and more. For more info and tickets click here. Source: Wow Festival Southbank.

17th March - St Patricks Day

On the 17th March it is St Patricks Day, the pubs will be full to the brim and the rugby will be on. But if you want to do something a bit different why not check out what is happening at the O2 on the 17th March. We were all obsessed by Blue Planet II and now you can relive the best bits of the action as the show is going on a UK concert tour and it hits Londons O2 this St Paddy’s Day. Stunning film sequences from the series will be screened alongside the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra playing live, featuring music by Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and David Fleming for Bleeding Fingers Music. And if you thought the programme looked epic on your telly, just wait until you get a look at it on the state-of-the-art 200sqm 4K Ultra HD LED screen…it’s going to be epic. For more info and tickets just click here.

The London Coffee Festival- 28th-31st March

Returning for 2019, the London Coffee Festival is the UK’s largest coffee and artisan food event, a celebration of London's vibrant coffee culture featuring gourmet coffee, speciality tea, artisan food, demonstrations from world-class baristas, live music and a comprehensive ‘lab’ seminar programme that will educate even the keenest of coffee lovers.

The festival is once again the flagship event of UK Coffee Week. Highlights include the Latte Art Live workshops where you can learn to craft milky masterpieces, home barista workshops and a brand-new multi-sensory, guided and meditative coffee tasting experience. For info click here. Source - London Coffee Festival

With the warmer weather and longer evenings just around the corner, it’s time to get out of hibernation and explore again. It’s also Mother’s Day on the 31st so if you’re looking somewhere new to treat your mum look no further. Here are our top picks of restaurants and bars to check out this month.

The Gloria - We all have dreams and fantasies. Today, one of our wildest ones at Big Mamma is coming true (spoiler: it’s not taking pizza to the moon ). Since the beginning, we’ve always wanted to open in London, the most exciting city with the craziest vibe.
So meet Gloria, a 172-seat traditional Italian trattoria in the middle of Shoreditch.
Joyful and lush by day, it also gets funky with a buzzing atmosphere and house made playlists.

For info and reservations click here.

EartH Kitchen - Earth kitchen is situated in the recently launched music and arts venue Earth (Evolutionary Arts Hackney), a former art deco cinema in Dalston’ bustling Stoke Newington road.

The kitchen was established by Auro Foxcroft, founder of Village Underground and EartH, and Chris Gillard, who previously helmed the St. John Group as Executive Chef.

EartH Kitchen reflects Head Chef Chris’ passion for using the best available ingredients in line with the changing seasons. Restaurant Manager Toni Castillo, also formerly of St. John, will be running the floor and curating the wine list with a European focus, while the cocktail list will make the most of seasonal ingredients.

For more info and reservations click here.

BBQ Dreamz - Fresh from their triumph on My Million Pound Menu, where they secured investment from Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh, street food faves BBQ Dreamz will be popping up at MEATLiquor Kings Cross for a six-week residency. The 11-course tasting menu will consist of dishes that featured on the show, including grilled satay duck hearts (in homage to co-founder Lee Johnson’s auntie who runs a skewer stall back in the Philippines), their signature lechon kawali, adobo glazed chicken wings with lime aioli, and sour papaya noodle salad, with calamansi lime-spiked Bloody Marys on offer too (plus other drinks from the MEATLiquor bar). For more info click here.

DND — Do Not Disturb. Is the cocktail bar hidden in the basement of the Vintry and Mercer Hotel in the City of London — it is the place for a clandestine drink in the City. Hand-beaded images of Ziegfeld Follies girls line the walls, beckoning guests into this secret bar through a darkened entrance tucked back on Garlick Hill.

categories Culture Fix, blog
tags culture fix, march, 2019, house curious, what to do in london, pancake day, london

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House Curious

House Curious

House Destinations - South America and Mexico

October 01, 2019Sommer Pyne

House Destinations - Australia

July 31, 2019Sommer Pyne

March

March 04, 2019Sommer Pyne