DesireToInspire

Christmas reading guide part 1.0

Welcome to what is now a tradition on Desire to Inspire. If you are not madly braving the post-Christmas sales or lining up for an epic Boxing Day leftovers rematch (I honestly don't know if I can face ham again) then settle in with your beverage of choice and explore the wonderful world of design blogs. Hopefully you'll find some new favourites.

P.S. Do yourself a favour and view colors of life in archive. It's a toss up whether it will blow your computer or your mind first.

Methodist Chapel conversion

It is no secret to regular readers that Kim and I have a "thing" for church conversions. Today's remodel is amazing. A minimalist conversion of a stunning stone-built Grade II-listed former Methodist chapel (1868) in peaceful countryside on the Dorset / Wiltshire border. A once austere house of worship is now an austerely beautiful house to worship. Designed by Gary Tarn and for sale through The Modern House Real Estate Agents here, the price will have you selling your soul but oh my what a home! (Many thanks to professional house stalker Selina for the introduction to this website.)

Styled for sale

Sometimes when I'm real estate stalking I come across a house that I know just has to be styled for the listing. Who has tin cans and mineral water neatly lined up in the kitchen but no fridge? Who's kids' rooms are so tidy they are almost sterile and who has a garden setting perfectly placed mid shot in the garden? As much as this is obviously staged there are some ideas to steal and it seems yellow is the colour to make your listing stand out. Whatever you do though please do not faint when you see the $1 million plus price tag of this Redfern, Sydney terrace house. No wonder they needed to stage it! Bring out the big guns to try to get the big bucks. Ouch. Link here while it lasts.

Russell Smith

Dear Mr Smith,

I am writing to let you know how much I admire your body of work. I love what you do with a camera. Down right sexy. Out and out bad in a good way. I'm captivated and intrigued by the world you see through your lens. I want to rip a hole in my computer screen and walk right in. Please forgive me for this unsolicited adoration but hell you are a damn fine photographer. That's it. That's all. Thanks for reading Russell Smith.

Jo

Sunday shopping

How stunning are these product shots from new Australian online store Dunlin? I was so excited when Sydney and New York based architect Alexandra Bond emailed to share these gorgeous goodies. After working in New York for the last six years Alexandra and her partner Nicholas Barber are launching an Australian retail extension to their architectural interiors practice.  "Dunlin is working with brands that we have built great relationships with in New York, including Matteo, Original BTC, Davey Lighting and West Third Brand. The majority of these brands have been unavailable in Australia, and we are carrying them exclusively in conjunction with a range of home accessories under the Dunlin line." Oh be still my beating heart! Readers outside of Australia will not know how difficult it is to source great lighting online in this country. But it's not only lighting. Click on over to explore the rest of Dunlin's stylish range. I have a hankering for the Campaign Breakfast Table and the Safari Campaign Chair.

Friday escape

I thought I would help Kim with her French studies. A weekend away. A full French immersion experience. French food. French wine. Speaking only French. The food and wine are for me. The French is for Kim. I can't speak a word and anyway it's rude to speak French with your mouth full of French wine and French food. I think the perfect place to stay would be Baudon de Mauny, a chic and casual mix of modern in a 1777 Hotel Particulier. Perfect.

Gorging on chocolates

More sneak peeks of my new old house. The painting is almost done and I have indulged my chocolate addiction. Nowhere near finished but you can get a glimpse of where I'm heading on my page. I'll be back later with today's "real" post.

Random on a Sunday

I spent yesterday at my sister's cottage, enjoying what is likely the last decent weekend of the summer (although I did have jeans and a hoodie on for most of the day...this time of year is SO depressing). This means I did not have time to get a blog favourites post ready. Instead, I thought I would just keep this random with some items I have on hand.

First up, some photos I took Friday since I had the day off work and decided to spend a couple minutes rearranging some pieces in my living room. I LOVE this lamp that I bought at Homesense a while back and have had it crammed in a corner of my bedroom since it came home with me. I decided to move it next to the front door alongside my black Eames leather side chair, and switch out my Mexican tin mirror with my huge beaded rosary (also picked up in Mexico). Nothing too exciting but with no renovations on the horizon for this year I'm back to giving a sh*t what my house looks like. Because that Eames chair is a favourite of Felix, he has claimed the chair in the majority of these photos.

Despite the following action being out of focus, I thought it was hilarious that I managed to capture a little brawl.

The beast within

A brutish beast forced its way into my house this week. I had no choice. I couldn't say no. More on my page.

Room porn

OMG! WTF! OTT! FYI ;)

wonderland via Ist Option

k19studio

It's almost Friday (thank gawd) and I wanted to do a quick post before I hit the sack to welcome a new advertiser to desire to inspire. k19studio is recently established in Germany, with the notion that people can bring original modern artwork into their homes at a fraction of the cost of art found in galleries. Here is a bit of info: Pictures presented by k19studio are the geometric abstract painting executed in the technique of acrylic on canvas or acrylic on aluminum. Attention! It's not printed matter, it's not posters, it's the real original pictures, each of which, the artist makes individually, manually.
On the k19studio site a few themes each with a set of samples and various sizes are presented. You can choose the sample and the size you like. From this sample we will make the picture in the acrylic on canvas or on aluminum technique for you. Each sample is used a limited number of times (max. 5)
Check out some very cool completed works below (the organic geometry line is my favourite):

Straight to the top of the class

Inspired by the beautiful spaces they encountered in their day jobs, architectural photographers Anne and Jean-Luc Laloux coverted this Belgian school house into fun, quirky and fab accommodation for up to 21 people. This isn't your rustic group holiday share. It's an exercise in great design and a great time with friends. Too cool for school? I don't think so. Straight to the top of the class. La Classe that is. Via Urlaubsarchitektur.

Stalking in the snow

Winter here in Australia, a land more often associated with sun and surf not winter and snow. Today I'm stalking in the high country of Victoria and the resort village of Dinner Plain. Welcome to Under the Moonlight designed by Giovanni D’Ambrosio. It's a contemporary (and expensive) take on the traditional cattlemen's huts of the area.

"Perched on the edge of an alpine reserve in Dinner Plain Village, part of the highest approved freehold land in Australia, the home is located just 10 minutes from down hill skiing at Mount Hotham. Featuring extensive 8 x 9 sq metre glass panels, sweeping alpine views are drawn in to the interior of the home, which also features a 20 tonne cantilevered fire place made of local stone."

Forget the stone fireplace look at the bathroom! A divan perched beside the spa. Dark and decadent. This is definitely a bachelor's pad in the snow, no? A sexy private après-ski lair. Glühwein anyone? Link here while it lasts.

Bates Corkern Studio

We dwell in our homes and our homes dwell in us. It lingers when we leave. Beckons when we’re weary. It is the place that gives us comfort and ease. Home is the one place where we can simply be. Where we can find our way in the dark. Where we can identify the sounds of our children’s bare feet on the floorboards, trace the same path of sunlight across the dining room wall—from spring through the coming winter. A place that evolves with us in our journey, burnished with the patina of memories. It’s a place that we create to suit ourselves. To envelope ourselves in the artifacts of our lives and dreams. To share ourselves with family and friends. To cherish the past while it resides along the present. It’s a spot from which to look out upon the world. A place to return to. Where all our roads eventually lead. Home. - Bates Corkern Studio

Beautiful words. Equally beautiful spaces.

Desert nomad house

Desert and man-made. Inside and out. Vastness and intimacy. Modern and ancient. Desert retreat, museum and home. It's about location and built environment. Light and shade. A dichotomy of design. Looking in, looking out. Texture, materials and art ... oh the art. The Melanesian statues are to die for. Three steel and glass cubes by Rick Joy Architects, the Desert Nomad House, Tucson, Arizona is listed for sale here.