Monday, 30 December 2013

Let It Snow

My children have been hoping for snow. Not a big storm. Just enough precipitation to build a snowman and spend a couple of hours with their sleds. I have heard that Mother Nature sometimes sends snow to children who wear their pajamas backwards and inside out. Putting spoons under pillows seems to work as well. We may have to give these tricks a try if we don't get any snow soon, but until then, we can look at pictures and dream . . . 


"The sight of a charming sleigh greets guests to the lodge."
Austria's Jagdgut Wachtelhof Ski Lodge.
Interior design by Michele Bonan.
Photography by Patrick Cline.
Art direction by Michelle Adams.
"Peak of Perfection" written by Robert Leleux.
Lonny (January/February 2013).


Herd of approximately 20 reindeer made of tree limbs and branches that decorate designer Shelley Penner's Vancouver yard at Christmastime.
Photography by Bryan Harrison.

Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska.

Treehouse in backyard of Kevin O'Connor, host of This Old House and Ask This Old House. Mr. O'Connor built the house as a project with his children.
 Photo copyright 2013 Kevin O'Connor.


"An outdoor courtyard offers a cheerful snow-dusted vignette. A vintage mirror hangs above a wire urn filled with greens and branches for a picture-perfect winter scene."
"Outdoor Holiday Decorating" produced by Lucy Fitzgerald.

"Atelier AM gave the interiors of this Aspen, Colorado, vacation home - built by architect David Finholm using bleached spruce logs - a compelling contemporary redesign."
Renovation by Alexandra and Michael Misczynskis of Atelier AM.
Photography by Pieter Estersohn.
Text by Patricia Leigh Brown.
"Winter Palace" produced by Howard Christian.
Architectural Digest (December 2011). 

"The heated pool is used throughout the year; the terrace is laid with Colorado buff sandstone."
Aspen, Colorado, vacation home.
Architect: David Finholm.
Renovation by Alexandra and Michael Misczynskis of Atelier AM.
Photography by Pieter Estersohn.
Text by Patricia Leigh Brown.
"Winter Palace" produced by Howard Christian.
Architectural Digest (December 2011). 

"Among the places designer Vicente Wolf visited on his trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, is the Chapel at Peterhof Palace, situated just outside the city."
Text and photography by Vicente Wolf.

Mademoiselle Cover - December 1, 1936.
Art by Jean Coquillot.
Photo license property of Conde Nast Collection.
Photo via Art.com.

Photo via Art.com.

"Aglow with lights from inside and out, designer Sarah Richardson's sprawling 4,000-square-foot country house offers a warm, inviting respite from the snowy landscape."
Photography by Michael Graydon.
Canadian House and Home (November 2011).

"Even the flamingos are chilling out."
Photography by Mehgan Murphy, National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
"Pandas Play in the Snow" by Beth Py-Lieberman.
"Around the Mall" blog of the Smithsonian website.
January 27, 2009.

"The town of Chamonix, in France's Haute-Savoie region, at dusk."
Photography by Walter Bibkow/Getty Images.

"The Wachtelhof's pool, which is heated year-round, offers staggering views of the natural surroundings." 
Austria's Jagdgut Wachtelhof Ski Lodge.
Interior design by Michele Bonan.
Photography by Patrick Cline.
Art direction by Michelle Adams.
"Peak of Perfection" written by Robert Leleux.
Lonny (January/February 2013).

Good Housekeeping magazine cover, January 1913.
Illustrator: Coles Phillips.

"Snowcapped Lone Peak rises behind a Big Sky, Montana, stone-and-timber house designer by Locati Architects and decorated by Michael S. Smith."
Photography by Roger Davies.
Text by Mayer Rus.
"A Rustic Yet Modern Montana Ski House" produced by Michael Reynolds.
Architectural Digest (December 2012).

"Situated in the picturesque town surrounding the Jackson Hole resort, North Colter Lodge was built by local architect Ellis Nunn in 2001. The cedar exterior blends elegantly into the forested landscape, and large windows frame exquisite mountain views."
Teton Village, Wyoming.
Photography by Brian Siegfried.
"Elevated Luxury" text by Amanda Friedman.

"Although the exterior was designed in traditional chalet style, with a gently sloping roof and overhanging eaves, this year-old Alpine retreat contains refreshingly modern and sleek interiors. Spread over four stories, the thoughtfully planned layout features a mix of living and entertaining spaces, as well as two wraparound balconies perfect for taking in the exquisite views."
Courchevel, France.
Photography: Knight Frank.
"Elevated Luxury" text by Amanda Friedman.

"The logs, which [architect Antoine] Predock imagined as representing fallen trees, are a dominant feature of the rear elevation, extending from deep in the landscape through the facade and into the upper reaches of the three-bedroom residence's interiors."
Charles Sabel and Miriam Horn commissioned this house, a galvanized-aluminum-clad, 2,200-square-foot design on 15-acres in Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
Architect: Antoine Predock, FAIA.
Photography by Robert Reck.
"A Not So Log Cabin" text by Joseph Giovannini.

"A unique contemporary residence located in the center of town, this 2010 home is notable for its gridlike white facade . . . Designed by local architect Ray Messier, the three-story structure features dramatic limestone tiling in the entryway and white-oak floors throughout the other rooms."
Telluride, Colorado.
Photo: Telluride Real Estate Corp.
"Elevated Luxury" text by Amanda Friedman.

"Originally built in 1958, this picture-perfect French chalet was renovated in 2002. Located in the heart of the exclusive Three Valleys resort in the French Alps, the house offers easy access to the slopes as well as stunning views of the Dent de Burgin, Saulire, and Cretes Mountains."
Meribel, France.
Photo: Emile Garcin.
"Elevated Luxury" text by Amanda Friedman.

"Poised at the base of a mountain, a woman shows the best in ski style, with a striped scarf tucked into the low-slung belt of her jade sport ensemble."
Illustration by Jean Pages.

"For this 'Holiday and Winter Travel' issues of Vogue magazine, Jean Pages illustrated a woman dressed in blue and red ski attire and smoking a cigarette, with skiers in the background. Set against a sky filled with round, pinkish-purple clouds, the resort fashion illustration appeared on the December 15, 1933, cover."
Illustration by Jean Pages.

"The best classic ski lifts, from Vermont to Colorado, let you relax, reflect and enjoy the scenery."
"Classic Ski Lifts" by Brigid Mander.
Wall Street Journal (December 27, 2013).

Illustration by Pierre Mourgue.

"A house in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, on the outskirts of Aspen, Colorado, which was renovated and expanded by Paris-based designer Caroline Sarkozy and architect Laurent Bourgois."
Renovation architect: Laurent Bourgois.
Photography by Eric Piasecki.
Styled by Stephen Pappas.

"Mom is startled to find a snowman stashed in the freezer."
Artist/illustrator: John Falter.
"Snowman in the Freezer" - Saturday Evening Post cover (February 21, 1959).
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Potts Point Impressive!

Swanky New Home Behind old Facade

General Features
PRICE RANGE:   Over $3M approx
  • Property Type: House
  • Bedrooms:    5
  • Bathrooms:  3
Outdoor Features
  • Carport Spaces:  2
 Ok, so I know there are a few lovelies in Potts Point,
but I do like a good reno!
The old front facade is a bit drab, 
and not congruent with the rest of the house,
but I really loved the use of timber in this home, 
against the white,
love it!

Beautiful!






That looks pretty amazing!


 Love that grape coloured bathroom - its different! 





Here's the Master Plan!

AND here's what the Agent said about it!

MULTI AWARD WINNING DREAM HOME UNITES BOLD MINIMALISM & CLASSICAL HERITAGE
Designed by acclaimed architect William Smart as a daring series of sunlit soaring spaces and confident forms with exquisite details, "Ilari" is a unique home of streamlined contemporary opulence. Respectfully retaining its Federation facade, the ingenious split-level layout seamlessly connects the flowing interiors to lavish outdoor entertaining terraces and stepped Zen gardens. With a fabulous steel/bronze staircase as the home's spiraling centre-piece, the jaw-dropping ambience and sophisticated simplicity celebrates the very essence of open plan indoor/outdoor living. Achieving a world-class fusion of old and new with a bespoke interplay of concrete, steel, glass, stone, timber and technology, this light-filled residence is a calm and tranquil private oasis in the leafy heart of Sydney's most fashionable, most densely populated cosmopolitan suburb.

* Generously sized, finished to perfection and ultra-versatile in functionality
* Positive energy flow is enhanced by creative design and soothing colours
* Large open formal living/dining with travertine verandah & a Juliette balcony
* Expansive casual living/dining with glass/oak walls, heated travertine floors
* Steel/Travertine/Corian eat-in kitchen, Miele gas appliances, abundant b/ins
* Master wing with huge bedroom, vaulted ceiling, juliette balcony, w/in robe
* Stunning marble master ensuite, double vanity, bath, double shower, sep wc
* Large study/sitting or guest room includes queen-size wall bed, ample b/ins
* Travertine deluxe second bathroom, separate int laundry is like a cocktail bar
* 3 additional large bedrooms (1 an attic retreat), superb circular third bathroom
* Wall to wall glass, towering ceilings, sliding walls, whitewashed timber floors
* Flooded with natural light, vast amount of bespoke storage throughout home
* Ducted air con, gas fireplace, video intercom, back to base alarm system
* Remote double garage (via rear lane), rainwater tanks for garden irrigation
* A strikingly beautiful home of easycare luxury & lockup-and-go convenience

Awards:

2012 Interior Design Excellence Awards
Best Single Residential

2012 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards
Best Residential Interior

:) Kate
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Friday, 27 December 2013

Ring in the New Year

The "Roaring Twenties" is a favorite theme for New Year's Eve parties. The clothes, the glamour, The Great Gatsby. Filtered through the lens of time, the scandals and sins of the Jazz Age seem a bit more innocent than today's transgressions, but nostalgia can distort the truth. Fans of F. Scott Fitzgerald know what happened to Jay Gatsby's desire to "repeat the past." Let the old year go, embrace the future, be present in your own life, and do it with style. Here is some inspiration . . . 


Photo of Zelda Fitzgerald.
Garden and Gun (December 28, 2012).

"A Mount Rushmore of stardom. [Clark] Gable (left) cracks a joke at the photographer's expense with friends [Van] Heflin, [Gary] Cooper, and [Jimmy] Stewart. The photograph has become known as The Kings of Hollywood, but what makes it so endlessly appealing is the intimate glimpse it gives us not of a kind of royalty, but of four friends on top of their glittering world, at home in white tie and chic surroundings and so clearly at ease with one another."
Romanoff's, a restaurant in Hollywood on New Year's Eve, 1957.
Photography by Slim Aarons/Getty Images.
Smithsonian Magazine, June 2006.

Holiday card created by Hitha Palepu, creator of Hitha on the Go, a lifestyle website, and Portavi Company, a travel services firm.

Green and silver foil.

Reproduction from vintage postcard or vintage print.

Wouldn't this be a fun dress for New Year's Eve?
"Party in a Box" by event designer Jung Lee, cofounder of Fete New York.
Photography by Genevieve Garruppo.
Lonny (December 2013/January 2014).

"New Year's Eve begs for plenty of sparkle and shine. Gather silver elements such as vases, bowls, and trays, and use them to tie the color scheme together. A chic arrangement of three varieties of black-and-white feathers was displayed in an antique silver container from Mary's personal collection."
Dinner hosted by interior designer Mary McDonald.
Photography by Luca Trovato.

"Go with basic white or glass plates that will make a sophisticated background for well-presented food. At the head of each place setting at Mary's party, miniature silver boxes filled with chocolates are adorned with a spiffy black bow."
Dinner hosted by interior designer Mary McDonald.
Photography by Luca Trovato.

"Graceful champagne flutes from Home James stand ready for holiday toasts."
Chelsea apartment of Manhattan designer Christopher Hyland.
Interior design by Christopher Hyland, Christopher Hyland Inc.
Photography by John Bessler.
Text by Amy Elbert.
"Visions of Sugarplums" produced by Ann McVicker.

"A small silver Christmas tree can look just right at New Year's if you dress it up in blue, hot pink, purple, and black. Party favor horns, tiny festive hats, miniature champagne bottles, and wired ribbon stand in for 'ornaments,' adding even more New Year's flair."

"Tiny envelopes stand in for place cards, yet these have an extra secret. Inside is a special New Year's wish, fortune, or prediction. Set each envelope on a plate or punch a hole in the corner and string with metallic ribbon that can be tied around a napkin. Flamingo-pink linens provide a strong background for all the sparkle."
"Easy Ideas for New Year's Tables"
Better Homes and Gardens.


"Fortune Bubbles: Add charm to your party with these fun ribbon-bedecked favors." Tuck fortunes or inspirational quotes into clear plastic ornaments from the craft store.
"Easy Ideas for New Year's Tables"
Better Homes and Gardens.

New Year's Eve celebration hosted by designer Eddie Ross.
Photography by Patrick Cline.
Art direction by Michelle Adams.
"Seasonal Spread" written by Steven Thomson.
Lonny (December 2012).

" 'Mixing coupes and flutes looks chic,' says [designer Eddie] Ross, who scored many of his treasured glassware and serving pieces on Rue La La."
New Year's Eve celebration hosted by designer Eddie Ross.
Photography by Patrick Cline.
Art direction by Michelle Adams.
"Seasonal Spread" written by Steven Thomson.
Lonny (December 2012).

Photography by Alison Rosa.
Elle Decor.

Don't forget to serve sparkling waters or fruit juices as festive libations for guests who do not drink alcohol. 
Dinner by Lee Epting Events.
Photography by Margaret Houston.
Garden and Gun.

You don't have to drink your bubbles to have fun on New Year's Eve. Why don't you blow some bubbles?
"This green, mini champagne magnum of bubble juice has a simple, screw-off cap and a tan bottle label on the neck that says 'Celebrate!' in white letters."
Bubbles Favors (12 count) offered by Party City.

Photo via sparklersonline.com.

"The experts at Chicago's boutique MORE bakery prepare the treats from scratch in small batches, using fine ingredients like Madagascar vanilla and Valrhona chocolate to ensure premium flavor in every nibble."
Offered by Williams-Sonoma.

Fireworks display above the River Thames and the London Eye.
Photo: EPA/Daniel Deme.

"Daily Delight: Ball Chandelier" by Briana Mowrey.

 New Year's Eve in Times Square, New York City.
Photo credit: Countdown Entertainment.

Not everyone enjoys a big night out on the town, as the cover photo below attests. [Note the publication date - December 28, 1929 - just two months after the Wall Street crash that led to the Great Depression. Perhaps The Crash, not the club, is the cause of this couple's discomfort. What do you think?]
"The spotlight in a jazz club stops at the only couple who aren't having a good time on New Year's Eve."
Illustration by Peter Arno.
The New Yorker Cover, December 28, 1929.

Vogue Daily, December 12, 2011.
Photograph by Steven Meisel originally appeared in Vogue, December 2008. 

If a night on the town leaves you a bit bored [see photos above], consider staying home to enjoy some bubbles in the tub. . .  
Four fragrances: Strawberry (red), Apple (green), Bubblegum (blue), and Grape Soda (purple). 

"Personalized New Year's PJs" offered by Chasing Fireflies. Cotton.
Photo via Chasing Fireflies website.

Perhaps the best way to celebrate is to blow out the old year while wearing pajamas!
Happy 2014!!

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