Truly Felicia

House of Wonder

Melbourne interior design studio Wonder created these amazing spaces in a home in Armadale, Australia. Wonder was launched two years ago by the young and talented Pip McCully and Georgina Armstrong. I think the name says it all. They do create interior wonders and I love seeing young women take the leap and start their own companies. I wish I had the guts. Looking at the pictures below, I think it is obvious why Wonder is doing so well. 

"For this project we were able to explore the unexpected. A modern extension to a classic Edwardian family house fused with an adventurous client gave us the canvas to play with a myriad of eclectic materials, textures, lighting techniques and a wonderful composition of individually selected new and antique furniture and fittings."

I love that sliding door and if you like I do especially like the animal door fittings, contact Suzie Stanford.

- all images from Wonder 

A Room of One's Own

I just finished re-reading A Room of One's Own by Virgina Woolf and yet again I am struck by Woolf's ability to dissect the problems that still face many women, not only writers, trying to create a space of financial and intellectual freedom. A Room of One's Own is as valid today as it was when first published in 1929.

We have our home work space in our bedroom and I love that Andreas can sit and work while I lie in bed reading or the other way around, although I tend to carry the computer to our dining room or the couch.

Anyway, this own room to write, read or think, big or small, might just be the most important space in a home. 

- from Elle Decor

- from Nuevo Estilo

- from emmas designblogg

- from Lonny

- from Elle Decor

- form Lonny

- from Elle Decor

- from notmybeautifulhome

- from Lonny

- from Elle Decor

- from Architectural Digest

- our home work space, photographed by me

All the World's a Page

Isn't this the coolest? The devil is in the details takes on a complete new meaning when Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species is printed on a single page in 2.8pt. Even Darwin's tree showing divergence of species is included, stamp sized.

If Darwin is not your favorite you can always get Herman Melville's Moby Dick.

PS. I'm sorry about the lack of posts the last two days. My computer had a slight hick-up but is feeling much better now, thank you.

- all images from All the World's a Page

Chilean Craze: Casa Fray Leon

I am apparently having a Chilean moment, at least in terms of my taste in architecture. 

This gorgeous home was designed for a family in Santiago Chile by 57 Studio, in perfect harmony with its surroundings, which I love. The architects kept all the trees on the plot and fit the house into the spaces that nature had created.

"The interior spaces are organized around a native tree, a Crinodendron patagua, that accompanies the access from the south. Through the hall, the presence of an enormous avocado tree is framed towards the north, and a private wing towards the east is delimited by an old macrocarpa cypress and some crape myrtles.

Over the central wing, a second private level extends in all of its length, leaving on one end a terrace at the height of the tree’s crowns. 

On the west wing, the public spaces open towards the northern garden through a porch, and the service areas direct their view towards an ash leaf maple. The wing of services extends towards the south by means of a roof with an opening that surrounds a native Crinodendron patagua that separates the closed garage from the rest of the house.

The swimming pool is located towards the west on the site's lowest point, where the ground drop helps to conform one of its borders, articulating its presence to the rest of the garden.

The house is preceded by an extensive paved esplanade that, being requested as an open visitor’s parking area, prolongs the approach of the visitor towards the main access where the Cryptocaria alba gains a major presence."

I also think the wood panelling in the ceiling in the last picture is perfection in its own right. It adds warmth when used sparsely and the color is beautiful. Also, check out those mountains in the pool picture. Chile seems to have the most astonishing nature, I really want to go.

- all photographs from 57 Studio via archdaily

Ace of Spades

I could spend hours gazing at Todd Selby's photographs of people and their homes. I love the way he manages to convey a sense of the true life of the people occupying the rooms he photographs. His style doesn't feel contrived as the one published in many interior magazines does with perfect, orderly rooms and doll-like, polished people, if any.

These shots are from Kate and Andy Spade's New York home. I'm sorry about the amount of pictures, I simply couldn't help myself, given the chance I would spend hours rummaging through their apartment. This is the next best thing. For those inclined there are many more amazing homes on The Selby.

PS. Beatrice, do you remember making clay dinosaurs in art class? I loved that.

- photographed by Todd Selby

Serene Chilean Retreat

When it comes to architecture and interiors I am split between two extremes; the minimal, functional and monochrome, which must stem from my Scandinavian heritage, and the opulent, decorative and purple, which is clearly inherited from my mother.

Anyway, architect Mathias Klotz's weekend home in central Chile displays just the right amount of austerity to fit its surroundings and one of my extremes.

- photographed by Cristobal Palma for The New York Times

Feeling Bookish

Co-head and litterary agent of Janklow & Nesbit Lynn Nesbit's Park Avenue apartment is featured in the September issue of Elle Decor and of course I love it. Giving books center stage in a home is my idea of perfect interior decorating. The thought of being surrounded by all those stories is like always having company. 

In my opinion books, magazines and newspapers (and blogs, of course) are our only way to understand ourselves and the world around us and therefore it is essential to read.

On a side note, I wouldn't mind her gorgeous bedroom either.

- from Elle Decor