Last Home Tour of the Year!

To all my dear readers, I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! Mine was splendid, we celebrated at home and invited all our relatives over. It was a double celebration as only a few days before Christmas my eldest son sat for his last exam at university and is now an engineer!
Tomorrow we'll be going to a summer place called Chapadmalal where we will have no access to the Internet so I won't be posting again until we come back on January 16th.
So, as I won't be seeing you before, I'd like to wish you all now a very Happy New Year, and thank you for this wonderful inspired year together giving me support through your comments and cheering along which makes all my time spent on blogging definitely worth while! Thanks to each and every one of you, Happy New Year once again and I'll be seeing you soon!

And, of course, before I leave, I give you this stunning house.

Nestled in the old village of Champagne Sézanne, this seventeenth century house belonged to the Marquise de Beauharnais, Marie-Francoise (whose brother married Josephine, the future empress), Pascale and her husband Oliver, bargain hunters and passionate decorators, created a family home that opens its doors to the public twice a year to display their items on sale. Every room has been lovingly staged creating a unique holiday atmoshphere.

A real feast for the eyes. Let's step in.
























Hope you enjoyed our last house tour of the year. See you soon dears!!!

All images from here.

Apartment in Barcelona

Second house tour for you today, dears!

This late 19th century apartment in Barcelona used to be quite dark, not because of the lack of windows but because what is now a spacious living and dining area used to be three different rooms separated by walls and halls. By knocking these walls down a single big space full of light and brightness was created. The original parquet herringbone flooring was restored and walls and ceiling were painted white.


Eclectic style with an interesting blend of modern and antique furniture. A reclaimed stone balustrade was used as a lamp base.


Wish there was a better photograph of the fireplace which is totally made of marble.


A Gustavian style console was placed behind the sofa.


Louis XVI armchair in this reading nook between the living room and dining area.


Antique leather upholstered chairs are combined with two white modern chairs in the dining room. The pictures on the wall are by Enrique Brinkmann.


The L shaped kitchen opens onto a balcony.


The bar in the kitchen is used both for storage space and as a breakfast table.


Marble sink and white lacquered modern cabinets.


I'm quite perplexed about seeing the same picture of an old lady both in the master bedroom and the living room.


The other side of the master bedroom.


A French stool stands in front of an antique gold gilded mirror.


A marble sink embedded into a slab of wood in the powder room.

Hope you've enjoyed today's tours. Have a great day my friends!
All images from here.

Country House in Spain

Built in the 70's, this Mediterranean house in Málaga has been restored and decorated by Heloisa Málaga. We could define this house in two ways. Traditional in the sense that it preserves and is true to the Spanish-Andalusian style both in its structure and features such as the painted handmade tiles; and Eclectic in its decor as it is composed of a a mix of antiques, mainly from the nineteenth century from France, Belgium and Italy, and some modern pieces as well.
Come and tour this lovely house with me!



The French-iron furniture and antique-wicker chair are painted in a turquoise that contrasts strongly with the handmade clay tiles.


The wide open foyer provides light and space to the lounge. Two Louis XV armchairs flank a dark painted bookcase. The sconces above the chairs are XIX century Flemish. Seagrass rugs delimit the areas. A well worn Persian rug on one of these adds texture and interest.


A XIX century distressed console from a Belgian pub stands behind a Louis XVI sofa. On both sides of the window, a Voltaire chair and Austrian XIX chair. Unusual decoration above the fireplace: a dry bush with a garland of lights.


An oak hutch serves as a bookcase. The coffee table is an ancient Hindu bed.


French XIX century trumeau stands on a Spanish table. The top was painted to imitate marble.


The door to the kitchen is flanked by shelves in which porcelain tableware of various origins and antiquity are displayed. The chairs are XIX century.


A Louis XVI sofa and painted wicker chairs surround the dining room table which is dressed with a combination of different apricot linens. The XIX century ceiling lamp is from Belgium.


Dutch tiles behind the cooking range in the kitchen. The hood is hidden in the fireplace. Honed granite countertop.


Belgian table, Italian chairs, and French lamp.


The only room in the house with white painted wooden floor is the master bedroom. Two different night tables, one Belgian and the other Swedish with a marble top. Gustavian style four poster bed. The lamp base is an ancient Chinese jug.

Two pewter XIX century sconces flank an Eva Davidova painting in the master bedroom.


The Moorish-inspired bathroom tub evokes a Moroccan hammam.


The shower floor was made with concrete and beach pebbles. A lattice carving on the wall lets the light in. An old window frame and a Dutch XIX century porcelain bowl adorn the XIX century Belgian console.


In the guest room twin canopy beds.

The wicker chairs in the guest room are old Spanish. Distressed white painted cupboard.


Beautiful pebble design on the terrace floor. Brick steps lead to the antique oak front door acquired in northern France. Vines and fruit trees add freshness to the patio.

All images and information from here.