Sunday, 31 October 2010

Photographer Reed Davis

On this beautiful Sunday I'd like to show you some of the lovely work by talented photographer Reed Davis. Reed grew up in the Midwest but now works in New York and Los Angeles. He specializes in interiors, still life, people, and food. His clients include Pottery Barn, Country Home Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Bloomingdales, Marie Claire Elle and Macy's among many others. Enjoy!















































More images in Reed's extensive portfolio right here.

Saturday, 30 October 2010

Gustavian Style Bastide

This 17th century bastide is located in a vast vineyard, a few kilometers from the medieval village of Trets, facing the Mont Sainte-Victoire, in the south of France.The mountain is famous for its many appearances in the paintings of Paul Cézanne, who could see it from near his house. The main part was built in 1601. Interior designer Nathalie Vingot-Mei was appointed to renovate its rooms. In her words: "We kept all the original features that made its beauty, old floor tiles and marble floors from the quarry area, exposed beams, fireplaces, moldings ... Only the rooms on the top floor were transformed into guest bedrooms, and we added three additional bathrooms.

I featured Nathalie's beautiful work some time ago. If you'd like to see the post just go here.
































Hope you enjoyed today's tour. See you tomorrow and have a happy weekend!
Photography by Pierre-Jean Verger.
All images from here.

Friday, 29 October 2010

1 Billion Hungry

I'd like to ask you to sign this world wide petition to end hunger. Just click here to cast your vote. It takes about 5 seconds.

Today's post is right below this one.

Thank you.

Kifus

Celebrity Home: Malcolm McDowell

Today we are visiting actor Malcolm Mcdowell's renovated 1920 farmhouse in Ojai, California. His wife, designer Kelley McDowell's decorated it in a Spanish Country style. Kelley says:"It's in the middle of an orange grove, under a canopy of ancient oak trees.It was almost a ruin. It was so dark, you couldn't see without the lights on in the daytime. The former owner was a tile setter, and he had tiled over doors. He tiled the front door shut! The kitchen was almost pitch-black. He had built cabinets over the windows."



Malcolm and Kelley McDowell


A lofty old oak towers above the classic Spanish-tile roof.


Antique Navajo rugs form a path on the front porch. She gathered the stones from her property to build the porch: "It looks like a 3,000-year-old road in Rome."


This isn't a very feminine house, but women love it," McDowell says. She painted all the walls and ceilings the starkest white she could find: a Benjamin Moore primer, Super Spec Flat. Both Malcolm and Kelley are collectors of American primitive pieces. She also collects old pottery and Mexican religious art and objects, and antique Navajo rugs.


The dining room's antique table is a mix of birch and pine. The floor is reclaimed wood. Every board was hand-sanded and then assembled in no particular order as they have random widths. They were then treated with Old Masters Gel Stain in Pickling White. Painted armoire from Nathan Turner.


Open shelves in the kitchen hold antique Mexican and French ceramics and mugs by ceramist Karen Donleavy.


Poured-concrete counters on reproduction 17th-century cabinets in the kitchen. Kelley says: "The concrete is practical as well as earthy. I can set hot pans on it." Early American hooked rugs.


Religious art, stars and stripes, and Navajo rugs in the master bedroom. The bed was made from an old picket fence.


The bathroom floor is made of Ojai river rock. Kelley designed the shower door in the style of a metal casement window.


A Suzani quilt and kilim pillows on the guest room's Spanish Colonial-style daybed. The lantern is an early California cowboy lamp.A kilim rug, rocking chair, and a Mexican wood chandelier complete the look.

All images from here.

Thursday, 28 October 2010

White on White Home

Paula and Artur have 4 kids and live in a white home. This is what each member of the family have to say about it:

Paula: ‘What makes our white home work?’ ‘People think I’m chicken for only using white but I came to this through a process. The more white I added, the calmer I felt. I pick furniture that’s designed to rescue life’s mistakes, everything is washable. And I’m neat. Time is a luxury with four kids, why waste it searching for things? For me chores are life’s little pleasures. I share them with the kids. When they’re small like Ella, 3, and Kalle, 1, being involved is enjoyable. Nils, 11, and Noa, 8, are older and have a different idea of what’s fun!’

Artur: ‘For my wife Paula it’s important that this place is functional, but I love the aesthetic of our white home. It’s so bright it almost feels transparent. I love the feeling of openness – it’s energising.’

Nils: ‘Our home is so WHITE!!!!!!!! I like white, but it would be nice to see some blue or yellow. Life is easier in a tidy house and rules are OK but sometimes they mean I have to do more chores than my younger sister Noa. I like my room best – I enjoy having some space and privacy!’

Noa: ‘I have this great idea to paint my room like the sky – light blue with a yellow sun and white stars. Our home is mega fantastic and the best thing is the huge bed in Mum and Dad’s room. On Saturdays we all sit on the bed and watch movies.’

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Even the baby's pacifier is white!

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All images from here.