A cosy 1920's storybook home in Oakland Hills

Tjoho! So it's official. Blue sofa's are trending, and aren't they fab? They always remind me of my parents house (my parents have had a pair of blue chesterfields combined with a kilim rug in the sitting room for as long as I can remember - I  must take a pic next time I'm in London!). In Kate Davison's beautifully renovated 1920s storybook home in Oakland Hills, California, it's not the blue sofa that stands out though (as lovely as it is) - it's a whole combination of things: the architect, the original flooring, the exposed brick, and the lovely details - all of which add up to a minimal yet cosy, modern home with spectacular views. Step inside....

Interior design / styling: Kate Davison Photography: Colin Price 

What a lovely home? It would be so amazing to live in a house with so much design history (loving the storybook architecture and the house is thought to have featured in Architectural Digest back in the 1930's!).

Is there anything that stands out to you about Kate's home?

Get the look: sitting room - sofa from Funky Furniture, this shag pile rug is similar dining area - framed watercolour, wishbone chairs, Tulip table.  Bedroom - this knit throw in mustard is similar.

You can see more pics of Kate's home and keep up to date with her latest projects here and read more about the home here.

A few other Cali homes I love: an eclectic home in sunny california,  a relaxed family loft in Oakland and a charming home in less than 20 metres square! All so different yet inspiring in their own way, don't you think?

Have a lovely day!

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New interior book: Feelings of Imperfection

Although I like to turn to blogs and instagram for inspiration, there's always a time and place for interior books. There's something wonderful about switching off, curling up on the sofa and leafing through the pages of a lovely book with a cup of tea - don't you think?! One of my latest favourite reads is Feelings of Imperfection: The stylish life of lost places by interior designer Anna Björkman and photographer Anna Malmberg (the curator behind Northern Delight blog), published by Malmö based New Heroes and Pioneers. The tome explores a melancholic world that celebrates the feeling certain spaces tend to evoke within us and examines the duality between two worlds: 'the old and new, the perfect and imperfect, the present and the past'.  If you love dilapidated spaces, whimsical touches, poetry and beautiful photography, you'll love this book! Here's a sneak peek....

By Anna Björkman & Anna Malmberg / from: Feelings of Imperfection: The stylish life of lost places

published by New Heroes and Pioneers.

Something for your bedside table? 

Feelings of Imperfection is available here

For more interior design book inspiration you might like to check out this archive - you'll have an entire library in no time. Happy reading!  

PS We're moored up in a little harbour on the German island of Hiddensee  - it looks beautiful but sadly POURING with rain! More cards, more games and more reading, not always a bad thing! Hope the sun's shining where you are!

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A vintage-inspired family home in rural belgium

Hejsan hejsan! We've taken to the high seas (actually they're not that high- the Baltic sea is beautifully calm today) and heading to the island of Rügen in Germany - I've never been and super excited, any tips?! I hope you've got some fun plans for the week ahead too? Adventures aside, I thought we'd kick off the week with this lovely country house in Belgium. The home belongs to Liza van der Stouwe founder of Atelier Rozijntjes, her husband Vincent and their three children and has been beautifully captured by Avenue Design Studio. Think fabulous tiles, a wood-burning stove, vintage finds, modern touches and oodles of charm!

Styling/Photography: Avenue Design Studio

What a wonderful family home? I love the children's bedrooms - think I might have to steal a few ideas, how about you? 

And how about all those vintage touches? Liza finds many of them in second hand stores but I also find Etsy a wonderful source for everything from industrial pendant lights to reclaimed school desks and many of the stores ship worldwide. 

To get the full scoop, nip over to Avenue Lifestyle where the talented creative duo Holly Marder and Hedda Pier share some more info on this lovely home and insight on where things are from.

Looking for a little more inspiration from Belgium? Why not pour yourself a slow brew and take a peek inside the eclectic world of Bea Mombaers (you can stay there too!), and a relaxed Antwerp home (one of my all time favourites). Oh so fabulous?!

Have a wonderful start to the week!

PS If you're looking for shelving, I love Tylko - and they're offering an exclusive discount right now too. More here!

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A lovely, laid-back home in Brooklyn

Hello FREDAG (friday), woooop! We're up at the family summer cottage on Sweden's Southwest coast and it's been pouring with rain all day. But sometimes don't you find that's totally OK? We've been playing cards, listening to music and baking a cake (not me - the man and our youngest - you might recall I'm taking a break from baking after a number of catastrophes!). There are some homes that look like the sun is shining even when it isn't though - and the apartment of Ana Fritsch is one of them. Ana lives with her husband and two daughters in a Brooklyn Brownstone from where she pens her lifestyle blog Lucky Penny and runs her shop.  The 74 metre square (800 square foot) apartment is blessed with high ceilings (seems to be a common theme this week!) and large windows which fill the space with light. Look closely and you'll also discovered layered rugs, quirky finds and patterned textiles - all of which add to the wonderful, laid-back vibe - enjoy!

Home-owner / design: Ana Fritsch. Photography: Heather Moore. 

Such a lovely home, don't you think?!

Those floors.....!

Get the look from Ana's home: sitting room - source a lovely kilim rug here and layer it with a jute rug, this grey armchair is similar, palms pillow, mustard pillow (similar), windson armchair. Bedroom - gold pig, ocean print, shibori dot quilt.

You can find out more about what Ana loves about her home here and see a full tour and interview over at the fabulous Glitter Guide.

I also really love the cheerful Brooklyn home of an artist,  the happy Brooklyn home of a Swedish expat and a calm Brooklyn home. Or for something a little Scandinavian (and different) - I never tire of a Swedish summer cottage!

Have a wonderful weekend!

PS OK rain, you can stop now....

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