Country Warmth

This pretty century old farmhouse in the village of Berrima, located in New South Wales, Australia, is a perfect example of the maxim of its owners Jan and Trevor Weekes, who say "Never relegate treasured possessions to a cupboard." Their beautifully styled collections of antiques, art and pottery are displayed in a relaxed and easygoing way throughout their home — it's definitely a place to live in and enjoy. More info here on Homelife.


(photography by prue ruscoe)

A Sweet Beach Bungalow

The pretty summer retreat of interior designer Amelia Handegan and her partner, lawyer John Roven, is located right on the water at Folly Beach, South Carolina. Gently renovated by Amelia, the 1940s bungalow has kept its slightly bohemian spirit, a reflection of the free thinkers who settled around the area. Amelia notes, “This place was full of renegades, and people used to come here to hunt. Writers and artists followed, and lots of surfers. It’s a little eccentric, frankly.” I like the relaxed mix of vintage pieces and bright notes of colour against the fresh white — perfect for an oceanside home. More info and photos here, too. Via Architectural Digest.



(photography by pieter estersohn)

Light and Airy

A former oil mill near Nîmes is now an open, loft-style home for Marie-Laure and her American husband John. Sensitively restored, they've left the original stone exposed inside and have kept to a minimalist white colour scheme, allowing the soaring ceilings and amazing windows to have centre stage. Outside, bamboo and olive trees add soft green shade around the courtyard pool. Cool, tranquil and lovely, it's the ideal warm weather home. More here on CôtéMaison.


(photography by Nicolas Mathéus)

Island Summer

This pretty summer house on the large Danish island of Zealand is perched on the edge of a lake surrounded by forest. I think it's a perfect example of summer living — easygoing, light and filled with sunshine. More info here via the Guardian.


(photography by cristina olsen)

A Green Oasis

This beautiful view is from a house called Lunuganga, the home of modernist architect Geoffrey Bawa. Located on the west coast of Sri Lanka, the stunning park surrounding the house is designed in a modern tropical style, the lifelong work of the architect. I love how the architecture — whether it's the house, arbour or terrace — is a natural part of its environment. So tranquil and lovely. More here on Marie Claire Maison.

Villa Awe

This lovely Capetown apartment is not only a peaceful haven from the busy surrounding city — it's available for rentals, too. More about it here from InAweStays. Via Elle Decoration South Africa.

Natural Beauty

What can one say about the beautiful home of light designer Marianne Tuxen, her husband, architect Morten Langebæk, and their three children? Originally a hunting lodge dating back to 1922, it's located about half an hour from Copenhagen, on a gorgeous lake surrounded by a forest. It's not surprising to learn that when the couple first saw it 15 years ago, they immediately purchased it simply because they couldn't resist its wild charm. And seeing their lovely and tranquil home, who can blame them? More here on Marie Claire Italia.


(photography by Nathalie Krag)

Buffet

This week's links. Enjoy.

The Ultimate Country Home
Wallpaper magazine recently invited 20 up and coming architects to design their ideal rural retreat — follow the link to see the intriguing results.

Hella Jongerius and the Idea of a Perfect Misfit
Interview by Phaidon|Edit with Dutch product designer Hella Jongerius, who has an exhibition and book coming up — both entitled 'Misfit' — about her work and the idea of keeping the hand of the maker visible, even with industrially produced objects.

Marlon Brando: Renaissance Man
Here's something I didn't know about Marlon Brando — besides being an actor, he was an amateur drummer (in particular Afro-Cuban drumming) and an inventor, with four patents to his credit.

The Paperback Game
This is the perfect summer cottage game — all you need is a few friends and/or family, a pile of cheesy novels, pencils, paper and imagination.

Practicing Medicine Can Be Grimm Work
Thought provoking article by a new doctor about how she's realized that an earlier major in literature (specifically, English fairy tales) has been excellent preparation for her work in a hospital. Fascinating — and an excellent argument for a well rounded education.

Inside Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Production designer Stuart Craig gives Architectural Digest an exclusive look at the sets of the upcoming Harry Potter film. Possible spoiler alerts!

Cy Twombly
I was saddened to hear of the passing of the brilliant painter Cy Twombly this week — here's a quick outline of his career from the New York Times.

Summer Entertaining
Saveur has put together a great feature on dining in the great outdoors during the summer — picnics, barbeques, poolside and more are covered, with lots of great recipes too.


(photo by James Tse via chictip)

Elegance in Denmark

In 2009 Anette and Heine Robert Dahl Bartsch were living in a great apartment in Copenhagen and busily managing two antiques shops. They'd discussed combining their living and work into one place, but hadn't made a decision one way or another until they found out almost by chance that Gelskov Manor, located on the island of Funen, was for rent. The manor, an old seat, is first mentioned in 1440, but the main house and barns were built in 1917 by the architect Viggo Dahl. Lived in by a long line of Danish nobility, the house, though empty for a year before they moved in, was in excellent condition — fresh paint and a brisk cleaning out of cobwebs was really all that was needed. Now they have a busy life in the country, continuing to sell their antiques and flea market finds (now stored in a barn on the property), hosting art exhibitions (Anette is also an accomplished artist) and operating a deluxe bed and breakfast out of their home, too. Truly an idyllic life. More (in Danish) here, too. Via Fri.


(photography by Kristian Septimius Krogh)