Escape to Capri

A bit of escapism for Sunday afternoon...

This home on the island of Capri has the most amazing views from the garden! I think I will just stare at these beautiful pictures for a while, and relax.

{all images found here}

A Grande Venetian Hotel

When I first saw the Aman Grande Canal hotel in Venice, its elegant magnificence took my breath away. I cannot imagine a more grande getaway! 

Just look at the amazing frescoes, chandeliers, fireplaces, and--of course, views of the canals, the hotel has. Every guest room is different, with unique decorative features. Contemporary furniture from the likes of B&B Italia beautifully contrasts against the old school glamour of the interiors.

A library stocked with books on design and history, along with two dining rooms, a bar, and a games room, offer guests ample spaces to relax. 

The hotel also boasts a good deal of outdoor space, including a private garden just above sea level, as well as a terrace garden overlooking the terra cotta rooftops of Venice. 

My daydreams of going to Venice just got even more romantic and extravagant!

{all images found on Lonny}

Scandi-Style Timber Home in Melbourne

A soft, pale colour palette and a seamless Scandi-style design scheme have brightened and revitalized this 1970s timber home in Melbourne, Australia. Owners Simone and Rhys Haag like to call their labour of love "The Log Cabin". The couple transformed the property into this beautiful home in a mere three months' time! Considering Simone works for a well-known interior designer, and Rhys is a construction manager, the pair 
definitely had the skills for the job, and the results are amazing.

I love the light, relaxed feel of the spaces, and the minimal yet cozy mix of the couple's personal collections in this home. Vintage and contemporary items, alongside softly-coloured wooden pieces, add heaps of warmth and charm to the rooms. Connecting indoors and out, large windows allow gorgeous views of the surrounding Dandenong ranges. My favourite touch is the white hammock just outside the lounge. It looks like such a perfect spot to relax, doesn't it? What a serene place to call home.

{all images and source information found here; check out Simone's blog here}

Spanish Paradise

It has been a very long, busy, and wonderful holiday weekend for me. Now I'm quite exhausted, from all of the cooking, cleaning, and socializing. I'm definitely in the mood for a little escapism. Seeing these absolutely beautiful images of the Villa Mandarina on the Costa del Sol in Spain is making feel a whole lot better already.

This gorgeous villa, with its breath-taking views and bright, elegant design looks like the perfect place to daydream, relax, and enjoy yourself. I could spend hours relaxing in the rooftop garden, gazing upon the sea view, sipping cool drinks.

{all images found here}

Ohio Beauty

 Amy Butler's own wallpaper design for Graham & Brown

Being from Ohio, I always love to see stylish and beautiful design from my home state. I was completely blown away when I found Amy Butler's home featured in Livingetc, one of my all-time favourite interior design magazines. 

I absolutely love the gorgeous vaulted ceiling with skylights in the lounge, painted all white (my favourite lounge style, as you may know, since I obsessively post photos of such spaces). The warm dark wood floors and furniture, huge pendant light (an Ikea fave), and cozy neutral textiles make the lounge such an inviting space.Then there is that incredible view of forest-covered hills, seen from a sitting area behind the fireplace, which seems like a dream-come-true. I'm sure that Ms Butler is quite smitten with that view. I know I would be! It is making me feel a bit homesick, looking at all those lovely trees.

Not only does she have an amazing home, Amy Butler also designs fabulous wallpapers, rugs, artwork, and other home wares, which you can see right here. I would love to have a few pieces from her range--and her house, of course! Wouldn't you?

{image sources: 1 - 5; 6}

A room with a view...

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How about building a simple shed, adding a glass-enclosed bedroom, in the woods, overlooking a beautiful lake? That is precisely what Avanto Architects and Linda Bergroth designed, for Kekkilä Garden in Finland. 

I'd love to spend the night in this lovely "garden shed", wouldn't you? Imagine the peaceful feeling of being surrounded by trees and water, and seeing stars overhead at night. It would be amazing!