ARCHWAY STUDIOS, THE MODERN HOUSE

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SPOTLIGHT ON, FORNASETTI

Although my preferences for interiors are now much more pared back and quiet, I can't help but still be drawn to drama and colour when it comes to decorative items. Fornasetti is wild, glamorous and right at home with any storyteller. My first impression of it was Versace meets the mad hatter with its surrealist but sumptuous designs and shapes. My favourites are definitely the candles which make the prettiest centrepieces for any dressing table or mantle. Having one piece in your home adds the perfect amount of whimsy and wonder, transporting you from daily monotony to a colourful fantasy escape.

All images and items can be found on Fornasetti's official website

RODERICK ROAD HOUSE, THE MODERN HOUSE

All photos property of The Modern House, See the original post here 

DESIGNER DIARY : JOSEPH DIRAND

Dirand's bedroom exemplifies the cornerstone values of his style ideals 

Hotel Habita, Monterrey 

All the designers that I've covered for P.F.F are truly artists and masters of what they do. But for me, Joseph Dirand has something that really takes me by the heart and soul. Like all matters to do with design and art, the feeling you get from looking at their work is almost impossible to describe. It's ineffable, beyond words. I guess that's how I would describe Dirand, his work is simply ineffable.

"What really matters to me, a lot more than the interior, is light. Light is what makes architecture alive. Wherever I go, especially my studio, my apartment, and the places I live, I have to see the sky" source    

Dirand's career reads like a textbook. Simple, one way and undeterred by most of the hurdles which cross regular folks like us. Born in Paris to an architect father and fashion designer mother, his first commission came before he even graduated from design school. After the redesign of the Balmain store located on Rue-Francois-1er, often dubbed 'the most beautiful fashion store in Paris', he established himself as being one of the most sought after and talked about designers in Europe and abroad. 

Monsieur Bleu, Paris 

Pucci Store, New York City 

Ranelagh, Paris

When asked to describe what his style is during an interview with Design elements blog, he cites that he keeps trying to find his own style but cannot and hopes that he never will. It seems hard to understand this answer when looking at his work as evidently, there are themes and colours which string all of it together. But maybe what's more important is that there's still mystery and elusiveness in the entire process. It's when we know too much and become formulaic that alarm bells should ring.

"Already as a child I got inspired by a lot of things like the Garden of Versailles, Japanese architecture or sculpture by Joseph Beuys. All of these things provoke so much emotion, that they become addictive, like a drug" source 

Dirand's work has been a favourite amongst fashion houses including Alexander Wang, Rick Owens, Chloe and Givenchy and it's a no brainer why. Stylish, effortless and chic for days, it's the perfect setting for a once in a lifetime purchase in a once in a lifetime designed interior. There is absolutely a sense of movement in his design and artist countability. Never ending learning and discovery is a part of his mission in achieving ever higher feats in his artistic endeavours. “I always want to get inspired by different things and I realise there is no end to learning”.

Dirand's own home in Paris 

Details from his own kitchen

Loulou restaurant, Paris 

Chloe store, Saint Honore 

Dirand does away with the demand of having a stock definition for his style. What really drives his work is an instinct, an impulse which ultimately triggers the motions of creativity leading the finished product to look organic and effortless - as if there were almost no designer behind it at all. A collection which formed itself out of a natural order. 

"I don't care about style anymore, in a way I hate style, I hate design... it's about life, and generosity" source 

I've always had a belief about what we do in life. If we love it enough, if doing it isn't a chore and we're all about it, it starts to take us to other places. No single discipline or focus in life is simply of itself. Everything that we choose to learn and do takes us to other places we had no idea was possible. For Dirand, this is clearly the case as well. It's not about design or style for him, it's simply a way of organising, responding and living. Here's to all of our callings which take us above and beyond. 

Avenue Montaigne apartment, shot by Martin Morrell for NYT

La Flandrin, Paris 

Varenne, Paris 

Le Mas des Oliviers, Ramatuelle

"Les Idees Claires" 

I Mahal Bath, Paris

BLUEPRINT FOR MY FUTURE APARTMENT

See the entire home right here

I'm going crazy for Alvhem, the Swedish real estate website which I mentioned in my previous post. The vibes, colours and looks for all these homes are beyond stunning and I'm drawing a lot of inspiration for the future through their styling.

It's actually insane how fast taste changes. In the time span between when I stopped blogging and right now, my taste has changed dramatically. What I used to preach and pander on about " Drama, colour, movement " is something that's quickly fading into the background to make way for.... nothingness. No colour,  no movement. Just stillness and pared back colours and textures ( or lack there of )

The oatmeal and dust coloured bedding completes the bedroom to make it truly a nest of comfort for the owner 

This apartment grabbed my attention immediately. We tend to go through thousands of photos in a month of idyllic surroundings, rooms and destinations but rarely do we ever find the " OMG" moment. This was it for me, I found my oh my god moment. This room is the blueprint for wherever I move out to in the future. Most likely, it will be an apartment and although that thought brings joy to me, it also stirs up fear as well since my last three living situations came with awful neighbours who made my life hell. 

Clear, glass vases are sparkling to the eye and inject an immediate 'clean' and 'sharp' feel to any room 

The gorgeous thing about this apartment, is that it has all the good parts about the Scandi look minus the 'budget' vibe that came with it as the trend set deeper and deeper into the interior design world. I love the colours here, the natural fibers and the no fuss, no detail cleanliness that comes about that. My favourite pieces of furniture has got to be the round, white dining table and the wooden chairs. The entire apartment is decked out in only around ten colours with four being the leaders of the medley.

Although colour is receding further and further away for me in relevance, I will always have a place for it in my heart. I always feel like reiterating that because I don't see myself as one of those people who 'hate' colour. But when I look at my own life I never wear it or use it. But I love it... colour is an emotional experience for me, I can't let go of it completely. I suppose it's not being forgotten entirely, but rather it's taking a different turn.

This shot compelled me to save it to my computer because of how similar the set out is to the apartments that you find in Melbourne. All the other apartments on Alvhem are perfect but the design and aesthetic is really something that is more common in Europe and not in Australia. With this one, the design is generic, I've seen it many, many times on real estate websites in Melbourne and so it was a realistic and helpful choice for what is immediately achievable. 

Avoiding colour and pattern guarantees the home to have a more calming and serene atmosphere - two things I'm always trying to seek more of in life 

Another thing that I love about this apartment is that its look is easy and inexpensive to achieve. You can virtually get everything you see at Ikea and that's absolutely fine by me. There's no shame in shopping there like some people think there is. If you're a young person, realistically, where else are you going to go? If you have a good eye, nobody will care where you get your items from. Trust me, I and everybody I know do it all the time.

The best part is that I won't have to spend a fortune to complete this look for when the big day comes of me moving out again. What's the blue print for your future apartment or ideal home?

A STUNNING APARTMENT IN SWEDEN FOR SALE

There is definitely something about kitchens and their seamless way of communicating the story of the family ( or couple, or single ) that lives there

I have to say, it feels so good to be doing this again. Blogging about amazing homes and good interiors, it literally fulfils a part of me that hasn't been nurtured in a while in lieu of studying and getting as good a marks as possible at uni. Now i'm heading into my break, I'll totally have more time to focus on PFF and pick up where I left off as best as possible.

I came across this amazing apartment on one of my favourite online interiors haunts Gravity Home. They always find the kind of homes I love and this gem in Sweden is another example of how they get it right each time. This apartment is situated in Brf Stinsen and has been listed on Alvhem which appears to be a real estate agency in Gothenburg.

What really captured me to this home is the beautiful wallpaper just behind the dining table. I love a wallpaper feature, especially when its in a dining or communal area. The owner has managed to strike a beautiful harmony by keeping everything else tonal and minimal and letting the wallpaper sing its song of colour throughout the space.

I love older styled homes for all the intricate details that new builders can try to fake but really, will never be able to achieve. Older homes are a slight obsession for me because of their time-machine powers as well as their aesthetic value  

What's terrific about this dining area is the proof that you can mix colours upon colours and patterns upon patterns and avoid overwhelm. Just look at this space here. There's flowers on the walls, inca inspired textiles on the floor and cushions that follow suit in its energy. But it all manages to eschew any sense of jarring-ness and actually communicate a homey, warm and inviting vibe. It's the exact type of style I like. Loads of personality but welcoming and inviting in its wake. 

My favourite detail? The white brick style tile on the walls - love it ! 

An all white bathroom is elegant, clean and simple. Three things we all want to achieve and is the benchmark of any timeless home. Proving that brightness and lightness elevate any space, this apartment is such a versatile and lively foundation for ultimately any project or aesthetic vision. A lush outdoor area is the cherry on the cake for this apartment. The green is a perfect backdrop for summer lunches or just a cup of tea alone on a Sunday. 

I love balconies because they just embody homey weekend living.