northern dreams

It's that time of year again...where we start heading north to enjoy nature...camping trips and visits to the in-laws cottage. 

It's also that time when I start renovating and designing...in my head at least.  I begin looking at available real estate listings of waterfront properties (very few and far between in our price range), and start decorating. My imagination usually runs wild... "If I just paint that white, or add a bunkie there..." as I fantasize of the kids playing in the water, and sun and sand inspired parties with family and friends.

The most fun part of dreaming about recreational homes, is looking at ones that are out there right now and imagining how to personalize it.  Something that represents a sophisticated point in time where you can enjoy nature and life.  A place where you can enjoy the elements of all seasons...water and snow.  I see so many designs that speak to me...appealing to my classic and sophisticated aesthetic, but comfortable and "rugged" enough to take all the skis, boots, dirt bikes, canoes and equipment that is required in a recreational home.

I stumbled upon this beautiful place.  It has a mini golf course for putting practice (for the avid golfers in the house). It also has a fresh beach feel to it...a place where you can imagine leaving flip flops and beach towels by the door. Enjoying the sand.

The wide planked floors are solid, strong, beautiful against the stone beams, and the beamed ceilings.

In the kitchen, you can see an island where you can casually entertain...the bar stools remind me of an old english pub where friends meet and everyone knows your name.  

Just beside the kitchen, you can see the dining room...a little beach inspired, with a clean aesthetic and sophisticated elements for more formal occasions.  But the rustic table suggests that formal entertaining doesn't necessarily mean stuffy...guests can be refined and sophisticated while still feeling comfortable in sandals.

Antiqued wood, seagrass elements and colour schemes suggest warmth...a place for active winter guests.

 And beautiful bright, light filled rooms with views of the water and summer breezes.

The interior designer/architect firm, Jauregui Architects designed this beautiful place.  They've appropriately called this place "Hill Country Modern".  It's a little country.  A little modern.  

It's really...simply beautiful.

{ Photo source for all pictures (except the 1st picture of the water dock):  Jauregui Architects}

a place for friends

This is the location of where the exterior of the
"Central Perk" coffee house was filmed for the television series, Friends.

Almost a decade has passed when the popular show, "Friends" was on air.  It was a show that was centred around the personalities and relationships of those who frequented a coffee house...where friends would meet at a place that was almost like home to them.  It was refreshing to hear the teenaged daughter of our friends "hang out" at Starbucks...I know when I was her age, coffee shops were destinations after a night out...not a destination place in itself.

Coffee houses and cafes have evolved to become cozy, amazingly beautiful and sophisticated spaces. The design of these spaces may not be the focal point for it's patrons, but more of a supporting role in creating a comfortable space where friends can meet and spend time together.  I like to look at the designs of public spaces to give me inspiration for the private ones.  Places that evoke a sense of warmth and friendliness that remind you of home, but designed to serve large groups of people efficiently and effortlessly.  

Below are samples of how you can incorporate elements from these public spaces and use them in your own home or cottage...a comfortable place for friends to hang out.

Retro Style

When my husband and I were in New York last autumn, we enjoyed our cafe breakfast at The Standard Grill, which was just below the hotel we were staying at.  I loved the checkerboard floors, slick black schoolhouse chairs and wood tables and countertops.  

The above pics were from our trip to New York

{above pic: source}

You can see the same mix of black, white and wood in this home, giving it a cool, retro feel.

{source}

Sophisticated Lodge Style

Here is the Wildwood Restaurant, in Portland, Oregon.  Elements of wood and grey provide a rustic, warm feeling. A cozy nook could be created in a kitchen or breakfast area.  

{source}

Or taking the colour scheme from the above restaurant, you can incorporate the grey and wood into a kitchen like here...

{source}

Casual/Beach Cafe Style

Here's the Sweetwater Cafe, in Melbourne Australia.  I love how the white subway tiles and marble counters work with the natural rattan chairs.  It's fresh looking but still comfortable.

{source}

You can see the same mix of marble and rattan in this cottage home...how bright and inviting is this?

{source}

I love all these styles, and hopefully I can incorporate elements of all of them into my home, to create an inviting environment for friends.

clean up act

{source}

I've noticed that there are more and more luxuriously designed laundry rooms.  Much like the spa bathroom, I think people are now focusing on making that room a little more appealing since so much time is spent there doing that "dreaded chore" (laundry is my achilles heel!).

Since I'm trying to enjoy doing the chores that I despise, I've started to re-look at our laundry area to find ways to make it more appealing...maybe it would make doing that chore a little easier.

Here are a few beautiful laundry rooms that I've been looking at.  There's some interesting designs that make the room functional as well as beautiful.

I like how the machines are hidden behind cabinets.

{source}

The bead board softens the look of the wall here.  Simple brackets and open shelving with baskets make things easily accessible.

{source}

The stainless steel backsplash and cabinets gives this room just enough "bling", and it's still easy to clean and maintain. 

{source}

If I had an actual laundry room, I like the idea of shelves that hold laundry baskets like this. 

{source}

We'll see how I feel about laundry after I've worked some design magic with ours.  Although maybe I should re-think our closet instead, to be like this...

{source}

Now wouldn't that be clever? ;)

curated antiques

{source: Traditional Home}

I love the term curated antiques.  It's a term that is often used by interior designers or purveyors of fine furniture...and I love the fact that antiques, like fine art, are curated.  True antiques are coveted because it's worth depends on their age.  And the older they are, the more beautiful they seem.  Every detail is admired for it's craftmanship...of a time when details were carefully carved into wood, and the time spent shows patience, love for the art, and a graceful beauty that will stand the test of time.

{Source: House Beautiful}

From an interior design perspective, there is something so calming and at the same time, orderly about classic design.  It is probably because it is orderly, that we know what to expect. That there is discipline.  However, what adds texture or character to a room are the long loved treasures...something with memories or history.  And antiques are that element that tells a story.


I love how this seemingly modern space is infused with a rustic antique piece...giving this room character and dimension.

{Source: Vicente Wolfe}

Charm is created when you mix old world and modern world.  Mixing classic subway tile and marble counters with a statement piece like the antique lantern creates such a lived in, old world feeling.

{Source: Tommy Smythe}

Or sometimes all you need is just a simple antique statement piece...to place the weight of importance in this  glamourous hall.

{Source: Andreas Trauttmansdorff photography}

I think as time moves forward, I start to look for things that are not just pretty and new, but would also bring something into the home...a story to it.  Like beautiful, curated antiques.