Netherlands Cool

Admiring this stunning conversion in the Netherlands today—two barns that are now the home and workspace of InaMatt, an interior design studio. Lovely. More about it here at French By Design.

(photography: morten holtum)

Monday

A room with a (spectacular) view. Have a wonderful week.

(photo: elorablue)

Chalet Retreat

Formerly only used in the summer for sheltering both men and beasts, this old Swiss mountain chalet was not only charmingly rustic, but full of drafts, too. Its present owner, architect Charles Pictet, has carefully renovated it for habitation year round, adding both light and comfort while retaining the character of his retreat.

In the old kitchen, the age-darkened walls and floors date from 1872, the year the chalet was built. The fireplace's wide block masonry radiates heat throughout the cabin. The dining room, originally the barn where the animals were kept, has been completely redesigned, with its walls glazed with pure cement and stained with iron oxide — the larch buffet and table were designed by Charles Pictet. Located at the rear of the cabin, the new kitchen has been designed with the same fidelity to materials and tones, with custom-made larch cabinets, anthracite polished cement work surfaces and floors that echo the soot-darkened tones of the original kitchen. To gain brightness in the food prep area without altering the exterior, Charles devised long windows that slide into wood studs. Upstairs, several small rooms can be created by sliding walls, allowing not only different views, but warmth, too — opened up by day, the sleep areas can be closed up by night to retain heat. Minimalist in approach, it's a space that allows for a simple way of living, one appropriate to a home so close to nature. Via Marie Claire Maison.

(photography by philippe garcia)

Monday

A relaxed corner with lots of cosy textures, to start your Monday on a warm note. Have a good one.

(lovely photo by caisa k.)

Modern Farm

A lovely old farmhouse in the village of Spannum, an hour outside from Amsterdam, is the home and studio of textile designer Claudy Jongstra. In this peaceful haven Claudy works with local weavers, who create fabric from the wool produced by her flock of two hundred head of sheep. Claudy then colours the hand woven fabric using dyes created from the plants grown in her garden. In her home Claudy has continued the idea of authenticity, retaining the farmhouse's original structure, livened up with contemporary touches. Love. More here on Marie Claire Maison.

(photography by vincent leroux)

Rustic Modern in Belgium

Located in the province of Limburg, north-east of Belgium, this Flemish farmhouse of brick and wood nestles happily in its surrounding fields. Gently restored, its traditional architecture has been retained as much as possible — the original brick walls add texture to the inside spaces, while furniture in soft neutrals keep the mood quiet and serene. The atmosphere of contentment extends outside, too, with donkeys and sheep grazing peacefully as chickens roam freely around them. More here from Elle Decoration.

(photography by romain ricard)

Barn Raising

Designed to look like two original barns joined to a more modern third one, the striking renovated Hamptons home of Tiina Laakkonen and Jon Rosen is a blend of their happy childhood memories — the Scandinavian influence in the interior is from Tiina, who grew up in Imatra, a small town in Finland, while Jon spent his childhood summers in Amagansett, New York. Love the relaxed and elegant result. More here in the New York Times.


(photography by françois halard)

Modern Barn

Inspired partly by Philip Johnson’s Glass House, partly with the concept of an 'art barn', architect Joel Barkley worked with owners Robert E. Abrams and Cynthia Vance More to create an airy, light-filled structure to house their extensive art collection. Amazing. Read the article and see more photos here on Architectural Digest.


(photography by pieter estersohn)

A Vintage Barn

An old barn near Castelmaine in Victoria, Australia is now a warm and welcoming home, thanks to owners Glenny and Daniel. Renovated using mostly recycled materials, it's also been furnished with wonderful vintage pieces collected by the pair from all over the world — such as the clock from a French chocolate company in the living room, the kitchen tiles picked up ten years before on a trip to a small village in northern Portugal and the Tolix kitchen chairs found in an industrial shop in Melbourne. Today, the barn is rented as luxury weekend accommodation for visitors to the vibrant artistic community nearby. Definitely a dream getaway! More here at Côté Maison.


(photography by Simon Griffiths)

A View of the Mountains

By chance while on a visit to Switzerland, Belgian Ludovic Orts happened upon the town of Commeire, which had been abandoned in the 1960s after the exodus of farmers to the plains, as making a living in the mountains had become too difficult. It was love at first sight for Ludovic, who fell for the stunning mountain scenery and instantly decided to buy and restore a barn there. The original structure was maintained, while local craftsmen were hired to do the traditional woodwork details — though a few eco-friendly additions like solar panels on the roof were added to keep it from impacting its surroundings. Now Ludovic has given new life to the rest of the abandoned hamlet, gradually purchasing five other barns and chalets and, with the help of Swiss architectural firm Devanthéry & Lamunière, has carefully restored these as well. Ludovic plans to rent out these newly renovated retreats for weekends or holidays, to nature lovers like him who are committed to the protection of the environment. Waking up to that mountain view each morning would truly be magical. More here on Marie Claire Maison.


(photography by jérôme gallant)