Designing with Pebbles

Love! Such a simple idea. Using pebbles inside and out.

Glossy Surfaces

I'm not fond of dark interiors but I love this idea of black lacquered shelves in a library or office.

And while thinking about glossy surfaces, I discovered epoxy urethane floors and I am absolutely smitten. Note to self: inexpensive (running at $2 a square foot - it's often used in industrial spaces - garages, aviation hangers etc.), easy to clean, non slip and stunning (it looks like glass).

Abelow Sherman Architects designed the all-white loft in the Flatiron District, New York and I found the lacquered shelves while surfing a Spanish design website, Nuevo-Estilo.

Frank Greenwald

Beautiful work by Frank Greenwald. Framed views, natural materials, strong details and sometimes...a bold splash of colour.

Tracery Interiors

Creating a poolside alcove and lining the walls in a soft blue tile is practical (you can hose down the area post 'little people's' parties) and it gives the space a resort spa like feeling. Add a few outdoors cushions, a generous side table and a ceramic patterned stool and you've got a pleasant place to seat, chat and relax.

On the right, the staircase and walls are line in board and it's such a great cottage look, as are the rustic tin lamps hanging from the dark paneled ceiling above. Love the the personal touches - the black and white photos, and the console table with books and a lamp - which again layer the space, making it feel cosy and familiar. Great work by Tracey Interiors.

'The' Party Planner, Sofia Crokos

Sofia Crokos creates the most beautiful parties. And how easy is it to drizzle dark chocolate on a white plate and over lay with bite size treats! Clever, festive and so simple.

Swatt Miers

I love how the pool's thick edge (instead of the trendy infinity edge) doubles up as an elevated seat to the limestone terrace just beyond. The terrace then seamlessly merges into a grassed area...and beyond that...a ridiculously expansive view of San Francisco.

I stumbled across Swatt Miers via the WSJ. The Journal featured an ex-Googler's house and while it's stunning as well, I was gaga over this 1950's-vibed home in Tiburon, CA.

Pierre Yovanovitch

Pierre Yovanovitch's modern spin on entry doors, floors, balastrades - cleverly introducing geometric patterns into the traditional spaces - is dramatic and classic...and the green velvet settee tucked under the stair eaves recalls a former era of slow paced grandness and grace. Beautiful play on old and new.

French Door Walls

The great thing about living in Brisbane, Australia - and one of the things I miss while living in an apartment in Boston, USA - is the year round enjoyment of living on the edge of both in and outdoors.

Over the last few years Aussie developers, architects and homeowners have embraced retractable walls (made up of cantina folding doors) to create wonderful, open spaces that blend both environments. The only draw back for me is the material (more often than not heavy dark wood doors are installed) and the 'all or nothing' of the folding doors i.e. you either keep the doors closed in place to form the wall or you retract them back entirely, anything 'inbetween' just looks messy.

This brings me to french doors - and how when banked in pairs to form a wall - they offer all the pluses of out/indoor living with the additional bonuses of lightness and flexibility. English designer, Lucy Freedman's dining room is a wonderful reminder of how versatile french doors can be.

Bunny Williams

I love this living room by Bunny Williams - the velvet couch back with an old world screen, the unexpected pink cushion sitting front and centre (punching through all the earthy tones), and the modern, abstract black and white fabric that turns a salon chair into something modern and fresh (you can just see a hint of it in the bottom right hand corner of this image) - it's old world with delightful spunky accents. Lovely.

Black Door

I have a 'thing' for black high gloss front doors. There's something very stately and officially about them and they remind me of my trips to Ireland and the UK (...and those trips remind me of hot piping tea and warm buttery scones).

And this foyer's composition - the ornate bench, the panelled walls, the oversized English Regency Mirror, the classic marble floor tiles - is just as grand and delightful, but there's a whimsical twist from up above, with the 'where did that come from' modern chandelier. Dito for the dining room. French designer Francois Catroux, has quite some eye.