Tuesday, August 24, 2010

House & Garden

I know many of us still mourn the loss of many of our state-side magazines, but don't forget that there are some great foreign magazines out there! While at the beach I had picked up a copy of the British July 2010 House & Garden which always is pretty fantastic. In this issue was the much talked about restored ancestral home of John Coote, Bellamont Forest, which he had put on the market (seen in these top 3 photographs). I especially love the main saloon seen in the top image -who knew I could like pink! I especially am into that ceiling and those yummy white slipcovered armchairs.
The front hall is only made better by the addition of the pooch :-) The article proclaims it as 'Ireland's most perfect Palladian villa' and I just may have to agree! Photographs by Luke White
If Bellamont Forest is the most perfect villa in Ireland, then a house recently restored by Russell Page in Normandy may just hold that distinction in France! Photographs by Fritz von der Schulenburg
The library / dining room is probably my most favorite room I've seen in a few years in any magazine. I could live in that room and never want to leave!
I was also intrigued by an article about antique glass and different uses for it in interiors. I'm not generally a fan of any chintz or overly floral fabrics, but I loved the notion of putting it behind VERY antiqued glass for a ghostly appearance as seen in these bottom 2 beautiful photographs by Adrian Briscoe.
I especially like this idea in a bathroom, as in the image above -just windex your bathroom clean! What do you think of this technique, I know it's somewhat unusual. Has anyone done this before themselves?

19 comments:

Blue said...

I'm glad you like British House and Garden. I buy it quite frequently - reminds me of the old country. With you on the pink room.

Yuri-Alex Niso said...

These photos are -fantastic-! I really like the flowers behind the glass and the huuuge bathtub. I'm going to see if I can grab a copy myself!

DM said...

That house in France?! Amazing!! I love the combination of the tile roof and timber framework. And the library just makes me plain ol' jealous!

Renée Finberg said...

fabulous images.
and i think HOUSE & Garden was the very best design magazine ever.
i have loved it forever.

xxx

Terry said...

Sometimes pink is perfect, like this this time. I'm with you on the dining room / library. I realize some of my favorites have strong greens. Those green chairs send the room into orbit for me.

Picture of Elegance Blog said...

I share your love for the library...great photos.

ChipSF said...

so - so on the pink. like it best because it is slightly evocative of some of the gorgeous colored rooms by Nancy Lancaster.

french house is a beauty but sois everything touched by Russell Page.

Will @ Bright.Bazaar said...

Nice to see some UK shelter mag love going on! That bathroom is pretty.

Anonymous said...

hi, i really enjoy your blog,and while i don't have a blog, i hope you don't mind my comment. have you ever seen the blog dearlittleredhouse.blogspot? she has a post from june 9 etc. that reminds me of that irish cottage only it's in NJ. she calls it an architects garden and she has posted 4 different times, the gardens and interiors. i don't know how to link and again i hope i'm not stepping on any toes! denise

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

The library is delightful.
Anyone know the mechanics of the fabric glass wall? Corners and plumbing seem like they would be a challenge.

M said...

Stefan, what a wonderful post. That house in Normandy! OMG. I verge between pining after the totally puristic/modern/white (which is what I live in now) and the half-timbered Tudor/Brittany cottage style; love that ivy-clad facade.
Just out of curiosity: What is it exactly about the library/dining room that makes it one of your very favorite spaces you've seen?
All the best,
Michael

ArchitectDesign™ said...

I'm much like you, Michael -like so many different styles that it's hard to make a choice!
I like that the room has a lot of architectural detail without being fussy. I love the idea of a booklined dining room. I love the chair covers and that table. I love the tablesetting. I love that the room is all candlelight and not electric (although maybe there are electric lights, just not showing). So basically -everything about it!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Kerry,
my guess is that the fabric is applied to the back of the antiqued glass like wallpaper -then the mirrors are affixed to the wall with corner cleats. anyone else? Plumbing would be easy - any glass cutter could cut a hole where needed.

design traveller said...

I love the first photo, great concept and real eye-catching treasure :)
And the bathtub looks superb, is it The Water Monopoly?

Janet said...

Gosh, these are some gorgeous places. Thanks for sharing.

Edward said...

I have subscribed to the British H&G for many years. It is expensive but worth it. I amazes me the The British H&G has been voted one of the best shelter magazines in the world and the American version is closed. Both owned by Conde Nast. I think it was too sophisticated for the american public. Conde Nast kept Architectural Digest. Have you ever seen Florida Design? Another money maker. Ours is an uphill battle.

Slim Paley said...

I saw these Adrian Briskoe photos too- I love the effect of the 'old' wallpaper behind glass. The silver and the old dusty rose are so beautiful together, especially with that tiny hint of chartreuse.

No Sacrifice Bags said...

While I haven't done this yet; it could be a technique like 'Sublastyle' which is a trademarked technique that NGI Glass, out of Ontario Canada fabricates.

They have some amazing capabilities!

Cheers,
Donna

Tanya Boracay said...

Nice unique style of house. I'm just bother about the bathtub, why we need some curtain there.

Just like to share with you a beautiful quote...

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." - Albert Schweitzer

You can get more happiness quotes at http://www.quotelandia.com/category/Happiness