Country Home in Spain

This rustic house near the sea is in the south of Spain. A warm, inviting, happy house to brighten your Sunday. Enjoy.


The carved Indian column holds one of the ceiling beams. A beautiful vignette with vintage books, antique French bells, small painting of an orchid bought in Bali, and beetle vase.


Well worn leather armchairs and a rustic Indian coffee table in the sitting room.


A railway sleeper was used for the mantel above the fireplace. Wall to wall seagrass carpet.




Mahogany dining room tables and chairs.


Hand-painted tiles behind the cooking range and backsplash (seen in following pic). Inexpensive bamboo blinds and dark wood flooring add warmth to the kitchen.


A gray marble sink, salvaged from a farmhouse in Malaga. Above, a white painted cabinet visually extends the window.


Small and cosy breakfast nook.


Jatoba wood was used in the master bathroom in the attic. An English service unit is used to store towels.



The master bedroom is in the attic. The beams of the ceiling rest on a another wooden beam, also used to attach sconces and as a headboard.


The curtains inside the wardrobe is a good way to keep things out of sight.

Hope you liked today's tour. Let me know. With your feedback I can select the styles you'd like to see.
All images from here.

Old Hunting Lodge in France

A beautiful Saturday here in Rio. Nice day to relax and take a tour of this 13th century hunting lodge typical of the region of Agen, in France.The structure was in very good condition with healthy walls made of local stone 80 cm thick. However, much had to be done to make it livable once again. Recycled beams and furniture, terracota flooring and plenty of stone for this rustic style home.




Original massive fireplace made of stone.


Stone counter top and backsplash.


Painted pillows on the wall serves as an unusual headboard in the master bedroom.



Hope your Saturday is beautiful too. See you tomorrow!
All images from here.

Connecticut Waterfront House

These photographs (very few, I know!) were featured in Architectural digest in 2003. The house was up for sale around April, 2009, for 30m US$. Located on Long Island Sound in Westport, Connecticut and owned by radio talk show host Don Imus and his wife, Deirdre. A stunning house with Gustavian style furniture.

New York-based architects John and Nancy Beringer employed a mix of styles for the exterior.

The entrance hall with a demilune table and bust, both 19th century.

For the parlor, the Louis XVI chair retains its original fabric. Reflected in the Swedish pine and ivory trumeau is a portrait of a gentleman from the Gustavian era.


Gustavian pieces in the parlor include an 18th-century daybed and tea table, which holds a 1790 urn.

Architecture by Beringer Architects
Photography by Mary E. Nichols

All images from Architectural Digest.

Eclectic Home in Spain

This eclectic home in Catalonia, in the north east of Spain, was designed by Ramón de Abadal. Lots of interesting details in this overall masculine home.


In the foyer a striking black and white portrait by Pablo Márquez. Below, a Chinese console with a picture signed by Ramón de Abadal and two Coptic crosses from Ethiopia. The two x-chairs are Renaissance Italian nineteenth century. White painted barrel vault ceiling.


Interior designer Ramón de Abadal in the dining room.


A full height bookcase separate the living room and dining room from the kitchen. These spaces open onto a terrace with a succession of aluminum framed windows. The blue velvet upholstered ottoman is from Indonesia. African pillows on the right. The rug is from Mauritania. Bare brick walls on the left and dark stained wide plank boards for the floor.


The living room viewed from another angle. Souvenirs from travels to Asia are displayed on the oversized ottoman. To the side there is a central courtyard which can be viewed from the reupholstered chaise lounge.


Simple long wooden table and benches for the dining room.


A second dining area with zig zag chairs around an iron leg table designed by Ramón de Abadal. A nineteenth century Chinese lacquered cabinet on the right.


Modern lines for the kitchen. Black granite was used for the countertops.




A very masculine master bedroom. A large wardrobe with mirrored sliding doors multiply the light. The bed is made with woven rattan.The rug is nineteenth century and the night tables are carved wooden trunks.


A bath tub and sink (shown below) were placed in the corridor that leads to the master bedroom.


An Indian marble basin contrasts with the modern wall faucet. Portrait of Ramón de Abadal by Barnaby Ruhe.


Outdoor dining area shaded by a wooden pergola covered with wisteria. Teak wood floors and terracotta pots define the space.

All images from here.

Summer House in Provence

A Belgian couple bought and restored this summer house in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Provence, in southeastern France.A blend of French and Belgian styles.




Under the shade of a curved pergola the outdoor dining area with pale green metal chairs.


These antique doors open to the kitchen.


White subway tiles, Belgian blue stone countertops, and an old farm table in the kitchen. The small drawers in the cabinet above the stove are cute but as far as I can see they are hard to reach. My guess is that they are faux.


Chandelier style candle holder adorns the reclaimed dining room table.




The headboard from antique bed hangs high above the bed.


Antique XIX century Boudoir chair.


Small rustic powder room.


Zinc claw-foot tub and I guess the letters on the wall spell "bain"

Apartment in Madrid

A blend of of old and new in this restored apartment right in the heart of Madrid. Enjoy today's tour, dears!


Combination of parallel and herringbone wood flooring. A glass top cane coffee table is surrounded by white slipcovered couches, and both the ottoman and antique armchair are upholstered in brown velvet.


Floor to ceiling folding doors allow lots of sunshine in.


The dining room doubles as library with a whole wall lined with shelves.


Klismos chairs in the dining room. Most klismos chairs have flaring saber legs placed in oppostion to one another, as opposed to the ones above which have only two rear saber legs


Industrial style kitchen with stainless steel backsplash.


Original white and grey tiles for the kitchen floor.


Breakfast area on the other side of the kitchen leads to the dining room. The wooden floors have been painted black.


Black painted wood flooring in the master bedroom.


The master bedroom opens to a dressing room.


A rectangular sink stands on a stone slab in the master bathroom.


Herringbone flooring in the guest room.


A reclaimed table was used for the bathroom sink.

All images from here.