August Inspirations
This month was full of inspiration, books and beautiful finds.
The best Interior Design this month
There are not many homes that leave me speechless, and I don't always love every detail; most likely there are a few elements that I would change. But here is an exception: William Hefner’s Inspired Montecito Estate. The house is just stunning, and every aspect of it is thought through. The architecture makes this home feel incredibly connected to nature. Each building has its own materiality.
The interior of the main house features minimalist material choices throughout, making it simple yet striking and very cosy. The materiality includes Indiana limestone for the bathroom and cedar-lined walls throughout, as well as stone dug from the land before building the swimming pool. Each room features huge black steel windows and doors with slim frames, so it doesn’t block the views. The windows also have hidden screens and shutters in the pockets, which are out of the way if not used.
My personal favourite (besides the whole house) is the kitchen and living space. This kitchen doesn’t have upper cabinets but instead a glass feature where the hood is hidden. Clever how to hide not the prettiest essential in the kitchen. In this kitchen, you will never run out of storage space, as there are two extra pantry spaces on each side of the room. A variety of materials and different types of seating make it so interesting yet very cohesive. Just stunning!
On the opposite side, the dining table is a cosier space with a beautiful stone chimney. The space is so warm and snug you want to grab a coffee, blanket, and start the fireplace. I really appreciate the fact that the space is designed for connecting to people or to beautiful nature outside. The is no visible TV screens in any of the spaces. All of them are hidden away. In this example, the TV is located under the floor behind the armchairs.
The other stunning part of the house is the main bathroom. The whole materiality, aged brass fixtures and mahogany cabinets make the space just perfect. When you're taking a shower, you almost feel like you are outside.
Not getting too much more into the interior, the exterior and the garden are breathtaking too. Each corner of the garden has a stunning view, with great privacy. Besides the sauna, gym, swimming pool, outdoor shower and basketball court, there is a specially designated path around the whole land where you can walk under the oak trees, which are between 150 -300 years old. Who needs to go out of a space like this where you have everything that you need?
If that didn’t convince you to have a look at the full tour with The Luxury Home Show, I don't know what will.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRFiRdTrrF4
Interesting fact
In Japan, they use separate bathroom slippers (toire surippa) inside the restroom to maintain household hygiene. You step out of your regular indoor house slippers, leave them right outside the toilet door, and slip into the designated restroom slippers. When you finish, you switch back. Would you try that in your home?
Diving deeper into that, this practice is rooted in Shinto religion, which centres on ritual cleanliness, harmony with nature, and community festivals. Cleanliness and purity are very important values in Japan. That’s why they enter the house by removing their shoes first. You leave the dirt both invisible and visible outside.
One thing that I learned
Recently I finished the book The Diary of a CEO; there is lots of useful information and inspiration for the entrepreneur, and how to become a great leader with some real-life examples. One thing that stands out for me is that the customer will judge their entire experience on just two moments: the best part (or the worst) and the end. Thinking of that and reflecting on my experiences, it is so true. I always recall the peak moment (not the whole experience) and the ending.
One item that I have fallen in love with
While shopping around for my current project, I came across the cult website and their stunning chairs. The Clifton Wooden Carver Dining Chair in Speckled Cappuccino colour looks absolutely beautiful! Pairing that with a round black table makes it look timeless yet very chic.
That's a wrap for this month! I really hope you enjoy it!