Varpunen DIYs

We all know that Suki of Varpunen produces some awesome storage solutions but if you follow her blog you'll be able to see some imaginative (and beautifully photographed) DIY projects (as well as other inspiration). You may even be able to try them yourselves if you can decipher the Finnish translation from google translate!
I suffer from a serious case of 'why didn't I think of that?!' when it comes to all the DIY projects I see on blogs and Pinterest. I often think of documenting some projects to feature on Yeah...ok...bye but at the moment, finding the time to write posts is difficult enough! I'd love to hear of any DIY projects you've undertaken.

 all photography by Varpunen

Family Home, Mantua

Could you guess that this beautiful home belonged to a couple of Italian architects?

via Milk

Inside Down Under

I love this interior by Australia based, Scandinavian designer, Anna Carin. It's a good one to add to the inspiration bank for that terraced house renovation project I'll find one day. There are some great tips here for getting the most out of a narrow space. The opening at eye level between the entrance hall and the dining space borrows light and extends the view across the limited width of the house. The kitchen is my favourite space; one elevation is made up of horizontal lines creating an illusion of a longer space. The other, shorter, elevation has tall, narrow units to contrast and maximise storage space. All in all, a very clever and beautiful space.

Images from Anna Carin via Yellowtrace's pinterest board.

Cabin Fever

Take a look at the beautiful photographs, by Brian Ferry of The Blue Hour, of his friend's cabin in the Angeles National Forest in southern California. Quite possibly the perfect and most whimsical place to spend the festive period. Where ever you're spending yours, I hope you have a lovely family friends and food filled few days. Merry Christmas. x

For more Cabins, check out Cabin Porn.

Amagansett Beach House

I think I've dreamt of this beach house...If I haven't I will now. If I can't live there, it's what I want my dreams to be made of.

see more here

Kitchen Envy IV

SERIOUSLY, do kitchens get any better than this? If you've seen any, send me pictures...because I don't believe you.

images and design by Retrouvius. Image 2 previously posted on Yeah...Ok...Bye here

Going Underground

Last night, I watched George Clarke's Amazing Spaces on Channel 4 (UK), the first episode in a new series exploring the way people live in, and transform, small spaces. The highlight for me was this converted underground public toilet in London, cleverly transformed into a beautiful one bedroom home. It's quite incredible how much light floods through the wells from the pavement above. They even have outdoor space...although I'd be quite concerned about the odd drunk using it, and the entrance stairwell, as the space was intended!
Although the final result is certainly amazing, it would have taken some industrial rubber gloves and a ridiculous amount of bleach! What do you think? Would you take on such a mammoth task?
UPDATE: After tweeting Laura Jane Clark, the owner and designer of this underground home, she has clarified that in fact the original tiles in the kitchen were not those of the urinals. They were in fact behind the basins. Much less gross!

images and more info from the Telegraph

A Few of My Favourite Things

I never thought it was possible to have the perfect amount of my favourite things in one home. One kitchen even! I'm a big fan of the juxtaposition of textures, especially when that includes rustic versus finished materials, so the kitchen units next to the tile here is making my heart beat a little faster. I'm not even going to mention the floor. It speaks for itself.

This place is so good...AND it's in Spain!
I'll take two. Please.
source

Art House

I appear to be experiencing some sort of  kitchen binge at present...I've been collecting kitchen images here and on pinterest as if I had some sort of potential project on my hands...(more on that another time). This kitchen is pretty special, so special that it's up on a pedestal, overlooking a special space belonging to Spanish artist Enrique Garcia Lozano. His massive works of art hang among other artists' massive works of art on massive walls in his massive, open plan, home and studio. Massive. And pretty special, don't you think?

 via Elle Decor Espana

Amsterdam Kitchen Envy

The owners of this kitchen found a large wood-front fridge from a Belgian slaughterhouse dating back to the 1920's and designed the rest of the kitchen around it. Genius.

 source

London Interior

I was pretty speechless when I came across these photographs of  Interior Designer, Shaun Clarkson and fabric designer, Paul Brewster's London home by James Balston. There are too many awesome features, like the painted floors and the glazed panels, to mention but there's one room that I'm saving for its very own post...because it blew me away! Come back tomorrow to see it! 

images

On the Spot

It's officially summer, so why not add a bright spot of colour to your life...

1. Summer Salad Bowl | 2. Mini Mello Bamboo Stool | 3. Bloomsbury rug | 4. PS 2012 cushion | 5. Spotty washi Tape | 6. Polka Dot Circular Wooden Tray | 7. Villervalla smoothie dots summersuit

Out-tiled

If there is a better tiled splashback out there please send me evidence...

source

A Coloured-in Council House

This unrecognisable council house, in Hackney, is owned by artist Francis Upritchard and her furniture designer husband Martino Gamper. The colourful home is full of inspiring and sculptural bits and pieces, with little stories. That parquet floor (not generally native in council housing), for example, was given to the couple as a wedding gift. The friends, who gifted it, inscribed their names in some of the pieces, and helped them lay it.
It just goes to show that with lots of creative imagination and some hard work, anything is possible...

If you've got 5 minutes to spare, the story of the impressive transformation is detailed here.