house Archives - Page 54 of 61

The Art of the Mix | Michael Hainey + Brooke Cundiff via The Selby

I love a truly curated house – a space that has clearly been collected over time. The truth is, they are hard to come by {done well, anyway}. There are certainly homes that are left to their own devices over time, but they suggest a certain numbing to life. That is not at all what I mean. I mean the kind of home in which you can sense the life of those living within. Their travels. Their reading. Their connecting. Their laughing. Their eating and sleeping and really LIVING.

I stumbled upon one such home recently on The Selby and thought I would share it with you today as a sweet slice of inspiration. Feast your eyes on the delightfully eclectic New York home of writer, artist and editor Michael Hainey and Brooke Cuniff, Director of Merchandise for Park & Bond.

I also happen to l.o.v.e. these shoes from Park & Bond for my husband. English made classics. Anniversary gift perhaps?

Wishing you a day of discovery and of secretly treasuring beauty like a delightful love note in your pocket from your sweetheart.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|August 8th, 2012|0 Comments

Photographer | Michael Graydon

Every once in awhile you stumble upon something honest. Something clear and simple and humble and true. Concise in its clarity and pure in its authenticity, you can’t help but love it just for being itself.

This may seem an odd description for photography, yet that is how I feel about the work of Toronto photographer Michael Graydon. His use of light and his natural, unfraught compositions feel like a frank but gentle conversation about all things beautiful and lovely in the world.

You may recognize editor-in-chief Suzanne Dimma of Canadian House & Home magazine, pictured below in her beautifully simple, Canadiana-modern cottage. At least one of the following shots has also been featured in this eponymous design mag {see if you can guess which one?}.

I hope Michael’s photography inspires you to notice the light in each room you enter today. Perhaps these images will inspire you to create simple yet intriguing vignettes in your mind’s eye as you take photographs with your imagination. Whatever spark is lit, I hope you fan the flame.

Happy Monday!
xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|August 6th, 2012|1 Comment

Barn Conversions | A New Kind of Loft Living

With urban sprawl being what it is, many design-loving, space-seeking naturalists are searching for new ways to create their own unique rural retreat. In the spirit of redemptive upcycling, some such seekers have taken to converting old barns into new homes. With soaring ceilings and sweeping interior spaces, barns provide the perfect rural alternative to a hip urban loft conversion.

This spectacular space – an 1800’s English barn converted into a country vacation home by architect Preston Scott Cohen – serves a literary couple and their family with a generous dose of inspiration and expansive imaginings. (Images via Dwell)

I love the juxtaposition of modern concrete floors and fireplace with the rustic, hand-hewn beams integrated seamlessly into the newly divided rooms.

This space defies agrarian cliches while embracing its roots and bridging into the modern day. This breezeway (shown below) capitalizes on the natural light and scenic landscape to connect the outdoors in with a decidedly modern aesthetic.

This next home – a Belgian barn house designed by Buro II – is the epitome of modern simplicity. The design truly embraces the landscape as art. (Images via ArchDaily)

What do you think of these barn conversions? Can you imagine yourself creating your own unique, rural retreat in a beautifully restored and upcycled barn? Perhaps these spaces will help you expand your imagination as you consider how you define “home.”

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|August 3rd, 2012|2 Comments