A Summer Retreat On The Greek Island of Milos

It's been raining for 24 hours in Sweden- bah! I'm going in search of some sunshine - fancy coming along for the ride?! It seems there's plenty to be found in this house perched on a cliff edge on the Greek island of Milos. The 19th century stone house has been carefully restored by K-STUDIO to provide a London-based family an authentically traditional, yet practical summer retreat.  Due to the narrow streets, locally sourced building materials had to be carried up through the village by hand. Today the simple, raw finishes offer a cool respite from the midday sun while slate and timber flooring and unpainted walls allow the house to breathe. Bespoke crafted furniture and fittings were chosen to respect the local style and give the house a lovely, warm, welcoming feel. Enjoy the tour!

I love the matching stools in different sizes - and of course the beautiful Gervasoni Ghost 05 armchair! The sofa is also interesting - I wonder if it's bespoke? If you have any info please give me a shout in the comment section and put me out of our misery!

The original wood ceiling and linen bedding adds warmth and texture to the otherwise pared-back bedroom.

Not a bad place to retreat to in the summer / at weekends - not bad at all! Could you imagine?!


It came as no surprise to find that the space has been nominated for "Best Residential Property" in the Big See Interior Design Awards 2018.

What's more, I just looked up the Greek island of Milos and it's described by Condé Nast Traveller as having "the best beaches in the Aegean, a fascinating history and superb seafood." Check out the full feature here .- it looks and sounds incredible! If the picture below is anything to go by, I think I've found my next holiday destination! See you there?

More dreamy inspiration from Greece includes this Greek island home, an oh so fabulous Greek escape and a cool white and rustic retreat on Mykonos (while you're there you could also treat yourself to a stay in this little patch of paradise!).

Rain? What rain?!


Photography courtesy of  K-STUDIO
Milos island photo by Andrew Urwin for Condé Nast Traveller

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7

The rustic Norwegian log cabin hide-away

How much would you love to head off to this rustic Norwegian log cabin for the holidays? If I could spend just five days at this retreat, belonging to founders and owners of Bolina,  I'd camp out by the  roaring log fire with a cup of tea, my book by Swedish novelist Jonas Jonasson- the one hundred year old man who climbed out of a window and disappeared (which I've been meaning to read all year), play board games with my family, take long walks in the snow, and generally feel relaxed and very merry. How about you?!

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission.

Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer, Sisters Agency with kind permission. 

I have to say the owners have been ingenious in their decorating. At first glance it looks like a classic log cabin, but look closely and you'll notice a modern blend of textures  (concrete, wood, sheepskin, velvet, rattan) and styles (industrial, rustic, contemporary). Combine this with unique fittings such as the kitchen units crafted using reclaimed wood from a derelict barn and the result is an incredibly warm, cosy, personal retreat.

Oh how I dream to own a place like this. What about you?

More dreamy log cabin's I could pad around in this holiday include a Norwegian one by the sea (the sauna!), a black and white Finnish retreat, or a cottage in the snow that looks like this (toasty)!

If a rural retreat feels a million miles away right now and you have a christmas shopping list as long as your arm (it is the weekend before Christmas after all) you might want to take inspiration from these two fab gift guides: for children, for just about everyone. And my fail safe last minute man gift. Good luck!

Wishing you a wonderful, relaxing weekend!

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Settle: A Rustic Hideaway In A Former Railway Carriage & Boutique Cabin

I have a total weakness for rustic spaces, do you? I spotted this cosy gem of a retreat over at Desire to Inspire yesterday and fell in love! 'Settle' is a retreat in Norfolk, England created by John - who owns and runs a reclamation yard, and his partner Jo - a well-known floral designer.  The incredible resort offers guests a choice to unwind in rustic railway carriages, bell tents or a boutique cabin overlooking woodland and lakes. I'm particularly in enamoured by the railway carriages and cabin which combine earthy textures and heritage materials with contemporary comfort - so, it's just to turn up, light a fire, maybe run a bath (wait till you see the outdoor one!)... and relax. 

The carriages: 

My eye is on one of the three beautifully restored retired railway carriages. Each offer two berths, a lounge area with a wood burning stove as well as a bathroom and small kitchen - although you might prefer to cook supper over the lakeside fire pit! 

The Cabin

If you'd prefer something a little more spacious, there's also the boutique cabin which looks like something out of a magazine (actually scrap that - it has been in a magazine!). Hand built by Jo and John, the fully equipped cabin has everything you might need for a relaxing retreat - a real home from home! 

The questions is, would you go for the freestanding indoor bath, or the lakeside wood-burning tub? 

Meet you there? 

In case you're keen - hop over to Settle to find out more (or simply dream!). 

Shall we indulge our shared love of rustic further today? How about these cosy gems? 

Before and after: a dated cabin becomes a Scandic-inspired Colorado retreat

A cosy candlelit cabin in the Norwegian fjords

Leanne Ford's dreamy cabin

A charming A-frame cabin on the Danish island of Orø

Have a hyggelig day friends! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Settle, via Desire to inspire - with thanks. 

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13

A Beautifully restored Country Retreat in Burrawang

While I may have focused on all things Autumn on Instagram yesterday (those Scandinavian wool and alpaca blankets are a must, after all), other parts of the world are slowly emerging into spring. And James Watts - managing director of ethically run rug store Armadillo, his partner Tony and their dog teddy - will be enjoying the season to come in style. 

Located in the historic village of Burrawang (great name!), in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, their 1930s weatherboard cottage has been lovingly restored into a cosy country retreat. For the look, James' drew on his design background and a previous career in set design - and the pair wanted to create a layered, cohesive look with a British touch. Think one-off vintage finds, heirlooms, textiles and art as well as nature-based colours inspired by the countryside and sea. 

Ready to take a tour of their cosy home? Step this way! 

James and Tony worked hard to restore many of the original features, and anything beyond repair was replaced with consideration to the 1930s architecture. A front porch and decking were also added.  

The cosy, light-filled dining area is comprised of a built-in bench topped with textiles from Cultiver, classic Thonet chairs and a rug from Armadillo. 

Walls painted in Porter's paint Highlands Grey add contrast and drama to the kitchen - as well as a sense of cosiness in winter. The stools are from Great Dane and rug from Armadillo. Many of the smaller pieces are vintage. 

A basket / pot from Water Tiger rests on a table picked up at Lydie Du Bray antiques. A vintage light from Emac & Lawton lighting can be seen to the right. The jute rug is from Armadillo. 

The house has two bathrooms, the first of which is kitted out with fittings from The English Tapware Company and tiles from Teranova. 

The bedroom wall has been painted in Porter's duck egg (the bespoke bathroom cabinet looks like a similar shade but is actually Porter's Arctic Bay, the table lamps are from Bragg & Co and the bed linen picked up at Society Limonta. 

What a perfect retreat. I love the blend of Australian country with British nostalgia - it really speaks to me! 

Is there anything that stands out to you about James and Tony's country home? 

I'm particularly grateful to photographer Marnie Hawson for the kind permission to feature these images. I'm constantly inspired by Marnie's work having featured many of the homes she has captured in the past including her own vintage-inspired living space in a former post-office. Marnie is a values-driven photographer working with people and brands who have a genuine commitment to the environmental and social impact of what they do. I particularly love her Prints for Wildlife - with 100% of profits going directly to independent wildlife shelters. 

Fancy taking a peek around more homes Down Under this weekend? There are plenty to feel inspired by here (if this cottage pops up first, just scroll on by - although I can understand if you'd like to look through the pictures again!). 

Right folks, that's it from me this week. I hope you have a wonderful few days and see you Monday! 

Niki

Photography: Marnie Hawson 

Styling: Olga Lewis

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14

A beautiful bohemian retreat in Marseille

Hello! I feel like I've really been mixing up the styles (and locations) this week with home tours in Sweden and Australia and even some festive AW15 ideas. It's been fun - I hope it's felt inspiring to you too?! To keep up the spirit of the week I thought we'd go all out bohemian today with the fabulous 19th century French retreat of Emma Francis, owner of French fashion label Sessun.  Located in Marseille, the home has been decorated inside and out with items collected from all over the world including Laos, Japan, Morocco and Scandinavia. The rich browns, oranges and reds of handmade kilim textiles have been combined with the natural materials and fresh white walls, creating a lovely warm and relaxed vibe. And there's of course that view of the sea...

© Hervé Goluza for Glamour France. Shared with kind permission.

© Hervé Goluza for Glamour France. Shared with kind permission.

© Hervé Goluza for Glamour France. Shared with kind permission.

© Hervé Goluza for Glamour France. Shared with kind permission.

© Hervé Goluza for Glamour France. Shared with kind permission.

© Hervé Goluza for Glamour France. Shared with kind permission.

© Hervé Goluza for Glamour France. Shared with kind permission.

© Hervé Goluza for Glamour France. Shared with kind permission.

I wouldn't mind waking up to that view, how about you?! In fact, I get the sense that it would be hard to feel anything but relaxed here. Beautiful!

There are so many details and unusual items in this home, the more I look the more I find (look at those pendants over the outdoor table for example?!).  

Quick guide: Source handmade kilim pillows / cushions here, this original miliatary army cot from the 1940's is similar (and fab).

More bohemian homes include a Swedish fashion photographer's summer retreat, a Mexican house high up on a hill and the home of a Melbourne florist.
 
A side note before I shoot off: for all North American friends on here - I got word that one of my favourite Danish brands Hay is now available in your neck of the woods - via the wonderful shop Blackthumb. Hooray!

Have a lovely day!

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