Friday Fun: Writers Houses, Mostly French

I thought I had already shown you most writers’ homes in France, but it turns out I’ve barely scratched the surface. So here are some more, plus an extra one a little further afield!

Winter falls on Rousseau’s house in Montmorency, from museejjrousseau.montmorency.fr

Francois Mauriac’s little chateau in Vemars, L’Express.

An older house, for the playwright Corneille, from tourmag.fr

Alphonse Daudet bought this house from his first royalties, which must have been greater in those days, maison.alphonse.daudet.overblog.fr

Surprisingly, Jean Cocteau had the most romantic house outside Paris, in Milly-la-Foret. From L’Express.

Last but not least, this amazing House for Writers from Tbilisi, Georgia. From itinari.com

Friday Fun: A Romanian Landscape Photographer

Autumn is spectacular in the Romanian mountains and, as if to alleviate my homesickness, I’ve discovered the amazing photographs of the very talented Alex Robciuc. Here are just a few examples, but you can follow all his work on alexrobciuc.wixsite.com/photo or check him out on Facebook. He was the award winner for Romania in the Sony World Photography Awards 2019. No filter required!

The first glimpses of autumn.

Autumnal village in Maramures.

Almost like a toy landscape in Transylvania.

Makes me want to move there immediately…

Friday Fun: Unusual Gems

OK, gems might be stretching the truth a bit, but certainly some quite unique architecture or setting or both…

Who doesn’t want an indoor swing or hammock or whatever you call this thing? From couturebreakfast.tumblr.com

I assume there is no one opposite to look in on you? From decoraiso.com

You too can experience the feeling of being burnt alive at the stake, from houzideaz.com

Not quite sure where the rest of the house has gone, but this looks like a nice pool house, from livingxdesign.wordpress.com

Traditional architecture in a stunning location – unless you suffer from vertigo! From myluxepoint.com

Friday Fun: Back to France

Who am I kidding? English country mansions are all very nice, but my heart beats faster when I see a French chateau – or even a ‘humble’ maison de maitre. And, who knows, maybe in the region Bourgogne -Franche-Comte, it might even be affordable? My ‘retirement’ plans are to acquire one of these and organise writing, reading and thinking retreats. Any takers?

Gracious stone pile in Besancon, from immobilierfranche-comte.fr

Modest little house from Mitula Immobilier.

This one is slightly more expensive, but has extensive grounds and outhouses. From clairefontaineimmobilier.fr

My kind of farmhouse building in the Jura, from regions-of-france.com

House in Bourgogne, close to the vineyards, from my-french-house.com

The real dream, this 13th century renovated chateau in Oyonnax, only 9 minutes from Geneva by helicopter! From Cortebil.fr

Friday Fun: Homes to Tempt You in Britain

I’ve been doing so much property search abroad in the past few months that it’s high time I reminded myself that I am still here in the UK for the time being. And there are many fine (if rather unaffordable) properties on this island…

Suffolk retreat, what I imagine a vicarage should look like. From Prime Location.

Clathwaite Hall in Cumbria. From H.H. King website.

© Brian Young Architectural Photography for Bradley Hall in County Durham

Another picture-book Suffolk property, from David Burr.

Georgian manor house for sale in Lancashire, from rightmove.co.uk

Of course, you can’t mention Lancaster without mentioning York… This is Thorpe Hall in Yorkshire, likewise for sale, from countrylife.co.uk

Friday Fun: Pod or Shed?

If you don’t have enough rooms in your house, then these sheds (or, currently all the rage, ‘pods’ which you can just drop in your back garden) offer a real alternative for a home office or writing retreat.

Armadilla garden pod has all the mod cons, from Ideal Home.

A bit exposed: they might catch you napping instead of working… from Building Projects.

This Rolls Roycel of sheds is bigger than many a house… or garden. From Roomsoutdoor.co.uk

Inside a Fatpod from Archipod.com

Saw these simple pods at the University of Lancaster – study spaces for students to book. Great idea!

These floating pods at the University of York are intended more for meetings than individual study, but I could work in there for hours!

More like a conservatory extension than a shed, but I’ll take it. From cotemaison.fr

Friday Fun: Staircases to Heaven

You know by now how obsessed I am with beautiful hallways and staircases that entice you upstairs with the promise of heavenly delights to come…

Champagne and … is that pot to tempt you? From Archzine.fr

Bit of a mish-mash of wallpapers going on there, but that parquet is to die for! From Elle Decor.

Tiles and intricate metalwork – my idea of heaven! From maisonsybilles.canalblog.com

Perhaps a little too classical, but I love the colour here. From postcardsfromtheridge.com

Almost monochrome simplicity, from greigedesign.com

Last, but not least, this relatively unrestored chateau has a staircase in very good nick, from sfgirlbybay.com