Friday Fun: Cosy Fireplaces

Now that Christmas is over, our thoughts naturally turn to partying with friends at a chalet high up in the mountains after a great day of skiing. Well, mine do anyway, if I had all the time and money in the world. Of course, my kind of partying involves a cosy fire, great views, delicious food and pleasant discussions about books, art, music and theatre.

Having had a stove in our house in France, I can vouch it is a wonderful way to warm up the room. No fireplace is complete without a pet, of course. From Home Building and Renovating magazine.

Ah, even better with a cat… From Bill’s TN Paradise.

A more minimalist Scandinavian feel to this one, from songbirdblog.com

Great Christmas atmosphere at this property in Northern Ireland, from Property Pal.

This picture seems to have been taken in summer, which is just wrong. Tom Cruise’s former property in Colorado, from Adelto.co.uk

Ah, this one allows everyone to sit around the fire! French chalet from Design Mag.

The typical wood-heavy chalet look in Megeve, from Chalet Chatel.

We can’t see the fireplace in this picture, but I’m sure it matches the view. Chalet in Zermatt, from Luxury Ski Chalets.

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Friday Fun: Writing in Your Bedroom

I believe in separating your working and sleeping space, but I’ve heard of plenty of writers and readers who feel at their most comfortable (or most inspired) in their bedrooms. And what about if you have no other space for writing? So here are some elegant solutions to this quandary. Which don’t involve lying propped up on cushions in bed (although that is perfect for reading).

The elegant townie, from Decoist.com

The occasional scribbler, from The Design Chaser.

The teenage artist, from You Tube.

The one designed by the interior designer, from Gravity Home.

The one designed by your mother, from Decoist.

The professional writer (or the writer on holiday), from Architecture Art Designs.

Friday Fun: Inspiring All-Sorts

Today is a bit of liquorice all-sorts, with interiors which inspire me… to write, of course! Or at the very least, read and review.

Airy living room from My Domaine.

Bedroom study with a view, from Decoist. Looks slightly hotel-like, but I could live with it.

Office and reading nook in one, from Daily Dream Decor.

Home library with obligatory ladder, from Sparks Direct.

The study part of Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe: perhaps too open-plan and exposed for most tastes, but oh, the view! From Farnsworth House website.

Friday Fun: Airy and Light Home Libraries

We’ve thrilled and trilled at the attractions of a dark, comforting home library, but there are many lighter, airy-fairyer ones which are just as beautiful.

Who doesn’t want a double-height room to fill with books? From Architecture Art Designs.

The perfect combination of cosiness and light, from freshome.com

Fireplace? Check! Comfy armchair? Check? Lots of wood? Check? But the huge window, transparent landing and minimal curtains make all the difference in this play on a gentleman’s library. From Architecture Art Designs.

White feels a little too stark with books, but it certainly makes it all look clean and tidy. From Decoist.

The perfect living/dining room needs a lot of room for books. After all, they make an excellent topic for conversation. From kemprot.com

A nice compromise between darker libraries and an airy feel – plus, bonus points for the curving staircase. Plenty of room for us to move in with our books, don’t you think?

Can anybody spot what is lacking in most of our homes to allow us to reproduce such magnificence? That’s right: double height ceilings.

 

Fun Sunday: Gorgeous Home Libraries

I’m not quite sure I ever understood Silent Sunday, so I won’t claim to be part of that, but here are some more pictures of inspiring home libraries, all of from that wonderful website Decoist.  I do like white shelves!

I might worry about sun damage to the books in this one, though.