Bramasole

In my previous post I said "all is good" after my son's burst appendix saga - well it seems I was a bit premature because my poor boy landed up in hospital for more surgery after complications set in and spent another 5 days in hospital! But he is now back home and well on the road to recovery and I slept in my bed last night for the first time in a while. (Those Lazy Boy chairs they have in hospital need to be redesigned!!) It is a very cold and wet Saturday morning and I am still in bed with my recovering child (and puppies) while my husband has gone off to take the other boys to their various rugby and soccer matches. I am quite happy to have an excuse to stay right where I am!

Moving on ... if you saw the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" ... the name Bramasole might mean something to you. It was the name of the run down house in the Italian countryside that the author, Frances Mayes, bought and spent most of the movie renovating.

Bramasole lies nestled on a hill outside the ancient town of Cortona. It served as the set for the film in 2002 before its 4 year restoration began in 2006. This is what the property looks like today.

There is both a main villa and a farmhouse of the property, hence the 2 different kitchens you see below.

Every bedroom is uniquely decorated with beautiful original features.

The grounds are beautifully landscaped.

So, what do you think? I think, as lovely as it is, it is missing some of the romance of the house in the movie. Maybe it has been spruced up a bit too much, I would have liked to see some crumbling wall and peeling paint. I also wonder what happened to that beautiful tap that came out of the wall in the middle of nowhere. Do you remember the tap? (or faucet for my American readers).

Till next time

Sharon x

Source:  here

Weekend cottage - Swartland

I have been MIA for a while. We had an eventful Saturday last weekend with both a burst appendix and a burst geyser. I'm pleased to report that my 10 year old came home from hospital on Thursday and he is making good progress. The house also survived the burst geyser with no damage, so all is good!

Just a short post today to show you the house that was the House and Leisure's (a South African magazine) "House of the Year" last year. It is the weekend getaway of a talented architect based in Johannesburg

The renovation of what is now called The White House was conducted long-distance for a year and a half. The challenge for the owner was to find a balance between keeping the integrity of the original house and reworking it for modern living. ‘If you don’t give old buildings new life, nobody wants to live in them,’ she says.

 As in many period houses, an array of small rooms led off from a central passageway.  The owner wanted a country house that was open and sociable … a space for relaxed living. Interior walls were knocked out to create a vast open-plan kitchen, dining and living room space. To add to the sense of flow,  the owner removed the timber floors in the dining area and opted to install quartz-based flooring throughout the living space, extending it seamlessly outdoors. 

Many of the original features of the house were retained, including the exterior walls which give the cottage it's distinctive character. The windows with original internal shutters were just scraped down and lime-washed. 

The cottage had great proportions with high ceilings to keep it cool in summer.

Touches of colour, some African artefacts and a huge frame leaning casually against a wall all add up to an eclectic and inviting living space.

I'll be back on Monday with some Musings. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.


Till then


Sharon x

Source: here

Feminine and Elegant

Spanish designer, Ana Ros, was the talented person responsible for this impeccable project, in which the priority was to preserve the  carefully restored ceilings, woodwork and period character of the home.

In the living room, a contemporary sofa is combined with other more classic pieces of furniture.

A console table placed between the sofa and the wall provides a space for interesting displays.

At one end of the room, the office area takes advantage of the delicious sun-drenched aspect. Notice the wonderful French oak floors.

In the entrance hall, one is greeted by an elegant chaise longue and glass standing lamp. The cushions and floral rug add touches of colour. 

The other end of the large entrance hall is furnished with classic French furniture and leads into the dining room through an elegant doorway. 

The architectural details in the dining room are so beautiful.

The bedroom is decorated in a simple, yet stylish way with accents of pink and green. French doors lead out onto a balcony, letting the beautiful light in.

Undo edits

Wishing you all a wonderful day.


Till next time


Sharon x

Source: here

Monday Musings - Covetable Crockery

I used to collect actual tableware, but when my cupboards got too full and my wallet too empty, I started a virtual collection which I'm going to show you today. I love fine china, but for everyday use, I love the rustic, organic and sturdier feel of these gorgeous examples.

Such a gorgeous colour!

Pretty, pretty, pretty!

Love the scalloped edge.

Perhaps not for everyday, but so pretty.

Love the bowls (the choccie looks great too!)

The handmade look has such appeal.

Do you have any virtual collections? 

Till next time

Sharon x

Images: 1. La Grange, 2. Dying of Cute, 3. Tumblr, 4. Unknown, 5.  Tumblr, 6. Tumblr 7. Tumblr, 8. Casa Decorada, 9. Crush Cul de Sac 10. The Little Corner, 11. Tumblr, 12. Tumblr, 13. Tumblr 14. Cabbages and Roses 15. Dibor 16. Tumblr 17. Tumblr, 18. Tumblr 19. Tumblr 20. Tumblr 21. Tumblr 22. Tumblr, 23. Today's Wanderings