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Favourite spaces

 I have recently been house-sitting in a home that is very different from my own in many ways, yet being there is a real delight. This leads me to ponder what it is that makes for the atmosphere that is deeply satisfying, yet is completely different from my own home.

The first thing I notice on arrival, is the multiplicity of pot plants at the entrance - rich and varied in scale and texture, from cacti and succulents to frangipani and hibiscus. Beside the door are some wind chimes, made of thin slices of decorative stone that give a very subtle background of sound, less obtrusive than the more common metal ones.

The entrance hall is huge - setting the scale for the interconnected spaces of dining, living room and music room, all just visible from the entrance door giving a sense of the flow of space. Light floods into this entrance space from a skylight above the wooden staircase - natural wood is the predominant material here, for all of the furniture as well as the balustrade and flooring. Lightening the atmosphere of the space are a large cat climber and cat treadmill, and the eye is drawn to the detail of the collection of objects on the heirloom 1950s kist and a stepped bookcase. 

Cat climber and cat treadmill
The other sensation on entering the house is the subtle smells, from the various diffusers throughout the house, as well as from the dried lavender and rose petals that have been harvested from the garden. As you move deeper into the house, the most stunning feature is the view - all the rooms on the north aspect of the house have large glass doors and windows that capitalise on this, opening onto a deck and miniature garden with mint ground-cover and other scented plants.
The deck opens off from the music room, with an expansive view to the north-west
This sense of spaciousness is echoed in the open-plan layout of the ground floor, with the dining area and living room separated only by a small change in level and the music room interconnected. This huge area could easily feel quite agoraphobic but each area is anchored with invitingly comfortable furniture, and the spaces are scaled down with pictures and ornaments.
The living room viewed from the dining area
The over-arching theme of the decor is botanical, forming accents throughout the spaces, both indoors and outdoors, but this is grounded by plain colours, mostly greens and browns. This helps to unify the spaces, and draws attention to the natural wood of the floors and many of the pieces of furniture. A bold feature in the dining area is a large mirror, bringing the view right into the heart of the house and reinforcing the sense of spaciousness.
The dining area mirror helps to unify the space.
Throughout the spaces are collections of special objects, from travels, gifts and mementoes of occasions. This level of visual intensity is dramatically different from my own home, that leans towards the minimal, yet somehow I find the liveliness inspiring and energising. There is a sense that every object carries a story, giving a feeling of authenticity and unselfconsciousness. 

Before we go upstairs, one of the focal points is the piano - a visual anchor for the entire open-plan area. This capitalises on the large spaces, and at the same time, gives scale to the space (apologies for the pun).
The cozy couch in the background balances the formality of the piano.

Upstairs, the spaces are much more compartmentalised, but several of the themes from the reception areas are echoed - the natural wood, botanicals, cat facilities and collections of ornaments and mementoes. The overall sensation is of coziness - nurturing spaces from which to experience the dramatic view.
The favourite childhood bear still has pride of place
Even the cats are nurtured, with their own "safe spaces" in the study.
The botanical theme extends to the cat "igloo"

But my favourite room is the one that I stay in when house sitting. This doubles as a craft room, with a broad work surface in front of the window, and dappled coloured light from a leaded-light panel used to block the view from the roadway and entrance stairs. 
Home is where my Singer is!
Mostly, when people go on holiday, they stay in spaces that are much more stripped-down environments from their own homes. Hotel rooms tend to be neutral, to satisfy all tastes, and the public rooms are curated to the point of looking like they have been set up for a photo shoot. I am fortunate that my favourite "holiday home" is completely the opposite - full of character and authenticity, and vastly different from my own very controlled and architectural environment.







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