architecture Archives - Decorator's Notebook

Lonely Houses

October 9, 2015 By Bethan John - Decorator's Notebook 2 Comments

Just a quick post to show you a beautiful Instagram account I recently discovered. Sejkko captures quiet, thought-provoking images of homes standing alone in the landscape… the Lonely Houses. I have such admiration for those who can stick with a photographic project like this, editing and curating their feed with such dedication. Take a look, I…

House Tour: a Welsh barn that toes the line between simple and sparse

November 11, 2013 By Bethan John - Decorator's Notebook 1 Comment

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I am a great lover of simple homes - what better way to get the most from much-loved home accessories than against an uncluttered backdrop - but how minimal can a home be and still feel homely? This new-build barn in West Wales is an interesting case to consider as the fabric of the building…

House Tour: the house that dreams (and $500) built

October 23, 2013 By Bethan John - Decorator's Notebook 3 Comments

Light is my number one priority when deciding where I live. I love big windows - for looking out to watch the world go by and for the sunshine they allow in. Nick Olson and Lilah Horwitz felt the same, but took things one step further when building their getaway home in the wilds of…

City pretty… what colour is yours?

June 12, 2013 By Bethan John - Decorator's Notebook 5 Comments

I found these photographs of San Francisco on the beautiful Cachemire et Soie blog thanks to Victoria. The stunning pastel colour palettes created by the architecture reminded me a little bit of The Paris Colour Project and started me wondering what the colour palette of the cities I know would be… or whether there is…

Petal power at Hampton Court Palace

May 9, 2013 By Bethan John - Decorator's Notebook 2 Comments

I’ve been mentally compiling a bit of a London bucket list and the glorious bank holiday weekend seemed the perfect chance to tick off one of the most beautiful places - Hampton Court Palace. I booked a ticket that included both the Palace and the gardens but as it was such a lovely day I…

Reflections: one year, one boy, 1,004 ft above London

April 3, 2013 By Bethan John - Decorator's Notebook 2 Comments

See the girl waving on the left… that’s me. And next to me… that’s ‘K’. I’ve not introduced you before, but for the last year this funny, complex 10 year old has been my most familiar weekend companion. Two summers ago I applied to be a mentor through Chance UK, a charity that matches volunteers…

Iceland’s tiny churches

October 3, 2012 By Bethan John - Decorator's Notebook 7 Comments

Wherever I travel in the world I find myself strangely drawn to churches. The architecture is always so beautiful and there’s something I love about the musty smell of polished wood and the slow clacking sound of people desperately trying to walk quietly on stone flagstones. I came across these adorable little Icelandic churches in …

Vintage shopping in Bologna

January 2, 2012 By Bethan John - Decorator's Notebook 4 Comments

Just before Christmas my Mum and I bagged some £17 flights and headed to the lovely historic city of Bologna in Northern Italy for a few days. By happy coincidence our visit coincided with the twice-monthly flea market in the gorgeous square outside the church of Santo Stefano. Mum taught me pretty much everything I…