According to Aqua Magazine, demand for tiny pools is growing big-time. The reason? Folks these days are spending more on their outdoor spaces overall. They want alfresco living rooms. And pizza ovens. And firepits and surround sound systems and elevated landscaping. By putting in a pocket-sized pool, homeowners save major initial buckage, which can then be put toward other amenities. (Or, for the more fiscally responsible, saved.)

Not to contradict what I said about white walls a couple of days ago, here’s a stark contrast that’s just as stunning and worth marveling.   Besides the confident, unwavering use of absolute extremes in wall color, the common thread between this home and the whitewashed home shared on Monday is the use of warm (wood toned) neutrals to create balance and comfort.   Check it out.  

(Note: I do not condone the design of the second bathroom in the final photo.  “WHY?!”)

http://www.contemporist.com/black-gives-this-interior-a-bold-appearance/

Airbnb is an excellent place to find (and steal) decorating ideas for your home. So we’ve combed through the popular vacation rental site for a range of inspiring interiors, from minimalist and modern, to chic and cozy. As you scroll through the photos of carefully curated shelves and such well-placed accents as Moroccan rugs and throw pillows, you’ll probably find some cool ideas to incorporate into your own space. (And hey, you might be inspired to actually book a vacation, too!)

Twenty years ago, I would tell people I couldn’t live between white walls—they would make me feel crazy.   Now, I can’t get enough of them and will gladly spend hours comparing and debating the attributes of every shade of white.   

Arrieta is the creator and blogger at Almafied.com, though fans of the laid back California cool vibe she has expertly curated may likely recognize her from her Instagram. Since moving in to her 2,300-square-foot home two years ago, she’s been tackling the renovation process gradually; and while, in her own words, there’s still work to be done (the exterior is the next project), a lot has changed in those two short years.

https://domino.com/family-friendly-casual-california-home-tour

Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the Myst Dong Khoi stands out as a peculiarity at first. Its irregular façade with oddly shaped and unevenly spaced windows creates a contrast against the emerging skyline composed of the nearby highrises. It is behind this exterior, however, that the hotel’s full story is unveiled in its most complete form. A depository of memories and a showcase of local artisanship at once, the Myst puts a contemporary spin on local traditions, evoking nostalgia through its bold design.

Throughout the house, old and new engage in a stylish dialogue: The geometric wrought-iron grille on the wood-and-glass front door is reflected in the design of the new marble floor in the entry. The shell-patterned stained glass in the house’s front windows—along with a wallpaper by the artist Lindsay Cowles—inspired the kitchen’s ceramic wall tiles, made by Tempest Tileworks in Portland, that are a contemporary twist on the classic Delft design.

Wonderful restoration of a 1958 kit house on Stinson Beach, just north of San Francisco. I’d love to buy a house in a box!

What the couple found was a 1958 kit home known to locals as the “shaky house,” so named for the thin stilts that support the back of the house as the ground beneath it slopes toward the beach. “My husband found it,” says Curtiss of their home, “and it was the cheapest house in Stinson. He said ‘there must be something wrong with it.’ But [in the listing] it looked okay.”

https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/14/17346860/midcentury-kit-house-stinson-beach-california-red-dot-studio

So much to see in this year’s SAN FRANCISCO DECORATOR SHOWCASE including inspiring work by friends Stephan Blachowski of BLANKwalls Design & John Liston of J.LISTON Design. Take a look and find your own inspiration for your home.

https://sf.curbed.com/2018/4/26/17286014/sf-decorator-showcase-photos-2018-design-interior

Then, two years ago, Samata met Tetteh Noah, a field advisor from Grameen Foundation’s AgroTech program. He asked detailed questions about the farm, collecting the vital data through the AgroTech app. Over several meetings, he helped her create a customized plan to develop their land, such as learning new planting methods and how to use agrochemicals.

Milan (& Martha) has spoken ... and we like it!

https://www.marthastewart.com/1528037/ten-biggest-trends-milan-salone-del-mobile-2018

Traveling by motorbike on rural Ghana’s dirt roads, Racheal Derchie is an anomaly.

Young and university-educated, Racheal is the unlikely face of the future of farming in a country where the average farmer is 55 and poorly educated.

Racheal works with 200 smallholder farmers in Grameen Foundation’s AgroTech project. She uses its digital app suite to analyze and understand each farm’s history and needs. She teaches the farmers new practices, trains them in record keeping, and helps them obtain loans to purchase inputs.

 

Who doesn’t love a good before & after?

https://www.thespruce.com/before-and-after-living-room-makeovers-4163957