mainstreamimages a library of stock images: 2012

Happy Christmas!

We at Mainstreamimages would like to thank all our customers and friends all over the world for their sales and support in 2012 and would like to wish them all, a very merry Christmas and happy new year.

Look forward to doing business with you in 2013.

From all at Mainstreamimages.

Colour of 2013?

The time has come when we begin to wonder about this question. And I have come back to think about that after reading Azkonobel’s Colour Future’s 2013 and after finding an interesting post by Laura Bielecki reporting the predictions made by the prestigious trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort in a meeting in Design Days Dubai 2012. Within a colour palette, indigo is versatile and pairs well with brightest of a similar saturation level, citrus, warmer neutrals and other blues, purples and greens. Curiously, in her seminar in Dubai, Lidewij Edelkoort presented yellow as being the new pink in Interior Design, and that makes sense with its being the complement to the purple family. According to her predictions, yellow will make for vibrant and stimulating colour palettes, fabrics and fittings. And it will come with more staying power than Tangerine Tango, it seems.

21st Century Cotswolds

Building their own home allowed the Wild family the best of both worlds – a traditional farmhouse façade and hi-tech glamour within. “Plots in the Cotswolds are like hen’s teeth,” says interiors and silverware designer J.B. Wild. “But we’d had a tip-off that this one was coming up for auction: 130 acres of fantastic land, with beautiful hedges and all well maintained. It had been in the same family for 90 years and we were lucky enough to get it,” she exclaims, still delighted at this piece of good fortune. Just a stone’s throw from Bourton-on-the Water, a village voted one of England’s prettiest, J.B., her husband, Chris, and their three children had nabbed themselves an idyllic spot – and one on which their dream to build their own home could be realised. The fact that Chris is a residential property developer was a bonus. His company, Wild Projects, specialises in new building techniques, both high-tech and eco-friendly, and he’s incorporated many of these into the build. “It’s great to be able to give new technology a go,” he says. “The house is best described as Georgian farmhouse in style, but given the levels of insulation and airtightness we’ve achieved, it’s cutting-edge in function"... view feature

A choice of colours

The first thing they did when moving into their new Oslo apartment, was to paint it all white… ‘We were in such a great hurry with our move, as we were expecting our son Otto to be born any day, and so he arrived the day after we got our keys.’ says Synne Skjulstad. As soon as they had got used to their new arrival and their ever so ‘nice’ nest to bring him up in, they got out their paints and wanted to play… They started off with a bucket of glossy signal-red oil paint and dressed the hallway with built in storage solutions and shelves. Then they moved on to a patch of bright yellow in their Amish dove grey kitchen. These two colour choices and the dominant painting in the sitting room led them to an acute stop in their process. The solution came when trying to ‘’keep up with the Jones’s’’. When at the home of their architect-neighbours Andreas Joyce Nygaard and Heidi Pettersvold they started thinking of their home as having the look of a boring council office! So they asked their neighbours for help with the rest of the colour chart... view feature

How the country got stylish

The Pop Store design team’s eclectic take on the rural idyll in the heart of Oxfordshire The address given for Sam Clapp and Brian MacShane’s south Oxfordshire home leads to a stout panelled door in the façade of a white-painted cottage, in a row where gardens are carefully tended and voile curtains neatly pleated. We check the address; this is not what we had expected. The pair are the creative force behind brand development and design agency Pop Store, known as a rebel in the retail market. Their company designed the wacky headquarters for energy drink company Red Bull, and took the temporary, pop-up shop phenomenon out of London and on the road to Birmingham, Leicester and all points north. So a picturesque 250-year-old cottage is not what one would have imagined they would call home. The only hint that something might be a little different is the irregular flashing of coloured lights through a window. As the door opens, the lights become brighter, and a large, arrow-shaped neon funfair sign with the word “Thrills” comes into view. It sits on top of a sizeable haberdasher’s cabinet. “It was bought in Hoxton and intended for the main bedroom, but was too big to go up the stairs,” says Clapp... view feature

Who said Oxford was blue?

Jessica Sainsbury runs hotels that are famed for being cool – and her Edwardian villa is a mix of colour, pattern and texture, too Jessica Sainsbury’s hall wallpaper is not best seen after a heavy night. Great gloops of acid green and fuchsia weave up the stairs of the Oxford house where she lives with her husband, a don at Worcester College, and their four children. The lurid colours would come as no surprise to guests of the grocery heiress’s hotels – the funky Gloucestershire spa Cowley Manor, the Michelin-starred L’Hotel in Paris, with its baroque jewel-box bar, and the latest addition to her Curious Hotels chain, the Canal House, which opened last year in Amsterdam. “We asked fabric designers Sharmil Govindia and Sally Hemphill, whom we used for Cowley, to make the wallpaper, because there wasn’t anything out there with bright enough colours,” laughs Sainsbury, the daughter of the former Conservative minister Sir Tim Sainsbury. “And then I thought, what the hell, let them do the curtains as well”... view feature

The Baileys

Everything in their16th century hillside vicarage near Ross-on-Wye is reclaimed from something – an old factory, a church, a junk shop, an atelier, a fruit farm. Wooden boxes nailed to walls work as bookshelves. School lockers are remade into kitchen cabinets. Bottles become lampstands. And nothing is too polished. Floorboards reclaimed from old houses are roughly painted in off-white. Paint and wallpaper has been steamed off to expose gorgeous shades of sand- and peach-shaded plaster which they have left bare. Decorations consist of old shop signs, giant scissors that once advertised a barber’s, shelf after shelf of garden tools, shoe lasts with antique clothing hanging from it, mannequins with Sally’s collection of ethnic jewellery round their necks. Everything is warm, used, and oozing character... view feature

Burst into Life

An elegant pale grey palette combines with traditional features to create a stylish backdrop, which is emboldened with colorful cabinetry, furnishings and artwork. The house itself was rather dilapidated but this was ideal for Andrew who wanted something he could redesign to suit his taste and style. Before long the small boxy rooms on the lower ground floor were given over to one big open-plan space and the property expanded with a loft conversion and rear extension... view feature

Tangerine Tango

Then again maybe 2013 will be A year with Tangerine Tango... we don’t do you?….big thanks to for Isabel de Yzaguirre for her help in putting this month’s newsletter together. Her blogs are well worth checking out Isabel de Yzaguirre.

Split Clarity

Less is more or so says this trend, it’s Split Clarity: functional, minimal, simple, essential; these are their elements. Clean, high tech, sustainable, new materials, clear-cut modern in its vision. The clarity is introduced by way of the colour palette, which given its name, comes as no surprise takes its inspiration from nature. Versatility in materials in this trend is crucial, reflective and metallic surfaces, transparent and semi-plain patterns are used as are animated yet restrained surfaces. Severity in graphics with high contrasts and linear designs will create the depth giving the illusion of light and shadow by using them with different materials and surfaces. http://texturefabrics.wordpress.com/

Single images

Warm and cosy living, snuggling up in Jan/Feb when it's cold... view image search

Last minute Christmas 900 detail shots... view image search

Colour and light

Mia Karlsson's cool style reflects her Swedish background and heritage. In her own bright and airy house in Hampstead, London, she mixes colourful furnishings and bold designs with softer Scandinavian features such as fur rugs and throws, alongside colourful art and posters on the walls. The front of the house faces south, with clean white shutters throughout filtering the sunlight and giving a distinctly continental feel. The sleek kitchen and dining area is located at the rear in an extension dug out beneath the garden at ground level, with a sliding skylight opening flooding the interior with daylight... view feature

Space Saver

Sometimes it pays to wait, Alison Hill and John Taylor found this mews house after renting for a couple of years and now have a light, spacious central London week day home. The clean lines of the mews cottage are kept pristine thanks to the nifty work of designer maker Tim Newbold of Domus who created wardrobes, bed and bedside cabinets, and I value the quality of his work because I am writing this at a foldaway desk set in to bookshelves that he made! view feature

Classic Contrasts

In love with each other and Italian design, this is a marriage between the original classic and a more modern playfulness straight from the heart. Together with their son Victor and the dog Jim, the couple hold down their fort in an apartment at Majorstuen in Oslo. A few paces up the street and around the corner, just far enough away for Jim’s morning walk, is Stian Hagfors’ architect’s office, BLOKK architect... view feature

House of Swarovski

Most little girls go through a phase of clip-clopping around in Mummy’s high heels, bedecked in her jewellery and posing for all they’re worth. Five-year-old Thalia and her sister Jasmine, who’s three, are no different. Except that in their cases the heels are custom-made Nicholas Kirkwood numbers, the jewels bespoke pieces by Arik Levy, and the mummy, Nadja Swarovski, a crystal heiress and public relations supremo for the family firm. Crystal heiress Nadja Swarovski’s Chelsea home sparkles with treasures.. view feature

Zoe's Apartment

Set on a quiet residential street overlooking the open expanses of Paddington Rec park is the apartment of Zoe V, a young fund manager who moved to London from her native Croatia in 2008. She found an Edwardian era mansion block apartment that hadn’t been refurbished in over 40 years, and being someone not to be daunted by any challenge, she set about hiring a team of builders and decorators to tear down walls, rip up floorboards, and bring it bang up to date. For the next 6 months, her life revolved around this project. Her evenings were spent overseeing the work and her weekends seeking out furnishings, artworks, and decorative objects, not to mention fireplaces, baths, window blinds and door handles. Her personal odyssey became a labour of love, and the results are stunning – a feeling of freshness, lightness and airiness flows around the spacious rooms, each decorated with taste and style. Bright sunshine permeates the spacious living area, a comfortable and welcoming room featuring, earthy tones, and a variety of textures, enhanced by the glow of the fireplace and the warmth of the oak floor. The kitchen is epitomised by the sleek and minimalist black granite and steel of modernity, and the apartment also features an outdoor terrace and an office for Zoe to work in... view feature

The house of the future

Designed by an architect enthusiast, this town house is a technological innovation and located in the heart of Chateau-Thierry, it does not go unnoticed. Rebuilt on the ruins of an ancient house of shoemakers, it stands a tall facade of glass and wood. An amazing project designer, Eric Pace first took a contextual approach: the house is part of the Church of St. Crispin; although the outside has evolved into a modern house it was necessary to integrate the site. The habitat itself is spread over three floors: kitchen and dining-room, living room, bedroom and bathroom; the parts are connected by an interior staircase. Very pure design, the furniture is a natural in this high-tech atmosphere. "You can always make improvements for this type of habitat" and Eric Pace does not lack imagination. The evening's light sensors not only control the lights but also close the shutters to carefully preserve the privacy of any guests... view feature

May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Chirstmases be white

Whatever colour Christmas you’re dreaming of you can explore your own individual style to design a celebratory atmosphere for festive entertaining. Whether you choose the classic holly and ivy for a traditional Christmas; a simple decorative setting inspired by the past; a natural and seasonal look achieved by bringing together treasured objects and plants from the garden; vintage candy shop with decorative baubles or a vibrant colour clash, flickering candlelight enhances every setting and makes your home look warm.

Our selection of Christmas homes feature the bright, fun and eclectic with explosions of colour; contemporary homes pairing muted tones with combined lighting and sophisticated subtlety; a modern conversion with creative design ideas; an alternative vintage style with hand crafted decorations and re-cycled crafts to an old fashioned country home where family heirlooms have been handed down through the generations. Each home creates a relaxed environment to gather family and friends to share the Christmas spirit.

Christmas single images

Miss Svendsen's colourful and wonderful Christmas universe

When one enters the Miss Svendsen and her family's home, you are met by a diverse universe of colour, joy, funny and bold compositions. The family consists of Rikke, owner of the shop Miss Svendsen in Vanløse, Tormod a musician and their two girls, Mathilde and Kathrine. Rikke has been gifted with a creative gene from childhood and she has always stood out with her personal and colourful style. Her childhood home was filled with recycled all-natural ingredients and the mindset has followed Rikke her entire life. Rikke has made it one of her characteristics to "make the ugly beautiful" - adding just a well needed small element to create the whole... View feature

Abigail's Party

Entertaining doesn’t have to be a Victorian extravaganza of garlands and tartan. At her East London home, Abigail Ahern keeps it cool with muted tones, strings of lights and flowers galore... View feature

Modern Victorian

Sara a small-business accountant and lounge DJ, and her husband Paul, a director of dMFK Architects, employed imagination and elbow grease to transform a terraced house in south-east London – which had not had an update in three decades – into a distinctly personalised space for themselves and their young family. The couple have extended and reinvented a dated terraced house, using creative design ideas to make their space unique. A glass-walled courtyard, stone ‘carpet’ and wardrobes that appear to float in mid-air are just some of the more unusual design ideas that have been incorporated into their newly refurbished Victorian home... View feature

Children's Craft Christmas

What could be more special than a Christmas filled with handmade decorations and homemade treats made with the children... Here in this Danish house the grownups have been keeping their little ones busy with a Christmas craft workshop. Step-by-step ideas for advent wreaths, small decorations in delicate cups, hanging mini Christmas landscapes, silver bells, gifts with glitter decorations, and a charming brooch for grandma! View feature

Feminine and Modern

The fashion designer Eymele Burgaud’s creations are both ultra feminine and modern, sophisticated and refined. This same frame of mind and subtle lines we can find in her apartment because it also serves as a showroom. Some and a "We were looking for somewhere bright that would combine a place of life and work. When we visited the apartment we found it extremely dark and very 1970s... but we also quickly realised what we could do. We wanted a place full of life, somewhere the gaze can circulate.”The interior is filled with an old club armchair, large white sofas, craft furniture, antiques and a leg of dummy... a little wink at Eymele’s business. Everything is concealed behind large doors and bright white or matte white. “We put a lot of thought to the choice of materials, to keep it all very clean, very air.” At the centre of Paris and its busy lifestyle, Eymele was able to create her own universe where serenity reigns... view feature

Getting dressed up for Christmas

A family preparing for Christmas at their home on the Welsh borders. Three generations of the family get involved in seasonal decorating which take place indoors and out, from dressing a dead apple tree in the orchard with treats for the birds, to putting up tinsel and a tree in the dining room and hall. The dining table is covered with baubles and decorations that have been handed down from grandparents, to ones bought specially for this year... View feature

Delicious Autumn

I really do love autumn! The scrunching of crispy autumn leaves under foot, the crisp freshness in the morning and the glorious light and warmth of the sun during the day. I also love autumnal colours: beautiful honeys, ambers, reds and chocolate; they make you feel warm even though the weather has started to cool. These rich colour palettes translate to the interior, where modern design characteristics place an emphasis on creating an atmosphere that is both spacious and yet warm. Interiors are fresh-looking and uncluttered yet reflect a plush, comfortable ambience. Clean, crisp lines complemented with rich textures and patterns are at the forefront of current design trends. Any dining or living space featuring the golden tones of autumn can make any family gathering seem like a special event.

Single Images

This month's single image ideas focus on warmth and Autumn pallet.

Modern and sleek in Milan

On the first floor of a spacious and elegant fin-de-siècle apartment building in the well-heeled Corso Sempione in Milan is this stunning contemporary apartment recently refurbished by the architect Stefano Cellerino. Modern, sleek and designed with contemporary materials, art and styling, this apartment also features some recycled items such as the large bookcase in the lounge which was found in an architectural salvage warehouse, as well as in the construction of the dining table, made from old pieces of flooring. Oriental statues impart a particular flavour to the interior, as does the etched figures in the glass door leading to the bedroom area – where are located the master bedroom and open plan ensuite bathroom as well as guest room... view feature

The House of the Future

Designed by an architect enthusiast, this town house is a technological innovation and located in the heart of Chateau-Thierry, it does not go unnoticed. Rebuilt on the ruins of an ancient house of shoemakers, it stands a tall facade of glass and wood. An amazing project designer, Eric Pace first took a contextual approach: the house is part of the Church of St. Crispin; although the outside has evolved into a modern house it was necessary to integrate the site. The habitat itself is spread over three floors: kitchen and dining-room, living room, bedroom and bathroom; the parts are connected by an interior staircase. Very pure design, the furniture is a natural in this high-tech atmosphere. "You can always make improvements for this type of habitat" and Eric Pace does not lack imagination. The evening's light sensors not only control the lights but also close the shutters to carefully preserve the privacy of any guests... view feature

Salvage loft in an old summer camp

Somewhere between an art gallery and cabinet of curiosities, surrealism and design point you towards Christian Nesler’s home on the Isle of Ré; a former summer camp canteen transformed. A somewhat fortuitous find, several friends purchased the buildings as a collective; Christian chose the kitchen, which was in ruins, a refectory, store room and a cold room. Converting it to an avant-garde loft was the challenge and with graphic elements like the black and white tiled floor, the red couch or the yellow lamp Christian nourishes his art of salvage materials. Assembling abstract compositions where the different materials play and colours create singular atmospheres "Each piece is unique and absolutely not reproducible". Christian Nesler made us discover his universe, his humour... view feature

Victorian Values

Walking through the panelled front door of Lawrence Roller White’s Victorian house in South London, is like stepping into a gentleman’s residence in a gentler age. Seeing the neat, ordered hallway and highly polished clay-tile floor, you realise you are not in a home where old-fashioned values are held in high regard. “we had it wired so we can receive calls on it.” The deep-red carpet that runs up the stairs adds to the traditional feel - “Red is the only colour for carpet” - and carefully blending this with the soft green of the walls is a series of framed botanical prints that play to the Victorian theme... view feature

Ahead of the Curve

A dramatic home in Kent displays not just the owners' vaulting ambition but also their passion for eco living. Deep in the Kent countryside is the home of architect Richard Hawkes, it's the sort of place that encourages passers-by to slow to a crawl in their cars. What they’ll see first is a vast arch thrusting out of the ground that’s covered with a lush carpet of grasses and flowers – in effect, a rooftop meadow – beneath which there are boxy glass and cedar protuberances: the interior rooms. “It’s every architects dream to build his own house at some point, and when we found this plot, it just felt so right,” says Richard... view feature

One Bed Wonder

Andrew Yin kept the palette simple in his London flat to create an airy feel – and showcase his eclectic furniture and accessories Andrew Yin, owner of the boutique homeware shop Do in Covent Garden, London, believes that “you should surround yourself with things that give your life a lift”. At his home, a one-bed flat near Old Street Tube station in East London, this means a mix of both the practical and the bizarre. On the utilitarian front, there is adaptable Vitsoe shelving which runs along the brick wall of the open-plan living space; a multifunctional L-shaped B&B Italia sofa; a brightly coloured modular lounger in the hall; and a driftwood-framed triptych hall mirror... view feature

A love affair abroad

The best way for me to explain why we like to travel abroad is to simply state: it is an escape from the ordinary and a search for something extraordinary. Learning about different cultures has always been interesting for us. For it to have an impact on us personally though, it has to be done by physically being there amongst the people and the lifestyle. It doesn’t matter if we’re sitting at a cafe people-watching or at a restaurant with locals; I love taking it all in. Reading about different places can be interesting too but there is such a big sensory part of the experience that is missing. Living in a different culture brings us to an entire next level.

Single Images

It’s almost summertime and now we can venture into our gardens or terraces and enjoy the fresh air and sun. Dust off your garden furniture and invite your friends over. Every garden needs at least one spot where friends can linger, day or night… view image search

What lies beneath

Looking for a way to add space without going up or out? The Hornsbys’ home proves that underground rooms needn’t be dark or dismal Until the Eighties, the plot where David and Antonia Hornsby’s home now stands held no more than a bunch of lock-ups and sheds at the end of a row of Surrey gardens. The long, thin site was then sold to a developer, who created a split-level, one-bedroom bachelor pad. When the Hornsbys bought the place in 2009, Antonia was expecting their first child, and they were faced with the challenge of turning the limited space into a family home. A chance meeting with a friend on holiday led David Hornsby to contact interior design and architectural consultants Shed – appropriately enough, given the original use of the site. With architect Dave Dalziel, a scheme was developed to turn the part-subterranean house into a three-bedroom home with garage, and to increase the area from 175sq m to 200sq m without extending above or beyond the original footprint. View feature

Ina's Summer House Retreat

When the experienced interior architect Ina Janine Johnsen created her very own summer retreat on the east coast of Norway after many years of living abroad, she brought some rather foreign ideas back with her to the Norwegian seaside. The family kept coming back to their homeland for their summer holidays. Then, after having spent two weeks at eight different locations during one of their trips back home, Ina realised that the family desperately needed a place of their own. At the time, they were living in London, and while they had just had two little ones, they decided to take back the Norwegian summer.. Since then, they have all moved back to Oslo, and the cottage is now being used as a second home. Today, the wooden buildings are painted in black, but the interiors look more like something out of a Cape Cod landscape, than a basic cabin from the fifties. Ina has also been inspired by American modernistic architecture while at the same time making use of the established Scandinavian tradition of building with wood. The active hostess, who is also a popular food blogger, has created a unique retreat which works on all levels for her family. And next to it, there is the little guest house of course. View feature

Between the sea and the green

In southern Corsica near Bonifacio, a wood framed house is a refuge by the sea, sailing with the wind towards the summer and holidays. Placed between the sea and the green, in front of the Lavezzi archipelago, a wooden architectural home would be the dream of any sailing vacation. In the south of France, where the cliffs of Bonifacio seem to tear into Sardinia, contemporary architecture is affirmed in a functional style. With its space saving features, perspectives and scenic views, simplicity in a limited choice of colors, the scenery of nature and the sea is sufficient and always gives the feeling that the inside of the house seamlessly extends outward when all the windows are open. An exceptional hideaway or wonderful holiday home near Sperone the décor, simplicity of solid teak furniture, fabrics, and modern accessories with custom designed furnishings are in perfect harmony with the architecture. View feature

Riant Chateau

Riant Château is a luxury residence located in a unique setting facing Lake Geneva and the Alps, built by the famous architects Polak and Piollenc in 1912-1913 on the eve of the First World War. During the Roaring Twenties this ultra-modern attracted personalities linked to the world of cinema and originally included several large apartments for wealthy families and a cosmopolitan clientele seeking discretion. A renovation turned this former 20th Century palace in Montreux-Territet into apartments that still attracts many foreign followers of anonymity. Former hosts include Charlie Chaplin, Alain Delon and Freddie Mercury. The mysterious and invisible entrepreneur who lives here with his in-laws, between sky and lake, turned to the talented decorators Lyon and Dominique Herve Giughese to add the finishing touches to his penthouse apartment. Throughout the day in this beautiful residence with its pure white décor, the changing light brings different contrasts to the pieces, giving an extra life to the choice of the simply furnished with tones of baroque. The light and shadows, sitting on a large roof terrace with the cry of gulls, the sound of the wind, the house offers a variety of environments outside of time. View feature

The High Priestess of Marrakech

Jacqueline Foissac, is the high priestess of the rehabilitation Marrakech architecture and as a pioneer, she was to bring her inimitable key of elegance to this rhyad. Because it’s impossible to circumvent the great lady when it comes to transformations of old residences into médinas or creations, there is not a European celebrity, actor, intellectual, artist, dressmaker, or politician who does not court her to see their house carrying Jacqueline’s stamp of design. At the beginning, this rhyad was a contemporary construction of the 1930’s Glaoui de Marrakech, beneffiting from a panoramic view on the Atlas and the médina. Jacqueline performed a magicial transformation of this half-ruined property; each one of her interventions adding grace where it was hidden or non-existent. Fabrics of the artist Claudio Bravo point out the origins of the owner. The result is a house which wants to be traditional, the whole creating an atmosphere of great quietude. View feature

Mission Impossible

In mountainous countries it is not uncommon to see wooden houses located in places considered impossible; but this has certain advantages: you escape the neighbours and awake each day to an exceptional view. Achieving this remoteness requires finding a builder who dares to accept a mission considered impossible. Just such a challenge was found on the site of a former nineteenth century vineyard, considered unbuildable with its 45 degree slope, some of it in rock; but with an exceptional view of the entire Lake Annecy and the surrounding alpine mountains.  Robert Dunoyer, son and grand-son of carpenters in Annecy, now managing the family business, decided to accept this challenge. Inventively Dunnoyer also had the business idea to deliver high end homes, keys delivered in hand, fully furnished and decorated. Dunoyer’s company caries out all the woodworking and carpentry, and also personally looks for land to build, develops the plans with the architect as well as any follow-up with his team of designers - even going as far to fit the curtains and choose the spoons! “A distinction is made in fashion ready-to-wear and high fashion, we should do a bit the same in the construction of houses.” View feature

Travel images

Why don't you find some placing shots or travel images to go with your feature? View image search

Alfresco eating

Adding an outdoor dining area is one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors in your own back yard. Lunch in the sun or dine under stars. Creating an outdoor dining area can be as simple as putting a picnic table in the yard or as complex as building a large outdoor kitchen... view image search

Living inside-outside

The lovely thing about a garden is that it can become an extra room at a moment's notice. Cushions, candles and festive napkins can all be borrowed from indoors to create a fantasy dining room. It can seat all your friends or just a special few. With bowls of flowers and thick candles you can transform your garden into a peaceful retreat in which everyone will enjoy whiling away hours, even as day passes into night... view image search

The Colonsay Hotel

Set on the hillside above the harbour, The Colonsay hotel commands spectacular views over the sea to the neighbouring island of Jura. Built in 1750 as an inn for the local population, the exterior of The Colonsay has remained largely unchanged. It is now possible to fly on and off the island (on one of four scheduled flights), but most visitors and locals come and go by ferry, just as their forebears have for hundreds of years, alighting at the tiny harbour which looks up a single-track road to the hotel. The white-washed walls of the hotel are a heart-warming sight for the traveller and a warm welcome awaits inside. When Jane and Alex Howard bought The Colonsay hotel in 2004 it was more than 30 years since the family had been forced to sell in harder times. As they refurbished the building they were aware of how important it was to make every aspect welcoming to islanders as well as visitors... view feature

Wild Living - The Stowaways

Jane and Peter Smith’s holiday haven not only reflects its seaside surroundings, but it also has the flexibility they need to accommodate five children, relatives and friends. "Peter’s view was that it should be as comfortable as our home in London," says Jane. To help her fulfil this aim, and to create a house that could cope with varying numbers of visitors, Jane turned to neighbour and interior designer Clare Teed, who is also mother of Robert and Joseph’s surfboarding mates, Sam and Toby... view feature

Ocean Colour

This old house of La Flotte that was once a munitions depot has a page in the history of the island. It was the front post at sea, defending the interests of France against the English who had invaded La Rochelle... Since then, this barricade has been turned into a row of cabins, side by side like ramparts looking out on to the beautiful Ré Island. Completely redesigned, the house rises from its past; a monochromatic home with gentle shades of white and grey punctuated with red accents. Roland and Michele wanted to create a space that contrasted their surroundings with its own harmonious nuances; yet the atmosphere remains that of the ocean. The taste of beautiful things, noble materials and curtains, with subdued, light linens; the rooms all have a different charm. Small, they are no less comfortable in this holiday home with the ocean view and multiple nuances... view feature

The Beachcomber

With her bright and airy home on the Kent coast, Maxine Sutton is perfectly placed to source the pebbles and shells that sit alongside her own textile creations dotted around every room. Three years ago the family moved from South London to Kent in the hope of finding more space not only for the family and a much longed for dog, but also to accommodate Maxine’s work. She uses hand and appliqué to create wall hangings and other fabric-based craftworks. The couple’s hands-on and creative abilities were well used around their house... view feature

In Nature's Embrace

Bees landing heavily in pale pink dog roses, whose fragrance mingles with salt water as the birds chirp loudly accompanying the rolling waves. All a pleasant background music for Danish summer life, at its best. The cottage was inherited by the Potts family as a holiday home and soon, as one good idea lead to the next, it wasn't long before they had built the house completely. "We have deliberately made sure that we can see the water from all windows and doorways. I never get tired of looking down. When we come up here, I go down and look at the water and it is also the last thing I do before we leave here," says Suzanne Potts, who along with her husband, own the company No Mess, which specializes in products for storage... view feature

Beach Hut Deluxe

This new build holiday home on the Isle of Wight was designed by an architect using a simple grid plan so that standard panels of ply wood could be quickly and efficiently slotted into a frame to form the base of the structure. The house was specifically designed to cope with a family who enjoy water sports and sailing so the main bathroom is beside a side door and is fully waterproofed so that wet suits can be stripped off without the restrictions of a curtain or enclosure. The colour scheme chosen by the client is bright, because she is a passionate fan of colour... view feature

Up on Deck

I'm not a seafaring person, I didn't think I was going to like it," admits Zoe Ball, recalling how her husband, Norman Cook, aka DJ Fatboy Slim, had some difficuly convincing her that they should buy barracuda, a 100ft yacht that was used as a German spy boat in the second world war. "I couldn't say,'I hate boats, when Norman told me about it, but after a dodgy experience in the Seychelles, I did fear that feeling of claustrophobia"... view feature

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