Shabby chic villa design in Uruguay

Argentines Federico Bonomi and Cynthia Kern purchased this 1850′s original farmhouse in Uruguay with the idea of turning it into a hotel. When the restoration was over they decided to keep it as their own second home. It is located in Carmelo which is a short distance from the border with Argentina. Well out of the ordinary, they left some of the walls completely bare and raw and combined antique and rustic furniture, floral prints and whimsical details in every room.

During the renovation, the house grew considerably in height and breadth, but it is virtually impossible to see what was built in the 1850′s and what has been currently added. The owner’s used local and traditional materials, with raw stone walls and a flower pattern as their main theme running throughout their home. The inspiration for this theme is the couple’s clothing line called Kosiuko. Leaving several walls barren without any color, seems to be a mega-trend in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. In the photo above, the half-crazed lights in the entrance hall adds a touch of glamour and humor. Via

The couple originally thought about turning the giant Villa into a hotel, but changed their minds along the way and now it is their vacation home.

A welcoming entrance is dressed in a flowered wallpaper, which alludes to patterns that the owner’s used in collections in their fashion company Kosiuko.

The family bedrooms are located on the upper level.

The huge fireplace is decorated with ceramic tiles of varying patterns.

Mixed recycled ceramic tiles for the kitchen floor.

On the veranda is a pair of old hospital beds that the home owner painted delicious pink.

Fine old plates and matching pillow fabrics makes this a work of art.

French style rug painted by hand directly on the wood flooring in the dining room.

A rosa guest bathroom is extra romantic thanks to lots of flowers pasted on the bathtub.

Old furniture has been restored to natural beauty.

Moroccan dwelling gets a whimsical revival

Taking up residence in part of a mosque complex, this 18th-century house in Marrakech, Morocco belongs to two expats from Los Angeles, Caitlin (a former public relations executive) and Samuel Dowe-Sandes (filmmaker). Dar Noury (dar means house in Arabic, while Noury is the surname of a former owner), is a traditional courtyard house that can only be accessed by walking through the entrance of a centuries-old mosque, meander down a long corridor to a discreet nail-studded door that is next a prayer hall. The two-story, three bedroom structure dates back around 1760, assumed to originally be constructed for an imam or who worked for the mosque. Before renovations, the home had holes in the floor for toilets, high narrow rooms and a sunny courtyard.

The renovations took just three months to complete, in keeping as much as possible to the authenticity of the original architecture. With the installation of modern plumbing being the first on the list, masonry walls were resurfaced, and the ceiling of a corridor was opened to expose the picturesque cedar-and-bamboo structure behind it. The owner’s also preserved the old-fashioned cement tiles in the courtyard, mainly because there are so many hues of pink in the surrounding city that the black-and-white motifs are refreshing. Most of the home was painted white, with the exception of the master bedroom which received a dramatic elephant-gray finish. The dining room was painted a nail-polish-red and the stairs were given a little extra drama with a dashing black stripe painted all the way to the top.

Just a couple of years ago the couple started their own tile business called Popham Design (named after the beach in Maine where they wed), which make artful encaustic cement tiles. The company creates whimsical patterns, which have been showcased throughout Dar Noury, from the living room floor to the guest bedroom wall. Popham Design uses local Moroccan artisans to hand-make cement tiles in an array of designs and colors that combine traditional elements with a contemporary twist; almond trees, arches, and donkey cart wheels are all sources of inspiration. Via

Loop-di-Loop cement tiles by Popham Design pave the living room, with flea-market furniture finds.

The roof terrace, with built-in seating and traditional Moroccan tiles.

In the study, the Wink-on-One tiles are by Popham Design. The cocktail table was a former movie prop.

The dining room features Saarinen-style chairs and Popham tiles.

This guest room features Curly Branch Coral wall tiles by Popham Design.

In the master bedroom, the headboard is a 1960s door.

The rooftop terrace.

Sculpted house on a small island off the coast

“I respected the existing environment, the house is married to the land and to the sea,” architect Savin Couelle has stated in reference to this incredible home he has designed on the small island of Cavallo, off the coast of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. Couelle designs his structures to blend in with the landscape, using natural materials and neutral colors as much as possible. This remarkable residence was built into the cove to mesh with its natural environment and to overlook the sea before it. From a particular angle it appears that the home is entirely camouflaged by the surrounding boulders. Via

Archways comprised of granite and cement frame the stunning view from the living area, spilling out onto the beach.

This unique winding staircase leads from the second floor down into the living room. The painted white metal railing leaves a visually abstract statement to the core of the home. There is a wrought iron star in the upstairs window that gives a whimsical touch. Decorating the stair landing is a piece of driftwood and a Moroccan lantern.

A living area on the upstairs level uses simplicity of design with built in furnishings and a few locally made rugs.

A trellis was designed to shade the guest room from the heat of the sun.

The guest room’s terrace was constructed with reclaimed stones.

Photos: Giancarlo Gardin