¿Te gusta ver casas de lujo? Aquí tienesla selección más popular de las redes sociales. Bienvenido a la “humilde morada” de tus sueños, viviendas exclusivas con vistas inimaginables, escaleras de caracol, piscinas privadas y alguna hasta con embarcadero.Joyas arquitectónicas al alcance de pocos, con excesivos metros, enormes ventanales, inmensas bañeras y duchas que te atrapan. No falta detalle. Echa un vistazo, seguro que encuentras la casa de tus sueños o una que se parezca muchísimo. ¡Propiedades singulares!Puede interesarte...> Los muebles de diseño más imitados> ¡Vacaciones a la vista! Las casas de lujo más deseadas> Así es el cuarto de baño de tus sueños

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Grab a hot cup of Irish tea!!! It’s a long one. FROM VERANDA: Capard House In 2017, I wrote a story about interior design great Martyn Lawrence Bullard. I had seen a photo on his Instagram that stopped my scroll - as the young influencers say. His photograph showed a living room that was very traditional and very English (I thought.) It was a departure from Bullard’s usual designs. It was obvious this living room wasn’t his glamourous design for his Hollywood stars, it also wasn’t ultra modern, nor was it inspired by a near-eastern country. Instead, it reminded me of the classic work Bullard had created years before and I absolutely loved it. His room on Instagram was stunning and I was determined to find out where the house was located. I spent weeks going over his Instagram with a fine tooth comb, looking for any clues I might find about this room. The blog story I wrote back in 2017 was about my search which was truly worthy of a private investigator. In the end, I learned the house was located in Ireland, not England. The design of the room I loved so much was pure Irish and with knowledge of the house’s name – Capard House – I was able to find many Before photos and, even more, stories about the house’s long history. At that time and in the years since, I have been patiently waiting for a design magazine to do a photoshoot of Capard House – but year after year, no magazine took up the challenge. Until today! Finally, Veranda magazine and James McDonald photographed Capard House in all its glory - exteriors and interiors. The photoshoot coincides with the publication of a new book Bullard has written. To preorder, click here Capard House shows the true, immense talent of the man. Martyn Lawrence Bullard can design anything – a residential house to a hotel to a restaurant to a beach resort to a mansion in Ireland. His portfolio is so varied and so inspiring and now, with the addition of Capard House, it shows a welcome return to his roots. As Martyn says, “I don’t decorate for me, I decorate for my client” which explains the wide range of his “style.” If you are interested in reading the original detective story I wrote about Capard House, go here. Also, we had entertaining Martyn on our podcast, The Skirted Roundtable. To listen, go HERE. CAPARD HOUSE: The house is actually two houses: the Main House on the left and on the right, the white house, known as the East Wing or originally, the Dowager House. The houses were never actually connected, but it’s possible the new owners finally did connect them. Capard House The house is located in Ireland, in the Slieve Bloom Mountain region of North County Laois. The main house was built in the 1790s and was known as “one of the most beautiful” in Ireland. Located on a large demesne, the landscape includes a long, romantic gravel drive, lakes, flower filled meadows, a fountain and a Grecian temple folly reflected in a pond. There is also a walled garden that covers 2 acres, along with many garden paths for long walks. And now, there is a newly created private golf course, along with a natural grass helicopter pad, stable block, and a newly renovated caretaker’s cottage. Back during the potato famine, one of the caretakers was found in the cottage, dead from starvation. For over three centuries, Capard House was the home of the Pigott family. John Pigott built the Main House and later the second house was built on the east side known as the Dowager House, but today – both houses are known as one, Capard House. Mary Pigott, daughter of John Pigott who built Capard House in the 1790s Capard House during the 1900s. At the right is the white Dowager House. Capard House was the scene of an important battle during the Irish civil war. In 1922 ant-treaty forces occupied the house leaving it damaged and derelict for several years until everything was finally repaired. Bullet holes from the civil war siege can still be seen on the stone facade. Edward Kenney Senior. As a young man, he and his family lived at Capard House during the civil war siege. While the gunfire barrage was happening, the Kenney family hid in the silver storage and remained unhurt. After the civil war, there was political pressure to break up the estate which lasted until the 1950s. The Pigotts managed to hold on to the house until Charles de Jenner, a member of the Swedish Pigott clan, died in 1973. Though the estate was once over 3000 acres, today only 200 remain. On the left is the original main house, built of local sandstone in the neo-classical Greek Revival style, with 8 bedrooms upstairs. And to the immediate right of the main house is the East Wing, a second, separate house with 5 bedrooms. The two houses, not actually connected, but together they total 16,500+ sq. ft. Photos from Veranda and James McDonald. All other photos are from Instagram and the Internet. FROM VERANDA Back in 1990, a Dublin jeweler and his partner bought Capard House and spent years restoring it and filling the house with period antiques. Twenty-five years later, the couple, wanting to downsize, held a large estate sale and auction. During the two day event, much of the furnishings were auctioned off. FROM VERANDA: These urns now stand on each side of the main house. Enter Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The estate was purchased in 2015 as a second home by previous clients of his. Bullard had already designed a house for the family in the United States which was featured in both House Beautiful and Belle magazines. The view from Capard House. When Capard House was sold in October 2015, the sale was reported as one of the largest of the year in Ireland. The new owners are from America and they use the house as a vacation home and a Christmas holiday house. The sale of the house made news in national newspapers with Bullard named as the designer. He had been seen in Dublin and on visits to historic estates where he gathered inspiration for the decor of Capard House. BEFORE: The main house has a drawing room, two dining rooms, a kitchen, library, wine cellar, pantry, boot room, and laundry room. There are eight bedrooms, seven of which are en-suite – a rarity in Ireland. The East Wing, previously known as the Dowager House. Legend has it that one of the owners had seven children out of wedlock with a possible servant. They all lived in the East Wing away from his primary family. While the Main House has kept all its original Georgian features, the East Wing had been modernized by the couple who owned Capard House prior to 2015. Ready to go inside? Here are the plans for both the Main House and the East Wing. This is from before the Bullard restoration, so there are some changes today. THE ENTRY HALL: Before: Visitors to the auction stand in the doorway. Past this entrance room is the Entrance Hall. BEFORE: Matching consoles stand opposite each other at the entrance. Love those dogs!! BEFORE: On the other side of the room. AFTER: FROM VERANDA The Entrance Room redone by Bullard. Mirrors and matching consoles on both sides of the room which past the double doors leads into the Print Room or Entrance Hall. Notice the light gray and white marble floors which Bullard laid throughout much of the house. Entrance Hall/Print Room BEFORE: From the 2015 sales brochure. Past the front door entry, is the formal Entrance Hall. AFTER: Bullard created a Print Room in the Entrance Hall. The inspiration came Castletown, a grand Irish house. Print rooms were in vogue during the 18th century. Bullard removed the gilt molding and painted the room gray. Notice that the light fixture was the previous owners. Many items were purchased from the previous owners who were jewelers and antique dealers. Instead of curtains at the window, there are now shutters. The period neoclassical statues came from an Irish auction house, along with the regency hall chairs which now boast the Capard crest. 2 FROM VERANDA: This view shows the double doors that lead to the front door entrance. The decoupage came from Ireland’s Birr Castle where the Earl’s son-in-law found them in his family’s library and gave them to Bullard to use here. A collection of stunning Blue John mineral urns. And on the opposite side of the table is a collection of design books for guests to peruse. For Christmas, a twinkling tree stands in front of the window. In Instagram, Bullard states that he designed all the Christmas trees pictured in these photos. He probably did this while he was decorating the house for three years, not sure he still trims the Christmas trees today. And a glimpse into the Drawing Room that you enter through the Print Room. Bullard wrote that each small paper piece was first chosen, then it was cut by hand, then glued on the walls. The Print Room took a team of 4 artists and two weeks to complete. BEFORE: From the Print Room, another door leads to this sunny yellow hall with the gray and white marble floor. Past the first doorway is the original flagstone floor that leads to the kitchen area and the Billiard’s Room. The room at the end of the hall is the original study/office. Unfortunately there are no After photos of the study/office. AFTER: The same hallway as seen above. Bullard kept the hall painted in what he calls a Nancy Lancaster yellow. In this photo, you can see into this back hall that leads to the kitchen area. This set of pink damask chairs go around the table in the Ballroom in the Dowager House. DRAWING ROOM: BEFORE: The Drawing Room is through the door, seen right off the Print Room/Entry Hall. This decor is really not a favorite. It is just so stunning to see how using antiques can be so garish compared to how Bullard decorated this same exact room using many of the same antiques. He is just a design genius. AFTER: FROM VERANDA. By Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Notice how much more beautiful this room is now – such a difference. It’s a real eye opener to see the difference between a mediocre decorator and one with excellent taste, like Bullard. The Drawing Room is so pretty in Russian blues and green rather than the garish red. What’s interesting is how many antiques Bullard bought for this client during the Capard auction. For instance, the large mirror and the console were bought from the previous owners, as were the two rectangular paintings flanking it. Even the mahogany peat buckets came from the auction. As in every public room, Bullard painted over the gilt molding. This photo from Instagram shows that there are two sofas facing each other, flanking the fireplace. The walls are blue silk damask and the room is filled with regency and William IV furniture most of which is of Irish origin. THE STAIR HALL Out the door from the Drawing Room is a long hall where the stairs are located. This hall also connects to the Print Room and the Powder Room, along with other public rooms. Look at the above floor plan for clarity with how all the rooms connect. BEFORE: The grand staircase is the focal point of this hallway. Before: Looking up to the second floor landing. Before: The first floor stair hall. Before: The cupola. Before: A closer look of the cupola. AFTER: FROM VERANDA. Notice how beautiful the stone cantilevered stairs are. Just stunning. Bullard placed a new Starke runner on the stairs. Beautiful arrangement of marble busts on the sunny yellow walls. And notice how wonderful the bright yellow goes with the red and the floors. Even the stairhall looks so much better After than Before! Through that door is the former small Dining Room, today called the Library. INSTAGRAM. Christmas time! CLOAK ROOM: BEFORE: Off the stair hall is the Cloakroom. This room still had the original 300 year flagstone floors. AFTER: FROM VERANDA: Bullard installed the marble floors over the flagstone and added the vanity. Notice how the entire room had framed prints which connects this area to the next door Print Room. Notice how perfectly the mirror fits over the vanity. Which makes me question – how does Bullard do it? He lives across the globe yet he still manages to get all these minute details so perfectly???? Did he hire an assistant that lives in Ireland? How does he get everything so right without being at the project daily to watch for small errors? AFTER. INSTAGRAM. Everyday styling for guests. INSTAGRAM. The opposite side of the cloak room showing the entrance to the toilet room. THE LIBRARY: BEFORE: The library. On the floor plan – you can see that next to the library is the small dining room. These two rooms are now open to each other divided by newly placed columns. This mantel was removed and the gilt molding was painted over. Ballard reused this Chippendale mirror. GET READY!!! AFTER: This was the original Instagram photo I saw on Bullard’s page back in 2017. I literally gasped and then spent hours trying to find out where this room was located. England? Scotland? Eventually from Bullard’s Instagram photos I discovered it was Capard House in Ireland. How stunning is this room? The wallpaper is deGournay, originally designed for Yves St Laurent. Bullard purchased the mirror to reuse it in this room, along with the peat bucket. The chandelier was new to the room, as were the hardwood floors. The cabinet is absolutely beautiful. The room is stunning. It’s off the stair hall, past the Drawing Room, so its more private which makes it a perfect place for after dinner drinks. This photo was taken early in the job – you can see in the photo below that the two paintings were later added above the sofa, along with the obelisks on the cabinet. LOL – I just noticed that!!! Another view. Notice how many colors are used on the upholstery: burgundy, blue, orange, red and peach. Yet it all works. Absolute genius by Martyn L. Bullard. FOR VERANDA. Close up view of the new mantel. Also, the Chippendale mirror was originally in this room. Closeup of the magnificent antique Irish cabinet. Christmas in the Library. The Library was opened up to the next door Small Dining Room to became one room, separated by columns, below: After: Looking from the Library into what was once the Small Dining Room. BEFORE: And here is the original Small Dining Room. This room is now part of the Library, separated by columns. AFTER. FROM INSTAGRAM. The smaller side of the Library, ready for Christmas. The two rooms are decorated the same, same wallpaper, same chandeliers, same curtains. But, the furniture is different. The smaller side is more casual, more set for quiet talks over a late night drink while playing a game of chess. Notice the small door. This is the one that opens up to the stair hall, right underneath the stairs. A daytime photo. Apparently the owners use the house for Christmas holidays and Martyn was often invited, hence these photos from Instagram. Let’s take a look at the big Dining Room. BEFORE: I have to say I just hate this decor! The purple wallpaper and the green curtains look so garish. Just awful. Bullard kept this chandelier and the mantel and reused them in his newly decorated dining room. Again, study this decor versus the Martyn Lawrence Bullard decor below to learn the difference between mediocre design and genius design. AFTER. FROM VERANDA. Just gorgeous!!!!!! Absolutely beautiful. Everything is perfection. Bullard again, as in all the other public rooms, removed the gilt molding. The hand painted walls with scenes of the indigenous trees and views near to Capard House is beautiful. Below, the walls are upholstered with regency style silk upholstery. Notice how wonderful the touch of red in the portrait’s coat is. Also notice how beautifully executed the curtains are. Look for a moment how perfectly the mural’s tree limbs flank the portrait. This small detail was accomplished by a designer who lived across the world, and with seemingly little effort. But it only SEEMS that way. His Instagram is filled with photos of trips across the globe during the time he decorated this house and it makes one wonder. How does he do it all? And make it seem so easy? It’s not of course. But that one small detail – getting the trees to flank a portrait that probably hadn’t even been purchased before the walls were painted. Incredible. And that’s the difference between mediocrity and genius. INSTAGRAM. Table set for breakfast. You can only imagine how delicious the food is!! The table is 18th century Irish. The chandelier is 1830s Osler. The mirror is Booker and the mantle is also 18th century. INSTAGRAM. The room as it normally is when not set for a meal. THE KITCHEN AREA: Before: A typical Irish country kitchen. BEFORE: You can see the hooks in the ceiling, probably from hanging meats or pots. The hooks remain today. AFTER: FROM VERANDA. A new Aga was installed and a new farm sink was moved to under the window. The cupboard was repainted and a table from 1880 with a pine railway bench were added. Modern pendants replaced the brass chandelier. But truly, the kitchen looks practically the same, only better. Notice the wonderful 300 year old flags on the floor, original to the house. Blue & White from OKA HERE. INSTAGRAM. After breakfast. Not sure where the dishwasher is. Perhaps one of the nearby small rooms is where the cleanup occurs? BREAKFAST ROOM: BEFORE: This room was originally used by the staff in former days. Today it is the breakfast room. FROM VERANDA: The Georgian symbol of hospitality is the pineapple, hence the wallpaper. The flags are original, 300 years old. The table is 18th century Irish as are the chairs. BEFORE: In the corner of the Breakfast Room, is an original stove! AFTER: Notice in the reflection of the glass you can just barely make out the original, ancient stove that remains in the room. HAIR OF THE DOG PUB: The Pub is located in the old wine cellar and is called “Hair of the Dog.” Hence, all the antique Staffordshire dogs on the walls. FROM VERANDA: Close up of the Hair of the Dog room. Antique Staffordshire dogs share wall space with a collection of round mirrors. A view of the house high up on the hill. I added two rooms on this floorplan. The Orangery, a large, important structure room was recently added between the two areas of the main house. And, in the former dining room I added what it is now – the Billiard’s Room or Pool Room. THE ORANGERY The biggest change in the house is without a doubt the Orangery. It’s a massive glass house located in what was once a courtyard at the back of the Main House. Decorated by Martyn L. Bullard, the Orangery is a feast for the eyes as you will see! Before: The back of the main house. Located in the open courtyard, the massive glass house is now the focal point of the house. Notice on the roof, the cupola above the main staircase. And notice how the front of the house is limestone, yet the back is either stucco or rendering – a cost saving tool. The entire Dowager House is in the same white stucco – no stone facade at all. BEFORE: The back of Capard House showing the vista which reaches miles away. BEFORE: The side of the main house and further in the back, the Dowager House. There are a few landscaping structures that lead up the hill. This is one of those structures with a retaining wall and urn. AFTER: Here is the Orangery, placed in the former back courtyard of the Main House. Two urns sit at the top of a landscaping structure that leads up the hill at the back of the house. The architectural design team who designed the Orangery won first place for Best Glasshouse at the International Design and Architecture Awards held in London. AFTER: At the far right is the new terrace that extends from the Orangery to this side of the house where the view is best. There is a new iron pergola attached to this side of the house, along with the large gravel terrace which holds a white table and chairs. UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Showing the back of the main house. On the left, you can see the new Orangery that is being built. And, on the roof the cupola is being restored (would LOVE to see it!!) At the right, a new terrace is being laid to the right of the Library. There is now a pergola over the windows, probably to hold sun shading vines. And this view shows the cupola after it was restored. I don’t know if they changed anything, because it looks the same. Perhaps it was leaking or something mundane like that, that needed correcting. The entry to the Orangery The idea to add a conservatory in Capard House came from the nearby Ballyfin estate, which today is a boutique hotel. While Bullard was designing the house and doing his research of Irish estates, he stayed at Ballyfin which is only 18 miles away from Capard House. The Orangery at Capard House is especially cozy with the addition of underfoot heating. The room is used for afternoon tea and smaller dinner parties. You can enter the Orangery through two former windows which are now doors located in the Billiard’s Room. Also, there is a door located off the sunny yellow hall that leads to the kitchen area. My two part story on the boutique hotel/historic house Ballyfin can be read HERE and HERE. The double doors open to the Orangery. Inside, the two windows flanking the mirror act as doors, which lead into the Billiard’s Room. Inside the Orangery you can see the door to the sunny yellow hall which leads to the kitchen area. Interior in mauve and turquoise. Through the door/window you can see the pool cues for the pool table. The underfoot heated marble floor is the same marble flooring that is used throughout much of the main house. FROM VERANDA. The center table doubles as a dining table for smaller parties. Another view of the beautifully decorated Orangery. Outside the view is of the hill behind the house. FROM VERANDA. The console between the two windows/doors of the Billiard’s Room. Through the windows you can see the green damask shades hanging inside the Billiard’s Room. On the walls are a collection of 1940s plaster models of architectural elements and anatomy by French artist Max Le Verrier. FROM VERANDA: The center table set for dinner with a collection of Irish chairs. Looking from the inside out towards the back terrace. THE BILLIARD’S ROOM: BEFORE: This was once the servants dining room but later was a casual dining room for the family. AFTER: The Billiard’s Room is just past the kitchen area. The floor is the original 300 year old flags and the mantel remains from its previous life as a dining room. Silk damask on the walls matches the green felt on the table. The chandelier is so beautiful. This room, just a destination to play pool, is so romantic, so pretty. And imagine how it must now look with its windows opening up as doors to the Orangery! Before the room was finished being decorated. Through the door is the bright yellow hallway that leads to the kitchen area. Notice the hanging clock. It’s one of many that Bullard placed throughout Capard House. Above the mantel is a portrait of Arthur Guinness who invented the most famous of all Irish beers. UPSTAIRS AT THE MAIN HOUSE: BEFORE: The upstairs hall that leads to the bedroom ensuites. BEFORE: The Master Bedroom: very ornate. Very tacky. Notice the cornices, Bullard will reuse those in another suite. AFTER. FROM VERANDA. The Master Bedroom today. Wonderful rug. More Irish antiques. Beautiful bed, a 1825 George IV mahogany antique. Bullard used the same chandelier that was originally in the room. Compare the Before room with the After. The curtains are just so gauche compared to the more simple, yet elegant curtains that Bullard chose. Striped wallpaper. The two rooms can’t compare. It’s just very hard to compete with Martyn Lawrence Bullard. BEFORE: The master bath. AFTER: FROM VERANDA What a bathroom!! At the time this house was built, it was very unusual that each bedroom (minus one) would be en suite. It was unheard of, even in large mansions. The mantel was designed in 1827. Love the toilet and notice the tub on the marble pad. So pretty!!! One word about Bullard. While the original bathroom was nice, notice how with just a few touches, he has made this room elegant. The paint color. The vanity floating in the room. The portrait and the crystal chandeliers. He is just so very talented – especially when you think of his varied range, his portfolio. This isn’t a style he does often, but you would think he was an expert in this classical decor. Another photo from the master bath showing the vanity and closet with Chippendale motifs. In the mirror you can see the corner shower is clad in marble. BEFORE: A guest room with wood floor and an interesting ceiling, along with a pretty stone mantel that distinguishes this room. AFTER: FROM VERANDA: The same Guest Room as shown above. Classic decor filled with Irish antiques. Notice the wall clock above the mantel. New toile wallpaper and a crowned canopy makes this a dreamy guest room. AFTER: Another bathroom with the tub on a marble rug. There is also another corner marble shower and an original fireplace mantel. AFTER: FROM VERANDA. Yet another guest room. Charming wallpaper and cafe curtains. The paisley shawl and red blanket came from OKA. Love this room!! BEFORE: Another guest room in red toile. AFTER: Bullard reused the same red toile wallpaper in this guest room. The curtain cornices came from the former Master Bedroom and were reused in this room. The East Wing/Dowager House BEFORE: The East Wing/Dowager House before it was bought by the current American clients and spruced up. AFTER: The East Wing/Dowager House after the house was painted a more cream color and cleaned up. Bushes and vines now grow on the front of the facade, softening the once bare front. BEFORE: The front door to the Dowager House leads directly into the yellow Drawing Room. Past this room is the smaller Dining Room. INSTAGRAM: The front door to the Dowager House with curtains flanking the entry. This is the only AFTER photo of the Dowager House’s Drawing Room. BEFORE: Upstairs hall that leads to the Ballroom and bedrooms in Dowager House. BEFORE: This room was used for banquets, balls, and auctions. Lining the walls are a series of modern art paintings, sharing space with antique wall sconces. AFTER: The Banquet Room or the Ballroom, set for a fancy dinner. Bullard upholstered the walls in deep red (I think it is upholstered, not verified.) New sconces and art work ring the walls. Above the console is a wall clock, of course. AFTER: And as it usually looks. AFTER: In the Dowager House across from the Ball Room is this bathroom. It had been modernized but Bullard replaced it all, including these latrine styled fittings. He used deep red, which ties into the Ball Room, right across the hall. STABLES AND CARETAKERS COTTAGE AFTER: The company that built the Orangery also remodeled the stables block and the Caretakers Cottage into rooms and apartments for the employees who run the estate for the American owners. Quite a nice room with old portraits and tiled floors. A bedroom that continues the Irish theme for the employees. BEFORE: One of the original out buildings. GARDENS: AFTER: Autumn at Capard House. Behind the house there is a large hill which is reached by climbing this stone stairway. AFTER: FROM VERANDA. Taken in spring, the staircase has colorful flowers in urns on the stairs including Buff Beauty and Iceberg roses. At the base of the stone stairs is a fountain. The gardens include a five acre bluebell wood and a wildflower meadow. Spring flowers. The view over the Slieve Bloom Mountains. BEFORE: The walled garden. One entrance is through the arch in the brick wall. BEFORE: Outside looking in. BEFORE: Inside looking out. BEFORE: This entrance to the walled garden is a round circle. AFTER: FROM VERANDA The circle now has a iron gate securing the private garden. AFTER: FROM VERANDA The topiaries came from Belgium, but they most resemble King Charles’ fanciful topiaries at Highgrove. The previous owners (the jeweler and antique dealer) installed this Greek temple folly as a place “to sit with a drink and watch the sun set.” The rectangular reflecting pond reminds one of the Washington DC Lincoln Memorial. BEFORE: Something tells me this temple has been decorated since this photo was taken. Streams from the mountains feed the water features and lakes on the estate. To the far left of this lake you can see the Temple folly and its reflecting pond, fed from this lake. Close up of the beautiful stone bridge. AFTER: A private Golf Course – being built on the estate. Permission was given to the American owners to build the course as long as it remained private, to be used by the owners only. Must be nice!! Additionally, there is a Helicopter grass pad hidden on the property that was already in situ when the estate was bought by the Americans. Lastly after spending over three years designing Capard House, Martyn Lawrence Bullard told Veranda: “Because of this project I am absolutely, 100 percent, without a doubt going to end up buying myself a country house.” He’s laughing, but he’s also gravely serious. We shall see!!! I would LOVE nothing more to see the country house Martyn Lawrence Bullard would make his own!!

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Esas mansiones victorianas maravillosas, con su arquitectura tan peculiar a la par que casi extravagante que las caracteriza, son las protagonistas del post de hoy. Imposible no quedarse maravillado ante la imagen tan impresionante que una casa con estas características tan especiales ofrece a nuestros ojos si tenemos la suerte de poder observarla con detenimiento. Este tipo de construcciones surgieron a mediados del siglo XIX durante el reinado de Victoria I de Inglaterra, continuando con la costumbre francesa e inglesa de nombrar a cada estilo por el nombre del monarca reinante. Tuvieron su mayor difusión en el Reino Unido, pero atravesaron sus fronteras a través de sus colonias en Latinoamérica y la India, y ya cruzando el océano, en los Estados Unidos donde podemos contemplar muchas edificaciones de este estilo en Los Angeles, Boston, San Luis, Nueva Orleans y San Francisco, con su célebre barrio de Alamo Square y sus "Painted Ladies" Su característica principal es tomar las formas de la arquitectura gótica inglesa, mezclada con interpretaciones y representaciones de estilos históricos provenientes de Oriente Medio y Asia además de diversas estructuras de aquella época con una inspiración muy romántica y especialmente ecléctica, convirtiendo cada edificación en prácticamente única, ya que dependiendo del arquitecto principal y de su ubicación, variaba mucho de estilo. La mayor parte de este tipo de construcciones pertenecen a familias particulares adineradas, aunque también es cierto que existen muchos ejemplos utilizados como edificios públicos o destinados a uso industrial. Sus aristas casi cortantes, su intenso colorido, sus preciosos tejados a dos vertientes, sus balconadas en templete, los ventanales de esquina en redondo y las espectaculares escalinatas que terminan en elegantes porches, las convierten en auténticos iconos de la arquitectura de aquel momento, piezas maravillosas que han perdurado en el tiempo como auténticos tesoros de su época. Esas perfectas casas victorianas, una arquitectura hecha para soñar... despierto Pasar un maravilloso fin de semana, especialmente para los que es un poquito más largo de lo normal... Disfrutar¡¡ ;) IMÁGENES: De mis tableros favoritos de PINTEREST.

Read the blog post about What Makes A House A Dream Home & check out the best design ideas! Click for more. Stay informed about the Decoholic blog post. Now Visit.

Casas minimalistas , casas de madera , casas de campo actualizadas o casas urbanas que marcan la tendencia que vendrá . En Arquitectura y Diseño nada nos gusta más que ver todo tipo de proyectos, sean del estilo que sean.

xii, [9]-265 p. incl. front., illus., plates, plans. 24 cm

En un mundo donde la arquitectura a menudo se destaca por su grandiosidad y audacia, hay un enfoque más sutil y enriquecedor: casas que se camuflan en el paisaje circundante.

Dreamy Austin living, in town, on Lake Austin. And no, that’s not the house – it’s just the boat house. When the high tech industry landed in Austin, bringing with it untold wealth, the architecture of Austin changed drastically. The town’s official motto “Keep Austin Weird” barely applied anymore to the neighborhoods overlooking the numerous lakes in the area. Once, Austin’s neighborhoods were a mix of cottages and bungalows, along with bigger, more traditional houses; while the houses on the lakes tended to be soft contemporary or mid century modern mixed in with Willie Nelson ranch. With the new influx of a young and wealthy population, huge monstrosities starting appearing in the hills overlooking the beautiful Lakes Austin, Travis and Town (or rather Lady Bird Lake – I’ll never get used to calling it that.) The Barton Creek area was hit especially hard by the massive faux- half Tuscany, half Texian mansions, along with faux Versailles. For sure, there is some great modern architecture coming out of Austin, helped fueled by the University of Texas School of Architecture. It is cutting edge contemporary and many of these custom homes are also lessons in green living, of course. The dreaded Austin faux mansion is not those works of art. Instead the dreaded faux mansion is all Texas limestone and dark iron sconces and columns and arches and huge wine rooms and exercise rooms and 12 car garages and gift wrapping rooms. It’s pure indulgence. If you’ve got it flaunt it. Faux French – The bigger the better, right? I miss the old Austin with its quirky student housing, cozy bungalows that we all rented while attending UT. Some of the cutest places I’ve lived in were in Austin. There was a small apartment complex with shutters for doors and Mexican tiled floors with a fireplace and cypress wood paneling. Then there was a tiny cottage with one bedroom and a huge ancient stove, no garage, but instead a darling garden out back. That house has since been torn down, what a shame. Once, for a short time, there was a quasi modern duplex, with a slanted roofline. Today students live in fancy condos and fake lofts that have sprung up everywhere. While wading through Austin real estate brochures, it’s hard to find much that appeals, money being no issue in this pretend game. For sure if you have 10 children, there’s plenty available, but I doubt that any of those houses ever fill up their numerous bedrooms. Prices are crazy. Try to find a bungalow or 50s ranch for under $600,000. Slim pickings. The lake houses seem to start at $1,000,000 regardless of its condition or desirability. Stunning. This is a cliff house – built separately from the main house just to take in the magnificent view over Lake Austin. Some of Austin’s new contemporary architecture is incredible. Many houses are refurbished since the land costs have skyrocketed. Here, mid century is brought up to date for today. New architecture can still be charming without going Disney World. Combining the Texas Ranch look with contemporary. Beautiful! Even excess can be gorgeous. Overlooking Lake Austin through stone columns, this porch sits under an iron and wood pergola, next to a row of steel doors. It might be one of the prettiest in recent memory. But, I miss quirky Austin. It’s still there, just harder to find. This house located in the first fire station built in Austin is the antithesis of the porch shown above. On game day, I’ll bet this gravel yard is filled with Lone Star beer drinkers all dressed in burnt orange waiting to walk over to the stadium. Hook ‘em! Or, maybe, they hate football, and just sit around listening to a friend play the guitar. The car is too cute. New Austin Architecture: Is it Tuscany? Or is it a ranch? The lines are being blurred all over the city. For decorating, one of my favorites in Austin is Shabby Slips. The small store was started by the Houston shop of the same name, but ownership is different. I always stop by whenever I’m in Austin. The shop is small, but filled with wonderful furniture, new and old. Their slipcovers are the best there are. The Austin shop is owned by interior designer Sara Scaglione. In case her name sounds familiar, she designed one of the prettier houses shown in House Beautiful last year. Remember this: The house is Austin that Sara designed was all white paint, slipcovers and seagrass – my favorites! Mixed in were gorgeous antiques like the chest and mirror. The house is quietly elegant, not a piece out of place. Shabby Slips makes the best pillows, so plump and big. Sara talked about her store and slipcovers in her House Beautiful interview: “ I opened my Austin store, Shabby Slips, in 1994, and the look back then was oversize, loose, puddling onto the floor. Now we've gone to a much more refined, fitted, classic look. In the family room we did fitted slipcovers for the sofas.” In the sunroom, Sara added this antique French desk with a modern lamp. The dining room has an Italian light fixture and antique rug. The family room has simple striped pillows – the only pattern in the room. Another view of the family room and the sunroom behind it. I wish these pictures were bigger!!! The master bedroom pops the creams with delicious dark walls. Sara Scaglione can be reached at the Shabby Slips Austin web site HERE. Another Austin designer whose work I admire is Fern Santini. This house was also published in House Beautiful in December 2007. The house is one of the larger ones in Austin, on a cliff overlooking Lake Austin. But instead of being ostentatious, the house is subtle and gracious – helped by Fern’s design. The dining room’s ceiling is a different pattern than the living room. Beautiful chandelier and mirror. A trio of exotic lanterns hang over the kitchen’s island. The focal point is the wonderful range hood, which resembles a fireplace. The bedroom, all in blues and touches of pink. Of course there is a swimming pool overlooking Lake Austin below. Standing the test of time: The first time I was aware of Fern’s work was this house in Austin. It was published over 11 years ago and the room still looks amazingly fresh, due to the use of antique French furniture. Fern Santini has a web site if you are interested in seeing more of her work in Austin. HERE. AUSTIN HOUSE #1: Looking at available Austin real estate, I found two houses that caught my eye. Both houses are two of the most expensive for sale right now, but this is a game, where Monopoly money is used. This house, at slightly over 6,000 sq. ft. has six bedrooms. It is located on a town lot, not overlooking the lake. The living room has a baby grand piano and a mix of contemporary and antique furniture. The light fixture is Fortuny. It’s not a mirror! It’s a wheel. The dining room has another fireplace, more seagrass, white walls, white curtains and a wonderful painted console! Love the table. Look who was hiding behind the chandelier! This pretty rug is a great alternative to seagrass – so light and washed out looking, I really like it. Here you can see the muted colors in the rug – light blues and peaches. Ikat pillows pick up the blue. White and black kitchen. Great stove and hood. Contemporary leather chairs, lantern, French tin top table, cute. I really love the study – the worn Chesterfield, the contemporary desk, the deer, and I love love the wall color and matching curtains. The deep gray color works so well with the cognac colored furniture and leather. Notice how the computer bag even matches!!! My favorite room in the house is the master bedroom. I am so in love with blue walls and white bedding these days. It’s my favorite I think. I love the bed, the seagrass, the blue curtains, the gold touches. Perfect!!! Beautiful! I love the white lamps and the taffeta curtains. One more view, this time with an accent rug. The daughter’s room is precious with the vintage sofa redone in pink! What a great idea!! And I love her faux deer. The nursery is so cute for a little boy. It has the wonderful Stark Antelope rug wall to wall and that great picture of a Texas longhorn. Love the crib’s light aqua paint. And finally, the media room – off the gray study and the exercise room. I thought about this room and think it’s a perfect furniture set up for a media room. Two leather chairs and ottomans for the mom and dad and a large sectional for the kids to all watch a football game on TV. I really enjoyed looking at this house’s interiors and wonder who the designer is? I have a few ideas, but I would love to know for sure! AUSTIN HOUSE #2: The front door is right next to the garage. All the magic is in the back of the house, on Lake Austin. I love all the vines and the driveway, what is it made of??? The second house today is located on Lake Austin, on the town side in Tarrytown. Built in 1999, it is very large at just over 10,000 sq. ft. Although it’s a huge one, all stone and iron, it doesn’t read kitschy. Its interiors are wonderful and the furniture is antique in a slightly rumpled, definitely warm and comfortable manner. In other words, I could be very, very happy here! To the left of the front door, a walkway leads to a courtyard, then up a few set of steps. I love all the small windows. Walking into the house, the living room is down the hall, while a smaller living space is across the hall on the left. The ceilings are all beamed, the walls are stucco and the floors are rustic wood. While the house looks like an old castle in Spain or Portugal, it reads authentic, not someone’s version of pretend. The living room, one of 4 living spaces, has a gorgeous fireplace. The rug is incredible. The space, rather than pretentiously fancy, is cozy and welcoming. I wonder if they had an interior designer, did they furnish this themselves, adding one antique after another when they happened upon it? The smaller living space across the hall shown above. There is a fireplace in almost every room. In another living space, this room has an unusual barley twist mantel and lots of antique textiles, including the rug. In the dining room, the floor is a rough slate, the ceiling is beamed, and again, the atmosphere is very casual. To the right, is a hallway that is several steps down from the dining room. A close up of the dining room showing the fireplace and antique desk. I love the painting. The hall off the dining room. To the right, up the steps, past the iron railing, is the actual dining space. I love all the steps and changes in elevations throughout the house. Notice too, the wood window shutters throughout the house and all the lanterns and sconces that light the way. Notice too how each hallway ends in a focal point. Here, an arched door with a painting above is the focal point at the end of this very long walkway. The eat in kitchen has a huge stove, next to which are tables instead of cabinets. The other side of the kitchen overlooks Lake Austin in the back. Leading off the hall that runs through the dining room is this series of stairs. The detailing is so great, the sconces that line the halls, the lanterns, the arches, the iron railings, and the small windows with even smaller wood shutters. At the end of this hall is the master bedroom, with a guitar waiting, just in case! The bedroom has a balcony through the doors, a fireplace, and a pitched wood ceiling. Notice the open upper window next to the fireplace. I would dress this up a bit, but what great bones!!! The master bath, more charming windows, and more antique rugs! Only in Texas would the homeowner’s cowboy boots be included in the real estate brochure. Each hall ends in such a pretty view. Here a small set of stairs led down to a balcony with a piano. The painting looks like a John Alexander. The guest room, with the tiny window that overlooks the front courtyard. Even the exercise room is charming!!!! The outdoor kitchen off the main kitchen, overlooks the backyard. This porch is off the master bedroom (I guess!) The swimming pool. The back of the house overlooking Lake Austin. There’s even a cactus garden. Notice the stone steps and wooden gate. And finally, there a boat dock with room for 7 boats. Dream. Remember, there’s a giveaway going on at The Skirted Roundtable! We are giving away a large gift certificate. Go HERE to listen. This coming week we have Kathryn Ireland on as a guest – be sure to listen!!!

When antique dealer Christopher Howe was asked to decorate this house in Bray, he set about uncovering its original features. Now eclectic furniture and unusual fabrics complement the exposed brickwork and beams

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Bianca’s Lifestyle added a new photo.

Built by FMD Architects in Melbourne, Australia with date 2013. Images by Peter Bennetts. The site is a single storey terrace on a small 5m wide block in the inner city of Melbourne. The brief was to create ...