Santorini hotel bliss..

How about this relaxed luxury hotel which is pitched on top of a cliff above the glistening Aegean Sea on the island of Santorini?! To me it looks like the ultimate (kid-free!) escape and I absolutely love the simplicity of the Cycladic style design and soothing colours of the suites.

The history of the Perivolas dates back to the 19th century and the Psychas family, who moved to Santorini from Odessa. Falling in love with the island the family wanted to settle here. They soon bought a property perched on the cliff that also included several 300 year old caves. They started dreaming of developing the site into an idyllic island retreat. With the help from local craftsmen using traditional materials, the caves were slowly transformed into 20 luxury suites..

This is where my knees begin to tremble.. How amazing isn't the 'water cave'?! You can actually swim right up to a second entrance at the back of it! Oh heaven..

 

The resort started out as a private residence and has a wonderful sense of intimacy and comfort. Despite the immediate boldness and white washed walls, it doesn't feel cold or stark in any way.  I think it makes for the perfect backdrop to the breathtaking exterior scenery as well as the wonderful interior accent colours.

I love the texture of the walls, the organic shapes and sculpted features of the rooms. The alcoves and vaulted niches make for the perfect little cubbyholes. Perfect to snuggle up in after a day under the Greek sun. And how wonderful to incorporate the natural rock here and there for contrast.. I have a real weakness for this kind of thing (Frank Lloyd Wright did that to me as a young architect student at Univeristy in London..).

Each of the 20 suites are different, however share the loving attention to detail and stylish touches. I feel as if every room breathes freshness and cool breezes from the Aegean Sea beneath, and it is hard to believe that they are actually carved into the actual cliff..

** sigh ** No words needed here..

Oh..Can you imagine waking up in this sun-drenched alcove.?!?.. To stretch ones sleepy limbs and just breathe in that divine light and all the Aegean goodness pouring in from the windows.. Heaven!

** more sighs ** It's minimalism with out that alienating feeling I so often get when rooms are deliberately under dressed or left bare. The little thoughtful flower arrangements are lovely and help enhance the wonderful energy that flows so freely and in abundance through these rooms..

Mon Dieu..!! Would one ever want to leave this place?

All images via Perivolas

This place is definitely going on to our 'must visit' list..!

xx Charlotta

Post-party fatigue and converted barns..

Hello lovelies! Isabella's party was fun and successful, and whilst I recover from a mega cooking, decorating and general celebrating effort, I will share this lovely converted barn that I found floating around in the deeper layers of my hard drive..  

Photo by Charlotta Ward

Looks like the perfect family retreat, wish such happy light energy through out..

 

 

 

I'll be back soon to share pictures from the party.

Hugs to all!

x Charlotta

Breathtaking Barcelona house tour...

Fused together with the cliff it is built on is this stunning house where Spanish architect Jordi Garcés and his wife Nuria Amat spend their down-time. It's 450 square meters of total bliss and beauty in my eyes! What do you think my darlings?

The land was for long left untouched and deemed by many experts to be an 'impossible building site'. The steep cliffs, narrow access and deep coves cutting into the mountain put many investors off.

Jordi and his wife felt differently and immediately fell for the rugged and wild terrain, and set out to design a house that embraced the cliff and that allowed as much as possible of it to remain intact. I love the result and think the marriage of rough & smooth is stunning!

The house is built in an 'L-shape' over four levels on different tiers (some double spaced), where the 'short ends' are all glass walls, with doors leading onto outdoor entertaining terraces with breathtaking views! The structure 'embraces' the cliff rather than forces it aside - a very clever solution.

 

I love how the cliff has a real presence inside the house as well.  How gorgeous isn't that wall?!?!.. and the floor!  Though I'd like to swing the bed around so that I could enjoy the view..!

 

A lot of the decor is made up of designer classics (Saarinen, Le Courbusier, Knoll, Divani, Cassina etc), mixed with industrial aluminium structures, and strict lines. I think all this along with the crispy white surfaces make for a wonderful contrast against the rugged and all but linear exterior terrain. A perfect marriage of wild and tamed..!

 

 

 

All in all I think this is an amazing place, but as a mother of two young and lively kids, I would be all but relaxed in this place.. :)

xx Charlotta

All images via Residence - another brilliant Swedish magazine that I think you'll love!

Hello hello hello! We are back..

 by Patrick Cline

Hello everyone - we are back in Sydney after a fantastic five weeks in Sweden!

Sorry it has taken me a little bit of time to dive back into the blog-world, but had you seen the size of our washing mountain you would have forgiven me in an instant..! :)  I can tell you that life on this side of the jet lag  (and washing..)!!) is a whole lot better, and it is nice to be back here again! xx I have missed you!! xx 

We had such an amazing time away, and spending quality time with my family (and childhood friends) was just what we needed after what felt like some tough and trying months earlier this year.. Now we feel refreshed, recharged and ready to take on our last eight months here in Sydney before we pack our bags (Read: 'container'..!) and head back to Sweden permanently! More about that a little later..

 The clouds lifting off the lake near my childhood home before a round of golf 
one glistening morning. So stunning!

In stark contrast to the sparkly weather and warm temperatures back here in Springtime Sydney, Sweden was crisp, fresh and quiet, with an explosion of colours in the foliage. We soon fell into the meditative and calm pace that accents this time of the year, and we actually abandoned all plans of any glam events and /or shopping excursions (no no, I am perfectly well and sane..!). Instead, this trip became all about the outdoors and spending time in the country side. A 'return to nature and basics' trip where my daily uniform soon became Wellingtons, jeans, cozy jumpers layered with scarves and warm jackets.. It was heaven to be able to slow down, breathe deeply and let go of all stresses and 'must do's'..!

These are not my cheery Wellies (sorry), but the leaves on the lawn are from near our house. The colours were amazing!

We enjoyed making excursions into the forest. We'd pack a backpack with hot chocolate, sandwiches and fruit and head off in the morning and not return until the afternoon, often carrying baskets full of mushrooms (chantarelles and black trumpet mushrooms) or blue berries that we'd cook for dinner. We'd also pick apples and plums that grew in abundance in the gardens. Simple pleasures that tickled all senses  and felt so satisfactory on a deeper level. And is there is anything better than a freshly made apple,- plum- or blueberry pie straight out of the oven after a whole day outside..!?! Sigh.. :)

Many baskets full of plums, apples and other Autumnal goodies made their way into our kitchen..!!

Other days we'd play golf (Oscar also plays now which is so much fun!), go on little weekend trips to stay with friends, visit a nearby castle or simply just go for a long lovely walk. It was truly lazy days with no pressure to really 'do' very much at all, apart from take the day as it came..

Oscar is really bitten by the golf bug and apparently has real talent. 

He was scouted by a pro on the course who asked us to call in a couple of years if 

he is still playing! I was busting with pride of course (as was Oscar!)!! :)

Divine weekend stay-over at my very dear friends Kristina and Peter, at their house set on the 

castle grounds near Lennartsnas.

We also took some time out to look at schools for next year, and I am so thrilled to have received a letter of acceptance to a lovely independent school that teaches both in English and Swedish. YAY!! I think the kids will love it there when we move, and hope that the transition from Australia to Sweden will be smoother with the help of some new class mates and friends. Fingers crossed..!

Also from the lovely lands surrounding the castle.. This looks so 'typically Swedish' to me!
I love it and could happily settle in a place just like this, and lead a simple and creative life
in closeness to nature and all that it offers!

Isabella climbing a gorgeous old log in my favourite park in Eskilstuna.
Stunning old Oak trees against the red cottages that are part of an 'outdoor museum' similar to
that of 'Skansen' in Stockholm. A gorgeous place!

But best of all was just to be 'home' and spend quality time with my family and to experience proper Autumn again. It baffled me that I actually hadn't been home at this time of the year since nearly 15 years!! (We usually go for either Nordic Summer or Xmas..) There is something wonderful about Autumn and how it suddenly feels completely natural (almost essential..) to allow daily rituals and routines to take a little longer. In Summer and Spring I find myself trying to simplify things as much as possible so that energy can be spent on making the most of the sun, surf and lazying around.. As if you need energy for that.. :) But with the cooler temperature and shorter days (and dark mornings with a slow rising sun) I love the fuss of lighting candles, layering the bed & sofa with blankets and pretty pillows, dressing my dining chairs in sheepskins, cooking hearty food, and just generally taking time to create that nurturing and 'cozy feeling' we need when the tan is fading and we prepare for Winter.

 Oaks! I love them - their structure, their leaves and of course acorns. A friend of mine has an amazing

book about 'old Oaks' that have been beautifully photographed all over the world.. I so want a copy!

To relax I love 'picking things' and that includes beautiful Autumn leaves. Thankfully my children both love it too.. 

Autumn leaves in amazing colours displayed in an antique raised bowl on our lunch table.. 
It looked even better when the leaves dried up and curled..!

Right now, and in stark contrast to Sweden, I find myself wanting to de-clutter and open up the house to the sun and warmer months ahead. I am still lighting candles (I am Swedish after all..!) but soon my beautiful tall stemmed candles will give way to Citronella scented block candles and lanterns that can survive the Australian heat and also keep the mosquitoes away (a blessing!). Twigs and branches will replaced by bright coloured flowers and pretty bowls with shells and other lovely beach finds. For a little while longer we can enjoy open fruit bowls (and I can tell you that as the 'fruit bat' family that we are, we enjoy these to the full!), but soon the heat and all that comes with it will make it impossible to keep anything edible in open air. Even the juicer will need to be stowed away as it becomes the perfect breeding ground for fruit flies that somehow can detect sweet juices despite diligent washing..! You can imagine..

 Life is busting at the seams in my garden and I am spending more time bent over than up straight at the moment.. 
There is no end to the amount of weeding one needs to do after such a long time away...

These are the first and very tiny sprouts of 'Rocket lettuce' that we planted only last week. Oscar is amazed at 
how quickly they have shot up and is convinced they are called 'Rocket' because they grow so fast..   :)

So, despite the obvious tiredness of climatic shock & jet lag, and the sadness of having said goodbye to my family & friends in Sweden (!!) we are happy to be back. The sun is blazing down as I am typing this (cross legged on the front step to our house) and I feel my toes wiggling in excitement of a forthcoming tan (..Bring it on!! Please..!) and lazy days on the beach. I am definitely hearing whispers of Summer in the not too far distance and can't wait to plunge into the salty waves of the South Pacific. I just have to work on that tan first..! :)

Gorgeous view of Bronte beach snapped by my clever husband. Credit Marshall Ward

I'll be back soon with more pictures and stories from Sweden, but before I sign off I want to yell out a heartfelt THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends who took part in my 'Guest post series'.

Montage of the greatness these awesome ladies shared whilst I was away..!

DJ, Minna, Anna, Monika, Tina, Simone, Louise, Mia, Piper, Caroline, Dawn, Kirsten and Stacey, you guys exceeded my expectations with your fantastic reports on your current seasonal rituals from your corners of the world. What an honour it was to have you here!! xx xx

If anyone for some reason missed any of the 13 posts that ran over the past weeks, I will  prepare a quick link schedule in the right hand side column of this blog. Coming soon..!

Hugs to all of you my dears! I have missed you lots and lots!!

xx Charlotta

Photo credits: All pictures by me, apart from the very first & very last ones.

A breath of fresh air..

Hello and happy new week to you all! I have read some of your weekend posts and it sounds like most of you enjoyed a great one. The kids and I are no exception and early (very early!) on Saturday morning we kissed Marshall goodbye and drove three hours into the stunning Kangaroo Valley South of Sydney. On our way to an adventure that included hiking a mountain, dipping our feet at the bottom of a deep forest water fall, off-roading, standing face to face with kangaroos and lots more!

Sign on the way to our cabin. Kangaroo Valley village bridge. View near Belmore. 

This place is so 'me' - it's rugged, mountainous, remote and incredibly stunning. The air is fresh, the  people down to earth and friendly, the villages quaint, (and full of antique stores!!),  the vegetation lush and there is plenty of wildlife. And just generally, you kind-a know that if you drive on something called 'Ruins Fire Track' then you are bound to end up somewhere fabulously adventurous..! :)

 Our rented cabin and property gate. The mountain track, sign & our garden.

The cabin we rented was pitched high up on a mountain side in the middle of nowhere. It really was in the middle of no where! Having climbed the mountain on a smallish road for ca 8 kms, our turn off was onto a 'fire trail' (dirt track) that lead us another 6kms straight into the bush! Something that made the kids a little unsettled at first but that made me squeal in excitement from the first bump to the final stop at our gate. I have a thing for 'off road driving'..! :)

 This is where I stood as I finally was able to send Marshall an SMS - the track to my right, a very steep drop in front of me and the rest of the mountain behind my back. Such a fabulous place to be whilst tapping in a message on an iPhone..! :)

There was no phone line or mobile connection where we were staying and having promised Marshall I would call 'as soon as we got there' I had to power-hike for 30 minutes up to the mountain to be able to use my mobile. As I stood there in the silence of this amazingly vast sub-tropical rain forest I felt so peaceful and centered. I remembered how much I miss my beloved mountains in Sweden and how really I feel more at home in hiking boots than in a bikini..! You can take the girl out of Sweden, but not take Sweden out of the girl...!

 Isabella eying a family of kangaroos on the lower terrace of our garden. We counted 8 of them before they hopped off.

The rest of the day was spent exploring the terrain and stare in amazement at our neighbours - 8 kangaroos, five wombats, lots of foxes and an abundance of birds! A BBQ dinner, glass of red wine and the soothing crackles of the fire place later we all felt totally relaxed and our busy lives in Sydney felt very (!) far away. As it was so completely pitch-black outside and a crisp & clear night, we got to enjoy what to me was the best view of the 'Milkyway' I have ever seen (and I have been in some pretty remote places in the world before..!). It took my breath away and when I saw a shooting star I knew this place was truly magical. The perfect ending to a long and fun-filled day.

If you are wondering about Marshall.. ? Well he enjoyed a kid-free morning (I know all you parents out there sigh in envy..!), breakfast with a friend at a gorgeous cafe, a wine tasting in the Quantas gold club lounge and a late-afternoon flight to Asia where he will work for the next ten days whilst I run a 'one woman band' back in Sydney with the kids.. :)

Happy Tuesday all!

xx Charlotta