July Architectural Digest 2014

The cover says it all really.

Nice but nothing sensational.

I can't believe they chose this as the cover.

Perhaps AD are slowly rebranding?

One of the best images in the magazine was from a new restaurant in Monaco.

Alan Yau is the wonderkind of the London restaurant scene.

He was the brainchild of Hakkasan which is now a London institution and beyond trends.

But isn't the green fabric and brass accents bang on perfect?

I feel sad already because 

this might look dated again in a few years.

I love the auctions news and their picks.

This Meissen vase and flowers piece went for 6 times the estimate and sold for $688,000.

But could you imagine the insurance considering those flowers are porcelain? You wouldn't even want to breathe near it.

It is constantly amazing how tastes change. 

I am not that old and yet I remember the days when expensive furniture meant it had to be Tudor era or something. 

Not any more!

I just had to include this picture of this fabric shop.

Makes me want a linen room.

Anyone going to Provence?

AD has some good travel picks and tips.

Call me difficult but I never got the Hamptons.

But I do like the houses and the one house that sticks in my mind is Diane Keaton's house in that movie, Something's gotta give.

Like I warned you in the beginning, 

the interiors are all nice but not hugely inspirational.

Very comfortable and looks almost achievable 

unlike their other features.

I just love a pool. 

It doesn't even have to be posh.
I could and have hung out by a motel pool in the middle of nowhere.  Hurricane, Utah to be precise.

Those stand alone baths are very popular.

Seems a real trend in the States to do the faux rustic bath thing.

I really like the serenity of this bedroom.

I love a lake house but in the UK there isn't a real lake house culture.  Even in the Lakes District.

If those sofas weren't the swinging kind, I would have not included the picture because otherwise blah.

But I want to put my sofas swinging from the ceiling now.

Interesting decor for a lakehouse, they must use it all year round except the damp cold in the winter goes to your bones. I remember as a kid that even in the summer, lakehouses were always so damp.

Don't get me wrong there is nothing bad about this room perse but 

I can't believe that made it on AD.

I like that people can take chances in a holiday home. 

The bed frames and wallpaper on a daily basis would eventually grate on me but for a summer is fun.

I love dual aspect windows.

Outdoor fireplace and lake view is a dream combo for me.

Many people dream of leaving London and setting up an organic farm but these people did it.

These chickens live in a better neighbourhood than some London suburbs.

Lovely dining area but still reeks of urban folk somehow.

This farm must be a hobby because the decor is not very farmer like in any aspect.  Looks like a country weekender in Somerset.

Another peaceful bedroom simply and tastefully done.

This house is lovely and I love the kitchen.

But there was no cohesion or one style and 

once again I was scratching my head wondering how 

it got past the features editors desk.

Not done by a famous designer nor owned by a star.

But a refreshing change for AD to tone it down.

Another realistic and achievable bedroom.

Oddly, I think the surfboards at the door hold so much promise.

This home is an open plan living dream.

Although I wonder about the wind tunneling and papers flying off tables. 

I can't even imagine needing to wear sunglasses inside my house like the inhabitants of this house must need to.

Wish I had #Lagunabeachproblems.

Now I will show you what should have been the cover of this issue instead.

Ta daaah!

It's landscape you say.

Ok then the one below could've made a better cover.

Isn't it just dreamy?

The rest of the house was nice enough but nothing was ever going to match that garden and pool area.

I don't know what I want from a magazine anymore.
Do we want something so outrageously unachievable or 
do we want something that is a realistic and pleasant look and quite feasible with a couple of days of prepping and a few sale bargains?