Bathtubs in the garden

When I think of a bathtub in the garden, it's usually in a "oh, that's a good idea for mint, the roots wouldn't spread" sort of way. But having spent a sizable portion of the morning being chased from my own garden by the rain, it occured to me that sitting in a roll-top tub in a scented garden and getting rained on would actually be rather a pleasant experience. Until I convince Mr Lisbonite that removing the bathroom roof and planting extensively around the tub is a good thing, I suspect that this is a dream that will remain forever on this blog. Still, one can hope!



Pics via La Paix Herb Farm, Good Long While, Coastal living and Bali Villas Rent.

I'm seeing stripes

Painting the ceiling is often the most boring part of redecoration. Although the use of light colours can obviously open a room, I'm becoming increasingly intrigued by the idea of stripy ceilings. What do you think? They certainly draw the eye upwards and the grey version in particular looks very peaceful but makes the room look completely finished.





Pics via KC Interiors, Simple Creative Inspiration, Project Nursery and Decor Pad.

Custom pet furniture

Regular readers will know that London Lisbonite towers is soon to be blessed with the patter of tiny paws. That's right, our two ragdoll kittens will be born at the end of August and will move in with us in November. We simply can't wait! However, finding minimalist cat furniture that is a) not covered in day-glo orange carpet and b) not made of the kind of plastic that will dominate whatever room it's placed in is turning out to be harder than I thought. I've become an avid reader of the brilliant moderncat blog and have happily found a few design friendly pieces from the Refined Feline. Moderncat also featured Argentinian design firm Cedel recently. I'm quite sure that Mr Lisbonite's usually indulgent smiles would disappear and the eyebrow would be raised if I suggested having beds (complete with bedside tables) made for our cats. This really is extreme interior design!

Soft monochrome from Jorge Cassio

It was the company name that first snagged my interest. "Casa comigo" has two different meanings in Portuguese. The first, literal translation is "house with me". The second, more plausible, is a version of "marry me". Both are cosy and upon visiting Jorge Cassio's luxe website (he's also based in Porto), I fell in love with the warm and soft monochrome look of this apartment that he designed. This isn't sharp modernist minimalism but a cozy and sophisticated city look that I adore. Black and white walls with a soft hue. Now where's that paintbrush?

Dig for victory!

No design posts today but just a quick hurrah that my garden has yielded it's first crop! Proof positive, if any were needed, that it's possible to grow your own summer produce in a tiny city garden if you use a multitude of pots. Most of the food will be ready about a month from now but Mr. Lisbonite and I couldn't resist sampling the first pieces that were ready. Gardening is good for the wallet, the waistline and the soul! PS: The carrots really are meant to be that small, they're spherical carrots designed for salads.

Black walls - not just for angry teenagers

Wallpaper magazine called the Portuguese architecture and interior design firm Oito Em Ponto the "princes of Porto" and they weren't far wrong. I've been flicking through their back catalogues and came across this 2004 private residence in their portfolio. I love the use of visual tricks (like the bust at the end of a black corridor in front of a mirror) and they way that they perfectly pulled together rooms are blackened, creating an art gallery sort of ambiance that lets the art itself take centre stage. I particularly like the white piece in the hallway where the eye is drawn only to imperfection against a muted backdrop. I'm sure that it's the "house's own" but it's perfectly placed. A perfect city pad for a city gentleman.