It isn’t unusual for me to dream of travel and wish that I was in Paris or Venice but lately it has been happening more thanks to my growing collection of travel related DVDs and surprisingly, home decor magazines. The magazines heavily feature designs from Italy and French inspired homewares and the most gorgeous gardens imaginable. Both the hubby and I like to flick through the pages, marking the designs and ideas we love the most, there are a few things about our house and garden that we’d like to change, some more practical (and affordable) than others. My husband would like to change our front gate, he wants a big timber number, a bit like the doors and gates we saw in Italy, he also wouldn’t mind a front door like some of those we saw in Venice. I think the doors of Venice were magnificent and as you can see, we have plenty of photos for inspiration however they’re probably a little large and not quite suitable for our one-storey, brick and tile home.
I also fell in love with the architecture in Amsterdam and the formal gardens at Versailles and the Boboli Gardens in Florence but trying to replicate that at home seems a little strange and those formal gardens require hard work and commitment to establish and maintain. I guess that in the absence of extensive time and a mountain of money, we’ll have to be happy for the little touches of Europe we have in our home such as artwork from Amsterdam, an old map of Italy, Christmas decorations from Germany and of course, lots of photos of Venetian doors.
Just out of curiosity, how has your favourite destination inspired your home and lifestyle or have you gone all the way and made your home look as though it belongs in another country?
Two Black Dogs 
Just a few Delft pieces and that’s it. But I was fascinated by the doors in Holland. Just beautiful craftsmanship.
Delft is beautiful and the architecture in Amsterdam really appealed to me as well, it is rare to see such beautiful craftsmanship where we live so Europe was a real treat.
Just my home garden…inspired by the tropics…and lucky to live in a zone that accommodates it!
Living in a climate that allows you to have such a wonderful garden is a blessing, I’m not much of a gardener but I do love them 🙂
Love those doors and agree with you, if I could, I’d have a front door like that.
Magnificent aren’t they 🙂
I actually have a volcanic arched doorway in our Vergemoli house…and I love it. It was carefully removed from the old house when it was pulled down and replaced in the new one.
That would look beautiful, I love the integration of the old with the new. My husband fell in love with the volcanic rock they use for homes in Orvieto but alas, not available here.
I love the photos of the doors, they are awesome. I wish my house had the touches of styles that I like but it just wouldn’t look right. I’d prefer to have a Spanish style home with arched doorways, a tiled roof, stucco sides… I have the whole plan in my head… now I just need the money to make it happen!
Thank you, I was surprised at how many photos I actually had of doors. Having a plan is a start, just need to win lotto 🙂
Those doors are gorgeous! I have decorations from travel but nothing architectural (yet)… 🙂
Aren’t they just? Pity they won’t fit in a suitcase, perhaps a framed photograph of a door will do for now 🙂
I love Venice, I already told you that, one my favorite cities. Love it, just love it, ad I love your pics.
I’m with you and so happy you love the pics 🙂
Beautiful photos! I agree it might look a bit strange to add something like that or a Versailles garden to a home. Our house is pretty small too, so then it would look really strange! So we add decorations here and there, mostly photos or little objects from different places as remembrances. A Versailles garden would be fun though!
Thank you, a touch of Versaille in the garden would be fun but like you, decorations consisting of photos and small mementoes will suffice for now 🙂
Beautiful selection of venetian doors.
In answer to your question, I think I’ve been most influenced by the country style of France. I like how the beauty of the outdoors is carried inside, while still maintaining an easy elegance. I don’t know that I’ve pulled that look off, but now I’m curious to walk around and see if my perception is reality!!
🙂
Thank you 🙂
The country style of France is one that also appeals to me although I’ve seen very little of France, I know what you mean about easy elegance and if your photographs are anything to go by I’m sure you’ve pulled it off.
Wonderful doors, Sam. I’m wondering which restaurant Lisa and Leo are sitting at this evening, on their last in Venice. Happy Valentine’s to you!
Thank you. Such a perfect destination for a romantic honeymoon, Lisa and Leo will have had a most wonderful time.