Rate or Hate - 11,000 Sq. Foot Stately French Home in Plano, Texas

This large French residence in ever-growing Plano, Texas combines formal living with a perfect Texas setting.  In the prestigious community of Willow Bend, 2504 Beacon Crest Drive is 11,000 sq. feet, 10,998 to be specific, with 6 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms.  The circle drive winds in front of the main entrance with a opera-styled balcony above the doorway.  The flowing and elaborate foyer compliments a formal living interior with distinctive wall carvings and designs.  The exterior includes a pool, pool house, a lit tennis court, and a 6 car garage.

I really like this one, so I am going to Rate!  And I rate a...drum roll...9!  It is just almost perfect.  The only thing I don't particularly care for is the acreage - come on now, it's only 1.36 acres.  Put this home on 10 acres or so and it would definitely be a 10.  Now it's your turn, Rate or Hate?

Here's The Listing

Thanks for reading,

John

Tommy Smythe

Tommy Smythe was featured in Style at Home this month and I wanted to share a few pictures of his space.  My favourite room has got to be the closet!  The closet is off the rack from Ikea and he customized it by adding trim detail, paint and beautiful door knobs.  Doesn't it look beautiful?

Weekend of Bazaar Stingray's!

I'm signing off for the week a little early. I have 30 of my work colleagues arriving on the Gold Coast this weekend ready for a 3 day conference on Monday. Looking forward to seeing everyone as we all get along really well, should be fun.

One place I will be taking them to is the very revamped Gold Coast International (GCI) hotel - now called QT Gold Coast. GCI has been around on the Gold Coast for years and was in dire need of a revamp. The restaurant, bar and foyer have been completed and I was super impressed when I went there for breakfast this week. This is a huge thing for the Gold Coast as we don't really have anything like this (Gold Coast is a little backwards in terms of commercial design). 

They even state themselves "a designer hotel haven unlike anything Surfers Paradise has seen before" and I strongly agree. 

This is Bazaar, no ordinary hotel restaurant. I've only been for breakfast and I was so impressed with the buffet available, it was truly delicious and as presentation is everything - was amazing. A friend of mine has had dinner there and also said it was fantastic. 

This is Stingray Bar - a sophisticated refuge from Surfers Paradise. They call this our local Californian Baja lounge. Haven't been here yet but I think I'll take a friend here on the weekend. 

This is the new foyer.

Cute hey? And it has a really great ambience.

I'm looking forward to spending some more time here before I move to Cairns (eek one more week til that too)

Have a wonderful weekend my lovelies, see you all soon 

xox

Gingerbread House in Sweden

This summer house located on the outskirts of Stockholm is called the "gingerbread house" and was built in 1887. The owners live in London but come here every summer. It also had a fleeting celebrity moment when Brigitte Bardot rented it in 1967 when she starred in a movie nearby.



















All images from here.

Dressing a designer

I was very flattered when Karla Amadatsu from Kerrisdale Design picked me for her new series Dress a Designer.  I love clothes as much as I love decorating and I had so much fun putting together an outfit for her.  Check out her blog and see what I came up with.

A Fashionable Wednesday - Leigh Lezark

I'm feeling the style of Leigh Lezark today. Love her hair, doesn't she just look so the part of a New York DJ/model....(which she is in case you didn't know)

Cute and fluffy in Chanel

 Love the skirt - style and colour

Adore the peacock feathers, so chic

In (and with) Matthew Williamson!

On another note, I'm getting my hair permanently straightened tomorrow, sooo excited. 

It's a lovely gift from the girls (and boys) at work as a farewell gift. After 7 years they sure know me well :) Has anyone had it done? I hope it lasts for awhile!

White in San Francisco

This house went through a 10 year restoration. The owner, Rosy Strazzeri-Fridman's chose white and natural hues for all of her rooms. Come on in and let me know if you like it!



A glass top was added to the vintage Art Nouveau table base that stands in the turret.



The Fridman family collected their china and enamelware during travels to Europe — as well as visits to a few all-American garage sales.


A reupholstered French Provincial settee, a Lucite coffee table and a hand-loomed wool rug in the living room. The unused fireplace was filled with a stack of oversize books.


In the entrance, fir floors with a rich, custom stain. A dress form displays a favourite coat.



Old mirrors, portraits, and photos line the front hallway walls.


A variety of vintage chairs in neutral colours surround the dining table. They found the pendant lamp at a Paris street market, and the china cabinet at a California antiques store.




Rosy in her kitchen. The menu is displayed on the mirror.


8 year old son Noah's room.


Antique cast-iron bed with a cable-knit throw. A teacup lamp sits atop the turned-leg nightstand.

All images and information from here.