When she couldn’t find the perfect country farmhouse with sweeping views and scant neighbors, Plum Sykes invented one, complete with old-world charm and modern comfort.
This was our second visit to Bowood. Our first visit to the house and gardens was eight years ago. At that time we did not come any further than the adventure playground and the space dive, a spectacular slide with a 19 feet vertical drop, which our girls loved. When we asked them what they would like to do during our recent stay, they were very clear about it: visit Bowood once again. We did not mind at all! Bowood is a magical place, with so much to see. There is the impressive park, created by Capability Brown (18th century landscape architect), a grotto with waterfalls and an aritificial lake, a boathouse and a Doric temple from which you have an amazing view of the house. The terraces and flower borders close to the house were a sea of pink, lilac and purple at the time we visited. The scent of roses and lavender intoxicating. I enjoyed strolling in the park, breathing in the atmosphere, letting my mind wander and my imagination fly. The house was built at the beginning of the 18th century and is the home of the marquiss and marchioness of Landsdowne. Several rooms are open to the public and are full of treasures; from Napoleon's death mask to a little bunch of orange blossoms from queen Victoria's wedding bouquet. The orangery is filled with ancient tapestries, beautiful chandeliers, well shaped sculptures and Mediterranean flowers. What struck me most was a portrait of one of the forefathers of the present owner, a handsome young man, born in the nineteenth century. It was not only his sweet looking face, the way he posed for the painter, but also his casual dress that impressed me. Somehow he would not look out of place if he were to step out of the painting and walk among us... Well, I realise I have written way too much for one post. So sorry. Let me take you on a tour through the house and gardens. Enjoy the photos! Lieve groet, Madelief
Next year’s trends are promising to transform living spaces into luxurious havens.
Ground Floor Plan Second Floor Plan Co-housing Manor is a design exercise looking at a different form of housing for today's Baby Boomer generation that wants to downsize and simplify from the large homes they raised their families in. In many ways they still need the large homes after their kids have grown and moved away. They need the number of bedrooms for when the next generation comes to visit. They need the large kitchen and entertaining areas for family celebrations and holidays. The three car garage also has become a large project or hobby space that is difficult to give up when downsizing. And often an adult kid may need to come back to live at home when economic hardship or divorce happens. Family members often like to be in closer proximity to each other. Like in the case of an elderly relative that needs to watched over, or the need to take care of a house while someone is traveling for extended periods. The expense of gas and frustration of traffic at certain times of the day can limit the ability of family members to travel across town or between cities to be supportive of each other. Families today also are comprised of close friends that they feel the same level of care for as actual relations and are an integral part of their lives. Co-Housing Manor is a way for a close group of people to live together in a supportive way and still maintain a level of privacy and autonomy. It is five independent living units that share larger common amenities that are difficult to give up when moving to smaller homes, as well as allow the supportive family environment that close proximity allows. There are five living units ranging from 638 to 1729 square feet. The total building area is 8900 square feet giving an average of 1,800 sf per unit. So it allows you to downsize to about 1,500 sf yet retain the large public areas that would be common in a house of 8 to 10 thousand square feet. There is a 19' by 32' Great Hall that can be used for large entertaining such as holidays or family celebrations like birthdays or weddings. It can also be available to invite the wider neighborhood in for community interaction. There is a likewise large outdoor covered gathering space for more casual or impromptu socializing. Supporting both spaces is a large central kitchen which can have larger capacity appliances for use of residents and offers more space than in their private units for projects that need larger layout counters. There is a guest suite attached to the common area to accommodate visitors that allows both they and you privacy that is difficult when you have downsized to a condominium. There is a separate garage that can be set up for a shop or be used for extra storage of sports equipment or hobbies that would not fit within the single garage provided each unit. There are five two story townhouses at each corner separated by garages so they are very private and there is no chance of noise transmission through common walls. The rooms are on the small side, but there are large master baths and walk in closets normally found in larger homes. There is a second space that can be used for home office, guest room or media center. A studio apartment on the second floor can be rented out or used for an adult child that has moved back, or for a person that can act as a caretaker for the complex. Click here to see exterior views. Click here to see interior views. Click here to see another Co-housing Design Concept
On the tiny island of Coll with just two hundred residents off the coast of Scotland sits a modest masterwork of modern renovation - a brand new home slotted delicately inside the (reinforced) crumbling stone ruins of an ancient local manor. Planned around its predecessor, the new construction h ...
Image 24 of 37 from gallery of Xinzhai Coffee Manor / TAO - Trace Architecture Office. Photograph by Shengliang Su
Verdant Hill Manor is a luxurious classical mansion that stands proudly on a verdant hillside, surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. This architectural masterpiece is inspired by classical architecture, with its grand columns, sweeping arches, and intricate details that exude elegance and sophistication.
This newly built stone & brick home is located at 4725 Northside Drive in Sandy Springs, Georgia and is situated on over 6.5 acres of land.
Verdant Hill Manor is a luxurious classical mansion that stands proudly on a verdant hillside, surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. This architectural masterpiece is inspired by classical architecture, with its grand columns, sweeping arches, and intricate details that exude elegance and sophistication.
Award-winning contemporary architecture on Lord Rothschild's estate
This Italian country manor was once an 18th century spinning mill. See photos.
Award-winning contemporary architecture on Lord Rothschild's estate
Verdant Hill Manor is a luxurious classical mansion that stands proudly on a verdant hillside, surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. This architectural masterpiece is inspired by classical architecture, with its grand columns, sweeping arches, and intricate details that exude elegance and sophistication.
This Nordic-inspired farmhouse was beautifully renovated by Ripple Design Studio along with Lisa Staton Design in Woodinville, Washington.
Chen + Suchart Studio For husband-and-wife architects Thamarit Suchart and Patricia Szu-Ping Chen, Arizona offers more than just beautiful sunsets. Here, Chen says, people are open to new ideas, and the duo has plenty of those. They met while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, but moved back to Suchart’s home state (Chen is from Taiwan) in 2002. Today, they are working on a variety of projects—a tasting room at an Elgin winery, a multifamily residence, their own custom home—but took
This dog-friendly restaurant with rooms is the perfect bolthole for a weekend in the countryside
Verdant Hill Manor is a luxurious classical mansion that stands proudly on a verdant hillside, surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. This architectural masterpiece is inspired by classical architecture, with its grand columns, sweeping arches, and intricate details that exude elegance and sophistication.
Franck Lohsen McCrery's Wayside Manor in Middleburg, VA integrates the architecture and the landscape into one design scheme.
The 1820s house got the outbuildings it never had, just with more modern uses.
Nestled in the hills of Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles – an area that is a special enclave of mid-century residences that include neighbors such as Case Study #21 by Pierre Koenig built in 1959 – the design of the Wonderland Park Residence has been primarily driven by the motivation...
On the tiny island of Coll with just two hundred residents off the coast of Scotland sits a modest masterwork of modern renovation - a brand new home slotted delicately inside the (reinforced) crumbling stone ruins of an ancient local manor. Planned around its predecessor, the new construction h ...
a careful renovation of a complex historical program reactivates the original spaces with a combination of old and new materials and construction methods.
Turning a 1980s country house into a modern barn house that stands out from the crowd and welcomes you in a serene and sensational fashion, this fabulous, renovated residence in Los Angeles was transformed by Rios Clementi Hale Studios. The elegant conversion takes into account both the heritage of the structure, its current needs and […]
On the tiny island of Coll with just two hundred residents off the coast of Scotland sits a modest masterwork of modern renovation - a brand new home slotted delicately inside the (reinforced) crumbling stone ruins of an ancient local manor. Planned around its predecessor, the new construction h ...
Verdant Hill Manor is a luxurious classical mansion that stands proudly on a verdant hillside, surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. This architectural masterpiece is inspired by classical architecture, with its grand columns, sweeping arches, and intricate details that exude elegance and sophistication.
Restored middle ages Normandy France manor house barn and formal gardens by Russell Page Caroline Egremont classic French style
A dilapidated 18th-century country house in Wales becomes a perfect canvas for interior designer Penny Morrison's passion for offbeat colors and fanciful patterns.
