#and gray flooring. hamptons style

[thereisanother]

Home Bar in Perth

[valkyrierps]

Laundry Room Laundry

[rogerlilyrp]

Farmhouse Family Room in Melbourne

[smoke-under-skin]

Los Angeles Open

[hayleymulch-art]

Wainscoting Bedroom in Hampshire

[forestgames03]

The Gray House [Full Build CC List]

The perfect home for a small family.

this house is built on a 20x15 lot as part of my series where I rebuild Foundry Cove in the style of an English Village, you can find the YouTube playlist here

§126,601 , 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom

base game, jungle adventure + cc

Custom Content

hanging pothos

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royal dansk cookies

Grandma's changing table, crib + plush duck

baysic

baysic bathroom

river rocks

ceiling + floor lamp greatness

lavish

miscellanea standing books

slouch woven rug

the lighthouse collection

candles

room divider + frame

decorative pillows

delicious kitchen

metallic backsplash

vivid landscapes painting

stacked small plates

the bridge fridge

coastal 1

coastal 2

country 1

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octave 1

octave 3

table lamp

calliope bathroom

glasses, H&B Star 5G + relatively comfortable living chair

delicato stuff pack

livin rum'

MAYAKEN cozy kitchen

laundry storage bin + industrial clothing rack

Mr art rug

garden stories

stacked canvases

glass vase

midsummer eve garden lantern

cutting boards

stack of books

orjanic 2

rock a stack

futura living

hamptons getaway

kitayama living

kitayama bedroom

auntie vera

coldbrew 2

coldbrew 3

david apartment 1

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domaine du clos 2

livingroom mini kit

mcm 1

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oak house 2

oak house 4

oak house 5

the office mini kit

side table

rocky's rocks

nature's canvases + cuddle carpet

kessler kitchen pan

instant pod

tiny twavellers

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[nehasingh131289]

5 Distinctive Characteristics of the Australian Hamptons Look That Will Truly Amaze Anyone

The Australian Hamptons look is a design style that is characterized by a mix of classic and coastal elements, creating a timeless and elegant feel. The look is inspired by the classic Hamptons style from the United States, but with a distinctive Australian twist. Here are five distinctive characteristics of the Australian Hamptons look that will truly amaze anyone.

1. Neutral Color Palette

The Australian Hamptons look is known for its use of a neutral color palette, which includes shades of white, beige, and gray. This color scheme creates a calm and serene atmosphere, making it ideal for coastal living. The neutral colors also help to reflect natural light, making the interior spaces feel bright and airy.

2. Timber Accents

Timber accents are an essential element of the Australian Hamptons look. Timber is used for flooring, cabinetry, and furniture, creating a warm and welcoming feel. The timber used in this style is often light in color, with a natural or whitewashed finish. This timber is used to add texture and depth to the space, creating a cozy and inviting environment.

3. Woven Textures

Woven textures are another key element of the Australian Hamptons look. These textures are used in soft furnishings, such as cushions, throws, and rugs, as well as in furniture and accessories. Woven textures, such as wicker and rattan, add a natural and organic feel to the space, bringing the outdoors inside. The use of these materials creates a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, making it ideal for coastal living.

4. Classic Patterns

Classic patterns, such as stripes, checks, and florals, are often used in the Australian Hamptons look. These patterns are used in soft furnishings, such as cushions, curtains, and bed linen, as well as in wallpaper and accessories. The use of classic patterns adds a timeless and elegant feel to the space, creating a sophisticated and refined atmosphere.

5. Coastal Elements

Coastal elements, such as shells, driftwood, and coral, are often used in the Australian Hamptons look. These elements are used in accessories and decor, adding a natural and organic feel to the space. The use of these coastal elements brings the beauty of the ocean into the home, creating a relaxing and peaceful environment.

In conclusion, the Australian Hamptons look is a design style that combines classic and coastal elements, creating a timeless and elegant feel. The use of a neutral color palette, timber accents, woven textures, classic patterns, and coastal elements are distinctive characteristics of this style. The Australian Hamptons look is ideal for coastal living, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. If you are looking to create a timeless and elegant space with a touch of coastal charm, consider incorporating the distinctive characteristics of the Australian Hamptons look into your home.

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Architecture

This post has been waiting on the back burner for weeks and during this time of quarantine, I have decided to tackle it. This is probably the longest post I have ever done. I is very tired and hope that I have covered everything from Ancient times to the 19th Century, that will help you guys with your worldbuilding.

Materials

What you build with can be determined by the project you intend, the terrain you build on and the availability of the material. It is one characteristic that we writers can take some some liberties with.

Granite: Granite is an stone formed of Igneous activity near a fissure of the earth or a volcano. Granites come in a wide range of colour, most commonly white, pink, or grey depending on the minerals present. Granite is hard and a durable material to build with. It can be built with without being smoothed but it looks bitchin' and shiny all polished up.

Marble: Probably everyone's go to materials for building grand palaces and temples. Marble is formed when great pressure is placed on limestone. Marble can be easily damaged over time by rain as the calcium in the rock dissolves with the chemicals found in rain. Marble comes in blue, white, green, black, white, red, gray and yellow. Marble is an expensive material to build with, highly sought after for the most important buildings. Marble is easy to carve and shape and polishes to a high gleam. Marble is found at converging plate boundaries.

Obsidian: Obsidian is probably one of the most popular stones mentioned in fantasy works. Obsidian is an igneous rock formed of lava cooling quickly on the earth's surfaces. Obsidian is a very brittle and shiny stone, easy to polish but not quite a good building material but a decorative one.

Limestone: Limestone is made of fragments of marine fossils. Limestone is one of the oldest building materials. Limestone is an easy material to shape but it is easily eroded by rain which leads most limestone monuments looking weathered.

Concrete: Concrete has been around since the Romans. Concrete is formed when aggregate (crushed limstone, gravel or granite mixed with fine dust and sand) is mixed with water. Concrete can be poured into the desired shape making it a cheap and easy building material.

Brick: Brick was one of history's most expensive materials because they took so long to make. Bricks were formed of clay, soil, sand, and lime or concrete and joined together with mortar. The facade of Hampton Court Palace is all of red brick, a statement of wealth in the times.

Glass: Glass is formed of sand heated until it hardens. Glass is an expensive material and for many years, glass could not be found in most buildings as having glass made was very expensive.

Plaster: Plaster is made from gypsum and lime mixed with water. It was used for decoration purposes and to seal walls. A little known fact, children. Castle walls were likely painted with plaster or white render on the interior.

Wattle and Daub: Wattle and daub is a building material formed of woven sticks cemented with a mixture of mud, one of the most common and popular materials throughout time.

Building terms

Arcade: An arcade is a row of arches, supported by columns.

Arch: An arch is a curved feature built to support weight often used for a window or doorway.

Mosaic: Mosaics are a design element that involves using pieces of coloured glass and fitted them together upon the floor or wall to form images.

Frescos: A design element of painting images upon wet plaster.

Buttress: A structure built to reinforce and support a wall.

Column: A column is a pillar of stone or wood built to support a ceiling. We will see more of columns later on.

Eave: Eaves are the edges of overhanging roofs built to allow eater to run off.

Vaulted Ceiling: The vaulted ceilings is a self-supporting arched ceiling, than spans over a chamber or a corridor.

Colonnade: A colonnade is a row of columns joined the entablature.

Entablature: a succession of bands laying atop the tops of columns.

Bay Window: The Bay Window is a window projecting outward from a building.

Courtyard/ Atrium/ Court: The courtyard is an open area surrounded by buildings on all sides

Dome: The dome resembles a hollow half of a sphere set atop walls as a ceiling.

Façade: the exterior side of a building

Gable: The gable is a triangular part of a roof when two intersecting roof slabs meet in the middle.

Hyphen: The hyphen is a smaller building connecting between two larger structures.

Now, let's look at some historical building styles and their characteristics of each Architectural movement.

Classical Style

The classical style of Architecture cannot be grouped into just one period. We have five: Doric (Greek), Ionic (Greek), Corinthian (Greek), Tuscan (Roman) and Composite (Mixed).

Doric: Doric is the oldest of the orders and some argue it is the simplest. The columns of this style are set close together, without bases and carved with concave curves called flutes. The capitals (the top of the column) are plain often built with a curve at the base called an echinus and are topped by a square at the apex called an abacus. The entablature is marked by frieze of vertical channels/triglyphs. In between the channels would be detail of carved marble. The Parthenon in Athens is your best example of Doric architecture.

Ionic: The Ionic style was used for smaller buildings and the interiors. The columns had twin volutes, scroll-like designs on its capital. Between these scrolls, there was a carved curve known as an egg and in this style the entablature is much narrower and the frieze is thick with carvings. The example of Ionic Architecture is the Temple to Athena Nike at the Athens Acropolis.

Corinthian: The Corinthian style has some similarities with the Ionic order, the bases, entablature and columns almost the same but the capital is more ornate its base, column, and entablature, but its capital is far more ornate, commonly carved with depictions of acanthus leaves. The style was more slender than the others on this list, used less for bearing weight but more for decoration. Corinthian style can be found along the top levels of the Colosseum in Rome.

Tuscan: The Tuscan order shares much with the Doric order, but the columns are un-fluted and smooth. The entablature is far simpler, formed without triglyphs or guttae. The columns are capped with round capitals.

Composite: This style is mixed. It features the volutes of the Ionic order and the capitals of the Corinthian order. The volutes are larger in these columns and often more ornate. The column's capital is rather plain. for the capital, with no consistent differences to that above or below the capital.

Islamic Architecture

Islamic architecture is the blanket term for the architectural styles of the buildings most associated with the eponymous faith. The style covers early Islamic times to the present day. Islamic Architecture has some influences from Mesopotamian, Roman, Byzantine, China and the Mongols.

Paradise garden: As gardens are an important symbol in Islam, they are very popular in most Islamic-style buildings. The paradise gardens are commonly symmetrical and often enclosed within walls. The most common style of garden is split into four rectangular with a pond or water feature at the very heart. Paradise gardens commonly have canals, fountains, ponds, pools and fruit trees as the presence of water and scent is essential to a paradise garden.

Sehan: The Sehan is a traditional courtyard. When built at a residence or any place not considered to be a religious site, the sehan is a private courtyard. The sehan will be full of flowering plants, water features snd likely surrounded by walls. The space offers shade, water and protection from summer heat. It was also an area where women might cast off their hijabs as the sehan was considered a private area and the hijab was not required. A sehan is also the term for a courtyard of a mosque. These courtyards would be surrounded by buildings on all sides, yet have no ceiling, leaving it open to the air. Sehans will feature a cleansing pool at the centre, set under a howz, a pavilion to protect the water. The courtyard is used for rituals but also a place of rest and gathering.

Hypostyle Hall: The Hypostyle is a hall, open to the sky and supported by columns leading to a reception hall off the main hall to the right.

Muqarnas : Muqarnas is a type of ornamentation within a dome or a half domed, sometimes called a "honeycomb", or "stalactite" vaulted ceiling. This would be cast from stone, wood, brick or stucco, used to ornament the inside of a dome or cupola. Muqarnas are used to create transitions between spaces, offering a buffer between the spaces.

African Architecture

African Architecture is a very mixed bag and more structurally different and impressive than Hollywood would have you believe. Far beyond the common depictions of primitive buildings, the African nations were among the giants of their time in architecture, no style quite the same as the last but just as breathtaking.

Somali architecture: The Somali were probably had one of Africa's most diverse and impressive architectural styles. Somali Architecture relies heavy on masonry, carving stone to shape the numerous forts, temples, mosques, royal residences, aqueducts and towers. Islamic architecture was the main inspiration for some of the details of the buildings. The Somali used sun-dried bricks, limestone and many other materials to form their impressive buildings, for example the burial monuments called taalo

Ashanti Architecture: The Ashanti style can be found in present day Ghana. The style incorporates walls of plaster formed of mud and designed with bright paint and buildings with a courtyard at the heart, not unlike another examples on this post. The Ashanti also formed their buildings of the favourite method of wattle and daub.

Afrikaner Architecture: This is probably one of the oddest architectural styles to see. Inspired by Dutch settlers (squatters), the buildings of the colony (planters/squatters) of South Africa took on a distinctive Dutch look but with an Afrikaner twist to it making it seem both familiar and strange at the same time.

Rwandan Architecture: The Rwandans commonly built of hardened clay with thatched roofs of dried grass or reeds. Mats of woven reeds carpeted the floors of royal abodes. These residences folded about a large public area known as a karubanda and were often so large that they became almost like a maze, connecting different chambers/huts of all kinds of uses be they residential or for other purposes.

Aksumite Architecture: The Aksumite was an Empire in modern day Ethiopia. The Aksumites created buildings from stone, hewn into place. One only has to look at the example of Bete Medhane Alem to see how imposing it was.

Yoruba Architecture: Yoruba Architecture was made by earth cured until it hardened enough to form into walls, or they used wattle and daub, roofed by timbers slats coated in woven grass or leaves. Each unit divided up parts of the buildings from facilities to residences, all with multiple entrances, connected together.

Igbo Architecture: The Igbo style follows some patterns of the Yoruba architecture, excepting that there are no connected walls and the spacing is not so equal. The closer a unit was to the centre, the more important inhabitants were.

Hausa architecture: Hausa Architecture was formed of monolithic walls coated in plaster. The ceilings and roof of the buildings were in the shape of small domes and early vaulted ceilings of stripped timber and laterite. Hausa Architecture features a single entrance into the building and circular walls.

Nubian Architecture: Nubia, in modern day Ethiopia, was home to the Nubians who were one of the world's most impressive architects at the beginning of the architecture world and probably would be more talked about if it weren't for the Egyptians building monuments only up the road. The Nubians were famous for building the speos, tall tower-like spires carved of stone. The Nubians used a variety of materials and skills to build, for example wattle and daub and mudbrick. The Kingdom of Kush, the people who took over the Nubian Empire was a fan of Egyptian works even if they didn't like them very much. The Kushites began building pyramid-like structures such at the sight of Gebel Barkal

Egyptian Architecture: The Egyptians were the winners of most impressive buildings for s good while. Due to the fact that Egypt was short on wood, Ancient Egyptians returned to building with limestone, granite, mudbrick, sandstone which were commonly painted with bright murals of the gods along with some helpful directions to Anubis's crib. The Egyptians are of course famous for their pyramids but lets not just sit on that bandwagon. Egyptian Architecture sported all kinds of features such as columns, piers, obelisks and carving buildings out of cliff faces as we see at Karnak. The Egyptians are cool because they mapped out their buildings in such a way to adhere to astrological movements meaning on special days if the calendar the temple or monuments were in the right place always. The Egyptians also only build residences on the east bank of the Nile River, for the opposite bank was meant for the dead. The columns of Egyptian where thicker, more bulbous and often had capitals shaped like bundles of papyrus reeds.

Chinese Architecture

Chinese Architecture is probably one of the most recognisable styles in the world. The grandness of Chinese Architecture is imposing and beautiful, as classical today as it was hundreds of years ago.

The Presence of Wood: As China is in an area where earthquakes are common, most of the buildings are were build of wood as it was easy to come across and important as the Ancient Chinese wanted a connection to nature in their homes.

Overhanging Roofs: The most famous feature of the Chinese Architectural style are the tiled roofs, set with wide eaves and upturned corners. The roofs were always tiled with ceramic to protect wood from rotting. The eaves often overhung from the building providing shade.

Symmetrical Layouts: Chinese Architecture is symmetrical. Almost every feature is in perfect balance with its other half.

Fengshui: Fengshui are philosophical principles of how to layout buildings and towns according to harmony lain out in Taoism. This ensured that the occupants in the home where kept in health, happiness, wealth and luck.

One-story: As China is troubled by earthquakes and wood is not a great material for building multi-storied buildings, most Chinese buildings only rise a single floor. Richer families might afford a second floor but the single stories compounds were the norm.

Orientation: The Ancient Chinese believed that the North Star marked out Heaven. So when building their homes and palaces, the northern section was the most important part of the house and housed the heads of the household.

Courtyards: The courtyard was the most important area for the family within the home. The courtyard or siheyuan are often built open to the sky, surrounded by verandas on each side.

Japanese Architecture

Japanese Architecture is famous for its delicacy, smooth beauty and simplistic opulence. Japanese Architecture has been one of the world's most recognisable styles, spanning thousands of years.

Wood as a Common Material: As with the Chinese, the most popular material used by the Japanese is wood. Stone and other materials were not often used because of the presence of earthquakes. Unlike Chinese Architecture, the Japanese did not paint the wood, instead leaving it bare so show the grain.

Screens and sliding doors: The shoji and fusuma are the screens and sliding doors are used in Japanese buildings to divide chambers within the house. The screens were made of light wood and thin parchment, allowing light through the house. The screens and sliding doors were heavier when they where used to shutter off outside features.

Tatami: Tatami mats are used within Japanese households to blanket the floors. They were made of rice straw and rush straw, laid down to cushion the floor.

Verandas: It is a common feature in older Japanese buildings to see a veranda along the outside of the house. Sometimes called an engawa, it acted as an outdoor corridor, often used for resting in.

Genkan: The Genkan was a sunken space between the front door and the rest of the house. This area is meant to separate the home from the outside and is where shoes are discarded before entering.

Nature: As both the Shinto and Buddhist beliefs are great influences upon architecture, there is a strong presence of nature with the architecture. Wood is used for this reason and natural light is prevalent with in the home. The orientation is meant to reflect the best view of the world.

Indian Architecture

India is an architectural goldmine. There are dozens of styles of architecture in the country, some spanning back thousands of years, influenced by other cultures making a heady stew of different styles all as beautiful and striking as the last.

Mughal Architecture: The Mughal architecture blends influences from Islamic, Persian along with native Indian. It was popular between the 16th century -18th century when India was ruled by Mughal Emperors. The Taj Mahal is the best example of this.

Indo-Saracenic Revival Architecture: Indo Saracenic Revival mixes classical Indian architecture, Indo-Islamic architecture, neo-classical and Gothic revival of the 1800s.

Cave Architecture: The cave architecture is probably one of the oldest and most impressive styles of Indian architecture. In third century BC, monks carved temples and buildings into the rock of caves.

Rock-Cut Architecture: The Rock-cut is similar to the cave style, only that the rock cut is carved from a single hunk of natural rock, shaped into buildings and sprawling temples, all carved and set with statues.

Vesara Architecture: Vesara style prevalent in medieval period in India. It is a mixture of the Dravida and the Nagara styles. The tiers of the Vesara style are shorter than the other styles.

Dravidian Architecture: The Dravidian is the southern temple architectural style. The Kovils are an example of prime Dravidian architecture. These monuments are of carved stone, set up in a step like towers like with statues of deities and other important figures adorning them.

Kalinga Architecture: The Kalinga style is the dominant style in the eastern Indian provinces. The Kalinga style is famous for architectural stipulations, iconography and connotations and heavy depictions of legends and myths.

Sikh Architecture: Sikh architecture is probably the most intricate and popular of the styles here. Sikh architecture is famous for its soft lines and details.

Romanesque (6th -11th century/12th)

Romanesque Architecture is a span between the end of Roman Empire to the Gothic style. Taking inspiration from the Roman and Byzantine Empires, the Romanesque period incorporates many of the styles.

Rounded arches: It is here that we see the last of the rounded arches famous in the classical Roman style until the Renaissance. The rounded arches are very popular in this period especially in churches and cathedrals. The rounded arches were often set alongside each other in continuous rows with columns in between.

Details: The most common details are carved floral and foliage symbols with the stonework of the Romanesque buildings. Cable mouldings or twisted rope-like carvings would have framed doorways.

Pillars: The Romanesque columns is commonly plainer than the classical columns, with ornate captials and plain bases. Most columns from this time are rather thick and plain.

Barrel Vaults: A barrel vaulted ceiling is formed when a curved ceiling or a pair of curves (in a pointed ceiling). The ceiling looks rather like half a tunnel, completely smooth and free of ribs, stone channels to strengthen the weight of the ceiling.

Arcading: An arcade is a row of arches in a continual row, supported by columns in a colonnade. Exterior arcades acted as a sheltered passage whilst inside arcades or blind arcades, are set against the wall the arches bricked, the columns and arches protruding from the wall.

Gothic Architecture (12th Century - 16th Century)

The Gothic Architectural style is probably one of the beautiful of the styles on this list and one of most recognisable. The Gothic style is a dramatic, opposing sight and one of the easiest to describe.

Pointed arch: The Gothic style incorporates pointed arches, in the windows and doorways. The arches were likely inspired by pre-Islamic architecture in the east.

Ribbed vault: The ribbed vault of the Gothic age was constructed of pointed arches. The trick with the ribbed vaulted ceiling, is that the pointed arches and channels to bear the weight of the ceiling.

Buttresses: The flying buttress is designed to support the walls. They are similar to arches and are connected to counter-supports fixed outside the walls.

Stained-Glass Window: This is probably one of the most recognisable and beautiful of the Gothic features. They can be set in round rose windows or in the pointed arches.

Renaissance Architecture (15th Century- 17th Century)

Renaissance architecture was inspired by Ancient Roman and Greek Architecture. Renaissance Architecture is Classical on steroids but has its own flare. The Renaissance was a time for colour and grandeur.

Columns and pilasters: Roman and Greek columns were probably the greatest remix of the Renaissance period. The architecture of this period incorporated the five orders of columns are used: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite. The columns were used to hold up a structure, support ceilings and adorn facades. Pilasters were columns within a chamber, lining the walls for pure decoration purposes.

Arches: Arches are rounded in this period, having a more natural semi-circular shape at its apex. Arches were a favourite feature of the style, used in windows, arcades or atop columns.

Cupola: Is a small dome-like tower atop a bigger dome or a rooftop meant to allow light and air into the chamber beneath.

Vaulted Ceiling/Barrel Vault: Renaissance vaulted ceilings do not have ribs. Instead they are semi-circular in shape, resting upon a square plain rather than the Gothic preference of rectangular. The barrel vault held by its own weight and would likely be coated in plaster and painted.

Domes: The dome is the architectural feature of the Renaissance. The ceiling curves inwards as it rises, forming a bowl like shape over the chamber below. The dome's revival can be attributed to Brunelleschi and the Herculean feat of placing a dome on the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. The idea was later copied by Bramante who built St. Peter's Basilica.

Frescos: To decorate the insides of Renaissance buildings, frescos (the art of applying wet paint to plaster as it dries) were used to coat the walls and ceilings of the buildings. The finest frescos belong to Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.

Baroque (1625–1750)

Baroque incorporates some key features of Renaissance architecture, such as those nice columns and domes we saw earlier on. But Baroque takes that to the next level. Everything is higher, bigger, shinier, brighter and more opulent. Some key features of Baroque palaces and buildings would be:

Domes: These domes were a common feature, left over from the Renaissance period. Why throw out a perfectly good bubble roof, I ask you? But Baroque domes were of course, grander. Their interiors were were nearly always painted or gilded, so it drew the eye upwards which is basically the entire trick with Baroque buildings. Domes were not always round in this building style and Eastern European buildings in Poland and Ukraine for example sport pear-shaped domes.

Solomonic columns: Though the idea of columns have been about for years but the solomonic columns but their own twist on it. These columns spiral from beginning to end, often in a s-curved pattern.

Quadratura: Quadratura was the practice of painting the ceilings and walls of a Baroque building with trompe-l'oeil. Most real life versions of this depict angels and gods in the nude. Again this is to draw the eye up.

Mirrors: Mirrors came into popularity during this period as they were a cool way to create depth and light in a chamber. When windows faced the mirrors on the wall, it creates natural light and generally looks bitchin'. Your famous example is the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.

Grand stairways: The grand sweeping staircases became popular in this era, often acting as the centre piece in a hall. The Baroque staircase would be large and opulent, meant for ceremonies and to smoother guests in grandeur.

Cartouche: The cartouche is a design that is created to add some 3D effect to the wall, usually oval in shape with a convex surface and edged with scrollwork. It is used commonly to outline mirrors on the wall or crest doorways just to give a little extra opulence.

Neoclassical (1750s-19th century)

The Neoclassical Period involved grand buildings inspired by the Greek orders, the most popular being the Doric. The main features of Neoclassical architecture involve the simple geometric lines, columns, smooth walls, detailing and flat planed surfaces. The bas-reliefs of the Neoclassical style are smoother and set within tablets, panels and friezes. St. Petersburg is famous for the Neoclassical styles brought in under the reign of Catherine the Great.

Greek Revival (late 18th and early 19th century)

As travel to other nations became easier in this time period, they became to get really into the Ancient Greek aesthetic. During this architectural movement they brought back the gabled roof, the columns and the entablature. The Greek Revival was more prevalent in the US after the Civil War and in Northern Europe.

Hope this helps somewhat @marril96

[hometoursandotherstuff]

It’s not often that you find a hotel where each room is personally decorated- usually, they’re done in standard hotel-type furniture. Not so, this hotel in East Hampton, UK.  The Swedish-born owner has used Scandinavian elements to decorate his hotel. The interior has cheerful colors and a combination of styles.

There’s a lot of good inspiration here. Painted gray/green kitchen cabinetry is “in” right now, and I love how black looks with it. 

The sunroom is a colorful play of patterns against a black wall with arctic white trim.

Bright blue walls and a fuchsia settee invites guests to linger in front of a glass-tiled fireplace.

A mosaic of patterned fabric replaces a traditional headboard and a cobalt-blue fabric with cheery yellow lemons—covers a settee. There’s a bedroom decorated to suit every taste in this hotel.

The Carl von Linné room, named for the famed Swedish botanist who laid the foundations for modern taxonomy—is a naturalist’s dream, with a serene woodland color scheme with the feel of sleeping outdoors.

Scientific illustrations adorn the walls, and dried specimens of plants line the shelves above a worn wood desk.

The room of Norwegian ice-skating champion Sonja Henie has a Hollywood Regency vibe, thanks to a starburst mirror, velvet bed linens, and a tufted leather headboard.

Icy pink and gray tones are the hallmark of the Sonja Henie room. This would be the room I would pick- I love old movies starring Sonja Henie.

Lace-embellished wallpaper creates an ideal backdrop for shelving that mirrors the look of floating doilies.

Inspired by the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl's expedition to Polynesia, this room features a headboard that resembles his sail-powered raft and wallpaper in a stylized palm-leaf motif.

Natural elements, such as such light fixtures made from shells and a raw wood stool in the bathroom, loosely follow the suite's Polynesian theme. Interesting patchwork quilt tile pattern. 

On the other end of the spectrum, the Edvard Munch room is moody and medieval—a fitting tribute to the expressionist painter behind The Scream.

A deep-hued vignette comprises a stately dome chair upholstered in high-drama crocodile skin, a bronze pharmacy lamp, and a marble-top side table.

Each bathroom is outfitted with a marble vanity and a stately claw-foot tub. This one also has classic black & white floor tiles and bright wallpaper that really makes it pop.

This room features streamlined furnishings and mod striped walls.

Among the room's clean-lined wood pieces: a chair tucked into a corner and a bath stool by the sauna-like tub.

Bright patterned textiles, and antique rag rugs, plus colorful books brighten up a covered porch painted deep gray. Which room is your favorite?

https://www.lonny.com/Monday+Design+Daydream/articles/T4YUdap_C7X/The+Nordic+Track

[malecsecretsanta]

Merry Christmas, bidnezz!

For @bidnezz. Happy Holidays! I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it.

Read On AO3

*****

wouldn’t it be the perfect crime (if I stole your heart, you stole mine)

If Alec knew that being an FBI agent would involve long hours of schmoozing at a fancy party in the Hamptons, he might have chosen a different career. He thought he’d left this kind of thing behind him along with his parents’ plans for a future they’d never even bothered to consult him about when he chose Quantico over Columbia Law. But, no. It turns out that years of enduring tedious socialites means he’s apparently the perfect person to send undercover in a gathering of tedious socialites.

“Quit looking so bored out there, Lightwood.” Lydia’s voice is flat and tinny in his earpiece. “I’m the one stuck back here watching the cameras all night. At least you get to sample the canapes.”

Lydia Branwell had been a class ahead of Alec at Quantico, and as the newest member of the team, it should by tradition be Alec on camera watching duty, but Agent Aldertree thought he'd blend in better. Not only does Alec disagree, but he's certain he and Lydia would both be a lot happier with their roles reversed.

Alec grabs a couple canapes from a passing tray and makes sure he's in full view of the nearest security camera as he wraps them in a cocktail napkin and tucks them into his pocket to give to Lydia later. He hears a soft snort, and Alec is glad to have brought a little levity into this very, very boring assignment.

The whole mission is a long shot. When the host of the party contacted the authorities about a series of notes he received that could maybe be construed as threatening and explained his very tumultuous history with a man who just so happened to be on the FBI's most wanted list, Alec's superiors at the Bureau decided it was a lead worth pursuing, especially since the notes made repeated references to this particular party, which was apparently an annual tradition. Personally, Alec thinks the notes sound more like an annoyed neighbor or fed-up employee than actual threats, let alone threats from a guy wily enough to have evaded authorities for almost two decades, but his superiors think this op is worth it, and they’re the experts.

Alec takes up a position near some kind of decorative pot thing, pretending to examine it while he scans the other side of the room for any new faces or anyone that looks even remotely like their target.

“That’s a lovely piece,” says a voice over his left shoulder.

Alec starts. He didn’t notice anyone approaching him, and he’s usually a hard guy to sneak up on. His surprise only grows when he turns to the man who’d spoken. Alec cannot begin to fathom how, in his hours of surveilling this crowd, he’s managed to miss a man who looks like that.

Deep brown eyes are rimmed with kohl and accented with a just a hint of vivid blue that perfectly matches the streak in the man’s hair and the stitching on his brocade waistcoat. His nails are lacquered in a deeper blue set off by the array of silver rings that adorn his fingers. His lips quirk in an amused, almost secretive smile that steals Alec’s breath and gives him a number of thoughts that aren’t entirely appropriate to be having about a man he’s only just met, and definitely not appropriate to have while he’s working.

“Are you a fan of ceramics?” the man asks, and Alec flushes, realizing that he’s been staring. He’s a little surprised he can’t hear Lydia snickering at him in his earpiece. She must have decided to be kind and mute her mic.

“Not really,” Alec admits. “I just, um. I like the blue.”

The way the man’s smile widens makes it clear he knows Alec isn’t talking about the pot. Still, he nods at it and says, “Cobalt oxide. That’s what gives that vivid blue when fired at high temperatures. Very emblematic of Ming dynasty porcelain, although the style did spread to the West in the following centuries.”

Alec blinks. “Wait, is that thing an actual Ming vase?” He doesn’t know much about ceramics, or art in general, but he’s heard his parents’ friends go on about it enough to know that a Ming vase is very valuable, and not the kind of thing most people have just sitting around their house. Although, this particular house could probably be more accurately described as a mansion.

“Oh yes,” the man assures him, reaching out a hand to point at the vase. “See that faint rust color down near the bottom rim? That’s not something you tend to see except on real Ming dynasty porcelain. It’s caused by a reaction between the firing process and the iron in the particular Kaolin clay used. It causes that rust color on any parts of the piece that aren’t fully glazed, most often seen near the bottom rim.”

Alec nods, but he’s not paying attention to the vase anymore. Instead, his eyes are caught by the strip of skin revealed when the man pointed at the vase, and the color that adorns it. He’s surprised by the sharp disappointment that wells up, and he feels immediately foolish for it. What does it matter that this man who he’s barely exchanged a handful of words with and whose name he doesn’t even know has a soulmate? Especially since the indistinct gray lines on his own forearm mean Alec has a soulmate somewhere out there, too.

It shouldn’t matter. But, somehow, it does.

“It’s not a sure sign, of course,” the man is saying. “A competent forger could fake it. But Lorenzo is notoriously thorough in vetting his collection for authenticity, so in this particular case— Oh.”

Alec pulls himself out of his own thoughts, wondering what caught the man’s attention so suddenly, only to find the man’s gaze fixed on him, sharp and intense. Alec can’t look away.

“I’m Magnus,” the man tells him.

“Alexander. Um, Alec. Everyone calls me Alec.”

“Alexander.” Magnus says his name almost like a prayer. “Would you—”

“Darling, there you are.” It’s the word ‘darling’ as much as Lydia’s hand on his arm that finally breaks Alec’s lazer focus on Magnus. ‘Darling’ is their code word that an op has gone off the rails, and if Lydia is out here talking to him in person instead of over his earpiece from the security room, then something is definitely very wrong. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“I didn’t realize,” Alec tells her. He turns back to Magnus, excuse already on his lips, only to find that the other man has already disappeared back into the crowd.

Alec firmly pushes aside the ridiculous sense of loss that accompanies that realization. He has a job to do, and he shouldn’t have let himself get distracted in the first place. Especially not by a man who’s already found his soulmate.

“All our cameras and communications went down about five minutes ago,” Lydia explains in a low voice. “Aldertree and Fairbrand are running protection on Rey. We need to round up Starkwright and Heygrove.”

It takes two hours to clear out the guests without causing a panic and another half hour before they discover the missing painting: a Renoir that had hung in the library on the second floor. It was expertly cut from the frame without setting off any of the alarms meant to protect the precious piece of art.

It isn’t until he’s back in his hotel room that Alec sees it, the dark curl visible as soon as he unbuttons the cuff of his shirt sleeve. He can barely breathe as he rolls his sleeve up to reveal his now fully-formed soulmark.

Alec stares down at the image of a sleek black cat with eyes such a vivid gold they almost seem to glow. Something in the tilt of its head and set of its tail are distinctly reminiscent of Magnus's smile. Alec isn't sure if he wants to laugh or cry.

He's still unsure two days later when the Art Crimes Team announces that the Renoir was stolen by the notorious art thief Le Chat Noir.

~!~

Magnus is on his fourth glass of whiskey when Ragnor and Cat make it back to the rendezvous.

"I'll have you know," Ragnor says, "that it is deeply unfair of you to start celebrating without us when we did most of the work on this—" He stops mid-sentence and mid-stride when he actually processes what he's seeing.

"Magnus," he says slowly, "are you drinking whiskey?"

And Magnus is so, so grateful that his friends know him as well as they do. Well enough to recognize his heartbreak drink. Well enough that all he has to do is show them his arm, now bearing the image of three crossed arrows fletched in blue, and they understand without him having to say a word.

Catarina stows their prize and gear while Ragnor grabs two more glasses. For several minutes, the three drink in silence.

"You know," Catarina offers as Magnus fills his glass for the fifth time, "we don't have to go Prague right away. It's more dangerous to stay in the States, but if you want to stay, Magnus, if you want to find your soulmate again, you know we'll help you look."

Magnus shakes his head. There's a part of him that does want to find Alexander, desperately wants to recapture the hope he had in those first moments after he noticed that his mark had changed. But that hope was built on a fantasy, and Magnus is fairly certain Alexander doesn't want to be found. Not everyone who has a soulmate wants one, after all.

"He's married," Magnus says.

He doesn't tell them what it felt like to watch the pretty blonde slide her arm through Alexander's, light glinting off her gold wedding band. He doesn't say that it felt like a physical blow to hear her call him darling.

They leave for Prague in the morning.

~!~

It takes Alec two years to get reassigned to the Art Crime Team. Two years of spending all his off hours studying, because he knows nothing about art when he starts. Two years of gathering evidence for what he knows has to be true, because Magnus was standing right next to him when the Renoir was taken, but no one actually on the case seems to have figured out yet.

He doesn't let himself feel guilty when he presents his case and the SAIC praises him for figuring out that Le Chat Noir is a team rather than a single person. He can't let himself feel guilty, because he has to find Magnus. He just isn't sure yet what he's going to do when he does find him.

It should be easy. Alec is an officer of the law. Magnus is a criminal. Soulmates or not, there's only one way for this to end.

But.

But the longer Alec studies Le Chat Noir's crimes, the more details he learns, the less certain he is about, well, anything. Because Le Chat Noir never hurt anyone in the course of their heists—not even minor injuries—and a lot of the art they take only technically belongs to the people they steal from. And all of those pieces—taken from families by invading armies, plundered by early archaeologists who gave no thought to the supposed savages whose cultural artifacts they took—always seem to find themselves back in the hands of their original owners' descendents.

That’s not all Magnus and his team steal, of course. Some of the pieces they steal, like the Renoir, are clearly chosen for their monetary value. But even then...

When Alec joined the Bureau, he did it with dreams of protecting people from violent criminals who prey on others. He can’t help noticing that the people Le Chat Noir steals those valuable pieces of art from all seem to share much more in common with the sorts of people Alec always thought he’d be putting behind bars than those he thought he’d be protecting.

"I've got the neighbor's security footage from the Rouse case for us to review."

Alec winces at the thought of reviewing yet more grainy security cam footage, especially first thing in the morning in the company of his distressingly chipper partner.

"I also brought you coffee."

His distressingly chipper, but also very thoughtful partner.

"You're a godsend, Fray," he tells her, accepting the cup. "What have we got?"

"Simon cut out all of the footage with no movement on it, but we're still looking at about ten hours."

"Which leaves us with five hours each if we split it," Alec says. "So let's see if we can get this done by lunch."

Alec finds Magnus in the third hour of footage. He's only in frame for a few seconds, and Alec has to backup twice to be sure. And then he backs up several more times just to satisfy the part of him that's desperate for even that much of his soulmate.

He doesn't tell Clary. He tells himself it's because Magnus isn't doing anything on the security footage besides walking down the street the morning before the theft, that he would have to explain who Magnus is and how Alec knows who he is.

He's relieved when someone else on the team puts it together that Le Chat Noir is responsible for the theft.

~!~

Magnus manages to ignore his soulmate's existence for almost three years, or at least make a good show of it. And it’s fine, really. He reassures Cat of this every time she asks, reassures Ragnor every time he gives Magnus one of those looks. Any foolish, romantic fantasies Magnus might entertain between sleeping and waking are between him and his idiot heart.

Except then Alexander is there on the television, standing among the team of FBI agents investigating Le Chat Noir’s latest stateside heist (one that Magnus is particularly proud of, thank you very much), and looking just unfairly hot in his dark suit. And there’s really just no ignoring that.

Magnus spends the next week researching. Some things are easy to find out. There are only twenty agents on the FBI’s Art Crimes Team, and currently only one Alexander. From there, it’s easy enough to track down Alec’s employment and school records, his family, even his gym membership. Other things take a bit more work, like his current address, mobile number, and email.

One thing is very clear, though, no matter how many times or places Magnus checks: Special Agent Alexander Lightwood is not—has never been—married.

“I messed up.”

Ragnor and Catarina exchange a worried look.

“Magnus, he’s an FBI agent,” Catarina says gently.

“An FBI agent currently trying to track down and arrest all of us,” Ragnor adds, somewhat less gently.

Magnus knows they’re right. He does. But...

“He’s my soulmate. And I just left.”

There’s no fixing this, Magnus knows, but he can’t leave things the way they are.

~!~

The first note comes on heavy cream cardstock, delivered to the PO box Alec uses for anything that might get him put on a mailing list. It’s addressed simply to “Alexander,” and he knows as soon as he reads it who sent it.

It takes almost a week to determine that the anonymous tip about their current case is legitimate, and only a few days longer before they have the perpetrators of the string of violent home invasion robberies in custody. It’s the first case Alec has worked since he transferred to the Art Crimes Team where the criminals seem as interested in hurting the people they steal from as stealing valuable art, and he’s very, very glad to have it behind him.

After that, the notes become a regular thing. They come in a variety of formats: cards sent to Alec’s PO box, his home, his office; texts from burner phones; emails from non-existent addresses; tucked into a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses on Alec’s 28th birthday. They don’t come for every case Alec works, probably not even one in ten, but they do keep coming.

Alec never mentions the notes to his team after the first one. He can’t keep them from Clary, not all of them, but she never mentions it to anyone else, never suggests that they should. For once, Alec is very grateful for his partner’s tenuous relationship with following rules.

Alec keeps that first note tucked into the billfold of his wallet.

~!~

Magnus isn’t sure why started sending the notes. No, that’s not true. He sent the first note because those sadistic bastards were giving all art thieves a bad name, and they didn’t deserve to have beautiful things any more than the people Magnus steals from do. He sent the tip about how they were offloading the pieces they stole (and really, how sloppy were they that Magnus had found it so easily?) to Alexander because, well, it was the closest he could get to an apology.

Magnus isn’t sure why he keeps sending the notes, but he can’t seem to stop. It would be easy to say that it’s the only way he knows to be—in some small way—a part of Alexander’s life. And that is a part of it, but...but the truth is, it’s also fun. There are too many art thieves who have no place in the business, either just because they’re terribly sloppy (really, do they have no respect at all for their craft?) or because they’re horrible people who Magnus has no desire to share an occupation with. Screwing them over while also making Alexander’s life a little bit easier is doubly satisfying.

“I think we should retire,” Ragnor says. They’ve just finalized the sale of their latest score and are having drinks in Barcelona to celebrate.

“Retire?” Magnus asks. “Why?” He can’t help noticing that Catarina doesn’t look surprised.

“Because,” Ragnor says with a shrug, “I don’t think any of our hearts are really in it anymore. I started doing this for the money and the thrill. Now, I think I’m getting a little too old for thrills, and I have more money than god.”

“You’re thirty-eight,” Magnus points out irritably.

“Even so,” Ragnor says. “And you’ve gotten all wrapped up in your,” he waves his hand, “side project.”

Magnus can’t deny it, he’s been distracted. But that doesn’t mean he wants to quit.

“Cat?” Magnus asks, turning to look at her.

“When I was little,” Catarina says, studying the dregs of her Manhattan, “I wanted to be a nurse. After my parents kicked me out, I gave up on that dream, but lately I’ve been thinking maybe I could settle down, go back to school.” She looks up, meeting Magnus’s eyes. “This, what we do, it was great when I was sixteen, when I was twenty-five. But it was never supposed to be forever, and I think. I think I’m done.”

“I see.”

It’s Magnus’s turn to stare into his drink. The truth is, he’s never thought about retirement, not really. Cat and Ragnor chose this life, and maybe it wasn’t much of a choice for either of them, but they weren’t born into it the way Magnus was. Stealing is something his friends do, but it’s who Magnus is. Going straight just isn’t an option for Asmodeus Bane’s son.

Is it?

“Maybe you’re right,” Magnus says.

If Cat and Ragnor want to retire, he doesn’t want to be what stops them. Magnus can always take some time off, and when his friends are settled into their new lives and well clear of him and his father’s influence, he can look into putting together a new team. It won’t be the same without Cat and Ragnor, but Magnus will survive. He always does.

And maybe... Maybe it means something that Magnus’s soulmate isn’t a thief. That Alexander is about as far from a thief as you can get. Maybe...

Magnus doesn’t let himself finish the thought, but he doesn’t let go of it, either.

~!~

“Come on, we’re going out for lunch.”

Alec looks up from the report he’s in the middle of. “Uh, not today. I’ve got a lot of paperwork to catch up on.”

“Yes, today,” Clary says, reaching down to flip his folder closed. “We’ve been working crazy hours all month, and I’m not letting you skip lunch again now that we’ve closed the case just so you can do paperwork.”

For all of Alec’s protests, he finds himself in the passenger seat of Clary’s car not ten minutes later. He frowns when realizes they’re headed out of the city.

“Where are we going?”

“Just a little hole in the wall place I found.” Clary’s voice is light, but she has her mission face on. “I think you’ll like it.”

Alec is suddenly on high alert. He has no idea what’s going on, but it’s clear Clary is worried about someone listening in, and whatever this is, he trusts Clary. He doesn’t always like her, but he trusts her.

“There’d better be melted cheese involved,” Alec tells her.

By the time they pull up to a modern, high-rise apartment building in Bethesda, Alec’s stomach is doing somersaults. He follows Clary up to an apartment on the fourth floor, not sure what to think when she pushes open the door and motions Alec inside.

The inside of the apartment looks like the platonic ideal of a nerdy bachelor pad, with an entire wall of the front room devoted to an extensive video game collection punctuated by superhero figurines, and an empty pizza box on the coffee table.

And the platonic ideal of a nerdy bachelor sprawled on the couch with a laptop.

“Lewis?” Alec says. “What are you doing here?”

“Uh,” Simon answers, “you’re in my apartment, dude.”

“It’s the only place we could think of that we’re sure the Bureau doesn’t have under surveillance,” Clary explains. “And you might be my partner, but I don’t actually want to lose my job for you if I can help it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I sweep the place for bugs every couple weeks,” Simon says. “I helped develop a lot of the current surveillance tech, so it’s easy enough to find them. They spy on all of us, you know. Like, all the time.”

“No, I—” Alec shakes his head. “Why are you worried about bugs? And what’s this about Fray losing her job?”

Clary and Simon exchange a look, that wordless communication they have that never fails to give Alec a headache.

Finally, Clary looks at him, just the faintest hint of uncertainty in her smile. “Simon figured out where your notes are coming from.”

Alec feels the bottom drop out of his stomach. “What?”

“I’ve actually been tracking them for a while,” Simon explains. “But they were never sent from the same place more than once. Not until recently.”

“But why?” Alec knows his poker face is terrible. It’s why he never goes undercover anymore. Still, he tries very hard to act like this is no big deal. “They’re just anonymous tips.” He’s pretty sure he fails.

“Because they’re from your soulmate?” Simon says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“That’s not— I don’t—” Alec can feel the panic rising in his chest and does his best to push it down. If he lets it overtake him, there will be no getting out of this. “Why would you even think that?”

“That time in Atlanta,” Clary says, “when you got stabbed. I saw your soulmark when the nurse put in the IV for your antibiotic drip.” She shrugs. “After that, it didn’t take a genius to figure it all out.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Fuck, Atlanta was years ago. “Why didn’t you turn me in?”

“I told you, you’re my partner,” Clary says, looking almost offended. “And you haven’t done anything actually illegal.” She holds up a hand. “Don’t tell me if you have. Please. Besides, your soulmate’s been helping us solve cases.”

“But you decided to tell Lewis?”

“He’s my best friend. I trust him.”

“Also a hopeless romantic,” Simon adds cheerfully. “I’m kinda jealous of this whole star-crossed lovers thing you’ve got going on, to be honest. Like Romeo and Juliet, but with less death.”

“Oh god,” Alec says, sinking onto the couch and burying his face in his hands. He can’t believe he’s been this careless. Who else knows?

“I can see your panic wheels spinning, Lightwood,” Clary says. “And I think you might have missed the important part, here.”

Alec raises his head to look at her. “Missed what?”

“Simon found where the notes are coming from. We have an address.”

“The messages have been coming from the same place for over a year,” Simon adds.

Alec stares at the slip of paper Simon holds out to him like it might bite him if he touches it. “What am I supposed to do with that?”

“That,” Clary says, “is above my pay grade.”

Alec takes the paper with a shaking hand. If Magnus has stopped moving around, does that mean he wants to be found?

~!~

Magnus watches the sun dip beneath the Paris skyline. Nearly two years into his stay in the city, and he’s still not tired of the sight. It’s the longest he can remember ever staying anywhere. Maybe there’s something to this whole retirement thing.

He sips his martini and flips open the stupidly expensive imported issue of The New York Times he purchased entirely for the very grainy photo of Alexander, along with the rest of his team, on page A-7. Magnus didn’t help with the case they’d recently closed, but he can’t help being just a little proud of Alexander, regardless. There’s a part of him that knows this whole thing is foolish. He can’t spend the rest of his life pining after a man he met for five minutes a decade ago, soulmate or no soulmate. He needs to let it go, needs to let Alexander go. He runs his fingers over the photograph, staining them with newsprint. Just. Not tonight.

A sharp knock on his front door pulls Magnus out of his thoughts. It’s probably Madame Boucher from upstairs again. The woman has to be old enough to be Magnus’s grandmother, but she’s still a terrible flirt and comes up with the most ridiculous excuses to stop by Magnus’s loft at least twice a week. Magnus adores her.

“Êtes-vous à nouveau à court de sucre, ou—” Magnus freezes in the act of opening the door when he registers who, exactly, is on the other side.

“Uh, my French is pretty rusty, but I definitely don’t have any sugar.”

“Agent Lightwood,” Magnus says, holding onto the door like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. Maybe it is. “I’m fairly certain the FBI doesn’t have any jurisdiction here.”

Alexander frowns, a tiny crease appearing between his eyebrows that Magnus refuses—can’t afford—to find endearing. “I’m not here in a professional capacity.”

“Then why are you here?” Magnus’s voice comes out sharper than he intends. He doesn’t know what to do with any of this, with Alexander standing in his doorway, with the longing trying to claw its way out of his chest.

“I thought— And then, you sent all those messages.”

Alexander pushes up the sleeve on his sweater, and Magnus sees his soulmark for the first time. Magnus has to dig his fingers into the doorframe to keep from reaching out to trace its lines. It’s startling how a cat can bear such a striking resemblance to him. He wonders if Alexander would have the same reaction to his mark.

“Oh god,” Alec says, misinterpreting Magnus’s silence. “I’m an idiot. I’m sorry. I’ll just— I’ll go.”

“Alexander, wait.”

The moment Magnus’s hand closes around Alec’s wrist, a frission of energy goes through them both. Magnus should let go. He should.

He doesn’t.

“It’s just,” Magnus says, “I’m a retired art thief and you’re an FBI agent. What kind of future could there be for us?”

“Former,” Alexander answers.

Magnus frowns in confusion. “What?”

“Former FBI agent.” Alexander gives him a sheepish smile. “I, um. Resigned. Before I got on the plane to come here.”

“You quit your job?” Magnus understands the words, but he’s having trouble assigning them meaning. “Why?”

Alexander shrugs. “Why’d you retire?”

“I—” Magnus wants to say that it’s not the same. But, then again, maybe it is. “So, where do we go from here?”

“I was thinking we could start with dinner?” Alexander smiles, hopeful and earnest, and Magnus feels that same spark of hope light up his chest that he felt all those years ago when he realized who Alexander was to him.

“I’ll get my coat.” Magnus lets his fingers slide free from Alexander’s wrist, and it doesn’t feel like letting go.

[captain-handy-landscaping-blog]

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Love - Spider Man Homecoming ~ Chp. 1

- I'm uploading this because it's one of my smallest stories so far chapter wise.

- Full title: Love and War; based on song by Fleurie

- No warnings; just bland really since it's just starting

----

- gif not mine ⬇️

1st Pov. Rose

My mother used to say, “Realize that if a door closed, its because what was behind it wasn’t meant for you.” She told me this first 12 years ago, with each new beginning, with each new ending. The last time, it was the day she chose to leave my father.

I thought she abandoned me, now… I think it was for the best. My father did things, terrible things, but I forgave him long ago. I wouldn’t be who I am today without his exp…. His curiosity. I love my father, no matter the crime. It never mattered.

--

I sat up slowly, my eyes squeezing shut from sunlight invading my window shades. My feet fall to the floor, the waxed floors making my ankle white socks slide againsts it. I push to a stand, stepping down my father’s white loft hallway. I turn to my left, switching on the large mirror light, the white tile walls making the room brighter.

I grab my blue hair comb, my tight brown curls untangling with each stroke.

“You’ll have to be taking the metro railway for school. My new job gives me a driver only for work.” My father says, his hair swept up and back, his blue eyes sticking out against his grey silk button up. His hands tightening his royal blue tie, his eyes scanning my appearance.

“Okay.” I reply lightly, my dark brown eyes sweeping back towards the mirror. I spread some toothpaste on my toothbrush and begin to brush. My father’s height seemed to tower over my own 5’4”. He steps away towards the large kitchen area, the smell of coffee brewing quickly fills the air.

I spit out and wash my mouth out, closing the door after and stepping to the glass shower a few feet away. I twist the handle up, stream filling the air as the water heats up steadily. I sigh, stepping in as the water relaxed my muscles.

--

I rub lotion on my caramel skinned arms, my hands evenly spreading it across it. I stop, wiping my hands on a towel and grabbing my shoes. Zipping up the small zipper on my black leather heeled boots. I stood, patting down my knee high dark jean skirt, my white blouse tucked in but hanging out slightly. I grab my brown silk jacket and fold it over my left arm; lifting my grey backpack, I turn to enter the hall, moving towards the kitchen.

“Rose, I wrote a metro train schedule down. Here’s the address of the school.” My father says, handing me a pamphlet and a post-it. I glance over the paper and slide it into my jacket pocket. I look up at my father, his eyes scanning my face as he slid his hand forward across the marbled countered island. I look to see a blueberry muffin and a cell phone together on a plate.

“I got you one for your internship with Mr. Stark. I expect you to not screw this up. His influence can profit us both.” My father says, moving towards the front door next to our modern style living room.

“Curfew is at ten.” He continues, slipping on a dark navy suit coat and bending slightly to grab his dark brown satchel from the hanger next to the door.

“Oh, and..” He pauses, my eyes connecting to his.

“Join a club, something.” He finishes, pulling the door open and slamming it shut. I grab the muffin, sliding the phone into my right pocket and stepping to the door. I glance back into the apartment as I began to close the door to leave.

“I’m on it, TS.” I say quietly, making sure my earpiece picked up on the answer.

--

“Welcome to Midtown School of Science and Technology. I’m the head mistress, principle, Melissa Hampton. Here’s your schedule, with the specific floor plan and classrooms. I have the A,B.C. and D, parts of your schedule highlighted. Also I wrote a list of extracurriculars and sports.” A middle aged woman says, her hair a graying blonde, her body slumped but straight.

“Thanks.” I reply, passing the principal with the pamphlets and notes she gave me. I step down the blue and white halls, a TV monitor into the corner of the walls showcase announcements and other things from a media class. I bypass students of many looks, popularity, religiousness, geekiness, nerd-ness, etc.

I paused only about 94 locker spaces from 1000, my fingers quickly twisting in the three digit(s) code. I slid in some notebooks and pencils, my hand pulled out a chemistry two book. I close the door, and turn to walk.

“Hiya, swee-”

“Not interested.” I reply quickly to a dark tan boy wearing a straight edged collared shirt. A heard a chuckle beside me, my eyes connecting with bright walnut coloured ones. The boy’s smile faded slightly as I glanced over his slightly whiffed brown hair, light skin, and his lean body structure. I blush lightly as turn away heading towards my class on the third floor.

---

Taglist: @editsbyjenny

- 847 words

- Should get better the next few chapters....

Love and War Masterlist

[architectnews]

Water Mill residence in The Hamptons, NY

Water Mill Residence The Hamptons, NY Luxury Real Estate, Long Island Home Photos, Architecture

Water Mill Residence in the Hamptons, New York

August 20, 2021

Design: Mojo Stumer Associates

Location: The Hamptons, Long Island, New York State, USA

Photos by Mark Stumer

Water Mill residence in The Hamptons, Long Island

Designed by Long Island based luxury architecture and design firm, Mojo Stumer, this Water Mill residence is not what it seems at first. From the outside, it appears as a traditional, shingled Hamptons manor.

However, the interior reflects the firm’s signature contemporary style. The seamless integration of the traditional and contemporary aesthetic, something Mojo Stumer is most known for, is what makes this home truly extraordinary.

Some highlights of the home:

The exterior of the home uses sustainable materials including Alaskan Cedar shingles and stone. The guest cabana uses the same Alaskan Cedar shingles and features an oversized, offset window with a contrasting cedar paneled screen for modern flare.

The contemporary enfilade features a collection of mixed wood used to achieve horizontal paneling with blackened steel detailing, dark stone slabs, and selected white surfaces.

Ceilings have an integral role in Mojo Stumer’s interiors and are used as a major design element. This project is no exception – through the ceiling’s varied height, detail and the use of quarter-cut maple that serves as a reflection of the custom-finished rift white oak flooring.

This Water Mill project is unique because it is a seamless integration of the traditional feel of a typical Hamptons home and the modern aesthetic that Mojo Stumer Associates is known for. Our philosophy is to create contemporary interiors that support our modern architecture. When, as in this case, the architecture is a more traditional style, the interiors must respect that, but we always add our contemporary touch.

The magnificent contemporary enfilade is achieved through the fastidious mix of horizontal wood paneling, blackened steel detailing, dark stone slabs, and selected white surfaces. The ceiling uniquely realizes this achievement through its various heights, details, and the liberal use of quarter-cut maple which serves as a reflection of the custom-finished rift white oak floor. Ceilings are very important in our interiors and we use them as a major design element.

The natural contrast of the architectural features in the home makes it the perfect canvas for some carefully chosen interior items. The bright, abstract area rug in the entranceway softens and balances the space by introducing an element of controlled chaos. The living room continues this theme with a patterned rug and softer palette that introduces grays and blues and picks up on the granite slabs. For a cohesive effect, art and tiny accents of primary colors are used sparingly throughout.

Water Mill Hamptons, Long Island Home – Property Information

• Name of project: Water Mill Hamptons • Project location: Water Mill, New York • Architect: Mojo Stumer Associates • Interior Design: Mojo Stumer Associates • Completion date: 01/2020 • Bedrooms: 6 + housekeeper’s suite • Square footage: 11,000 sqft +/-

• Design materials used: o Exterior – sustainable materials, Alaskan cedar shingles, cedar shake roof, stone, contrasting cedar paneled screen o Interior – quarter-cut maple, custom-finished rift white oak flooring, blackened steel detailing, dark stone slabs

Photographs by Mark Stumer of Mojo Stumer

Water Mill residence in The Hamptons, New York images / information received 170821

Location: The Hamptons, New York State, USA

The Hamptons Residences

Hamptons Houses – Long Island properties selection

Fordune photography : Bespoke Real Estate Fordune Estate The Hamptons

Windmill House photography Courtesy of Douglas Elliman Historic Hamptons Windmill House

Amagansett 5 Architects: Kevin O’Sullivan + Associates / KOSA photo : Read McKendree Amagansett 5, The Hamptons

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New York State Houses – NY properties selection

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Hither Hills House, Montauk, NY Design: Bates Masi + Architects image courtesy of architects New House in Montauk, NY

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House in Ithaca by EPIPHYTE Lab, Architects

Comments / photos for the Water Mill residence in The Hamptons, NY page welcome

The post Water Mill residence in The Hamptons, NY appeared first on e-architect.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

If there’s one thing I like, it’s hip, weird decor. Look at this home in the Hamptons, New York. Sometimes, crazy works with cool- Besides the 31 pigeons hanging from the ceiling, the house has some serious gadgetry, including speakers concealed in the ceiling and a TV that retracts into the floor. The double-sided sofa provides a flexible island for lounging, and gets around the problem of looking at the back of a sofa.

In the dining room, lots of black and a set of ornate candlesticks add a hint of stylish macabre.

Love the pig statue.

‘Given that the rest of the space is bathed with light from the glass walls, I knew I could take a risk and go dark in the kitchen,’ says the owner. Appliances are concealed in black lacquer cabinets, matched by black tiles for the walls. But, the collection of dolls!

In this foyer is a rustic box on the step, containing 3 doll heads. I love that- no explanation, it’s just sitting there. Looks like there’re some calculations on the wall. Is that wallpaper?

The bed carries the gothic elements of the house. I never liked those taxidermized squirrel lamps, though. The dog looks little a sketchy, too.  

The shower’s very nice.

The bathroom features a sunken bath to make the space feel bigger. I’m not sure that it does, though. 

Very nice little Japanese garden. Are those gray flamingos? 

https://www.idealhome.co.uk/diy-and-decorating/five-industrial-meets-modern-style-takeaways-from-this-hip-hamptons-home-27140

[nightmare-afton-cosplay]

Ellen Pompeo’s Former Hamptons Farmhouse Is Up for Rent at $50K/Month

realtor.com; Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for VIOLET GREY

Just two months after buying this custom-built modern farmhouse in Sag Harbor, NY, from the actress Ellen Pompeo, the new owners are offering it up for rent.

The monthly rental price on the 2,400-square-foot home, which sold for nearly $3 million in January, now sits at a robust $50,000.

With five bedrooms and four bathrooms, the pad offers plenty of room for a family to spread out, or for a few couples to team up on a summer rental. Located in Suffolk County, it’s adjacent to East Hampton and Southampton, and a little over 100 miles east of Manhattan, near the tip of Long Island.

Pompeo, one of the stars of “Grey’s Anatomy,” bought the property for $925,000 in 2011, and tore down the existing cabin to create her dream modern farmhouse.

The finished product—spanning three levels—was completed in 2013. In 2017, Architectural Digest featured the home’s gorgeous interiors.

Exterior

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Kitchen

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Dining room

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Living room

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The dark-gray exterior gives way to rooms awash in a predominantly white and black palette. Shiplap walls in one of the bedrooms and fireplaces throughout create a cozy feel, in the modern-farmhouse design style.

The living room features a double-height ceiling—coaxing in tons of natural light—and the all-white cabinetry and surfaces give the kitchen a light and airy feel.

The lower level features a media room, while the main floor houses the living room, kitchen, master suite, and dining room.

The dining area features glass walls that overlook the property’s lawn and a heated pool with a gunite surface. Up a floating staircase to the third floor is a guest room with its own bathroom.

Sag Harbor’s village is a 10-minute drive from the home, and the entrance to the Elizabeth Morton National Wildlife Refuge is only 1.2 miles away. The rental is listed with Kial Ramirez of The Corcoran Group-Southampton.

One of the bedrooms

realtor.com

Another bedroom

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One of the bathrooms

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Media room

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Pool

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The post Ellen Pompeo’s Former Hamptons Farmhouse Is Up for Rent at $50K/Month appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/ellen-pompeo-former-hamptons-pad-up-for-rent/

[aetherealspectrum-blog]

6 Books About Decorative Concrete Floor Painting Ideas You Should Read

This undertaking is a cultured and stained floor in a very residential basement. Immediately after an acid stain was utilized, the operator modified their brain with regards to the color they desired, Therefore the floor was tinted with a dye. Dye was made use of in lieu of more acid stain simply because polished floors can't take multiple layers of acid stains with out ending up with an extremely faulty polish due to etching.

Know that your floors are just as crucial that you us as They may be to you. We will take some time & treatment that is certainly required to be sure to & your toes wander away joyful. 

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