All posts filed under: CASA PYLA

Our ipe deck in Casa Pyla

This post has been a long time coming but one thing that made a massive difference to Casa Pyla’s outdoor space was building a large 65 sqm deck in ipé. We bought ours from La Parqueterie Nouvelle which has a large, quality choice of wood for decks. Our decision to go for exotic wood was driven by the fact that it is a dense wood, naturally rot-proof, and durable and we wanted the deck to last. It also has a really nice colour that suited our house perfectly. I don’t have any large plans for the house before we started the renovations. However, here are a few pictures that will allow you to see how the house was. Initially, the East-facing entrance was at the front via these concrete stairs and balcony (see below). As we knocked down all the partition walls to create a large, open-plan living room filled with natural light, we wanted the deck to be an extension of our living spaces in Summertime (see house plans before & Architect plans). The front door …

Minimalist, soft grey bathroom in CASA PYLA

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

So excited to share with you the look of our master bathroom which features an elegant Kaldewei bathtub fitted with a built-in Sound Wave system (the dream!) When we purchased CASA PYLA in March 2019, the house had 5 bedrooms but only one bathroom which was located on the ground floor. The 4 bedrooms on the first floor had only a wash basin each. We asked our Architect from l’Atelier d’Architecture du Bassin d’Arcachon, to re-configure the space and add at least, three new bathrooms on the first floor which he managed to do. Once the layout of the rooms was done, my biggest challenge was to design three new bathrooms that would feel spacious despite their small size. Just to give you an idea, this one is only 1.92 x 2.13 m but has almost 3m high ceilings. To maintain the sense of space, I kept the bathroom open onto the bedroom without a door. If we want privacy, we shut the bedroom door. Our requirements for this bathroom were: to include a bathtub preferably a steel enamel …

Our Nivito brass kitchen tap and brass sink

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

Today, let me tell you all about our NIVITO brass kitchen and brass tap which I think, have added a touch of luxury to our new kitchen in CASA PYLA. As you may have seen from the various images of our kitchen posted on Instagram here, and here, this is the first time I do not design an all-white kitchen like the one we did in our home in London or our recent white kitchen makeover in our Airbnb home in France. Right from the beginning when I started thinking about how to transform this old, derelict house, I was drawn to natural tones. The house is located a 2-minute walk from a sandy beach, surrounded by pine trees. The connection to nature and its surroundings feels really strong. You can feel the ocean in the morning, the smell of the trees, and watch squirrels jumping daily from one tree to another while sipping a cup of tea. Phase 1 of the renovations As you may know, redesigning a kitchen is not a cheap process. You have …

Insert coffee table by Ferm Living

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

It took me a while to find a nice, coffee table for the lounge in CASA PYLA but it wasn’t something I wanted to rush. Along with your sofa, the coffee table is a key focal point when you walk into a lounge. It’s one of the first things you notice and can often make or break a scheme. I had a very clear scheme of natural materials, colors, and organic shapes in mind for CASA PYLA. As the house is located two minutes’ walk from the beach, I wanted to use similar natural tones to the ones found at the beach. Similar to our home in London and our first home in France, it was also important to me to create a space that felt like a holiday home all year long. In those Covid times, having a home that makes you feel relaxed is important. To create a timeless, soft minimalist vibe, I favored natural materials such as linen, light wood, leather. Then I focused on keeping a soft, natural palette using shades of whites, …

A fresh start

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

This is it, we are starting a new year, a fresh start. It is time to tidy things up and embrace the year ahead. This year, we stayed in France due to Covid but I have to admit that hanging out at home was a good thing to do. Those few days between Christmas and New Year Eve when life slows down always feel a bit special. Somehow you know that most shops will be closed (in France), your fridge is full, it’s cold outside and there is no need to venture outside. So you can enjoy a guilt-free trip on the couch and that’s why we’ve done. Reading, drinking tons of tea, napping, watching Netflix, and running every other morning for good measure. This Covid 2020 year (let’s hope it’s the only one) has, like any other year, gone by fast. Somehow time during lockdowns felt slow until it wasn’t. I felt I had plenty of time to do things until time ran out and I hadn’t done half of the things I wanted but …

Slow living & autumnal interior

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

Slow living: Mila is on holiday this week and I’ve found myself adapting to her pace. This morning I was in my PJs until 10 am…and that my friends, is slow living at its best! It’s not an everyday occurrence though. Yesterday I went for a run at 7.30 am. In fact, I’m on week 3 of the “From Couch to 5K” program using an App put together by the BBC and NHS and I’m really happy to run again. I was missing the release of endorphins. At first, I wasn’t sure I would be able to run like I used to, but the interval training in this program makes it easy and perfect for anyone who has never run or hasn’t run for years like me. So early this afternoon, I was practicing the art of slow living, sitting on the sofa drinking a cup of tea while this combo: chair + throw + rug in autumnal colors caught my attention. I thought it was too pretty for not sharing it. The throw is from …

Barbarian days: A surfing life

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

I’ve recently ordered “Barbarian days: A surfing life” by William Finnegan It’s a book I meant to order a while back, then I forgot about it until I spotted it again on someone’s feed on Instagram. “Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life” has won the Pulitzer Prize and William Hill Sports Book of the Year. I’ve just started reading it so I can’t tell you much about it yet but I love reading about surfing or watching movies. Momentum Generation (available on iTunes) was fascinating! I’ve watched it twice and could watch it again. It features all the kids and then champions that came out of the 80s like Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Taylor Steele. The footage and photography in the movie are a massive inspiration for me. I met Rob Machado last year when Mila was competing in Hossegor. The weather was awful, I was running to the car to grab something and I spotted him with his daughter changing by his van. I nurtured a bit of courage and went up to him to say …

Sunday in Casa Pyla

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

We’ve moved into CASA PYLA a week ago and I’m slowly making it a home. I don’t want to rush into adding too many things because I really enjoy the minimalism of the space. Plus we are going to lay down the polished concrete floor at the beginning of November and hopefully lay down the oak floorboards on the first-floor end of October. This means that each time, I will need the clear the whole floor so the fewer things I have to pack and move the better. Natural light is that space is amazing and makes those days where I have to spend hours in front of my computer editing pictures a lot more pleasant. The next big job in the house is fitting the final kitchen counter and some gorgeous brass sink and tap from Nivito which are currently sitting in the garage. For those interested, the HEADING HOME fine art print is available from my shop here. Let me know if you have any questions about the house, the renovations, or anything else …