Located in West Vancouver, the Liminal House is a three storey residence that boasts a roof garden, inner courtyards and a swimming pool. Made of materials such as glass, concrete, aluminum plate and Accoya wood blends beautifully into its surroundings.
Taking four years to complete, this gorgeous home was designed by McLeod Bovell for a couple that was soon to become empty nesters. The name Liminal reflected the changes in both the owners lives and the area to where to home is located.
The home inspires a sense of tranquility and grounding. The affect of the sharp angles, combination of materials and breathtaking views is almost meditative.
Planning my trip thru Sicily took a bit of research as I wasn’t familiar with many of its towns and cities. Taormina was the one destination that had been previously recommended but I was persuaded by a colleague to visit Cefalu instead, as Taormina may be beautiful but it was also quite overrun with tourists (aka my travel nightmare). It was great advice and my stay in Cefalu was one of the many highlights of my trip to Sicily.
A coastal city in Northern Sicily, in my opinion Cefalu should be at the top of every Sicily travel list. The buildings are beautiful, the beaches breathtaking and the foods is incredible. I spent three nights in this memorable city and enjoyed every moment of it.
Where to Stay
I stayed at the Hotel Kalura which is located just outside of Cefalu. Full disclosure – the service at this hotel leaves a lot to be desired especially when you are a solo traveller, but the location is perfect so I was willing to overlook it. It’s about a 20 minute walk into town from the hotel but I would only recommend walking during the day. At night I would suggest taking a taxi (10- 15 Euro) as part of the walk is along the highway and it’s quite dark. The reason that I loved this hotel as it has it’s own private beach. The views are stunning, the water is heavenly and the beach is not too crowded. If you are looking for a fabulous beach the Hotel Kalura is not to be missed.
What to do
Aside from enjoying the beach, the city of Cefalu is gorgeous! Walk along the cobblestones, visit the duomo and people watch while enjoying a spritz in the town centre. There are so many gorgeous options for ceramics so spend some time walking into different shops admiring the talented artists, and wander down to the beach and take in the gorgeous sights. It looks straight out of the pages of Conde Naste Traveller!
Where to Eat
Qualia – I had a reservation booked here a month before I landed in Sicily. It is typical Sicilian fare with an artistic twist. The restaurant is gorgeous, designed to look like a wine cave and you can see all of the magic happening in the kitchen from your table. The food was delicious and the service was friendly. If you are looking to treat yourself to a high end meal during your stay in Sicily, Qualia is the place to go.
Al Faro – this restaurant was recommend by my hotel and it did not disappoint. With an intimate outdoor terrace overlooking the sea, this is the perfect restaurant to enjoy the beauty of Cefalu. The vongle pasta was the best that I had in Sicily (and I tried a lot of them). They don’t take reservations and get quite busy so getting a table can be challenging. I recommend stopping by during the day and asking to book a table for that evening. They are really friendly and happy to accommodate as best they can.
In my opinion Cefalu is magic. I left feeling lighter and more relaxed then I arrived. It has earned its place at the top of my Sicily travel list.
I am just going to say it – 2023 was not my best year. I had so many goals and dreams and yet I frequently found myself exhausted, frustrated and not living my best life. That is not to say that I didn’t achieve some of my goals but overall I am feeling like I let myself down both professionally and personally. Thankfully though, I have been consistent in working towards some of my goals over the past few months and I plan to be even more disciplined in 2024. One goal that I haven’t been giving any energy to in 2023 was blogging – despite loving to write, I only blogged twice last year! I have no excuses, you will be hearing from me a lot more in 2024! I already have a few posts lined up and I can’t wait to share them with you.
I hope that your 2024 is off to a wonderful start and I can’t wait to reconnect! XXS
There are many architecture and design firms around the world whose work I greatly admire. Within the many there are a few whose work continues to stop me in my tracks as I attempt to absorb every aspect of their gorgeous projects – Space Copenhagen is firmly within that group. Co-founders Singe Bindslev Heriksen and Peter Bundgaard Ruitzou admirably infuse each project that they complete with their oh so cool Scandinavian flare and I am hooked. Last year Space Copenhagen completed the design of a new upscale restaurant in Antwerp and it is gorgeous! Located in the heart of the city, Blueness restaurant occupies the ground floor of a 17th century Renaissance building in Antwerp’s fashion district. The result is an incredible fusion of classic interior architecture and modern Scandinavian design.
A Japanese French eatery, Blueness is a mosaic of identities. Minimalist touches beautifully contrast with the classic architecture of the space including the solid aluminum waiters station that stands in sharp contrast to the marble and sandstone columns. Space Copenhagen set out to create a “tension between past and future”, the result is unexpected, elegant and timeless. Candles suspended overhead on brass chandelier disks give the space a warm, welcoming glow. The result is just the right amount of wow factor in a stunning space.
What do you think of the Blueness Restaurant design? Let me know in the comments below.
I hope that your 2023 is off to a great start and will only get better from here! After what seems like being cooped up indoors for months due to the cold winter weather, today’s Dreamy Design feature feels like a breath for fresh air. Located in the United States, the Black House in the woods by Kireeva Anna is positively swoon worthy. Grounded in the colour black and accented with green and orange this gorgeous home provides a moody statement amongst the trees. Designed to bring people closer to nature thru the use of colours, natural materials and large windows, this home blends beautifully with it’s surroundings. I am currently dreaming about enjoying a cup of coffee in that stunning kitchen taking in the gorgeous surroundings. Love it!
Stylishly Zen 