Alexandre de Betak's Stone Home by the Sea

 photo by Jason Schmidt

I've been thinking a lot about homes lately.  This home in Mallorca, recently featured in Sunday's T Magazine, is pretty near perfect--bright, cozy, quirky amusing, reliant on natural materials, in harmony with the landscape, designed for both intimacy and hosting big parties, and firmly rooted between the mountains and the sea--on an island of course.  Oh, and the infinity pool and sleeping nooks for the kids is the cherry on top.  What you see here is the child of design genius Alexandre de Betak, a fashion show producer known as the Fellini of Fashion - think Rodarte, Christian Dior, etc.  As he says, “For 10 years I was dreaming about it, for five years I was looking for a spot for it, for two years working on it, for another two years building it, and finally here it is.”
For more about the home, including a video, see the article at the New York Times magazine blog or a pdf of the article as it appeared in print, via Bureau Betak blog.  For more about the man, check out a minimentary by crane.tv.

 photo by Jason Schmidt

 photo by Jason Schmidt

 photo by Jason Schmidt

 photo by Jason Schmidt

 photo by Jason Schmidt

 photo by Jason Schmidt

photo by Jason Schmidt

On the Street... Leather Shoes and Cuffed Jeans

Love the cuffs, classy shoes, and the pose.

Happy Mother's Day!

 I don't normally blog (or blob, as one of my grandmothers calls it) on Sundays, but since it's Mother's Day, I'll make an exception.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!  (and my other moms, Grammie and Mommom and Patty and Renee and Marcia and Beth!)  Here is a little digital tulip bouquet for you... it'll take some time to get around the island to each of you in person, but we'll work on it.  Hope you have a lovely day, see you soon!

Have a Nice Weekend!

Hope you make it to your local farmers market this weekend...and don't forget some flowers for your mom!

Surfing in Style

 photo via The Fashion Appetite

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  As you've probably guessed, there is quite a bit of surfing to be had on Miles Island.  Everywhere you look there's a beautiful point break, a beach with a nice hollow left, a reef that kicks up a gnarly wall...


Some of the islanders like to arrive to the surf breaks in style-- Chanel, to be specific.  Although I don't recall ever seeing Karl Lagerfeld in the water (has anyone ever seen him without a suit?), plenty of folks sport Chanel boards and apparel.  If the longboards ever go on clearance, maybe I'll even get one!  And yes, hats and heels aren't just for the Royal Wedding -- they're also in vogue at the beach... typically not worn while surfing, with some exceptions.

 

photo via The Fashion Appetite

 

photo via A Model Moment 

 photo via If It's Hip It's Here

 

photo via The Dusty Burrito

Oh, and we sometimes bring boomerangs to keep the seagulls away from our gourmet surf brunches. 

Music Tuesday: Fleet Foxes

via fleetfoxes.com

I know it's been a little while since we've featured a band here on the island, but that doesn't mean we haven't been pumping the jams.  Today we're featuring one of my favorite bands of the last couple years (and yes, I do say that a lot), Fleet Foxes.  If you're already a fan of this band, you've probably heard their brand new album Helplessness Blues is out today.  You can stream it at NPR and if that doesn't work, try streaming it here.  (For more NPR Fleet Foxes gifts, check out their Lillywhite session and their Newport Folk Festival set) and I loved their debut album and their second album is more woodsy goodness.  When I listen I picture medieval forests, a wide open ocean, enchanted valleys, and the list goes on... 

via fleetfoxes.com

via fleetfoxes.com

 

via fleetfoxes.com

On the Street... An Island Reader

A Miles Island reader...  and yes, it's a book.