It’s all but gone now, and this was as it was thawing now, but while it lasted, the April snow was very pretty ❄️❄️❄️ #springinistria #aprilsnow #snowandsunshine #whitegarden #zrenj #stridone #snowinistria #comebackspring #thehousewiththepaleblueshutters #istriareno #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria *website link in bio* 
Blue sky coming back our way ☀️☀️☀️#istria #istrialife #springtimeinistria #crazyweatherday #snowday #glassware #catchthelight #cornerofourhome #windowview #dramaticsky #terramagica #twinklingglass #viewfrommywindow #cosyindoors #springsnowfall #terramagica #houseforsale #croatia #cometoistria #croazia #zrenj #stridone #istriareno 
The snow has finally stopped. For now, as it’s due back later. The electricity has also returned. We’re not being caught out again though - log baskets are full, all devices are charged, candles already lit & the throws, which had been put to one side to store away for summer, are back on the sofa. A cold, but pretty magical day ❄️❄️❄️❄️ #springtime #istria #istrialife #snowday #woodburner #coldsnap #sunisreturning #balticblast #snowinistria #bluesandwhites #heavyskies #suddensnow #terramagica #countrylife #aprilsnow #magicofsnow #magicallandscape #snowscape #whiteoutinistria #croazia #zrenj #stridone #istriareno 
The pots of purple are beginning to bloom. This old palette was the perfect size to fit between the wall of the house & the repositioned well. Painted up in the same colour as all of the external woodwork, it makes the perfect hanger for the pots, as well as being good health & safety. Before the palette & well were installed on the platform outside the front door, there was no barrier. Just a drop... Thankfully, that’s now sorted! The blues and purples look so lovely against the spring sky, too. #marchinistria #blueskyandsunshine #bloomingpots #violas #gardenlife #springgarden #sunshine☀️ #istria #istrialife #renovatingourhome #cisterna #marchmornings #houseforsale #renovatedstonehouse #popsofcolour #istriareno 
A very inexpensive (single battery operated) slim LED light strip has been attached to the join between the wall and small ledge at the end of the bath. It’s made a huge difference for very little expenditure. The bottles on the ledge are thoroughly cleaned gin bottles. They’ve been #reused because of their shape & pattern of glass and now look very pretty, with filled with bath foam and now backlit. This room is definitely becoming the kind of #bathroom we’ve always wanted. #bathroommakeover #bathroomrenovation #slowdesign #makeover #accessorisingaroom #upcycling #lightingsolutions #relaxingroom #istria #istrialife #renovatedhouse #renovatedstonehouse #contemporaryinterior #designforliving #ledlights #istriareno #acornerofourhome #thebigbath #bathroomtiles #hyggehome #scandinavianinspired #houseforsale #holidayhomeforsale #allroomsrenovated *website link in bio* 
Gorgeous light this morning. The big bedroom and well room are easterly facing and so this side of the house & garden are flooded with sunlight from very early morning. This side aspect, especially since we stated tidying it up, is now starting to look very smart. Today, we’ve sown more seeds along the outer edge of the raised bed where the bulbs are coming through, and the supports, for the honeysuckle fence to the rear, have been cut to size. The sun was out & it was quite warm and all was going well. Until the clouds came over. And it started to snow...❄️❄️❄️ #springtimeinistria #alltheweather #sunandsnow #workinthegarden #wildflowers #honeysuckle #naturalfence #istria #istrialife #istriareno #waterbutts #savetherainwater #wastenotwantnot #countrylife #lifeinthecountry . . . . . . #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #renovatedstonehouse #renovatedgarden #threefloors #threebedrooms #twobathrooms #privateparking *website link in bio* 
🌿🌿🌿🌿New home for garden furniture. Tomorrow - planting bulbs & sowing seeds. Summer colour on its way 🥀 #gardenrenovation #cornerofourhome #instagarden #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #vintagewroughtironfurniture #miniorchard #pottedpalm #abandonedhousesofistria #renovatedhouse #istria #istrialife #zrenj #stridone #istriareno 
Beautiful morning spring sunshine, flooding into the top floor of the house. These walls used to be dark & a bit on the drab side, with unpainted pine woodwork. Now, it’s light, bright & airy with brilliant white walls & very soft pale blue door & windowframes. With deep navy floors, for contrast. Although we live in #Istria, we took our inspiration for the #interiorcolors from the style of many gorgeous Greek houses. #blueandwhite #coloursofsummer #istria #istrialife #ourhomejourney #ourinteriorsjourney #fauxfoliage #relaxinghome #homeforallseasons #houseforsale #houseforsaleinistria #istriareno #escapetoistria #propertyforsaleinistria #holidayhome #aplaceinthesun *linkinbio* 
It’s a grey, drizzly day today. The kind of day when the washing machine is whirring away in the kitchen, the dryer humming away downstairs and the bathroom is having a proper #springclean & mini #makeover (think - #junglevibes). Also, the kind of day when lamps are on because it’s quite dark & candles are lit. We’ll have a few more days like this before full-on spring arrives, but it feels as if it’s just around the corner 🎋🪴🌻 #springtime #insideourhome #ourzrenjhouse #zrenj #stridone #istria #istrialife #andreapirlo #sunflowersofinstagram #warmandcosy #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #escapetoistria #istriareno 
Spring in The Snug. Clearing away all of the remains of winter - apart from the stars, which also function as lights. It’s lovely to see these glowing in our downstairs living room, from the rear of the house, so they’re staying ✨✨ Last task down here - unless we come up with something else - is the top coating of the ceiling beams, in white satin, so that they disappear into the white around them. We don’t use this room anywhere near as much as we should, because it is lovely - especially as the windows are at ground level & so on both sides of the room, the aspects are across the front & rear gardens. This room is big, and because it is under the main living room, accessed by a staircase, it could be converted into a self-contained studio. There is sufficient room for an en-suite and the window could be opened up into a private entrance. Food for thought, especially as the house is #forsale & could make a perfect #holidayrental... #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #renovatedstonehouse #istria #holidaylet #linkinbio #istriareno 
There’s a cold chill in the air today, so no #gardenrenovation this afternoon. Instead, #woodburner on & the living room has once again become the office. Our usual mix of #springweather is here - warm sunshine, chill winds, rain. And, if the forecast proves to be accurate, snow next week... #istriaweather #springtime #sunshineandshowers #warmonedaycoldthenext #istrialife #cosylivingroom #foragedwood #concretewoodburner #featurewall #istriareno 
So looking forward to the return of summer days & evenings in the garden. This was taken in spring last year just before the patio was painted. The project this year, rather than re-painting the whole lot (which takes forever & soaks up the specialist paint), is to lay some outdoor floor tiles. Found the perfect ones in #IKEA, so this will mean a trip #Zagreb as currently still can’t travel to #Italy. The tiles will hopefully be the final piece of the garden #renovation jigsaw. Today, though, back in the garden - digging, planting, seed sowing & the installation of small border fences to separate the flowers we’re sowing from the grassed area. Definitely turning out to be a bigger project than we initially imagined. But it means that either we’ll have a gorgeous garden to relax in over the summer, or new owners will reap the benefits of a spruced up exterior. #houseforsale #houseforsaleinistria #propertyforsaleinistria #renovatedstonehouse #renovatedstonehouseforsale *website link in bio* #istriareno 
Spring sunshine at the rear of the house. This bedroom is particularly lovely in the spring as it gets the sun in the morning - although the bed is placed away from the window, so it’s not in direct sunlight. The room has views up into the little village, which starts to come to life again at this time of year. We don’t tend to use this room but every now & again we’ll stay in here - a bit like being on holiday 😍 The #windowshelf was added over the winter & lights now twinkle away at night. (Battery operates so not wasting electricity). This is one of three bedrooms upstairs - but there is also the potential for a fourth bedroom. The Snug could be converted, and if an en-suite was installed, it could be a real bolt-hole. It’s a house with real flexibility & being #forsale, would suit new owners who wanted to live here full time (as we do) or have it as a #holidayhome. For more detailed info, see our website (link in bio) or drop me an email - helen@escapetoistria.com #istria #escapetoistria #houseforsaleinistria #propertyforsaleinistria #houseforsale #renovatedhouseforsale #holidayhome #anewlifeinthesun #slowliving #quiethome #flexiblehouse #instahome #instahouseforsale #istriareno 
The Summer Room is back ☀️ #goodbyewinter #hellospring #andbreathe #spaceandlight #springhygge #zrenjhouse #istria #stonehouse #fullyrenovated #forsale #istriareno 
The living room has been arranged in a very cosy layout, over the winter. Everything faces in, towards the woodburner & the TV. But now that spring is in the air, it’s time for a change. We’re going to be creating more space & lightening things up. What a lovely time of year this is 🌱🌱🌱🌱 #springcleaning #springmakeover #bringinginthelight #goodbyewinter #hellospring #roomtobreathe #springhygge #scandiinspired #cornerofourhome #seasonalchanges #inspiredbycolour #lightandairy #ourhomeinthehills #istria #istrialife #istrialiving #fromdidsburytoistria #istriareno 
A MUCH better outlook :) Once the lavender plants take hold & start to grow, we think the butterflies & bees will be visiting. Iris bulbs have been planted up between the rows, so the whites & purples will bring pops of colour to the patch before the flowers shoot up. The palette hanging pots are also going to be repotted - and under the Well Room windows, the spring bulbs are all about to flower. It all could be yours if you like it. See our previous post... #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #renovatedhouseforsale #renovatedstonehouse #coolandcontemporaryinterior #contemporaryinterior #thehousewiththepaleblueshutters #istria #istrialife #zrenj #terramagica #istriareno 
We have finally carved out space! That cleared ground is now going be raked & dug over and we’ll hopefully get all of the wildflower seeds in tomorrow before a rainy day on Friday. This patch of land now makes so happy :) With the trees being cut back and cleared we can now also see the campanile in #Zrenj - obscured here as we did a bit more pruning, chopping & shaping, but it’s so lovely to now have a view of it. Lanterns are going to be sprayed & upcycled & if all goes according to plan, we’re going to create a little seating area as once the sun dips in our garden, it’s still here ☀️ We love living here, but as we’re moving onto our dream #renoproject, we are reluctantly selling our little slice of paradise. If you like the idea of a home/holiday home in a beautiful region, with glorious weather from end of March to October (mostly), and fully renovated inside (& soon) out, WITH an additional bijou property (needs renovation or demolition to create extra space, maybe for a pool), then do get in touch. More info on our website - link in bio - or email helen@escapetoistria.com #summerplanning #thecopse #gardenwithaview #campanile #countryside #istria #istrialife #upinthehills #holidayhome #twopropertiesforsale #holidayrental #closetoslovenia #closetoitaly #istriareno #homesweethome #housetolet #housetorent #moveabroad #wecanhelpyoumove #movetoistria #terramagica #changeyourlife #livade #trufflecounty #motovunforest #everythingonyourdoorstep 
One of the lovely things about springtime, is when bulbs start to emerge, and apart from the obvious ones like #hyacinths, you can’t really remember what you planted, where. Some nice colourful surprises coming in the next few weeks... #springtimeinistria #springisintheair #marchmornings #springsunshine #inourgarden #gardenlife #springbulbs #istria #istrialife #istriareno 
Up until recently, the trunks of these trees could not be seen because this piece of land was so overgrown. The mammoth clearance task has revealed beautiful trees. They are already budding and hopefully will now fare so much better now that we’ve pulled out what was presumably stunting their growth. It also means that the outer edges of our garden look so much tidier. This has a been a good week of working with nature & doing some much needed clearance. #istria #terramagica #terrarossa #istrialife #gardenlife #outdoorslife #sliceoflife #slowliving #changingthepaceofourlives #housewithaview #richredsoil #istriaexperience #houseforsale #renovatedstonehouse #renovatedexterior #woodedcopse #thecopse #zrenj #stridone #istriareno 
A week & a bit ago, we bought a few lavender plants. Today, the planting project has stepped up a few gears. Massive clearance of the wooded area which had grown wild. Probably still another good few days work, but the space we’re creating is beginning to look beautiful. And - as a bonus - since we’ve started clearing the ground, wild crocuses have emerged... #gardenlife #outdoorlife #springtime #landclearing #firepit #roomtobreathe #springflowers #istria #istrialife #istriareno 
We can finally see the actual trees! All of the deadwood, dead branches, brambles, vines etc have been cut away at ground level and the difference is incredible. We now have small clumps of trees, which already look much healthier, and we’ve created so much more space. Before, this piece of land was overrun and overgrown, but now there’s shape starting to appear. The lavender plants are all in and the aroma is already in the air. Tomorrow is going to involve much chopping of wood for the burners & the raking of the ground to clear it. Channels are then going be dug, in a random pattern, and seeds sown, so that come summer, this area should be full of flowers & tidied up trees. We aren’t half growing to love our garden 🌱🌺🌾☀️ #istria #istrialife #gardenrenovation #gardenlife #creatingorderfromchaos #springinistria #zrenj #houseforsale *link in bio* #istriareno 
The #mimosa plants are beginning to blossom in #Istria, and finally, now that he house is renovated & we can turn our attention to the garden, we’ve got our own yellow balls of sunshine. Colour is key in the garden this year & the clearing of winter deadness has started. The onset of spring really is a fabulous time of year. #mimosa #sunshineyellow #inthegarden #zrenj #istria #istrialife #livingoutdoorsthisyear #gardenrenovation #istriareno 
Well, with temperatures in the mid-20s this afternoon, this is turning out to be a very warm week in February, so we’re not spending it indoors. Fire pit going to burn all vines & brambles - contained, so we don’t risk burning down the rest of the trees! - and the lavenders are being placed out so we know where to plant them. Two larger ones will go in the middle - and a couple of butterflies have already visited :) Two mimosa trees will also be planted up. Gorgeous afternoon in #Istria #istriareno 
The trench has been dug, stones & vines & tree roots removed and the low level wooden border being sunk. The sun is out, the sky is blue & the birds are singing. Springtime 🌱🌺 #gardenrenovation #exteriorrenovation #creatingahideaway #lavender #wildflowers #ourhaveninzrenj #stridone #istria #istrialife #placetorelax #butterflygarden #nomoreweeds #perfectpatch #bluesky #springtimesunshine #houseforsale #homeforsale #holidayrental #holidayhome #istriareno 
When you have woods on your doorstep, full of fallen trees... #foraging #woodcollection #fuelforspring #woodcollector #zrenj #istria #istrialife #springsunshine #afternooninthegarden #houseforsale #contemporaryinterior #renovatedhouse #istriareno 
A bit of #indoor #gardening today. Supermarket #basilplant divided up & strongest seedlings re-potted. We never have success with supermarket basil because it is always so tightly packed. Hopefully, this thinning out will mean we’ll get a better crop of #basil once the danger of frost has passed & we can plant up outside in the warmth & sunshine. A sprouting bulb of #garlic has also been separated into individual cloves & these too have been re-potted. Hoping we make progress with these, too 🌱🧄 #indoorpotting #basil #basilico #garlic #bulbofgarlic #pottedherbs #zrenjkitchen #becomingselfsufficient #selfsufficientlife #istria #istrialife #indoorherbgarden #windowledgegarden #basilforpesto #istriareno 
Ominous looking clouds headed our way from #Slovenia ☁️☁️☁️ Much planting going on as we sort the pots & troughs. Raised planter & de-cluttering of little secret garden on hold until tomorrow, until aching limbs from y’day go away 🤓 So lovely to finally be outdoors and sorting the garden. Just hoping the rain doesn’t return... #gardenday #sowingseeds #poppies #sunflowers #springflowers #springcolours #sunshine&clouds #springbulbs #istriareno 
Creating a haven... This piece of land has been overgrown & a bit on the wildside. We’ve been meaning, for a long time, to tackle it, but other jobs are always more important. But it was clear that the dead vines & branches and brambles were causing the trees to not fare as well as they might have done. So, it’s being tackled. Hopefully, the remaining trees will be stronger and more full of growth & blossom & fruits this year. It also means that from our garden, our view over to the fields will be a whole lot nicer. #zrenj #gardenlife #uptheladders #springishere #blueskyandsunshine #clingingonfordearlife #creatingacornerinthegarden #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #holidayhomepotential #istriareno 
The fog is lifting & the afternoon #sunshine is starting to break through. The colours of the #glassware on the #windowshelf are changing. It might be time to add a pot of #springbulbs... #shelfie #colouredglass #windowdisplay #istrialife #ourstonehouse #houseinthehills #houseforsale #renovatedstonehouse #istria #istriareno 
Almost 6pm & look at that window! It’s still light. And, it’s stopped raining. We had snow flurries earlier, but there’s a definite feeling of spring. Our bulbs are shooting up, weeding has been done & hopefully Project Lavender will start tomorrow. What a difference a few more minutes of daylight makes each day 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 #istria #istrialife #springiscoming #newbeginnings #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria *link in bio* #istriareno 
Think we’ve injected a bit of love & warmth into a room which, when we moved in, had two sets of bunk beds, unpainted walls & ceiling, naked beams & floor. And just no sense of a room where you’d get the most comfy night’s sleep. Now ready to pass this room (and the house) onto new owners who’ll inject the next shot of love into our beautiful stone house. Website link in our bio - our #houseforsale could be *yours* 🤍🤍 #houseforsale #renovatedstonehouse #contemporaryinterior #propertyforsaleinistria #istria #istrialife #threedoublebedrooms #holidayhome #holidayrentalinistria #holidayhomeinistria #allmodcons #bestnightssleep #croatia #croazia #closetoitaly #italia #istriareno 
Operation Get-Ready-For-Spring has commenced. We can’t wait now to get the house spring/summer ready. Although the #faux furs are still on the bed, it’s time to start thinking about warmer days. But first things first. New #windowshelf with lighting & faux foliage installed in the third bedroom. One of the abandoned houses in the village has been demolished & is about to be rebuilt. Exciting times - but we don’t really want to look down on a building site as it’s being rebuilt, so the shelf will provide a bit of a distraction. And will look very pretty from the outside, looking up, as it gets dark & the lights twinkle. Room feels more lovely already 😍 #springcleaning #springstyling #interiors #bedroomstyle #windowdressing #blowawaythecobwebs #gettingspringready #istria #istrialife #houseforsale #renovatedproperty #renovatedstonehouse #propertyforsaleinistria *link in bio* #istriareno 
The fog has descended. And it’s proper #freezingfog. It’s difficult to even see the trees beyond the fields. But, it’s super cosy inside, with woodburner on. And, it’s Friday so it’s time to cosy up under the sofa throws 🔥🔥 Even though it’s very foggy it’s nearly 5pm & it’s still light. Light enough for the #glassware on the #windowshelf to still twinkle. Time to wind down for the weekend. Hope yours is lovely. And warm! #eucalyptus #colouredglass #zrenj #stridone #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #renovatedhouseforsale #hyggehome *website link in bio * #istriareno 
I do love our #Zrenj #sheep. They have been very suspicious of us, but each time we go for a walk, we visit them, and they don’t run away immediately now. They still don’t come up to the fence but they seem to be becoming a little bit less wary of us. They are very good at #socialdistancing 🐑🐑🐑🐑 #ourneighbours #springlambs #woollysheep #onthefarm #countrylife #istria #stridone #istrialife #winterwalks #springiscoming #stilllife #slowliving #sheepofinstagram #istriareno 
A change as simple as relocating a mirror, really can make such a big difference. This grey mirror (originally pine, but painted) has been brought up from The Snug & put on the wall in the Well Room, facing the kitchen. Light from the new kitchen window now bounces off it & makes the space lighter, brighter & more spacious. I very much like DIY jobs like this that take no time, aren’t messy, don’t involve multiple tools & make an impact. #diy #relocation #mirrormirror #lightandspace #easyfix #istria #istrialife #ikeamirror #paintjob #farrowabdball #hagueblue #darkanddramatic #concretestylekitchen #underfloorheating #houseforsale *link in bio* #istriareno 
This little piece of land, attached to our beautiful #abandonedhouse, has always been a bit of a horror show. We don’t actually own it. Like many parcels of land here, ownership is either not established or there are are so many owners, scattered far & wide, that no-one takes any responsibility for it. So, we’ve taken that responsibility. First job, when we completed the purchase of the little house, was to begin to clear it of vines & ivy, and assess how safe it was. Looks a whole lot better with a good trim! Then this patch was cleared of stones, rubble, vines, weeds & the soil turned over then covered with heavy plastic sheeting. Red bark chippings have been laid to bring a bit of neatness & colour to this end of the garden. We’ve also installed four quite large bamboos & are in the process of planting up a mini potted orchard. Since this photo was taken, we’ve added two varieties of apples trees & a cherry tree. A little stone wall has also been built, so it feels like a little enclosed garden now. #pottedorchard #appletrees #cherrytree #neatandtidy #cornerofourgarden #istria #istrialife #barkchippings #miniorchard #abandonedhousesofistria #outdoorspace #istriareno 
Very happy to see the arrival of this big tangerine tank 😍 When you’re not connected to mains sewers, these guys are like knights in shining armour! In no time, it was all sorted! Good to know that whoever buys our home won’t need to do this for quite some time. #houseforsale #keepingupwiththetasks #bigorangetruck #cleanandshiny #septictank #alldonenow #istria #istrialife #propertyforsaleinistria *link in bio* #istriareno 
The golden glow of #candlelight. Our #winterbedroom is heated by the woodburner chimney & candles. And, it’s super-cosy & so warm. #hyggehome #istria #istrialife #houseforsale #istriareno 
Blimey - it is so cold today! We’ve had snow flurries & the wind is biting, but the sun has also made an appearance. Woodburners are lit so downstairs is toasty - and upstairs, candles are lit and heaters are on. Although we’ve moved out of the big bedroom, we’re still keeping it warm & cosy. We try to ensure that all of the rooms are aired & kept warm, even when we don’t use them, so that house always feels lived in. Could you imagine this being your bedroom? #houseforsale #warmandcosy #hyggeinterior #interiors #design #contemporaryinterior #winterwarmer #january #movingon #ourrenovatedhome #thebigbedroom #evemattress @evesleep #sunshineyellow #greyandyellow #candlelight #farrowandball #whiteandgrey #propertyforsale #istria #istrialife #zrenj #holidayhome #holidayrental *link in bio* #istriareno 
It must be winter because we’ve moved bedroom. The big bedroom will be used again from the spring, but for now, we’re in the room with the chimney. Very cosy, as a bitterly cold wind blows outside 💨❄️💨❄️ #winter #january #istria #istrialife #cosyandwarm #hygge #hyggehome #zrenj #istriareno 
Close up detail. #Glassware #windowshelf #glassbottles #retrodesign #interiors #stylingashelf #cornerofourhome #throughthelookingglass #windowonourworld #istria #istrialife #designyourspaces #scandiinspired #houseforsale #housewiththepaleblueshutters #zrenj #renovatedhouse #stonehouse #popsofpastel #istriareno 
That’s the festive season done & dusted. Monday morning & it’s a fresh start. Laptops back on. Much of the sparkle carefully packed away & the Xmas window shelf replaced with lovely glassware & faux #eucalyptus stems. Looks lighter & brighter & much more spring like. Which is good, because it’s on its way, as demonstrated by the bulbs in the garden... 🌱🌱🌱 #springiscoming #newbeginnings #januaryclearout #glassware #windowshelf #ourhomeinistria #houseforsale #propertyforsale #istrialife #lifeinistria #movingon #istriareno www.propertyforsaleinistria.com 
Because all beds need velvet sequinned cushions... #sparklyfish #sequins #decor #interiors #renovatedstonehouse #istria #istriareno 
Christmas Star. Bright & sunny, but cold & windy, outside. Inside, we’re warm & cosy. Woodburner roaring & furry throws deployed. Sofa each, to rewatch the wonderful #jojorabbit #lazyday #boxingday #movietime #feetup #christmasinistria #istrialife #zrenj #istria #festiveseason #decemberdays #istriareno 
The sunshine has returned! Making the dried citrus fruit slice mobile look even more pretty. Each slice looks like a piece of stained glass... #stainedglass #sunshine #citruscolours #istriareno 
High up in the apex ceiling - supersized light shade, with curling vine tendrils... #maskros #ikea #bringingtheoutsidein #istria #istrialife #renovatedbedroom #istriareno 
Winter wreath for #Christmas. #berries #leaves #ivy #willow #winterwreath #istria #istrialife #december #christmasiscoming #orangeleaves #Yuletide #buonanatale #sretanbožić #christmasinistria #istrialife #terramagica #frontdoorwreath #wintersolstice #istriareno 
Snowflakes - we’ve not had the real things yet, but our snow tends to come in January & February. Hope it does arrive, as Istria in the snow, is beautiful. Also, now that this house is finally #renovated, we’ll be warm & cosy. Unlike in previous years when it’s been super pretty outside but FREEZING inside because we’ve had work going on & doors have been continually open or just plastic sheeting for windows ❄️❄️❄️ We’ve now got woodburners, heaters, velvet curtains, all windows thoroughly sealed (so no more gaps for winds!) & best of all - underfloor heating in bathroom & kitchen. So, we are snow-ready! But in the meantime, we’ll made do with our lovely wooden snowflakes... #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria - *link in bio* #readyforwinter #winterproof #ourhyggehome #interiors #scandiinspired #letitsnow #christmasiscoming #istria #istrialife #istriareno 
#Monochrome #Christmas #sparkles #cornerofourhome #interiorsatchrismas #shiningstar #blackandwhite #interiors #hygge #scandiinspired #gotoursparkleon #christmasdecor #istria #istrialife #stayathomethisyear #istriareno 
It might be windy & it might be raining, but nothing was going to stop this being lit up this weekend 🎄 #christmasinistria #istria #istrialife #festiveseason #lightitup #christmastree #gardeninzrenj #christmasgarden #christmassparkle #realchristmastree #sparkleinthegarden #houseforsale *link in bio* #istriareno 
Really delighted that the parking area is now finished. Now that it is covered in a nice thick top layer of white Istrian stone chippings, it looks so clean & neat. No more squelchy red mud when it rains. And, when it gets dirty, the hosepipe comes out. After much deliberation about how we were going to do this area, super pleased we went for the easiest - but very effective - option. #gardenrenovation #istrianstones #istrialife #zrenj #stridone #properparkingarea #nomoremud #loveourgarden #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria *link in bio* #istriareno 
Once full of rubble & rubbish & overgrown with vines and ivy, this little patch outside our #abandonedhouse has been cleared and levelled & covered with bark chippings. It’s going to become a little #pottedorchard with trees we can take away & eventually plant up. A cherry tree is the first occupant. A neighbour for the wild #baytree in the corner. Already looking a much nicer part of the garden after just a couple of hours... #istria #istrialife #gardening #sundaydiy #sunisshining #outdoorwork #makingthingsbeautiful #ourgardeninzrenj #houseforsale #istriareno 
We’ve flicked the switch from #summerhouse to #winterhouse, as it is now officially very cold in #Istria. The days are bright & sunny, which is lovely, but this means it is extremely chilly! However, it also means we can go full on now with faux fur throws, big squishy cushions, a roaring log burner & lots of candles. Love how the lighting makes the living room so different in the winter. And, if you, or anyone you know, is thinking of making a move abroad, to a beautiful area, tucked in just under the #Trieste region of #Italy, it could be yours, as it’s #forsale... *link in bio* #houseforsaleinistria #propertyforsaleinistria #renovatedhouse #perfectlocation #houseforallseasons #hyggehouse #istria #istriareno 
Soon - no more mud! And, a pergola. It’s coming together in the garden 💚 #istria #renovations #renovatingahouse #blackandwhitephotography #houseforsale #istriareno 
Definitely a day for staying indoors, lighting the #woodburner & #workingfromhome. Fine-tuning a brand new section for @thecheesehamlet #Didsbury #website. A new section which definitely makes the lives of #cheesefans much easier 🧀🧀🧀 #websitedesign #manchester #businesssupport #independentretailers #design #atumnaltones #autumnsky #winteriscoming #pumpkinseason #wintergarden #istriareno 
Reflections and reflections and reflections... It’s taken such a long time to create a nice space out of the largest bedroom. Looking back, it would have been great to have had such a lovely room, when the big #renovation work was happening, but it would have been continually been dirty & dusty. But, we’ve finally got the room we’ve pretty much always wanted - spacious, uncluttered, double windows, soaring apex ceiling, calm colours. I know - *Let’s Sell The House And Start All Over Again...* Definitely sounds crazy, but the pull of the property we’ve been viewing, is just too strong. It’s a complete mess of a building at the moment - and it will be a very long time before we have a bedroom like this when we finally move - but you can’t ignore those feelings. Something must be in the ether, as opposed to nesting, we’re clearing out. Getting ready for #newbeginnings 😍 www.propertyforsaleinistria.com #houseforsale #renovatedstonehouse #istria #oprtalj #istriareno 
Monday morning reflections ☀️ Super sunny this morning. Lovely start to the week & looking like the #autumn #sunshine will stay with us a good few days. Today is a mix of #designwork for clients & outdoor work in the garden. The paving stones have been laid in place for the cars - they need to be slightly sunken & then cemented into place, meaning that finally, the house will have a levelled, hard surface parking area. No more red mud 👍 #onwithmonday #mondaymotivation #sunnyday #octobermornings #websitedesign #inthegarden #sunshineshadows #morningreflections #autumninistria #istrialife #wearelifestyles #ourhouseisforsale #houseforsaleinistria #starshadow #istriareno 
A gloriously sunny - and quite warm - day in the garden. We are making the most of every second of sunshine, as there’s a long winter ahead... #autumndays #istriasunshine #stayinghome #gardendesign #wherewelive #istria #istrialife #houseforsale #housewiththepaleblueshutters #number64 #zrenj #stridone #istriareno 
We continue to mull over the back of the house, especially as it’s #forsale. But, while we still live here, we want to make it the best it can possibly be. And have it in the best condition possible, to pass onto new owners. We don’t want to spend unnecessary money as new owners might want something completely different, but we do think a lot about a new boundary wall. In the meantime, we had a lightbulb moment at the weekend. Not only did we add more potted bamboos to give more privacy, but we also used the base & one side of a couple of log palettes we were chopping up for kindling. Suddenly realised they were the perfect shape, size & orientation. Once in place, they were temporarily decorated with hanging pots and strings of solar lights - as soon as we get a clear stretch of sunny weather again, these will be both painted in our pale grey wood paint. For very little outlay, we’re creating something which can be easily dismantled if we sell quickly or if we make a decision about the boundary wall. Pretty happy though with this interim measure :) #rearofhouse #temporaryrenovation #barkchippings #upcycle #neverthrowaway #repurpose #reuse #abandonedhouse #magicalgarden #startingtoloveourview #bambootrees #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #zrenjhouse #stridone #zrenj #istrialiving #secretgarden #secrethouse #wastenotwantnot #markingtheboundaries #istriareno www.propertyforsaleinistria.com 
Our pink #pampasgrass has never bloomed before, but over the last couple of days, two feathery fronds have started to emerge. These are potted - I know they’d thrive better if they were planted in the ground - but we wanted to contain them a little bit. I think we’ve probably thwarted them, so am delighted that they are now being defiant! Is it usual for them to emerge in October? #gardendelights #bloominggrasses #pinkfronds #autumncolours #istriareno 
#Autumn #Pumpkins 🎃. Switching the living room from how we have it in the summer, to a winter room. In the summer, furniture is more spaced out, there are fewer candles on shelves & surfaces, no baskets of logs and fewer throws. The room feels light and airy and spacious. As winter approaches, we pull the sofas closer together, fill the log baskets, get the throws & faux sheepskins back on the sofas and fill the room with candles. This year, the wooden table has been sprayed gold & is the perfect place for a collection of autumnal pumpkins. 🍂🍂🍂 Love this living room as its size & orientation makes it very easy to change around - a room for all seasons 🌱☀️🍂❄️ #interiors #ourlivingroom #ourhomeinzrenj #zrenj #stridone #istria #istrialife #winterpreparation #hyggelife #scandistyle #houseforsale #istriareno 
Almost overnight, the #virginiacreeper by the front door, has turned the most vibrant red. If only it would stay like this all the way through the autumn & winter 🍂🍂 Given it was only potted a couple of months ago, it’s putting on quite a show! #autumncolours #allthereds #autumninistria #istria #istrialife #wearelifestyles #seasonalchange #seasonaladjustment #coloursofautumn #helloautumn #istriareno 
I love this elevation of our house. She looks lovely when the sunlight in the morning is at this side. It always reminds me of the kind of house you used to draw as a child... #thehousewithpaleblueshutters #istria #zrenj #houseforsale #renovatedstonehouse #threebedrooms #twobathrooms #istrianstone #traditionalexterior #contemporaryinterior #propertyforsaleinstria *link in bio* #istriareno 
Mornings are definitely no longer as sunny. The sun is peeping from behind the clouds, but the light is much paler & nowhere as intense as over the summer. The bedroom in the morning now takes on a different colour - a bit more milky. I love wakening up in this room. I love that it is so high up, we rarely close the curtains. I love that from my side of the bed, I can look out of the window and just see treetops & the campanile, up in the village. This room makes me very happy. #myfavouriteroom #shadesofgrey #freshwhitebedding #vinesaroundthebeams #roomwithaview #howmydaystarts #roomsofinstagram #bedroomdecor #renovatedbedroom #istria #istrialife #wearelifestyles #istriareno #Artwork by @lozeretski #didsbury 🙏 
This lovely room hasn’t been used all summer because, as a result of #coronavairus, we’ve had no visitors this year. It’s usually a very well used room over the summer, but we’ve hardly been in it. In fact, we’ve just taken off the bedding which was put on for our first expected visitors in early April, who obviously couldn’t come. But, this is the room we tend to move into over the winter. Our bedroom is gorgeous in the summer, because it’s big with double windows, can be chilly in the winter, without heating on. So, we swap rooms as this smaller one also has a chimney stack, following up from the living room, so when the woodburner has been on, it’s super cosy 🔥 It might be a few weeks yet before we do the move, because although the autumn rains are arriving, it’s still very mild. #istria #istrialife #autumnpreparation #sundaycleaningday #sortingthehouse #istriareno 
A change around for winter. The room feels more balanced now with the TV on the dark wall. It looks black but I think was due to the morning light - the wall & cabinet are both a deep navy blue, definitely not black. Somehow, the room also seems bigger which is a bonus. Have to say, it’s so nice having the space for two big sofas so there’s no fighting over lying down rights. #loveourhome #featurewall #darkanddramatic #interiors #stylinghowwelikeit #cosyforwinter #hygge #wearelifestyles #homeforsale #istria #istrialife #zrenj #renovatedhouse #contemporaryinterior #boldpaintcolor #upcycledfurniture #newleaseoflife #istriareno 
The most delicate potted plants - and the #pinkflamingo- are now relocated for autumn/winter, on the patio outside the front door. The #virginiacreeper is beginning to turn red & hopefully the the little coloured flowers will continue to bloom for a little longer, giving us bursts of colour. Been working on a little something for the front door, which will hopefully also give us a pop of colour when the days are grey... #autumnpreparation #autumncolours #frontofourhouse #popsofcolour #autumnishere 🍁🍂 #istrialife #istria #autumninistria #alltheredsandoranges #wearelifestyles #istriareno #houseforsale #renovatedhouseinistria #propertyforsaleinistria *link in bio* 
A successful day in the garden. We worked there whilst we still had the sun - in just a couple of weeks, once the sun goes behind the #greenwall, it is *chilly*. So speedy painting of the stone surround where we’ve planted lots of spring bulbs. The pink & white heather plants are loving their new home & will hopefully complement the bulbs when they grow. Already looking forward to spring 🌻🥀🌾🌺 #autumngarden #istria #istrialife #ourgardeninzrenj #zrenj #winterproject #livingoutside #wearelifestyles #springbulbs #heather #istriareno 
Evening light in the kitchen is now so different to just a couple of weeks ago. This window gives us lovely #sunsetviews in the summer, but now in the evening, it’s become more cosy & twinkling. The foreseeable future will be spent #athome so we’re going to make sure that it’s an utter delight to be in. #stayathome #keepsafe #autumnishere #slowliving #twinklinglights #candles #autumnaccessories #brightinsidedarkoutside #istria #autumninistria #istrialife #wearelifestyles #cornerofourhome #hyggelife #changeofseason #embracingoctober #istriareno #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria *link in bio* 
Blimey, it’s chilly this morning! Only a couple of weeks ago, we were still lounging on sunbeds in the garden. Today is the day, we start to get the garden ready for autumn & winter. Previously, we’ve had to find places indoors for sunbed & garden seat pads, and cushions & throws, meaning The Snug has always been taken over. This year, we have the lovely shed, and can get properly organised. Time to put on a pair of jeans for the first time in months, and get out the wellies. The #autumnproject begins today... #autumnpreparation #gardenlife #bulbplanting #choppingandclearing #kindling #logstorage #istria #istrialife #dutchlogcabin #ourgardeninzrenj #zrenj #stridone #summerisover #wearelifestyles #autumnchill #changeintheweather #istriareno 
And, almost as if a switch has flicked, it is #autumn. It feels so long since we’ve woken to mist, rain & much cooler temperatures. Also, wakening up to a toppled over #waterbutt, the second one which we bought yesterday & hastily installed as the heavy rain started. Too hastily, in hindsight, as the base wasn’t steady & a loud crash woke us up in the early hours. Yes, all of that carefully collected rainwater, all over the path - the very thing we were trying to avoid 😩- and a bit of a battered waterbutt. Nothing quite like starting the first foggy day of autumn, rebuilding a stone platform in the rain ☔️🤓 #rainwater #gardenlife #autumnhasarrived #istria #istrialife #mistymorning #timetobeindoors #zrenj #stridone #wearelifestyles #atmosphericweather #istriareno 
A very simple, inexpensive, green glass vase can make faux blooms look very pretty. We did a move around in the living room last weekend & brought down the gold sprayed table from one of the bedrooms. It’s a lovely table - long and thin and so sits perfectly against the spindles which overlook the stairs down into The Snug. It also means that there is now a place for lots of beautiful objects we’ve accumulated from travels etc. The layout of the living room is now very cosy, and will be gorgeous in the winter - just hard to imagine it at the moment, when all windows still open & fans still on... Sunlight still coming in, but starting to get out the #faux #sheepskins. Just for decoration at the moment, but they will be used in the winter for warmth & cosiness. #accessorisingthelivingroom #goldtable #fauxblooms #sheepskins #septemberlight #istria #autumn #istrialife #wearelifestyles #glassware @jyskhr #homewares #interiors #istriareno #makingahouseahome #houseforsale #moving on *linkinbio* 
Good job our friend has a head for heights! Because, we don’t... #uptheladders #vinesandivy #thegreenwall #zrenj #istria #istrialife #wearelifestyles #stonehouse #istrianstone #outdoors #ruralliving #inthegarden #istriareno 
Log delivery done. Think we’ll be ready for #winter this year 🔥🔥🔥#logdelivery #woodburner #heatingsorted #stilltoohottothinkaboutwinter #zrenj #stridone #istria #ruralliving #istrialife #wearelifestyles #terra #istriareno 
Early autumn morning in #Istria ☀️We’re making the most of this late summer sunshine. At the height of summer, we have sunshine in the garden until past 8pm. By late afternoon now, it’s dipped down behind the house in front of us so less sun lounging. So, it’s lovely to get out and about earlier in the day, when the garden is in full sun. We’re very lucky with the weather - it’s still warm enough to sunbathe and no rain is forecast so everything can stay outside. Gorgeous time of year. #keepingsummergoing #septembersunshine #sunflowers #ourgardeninzrenj #houseforsale #propertyforsaleinistria #renovatedgarden #sunnypatio #istria #istrialife #wearelifestyles #istriareno 
After the rains have gone... #latersummerdays #umbrellastillup #cloudlesssky #blueabove #wearelifestyles #sunnysunday #suninseptember #istria #istrialife #oprtalj #oprtaljlife #blueandwhite #alwayslookup #miniheatwave #indiansummer #zrenj #stridone #portole #terramagica #istriareno 
September morning sunlight flooding into the living room. Although temperatures are set to rise again this week, it does feel there’s been a definite change. Dewy grass in the morning, only one fan needed at night, moving the sunbeds to get the last rays as the sun is now much lower. But, autumn will bring its own delights 🍂🍂🍂 #lastofsummer #septembersunshine #wearelifestyles #zrenj #istriareno #thehousewiththepaleblueshutters #stridone #whitenavygrey #interiors #renovatedstonehouse #houseforsale #istria #istriapropertyforsale *link in bio* 
Thank you to our neighbour, Nataša, for the additional palette. Got the water butt emptied (and re-filled as we tried to keep as much of the rain water as possible), the tap fitted & the drainpipe connected & we now have a collection point for the rain water. Have no idea what we’ve planted in the empty paint can - could be weeds - but they’re growing, look pretty & about to flower. The palette platform will eventually be painted, but it’ll be covered in plants in the meantime 🥀🎋🌱 #freewater #waterbutt #waterontap #gardentales #gettingautumnready #gardendiy #gettingourhandsdirty #reuse #recycle #slowliving #consciousliving #gardenpalette #keepingtheplantshappy #growingthesecretgarden #istria #istrialife #septembersun #ourbeautifulstonehouse #stonehouserenovation #propertyforsaleinistria #diy #wearelifestyles #istriareno