In our fast-paced lives many of us seek a sanctuary of order, calm and comfort in which to relax. This compact book brings together a stunning selection of contemporary interiors, from a coolly minimalist penthouse apartment in London to a Mallorcan retreat employing local materials, and from a clapboard house in New England to a steel-and-glass new-build in Hanover . Such diversity reflects the variety found in contemporary living spaces, yet these interiors share many of the qualities we find most appealing when planning - or simply imagining - our own ideal home. The creative yet restrained use of materials, colour, texture and light combine with an attention to detail and quality in these homes to offer the perfect source of inspiration.

 

Tobie Puttock's love affair with Italian food began when he was an eighteen-year-old working in Melbourne 's acclaimed Ceffe e Cucina, where he discovered crayfish, garlic and good coffee, and learnt to dodge pirate- like chefs wielding big knives. The passion flourished as he cheffed his way across Europe , pulling double shifts in ltalian-speaking Kitchens, taking time out for snowboarding excursions and odd very long lunch in a mountainside trattoria.

In London , Tobie worked at the River Cafe, widely regarded as that city's best Italian restaurant, alongside a bevy of high-profile chefs, including Jamie Oliver. In 2001, Tobie became head chef at Jamie's acclaimed Fifteen, a restaurant venture established to help disadvantaged youngsters become industry professionals. In late 2006, Tobie will open Fifteen restaurant in the centre of Melbourne . Like its London counterpart, Fifteen Melbourne will employ and mentor underprivileged kids, while serving ripper Italian food-classic and contemporary dishes-made from the best available produce and prepared with care, imagination and plenty of heart.