Perhaps the best time to visit Europe is June. The temperature and throngs of tourists have yet to hit their peak, while the days are at their longest – a time of year called the summer solstice when the sun appears to stand still. To celebrate this phenomenon, many European countries, such as France, Italy, UK, and Spain, have long held Midsummer festivals, around 21 to 24 of June.

If that wasn't inspiration enough, we’ve focussed this issue on the beauty of European design. In Design Scene, we travel to Barcelona to experience Milan-based Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola's gorgeous Axor Urquiola, a thoroughly modern bathroom series for Hansgrohe. At the end of the month is the much-anticipated red dot award gala, held in Essen, Germany. The evening sees some of the world’s top brands honoured for their outstanding achievement in product design; Home Highlights features some of the past recipients.

If, however, you can’t make it to Europe, we've brought some of the most amazing European-inspired homes to you. The Collector's House features a stunning 7,700-sq-ft estate in Sheung Shui, beautifully decorated like a chic boutique hotel. Great Expectations showcases an amazing 8,500-sq-ft property in Tai Tam that combines classic European touches with contemporary elements. Or be whisked away to the romantic beauty of France with Summer in Paris, an utterly fashionable apartment in Pokfulam, which combines stylish French details with Asian influences.

也許6月是前往歐洲的最佳時候：溫度宜人，又未到旅遊旺季，而且這時候歐洲的日晝時間是最長——亦即夏至，太陽在這段時間就好像會稍作停留一樣。為慶祝這種白天長的現象，歐洲多個國家如法國、意大利、英國和西班牙，也會在6月21至24日左右舉行仲夏節活動。

為了提供更具體的靈感，我們今期特別以歐洲設計為主題：在Design Scene一欄，我們特別飛到巴塞隆拿，親身體驗駐米蘭的西班牙設計師Patricia Urquiola 為ansgrohe打造的Axor Urquiola現代浴室系列；另一邊廂，本月尾就是萬眾矚目的red dot頒獎典，將於德國埃森舉行，我們在Home Highlights一欄會介紹多個曾獲得這項殊榮的設計。

不過，即使你未能抽身前往歐洲，我們也為你準備了數間以歐洲風格為本的家居裝潢。The Collector's House一文的上水居所面積達7,700平方呎，設計足以媲美一間精品酒店；Great Expectations展示一間位於大潭的住宅，糅合了歐洲魅力與現代元素；法國的浪漫與優美感可從Summer in Paris一文介紹的薄扶林居所中感受到，住所完美結合法國細節和亞洲氣息，時尚設計令人留下深刻印象。