Patience is a virtue

This is my dining table.

I'm not a person who buys stop-gap pieces. I'd much rather go without until I find the exact piece of furniture I'm after.

I went without any sort of dining table for five years while I searched for 'the one'. Five years of eating dinner on our laps, and only entertaining in summer when we could use our outdoor dining table. One Christmas we even brought the outdoor dining table inside.

After all those years of searching, eight years ago I finally found this table in an antique shop in the city. I fell in love with its sturdy straight legs, its solid shape, and its wonderful patina.




It was originally a farmhouse table, on a farm just outside Lobethal, a little town in the lovely Adelaide hills. I often wonder if the farmer made it himself. The antique dealer I bought it from found it in a big shed on the farm. It had been sitting there unloved for many years, before the dealer bought it and had it brought back to life.



The restorer was careful to keep all the marvellous dings and dents and stains that give this table its character. We've probably contributed a bit more 'character' over the last eight years.

This bit below is my favourite part - an indentation on the railing. I often wonder if this was from where the head of the household rested his booted foot every night over dinner. I also love how the bottom of the legs are wrapped in a metal strip.

It's nice to have a little piece of history in my home. I think it warms up my very neutral, very new home quite nicely.

Best wishes,

Gather around the table

Sleek, highly glossy tables have their purpose: you can check your teeth for spinach in them. But otherwise, give me a worn, gnarled old table any day.

I love tables that you aren't going to have a heart attack over if your two year old decides to play cars over the top of it. In fact, they are just adding to the character.

Or that you feel just as comfortable using as a craft table as you do serving dinner on it.

I love tables that wear their history with pride. You know that this table has served a family well over many years, and it shows every ding and dent.

Tables that you know are not just for show, but serve a purpose too. A place for homework, reading the paper, or rolling out some scones.

These are the sort of tables that your family and friends can relax at. They can chew the fat on these tables - in more ways than one.

I love strong, sturdy and solid tables, built to last.

Images 1 scanned from Australian Home Beautiful 2 Beach Studios via Marley & Lockyer 3 Scanned from Belle 4 Canadian House to Home via Rare and Beautiful Treasures 5 Living etc 6 Country Living 7 Lincoln Barbour 8 scanned from Australian Country Style 9 White Flower Farmhouse 10 Skona Hem 11 Simon Kenny, Content Agency 12 Frances Janisch 13 Country Living

Best wishes,

Come on through

I'm no gardener. I'm not one of those people who finds it therapeutic and rewarding. I find it backbreaking and.....grotty!

But just because I don't love gardening doesn't mean I don't love gardens. My mum created a beautiful garden in the home I grew up in and I loved just being in it and soaking up the beauty.

My own poor garden is a little bit bedraggled and unloved. And it is also small. I love the idea of having a garden big enough to divide it into 'rooms', suggested by a garden gate or an archway. It provides a little mystery and romance, 'secret garden' style. I also love the idea of a gardener!

Hope you enjoy these garden rooms.

Images 1 Skona Hem via Purple Area 2 Sussie Bell 3 Kate French at Sarah Kaye Represents 4 Domino via Abbey Goes Design Scouting 5 Charlie Drevstam 6 unknown

Best wishes,

New book love

This little gem arrived in the mail for me this week. I love getting things in the mail. When I first saw this book, the beautiful front cover intrigued me (designed by Australian stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk), but it was the description of the book that won me over in the end:

"A visit to a flea market can be the highlight of a trip to France: a lively encounter with everyday French culture, an exciting way to spend a few hours, and a chance to pick up a unique souvenir or add to a collection. The Flea Markets of France is the indispensable tool for getting the most out of your visit, whether you’re a first-time visitor or an experienced shopper. Conversational and comprehensive, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about exploring markets all over France. Descriptions of more than thirty markets and their specialties, as well as practical advice on visiting them, is augmented by notes on regional items, tips on bargaining and collecting, a glossary of relevant French phrases, and a useful rating system which gives an overview of each market.

Much more than a simple listing of French flea markets, Sandy Price’s warm suggestions of things to do nearby, places to eat, food specialties of the area, and local amenities are complemented by bits of history and cultural observations. Armed with this comprehensive guide, visitors to France will feel they are in good, reliable hands."

I don't know when I'll get to visit France, but in the meantime, I can flick through this book and dream of the day when I can be there in person.

To get a little bit more of a glimpse of this book, click here.

Best wishes,

Rev it up with red

I think red is one of those colours that works whatever the season. It can look fresh and summery or warm and cosy. You can't beat its versatility.

Images 1 Scanned from Australian Home Beautiful 2 Country Home 3 Helen Norman 4 Charlie Drevstam 5 Better Homes and Gardens 6 & 7 Scanned from Australian Better Homes and Gardens 8 Janne Peters 9 Cottage Living 10 & 11 Helen Norman 12 Country Living 13 unknown

Still needing a red fix? You can look at my earlier red posts here.

For those Aussies that have been following Homemade - yay Jason! Woohoo! I'm so pleased he won. I love his elegant timeless style, and he is such a sweet and relaxed person.

Best wishes,

Retail dreams

Like many people obsessed with homes and interior design, I often watch movies somewhat distracted by the beautiful homes and sets. Practical Magic was one of those movies for me - and I'm sure I'm not the only one who became entranced. The exterior of this home is a real Victorian beauty and I loved the romantic soft gardens.

But what really captured my imagination in this movie is Sally's botanical beauty shop - Verbena. When I first hired this movie on DVD I slo-mo'd through the scenes in the shop, just so I could get a better look.




I love the crisp, pure look of the shop and the green and white colour scheme. The set designers went to a lot of trouble to carry this theme through the whole shop - green bottles, green pears, green and white labels and even Sally is colour coordinated in her green and white outfit!



I adore so many elements in this image (below). The botanical prints on the wall, the charming built in shelves, the neatness and orderliness of the jars and bottles, the ladder (the ladder!), the silver cup handles on the drawers, and the rustic wooden bowl holding the pears - I just love it all.




You can only see a glimpse of it here, below, but I love the antique set of scales, and also the tongue and groove panelling on the back of the built in units.

Look at all these gorgeous bottles!

I love the light, airiness of the shop.

All images from amas veritas

I often dream of owning a shop, and in my mind it looks something like Verbena (but it would be a homewares shop). The clean, fresh look of Verbena would be my inspiration. But in reality, I'm too fearful of giving up my regular-paying day job, especially when I have no experience and I know that owning any business is incredibly hard work. But still, it's a little dream I have, and I love to dream.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Best wishes,

I've been shopping

It's my birthday in a few weeks (bad). I'm turning 40 (badder). But I've bought myself some presents (good).

I've bought myself a cocktail....

A candlelit dinner....

A massage....

Plus this.....

And this.....

And this....

Yes, a week after my birthday I am going to Bali!

It is going to be so wonderful to escape the cold dreary wet weather for a week in the balmy tropics.

I'm rather embarrassed to admit it, but this is my first trip overseas in 25 years. 25 years! Where did the time go?

I'm going with a friend and we will be there for 7 nights. Part of the time we will be staying here:

And the remainder of the time we'll be staying here...in the honeymoon suite! My friend and I have been having a giggle about that....but just because we are single girls doesn't mean we don't deserve a special room right?

I'm looking forward to the warm weather, the delicious food, the shopping, the mountains, the temples...everything really.

We'll be leaving on 29 July. That's three weeks and six days away, not that I'm counting or anything....

I'm hoping that this is just the start of many overseas adventures for me. Life begins at 40 right?

Best wishes,

Leibowitz and McLachlan

I've fallen in love with the work of Taryn Leibowitz and Tamie McLachlan, partners in the design firm Leibowitz and McLachlan.

I'm way behind the times because Desire to Inspire featured this Sydney duo way back in October 2007, while Blair from Delight by Design and Erin from Designs 4 Living featured them earlier this year.

And now these talented designers have hit the big time, with a feature in the US magazine Interiors, including the front cover.



And their moment in the sun is warranted, as their work is absolutely beautiful.




I have loved every image I've seen so far of their work. Their look is classic, yet fresh. Sophisticated but comfortable. I love the colours too - lashings of white, dark dark wooden floors and lots of punches of dark neutrals.




Their bathrooms are magnificent. Lots of beautiful marble or travertine, warmed up with fabulous details like antique mirrors and perfume bottles, and fluffy white towells.

They have a great eye for texture, and I love their blend of antiques and new pieces.

This zinc coffee table is fantastic.

I love this room - very beachy and laid back, but still sophisticated. You could put your feet up here.

Squidgy couches and a classic white kitchen, what more could you ask for.

Love the texture of this pendant against the cool, smooth white marble.

There's lots of lovely little details everywhere, adding warmth and interest.

I have looked everywhere in Adelaide for chairs like these below! I would love one for my study and one on each end of my dining table.

Outdoor areas are equally beautiful.

I find these designers so inspiring. I can't wait to see what other wonderful homes they create in the future.

All images from Leibowitz and McLachlan, Desire to Inspire, Delight by Design, Designs 4 Living and Content Agency.

Best wishes,

Shutterly divine

For as long as I can remember, I have adored plantation shutters. At one time they used to be as rare as hen's teeth here in Australia, but these days they are becoming more common, particularly in lovely old classic homes.

I've always thought of white when thinking of plantation shutters, but they also look smart in black, or sophisticated in a soft grey colour.

Images 1 scanned from Australian Better Homes and Gardens 2 scanned from Australian Home Beautiful 3 Coastal Living 4 Maree Homer 5 via Harmony and Home 6 scanned from Australian Country Style 7 Country Living 8 scanned from Australian Better Homes and Gardens


I really love the classic, elegant look of plantation shutters. They look fantastic in almost any style of home.

In my first home I had a big bay of three tall arched windows in the front of my house and I had white plantation shutters custom made. They cost a bomb, but they were worth it! Then when I became newly single I bought a home of my own so I couldn't afford custom shutters. But I was determined to still have my shutters for my bedroom, which faces the street, so I bought them in kit form and sanded, painted and assembled them myself. That was hard work! Four years down the track I'm (almost) ready to go again - this time for my son's room and our study. Think I'll wait til the weather warms up so I can sand outside though....

Best wishes,

PJ's giveaway

Images 1,2 & 4 Flickr 3 Terragalleria 4 the Guardian

I don't have a completely one track mind. Reading is one of my other passions. If you want to see my list of current favourites, check out my profile.

So I was pretty happy to hear my lovely blog friend PJ is having a giveaway - a $50 "e" gift certificate from Amazon.com

I know what I would buying with it!

PJ has posted a photo and to be entered in the drawing all you need to do is post a caption.

And while you are there stick around and read PJ's blog, Seens from the back of my eyelids, featuring her observations on life, beautiful quotes and photos and her home extension.

Best wishes,