simply natural

Wall inspiration

2009-08-19T19:40:00.006+09:30

When I'm flicking through a magazine the last thing I normally spend time on is looking at the ads. Ads, especially in house magazines are particularly bland and dull, I think. Nothing to inspire or get excited about.

But this advertisement made me stop. It is from furniture and electrical store Harvey Norman (big in Australia, but not usually my style). What really caught my eye in this image (below) is the wall art. If you click on the picture you can see a much larger image.

Ok, so the picture I've scanned in isn't great quality, but I love the wall art they have created with natural cast offs. It appears to me that they've taken what looks like an off cut from a palm tree - correct me if I'm wrong - that you can often buy these days from florists specialising in modern designs.

It looks like they've hammered in a couple of nails in to the wall and balanced the palm frond/leaf thing on them.

I've looked closely at what is in the palm leaves and decided they are some sort of sculptures made from cuttlefish bones. They seem to be wired together. Obviously I pored over this picture for ages!

Do you think I'm right? Have you ever seen anything like this before? I wonder if it would get stinky...

I tried googling cuttlefish bone art and cuttlefish bone scultpure and nothing came up that looked remotely like this.

Anyway, it took my fancy and I think it is a fabulous and innovative way to decorate your wall. Go Harvey Norman!

Best wishes,

The problem with open plan living

2009-08-17T19:36:00.005+09:30

It seems like open plan living has well and truly taken hold. And why not - it has so many benefits, the best one being that the cook is not stuck slaving over a hot stove on their own. With open plan, the cook doesn't miss out.

But - and this is a big but - open plan living does have its drawbacks! This I know - having lived in open plan spaces all my adult life. One major drawback is noise - it's very difficult to run a mixmaster or fry some food without someone complaining and turning the tv up several notches - which is my pet hate!

But even worse - there's no where to hide the mess! Have a few people over for dinner, and there's bound to be a few pots and pans lying about. Particularly with the current trend to put sinks out facing towards the dining area - you see this ALL the time in Australia now. Take this example below - where the sink is right out there on show. Beautiful now, while it's clean and clutter free, but not so much when the benchtop is full of dirty dishes! The clean freak in me cringes!

So this is why I love this kitchen below. It has a bench with a high return on it, which normally screams '80s naff. But here I think it looks stylish and it hides all the kitchen mess. I think the gorgeous stone helps.

Or if you don't like the high return style - here's a good idea below - leave the bench entirely free of sinks or stovetop and tuck the sink in an incongruous spot AND make the sink very wide and deep like this gorgeous butlers style sink, to hide as many dirty dishes in there until you get a chance to tidy up completely.

My poor little blog has been rather neglected lately. Life has been getting in the way. And I haven't been visiting all my favourite blogs either!

Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things soon.

Best wishes,

2009-08-10T20:14:00.007+09:30

So here's some more photos from Bali. We had such a great time, and saw so many things. It was quite a packed, busy holiday, but we still found time for massages, pedicures, manicures and cocktails.

Uluwatu temple right down the south point of the island is breathtakingly beautiful (and full of cheeky monkeys!).

The Balinese Cultural Centre is quite awe inspiring with its two magnificent statues of Balinese gods. This one below is Garuda.

This one is yet to be finished....

See, here's his arms, almost ready to be attached.

We got up early one morning to watch the sunrise on Sanur beach......

After the sun was up we had a delicious breakfast at a hotel right on the beach. Heaven!

The rice paddies up around Ubud are absolutely breathtaking. This photo unfortunately doesn't do them justice.

We saw a number of magnificent, ancient temples, set in luscious tropical grounds.

The Balinese bathe at this particular temple because it is said to wash away your problems.

We visited Kintami, an active volcano in the north of the island. It was a spectacular view and there are a number of restaurants to eat at and take in the view.

Just for fun, I've included a couple of photos of the main mode of transport in Bali - scooters. There are hundreds on the street at any one time, with up to four people on them. We saw a person on their scooter carrying huge bags of rice, two were carrying a ladder and another two were carrying a window pane!

These people in the image below soon took off and were hurtling down the freeway at 60km per hour!

We also took an elephant ride, went swimming, ate out every night, saw a couple of bands and did lots of shopping. The shops in Bali are many and varied, ranging from little stalls selling shell jewellery and designer t-shirt rip offs, to rather exclusive shops selling sophisticated resort ware or homewares.

I think that if you were building a magnificent brand new house, and wanted to fill it with asian antiques, curios and modern asian furniture, a trip to Bali would be worthwhile, even when you include the shipping expenses. You can get everything from giant stone buddha heads to beautiful mother of pearl photo frames.

Like any country, Bali has the good, the bad and the ugly. There appears to be a lot of poverty, and many people work incredibly hard just to eke out a living. But having said that, the Balinese people seem very content, and from what I saw, are incredibly gracious people with the biggest, warmest smiles I've ever seen.

If you are planning to go to Bali here are my tips -

1. take good walking shoes because the footpaths are treacherous or non-existent!

2. spoil yourself by taking in the sunset over the beach at Ku De Tah or the Oberoi at Seminyak, while sipping one of their delicious cocktails

3. watch the sunrise at the beach at Sanur

4. take Travelan tablets with every meal to avoid Bali Belly

5. book a hotel for a few days overlooking the rice paddies at Ubud.

Ok, I hope I haven't lost you with my travel log. My next post will be back to business as usual, I promise!

Bali bliss

2009-08-06T19:04:00.005+09:30

I arrived home from Bali at 9.00am this morning, after a wonderful eight days in Bali. I had such a fabulous time visiting this fascinating country.

I haven't had much sleep, as we travelled all night, so it will be an early night for me, but I couldn't resist putting up some of the photos I took while I was away. I hope you enjoy them.

These last two photos are taken at one of the villas we stayed at (please excuse the wonkiness of the photos!). The bathroom was absolutely huge, and included a beautiful water feature. We had our own private pool, and because the weather was very hot and humid, it came in handy.

I'm looking forward to catching up with my blog friends over the next few days, but in the meantime, I've got some sleeping to do!

Best wishes,

Can a new home have character?

2009-07-24T18:14:00.005+09:30

Planning on a building a new home, but concerned that it won't have the same character as an older home? Can you give your a new home some character? The answer is a resounding yes!

At the planning stage think about adding beautiful mouldings: cornices and skirting boards, and maybe even adding wainscotting or tongue and groove panelling (bead board) to your walls. Raising your ceilings to at least nine feet is also critical to give your home that old style feel. Recycled floorboards are another way to add a beautiful feeling of character and solidity to your home.

But let's face it, often the budget precludes people from doing some of the above things - they can be costly additions. But one thing that might just possibly be within reach of the average jo is architectural salvage.

I think it is really sad when lovely old homes get demolished, but the fact is, it does happen - often because the house is unsound or because it is cheaper to rebuild from scratch rather than renovate. But at least if they are going to be demolished, parts of the home can be salvaged for others to re-use.

With some patience, you might just be able to find a fabulous fireplace, a great bathtub or some wonderful old doors. And think outside the square - consider barn doors, doors from a pub, or shutters.

Not all architectural salvage is cheap - pieces from Europe can be costly. But if you look around, you might just get lucky. So patience could be required! I'm guessing you'd also need a builder who understands your vision and is willing to incorporate these treasures into your home.

So here's some images to give you some inspiration on how to add character using salvaged doors, windows and shutters. Some of them hide televisions and stereo equipment - clever!

Images 1 Atlanta Bartlett 2 Sally Wheat via Cote de Texas 3 Country Living 4 & 5 Scanned from Australian Home Beautiful 6 Mimmi O'Connell via Desire to Inspire 7 unknown 8 Scanned from Elle 9 & 10 unknown

I've had a really busy week - working extra hours at work because I'm off to Bali next week. And the weekend is full, full, full! So I'm struggling to visit blogs right now, but when I come back and have found my feet again, I'll be back with bells on!

Best wishes,

A place to create and dream

2009-07-22T20:28:00.005+09:30

Yesterday one of my favourite bloggers, Struggler of Struggling to be Stylish wrote about Ballard Designs, and it reminded me of the first time I heard about this company. About ten years ago I bought an interesting book called A Room of Her Own, by Chris Casson Madden. It featured the beautiful office/study of Ballard Design's founder, Helen Ballard Weeks.

Author Chris Casson Madden explained the focus of her book:

"Many of us long to find the time in a busy schedule to relax and refresh ourselves, body and spirit. I firmly believe that in order to give back to our relationships, careers, families, and passions, we must pull in for short moments to take care of ourselves, then we can return to the people and places of our lives renewed, refreshed, and ready to continue the drama of our days with all the joys, sorrows, pleasures, and stresses that go with it."

A Room of Her Own: Women's Personal Spaces features the special places that a variety of creative and dynamic women from all walks of life have created as retreats from their busy lives.

"The connective thread, for all of these personal spaces, is that each one, in dazzlingly different ways, brings its owner the sense of solitude, of the sanctuary they need in their rich and engaged lives".

Here's the fabulous Helen Ballard Weeks, as featured in the book.

So many things about Helen Ballard Week's room intrigued me. The mannequins and the architectural salvage above the door immediately captured my interest.

I adored the natural seagrass flooring and the classic white sofa.

Helen Ballard Weeks' office is full of interesting bits of bobs, which she used as inspiration for her famous catalogue. This was her place to dream and create.

Sentimental photos are displayed beautifully.

Love the desk and the mirrored screen.

Helen Ballard Weeks is now retired. I'd love to see what her home looks like now, I'm sure it is stunning and full of interesting architectural pieces and French antiques.

I love seeing the personal spaces of creative women - they can be so inspiring. I think the message of this book - that women must create a sanctuary for themselves where they can rest and re-energise before they can give to others, is an important one we should all heed.

I hope you have a room of your own, or even a corner of your own to rest, dream and reinvigorate.

Best wishes,

2009-07-22T19:25:00.001+09:30

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Summer is calling

2009-07-20T19:26:00.003+09:30

I'm loving the artwork of Australian artist/designer Chris Chun. There's a freshness and vibrancy to his work that I find appealing. The colours positively sing!

The gorgeous colours and the feeling of joy in Chris Chun's work reminds me of this pretty, summery room. One of his works would look lovely in this room don't you think?

If you want to check out more of Chris Chun's beautiful work, you are in luck as Chris has a blog, a website and his own on-line store. Last image via Marley and Lockyer.

I won't be blogging tomorrow as it is my birthday. Thank you to all those sweet people who have sent me birthday wishes. They've made my day (and I haven't even had it yet!)

Have a great day.

Best wishes,

Raising my glass

2009-07-17T22:09:00.005+09:30

I have a dozen girlfriends coming over tomorrow night for drinks to help celebrate my birthday.

There will be plenty of food and cocktails.

Tonight I'm making frozen cosmopolitans, while the rest of the cocktails we'll make on the night - strawberry mojitos, sparkling limoncello slushies and mudslides. Yum!

Images 1 - 3 Taste 4 Oregon Live

I'll raise my glass to my special blog friends, who have given my year an extra sparkle.

Have a happy weekend!

Best wishes,

Purple haze

2009-07-16T18:47:00.007+09:30

When I was a kid, my favourite colour was purple. I still like purple, in it's various shades and nuances. Subtle, smoky brown-purples, soft blue-purples and pretty pink-purples are the ones I like the most.

Images 1 Polly Wreford at Sarah Kaye Represents 2 Debi Treloar 3 Sarah Maingot 4 House to Home 5 & 6 Atlanta Bartlett 7 Coastal Style 8 Charlotte Murphy 9 Coastal Living 10 Pure Public 11 Sussie Bell 12 scanned from Elle Decor 13 Tine K

Best wishes,

Displaying photos and postcards

2009-07-15T19:18:00.006+09:30

Do you have some beautiful old family photos or some lovely postcards that are too nice to keep tucked away in a cupboard?

Here are some creative ways to display them. These examples show there is more ways to display photos and postcards than putting them in a frame.

I love that each of these examples have taken a casual, unstructured approach to display - they look spontaneous and easy.

Images 1 Helen Norman 2 Coastal Style 3 Madison 4 Scanned from Australian Home Beautiful 5 Sweet Paul 6 Sussie Bell 7 Scanned from Domino 8 Sweet Paul 9 John Gruen 10 Scanned from Australian Country Style

By the way, two weeks today til I go to Bali, not that I'm counting or getting excited or anything.....

Best wishes,

Patience is a virtue

2009-07-14T19:51:00.008+09:30

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

2009-07-13T20:10:00.007+09:30

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

2009-07-09T19:41:00.005+09:30

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

2009-07-08T19:35:00.002+09:30

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

2009-07-07T20:57:00.007+09:30

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

2009-07-06T20:31:00.005+09:30

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

2009-07-02T19:41:00.007+09:30

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

2009-06-30T21:10:00.010+09:30

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

2009-06-29T20:38:00.006+09:30

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

2009-06-25T20:36:00.004+09:30

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,

If I had a beach house....

2009-06-24T19:58:00.011+09:30

Like so many people, I dream of a house by the sea. Nothing too fancy. Just a little cottage a hop skip and a jump from the sand.

There'd be a great big living room, with huge picture windows facing the sea. I'd like a couple of big comfy white couches, and a fireplace for those wintry, brisk nights by the sea.

It would have a little quiet corner, for reading a book.

I'd like a large, well equipped kitchen, but nothing too fancy.

A great big table so I could comfortably entertain lots of friends or family. A great spot for board games too!

I'd want a buffet neatly stacked with all the things you need for entertaining the troupes.

A spare but comfortable main bedroom, with a vintage bed and crisp ticking bedding. Somewhere to snuggle down while listening to the waves.

A fun dormitory for all the kids.

A simple, yet luxurious bathroom.

I'd make sure there'd be lots of little of life necessities around, like french olive oil soap and thick white fluffy towels.

In fact, I'd make sure there were lots of little thoughtful touches, including flowers and candles.

Shells, of course.

Little lighthouses.

More shells, and some old bottles.

Images 1 Mark Williams 2 Austalian Country Style via Brown Button 3 Coastal Living 4 Atlanta Bartlett 5 Living etc 6 Country Home 7 & 8 Pure Public 9 Inside Out 10 Miranda Watchorn 11 Tara Dennis 12 Unknown 13 Andreas von Einsiedel 14 Mark Williams 15 Pure Public 16 Charlie Drevstam

It's nice to dream isn't it?

Hope you enjoyed sharing my dream.

Best wishes,

Come inside

2009-06-23T22:02:00.004+09:30

Welcome to a grand old dame - a beautiful old Queenslander home. A home of with a long history no doubt, treated with love and care.

Love this day bed, the beautiful panelled walls, the interesting branch-ey piece on the wall.

A place to settle and enjoy the view...

Some natives branches to greet you at the door...

Isn't it gorgeous? And you haven't even seen inside yet! For more of this beautiful, classic Australian home, and the adorable looking family who live here, click here.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Best wishes,

Some photos around my home

2009-06-22T20:27:00.005+09:30

Hello ladies! (I'm assuming it's all ladies who read my blog - but if there's any men out there, make yourself known by dropping me a comment!)

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

I had a quiet day yesterday. I really savour my time alone, so it was a good day! I spent some of this quiet time catching up with a lot of blogs I hadn't had time to visit for a while. Then I took some photos of some new things around my home.

First up, I've finally managed to photograph my son's new driftwood sailboats from White Flower Farmhouse. They normally sit in his room, but I needed some natural light for the shot so I put them in my bedroom. I have to admit I'm liking them here! Hope you are reading this and admiring your handiwork Megan!

Here are some old apothecary jars I found in an antique shop and had to buy. Oops, they need a clean! In front of them is a little sand dollar.

In this photo below is my 110 million year old accessory! It is an ammonite fossil. I love its shape and texture and I find it completely intriguing to think of where it came from and how ancient it is. It's sitting in my bathroom now.

One of the blogs I caught up on the weekend is Erin Ferucci's blog - Designs 4 Living. I really like Erin's style and she shows lots of fabulous shops and insider's places in LA. So if you haven't visited Erin's site yet, click on the blog header below. Be prepared to spend a little while there because you'll be hooked!

I also want to say a big thank you to all the kind and generous people who leave comments on my blog or email me. Some of them make me laugh, some move me to tears and through it all you bring joy to my day!

Thank you, lovelies!

Best wishes,

Current book obsession

2009-06-18T20:41:00.010+09:30

Not only am I obsessed with home decorating and design magazines, I also love books dedicated to the same subject. I have quite a few at home, and also have a rather large 'wishlist' of more that I want to buy.

I love finding a quiet moment to pick out a favourite home decorating book out of my collection, then poring over the pictures and being inspired by the design.

Here are some beautiful pictures from one my very favourite books, Coastal Style.

The book has many interior and exterior images of seaside homes.

I just love this idea below....a group of white feathers loosely bound by an old rope.

I wonder if this painting is an old thriftshop lucky find....

What a great way to show a collection of beach pebbles. Sea glass would look fantastic too.

Coral and shells in a large glass jar....be still my beating heart!

This little boat looks like its sailed around the world a few times....

If you like these photos, you should stop what you are doing right now and go buy this book! It is filled with so many more beautiful images. The photography is by the talented Paul Massey, whose own beautiful home I posted recently, here.

Best wishes,

Sleeping beauty

2009-06-17T20:31:00.008+09:30

"Sleeping is no mean art: for its sake one must stay awake all day". Friedrich Nietzsche

I really do love my sleep. To make it as lovely as possible, I think you should go for the best sheets that you can afford, the best mattress you can afford and no televisions. Also, no taking work to bed, and definitely no using your bedroom as a dumping ground for 'stuff'!

The simplest, purest bedrooms appeal to me. Very little in the way of accessories, a pared down look with little colour and minimal furniture.

But that doesn't mean I like a bedroom to be austere. I like a bit of touch-me texture, in the form of a padded bedhead, a deliciously soft throw, thick wool carpet and downy soft pillows.

Images 1 via Searching for Style 2 Zara Home 3 Mark Williams via Desire to Inspire 4 Daily Mail via Swish and Swanky 5 She Magazine 6 All About You

I think I wrote this post because I'm feeling sleepy. Is 9.00pm too early to get to bed?

Sweet dreams to you all!

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” Ovid

Best wishes

It's all there in black and white

2009-06-16T20:18:00.004+09:30

I am having a long and constant love affair with black and white colour schemes. As much as I love the freshness of a blue and white colour scheme (see here), I cannot go past the subtle sophistication of the black and white palette.

But I like a softly softly approach. No harsh big blocks of black for me...I like lots of white, with just little dashes of black here and there to add interest and depth. Take this picture below. An essentially all white room, with just one black cushion and a soft and subtle black and white patterned floor. Dreamy and delicious.

Now this is another look I love - black and white warmed up with a gorgeous, worn wooden floor and table. Perfection!

I love this carefully constructed vignette below - the white, black and soft greys artfully tie these objects together.

I love this striking effect.

Black and white often benefits from a bit of colour. Loving the dash of colour injected by the Chinese canisters on top of this cupboard, below.

Here, a touch of green is added to the otherwise all black and white scheme for an extra bit of interest and texture.

Love this little vignette below, where even the candles are black.

I'm not normally a great fan of patterns, but the simplicity of this room (below) complements the bold, graphic pattern on the couch beautifully.

More gorgeous black and white patterns below. This look is conjuring up images of a sophisticated safari to me.

Images 1 Anders Schonnemanns via Desire to Inspire 2 Skona Hem 3 Country Living 4 Living etc 5 Notebook magazine 6 & 7 Morten Holtum 8 Real Living 9 Skona Hem 10 Day Birger et Mikkelson via Purple Area

Want to see more of my black and white loves? Visit this post here.

Best wishes,

Metal magic

2009-06-15T20:20:00.007+09:30

I've had this little post tucked under my belt for quite a while now, waiting for the perfect moment to bring it out. And as Mondays can sometimes be a bit of a blah day, I thought I would brighten this day (for me at least, and hopefully you too) with a post about my LOVE for metal!

When I look around my home, I see metal everywhere....from my metal kitchen canisters on my counter tops...to the metal of my dining chair legs...I have metal lanterns, metal framed mirrors, metal letters.... it's everywhere!

I can't even explain why I love it so. I guess I just like the contrast of hard and soft, and metal objects often have quite strong, simple, architectural lines which appeal to my eye. Even the colours of metals - browns, greys, silvers, blacks - steal my heart. And there's a utilitarian honesty about metal - it's as much as home in a workshop or garage as it is in the living room.

So here you have it, some of my favourite metal things!

I adore this vintage metal factory chair and table....

This next image is one big metal festival - tolix chair, lovely little metal cafe table, planter, even metal letters! What's not to love?

I don't know how comfortable they'd be, but I'm loving these outdoor chairs. They'd look equally home inside I think.

Adore this little metal folding table, including it's soft grey colour and gently curving legs.

Love the utilitarian look of these vintage metal beds.

Even old metal drums can look beautiful in the right setting.

And this fabulous metal trolley would look brilliant in a vintage style bathroom.

Even stools look fabulous in metal. These would look great pulled up to a kitchen island.

But it's not just metal furniture that I love. Quite simply, almost anything in metal catches my eye!

Ok, I've cured the Monday blahs for myself, and if you've got the Monday blahs I hope it's helped you a tiny bit too.

If you are craving more metal, check out Jeanne d'Arc Living for lots more metal loveliness.

Images 1 Country Living 2 Country Home 3 Jeanne d'Arc Living 4 Skona Hem 5 Curious Sofa 6 Country Home 7 Living etc 8, 9 & 10 Jeanne d'Arc Living 11 via Purple Area 12 Cox and Cox 13 Skona Hem 14 Australian Country Style 15 Jeanne d'Arc Living

Best wishes,

Before and after: kitchens

2009-06-11T20:35:00.007+09:30

Isn't it great to receive a much awaited package in the mail? Yesterday I trundled off to work feeling tired and unwell from a lagging virus, but my day was brightened when I got a message that a package was waiting downstairs for me. It was my sailboats - oops I mean my son's sailboats - that I had ordered from White Flowers Farmhouse. All the way from New York state USA. I seriously want to snaffle these for myself!

They are so gorgeous that I left them at work overnight, so I could look at them all day today. Everyone who went past my desk stopped and admired them. The afternoon sun washed over them and they looked beautiful.

Thank you Megan and Lori for sending these over, I love them!

But for now, I am posting some fabulous kitchen remodels. These are real fantasy money-is-no-object kitchen remodels. The kind of kitchen model that a beautiful heritage home deserves. All these kitchens feature the classic elements I love - beautiful craftmanship, lashings of white, stainless steel and simple styling.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

It must be so satisfying to turn a tired, old kitchen into a state of the art, highly functional piece of beauty.

All images are from Kitchen Bath Ideas. They have lots of inspirational images to look through.

Best wishes,

Just a little bit beachy

2009-06-08T21:08:00.005+09:30

Cluster of shells.....chunks of coral.....some little sea urchins.....they bring a little bit of beachiness and casualness to a room.

Here's some favourite pictures.

1 Anne Naumann 2 via Lilly g 3 Paul Massey 4 All posters 5 & 6 Country Home 7 Better Homes and Gardens

Have a happy day!

Best wishes,

tagged....six uninteresting things I love

2009-06-07T11:41:00.010+09:30

I don't normally blog on a weekend, but I'm unwell and the little man is at his dad's house, so I'm putting this little bit of quiet time to good use.

I've been tagged by three of my favourite bloggers - I read their blogs regularly. There was Lee from Glimpse of Style, Julie from Being Ruby and Alice from Searching for Style . If you haven't read their blogs yet, please go visit, as they have lots of beautiful images and great posts.

Ok, what you do is list six uninteresting things that you love. Hmmm...whether something is interesting or uninteresting is such a subjective thing. So I decided to interpret 'uninteresting' to be the things that are common and every day things....the little moments in life, if you will.

So here goes.

1. DreamsWhen I'm asleep, I have the most amazing dreams - full of colour, detail, symbolism, drama and emotion. I love waking up and going over in my head what happened, and wondering what it all means.

Last night I dreamt that I was in the grounds of a university and a man in an electric wheelchair trundled past me, before he came to an abrupt halt. I went up to him to find out if he was ok. He had an electrical cord attached to his wheelchair, and it was plugged in to the side of the pathway but it had reached the end of it's length and he could go no further. I offered to plug it in to the next powerpoint (don't you love how anything is possible in your dreams?), so I spent a good part of the dream running along the path, finding the powerpoint and then the next, and the next, as he made his way up the path. Hmmm...interesting to no-one but myself I'm sure!

2. Order

Banal as it is, I love order.....I take pleasure in my linen cupboard - sheets and towels all lined up in a row and neatly folded. I have a seriously organised workstation at work. I keep my books alphabetised. My Tupperware cupboard is a joy to behold. Order is where organisation meets beauty. Don't get me wrong - I don't have OCD and my house can get into a pickle as much as the next person, but I really do love it when it is neat, orderly and running like a well oiled machine.

3. Afternoon break

On the weekend I love curling up on my couch of an afternoon with a cup of hot Milo and a shortbread biscuit (or two). I look out my windows and watch the birds flit about and the clouds floating by and observe the change of season.

4. Watching my son sleep

During the day my son is a hive of activity and a seething mass of emotions - both good and bad. But at night he is at peace. I love to watch him sleeping - his long eyelashes gently rest on the soft curve of his cheek, and I listen to his breathing, deep and even.

5. Saturday mornings

I love waking up on Saturday morning, knowing that I have the whole weekend ahead of me.

6. Scents

Good smells are a small pleasure in life, but a wonderful one nonetheless. I love the smell of freshly cut grass.... onions frying on a barbecue.... my son's just washed hair..... a roast dinner cooking in the oven......jumpers washed in Softly.....hot chips with vinegar.....rain on a summer's day after a long dry spell...... scented candles.

So there you have it - my six unintersesting things I love. I enjoyed writing this, as it helped me appreciate all the good things in my life.

"We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake...” Marie Beyon Ray

Now the thing is I'm supposed to tag a further six other people. But this where I fall down. So many of the people I would have tagged have already been tagged, and I always get concerned that I'm going to tag someone who doesn't want to be tagged (actually I've noticed a few blogs have now put up 'tag free' signs on their blog).

So I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to join in the fun, please do and let me know!

Images 1 John Bendtsen 2 Morten Holtem 3 Lisa Cohen 4 & 5 Me 6 Kate French 7 All About You

While I'm in my sickbed I've also taken the time to update my blog titles and dates - something I've been wanting to do for ages. I found out how to do this on Kevin and Amanda's site, click here for the tutorial. Thank you, clever Amanda, for being so generous with your knowledge. I love bloggers!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Best wishes,

Blowing in the breeze

2009-06-04T18:28:00.007+09:30

Well they probably look dirty five minutes after they are put up, but I have a thing for white outdoor curtains. They seem to spell summer, light breezes, lazy afternoons. Waiter, please bring me a Pimms and lemonade.

This couple has the right idea.

I won't get a chance to blog tomorrow night, I'm heading out to the opening night of Adelaide's Cabaret Festival. So have a lovely weekend people!

Images 1 Debi Treloar 2 House Beautiful 3 Morten Holtum 4 via Decortherapia 5 Better Homes and Gardens 6 Andreas von Einseidel 7 & 8 Country Living 9 Better Homes and Gardens 10 Country Living 11 West Elm 12 Australian Home Beautiful

Best wishes,

Got the blues?

2009-06-03T19:20:00.006+09:30

I'll be honest with you. I do have the blues at the moment. I know I said I wouldn't bore you with the details...but here I go. It's been a tumultuous few weeks, with two suspensions from school for my son. And today he was formally 'excluded' from school - they don't use the term 'expelled' any more. He is now on the waiting list to go to a 'learning centre' for ten weeks, where achieving behavioural and attitudinal change is the goal. It is an intensive environment, with one teacher for every five students.

In the meantime, I've taken emergency leave from work and can just hope that he gets into the learning centre soon and that it turns out to be just the ticket for helping him learn to control his emotions. We went to the library today and just had some quiet time together.

So there you go. Now it's time to think about something happy! And for me that always means beautiful homes and lovely images! I've chosen lots of pretty blues today - fresh, cool and soothing. With white as the background, as always. Such a classic. I hope you like these images!

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day, lovely people! I can't tell you how much your readership and your thoughtful comments mean to me. You brighten my day when I need it those most. Thank you.

Images 1 Anne Naumann 2 & 3 Skona Hem 4 Veranda via The City Sage 5 Wallace Cotton 6 Charlie Drevstam 7 Polly Eltes 8 Coastal Living via Dreamhouse 9 via Apartment Therapy 10 Morten Holtum 11 Alfresco Emporium

Best wishes,

The cutest little house on the block

2009-06-02T19:44:00.006+09:30

It's proving to be a challenging week in our household. I won't bore you with the details, but it's suffice to say my mantra of the week is 'calm, calm, calm'. And in keeping with my mantra, I thought I would show you this adorable house. It actually looks like an old mill. I just look at it and think how calm and delightful it looks, just nestled there against the lake.

I'm imagining that behind the house it has a little grassed area, like this below.

And there'd be some sort of deck, where you could just sick back with a cool drink and soak up that calming view.

You can't have an amazing view without an eating area - on a sheltered side of the house, filled with comfortable seating and potted flowers.

There'd be yummy things to eat and drink, all close at hand.

Maybe even a lounging area.

Ahh, now I'm feeling a little better!

I hope that if you are having a hectic week, these pictures give you a little holiday too.

Images 1 Janne Peters 2 Sam McAdam 3, 4 & 5 Martin Cederblad 6 House to Home via Dress, Design and Decor

Best wishes,

Silver lining

2009-06-01T18:35:00.008+09:30

My eye is always drawn to anything silver. I love this picture above - the silver of the mirror, the mercury candlesticks, the tea lights and baubles - all twinkling in the candlelight. It just makes me sigh.

I love the real silver of these candlesticks below, although I wouldn't relish cleaning them. I have a real silver box in my bedroom for my jewellry that needs a regular clean and that's enough for me!

This collection of vases, trophies, bowls and pedestal stands is captivating!

I also love mercury glass - the so-called 'poor man's silver'.

And not just candlesticks. I would love to get some of these little cups, but haven't been able to find any yet.

I also love the silver metal of this gorgeous Moroccan lantern, and the silver of the metal platter.

More gorgeous metal platters. I spied a really beautiful one in a shop just recently - however it was $180, so I put it down - slowly.

I love this mercury pendant - I can picture three over a kitchen bench in a country style all-white kitchen.

I love the silver leaf treatment on this lovely, feminine chair.

My perfect kitchen would include lashings of stainless steel - lightfittings, dishwasher, stove, fridge, drawer pulls and cupboard handles.

And it would have lots of 'silver' accessories.

Even the sweet, humble silver of galvanised iron wins me over!

Anything silver just attracts my magpie eye - whether that be 'real' silver, metal, stainless steel, chrome, mercury glass, pewter - I love love love it all! Astrologically speaking, I'm a cancerian and cancer's colours are supposed to be 'white and silver' - yep, that's me! I even have silver velvet cushions on my bed (see top right hand corner of this blog for image).

I'm on the hunt for some mercury candlesticks. I have one in my bedroom but would like a little collection. I'm having difficulty finding any where I live, so I'm thinking of ordering some through Cox and Cox, the most divine UK store - which delivers to Australia. Yay!

Happy day to you all.

Images 1 Sussie Bell 2 Martin Cederblad 3 Country Living 4 Skona Hem 5 Ville Kulla 6 Pom Pom Interiors 7 Sussie Bell 8 via Anno 1921 9 white home 10 Skona Hem 11 Ville Kulla 12 Richard Birch 13 via Windlost 14 Australian Home Beautiful 15 Gemma Comas

Best wishes,

Take it indoors

2009-05-27T19:49:00.005+09:30

Well tonight's girl's night has been postponed until tomorrow. And that's fine by me - I'm tucked up on the couch, in my jim jams and slippers, having a little 'me time'. Bliss!

So seeing I am home, I couldn't go by without a post.

The theme of tonight's post is: greenery.

I love how bringing a plant into the home can really lift a neutral scheme. Here's some examples I like.

Longer lasting than flowers, good for the environment, and soothing to the soul, pot plants can look good in any style of home, but really work brilliantly with clean, uncluttered neutral rooms. Depending upon the type of plant you chose, they can add some pretty softness or a sculptural hit of colour.

Images: 1 Home Handyman 2 Dar Seven 3 Unknown 4 Nancy Fishelson 5 Slettvoll 6 Unknown 7 Australian Women's Weekly 8 Prue Ruscoe 9 Lobelia 10 diy ideas 11 Darren Chung 12 Debi Treloar

Best wishes,

Teeny tiny cupboards

2009-05-26T16:21:00.004+09:30

Just a quick post today, as I am heading off for a girl's night out soon. We're going out for all-you-can-eat Mexican - which could be dangerous! But I didn't want to let the day go by without a post for my blog friends, as I'm off for another girls night tomorrow and might not get the chance to post.

So anyways, a little while ago I did a post about blue painted furniture. I was lucky enough to find some lovely images of some cute little cupboards and some other pieces, see here.

Well today I'm sharing with you some green painted pieces. Just two mind you, but they really are beauties!

Please let it be known amongst the universe that the cupboard above is exactly what I'm looking for. I adore its humble simplicity, its usefulness as storage, its potential for lots of lovely vignettes on top. Almost every week I faithfully visit my favourite auction houses, in the hope that one day I will meet a little beauty like this and take it home. One day it will be there, waiting for me, I'm sure of it!

I love the feminine, curved lines of the piece above, and the rustic painted finish. How fantastic would this look in a boudoir?

Images 1 Ville Kulla 2 Graham and Green

Enjoy the rest of your day lovely people!

Best wishes,

Chocolate and vanilla: a perfect pair

2009-05-25T18:46:00.012+09:30

I love the colour combination of rich, velvety chocolate brown, lightened up with a touch of pale vanilla colours.

Hope these pictures are a feast for your eyes!

Images 1 Miranda Watchorn 2 Appley Hoare 3 Australian Home Beautiful 4 1st option London via The World According to Isa 5 Julia Hoersch 6 Hans Zeegars via Brabourne Farm 7 Skona Hem 8 Bloomingville via Desire to Inspire 9 Dietland Wolf 10 Australian Country Style 11 Notebook Magazine 12 Atlanta Homes 13 Julie Hoersch 14 Australian Home Beautiful 15 Australian Women's Weekly 16 Skona Hem 17 Dietland Wolf 18 All about you 19 Martyn Thompson via Marley and Lockyer 20 Alexia Biggs 21 The Bedlam of Beefy

Who says brown is boring? Not me! Brown is warm, inviting and comforting.

Best wishes,

Eww to ahh

2009-05-21T18:00:00.004+09:30

This lovely tranquil spot above, used to look like this (below). What I like most about this transformation is that they haven't seemed to have made any structural changes, just got rid of all the 'stuff' and repainted and resanded the floors, then added in some lovely vintage pieces including a reclaimed fireplace, just casually propped up. Even I could do that. All you need is a place that is solid, not too old and has 'good bones'.

In the same home, this very red living room becomes.....

....this! So much lighter and brighter. They just used loads of white paint and refurbished some flea market finds. Superb!

For more before and after images from this lovely home, go here.

I've been getting itchy feet lately. I'm longing for a little place that I can turn from 'eww' to 'ahh'. I love my home, but I want a challenge! So I trawled the net today for a look at what is available in my price range, which isn't much given that I would need to put money aside for the horrendous stamp duty, as well as a renovation budget.

I have my eyes set on a suburb just a couple of kilometres away from where I live - it's closer to my son's school and a little more of a pleasant neighbourhood (but not much more). My search on the net quickly revealed I could only afford a tiny two bedroom unit in this suburb - ie a major step down from my light-filled, modern three bedroom home, albeit in a slightly more downbeat neighbourhood.

So I guess I'll just stay put in my current home for a little while longer and just keep looking at other people's before and afters!

Best wishes,

White flower farmhouse

2009-05-20T20:51:00.006+09:30

One of my regular reads is Layla's blog The Lettered Cottage. I love her style, her brilliant eye for gorgeous bargains and her enthusiasm for decorating.

Today Layla posted about the gorgeous goodies she received from White Flower Farmhouse, see here. So of course, I had to go and have a look at this shop's website. Oh wow! Full of fabulous, lovely things. I am totally hooked!

This shop specialises in refurbished and hand crafted furniture, vintage garden decor and lots of beautifully handcrafted products such as their own line of soy candles, bags, cushions and driftwood boats.

Old white ironstone - how classic and simple are these lovely pieces?

Fabulous old gym baskets - I have a thing for old metal baskets.

Gorgeous old apocethary bottles.

Metals, silver, browns and textures - gorgeous!

Old theatre marquee letters - yours for just $4 a piece!

Charming vintage bucket, with a seaside theme.

Beautiful faux flowers.

Vintage linens.

Right now I just want to hop on a plane and make my way to Long Island to check out White Flowers Farmhouse store in person.

Seriously, I'm in love with everything, but particularly those driftwood boats. A striped one would look perfect in my son's bedroom. I'm going to email them and find out if they post to Australia!

The owners of the store also have their own fabulous blogs. See here and here. I think I'm going to become a regular reader.

Best wishes,

Which camp are you in?

2009-05-18T20:52:00.004+09:30

Image Curious Sofa

I recently discovered a brilliant article by Debbie Dusenberry, owner of the retail homewares store Curious Sofa in Kansas.

Here's the start of the article:

"There’s no neutral ground when it comes to a neutral palette: You either love it or hate it. Some people walk into an all-white room and sink into the sofa, put their feet up and say, “Ahhh, I’m in heaven.” Others look around and wonder why everything seems so bland and colorless".

I'm definitely in the 'in heaven' camp. Soothing neutrals, restful whites and calm creams are my loves. However, my dear mum is definitely in the second camp. She comes into my house, stares wistfully into space and says to me "If only it had a little colour, Catherine". In fact, I think it is for my mum, and my mum only, that I relented and added red touches to my home. (She also tells me to learn ballroom dancing so I can meet men, but you have to draw the line somewhere).

Anyway, I urge to you read the article (click here) - it is virtual 'how to' on texture - which is my favourite feature in a room. Give me sisal, metal, wood, the soft, the smooth and the rough, and I'm happy. Debbie Dusenberry's own living room, shown above, is a perfect example. For more of Debbie's work, check out her blog Curious Sofa Diaries.

Then after you've read it, tell me what camp you're in!

Now did you read my post last week on Atlanta Bartlett? Well I was emailed by Ryland Peters & Small to let me know that hopefully they will have a limited number of signed copies of Easy Elegance available on the website soon - so keep your eye out! They have also started their own blog http://rylandpeters.blogspot.com which I think will provide lots of sneak peaks into their latest lovely new books.

Best wishes,

True blue

2009-05-15T17:30:00.006+09:30

When it comes to boys' rooms, I'm a traditionalist. I love the tried and true theme of red, white and blue. I know it's been done a million times before, but for me, it works! Here are some of my favourite images.

In the picture above, I love the thick quilt, the bunting over the bed and the built in bookshelf - artfully arranged of course!

In the picture below, I've fallen in love with the sweet built in bunk bed, the window seat (a place to dream and read) and the battered leather chair. This looks like a room a boy (or two) could have a lot of fun in - lots of pirate fights and late night ghost stories!

More bunting below, and lovely bead board walls and ceiling for that nautical feeling. Isn't this little boy adorable in his stripey pjs?

Now little Charlie (below) is one lucky little fella, being the proud owner of this jaunty little room. Again, I'm loving the built in bookshelves and the crisp colour theme - oh and those blue and white striped pillows!

Now I'm just loving this inspired room below - it really has style and individuality. I think the red and white stripes are what tips it over the edge for me. I'd love to do this in my son's room, but it is such a small room that I think the stripes would overwhelm it.

How cool would it be, to be a boy with your very own teepee?

As I type, I am listening to the rain pelting down on the roof. I think we are in for a rather wintry evening, so I am so happy to be sitting in my warm living room, with my son at my side (he's reading Enid Blyton's The Enchanted Wood, which fills me with joy to know my son is reading the same books I loved as a kid), with dinner in the oven.

Images 1 Jenni Booth for Sheridan, 2 John Gruen, 3 Chris Everard, 4 Driftwood and chandelier, 5 Andreas von Einsiedel 6 Chris Everard

I hope you all have a wonderful, fun-filled weekend!

Best wishes,

Appreciation of the imperfect

2009-05-14T19:27:00.006+09:30

I'm very excited that Atlanta Bartlett's latest book, Easy Elegance is now available. I can't wait to get down to the bookshop and check it out. I have two of her other books - The Relaxed Home and At Home with White, and I'm sure this one is just as beautiful and inspiring.

To promote the release of her book, the publisher, Ryland, Peters and Small (who have cornered the market in beautiful books on interiors) has an interview with Atlanta on their website.

Atlanta has some great advice in her interview, so I thought I would reprint some of it here - the bits that most clicked with me.

What are your three tips for easy elegance on a budget?

1. Make do and mend! Most things you would normally throw away can be re-invented to create something useful. For instance old jumpers can be transformed into charming cushion covers, single stem flowers look stunning in old milk bottles and even a rusty old garden table could find a new lease of life as a bedside table. I once photographed a charming apartment in Paris where the parquet floor had sustained terrible damage. Instead of ripping it up and replacing it the owners repaired all the holes with little patches of tin which they nailed down. The finished result was a floor that breathed life and individuality whilst also being preserved to serve another generation.

2. Buy old instead of new where possible. Why cut down another tree to make a new wardrobe when you can buy a perfectly good second hand one instead that is well made, looks great and costs less?

3. You don’t have to fill your home with expensive objects, a few really well chosen items can go a long way. Mix more costly items, like an antique mirror, with utilitarian everyday objects, like a jar full of balls of string or pebbles, to create a look that is individual, stylish and of course less costly.

Atlanta goes on to say "The overriding message of Easy Elegance is be true to yourself......But Easy Elegance is also about cutting down on consumerism , appreciation of the imperfect and good functional design, all of which, I think, can be applied to any area of our lives".

I love the pared-down, simple elegant style that Atlanta Bartlett has perfected so well. I picked out some of my favourite images from her website to go with this post, all of which are from Atlanta's home. This looks like a home where you could slip off your shoes and live the good life!

Images Atanta Bartlett Interview Ryland, Peters and Small
all images are copyright © Ryland Peters & Small

Best wishes,

Sweet blue

2009-05-12T20:36:00.006+09:30

Whenever I think of painted wood furniture, I always think of white. But lately I keep seeing all these beautiful pieces, painted a lovely shades of blue.

I'm not sure any blue painted furniture would fit with my house, but that doesn't stop me from falling just a little in love with it!

Images 1 Insideout Magazine 2 Morten Holtum 3 Car Moebel 4 Impressionen 5 An Angel at My Table 6 Mari Eriksson 7 Car Moebel 8 Absolutely Beautiful Things

Best wishes,

Kitchen dreams

2009-05-11T18:28:00.013+09:30

It's true, I have a perfectly serviceable kitchen. It's clean, it's new, it's practical. I appreciate it. I've cooked a lot of nice meals in it (and a few duds!). But it's not a kitchen that says 'wow'. Here it is, my little piece of domestica (below).

But you can't blame me for dreaming just a little....of the day when I meet Mr Right, and we decide that we need a bigger house, with a bigger kitchen....for us and our beautifully behaved children.

So of course, my starting point would have to be the white, classic Somethings Gotta Give kitchen, but that goes without saying right? And really, why stop there?

There'd be cupboards with glass on the top, like these below.

Or these glass faced cupboards. And a red Kitchenaid mixer, without a doubt.

There'd be three beautiful lamps hanging over my benchtop, looking like this one below.

Or these.

I've just got to have a window over looking the sink, and the taps would be brushed silver.

I'd also have brushed silver drawer pulls.

There'd be a really wide, stainless silver oven, top of the line quality of course.

I'd put baskets on top of the cupboards.

I'd add some antique elements, such as an old scale like this below (and look, there's the red Kitchenaid mixer again!)

Or I'd pop in an unusual element, like these old fridge door hinges on my massive kitchen bench.

There'd be rustic wooden stools, so my guests can pull up a pew while I'm stirring the risotto.

The front of the cupboards would be panelled like these ones below.

There'd be a statement-making rangehood, and beautiful dark - really dark - wooden floors.

The floorboards would be wide, and recycled - proudly showings their signs of wear and tear.

I'd maybe add some wording across the splashback tiles.

And the benchtops would be stone, in a soft muted earthy colour.

Not too much to ask for is it?

In the meantime, I'm still pretty happy with what I've got. There's a lovely vegetable and lentil soup bubbling on the stove right now, just perfect for a cold night.

Images 1 Notebook Magazine 2 Simply Natural 3 unknown 4 via Lilly-g 5 via Charm Design 6 Studio Pedrazzi Architects via Willow Decor 7 Simon Kenny, Content Agency 8 Southern Accents 9 Simon Kenny, Content Agency 10 Eric Roth via Elements of Style 11 Kitchen and Bath Ideas 12 House Beautiful via Pure Style Home 13 House Beautiful 14 Australian Home Beautiful 15 Conde Nast House and Garden South Africa 16 Australian Better Homes and Gardens 17 Australian Home Beautiful 18 via Windlost 19 Frank Greenwald via The Laurel Hedge 20 Atlanta Homes 21 Andreas von Einsiedel 22 Australian Home Beautiful

Best wishes,

Your next weekend project?

2009-05-08T19:45:00.006+09:30

Got itchy fingers this weekend? Feel like doing something creative? How about making this sweet little coat rack?

It is made from brand new rulers/yardsticks. This project looks simple enough for even me to tackle!

I love the antique finish they've applied to make the coat rack look old and timeworn.

Voila!

I think it would look absolutely fabulous in a study/craft room - perhaps a slightly narrower version - with these lovely little baskets (below) hanging from the hooks, filled with ribbons and balls of string.

For instructions on how to make this clever little coat rack, see here.

I'm so looking forward to this weekend. A time to get my house in order (currently looking like a bomb has hit it), do a little shopping, catch up with friends, and spend time with my beautiful mum - my rock, my confidante, my biggest fan.

Happy mothers day to all those celebrating it this weekend!

Best wishes,

Cutting edge style

2009-05-07T21:31:00.007+09:30

William Morris famously said “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

One of my favourite things is when form meets function to create an object that is beautiful and useful at the same time. I'm the tragic kind of person who oohs and ahhs over a lovely pair of oven mits, a stylish set of glass jars in a pantry, or a even a well designed ironing board cover! I just love the elevation of an everyday item into a thing of beauty.

So that must be why I have a 'thing' for beautiful scissors - they are an ordinary thing you use that can also be lovely. I keep seeing these great images of scissors that I just have to save and store.

I've bought my own pair of scissors that I think are beautiful (below). So much lovelier than a cheap plastic pair, but they weren't expensive. In the image below I've put them on top of some fabric I've bought for a little craft project I'm working on with my son for his bedroom....more about that another day.

Whenever I'm out on one of my trawls around auctions and second hand shops, I keep my eye out for beautiful pairs of vintage scissors. I have yet to find any that I really like, but I would love to start a little collection.

Images 1 Eva Lindh 2 Sletvoll 3 Paul Massey 4 Marie Claire Idees 5 Baileys Home and Garden 6 The Bedlam of Beefy 7 fffound via Brabourne Farm 8 Atlanta Bartlett 9 me 10 flickr

Best wishes,

Alternatives to artwork

2009-05-05T20:09:00.008+09:30

I hate to admit this to you, but I don't have a single painting on my walls in my home. I do have some beautiful black and white photographs, which I bought while on holidays to remind me of the places I've visited. But I've struggled to find artwork that I love and am completely committed to putting up on my wall. Actually that's not totally true - I have found art that I loved, but it was way out of my price range!

So instead I tend to have mirrors and other objects on my walls - like my Chinese screen I posted about yesterday. Really when you think about it, there are many alternatives to art when you want to fill up a bare spot on your walls. Some options are cheap, others not so cheap.

I've already done a couple of posts on mirrors here, and a posts on signs, as they are also a fantastic alternative to art, see here.

But there's plenty of other options too.

How about salvaged doors......

Or salvaged shutters. These ones are exquisite......

Or you could frame some objects. Here's a clever idea - bits of nature's flotsam and jetsam, painted black.......

Frame some stylish shopping bags. Although I'm kind of uncomfortable with this ode to commercialism...think about how much money you would spend in the process!

Anything that holds sentimental value can be framed really, take these vintage kitchen utensils....

A vintage newspaper sheet......(my apologies for posting this image for about the millionth time, but it just has so many beautiful elements to it)

Or these sublime rose petals (once used by couturiers for colour matching) found in a Paris flea market...... (and thanks Amanda, at Swish and Swanky, for showcasing this gorgeous home - I have fallen in love!)

You could cover a panel with a piece a wallpaper (I'm thinking this is a great way to introduce pattern without the full commitment of a whole wall or room).....

Or you could wrap pretty fabrics around some canvasses......

Or simply tear out some images that speak to you, and tape them to the wall in a casual vignette....

Or make an inspiration board.......

Then there's always big, oversized clocks.....

And then there's old salvaged gates, antique plates, rugs, flags....this list goes on. So if you can't afford art, or can't find something that you like, there's no excuse for bare walls!

Images 1 Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles 2 Jayne Wunder via Desire to Inspire 3 Mari Eriksson 4 Better Homes and Gardens 5 Australian Better Homes and Gardens 6 Atlanta Bartlett 7 Interiors (now defunct) 8 Daily Mail via Swish and Swanky 9 Desire to Inspire 1o Mari Eriksson 11 Christine Rudolph 12 Kissing Cage 13 Australian Home Beautiful 14 Australian Country Style

Best wishes,

East meets west....in my home

2009-05-04T20:33:00.003+09:30

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Mine was spent with my little man and we had a lovely time. I have been very happy, as he managed to get through his first week back at school this term without getting into any trouble! Yay!

Anyway, last week I posted about how much I like Asian touches in a home, here. So now I'm posting some pictures of my own Asian pieces I have around my house.

First up, my little Buddha head, which I've posted about before, because it was a bargain buy from a discount store.

Then there's my antique Chinese table, which was also a bargain buy as it was 50 per cent off. It caught my eye from the moment I saw it, but it was too expensive for me. I waited patiently for months, going back to the store from time to time to see if was still there, then one day, finally, it was on sale and I snapped it up. It fits this little corner in my hallway perfectly. I'm always changing the stuff that sits on top of it.

This next little table sits under my plantation shutters in my bedroom and holds a rustic wooden container filled with shells. Again, this table was a steal and it adds a bit of colour and texture in my all white room.

Above my bed sits my first ever Asian antique - a beautifully carved Chinese screen. I always struggle to find large scale artwork that (a) I love and (b) can afford, so using this screen as 'art' was a great solution for me. I love big bold things on walls that make a statement. Large and dramatic!

Lastly I have an antique rice carrier which looks exactly like this one. I forgot to take a picture of mine in the daylight, so this photo had to do! Currently mine holds fruit and sits on top of my microwave, but I've also been known to use it to hold toilet paper in my bathroom.

I also have my eye on an absolutely gorgeous Asian trunk that I've seen in a store here, but I don't really have a spot for it, so I keep telling myself no. I really do try and stick to the principal of only buying things I need, love and have room for, but this trunk is tempting me. I shall endeavour to stay strong!

Enjoy your week.

Best wishes,

Take Two....

2009-05-03T09:44:00.003+09:30

The photos for my guest post at Dwellings and Decor weren't showing up. Rachel magically fixed this problem, and it is now all systems go! So for those of you who want to see more of this gorgeous home, follow me.

Follow me.....

2009-05-01T21:21:00.003+09:30

Today I am guest posting for Rachel, of Dwellings and Decor. I was thrilled that Rachel asked me.

So skip on over and see the beautiful home I'm featuring today, here.

Have a lovely weekend beautiful people!

Best wishes,

Pared-back Paul

2009-04-30T20:58:00.004+09:30

Paul Massey is a photographer based in London, who has a beautiful portfolio of work. His images often feature in gorgeous Brit magazine Living etc. I buy this magazine often, especially their famous annual 'white issue'.

Now Paul Massey's beautiful Victorian terrace home is featured in Living etc.

I adore the muted, restrained palette of Paul Massey's home: lashings of white, with soft browns and greys and a dash of black. Speaks of calm and sophistication to me.

A serial renovator, this is Paul Massey's tenth home he has brought to life by tearing down walls, adding french doors and bringing in lots of rustic, bespoke fixtures.

What was once a series of dark and pokey rooms is now bright, light and open-plan.

I love Paul's pared-back decorating style. It reminds me a lot of fellow Brit Atlanta Bartlett's style, just a touch more masculine and more minimal.

Paul and his daughter toured around Europe in a 60's VW campervan while the work was being done to bring the old place to life. They collected lots of beautiful curios along the way.

Paul's vignettes are spare, but beautiful and full of pieces with a lovely rustic patina.

Paul puts together his treasured, carefully collected pieces with a photographer's keen eye.

The home manages to be both spare and cosy at the same time. I could spend an hour or two lolling about on this couch with a good book and a hot chocolate.

If Paul Massey gets tired of photography, I think he should go into the decorating game! His house is simply stunning and inspiring.

If you would like a full tour of this delicous home, visit Living etc. To view Paul Massey's beautiful portfolio of work, go here.

Best wishes,

East meets west

2009-04-29T20:48:00.008+09:30

I love it when a beautiful Asian antique is added to a room. Like a dash of soy sauce, it adds that extra zing, an added dimension that makes a room unique and personal.

Whether that be an ancient buddha.......

A beautiful console re-purposed as a bathroom cabinet....

Or any of the diverse pieces of Asian antique furniture.....

.....I just love the drama that an Asian piece can bring to a room.

I especially love when Asian pieces are put into a room that has a predominately Scandinavian look or a French look.

I think the juxtaposition of Asian furniture against more European-style pieces can prevent a room from looking too 'themed' and makes it more individual.

1 Stephen Knollenberg 2 Lara Hutton 3 Atlanta Homes 4 Notebook Magazine 5 Home Beautiful 6 Kevin Hart via Richies Inspirational Designs 7 Living etc 8 Indenfor 9 & 10 Better Homes and Gardens 11 Morten Holtum

I have a number of Asian pieces in my home, some of which I've posted about before, but I'll put them all together in a post soon.

Best wishes,

Excuse me while I jump up and down

2009-04-28T22:17:00.005+09:30

Ok, slight deviation from theme here. But I'm so excited and I had to share it with you!

I've just found out that one of my favourite male actors - gorgeous Frenchman Guillaume Canet - is making an English-speaking movie! He stars alongside Keira Knightley and Australia's Sam Worthington in Last Night, the story of a married woman's temptation.

And who better to tempt her than the handsome Guillaume?

Oh I can't wait to hear him speak in English....I hope this movie comes to our shores soon.

Guillaume Canet, former husband of Diane Kruger, now partner of Oscar winner Marion Cottilard, is a big big star in France from what I understand. Wonder if this movie will make him a Hollywood star too?

Right, I'll calm down now.

Best wishes,

Warm me up now!

2009-04-27T19:22:00.008+09:30

I'm a spring and summer kind of person. In autumn a melancholy feeling starts spreading over me, as I anticipate the many weeks of darkness and cold winds ahead. Then by the time winter truly hits, I'm usually grouchy, sometimes even downright depressed!

This year, in my part of the world, we seemed to have skipped autumn completely and jumped straight into winter. My whole system is in shock!

But still, winter has its advantages. My new mantra for winter will be 'focus on the positive'. So here's some nice things about winter which I do enjoy.

Hot chocolates........

Snuggly throw rugs in soothing colours with delicious textures......

The soft warm glow of candlelight while outside all is dark and cold.....

Knitting (except I forgot to learn - oops!)......

Snuggling up under doonas while the rain hammers down on the roof.......

And comfort food, like rib-sticking casseroles.....

I've been trawling through my photos, searching for rooms that have more of a winter feel than a summer feel, and you know, I struggled. I think that really does prove that I'm a summer person. This is the best I could come up with....

A couch layered with lots of snuggly cushions and throw rugs, with bare branches in a vase....

A gorgeous, if somewhat stark room, softened up by an exquisite fake fur rug to keep you warm....

A cosy room full of texture, with a magnificent fire place for a roaring fire...

A soft, muted room with a thick feet-friendly rug and curtains at the windows to keep the warmth in......

A chocolate couch and feature wall to heat things up and a large woolen rug to keep things warm underfoot......

And finally, a cosy nook, complete with knitting basket, roaring fire and slippers....heaven!

Images 1 Eva Lindh 2 Morten Holtum 3 Unknown 4 Unknown 5 Lisa Cohen 6 Lantliv 7 Day Birget et Mikkelsen via Purple Area 8 Skona Hem 9 Cottage Living 10 Magdalena Aguilar via VT Interiors 11 Notebook Magazine 12 Morten Holtum

If you have any more tips for enjoying winter, please let me know!

Best wishes,

Remembering

2009-04-25T07:13:00.002+09:30

Today in Australia and New Zealand we stop and remember all the men and women of our countries who went to war. We remember their bravery, mateship and sacrifice.

How to add warmth to your home...part two

2009-04-23T21:18:00.007+09:30

Last month I wrote about my love of wood, and how it can add a feeling of warmth to your home.

Today I am posting about my next favourite materials for adding warmth to your home - cane, wicker, rattan, rush...all those wonderful materials that are woven into bags, baskets, chairs and more.

This picture below is one of my absolute favourite pictures. I probably say that too often, but this is definitely in my top ten. I'm loving the old fan (one day I will get one, I came 'this' close recently but was outbid), the old desk, the fabulous lamp but most of all I love the cuttlefish baskets on the wall with the lettering stamped across them. Text and texture - this makes me happy!

The colour of cane and wicker helps wins me over - ranging from soft barely-there sandy hues, to rich chocolate browns. All the different weaves catch my eye too.

These cane chairs below blend beautifully with the old wooden trestle table, but also add another element of touch-me-texture.

The deep browns of this cane lampshade blends in beautifully with the browns in the figurine, the metal fruitbowl and the picture frame. I don't think this was some happy accident, but the result of an artist's eye.

Love the baskets below, with their lovely little tags, and the collection of beach bags, casually stacked on top of this console.

More great baskets adding colour and texture, and blending and contrasting so beautifully with the wonderful warm hues of the wardrobe and the leather bags. Leather and woven materials are a classic combination.

Next up is a divine collection of hats, bags and fisherman's baskets, all in delicious honey shades. Look closely and you can also see the cutest little lamp, complete with leopard skin shade!

Take away the bags in the next image, and the image would be rather dull - but the texture of the bags and the differing weaves add contrast and interest to the vignette.

Here's some more basketry with text stamped on it - just so perfectly gorgeous....I want them! This could be a project to try one day....

I have recently bought a basket exactly like the one in the picture below. Just one more to the collection - I have woven butlers trays, a cane trunk, cane baskets on top of my kitchen cabinets...the list goes on!

Images 1 Unknown - from my style file 2 Tine K 3 Australian Home Beautiful 4 Australian Home Beautiful 5 Interiors (now defunct) 6 Notebook Magazine 7 Country Living 8 Toast via Absolutely Beautiful Things 9 Atlanta Bartlett 10 Australian Country Style 11 Dreamhouse

Best wishes,

Tiny little drawers

2009-04-22T21:29:00.005+09:30

On my regular trawls through antique shops and auctions, I keep my eye out for old books, perfume bottles, a little white cupboard that I can paint white and old signs. And if I came across one of these beauties, I would snap that up too!

Some of these were originally apothecary cabinets, but some of them I can only hazard a guess as to what their original purpose was - maybe they were used in a haberdashery store, or perhaps a cabinet maker's workshop for holding nails and screws. Today, I think I could put one to good use holding all my new-found crafty bits and bobs.

The one in the first image is my favourite. I just want reach into this photo and transfer this cabinet, and all the things artfully arranged on top, to my home office.

Best wishes,

Passion for interiors...where it all began

2009-04-21T20:44:00.008+09:30

I consider anyone who reads my blog to be a 'kindred spirit' - we each have a passion for interiors and making our homes beautiful. What I find really intriguing though is how this passion first started. There's often a simple little thing that starts it off, that snowballs, setting off a lifelong passion. At least that was the case for me.

Remember Petticoat Junction? I watched re-runs of this show every night after school (I also have memories of Greenacres, the Ghost and Mrs Muir, Monkey, Gilligan's Island, Laverne and Shirley, Perfect Match...but I'm digressing). I was always watching Petticoat Junction with a rumbling stomach and it seemed that every night they had fried chicken for dinner - teasing me with it! But again I'm digressing! I will eventually get to my point I promise.

So how is Petticoat Junction related to my passion for interiors? Well do you remember the little sister Betty Jo? She was the tomboy one. In season five she falls in love with handsome crop duster Steve and they become engaged. Here they are. I think they were a couple in real life too, though I am not sure for how long.

I can distinctly remember the episode where Betty Jo and Steve get engaged and Betty Jo chooses a "dream house" as the couple's honeymoon cottage. Unfortunately, Steve takes one look at the tumbledown shack and declares the "dream house" to be "nightmare alley." This leads to the couple's first lover's quarrel. All ends well, when Betty Jo magically transforms the little cottage into a sweet love nest.

I have no idea how old I was when I watched that episode, 12 perhaps, but I remember being entranced by the transformation of that cottage. All I could think about was how they had magically transformed the cottage into something livable and beautiful and I was hooked! I wanted my own little "nightmare" cottage to transform, using my own ingenuity and energy to turn it into something special. My interest was sparked.

Next to fuel my passion was Dolly magazine. This is an Australian teen magazine, and it still exists today. Back in 1983 I was a loyal reader, in the days when Nicole Kidman still had freckles and red curly hair (yes, that is her on the cover below!) and Culture Club and Michael Jackson were big.

As you might have read on my sidebar 'about me' - I read an article in Dolly about decorating small bedrooms. The article featured the cutest little bedroom, and fantastic storage ideas. How I wish I had kept this article! At that age I was living on my own with my parents in an outback mining town, as my older siblings had flown the nest. So, inspired by this article, I moved from a lovely, light-filled, double bedroom to a smaller bedroom at the back of the house. But I made it my own and I loved it!

Another significant development happened shortly after, when I moved to Chicago, USA for a year with my parents. Talk about a culture shock for an Aussie girl from an outback town of 1500 people! But what a fabulous feast! Suddenly I was immersed in a culture of Guess Jeans, Seventeen Magazine and Mrs Fields Cookies. A trip to the supermarket was a wonderful thing, just to see the array of all the products, including a whole aisle for makeup! Maybelline became my new best friend.

It was in Chicago that I developed a love for country style. I started buying country themed decorating magazines, and I fell in love with this picture. I've kept it all these years, carefully torn from a magazine, and carried all the way home to Australia with me.

Ok, it's a little dated, and the photo is very tatty (loved!), but still I love the pretty quilt on the wall, the freshness of the blue and white theme, the simple white fireplace and the worn wooden furniture.

When I returned home to Australia my mum and dad let me redecorate my room. I chose an antique brass bedhead, powdercoated white, a beautiful wooden wardrobe in the colours of the wood in the image above, and a white Laura Ashley wallpaper with a sweet and subtle little dot pattern on it. I still have some of this wallpaper - it lines the drawers of my chest of drawers. And my bedroom did not have a poster in sight - I didn't want to ruin 'the look'.

In the following years, as I finished high school and went to university, I began collecting for the day I would move out of home. I was often gently teased for a having a 'hope chest' but for me, it wasn't about finding a husband at all, it was about feathering the nest of my future home. It was about slowly but surely moving closer and closer to my dream. I even kept a list of "Things for my unit/bungalow" (yes that was the exact title!). I still have that list. I wanted baskets as well as antique tins, bottles and signs for my kitchen, bare floorboards and a Molissi fan in my bedroom, shells and star fish in my bathroom, and a trunk, basic couch with lots of cushions and an 'unusual decorative piece, eg wallhanging, gate or large mirror' for my living room. This list makes me smile, as I have many of these things now.

So do you, my kindred spirits, have a story to share of how you became passionate about interiors and homes? Please share!

Best wishes,

Treasure chest

2009-04-20T20:52:00.005+09:30

I think trunks are a great addition to any room. Whether they are leather, wood or cane, they add texture and character. They are great for stowing away the 'stuff' we don't necessarily want out for all to see - I'm thinking cushions, throw rugs, magazines and toys (but be careful of little fingers!). They also make great coffee tables so they are a real all rounder.

I've got two trunks in my home - one of them is a wooden one and was the first antique I ever bought. My boyfriend at the time and I picked it up in his orange Combi Van many moons ago. The other trunk is a cane one which sits in my son's bedroom. Both are full of toys - but only large things like board games and cricket bats - I learnt the hard way that small stuff just falls to the bottom and mixes up with other small stuff to turn into one big mess!

Best wishes,

And another sister….

2009-04-17T22:21:00.001+09:30

What happens when a deserted, unloved and forlorn cottage meets a determined, creative, stylish woman?

Magic.

This idyllic home, set in the mountains of North Carolina, and surrounded by woods, is the work of Carole Faust. I’ve had these pictures in my style file since 2003 and they are well thumbed, so please excuse the quality of the images.

Little touches of greenery are everywhere.

This once dark and dingy home is now flooded with light. Vegetation had taken over, shutting out light. Once that was cleared, walls were painted in shades of white, linen and taupe, while floors were painted in glossy white enamel.

I love the humbleness of this cottage and it’s colours – predominately white, with shades of brown and black to keep it grounded and touches of beachy blue.

Carol has filled her home with flea-market finds and collections of ironstone, apothecary jars and shells.

These twin beds are from the 1940s and have been painted black by Carol.

I never tire of this picture below. I love the touches of black, and the collection of black and white photography. The chair is a church hall fete find, bought for $5.

Carole’s bedroom is painted a soothing linen colour.

This is one of my favourite images from this home (below). I love everything about it – the industrial style table and stool. The chest with its tiny little drawers, the industrial lamp, the vintage maps propped up on the chest.

I love this porch – so fresh and tranquil looking! I would love to find some cane vintage furniture like this to paint white.

All images from Country Home, June 2003.

Doesn’t Carol look happy in her cottage?

I hope you too are happy, wherever you happen to be, this weekend!

Best wishes,