Friday, February 27, 2009

Perfect Reflection

I hope you have a great weekend.
I am off to show my wares at a local market day. I will take some photos to show you during the week. Don't you just love this photo??
Ness xx

Thursday, February 26, 2009

White Wonders...

This image above by the delightful Atlanta Bartlett sums up everything I adore.
White (of course), wicker baskets, Hydrangeas in tin bucket, wooden console, propped up mirror, text (and a D for Declan), wooden floors, beaded board and industrial light.

I thought of my own space in our hallway that has some of these elements. I promise I had done this before I seen Atlanta's picture. Which got me thinking about other elements I love and would like to include I our reno/makeover (which seems to never end)...

To find a vintage flour sack cushion like this. A real deal one!

Create a living space that welcomes togetherness, comfort and that kick off your shoes attitude. Not forgetting the 'don't worry if you spill something, there slipcovers' philosophy. I plan to make our slip covers soon.

I don't have stairs, but this space at Brooke Giannetti's house is gorgeous and I love the grey, white and wood, over sized clock face (I'm obsessed) and the whole feel she has created.

Something like this divine set of drawers, which I would paint a chipped duck egg green for my work room.

Me & Mo
Some beautiful pieces of silver, and mercury glass for a little shine.


You know how much I want one of these. This one has the perfect finish and fabric colour.


...and a statement piece for the kitchen like this delicious plate.
I could have carried this on for pages, but I will spare you all the pain of my lust list for another day. Ness xx

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

2 Birds...1 Stone...

Beautiful Living has challenged me to show you my kitchen and what I love about it. Yup, it's a challenge as it is still in it's 70's glory...bear with me. Here goes...
I love this little display which is above our huge fireplace in the kitchen. To have a look at the fireplace click here
The Apples aren't real, but I love them with this zinc tall bucket, Lavender and the huge clock.

This wonderfully simple chandelier I bought for $10.00! Excuse the candles. When the fire is on...they melt. It does give off great heat. You can see our new wicker roman blinds here. Oh, that thing next to the zinc bucket on the shelf is Declan's ant farm.

Another kitchen love of mine is our huge collection of ironstone and white serving ware. If it breaks it is easy to replace (no matching patterns). This Lasagne dish is the best $20.00 I ever spent I think and I use it for everything.

I received these for Christmas off my eldest Sister, Caroline. They came as a set of three with a huge buscuit jar as well. The pewter labels are lovely.

The pride of our kitchen is these 3 tall glass canisters. I always get comments on them and the contents match our palette beautifully.

Here they are under my canvases I painted to look like Sid Dickens tiles.

I bought these wooden wings at Christmas time and loved them so much they hang on the other side of our kitchen window.

Another love is this French newspaper pull out from 14th sept, 1902. It has never been folded, only rolled. It apparently is the piece the Ladies would get to read and has gorgeous patterns for lacework etc inside. It is a 8 page piece. I can only display 2. I got this for $10 off Ebay. I have questions to answer in this post...
1.What colour is the kitchen? Chalk white USA...but changing shortly, again.
2.Describe your kitchen? A mix of bad 70's wood, beautiful old world features, beaded borad ceilings, huge cook on fire and Tasmanian Oak floors.
3.Describe dream kitchen? This could take forever...I wont go there now.
4.Fave activity in kitchen? Cooking in winter
5.Name 1 thing it is lacking/missing? A brilliant oven.
6.Do you cook and bake a lot? Yep
7.What dont you like & what would you change? Really only the oven and paint the cupboards.
8.What do you love? The ceilings and the big fireplace
9.Worst kitchen activity? Cleaning oven and taking bin out
10.Tea or Coffee? Coffee
11. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
12.Do you like to prepare food or eat it? both
13.Do you prefer to serve meals in the kitchen or dining? Depends what it is. Ultimately the kitchen.
Now I challenge...

I have also been tagged to show you my blogging space by Catherine and the Ladies at Porchlight Interiors.
This is about all it is...big 6yr old computer, glasses, coffee, diary, pen and colour charts. I will be getting a laptop soon so then it will be nowhere in this space (Mics Slot Car room).

I am suposed to tag others, but I think you have all done it. I would however love to see Brooke's blogging space. Ness xx

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Outside Thoughts....

Now that our veranda is underway my thoughts have turned, naturally to the decorating of this space and the new garden beyond. I have been pouring through your blogs, Magazines and file photos to try and come up with a concept for it all. I have a rough plan as to how it will all go and have started sketching these spaces to keep me on track. We would love a place to sit with coffee and watch the kids and garden in the shade of our huge Sycamore tree.
Country Home Ideas
I am thinking more along the lines of padded or wicker seating as it would withstand our harsh weather here...and be comfy at the same time.

This is our little Crab Apple tree I planted out the backyard (Christmas 07, and it is triple the size now). We have decided to have a line of these down our driveway with a native grass (flax) or maybe Agapantha's. I has to be something low maintenance as our property is just over 3/4 of an acre. Underneath this tree I planted Lavender, Snow in Summer and Seaside daises, which have all done so well they will be making an appearance elsewhere in the new garden layout.

I love this tree and as it sheds to bare sculptural branches in Winter to let in the Winter sun, it is ideal....and it is oh so cute. I cant wait to be able to cut small branches of this to bring inside. I am a lover of formal gardens, although I do love casual wild looking areas too and would ultimately love a wild flower meadow somewhere.

Country Home Ideas
One of my Dads bird houses is being painted up to match the house. It will be hoisted on to a pole to sit in between our Hydrangeas. Although I am loving the Star Jasmine version too. maybe I will have one in the backyard like this also...

...this is for certain. I have already got my cross wire supports with jasmine growing up them along one of the back entrance fences. I have put skinny pines at intervals along them with Sea Side Daisies in the front. I want it to bush up like this....now!

Le Forge
An Architectural piece like these iron gates would be superb somewhere. I imagine them in a corner part of the yard, leading you on to another secret section, or with mirrors behinds the bars to reflect and open up a space, maybe hiding something ugly like the bins.

Le Forge
One thing we want somewhere is a water feature. Maybe something formal like a beautiful Urn surrounded by clipped box hedges, or something more natural looking like a rock water fall...with hedges. I love low box hedging.
Mic has taken a photo of the Paul Bangay book I want to help with the garden makeover as I love how he he uses mainly green in the garden with out a lot of flowers. If I win the lottery however, Mr Bangay will be coming to do it all himself!!
Ness xx

Monday, February 23, 2009

Red!

For those of you who read regularly, you know I am a devoted white lover, but I do have a soft spot for a hint of red. So, today I thought I would show you some of my red loves and what can be done with this primary lovely...

I really like this room, especially the painting of jars of lollies, Humbugs and those all red ones. The little hints of red are picked up throughout this room in the soft furnishings to great effect...and it is not overwhelming.
Chic Shack
I really love red along side white and denim blue in a boys room. We are thinking that the boys rooms will be due for a makeover soon, and I have always loved this combination...especially with stars as a common theme.
Marley & Lockyer
...now lets not forget my little tags, which have now shown there heads on my shop again. These ones are new - and very cute.

Marley & Lockyer
A lovely little gift tag (set of 2), also available now.

Who doesn't like red and white Bakers Twine??? and with a multitude of uses and Kitchen and craft room staple I think.

Marley & Lockyer

As a punch of colour in amongst white cushions, this new design in my shop looks great.

Ivory House
A grain sack runner with red ticking stripe is a favourite that will never go out of style.

Vintage iron beds painted white and snowy white linen are a perfect canvas for red sheets, bear and little stool. I would love beaded walls.

Marley & Lockyer
So, you can see why I love a hint of red here and there. I will always love blues and greens, but every now and then the red part of my brain kicks in and takes over....never over the white part though ;)
Ness xx

Friday, February 20, 2009

Pondering...

I had planned on showing you the progress on our new side veranda today. It has been done, but as it is just a big patch of concrete, I didn't think it would be very interesting.
Our new french doors are turning up in two weeks so once they are in it will be more interesting...then I will show you all. Can you wait? I can't.
So, in the meantime while our lawn area is looking like a dust bowl, I thought I would ponder on this beautiful photo and think of what will be.
Have a great weekend,
Ness xx

Thursday, February 19, 2009

I want to play Looch...

My lovely big Sister, (2nd eldest) Linda is moving this weekend to a home she has wanted for a long time. The style she is after is a sort of grown up beach feel. Not all red and white lighthouses and blue and white starfish etc, but a more muted natural palette.
She will keep some of her little lighthouses and beach paraphernalia, but it will be more pared back. Here are some ideas I have for you Looch...
I think you get the gist here...loads of white and touches of blue, cream and stripes.
The stairs inside are a nightmare apparently and Looch (by the way this is her nickname since we were little) is having issues with what to do to fix them. I suggested taking them out of where they are and moving them to your new entry way and having storage under for your vacuum.

Sletvoll
A palette like this as a base which you can add your blues and a hint of red. The chair rail ledge is a wonderful idea. Frame all of your photos in the same type of frame to keep it looking stylish.


Oh...love this. BTW, there is a blog for Phoebe's designs now (yay!) Thanks Anna!
How warm and cosy is this space, not to mention beautiful. This look would work with your sofa Looch.

Sletvoll
...but I know you will love this.
My favourite for your ideas. White, stripes, wicker and a big boat.
How good do the roll up matchstick blinds look with the eyelet curtains?
No need for expensive blinds Linda!!!
Well, as I am MILES away from my big Sister, this is the least I can do as I can't actually get my paws on her interior...lol.
Have fun arranging Linda...I SO wish I could play too!
Miss you...
Ness xx

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

D Sharp

I know I have posted on the Eiffel Tower from this range, but I never knew who made them then...now I do! I had an anonymous comment telling me that Studio D Sharp makes them. The site is amazing. There is a blog which is wonderful and the items for sale, gorgeous. Here are some of my favourites...
Arc De Triomphe, which opens up to hold candy, your jewels etc.
Colosseum, complete with glass glitter.

A sweet Anniversary tiara...too cute to wear.


...and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The detail is stunning and all of the papers and calligraphy are beautiful. There is even a wedding range and baby range with cards coming soon.
So, to give a gift that no one else will have given...go HERE to see.
Ness xx

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Living Dreams

Our side deck projects kicks off tomorrow and our new French doors are being made as we speak (yay!), so I will have to paint again when they are put in and have been thinking of how to finish off our living room. Here is what I would love to do.
Our walls will go back to a very light linen colour and I will keep our sisal mat. My Sister and I will be making slip covers for the lounge which can be machine washed. The photos that Vicki Archer so kindly emailed me, will be hung in black frames with big white mats, and I will absolutely be including Hydrangeas in there as above.
I will be making some of these and some of the linen button cushions for the lounge. You can buy these from my Etsy Shop.

Somethings Gotta Give Set
Ultimately I would love to have a reading space as beautiful as this, but as our living area isn't overly huge...I may take this idea of the wicker chairs to the deck (???)


Something like this as a console would be divine...my eyes are peeled for one.

Somethings Gotta Give Set
....if it looks as beautifully comfortable as this I will be wrapped.
We have had our driveway done today...yay, no more dust getting trailed through the house!!
Have a great day,
Ness xx