Wednesday, September 30, 2009

French Fancy...

bh&g

Chateau Robert
These beautiful French inspired photos for you all to brighten your day!
Have a lovely one,
Ness xx

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Bathroom Renovation Thoughts

From my Dream Home file - unknown
Don't get excited this is not it. If I could wave a wand it would!
Lyn Gardener
We haven't made any progress on our bathroom as yet. Still waiting on our window to arrive, and then we can get started making the bathroom smaller. It is a huge space and we will still have a big bathroom even with us stealing a little for a built-in Laundry and linen press.
With all the rain we have had, and then the sunshine today, I wanted to get out a crow bar or something and start ripping off the old ranch board we have lived with for over 6 years! At least I would feel like something is getting done.
Our bathroom space has a claw foot with shower over, sink, toilet, laundry and cupboard which houses our linen, 11 foot ceilings....and no style!
BH&G
I have been thinking on and off what we will do in there. Until we see what is lurking under the ranch board and the cement sheeting that covers the beautiful Tasmanian oak floorboards (which I hope are in good condition still) we have no idea really where to start. I would how ever like to find the old wall boards that we found in other parts of the house and paint them white, like Layla has done in her hallway. This would save LOADS of money and give the space some texture and a wonderful nod to the history of our old home, "Glenlee". Some beaded board sheets would also look great, like above...don't know yet.
Home Beautiful -I think
As for what we are going to do with the sink and vanity is still in the air. I would really like a double one, but something like an old dresser up cycled with a porcelain bowl on top and a bridge tap would be lovely. Of course there will be a big mirror above it.
I really like the little toile roman blind in this bathroom with the white.


Mabley & Handler
The small subway tile would look beautiful in there.
via The Lettered Cottage
Mic really wants a shower and I tend to agree. I would like to have the bath and shower separate as I am over the curtain sticking to our legs.
Trying to work out how and where we will put it is becoming a hassle. We don't want to move too much plumbing as the budget will blow out for sure.

Brooke Giannetti
This works for me. A clear glass shower screen with the shower heads pointing towards it and no door is something I have had in my head for quite a while now. Like wet room on a smaller scale. I also love how all the walls are plastered, with California One Kote I think, and just the shower is tiled.
via The Laurel Hedge
These twin showers look great...I could have each of our boys in at the same time!
The idea of tiling up to the glass like I mentioned above is another thought. Having the shower heads pointing to the opening wouldn't work in our house. The shower heads are magnificent. If anyone knows of where to get some like these would you please email me?

unknown - sorry
Another suggestion from Mic was to get rid of our old claw foot all together!!! NO! This was one of the selling features of the house. I have always wanted one, and now that we do he wants to get rid of it! It needs help, I understand, but it has history...it will be 100 years old on the 9/4/10...it has the date it was made welded on it!
I also feel that being a four bedroom house, that if we ever had to sell it (I will have to be old and dead!!) just a shower wouldn't do in a family sized home.
Brooke Giannetti
So, what do we do with the underneath part of the bath? We plan to paint the floors like we did in our bedroom, but we need tiles and waterproofing around it. This idea from Brooke was perfect. A 'bath mat' I have named it. Made of tiles, not cotton. So it would look like a rug and function as a splash proof saviour from our kids and their aqua aerobics!

I might even whip out the sketches and some before shots if I am game enough to show you.
That is my thoughts on that!
Ness xx

Monday, September 28, 2009

I missed it...but I am feeling better

Ness Lockyer
This is my 402nd post today! I missed it though as I have been so sick the past few days. To add to that the rain has been relentless. This view from our kitchen window is bleak and the puddle of water you can just see beside our shed joins on to this....

Ness Lockyer
argh! This goes to show you how much rain we have been getting lately. We have named this "Loch Ness"...if it keeps raining some sort of sea monster is going to move in I am sure!!
Today is sunny though =0)
I did say I was planningto rearrange our old Medical cabinet if I was feeling ok...well I wasn't. Here it is though in it's blurry glory. I will show you a better shot when the sun is shining (it was raining and dark when I took this) and I have channged the contents about.

I did add some things to it in an attempt to show you something...I felt guilty! Not exactly what I was after...but something at least.
Anyway.....



Marley & Lockyer
I thought you might like to see the French Chair cushion I made with the artwork I done that I showed you last week.
Marley & Lockyer
There is also this newbie to the shop. 'Spring Hummingbird' I have called it...and we actually had some sunlight on the weekend to photograph it! I would like your feedback...if I run a giveaway would you prefer my chair art work as cushions or as prints????
Love to hear your thoughts..and thank you to everyone who left get well messages. I do feel I am on the mend.
Ness xx

Friday, September 25, 2009

What Do You Do???

Warm Whispers
...when you have the flu? I was hoping to re do our medical cupboard I spoke about yesterday and show you today...but I am too sick. So, I am going to show you instead some lovely favourites I have found recently.
This photo above is one of about 12 prints from the renown Sadie Olive that I would love to have gracing our walls. They all have that vintage feel to them which I adore.
Roll And Tumble Press
I need a little reminder- I really do feel terrible!! This has been hand fed into an old letterpress machine and the colours are so calming.
Two Inspire You
This Wedding Boxwood Wreath would look lovely on our front door right now. We are heading into 22 weekends of rain!!? I crave real Spring days.

Red Wren Designs
This little sweetie is made here in Tasmania in Frankford. I love the fact the tea towels are on 100% linen and all hand made.
Eva Julie
What a wonderfully pretty print. It says "Choose Joy" in French and the fact that there are little birds in the tree appeal to me even more.
Well, I am sorry that I couldn't bring you the cupboard post today. I hope to be able to do it over the weekend seeing there is more rain coming. I will see how I am feeling.
I do hope you all have a beautiful weekend.
Ness xx

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Scrubby Cupboards...

Pale & Interesting
Old cupboards and wardrobes are something I always love to include in rooms, especially our own house with it's 11 foot ceilings. The scrubbier and well beat up ones are perfect pieces in my opinion and this one is lovely, adding tonal interest to this creamy room.

Country Homes & Interiors
I also adore the industrial type with big glass front for displaying stock, and in this case crockery and glassware. The fact it is in a weathered grey and worn paint just makes it more appealing to me.

Country Homes
Ones with doors are great for linen, like here, or in the kitchen as a makeshift pantry...at least if it is not as orderly as the one above, you can shut the doors!!

via Mimi Charmante
This one actually has a little angled side part to it. What an awesome find if you had dead space to fill under some stairs, or an attic space.
Tomorrow our littlest boy is off to Pre School for 3 hours and while he is gone I plan to re-organise our own old cupboard which was originally used as a Medical cabinet at an Ambulance station. When I am done I will show you photos.
I hope you all have a wonderful day,
Ness xx

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The bird in me...

Debbie Floral - Calico Corners
I have always had an obsession with beautiful fabric and this one above is no exception. It has been saved in my fabric file for quite a while now. I just haven't found the right project for it yet.
For the last year or so, I have really enjoyed the amount of bird inspired fabrics that have come on to the scene...they have been everywhere and I am loving it! Birds and things with birds keep popping up in my life...I will show you...Mulberry Muse
These postcards, which have been made to look like an old French letter, are gorgeous...and not so much for the beautiful script writing or the sepia tones of the paper...but for that Peacock!!! There are some at The Gorge (an awesome swimming, dining and recreational spot in Launceston) that I would love to take home. They just wander around and amaze me every time I see them. Declan, our 5 year old, split his knee open when he was two trying to 'catch' one...he still bears the scar!

LYoung Studio
This lovely art work with its blazing red Cardinal has also been in my wish list file for some time now. The whole range of prints for that matter!!

Marley & Lockyer
How could I not do birds on my own cushion covers?!
A silhouette of this one is also above our French doors in the living room in black.

Ness Lockyer
This canvas of mine, which is based on the Sid Dickens tiles sits wonderfully with 3 others above our kitchen bench. It is my favourite thing to look at...besides the real birds outside the window...while I am waiting for the kettle to boil.
Black & Spiro
Back to fabric...this beautiful piece was hanging in the window of Black & Spiro and I love it. The Cockatoos remind me of the Australian Galah (called Ozzie) we had since he was a little chick with no feathers (I was about 4), until he passed away from old age(when I was 25). He was the only Australian bird I know that had a Scottish accent like my Parents...and he was my best friend as a child.
See what I mean...they are everywhere. As much as I love them, I will never cage a bird again. They deserve to be free!
Ness xx

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Lovin the light!

Felicitas Oefelein
Lighting for a room has always amazed me, how it can transform a room from bright, light, industrial overheads to warm low side lamps that make a room friendly and cocoon-like. The choices are endless. However, I am into this huge bowl shaped light which has been hung low over the coffee table. I imagine it looks wonderful lit and the fact it is not in a huge stairwell, or over a dining table (where you would expect to see it) impresses me even more. At least it would be easy to reach and dust!!! Anna Spiro's home via Content Agency
This pretty and unashamedly feminine one is from Anna Spiro's home. The flowers and pom-pom trim on the little shades is such a sweet pairing.
From my Dream Home file - unknown source
The Chandelier has always been a favourite of mine. Although, dare I say it, I have seen them everywhere lately and I think I am starting to tire of them a little. Maybe that's why I am into the first picture so much - its just different!
ZK Interiors
These ball shaped lights with clusters of Edison -type globes are starting to be seen more and more in Contemporary spaces...I think they work so well. There are some similar to this at our Airport here in Launceston, not as big - but effective.
We haven't made any huge purchases in lighting our own home yet. I have always wanted some shop stopper fitting...but I love the warmth of lamps and candles!
What is you favourite type of lighting???
Ness xx

Monday, September 21, 2009

New at M&L!!!!

Swiss Vanilla Cross cover
New at M&L are these lovely Swiss Cross covers. There will be more colours to come, but these vanilla ones are on the shop now! They are based on the medical cross that everyone seems to know. They are beautiful against white or bright colours...so they will go with any type of decor!!
Florence cover
The next new ones are the Florence covers which have a flanged edge on either side of the cover. This wonderful warm caramel coloured cotton works so well with many colours also. I photographed it (sorry its not really crisp - I think I was due for a coffee!) on our chaise which has black and white ticking on it and the pair with my white cushion looked awesome.
Yellow Tolix in Aqua cover
I really like this one. The chair is recognisable as a design icon - The Tolix Chair! It is from original artwork that I have done which has been put on this crisp white cotton, framed in aqua to give the yellow a frame and baked in the white.
Art work - Ness Lockyer
Another chair study I have done is this Bergere chair which has been covered in an old feedsack. This will be going on a cover also...soon!
I am thinking of making these two art works of mine into prints to put into the shop. What do you think?
Thank You clay tags
There are some more white clay tags in store now too. Some of the Christmas range is starting to come in and I hope to have most of it in by the end of next week.
Anyway, you can find all of these at Marley & Lockyer.
...but this tag I thought I would show to say a little thank you to you all for being so supportive and wonderful to me....I really appreciate it.
Have a wonderful day.
Ness xx

Friday, September 18, 2009

Happy Weekend

From My Dream Home File - unknown source
I hope your weekend is full of happy times, creative endeavours or DIY masterpieces. I hope to show you all some of my own next week...as long as they work!
What ever you are up to - have a peaceful one.
Ness xx

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Wrap Up Of The Beach House

Today is the wrap up of my dream beach house and the rest of it isn't too hard to explain. They are restful areas and the decor is according.
This bedroom above is just perfect. Huge bench at the foot of the bed, French Doors, loads of feather filled linens and carrying on from the rest of the house is the beaded white walls, sisal matting and slipcovers.
I would however want to put this gorgeous art work of a very tranquil lake across from the bed so we could see it when we woke.
Ness Lockyer
The next photos are from a display home and I would love this seating arrangement to go under the art work across from our bed.
Ness Lockyer
The trunk would go great in the boys dorm-style room for their beach gear.
Ness Lockyer
And last, but not least, a simple bathroom (as I wouldn't want to spend all my holiday time scrubbing!!). This one from the display home would be great. A walk in wet room shower, double basins for us all to clamber about and a concealed toilet (you can just see Declan's arm at the end of the basins) along with a set of French doors so you could access the shower with your sandy feet right from the deck would just finish it off nicely.

unknown...sorry
And of course some sun lounges on a huge deck right of the sand, outdoor shower head and quintessential palm tree for that total beach holiday feel. I hope you all enjoyed the tour of the beach home I will never have...unless I win big. Then I will have a party!!
Ness xx