Colourful Creation....

I just love it when colour is used with boldness and bravery in an interior. And this lovely interior, from Country Living mag, is just such a perfect example of how you can use a menagerie of colour in a space to great effect. Doesn't this space just make you smile? Simple, humble but with attitude to boot...

So Lovely....

picsource: Domino

A Decor8 Day....

A big, big, big thanks to Holly over at Decor 8 for making such a kind mention of my books in a recent post. It's a honour to be included on the pages of this gorgeous blog. Decor 8 is a constant source of inspiration to me and the new look site is just so beautiful - thanks again Holly - and I'm glad you like the book. sx

Rocket Man....

I was so excited to pick my first load of new season rocket (arugula) from the garden the other day that I just had to take a photograph of it! This life just never ceases to amaze me - in that you can just pop some seedlings into the ground, water and shazzam - you have rocket a plenty, to eat for lunch or dinner. Rocket is such a lovely, peppery tasting leaf - so easy to grow in a plot or even a pot outside in the back courtyard. The downside, of course, is that just as nature giveth so does it taketh away - and so this was the only rocket pickings that I managed to enjoy as the hail storms hit us a few days ago and there is rocket no more! However I still have this picture to remind me of what's possible. And so it's back to the garden for a clean out and more planting! 

Byron Glamour....

Decorating a house is never a quick process - nor should it be, I feel. For me, it's the houses that have evolved slowly and with thought and care that are the most interesting around. So far, it's taken me about a year to collect and put together the basics that are forming the foundation of my own home. Finding just the right pieces to add to my ensemble of furniture is what makes the whole thing fun and interesting and so I love to take my time to ensure that the bits and bobs that I do add to my interior are really meant to be there - and that I love every single thing that makes its way through my front door. This is why, I am just so completely in love with these gorgeous bucket chairs that have just found a spot in my lounge room. They are just so perfect. Laid-back and natural looking (made out of twisted brown paper and then sprayed in Dulux White on White) but still architectural and a little cutting edge - what with the winged backs and all. They are just such a beautiful addition to this space and match back so well with the old sofa that I had recovered in peacock green velvet six months ago. I call this look Byron Glamour - with just enough razzamatazz to be fun and quirky, but not too much that it takes away from the humble essence of the house as a whole. Love, love, love...

Always Anthropologie....

I've been completely in love with Anthropologie since the first time that I laid my eyes on their beautiful shop windows and furniture displays during a trip to New York a few years ago. Their style is just so comfortable and homey, but at the same time totally inspiring and of the moment. I'm always checking in online to see what they've been up to and came across these gorgeous room scapes for their new collection. I particularly love the green and white chandelier in shot three - it's such a cutie.

Thanks ABT....

A very belated but a very BIG thank you to the lovely Anna Spiro over at ABT for including me in her Absolutely Favourite Things series. I just loved putting these bits and bobs together - because it was such a lovely reminder of the things that I really do love. Thanks again Anna - as always - you are absolutely beautiful....

Cutie Cottage...

I just had to share this pic of the gorgeous Carabella Cottage with you - isn't she just such a cutie? I'm sure that you've guessed by now that I'm rather partial to little timber cottages - in fact, I just can't get enough of them - and I thought that this one simply takes the cake. The colour (a muted lilac trimmed with bright white) makes for such a stunning exterior - and is great variation from the traditional white or grey. Hope you like it too....

picsource: stayz

Wonderland....

Whomever says that white walls equate to a boring interior clearly has never lived amongst their virtues. I mean, what better backdrop could one have on which to drape a menagerie of colour. And what more serene a colour (or non-colour, depending on your perspective) could there be in which to float along to dreamland in. Oh I just love white. And I hope you like it too....

picsource: Martha Stewart and Domino mag

Digging The Dirt...

I'm in absolute heaven at the moment because I've been spending all of my time digging up a new vegetable garden to accompany my first - which, I must boast, is still flourishing to boot. In this new garden I've planted pumpkin, rockmelon (a total experiment), beetroot (a fave), rocket, snow peas, tomatoes and so on. My neighbour, Mr Buckley, came over to help dig the grass up with his special digging machine, then I shipped in some more soil from the local soil guy and popped the seedlings into the ground. Luckily, the heavens have been blessing us a little, and so, we are well on our way to beautiful, flourishing veges. And not a minute too soon given the current economic climate!

This pic is of me doing my digging out in the garden. Now, don't think that I always look this clean when I'm tinkering around out there in the dirt! However, this pic was taken by my magician friend, photographer Prue Ruscoe for a secret project that I'm hoping to reveal to you in the not too distant future - pending blessings from my dream angels of course! All good vibes welcome this way! lol

Porters Please....

I've just love Porters Paint - their finishes are just so textured and interesting - particularly distemper and fresco. Here are a few shots of their beautiful painted finishes. Hope you like...

Right On Mother....

Speaking of the environment - I just love this 'respect your mother' tote - not just because it reminds us to be kind to our beautiful earth - but also kind to our lovely mothers too. I first came across this when hubby brought one home in t-shirt form - since then, he has been stopped in the street by numerous mothers who want to know where they can find one for their own child to wear as a reminder to be nice to mothers everywhere. Respect your mother now - and your mother will respect you too! lol sx

find at: www.localcelebrity.com

PippiJoe....

Oh my goodness - I'm just constantly blown away by the breadth of creative talent that we have in this country. We are just such a unique and creative bunch down here in the land of Oz. And PippiJoe is no exception! I was so excited to receive an email from Caitlin about her range of fabrics, cards and homewares that she produces out her home - all the while with two littlies running around underneath her feet (another clever mummy!) PippiJoe's designs use environmentally happy fabrics such as hemp, linen and cotton - dyed with environmentally friendly inks and the cards are made from recycled card also printed with 'happy earth' inks - which just goes to show that you can give a nod to the earth and be gorgeously stylish at the same time. Check out PippiJoes blog here for some insight into Caitlin's creative process. Thanks for the email Caitlin - I can see some PippiJoe making it's way into my home as I write...

first pic from: Home Beautiful

My Ideal Combo....

Wow, I just love the combination of colours in this interior - white, grey and muted peacock green. The white is just soooo fresh and makes for a lovely, alive backdrop - and the green just adds a little bit of glee to the space. And what about that daybed? Isn't it just the perfect textural piece to add some spice to the otherwise clean lines. Love, love, love....

pic source: Martha Stewart

Home Hunting...

No, I'm not in the market for a new home - but that doesn't stop me from snooping around on various real estate websites! I came across this gorgeous cottage, situated in my old stomping ground of Camp Cove in Sydney, and just had to share the pics. Isn't the interior just so eclectic and colourful?

pic source: here

A Donna Hay Day....

Why is it that just when you decide to curb the cakes for a while - all that you can do is think about food! Food, food, food!!! These pics from Donna Hay make the thought of healthy eating a little more interesting at least. Hope they make you feel 'virtuous' too!

 

Roses and Me....

I had to share a pic of my roses with you not just because I am so incredibly proud of how well they are doing out here in the garden but more so because I'm really kind of shocked that they are growing at all. You see, I've never had much experience with roses - I love them - but they always seemed a little too delicate to be able to cope with my renegade gardening style! It wasn't until a friend told me of their coping virtues and that they are great growers in almost anyone's patch that I decided to give it a shot. And didn't I underestimate the heart of these little babies. They are going great guns and flowering to boot. And what a beautiful addition they are to the garden. So much so, that I've added a few more....

Donna Hay Style...

Speaking of tomatoes, I was just over at Donna Hay's new look website and found some lovely pics of tomato recipes. I just love Donna Hay's style - it's simple but special - and her new site is gorgeous too. Check it out here....

Summertime Tomatoes....

When I think of summer, I think of juicy summer fruits and warm, red tomatoes sliced and drizzled with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar, served with rustic bread straight from the oven! How divine. I'm over the moon because my tomato vine is finally getting a go on out there in the garden and the juicy toms are ripening beautifully. Tomatoes are an easy thing to grow - in a plot or a pot. You just need to ensure they are well staked so that the vine has room to spread. I just love this pic (which I think is from Martha Stewart). Hope they inspire summer in you too...

Fresh and Fast...

I just love Michelle Cranston's cook books - they are always so stylish and fresh with great recipes that I can follow and that actually work! And so, I was very excited to see that Michelle's new book - Marie Claire Fresh and Fast - is out in the bookstores and this one doesn't disappoint either. The photography (by Anthony Ong) is so alive and summery - it makes me feel that little bit healthier just by looking at the cover! Now, that's a book for you....

Weeding 101...

I just had to share this pic with you of  hubby out in the garden giving our no. 1 child a lesson in weeding! She looks surprisingly interested! (There must be pocket money involved!) Ah, the joys of country life....

Pure Style Love...

Speaking of Pure Style - I just made my way over to Jane Cumberbatch's website and to my delight discovered that she's blogging too! I just love Jane's style - it's so honest and pure - and has been a great inspiration to me over the years. Thanks Jane for sharing your Pure Style - can't wait to see more posts.

sx