A Lavender House....

It's a dream of mine to have a greenhouse one day. A beautiful, sunny space made of glass and timber that sits elegantly amongst the garden beds. I can imagine whiling away many hours in my greenhouse, as I tinker with my pots and plants - a little like a bloke may while away hours in his shed. If I had a greenhouse then I'd like it to look just like this one - with a wash of white as the backdrop, overlaid with accessories in all kinds of pretty colours. Perhaps purple will be my colour of choice - it's so regal like. As, after all, my greenhouse would be fit for a queen. Me!

pic from here

Be Calm....

Bed is my favourite place to be and so I'm always looking for bedroom inspiration and am particularly drawn to spaces with a calming palette. I think that's why I love this beautiful bedroom - the gentle colour scheme mixed with the stream of light filtering in from the window makes the ideal setting for whiling away countless hours in bed. I mean, could there be anything more delightful that chilling out in bed (in the afternoon inparticular!!) with a book and a cuppa! Aaaah....

pic from here

Workshop Time...

Since I've been home I've been busy conjuring inspiration for future projects and finally (!) planning some more workshops! I've been receiving so many lovely email enquiries regarding my workshops with many decorating enthusiasts amongst you wondering when the next one will be taking place. You'll be happy to know that we are currently working on dates and a venue as we speak. So watch this space for more info coming soon. Also, I've had a couple of enquiries regarding private decorating workshops - where groups of friends get together and we organize a day of decorating fun. Some of you have even suggested a weekend in Byron Bay - with one day of consisting a decorating workshop and the other a free day - and so we are looking into making these workshops happen too. Generally, we'd need about 12 participants to make it all possible. If you're interested in knowing more then pop me an email and I'll add you to the info list.
sx

pic from Martha x

Home Again....

Ah to be home! Well, I have to admit that I have been home for a little while now - settling back in to life on the farm after my European jaunt! Although flanked by jetlag for a week, a cold and the craziest hurricane conditions - it is good to be home. The kids were delighted to see me as was Isobel our whoolly Spoodle. And so I've spent the last couple of weeks ploughing through my pile of paperwork and reconnecting with all of the chores that make up my life.
Thank you so much to everyone who has followed me on my travels - it was lovely to have you all along for the ride.
After almost six weeks away, I'm still not quite sure what it means to be 40 (!) - maybe the point of it all is that I simply don't need to know. Six weeks travelling has reminded me of the beauty of living in the moment and taking each day as it comes. And to be excited about not knowing what lies ahead.
sx

Trasierra Time....

What a wonderful treat it was to spend three whole nights at Charlotte Scott's beautiful small hotel, Trasierra in Andalucia, Spain. I've been in love with this hotel since I saw the article in Domino magazine a while ago - and was determined to get there to see it for myself. And so, mum and I hopped in the car and made our way from Seville, through the beautiful countryside and national park to this special place. Trasierra is everything that I hoped it would be - a calm and relaxed oasis. Lovingly restored by Charlotte over a 30 year period, put simply Trasierra is just gorgeous. Every room is decorated in its own unique style as are the main breakfast rooms, sitting rooms and pool area. My favourite would have to be the courtyards though - so pretty and rustic with the soft blue, white and earthy terracotta colour scheme. Most of all however, the food was just divine - and mum and I managed to stuff ourselves silly. All in all, I think that Trasierra was a highlight of the trip. Hopefully one day I'll make it back for a few more days of Spanish heaven...

p.s I'm sorry that I only have pics of the exteriors to show you - my camera had run out of steam by this stage of the trip! You can go to the Trasierra website for more www.trasierra.co.uk

Hola Spain...

Well it's au revoir Paris and hola Spain! I've been inspired by Spanish colour, design and architecture for many years now - particularly the Moorish kind that you find in southern Spain. And so, I was over the moon to make it there on this trip. Even more special was to be there with my mum - who shares by love of the aesthetic. Neither of us had visited before and so every day was a special treat filled with new discoveries. We started our journey in Madrid, then made our way to Seville by train. Oh what a beautiful city is Seville - it's windy cobbled alleys, colourful streetscapes and beautiful gardens were just a feast for the eye - and the heart and soul. Mum loved it so much - she even wept with joy! We spent our days exploring the town and the nights eating great food and watching flamenco. Ah, Seville - you are a magical town....

Blue Rhythm....

She abandoned her defenses and began to move with the rhythm of life. And with that, a whole new world of colour and fun opened up before her very eyes....

Garden Heaven....

I know that I've mentioned before how beautiful the flowers are in Paris in the springtime - but I just have to post about it again! However, this time, it's the flowers at Monet's Garden in Giverny. Visiting Giverny has been on my mother's wish list of things to do for many years now - and so I was over the moon that we managed to get there to witness Monet's extraordinary creativity in garden form, for ourselves. Even the one hour wait to get in (!) was worth it with what lay inside. Splendorous flowers in a multitude of beautiful colours and arrangements line the garden. What an inspiration. And of course, Monet's cottage was no disappointment either. I'm so glad we made it out to Giverny - it was everything I thought it would be....

A Pure Style Quickie Post....

I just have to post these (new) pics of Jane Cumberbatch's (pure style fame) gorgeous house in London. They remind me of all the things I love about life and living. Thanks Jane, as always, your style is an inspiration.
sx

Could This Be Home....

Oh I do love the Petit Trianon at Versaille - built for Madame Pompodour and used by Marie Antoinette as her place of retreat and fun and games. From a decorating perspective, it's just such a luscious, girly house - filled with beautiful rose pink silks and beautiful floral patterns. I think I could move in and live a little of Marie Antoinette's life for a while - minus the ending of course!

Blowin In The Breeze....

from TOAST with thanks...

A Bric-a-Brac Day....

One rainy Sunday in Paris, a group of girls on holiday headed out to the markets at Vanves - the Puces aux Vanves - in search of fun and adventure. They started off with a quick pit stop at a local cafe for a cafe creme to get themselves revved up for what lay ahead. The market was busy even though it was a grey old day - filled to the brim with collectors looking for some treasure. And oh, what treasure was to be found. Beautiful silver cutlery, lacy linens, vintage buttons, lamps, chairs and bits and bobs of varying size, colour and shape. They stopped for a crepe with sucre and citron (or two or three!!!) as they weaved their way around the stalls. One avid collector amongst them filled their very deep bag full of gorgeous finds to be shipped back to Australia. Happy and shopped out, they headed home - satisfied to have seen some living Paris culture in action...

Paris Inspiration...

I love the blue accented colour on this bookshop in the 5th right near the Jardin du Luxembourg. It makes for a bright and sunny scene against the grey of the buildings.

Paris In Springtime...

Hello again,
A Paris highlight would have to be the beautiful spring flowers - out in full in every garden, large and small. The combination of flowers and their colours are just so beautiful and have been providing a plethora of inspiration. All of these photographs have been taken in the Jardin du Luxembourg - which I think has to be my favourite garden of all. I remember when I lived in Paris, nearly 20 years ago, I spent all of my spare time hanging around in this beautiful garden. It never fails to inspire me - bringing a smile to my face every time.
I hope you like these pics from spring in Paris!
sx

What a Whirlwind....

Hi Everyone!

My goodness, it feels like forever since I've posted but life has just been such a whirlwind over the past few weeks. But, here I am, writing to you from Paris no less! I've just been having the most wonderful time over here. The spring weather has been beautiful and I've been enjoying the Paris life to the full.
Where do I begin?
Well, I've rented some lovely digs on the Rue du Bac in the 6th which has played host to five girlfriends who have flown in from Australia and around the world to celebrate my birthday. How lovely to have my girlfriends here in Paris. The last two weeks have felt like one continuous episode of 'Sex and the City'! Every morning we'd all start the day at the wonderful Cafe de Flore on Blvd St Germain to enjoy the world as it hurried by on its way to work.
From there we'd hit the shops - in the little streets around St Germain and the Marais mostly. Favourites have been the Merci store (see pic!), the gorgeous Bonpoint store at Saint Sulpice, Mariage Frere for old world afternoon tea, Le Bon Marche for everything under the sun, Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno, the Bensimon store for casual bits and bobs and everything in between.
We've seen exhibitions - Calder at the Pompidou, Andy Warhol at the Grand Palais, David La Chappelle at the Mint and some old favourites - the Musee d'Orsay and the Rodin permanent exhibition and gardens. What heaven.
We've eaten our way around Paris - with my 40th birthday dinner at La Societe (the new restaurant from the brothers Costes), traditional French brasserie food at the Lipp, lunch at Ma Bourgogne in Place des Vosges and a lovely rustic dinner at the Alain Ducasse restaurant Aux Lyonnais which was a highlight.
Now the girls have gone and my mother has arrived and with that the pace is a little slower which I'm enjoying!
Tomorrow it's Giverny to see Monet's Garden.
I feel so lucky to be in Paris - it feels so exciting and indulgent at the same time. But I know that I'll treasure my time here as one of the most incredible experiences of my life so far.
sx

Those Great Danes...

Well, I'm just so excited to see that my book, sense of style: colour + space has been translated into Danish and has finally hit the shelves - and with me on the cover no less! Now I just need to brush up on my Danish language skills so that I can read what it says!

The Post....

Hi there everyone....
Well, I survived the plane trip (35 hours from Byron Bay to Geneva!), have brushed off my jet lag - and I live to tell the tale as my journey begins. I love that I'm kicking off my time in Europe sharing a week in Switzerland with my true love... hubby! Hubby suggested that we meet in Geneva - as he was already traveling for work and I'd never been to Switzerland before. How lovely to be collected from the airport on the other side of the world - by my lovely man. So we've spent the last few days just kicking around the place, generally enjoying the beauty and the joie de vivre. Although we didn't have any particular agenda - we decided that a few days in Zermatt might be fun - and so we bought a ticket - hopped a train and found ourselves here - at the Hotel Post. This is the room that I'm writing from now - decorated in a modern chalet style with views over the town square. The weather is so gorgeous - with the sun peeping over the Matterhorn and the temperature warm and cosy. What a lovely way to begin my 40s....

Magic Shoes....

She wore her magic shoes as she journeyed to new lands;
and with them her eyes were opened to a life that she'd never seen before.

pic by toast

Southern Belle...

Well, I'm almost out the door everyone and onto the plane! But before I go I just had to have a good squizz through the latest issue of Inside Out and look what I found! I just love this gorgeous country home located in the Southern Highlands - isn't the palette so soft and soothing. The owners, Michele and Jasper Foggo own antiques store and design business Crystal Palace - and love soft hues and period pieces. Just sublime!
Well - au revoir mes amis - next time we meet - I'll be in gay Paris!
Sx

Rug Heaven...

Well, I'm just in rug heaven right now! I just had to show you these divine pics sent to me from Designer Rugs, of their new range by fashionistas Easton Pearson. Aren't they simply sublime. I particularly love that these pics have been taken in the apartment of Pamela Easton - it's always such an inspiration to get a sneaky peek into our own style makers homes. Gorgeous...