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...

Bed Time Baby....

It's raining up here at the farm right now - and by raining, I mean a torrential downpour! And so I'm snuggled up in bed with a cup of chamomile tea and a writing pad and pen - jotting down what needs to be done over the week ahead. You see, I have to write lists - because without them, well, I'd just be chasing my tail! As my son Joe said to me the other day - 'mum, the information goes in, and then it just runs right out the other side!!!' - I think he may just take after me.... So, a list can help in these situations....You see, I only have just over a week to go before I head off on my 40 year old journey. I can't believe that it's come around this quickly - and whilst I feel relatively organised - there are still a million and one things to get done before I leave. And so here I am, sitting in my bed - writing my lists.... Now, if I can just remember to look at my list - then all will be well!




pic from country living

Country Style...

I'm very excited to see the new issue of Country Style has hit the stand, particularly because I styled the cover - and the photograph has been taken up here in Byron Bay by the one and only Prue Ruscoe. I'm so happy with the way that the cover has turned out - and I really love the ici et la fabric that I used for our makeshift shelter. It's so bright and colourful....

Meditation In Motion...

This weekend is a good weekend because I've put aside some time for the garden. Oh, I do love to garden - although it's constant work up here on the farm. Just when you think you've got the place in order, the rains come, the weeds make their way to the surface and voila - more work to be done. Even though the garden requires constant maintenance, it is such a fulfilling place to spend my time. I find that gardening is another form of meditation or rather meditation in motion, which is more my kind of reflection. My relationship with the garden is a little like a metaphor for life - that with patience, gentle and constant tending and watering, and an excitement about what could be - it will rise up to meet your expectations. I find that life's like that too... Yes, it's a lovely day to spend in the garden.

Little Joys...

Watching the way that children play - with a sense of abandonment and soul-fulfilling joy - can be a lesson to us all about how to live our lives. Living in the minute... With a smile.... And cake to share!


pic from www.rice.dk

Green Love

Wow!!! Check out these gorgeous turquoise green velvet armchairs! Aren't they just heavenly. I love the combination of colours used in this room - it reminds me of a similar combination that I recently employed in the home of a client. The turquoise, yellow against the lovely chocolate-y textures makes for a very vibrant palette indeed...


pic from CountryLiving

Things I Love....

I'm not sure if it's the Portugese blood in me - or simply a love of colour - but when it comes to decorative tile work - you'll find me salivating. I dream of having a large and stately entrance in my home one day, decorated with colourful floor tiles like these. Don't these make you want to dance!


I'm sure that you know how much I love flowers - particularly when they are snipped from the garden. When there are no flowers to snip - then I go for a bush cutting instead - sometimes natives, sometimes gardenias or even an agave in a bowl makes for a lovely arrangement.


I love that every morning - when I'm making my way down from the farm to my favourite coffee nook in Byron Bay - I pass a multitude of bike riders (mostly girls in gorgeous floaty dresses) on their way to work in town. Part of me wishes that I lived in town too so that I can get around on my bike. How free - and earth happy would you be...


Blue and green - now they are the colours for me. They make me feel so happy, so alive. This green is just the bee's knee's don;t you think?


All pics from toast (of course!)....