In Need of a Housewarming Gift Idea?

Housewarming presents have suddenly gotten easier with the discovery of Dear Friend by the very talented Rebekka Mann Seale(Cool name alert!)She creates custom portraits of homes with her beautiful line and watercolour illustrations.  I think these could just be the perfect house warming present for anyone looking for a personal touch.  She is booked solid until 2013 (bummer!) but you can check out Rebekka's lovely shop here.

The New Book From Good Bones Great Pieces

Do your read Good Bones Great Pieces?  They are one of my favourite blogs for a brilliant take on traditional pieces done in modern ways.  I've just pre ordered their book and I'm so excited to receive it in May.  A labour of love for over a year, Suzanne and Lauren take a look at the 7 pieces every home needs to stay stylish and functional.  The Ladies Home Journal did a sneak peak and I loved checking it out.  I'm dying to have a love seat just like the one below - so lovely!

 

 

 Source: Good Bones Great Pieces

Serena & Lily - A Kindred Spirit

My darlings, it's not often that you find a kindred spirit but I feel that's exactly what Serena & Lily is to my home decoration style.  Bright and fun in colour palates I can only dream of, the look is a modern take on traditional. Their catalogue is a visual feast and well worth a check out.  

Lady Chatterleys Affair Pinterest Addiction

After doing a bit of blog cruising I came across the very cool Lady Chatterleys Affair.  She's a super talented wedding and event stylist and like me, she has a pinterest addiction.  She's shared some of her favourite bedroom finds and I have to say I am loving her picks - fun and bright with pops of pattern or colour are giving these bedrooms a great sense of style. 

PS. You can follow me on Pinterest here!

Source: Lady Chatterley's Affair

Second Hand Sunday Score! Once Worn Jimmy Choo's for $60!

Welcome back to the week my darlings, did you have a nice break?  Yesterday was my very favourite Second Hand Sunday.  Our local council opens up the neighbourhood for a morning of garage sales.  We had a super fun group of family and friends ready to pound the pavement and the sales didn't disappoint!  From once worn Jimmy Choo's for $60 (spotted and bought for a lovely girl friend), a cute tribal skirt all the way to a half dozen of mini milk bottles for a buck there were bargains galore!!  Check out my scores below.....

A Super Easy Lantern DIY For The Home

Hurrah!  The weekend is nearly upon us and that means I have some time to do some easy tricks to beautify the home.  On my radar is this beautiful lantern installation, straight from fashion designer Vannessa Bruno's Paris apartment.  I love how she's taken a $7 Ikea lantern and by using them en masse she's created a structural display.  I could see this taking up a unadorned corner of my house!!

Source: Remodelista

New: Ivy & Piper March Issue!

Welcome back to the week my darlings!  This weekend I've been devouring the latest issue of Ivy & Piper.  It's a new look and it has some great features including an Adelaide Hills home that has my favourite ever wallpaper in the bathroom (Kate Spade uses it in her NYC home too!) Head on over to Ivy & Piper to check out all the goodness. 

Bright, Eclectic Interiors to Love

After doing some blog surfing I came across the amazing home of Naomi Stein of Design Manifest.  I couldn't get over her bold use of colour and prints to help create a lively, eclectic and worldly home.  Are you loving the coral and rug in the lounge room?  I totally am. How about that Marilyn print in the bedroom? To die for.  What I love most is Naomi did everything on a tight budget so most of the pieces in her home are under $250!  That is my kinda lady.

Source: Design Sponge

Turning Tea Towels Into Art?

Welcome back to the week my darling ones, I've had an idea wrestling in my head that I need to get out.  As you might know I'm always trying to find cost effective ways of making art for my home.  I saw these tea towels and knew they were too good for the kitchen, so they could look really good framed and hanging in the dining room.  I especially love the Bondi towel as it mentions my suburb right at the top!  

Source: Poulier and Poulier Design

The Most Amazing Curtains From West Elm

I have a ritual that once a month I try and invest a little in the house - I'm not talking big splurges, it could just be a cute little bowl from a second hand store, or perhaps a cute throw cushion from Etsy.  But in the case of this months investment I went straight over to West Elm and bought these amazing curtains. They are due to arrive in a week and I am literally counting down the days!  I promise to take some pictures once they are up.  Stay tuned lovely readers!

Source: West Elm

DIY Art For $4! Hello!

Would you be interested if I told you you could make your own large scale art for all of $4?  How about hell to the yes!  The uber talented Jenny from Little Green Notebook saw this tutorial which inspired her to take an amazing 1960's image of a temple and turn it into an artwork for her commode.  All she had to do was scan and print her picture at kinko's and then attach it to some foamcore.  I love for some extra interest she painted the edges in red.  It really pops doesn't it?

Source: Little Green Notebook

Domino Is Coming Back!

It doesn't take a scientist to work out that the best shelter magazine ever was Domino magazine.  Their take on American interiors inspired me endlessly and I would constantly be stalking specialist newsagents eagerly awaiting the next international copy I could snap up!  And like every other blogger out there a little part of the decorator in me died when they said goodbye.  BUT NEVER FEAR!  DOMINO IS BACK!  Yes, this news is so big I have to put it in caps.  Check out all the deets here and in the meantime check out some inspiration from some of my old copies.  

2 "5 Minutes And Under" Tricks To Live A More Beautiful Weekend

Finding ways to make your home more beautiful this weekend doesn't need to be difficult or timely.  Why don't you try these zushing tricks - If you are having people over dinner pop your silverware into jars or cups for an easy breezy way to style the table.  Or, keep the kitchen pretty by colour coordinating your utensils and displaying en masse in pottery.  Voila!  Simple and Beautiful in under 5 minutes.  

Source: Ruby PR, Martha Stewart

Brooke Sheild's Amazing House Tour

Well would you just look at the amazingness that is Brooke Shields New York home photographed for Architectural Digest?  The thing that gets me is the modern take on a traditional look.  That Benjamin Moore Chelsea Grey gives traditional fittings a fresh look, whilst the modern textiles, lighting and tiling juxtaposes perfectly with the traditional portraiture art.  I'd live there in a heartbeat!

 

Source: Plush Palate

You Wouldn't Think It BUT Say Hello To Stylish Interiors From A Granny Style House

Granny and chic do not normally go together but in the case of this house, oh yes they do!  Pared back interiors (those white floors! that typography art! ) mix perfectly with a modern take on chintz wallpaper (hello pink florals! Yes green and black leaves!)to create a thoroughly fresh take on a granny home.  I'm in love!

Source: Miss Moss