my perfect escape

Our bedroom is one of those rooms that has the best view in the house, and yet we only go in there to sleep, and, dare I admit it, leave clothes lying around in. It has been pretty uninspired. Fortunately Adairs is running a competition at the moment where it is possible to recreate your perfect escape in your bedroom, and I was extremely lucky to get the opportunity to create my perfect escape for the Adairs blog. I used New York as my inspiration and wanted to create something clean but also a little bit smart. It looks so much better. I like this room now, plus nothing beats nice new fresh linen and the Mercer +Reid alpaca throw is the most lovely colour.

If you want to enter the competition you can do so here. They have some pretty lovely products to choose from, I think!

some decoration for christmas

Since we will actually be away for christmas this year I thought we wouldn't worry too much about a tree, or any decoration really, but then I've seen some really great ideas on pinterest and I had to do something. So we've got a branch hanging off the wall with fairy lights, and lots of snowflakes and paper fans and honeycomb balls. The brown paper fans were my own creation and they are a little dodgy, but after a rather busy weekend it was great to sit down sunday night and cut up paper. Oh and excuse the skinny wonky candles, I really should get some fatter ones for the candleholder but I keep forgetting.

Home

A few shots from around the house, I'm still not sure what I want my 'style' to be, I think maybe I am still a little confused about it, but I like that it is a work in progress.

...

I've posted about Agneta Livijn ceramics before, but oh those cups and bowls are just such wonderful colours and having seen her work while I was in Sweden I know the quality is amazing. Too bad we still can't get them in Australia.

I know it's been a bit quiet here on the blog lately but actually I'm in the process of moving house, and it's exciting and daunting and a little bit sad all in one and I haven't really felt like writing about it. My little flat has been my home for four years, and despite it's many faults it has been a really lovely place to live in. But I am really excited for this change and for the future, so I hope to be more settled soon and show you my new home.

Interior Love

A pretty Before and After via Design Sponge, I love the sofa and the mirrors grouped together look great, especially with those nice clean white walls.

Green Side Tables

Love these two green side tables, I kinda like the idea of a drinks table/trolley, seems rather grown up.

1. sfgirlbybay  2. Ethan Ollie

Lately....

* My house is full of glass jars and vases with succulents raided from the garden, not many flowers around at this time of year sadly but I like the green.
* I've been knitting up a storm...well a scarf anyway, just a soft plain grey one, but I've really been enjoying it. I have a new project in mind once the scarf is done.
*I tried to do and Island Menu post using some lemons from a friends tree, but my camera lens broke : ( I still made a nice lemon drizzle cake though!
* I'm a bit over this time of year and am hanging out for warmer longer days.
* I got tickets to see Sigur Ros later this year (the same week as Radiohead), I think I might spontaneously combust with excitement that week!
* I had printed some chevron pattern and made a somewhat dodgy cushion, it's ok, as long as you don't look too closely : )

Home Stuff I Like Right Now

I've been thinking a lot about homes lately, and I've been particularly inspired by those of Jennifer of A Merry Mishap and Kerry of The Seventy Tree. I love their simplicity and calmness but also they have the ability to add colour and pattern so easily to the basics they have. These are a few of the things I have my eye on right now:

1. String Pocket Shelves

2. RK Design plywood potholder

3. Marimekko kivet thermos

4. African Knitting Basket

5. twist a twill grey blanket

6. porcelain pendant light with neon pink cord

7. Muuto salt/pepper grinder

8. clock

9. Jansen+co cake stand

10. Jorge magazine rack

Three things

1. I currently love my new measuring cups that I brought from Lark in Daylesford the other week, I had to bake something just to use them. So brownies it was, not something I've cooked very often or even eat often but they were actually kinda good.

 2. I started going through my tower of old magazines this weekend, it's time for a clean out, but I find it hard to thrown them out...I'm saving the clippings I like. Goodness knows what for!

 3. Just a shot of my bedroom mantle, my poor house is so old it's suffering a few cracks these days

Brights

I seem to be loving the brighter colours right now, even in my clothes, I don't know if it's the fact that it is summer or just a short lived phase but it is nice and cheerful.

Le Sofa

So after going on and on about it for goodness knows how long, here it finally is! A shot of my new sofa. We are starting to get along a bit better now after the initial shock of 'my goodness it's a french behemoth'. Sure it isn't the sleek stylish scandinavian piece I had in mind but I suspect in summer when the sun streams through that window it will be a prime spot for reading. Perhaps it just needs a few more cheerful cushions....I'm still not 100%...!

By the way please excuse the so so shots, it seems to be quite difficult to photograph. Oh yeah and my beat up architraves!

This weekend...

...disappeared so fast, I feel I need a weekend after the weekend! I had a new hall cupboard delivered on saturday from store & co. I have been looking for a while but this one it fit the bill so perfectly (there's another shot here). Love the green and off white/cream and I can't wait to spend a bit more time putting things away in there.

I also did some work on another project I've been working on with a friend but more about that tomorrow, right now I need to go sit have a hot chocolate and read a book for a while : )

I hope everyone had lovely weekends too.

Sofa

I’ve wishfully been thinking about a new sofa for quite a long time now, a few weeks ago I even nearly purchased a smart cream-ish coloured one from laura Ashley, but then I got the sample fabric home and it had just a little too much silky gold in the weaving for my liking. So now I’m on the hunt again, trust me searching for furniture like this in Hobart is near impossible, likewise looking on the web because of the freight to get it here! Anyway I saw this one on coco republic and rather liked the syle and the colour (I hadn't thought of this colour till I saw this one), here it is with a few other bits I'd love to go with it.

coco republic sofa
coffee table
photographic print from treefox
rachel castle embroidery
lamp
missoni blanket
basket

Summer Apricots

Thank you all so much for your kind comments, I always feel a bit unsure and shy about sharing my house so your wonderfully positive response really means a lot to me.

I am having serious brain confusions as to what day it is today, a mid week day off is good but strange as well. I hope everyone had a great Australia day, I decided to have a quiet one and went and picked apricots with my grandmother. Apricots to me are one of the best things about summer, stewed with a handful of squashed up special k sprinkled on top is probably my most favourite dish ever! I made slice with the picks of the bunch and jam with the rest. The smell of apricot jam cooking is heaven!

Super Exciting!

Just a quick post to say that I am super excited that my house is featured on The Design Files today! Wow! Thank you so much to Jenny for asking me and to Lucy for the post, you can check it out here.

Also a big thank you to Sam who took a number of pictures for me to include, like the one of my hall above!

Blue + Stripes

....noticing lots of blue and stripes in my flat right now.

This weekend

On my table:

*All the Christmas magazines arrived at once, I’m not quite in Christmas mode yet but I suspect the time is going to fly by. The Jamie mag has some great recipes too, a warm cauliflower and green olive salad that is definitely on the menu this week.

* Mini lemon cakes, they were an experiment and they sort of worked, well they tasted pretty good.

Unexpected Guest

Sorry I’ve been a bit quiet this week, work has been busy which tends to take up much of my brain space leaving not much left for blogging. However in exciting news I am an unexpected guest over on sfgirlbybay, so I hope you will stop by.

Victoria’s blog was one of the first I ever stumbled across and instantly fell in love with her amazing home and style, so I feel very honoured!

(the photo's are some randoms from this week)

Attia

Seriously lovely homewares from attia, I had to post them!

Found via Decor8

Mirror, Mirror

I have been in serious saving mode the last few months desperately trying to stick to a tight budget (more on that another time) and even going for long walks at lunch to avoid spending it looking at shops in town. It has worked too, until I went into a little antique store that I was positive would have nothing of interest to me….yeah I was wrong.

I spied a mirror, I spent days thinking about the mirror, the price was good considering the size (it’s quite enormous), had a second look and then went back a third time to buy it. Actually I am so pleased I did, I love it, it’s simple but quite lovely and changes the space in my living room nicely. One of those forever pieces.