Summer Holidays

We are trying to hunt down a little cottage on the Victorian coast to stay in over the Christmas break. But I think we may have left it a little late as most places are booked out or super expensive. Wouldn't it be lovely to find something like this little cottage.....

All images: IMG Fave

Home Envy!!

Interior designer, Debbie Cronin's Bondi home is featured in this months Real Living (September 2009) and I love it! 

Debbie has managed to mix old with new, such as Philippe Starck 'Louis Ghost' chairs with a distressed French armoire and antique chandeliers, all in one room. The artwork by Sydney artist Jennifer Keeler-Milne shown in the first pic is stunning, as is the 18th century antique bed, which was painted a matt black to give it a more modern look. 

For me this home is near perfect, whimsy but modern but still allowing an individual style to shine through. I'll be looking out for more of Debbie Cronin's work in the future.

All images: Real Living

The Bright & the Beautiful!

I love the home of NY designer and artist Kim Parker. So bright, colourful and happy!

Image 1: via Life at Rose Cottage

Image 2: Elle Decoration

Image 3: via Shannon Fricke

Image 4: Living Etc

A Home in the Valley

One of my closest friends bought a beautiful home in the Mudgeeraba Valley on the Gold Coast a fews years ago and has been slowly renovating it room by room. She sent me photos of her latest room makeover and I love this little area she has created in her family room. The last time I saw this room the walls were this awful pale green colour that the previous owners had painted the entire house in.

My favourite thing is the canvas which she has covered in fabric she ordered through Anna Spiro's store Black & Spiro. I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures as the house progresses.

Obedient Sons and Daughters

I'm loving this apartment of design duo, Christina and Swaim Hutson, the couple behind the label Obedient Sons and Daughters. It is so very New York, eclectic, colourful and just a little bit cluttered. My favourite thing: the tulle skirts hanging from the roof in their daughter, Lowe's, bedroom.

All images: via The Selby

The Dream Home by the Sea

For me, this home by American designer Jane Coslick, is pretty much perfection. It's light, white and airy with the liberal use of blues and turquoise and the location is amazing. Imagine sitting on that verandah having an early evening drink.

All images: Coastal Living

The Francophiles!

The coloured glass has been collected over the years from many different countries.

This collection of antique copper pots were picked up at a market last year just outside of St Tropez.

Botanical themed plates collected from England and France are hung throughout the house.

Featured in this corner of the house are a few of the many treasures picked up on their travels. Framed is an antique map of France bought from an antique dealer in Paris. And in the glass case is their collection of Netsukes, which are hand carved ivory statues collected in Japan, circa the 17th century.

The house contains a huge collection of pewter collected from all over the world. The little tin in the foreground was bought during their last trip to Madagascar. 

                     The family phone and more pewter.

I'm always featuring similar types of homes on the blog. They are generally very pretty, colourful, coastal and very bright and airy. So for something different I thought I would show you images of a friend's home that I took over the weekend. This home is absolutely full of weird and wonderful things that they have collected on their many overseas journeys. Both of my friends are Francophiles and much of their collections come from France, especially a lot of their art (which I haven't shown here). They have a huge collection of botanical themed plates throughout the house, along with a stunning collection of pewter sourced from all over the world. One of my favourite things is their coloured glass collection that looks beautiful when

the sun hits the window. My friends have just left for a month in France, so I look forward to seeing what goodies they bring back with them.

Carrie Bradshaw's Apartment - Before & After

               The Chelsea McClaren print rests on the desk by the front door.

       The 'Parfum' print now resides in Carrie's bedroom.

I'm a massive fan of the Sex and the City series, loving pretty much everything Carrie Bradshaw wore, yes, even some of the crazier get-ups. I also have a soft spot for her old apartment. Those of you who have seen the movie will know that to get over her broken heart when Big jilted her at the alter, she redecorated her New York apartment. I'm in two minds about the new decor. There are certain things I love, like the cluster art, the mirrored dresser and the use of the Chelsea McClaren 'Parfum' print on her bedroom wall, that used to rest beside her front door in the old apartment. But I miss that truly eclectic look that was Carrie Bradshaw and New York. It wasn't over styled and seemed to suit the character more so than the new apartment. And what happened to Aiden's chair?

The Kaufmann House

I'm not big on minimalism but I love the Kaufmann House that was designed by Richard Neutra for Edgar J Kaufmann Sr, a department store magnate, in 1946. Kaufmann commissioned the house as a Palm Spring desert retreat to escape the winters. The house is often cited as one of America's best examples of mid-century modernist architecture and has featured in movies, magazines and advertising campaigns such as J Crews which you can see in image 4. What I love about this house is that even though it is minimalist in its design, there is still a warmth to it.

Mary McDonald's Home

I love this guest house of L.A. based interior designer, Mary McDonald.  I especially love her use of colour, strong geometric shapes and her grouping of items, such as the photographs in the tiffany blue room and the jade pieces in the top image. Gorgeous.