vintage blinds...inspiration from The Block

One of the things I love about The Block is discovering unusual retailers and designers in the Australian markets.  This season I have loved the graphics that Steve and Chantalle used in their apartment.  The vintage Melbourne blinds in the spare room and kitchen were amazing, particularly the Orange Juice blind below. I also loved the map wall paper they used in their stairwell.  The crazy pave fireplace and ski chalet wood in the bathroom and bedroom, not so much.  So I popped over the Printed Blinds Australia to see what other images they have.

I really love the vintage prints below, but then I do have a thing for vintage travel posters.

Thought these animals would be gorgeous in a kids room, mod safari style for tots and tweens. 

Lots to choose from but I think the vintage travel are my favourites.   Will be keeping this company in my little black book for when I need a blind.

miss e's bedroom gets a tween make over

I can't believe one of my babies is heading for her teens.  In celebration of her recent birthday I surprised her with a mini makeover of her bedroom with the help of Trudy from HOME etcetera.  Its becoming an important place for her to listen to music and chat with friends, and it was time for more grown up doona covers and cushions.  

You can see in the before picture (below) we had already updated the old cast iron bed, chopping of the footer and making a soft and cuddly padded headboard.  There are lots of headboard diy's out there, its easy to do and inexpensive.  The cost of board, foam, padding and fabric for this bed was under $100, far cheaper than buying a new bed.

I wanted to keep the curtain, which Miss E chose when we first moved in, she still loves the fresh colours, but it did limit my options with doona covers and cushions.  The painting is by my mum.  In the end I chose the lovely soft grey Derwent flannelette set with small white cross detail, the grey is a soft contrast to the bright curtains and cushions.  Miss E would never hold with something to girly and this is look is pretty without being either to sweet or to grown up.

With the doona I chose several velvet cushions in shades of blue, a silver ikat style pillow, and the Cisco European pillow case with black crosses on white cotton.  The cushions toned in with a modern geometric pillow we already had.  I know there are to many cushions, the interior designers of this world would disapprove, but I knew Miss E would want tons to snuggle into, and plenty to share with her friends.

I also added a lot of extra storage with a new piece from Ikea, from the nordli range, its really sturdy and has lots of drawers for all the important things that my little collector likes to keep.  And it created a lovely place to make a small display and for her bedside lamp.

Miss E is delighted with it, she has been keeping her new room neat as a pin she is so pleased with it, an unexpected bonus for me.  And yes designers she really did need all of those pillows.

If you are thinking of an update pop into Trudy's lovely online store, with its lovely linen and gorgeous cushions you are sure to find those finishing touches for your own space.

credenza styling

Spotted this gorgeous credenza styling on Pinterest the other day, a glimpse of a truly gorgeous apartment featured on Domaine which is well worth a look.  Simply gorgeous photos by Bethany Nauert.  Love the brass lamps, the art, succulents, sculpture.  It reminded me strongly of my credenza, with art, brass lamp and even a succulent, but mine needs a bit of finishing off (see second photo down).  So I found a few little details that might just do the trick.

I love my lamp and the painting (by my very talented mom), it just needs a few bits and pieces to really look special.  And yes the photo could be better, but its all I could manage with my iphone, my real camera was unavailable and I sure do miss it!

Bronze horse sculptures from Pottery Barn - I know Pottery Barn!  Good value too, I really want them!

Brass lamps - I like them chunky and a bit over the top - ugly good if you know what I mean.  My one came from West Elm a few years ago but not in stock in more unfortunately, would love another one.  

Lamps below are: skyscraper lamps by Maison Jansen, & below left pair both by from 1st Dibs.  They are going to be original period and they are going to be pricey.   Below right - brass tripod by Empire Studio, very nice and far more affordable.

Succulents - think I need something with a bit more oomph, you can barely even see mine in the photo.  Love this brass plant pot diy from A Beautiful Mess.

So watch this space, there may be a little reshuffle coming this way.   

inaluxe design

Not sure how I missed discovering Inaluxe design before.  These gorgeous prints are the work of design duo Kristina Sostarko and Jason Odd.  They also do an amazing range of cards and wrapping paper which are available on Earth Greetings.  Love the fresh colours and geometric designs but I particularly love the Australian birds.

Enjoy...

shared bedroom on a budget

We went to our little cottage in the country recently, and boy what a tired and dirty little house she is.  Every wall and ceiling was cracked, the painting prep took absolute ages and we went through tens of gap filler tubes.  But finally she is starting to look a little more loved.  The first room we finished was the girls room.  I love the idea of them sharing when we are away on holiday and I was inspired by gorgeous matching beds each with their own reading light.  

See the before below - in this picture the dirty green walls already have their first coat of paint, and that truly ugly pendant!

Everything in this little house is being done on a shoe string budget and this room is no exception.  The bedspreads are from Miss E's room (which is being updated to suit a teen), the curtains are from a long ago bedroom, the carpet was made by my Granny and has been with me for years.

The rest are strictly budget finds: 

• Ikea single beds bought on ebay and headboards upholstered.  With foam, plywood and fabric each bed makeover cost me around $50 and each bed cost only around $90.
• The dresser is a $57 ebay find which I repainted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paints (diy instructions still to come).  It is so pretty in its new soft grey colour and gives the girls plenty of space to pack away their clothes.
• The reading lights are Ikea Ranarp wall lamp at $30 each.  I love them above each bed and it means Miss E can read into the night without disturbing her smaller sister.
• The old velvet cushions I have had for years and updated with blanket stitch detail.

I love the finished product, pretty but not precious, with a lovely mixture of new and old, and best of all pretty easy on the pocket.

#country cottage...kids bedroom inspiration

I love the idea of my girls sharing a room when we are away.  I want to make them a cute shared room, clean and bright with a hint of vintage.  

This is my inspiration so far.  Simple beds with a light directly above each, found this fab Ranarp lamp at Ikea which will be just perfect.  I plan to bring colour in with cushions, I am thinking pom pom trim and vintage fabrics, and also with the dresser between the beds.  So I am scouring ebay and the auction rooms for a good dresser to revive, and pretty fabrics to make pillows with.  Let me know if you spot any good deals!

From top left: love the lamps above each bed, Ranarp lamp at Ikea, rustic bedroom, Winchelsea Beach Project with lamps on side walls

Watch this space, I feel a whole lot of DIY coming on...

country cottage inspiration...details

So I am obviously a little consumed with country cottages and how to furnish them.  Chateau Fibro, as a dear friend has christened it, is an ugly duckling right now, but I dream of it being as pretty as these spaces.  Hmmm it seems a white painted floor my be somewhere in my future, with spaces pared back to minimal furnishings, and a small colour palette.  I love the white on white and black on white, not sure I can carry it off though, I will have to have some colour.

My challenge is going to be in the editing, keeping it simple, practical but still beautiful.  Well once I have seen the ugly duckling for myself I will know how we are going to go forward.  

Lighting details: Industrial lamp from Tudo & Co, burlap lamp shades, Manor range from Beacon Lighting

Images from top:  Dining room on Vintage Piken, a new favourite blog find that is well worth a visit; detail of an ikea hack dresser via Apartment Therapy, basket of silver coin eucalyptus and living room with fire both via Kara Rosenlund (and you know how I love her work).

introducing...shop with me

Introducing a new page today!  I love to window shop, there are always a lot of things on my covet list.  I can't have them all but I can dream right.
So I thought I should share my current desires with you all, perhaps the act of sharing will be enough to stop me spending $1000 I just don't have!

I will be updating this page - link is in the top right hand corner of the menu bar - as and when I find lovely things.  Some will be main stream, some will be auction bargains or etsy finds, but I promise they will all be things on my covet list right now...enjoy and pop back to see whats on the page soon.

bronze horses chinoiserie lamps	titan table lamppretty pink mug	faux bamboo chairs round rug
titan floor lamp	oversize wood boardscoco fibre chandelier	french linen sheets

The Urban Beehive...honey from the city

We bought some of this delicious honey last weekend at a local farmers market, it's delicious, an even better story, and an important one too.
The world's bee population is in trouble, in many regions of Europe and America totally wiped out, and we have a serious pollination crisis looming.  Farmers can't produce crops if there are no bees to pollinate the plants.  And bees, sadly are struggling to survive globally.  Australia's bees haven't been affected, yet.  

Vicky Brown and Doug Purdie started their business, to protect and encourage bee populations in the urban environment.   Hives are populated by feral swarms, where possible, to protect the wild bee genetic lines, lines that may be resistant to the diseases that have ravaged populations in other countries.  Important work. 

The Urban Beehive has hives all over the city, on roofs, in parks and private backyards.  I am very tempted to sponsor some hives in our own garden.  Hives are installed and maintained by The Urban Beehive, and you share in in the honey harvest...sweet.

The honey is made by region, like CBD honey, eastern suburbs honey.  I like that different city areas have a different tastes.  My personal favourite is the creamed honey, very delicious, you can see our jar is already nearly empty.  
Honey can also be bought in 60g plastic tubes, I love the idea of giving a flight of Sydney honey as a gift.

We are all trying to live and eat more responsibly, and this is a product that makes you feel good and tastes delicious.  Stop by The Urban Beehive website to read more about their story, find out about the bee keeping courses, or hosting hives in your own garden.