A before and after you don't want to miss!

Before...


After!

Before...



After!!



If there is anyone out there who hasn't yet heard of Brooke and Steve Giannetti then you better hurry and get with the program cause you're missing out!


This husband and wife are a well respected and highly successful architect and interior designer team from California, USA. Their breathtakingly beautiful projects have graced the pages of such wonderful magazines and books as Veranda and Roots of Home.


From their website - Brooke Giannetti's designs express her desire to touch the emotions. Her interiors incorporate her love of antiques, beautiful fabrics, and classic design infused with a bit of whimsy. She works with her clients to find a unique design vocabulary for each project that will reflect the client's own personality mixed with Brooke's unique design sensibilities. Her attention to detail and her sense of style have won her a loyal clientele.


The stunning images above are of their transformed Marina Beach house. I am smitten!

Brooke's blog (Velvet & Linen) and website (Giannetti architecture and interiors) are a MUST SEE! Her style is ever so classic and timeless and relaxed and beautiful. I told Brooke in an email, with the highest respect, her style and approach is exactly the kind I hope to emulate someday.




Completely inspired by Brooke's breakfast room, my mum and I had an idea to try to recreate the look in her new home (she's moving early next year). The first thing we will do is paint all the walls white. My mum has always lived with crisp white walls, it's kinda her signature :) We then found some gorgeous rattan chairs and pedestal table from Riviera Maison. They have a superb range of rattan chairs and you'll find most stores in Australia stock this range. I know Lily-G definately does :)

Our budget is definately smaller than Brooke's so authentic French shutters on the walls are out of the question :) Freedom furniture however have a weathered timber, louvered, three panelled screen/room divider at an affordable price that I think will do the trick. It will definately offer some depth and texture and as you can see I've started collecting various vintage nautical art and accents for that all important touch of whimsy :)

I think a seagrass rug would look great on the floor but I'm struggling big time finding a reproduction French lantern - any suggestions are welcome. I would also LOVE to know what the fabric is on the back seating? It is absolutely stunning! ;)

Please make your way over to Velvet & Linen if you haven't already, to see so much more of Mr & Mrs Giannetti's spectacular designs. If you think their coastal home is gorgeous wait till you see their main residence!! *sighs* ;)

I also wanted to mention my mum, sisters and I skooted off to see Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical at Sydney's Star City casino last night. What can I say...IT WAS OUTSTANDING!!!! We had THE BEST time. For any Sydney siders who have yet to see this extravaganza do yourself a favour and get cracking! You'll laugh your *beep* off and you wont be able to stay still in your seat.

(Ashley & Moi!)

(Sarah, Mum (shy), Ashley)

A love dedication to pretty handpainted furniture...

(The Paris Apartment)

My post on friday about the stunning apartment in NYC featured a gorgeous old Italian handpainted side table that made my heart sing.

This led me to scroll through my files and find a bunch of images I had to compile into a love dedications post.

(OK magazine)

I am completely head over heels in love with pretty handpainted furniture old and new and especially of the French/Italian floral variety.

Pammy's bed for example, is just about the most beautiful piece of furniture I've ever seen. I turn green when I think about the lucky lucky bugger who purchased it, probably for a steal, at her recent yard sale ;)

(1stdibs)

Hand painted furniture really began it's origins in Italy around 1283 AD, introduced by Marco Polo who discovered the art whilst travelling through China. Within the next 100 years the Italian Renaissance had its beginnings; the Venetian school of artists, exemplified by Titian, was in full sway by the early 1500's.

(info from Patina)

(Patina)

(1stdibs)

(House to Home)

(Taverne Agency)

(Charles Faudree)

(Candace Olsen)

(TBA)

(narratives photo agency)

^This is the bed I dream for my daughter :)


(The nostalgia fairy @ flickr)


I would dearly love a piece of my own but without the $15, 000 price tag lol. I'd be more likely to afford a nice piece like the one above. Lovely old queen anne style dressing tables sell all the time on Ebay, if only I could find someone to paint some lovely floral details, it'd look just like and just as beautiful as the real deal. Miss Kris why don't you live in Sydney?! hehe ;)

(A cherished painted chest my Dad bought me for my 30th birthday)


Does anyone own a gorgeous piece of furniture similar to the ones I featured? If so I would LOVE to see a pic. Also if anyone know's of a place I could find one for myself I'd be ever so grateful to be pointed in the right direction :)

We have babies...

(please click to enlarge)

Here are a couple of pics I took of our new family additions on the weekend. Aren't they cute?

Gosh I hope they're all girls lol.

I hope ' y'all ' had or are having a great weekend :)

Pretty Apartment #3...

Finally we have apartment #3 and I think I saved the best for last. This stunning apartment is in New York city and decorated by Margaret Elman, the founder and owner of Chair Couture.

From a feature in the May 07 issue of Home Beautiful - Chair Couture is a business based on the idea of 're-dressing' vintage French and Italian pieces in bold, modern fabrics to "take classic antiques out of the dusty drawing room and shabby chic country house and make them work in contemporary interiors".

While the other two apartment's beauty were soley based on pretty muted pastels, which I adore, I feel they are the kind of interior I would have if I were living alone. This complementary mix of bold cheerful colours and pastels are really more appropriate for my lifestyle at this moment having a family.


There is so much I love about this home. Like I said I love the mix of bold and muted hues aswell as the blend of various patterns and mish mashed chairs. Vintage treasures such as the swan print, floral tidy bin and that hat collection!


Lets not forget the stunning variety of chandeliers! *sighs*


Margaret Elman describes her favourite colour and style - "Everything from the palest robin-egg blue to sky-and-sea aqua to Tiffany box blue to full-on, whipping bright 1950's-dinner turquoise".
"My style right now is kind of Marie Antoinette meets flea market meets a few items from the 21st century".


This is certainly a woman after my own heart! If I were ever asked the same questions my answers would be almost identical.



Look at this fabulous kitchen! Small and intimate. I LOVE the booth at the end. I'm such a booth person lol. Although alot more modern than my usual tastes, I love the idea of the magazine rack on the wall. I also think that lemon painting really sets off the gorgeous aqua fabric on the seating.

(All images were taken by Ngoc Minh Ngo)

What can I say about the bedroom?! INCREDIBLE!!!



That brings me to the end of my little apartment series, Thank you so very much for the lovely comments you wrote. Discovering and touring stunning homes like these just make the days so much brighter :)

The images of all the apartments featured were courtesy of Taverne-Agency.

Pretty Vintage Apartment #2....

Many Aussie's will immediately recognise this heavenly space as it's been featured numerous times in various shelter magazines and television commercials. I am always thrilled when I discover styled variations of her feminine paradise. I've also posted a few times, here and here about this former mattress factory turned amazing warehouse apartment and famous store owned by the Vintage queen herself, Lyn Gardener.

This bed/bath, I would have to say is just about every girly girl's dream! I can only imagine how spectacular it would look at night with a log fire, dim chandelier and candle light.



This is a very non pretentious home with plain white painted brick and exposed plumbing and yet all Lyn's lovely preloved treasures make it fit for a princess.



I've seen a few different shots of this corner but I hadn't seen this one of the armoire doors open exposing Lyn's divine collection of vintage linens.

A very basic but beautiful kitchen. Perfectly functional.

So inexpensive, who says you need to spend an absolute fortune to create a pleasureable workspace? I suppose in a large open warehouse space you could get away with such simplicity however in my 70's red brick perhaps not lol.

That sumptuous daybed looks ever so inviting. A glass of wine, a Jane Austen novel and I'm set!

Again, it's alluring pretty accents such as these that transform an ugly old toilet block.

(All images were taken by Mikkel Vang)

Obviously the key here is to have a completely blank canvas and allow your worldly possession's to come alive.


Thank you Lyn for yet another spectacular tour :)

I hope you enjoyed apartment 2. Apartment 3 will follow tomorrow and it's something a little different ;)

A VERY pretty vintage apartment...

This apartment in Copenhagen, Denmark completely bewitched me when I first saw it and still does. I can honestly say I would not change a single thing. Truly one of the most beautiful apartments I've ever seen.

Over the next 3 days I will feature 3 stunning apartments that will make you feel giddy and curl your hair lol. If they don't bring the girlyness out in you I don't know what will lol.

This room combines my love for gold gilt frames and cluster walls, plush draping curtains, chandeliers, needlepoint pillows and of course tufted furniture!

This apartment is filled with the most beautiful lighting. Floor lamps this beautiful are just so rare. I spy another needlepoint and a gorgeous vintage tin on the window sil.



Another beautiful armchair with stunning brocade fabric and again more whimsical accents.



I can hardly speak when I view this image so lets just sit and marvel for awhile :)

A doorway to the best rest of your life.

A heavenly bedroom wouldn't you say? I am smitten with all the vintage treasures, and I dream to someday have the French version of this bed.

Even the kitchen is filled with treasures. Her collection of pretty tins and sconces have me green with envy :) The kitchen is probably quite small and ordinary but it's amazing how having lovely things can transform it to something beautiful.

Who doesn't love the look of vintage cards displayed along some pink ribbon?!

(All images were taken by Hotze Eisma)

Finally, what vintage home would be complete without beautiful china! Even the petit sweet makes me smile :)



Stay tuned for pretty apartment #2 tomorrow ;)