For the love of the Sweeds...

A few sundays ago my family and I took a day trip out to a wonderful part of Sydney called The Blue Mountains. It's one of my favourite places to visit, especially during winter. The air is so crisp and the autumn colours still present on the foliage is beautiful. It's a very old part of Sydney about a 3 hour drive inland from the coast. It has so much character with it's quaint cottages and shops and lets not forget the breathtaking expansive mountains and parklands.

While visiting one of the most exquisite shops - Maison Montage - in a little town called Leura I was lucky enough to finally grab a copy of this enchanting book - Swedish Interiors.

I know most of you probably already own this heavenly gem but I wanted to post a few of my favourite inspirational images from it's glossy pages.





please click image to enlarge

my sincerest apologies for my dodgy scanning.

This room is usually a little more contemporary for my taste but can you imagine the wonderful parties one could host in a setting like this? An abundance of candles and mood lighting, complementary music, dancing and comfortable conversation surrounding that crackling fire.....It's a little bit awesome don't you think? :)

I've also made some new Swedish blogging friends I'm excited about...

Splendid Willow - A Sweed living in America

^^ I am sooooooo in love with this room! *sigh*

strömgatan4 inredning - Sweden

Wabi & Sabi - Sweden

Stop by and say G'day, they have some STUNNING images!

p.s HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO MY AMERICAN PALS! :)

Loving this...

Camille Soulayrol

For more stunning images of this super talented French stylist visit Desire To Inspire.

Home Made...

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How much have I enjoyed this series?!!! It's been so great! I'll actually be sad when it's over :(

I couldn't be more thrilled with the two finalists. They are both so amazingly talented it's awe inspiring.

My pick for the winner is Jason. Despite the fact he's a little bit saucy and comes across as a real gentleman, I am sooooo in love with his designs! Every week he's pushed the bar and delivered brilliance.

Last nights home was his best yet. The blue and white colour scheme had me swooning. I absolutely adored it. I love that he loves a more traditional look and I've noticed now a couple of his rooms really have a beautiful plantation feel to them. Not once have I ever felt his rooms looked like show rooms. They scream comfort and glamour without being pretentious.

The bedrooms and livingrooms are Jasons designs and the kitchen and bathroom are Darren.

Oh those ornate ceilings and the empire chandelier, blue walls and sisal rug are simply exquisite!


IMO Darren is the master of texture. This bathroom presented a real problem for him and he tackled it head on with an unforgettable result.






This whole home just flows so beautifully. I just hope the owners don't tire from the colour blue anytime soon :/

The family room.

The guest bedroom.

The master bedroom.

The sexy designer himself Jason Sullivan.

GOOD LUCK!

To see the before shots and videos of this house and the other house it competed with, as well as previous homes from the previous weeks, go to http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/homemade/

The White House Daylesford...

Hello again :) I know it's been ages since my last blog I sincerely apologise for that. I hope you're all well :) I've moved house and I'm currently busy renovating and decorating my new bedroom. I'll post pics when I'm finished if it turns out how I picture it in my mind hehe. The look I am trying to achieve is inspired from Claudia Strasser's The Paris Apartment book. Needlessly to say I am going to town with the girly goodness! ;)

The reason for this blog is I received my copy of the july/august issue of Vogue Living and I was so thrilled to finally see the stunning weekend cottage of one of my favourite designers, Mz Lyn Gardener.

6 months ago, after featuring her gorgeous home and vintage store, Empire Vintage in Melbourne, I received an unexpected, lovely email from Mz Gardener telling me the exciting news of her new country cottage she was renovating at the time.

This cosy weekender is very different from her girly chic warehouse apartment I'm sure you're all familiar with and adore as much as I do, but equally as beautiful. Mz Gardener has successfully catered for both sexes by going for a more industrial vintage look. Most of the items were purchased either at flea markets or salvage stores.

The library has one wall covered in a handpainted wallpaper by Deborah Browness, depicting rows of books. A very clever use of a small space.

I especially love the kitchen with it's open timber shelves and blackboard wall.

No Gardener home would be complete without her signature clawfoot bath :)

Simple but very enticing. I love those white shutters!

An old garden shed was converted to seperate guest room.

I absolutely love it! It's the perfect mix of city meets country and old meets new. I'll definitely be adding The White House Daylesford to my list of places to stay. Thank you Lyn for creating such a treasure for us to enjoy :)

For more information on the renovation and beautiful pics you can visit Mz Gardener's website or buy the July/August issue of Australian Vogue Living magazine.

Heatherlie...

I'm not sure if this has already been posted but this is a stunningly beautiful Provincial style guest cottage in Historic Maldon, Victoria (the centre of the goldfields) Australia.

Heatherlie was featured in this months Country Homes Ideas magazine - Owners Robyn and Ian Slattery have made extensive renovations to the pretty circa - 1880's cottage which features a classic bullnose verandah, open fireplaces with slate hearths and floors polished in Baltic pine. The main house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms that can accommodate up to three couple, so it's great for a group of friends looking for a quiet break. All rooms boast soft comfortable queen-size beds and luxurious white linen, while the bathrooms have deep claw-foot baths and stylish Crabtree & Evelyn products.

Guh....I'm swooning at it's neutral colour palette, earthy textures, warmth and comfortability.

This is exactly the kind of place I could see myself relax and unwind whether a romantic trip for two or with 4 of my closest friends :)

It's all about the details isn't it? :)

^^ I love eet!

Winter is approaching and so is my need to get away from the city. What a fabulous find. Thank you CHI!!

Just checking in :)

Hello friends!!! I'm still alive haha ;) Firstly, I just want to thank you all for your truly lovely comments and emails, I'm completely blown away by the warmth and love you've shown me. Who'd a thought my little blog could lead me to such amazing people and make wonderful new friends.

Anyway, enough of the emotional moment *wipes tear*, I just had to swing by and brag about my newest love. Thanks to PM K. Rudd and his stimulus package I bought myself a new book recently that left me gasping for breath. Inspirations from France and Italy by Betty Lou Phillips is truly the most magnificently breathtaking book I've ever laid eyes on. I have quite an extensive design book collection. Not as big as Joni's of course ;) but I'm still quite proud of it, and this one now sits as my very favourite. It's going to be hard to find a book to top this one.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves ;)



I desperately want a pastel map of Paris to frame for my office. I'll have to check out Ebay.

I'm still currently trying to sell this apple green colour scheme to a client for her formal lounge. She still not budging grrrrr hehe :)

It's hard to see in my poor scanned pic but the Gracie handpainted Chinoiserie wallpaper in this foyer is too. die. for! *sigh*

Please click the images to enlarge!

I practically squealed with delight at this kitchen! Those bar stools immediately reminded me of Gaynor Groome's, owner of Sydney store Shades Of Pale, kitchen. One of my all time favourites. And an aqua ceiling??! Absolutely stunning!

Again, GORGEOUS!!! I'll never tire of monogrammes.

This picture is probably one of my very favourites in the book. Everything about this image is perfect!

OK what is it with me and Green and Yellow at the moment? Hmmm.

I hope you're all doing well. I'm going to do my best to catch up on what EVERYONE has been up to. I've missed you like crazy, you have no idea.

Inspirations from France and Italy.

Extended Hiatus

This is a post I never saw coming at the end of last year thats for sure. I've sadly decided to take an extended break from my blog as my heart just isn't in it anymore. I've got a bit going on personally and I'm feeling a little drained and uninspired. Most evenings I sit at my computer to try and compile something constructive and It just doesn't come. I hope I'll snap out of it soon enough, but in the mean time, I apologize for not keeping up with everyone's amazing posts. I do truly miss you all.