boatshedchic

A Story in White

2011-10-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

When I was in London last year, 3 Redchurch St, London, was the site of Caravan, Emily Chalmers's shop. Now, Caravan is in the process of being relocated and in its place is Story Deli, which I last visited in Dray Walk. Here is Story in its latest incarnation:

I was the only customer there this afternoon. As it's only been in this location for three weeks and has a branch for a sign, word of its opening may not have spread as yet. The pizzas are lovely (I had one last year). I wanted to order Alby's Aubergino: roasted aubergine, buffalo mozzarella, parmesan, tomato passata, oregano and garlic. However, I'd already eaten lunch so I settled on possibly the best brownie I've ever eaten:

But who am I kidding? The main reason I was there was for the decor. And it didn't disappoint. A veritable symphony of white furniture, all weathered, chipped and peeled. Such as this chair:

And this stool:

The lovely fireplaces:

And this gorgeous centrepiece made from a wire lamp shade frame:

Even the windows are beautiful:

And the mirror in the bathroom has just the right amount of wear:

Ilse Crawford at the Olde Bell Inn

2011-09-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

I've been an admirer of Ilse Crawford's stunningly beautiful interiors for a while now. I particularly love her use of muted grey at the Grand Hotel Stockholm:

And this green at the Aesop store in Mayfair, London:

Above images from the Studioilse website.

Believe it or not, I am actually sitting in a room designed by Ilse Crawford right now. It is at the Olde Bell inn at Hurley on the River Thames outside London. When we arrived we were very fortunate to be upgraded to this room:

Decorated predominantly in black and white tones:

This is the bathtub:

And there are Aesop toiletries:

There is a bar downstairs containing this beautiful peacock-patterned chair:

This was the breakfast which was laid out this morning, complete with inn-baked rye bread, and honeycomb dripping with honey :

And then we had to find room for the hot breakfast. We were tempted to sit in the beautiful dining room, where the seating is upholstered with Welsh blankets:

And there are pewter plates on the tables:

We decided to sit outside as the weather is lovely at the moment:

Here is an extract about the Olde Bell from the folder in our room:

"[Ilse] Crawford decided to reinvent the coaching inn. The key elements are: the building (nooks and crannies and open fires), food (local pies and cheeses and soda breads and hearty puddings), English country materials (reed matting, Ercol chairs from High Wycombe, once the chair making capital of England, and pewter plates), and comfy lodgings (homely and classy rooms) with handmade blankets. It makes perfect sense. Why ship in minimalist chrome sofas from achingly cool Italian designers to enhance a pub stretching back to 1135, when you can use the craftsmen from good old High Wycombe. "Materials are vital in creating an atmosphere,"she says. . . "Design is emotion and practicality". . . "It is more poetic and not just about ticking boxes."

It certainly makes sense to me. Actually, they had me at "hearty puddings". Now to go downstairs and curl up in that peacock chair with a drink.

Ice Cream Palette

2011-09-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

Now that it's spring, all I seem to see are ice cream colours everywhere.

Spearmint, Lemon and Strawberry:

Cherry and Pistachio, with Coffee and Hazelnut in the background:

Strawberry, Lemon and Blueberry:

Spearmint, Orange, Lemon and Raspberry:

What happpened to the dark, monochrome palette I was considering? Oh well, changing our interiors with our moods is part of the fun, isn't it?

London Here I Come

2011-09-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

In a couple of weeks I'll be going to London, one of my favourite places in the world. I've got a list of stores I hope to visit. The first is Story Deli at Dray Walk. The pizza is yummy, but I mainly go there for the interior and the products for sale:

Image from Remodelista

Then I hope to visit Anthropologie:

Images from Anthropologie website

One of the Shabby Chic stores is also on my list:

Images from Cavania blog

And Rachel Riley to find some lovely little girl clothes:

Image from Rachel Riley Facebook page

And that's only the first day. I'd better take an empty suitcase with me.

Tres Chic

2011-08-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

As readers of my blog know, one of my missions in life is to find ugly duckling furniture items and try to make them beautiful. Sometimes I'm more successful than others. I think this time I've done quite a good job with my $25 chair. Here is what it looked like when I found it:

I fell in love with it because of the wheels and also this:

The original leather backing which had, thankfully, not been covered by fabric. Then when I stripped the fabric away, I uncovered this original sacking. I decided not to re-cover that part, just the seat.

I wasn't fond of the timber so I painted it white:

I had saved all the old upholstery nails, so I just stretched some toile fabric over the seat, and voila!

Here's the finished product after a bit of time, paint, fabric and effort.

New Vintage

2011-08-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks, I've spent $75 at the op shop, for which I 've bought:

Four Thonet chairs ($5 each):

One lamp ($5):

One fireplace surround complete with mantel piece ($20). The fact that I don't actually have a fireplace isn't a problem - I use it as a book shelf:

Half a metre of French grain sack fabric ($30), which I made into a cushion with a calico backing:

Not a bad haul. My op shop has been an Aladdin's cave lately. I'll post some more finds soon.

Before and After

2011-08-05T22:57:00.000-07:00

Recently I found a couple of ugly ducklings at the op shop, which I decided to transform. The first is a doll's house, which is going to find a home with my favourite little girl:

It needed a makeover, so now the interior has been painted with Berkshire White, my interior paint of choice:

While the exterior is now a very stylish Grey Ember:

I also found this coffee table with a rather scratched top:

The top has now been painted black and the table fits in well on the back porch:

Thank you Catherine Shields

2011-07-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging much lately, so I totally missed a post about my boatshed by Catherine Shields of the In My House Design blog:

A few years ago, I met her and Penny Barker, who is now the editor of South Coast Style magazine, when they ran a lovely interiors shop in Nowra called Surf and Turf. They both have a great sense of style and a wealth of experience in the interiors world. They came out to do a shoot on the boatshed for South Coast Style, which in turn led to an article in Australian Country Style.

I will always be grateful to Catherine and Penny for having faith in my rather stumbling efforts. They helped me see that I was on the right track in reclaiming and repurposing vintage items, and inspired me to keep going.

Catherine's post is at:
http://inmyhousedesign.blogspot.com/2011/07/design-conscience.html

Thank you so much Catherine x

Art Space

2011-07-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love a good salon hang? Lately I've been obsessed about beautifully hung artworks, and I've tried to bring more art into the boatshed. This has been helped by the fact that I've been able to buy several oil paintings secondhand, both framed and unframed, for between two and five dollars each. This is the corner of the boatshed I call the library, and it's coming along nicely. I need to fill up the spaces on the wall with smaller pieces:

This corner of the kitchen has artworks united by the theme of water, from the large one of Trial Bay Gaol, to the smallest, of Lord Howe Island. The two white-framed ones are of Jervis Bay, which is only five minutes drive away from here, while New Zealand is represented as well:

In another part of the kitchen, I've hung other objects such as metal pastry cases, a blackboard and fryer basket to complement the paintings:

Above the bed, a still life, art deco mirrors and two landscapes frame the window and almost turn it into an artwork too:

Having this inexpensive art around me elevates my soul. I've just started a Visual Arts course (the reason why my blog posts have dwindled), and they help me each day to remember that I am choosing the artist's way.

One Room Living

2011-06-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

People often ask me how I can live in just one room with a bathroom out the back. You do have to be fairly tidy and organised, but the benefits of being able to lie in bed with the water close by outweigh the disadvantages. I was please to find an online interview with designer Ellen O'Neill discussing her one-room apartment overlooking Gramercy Park in Manhattan. She says, "I just wanted a modern cubicle, where I could recline on a daybed and touch everything". Here is said daybed, decorated in black and white like the rest of the apartment:

Her space is larger than mine and includes an office area:

The floor is painted white. As O'Neill says, "I've always had painted floors — I use automotive paint. Brown floors depress me to death. And I knew from the start that I wanted a black-and-white palette. But just black and white can be too hard and cold, too optical. You need some creams and grays and sepias to ease you into a softer, gentler world and add a little romance".

I love the toile fabric screen and slip-covered chair:

O'Neill also has a house in Bridgehampton which is considerably larger, and decked out with red touches. She was formerly VP of Design for Ralph Lauren, as can be seen in her decorating style:

You can read the House Beautiful interview on the Bridgehampton house here:

I love the kitchen with its check painted floor:

I think I prefer the all-white bedroom below to the red and white one above:

The house can be rented out via this website

All images House Beautiful website.

Design Dilemma Solved

2011-06-21T03:53:00.000-07:00

This week I decided to face a dilemma I've been putting off for a few years. This oil painting belonged to my husband's mother, and he has been wanting me to hang it for ages. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't really see a place for it on any wall I conjured up in my imagination:

He also confessed that some time ago he had trodden on and broken this lovely art deco mirror of his grandmother's, and wondered whether it was possible to hang it somewhere in this condition:

Fortunately my books and tear sheets came in handy because I realised that no matter what the individual disadvantages of the picture and mirror, it is possible to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. So we unearthed a few more artworks that had belonged to his mother and grandmother and, voila!, here it is - a wall of artworks diverse in style and medium but united by the theme of water:

I think they look much better than they would have individually, especially as they are in the house which belonged to his grandmother. We also picked some strelitzias and put them in one of her old vases:

Then I rehung the mirror which had originally been on the other wall. It looks so much better in its new location:

At last I can justify all the money I've spent on those books and magazines!

Is Anyone Else Loving Chrissie Jeffery's Home as Much As I Am?

2011-06-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

As a longtime No Chintz shopper and fan of owner Chrissie Jeffery's interiors, I'm loving the latest Vogue Living feature on her Sydney home. And to add to the fun, the Vogue website juxtaposes the latest images with the apartment's previous incarnation in the magazine 6 years ago. This is the earlier article:

And here is how the home looks now:

The colour palate has changed from pinks and greens:

To predominantly blue tones. Some key pieces from the earlier shoot remain, such as the shelves in the dining room, but others have been altered, like the dining chairs which have been reupholstered and relocated:

The living room fireplace has undergone a change in colour, while the mirror above it remains, as do the two single armchairs:

The bedroom looks dramatically different, while retaining the chandelier and venetian mirror:

I uploaded images of the current magazine from the Vogue Living website, but unfortunately they are not able to be seen, so you'll have to buy a copy of the magazine.

Also, on the Vogue Living website you can participate in a survey as to which version of the apartment you prefer.

All images by Chris Court.
On another note, I've changed the look of my blog because I was a little bored with the header image. Hope you like it. x

A Cinderella Story

2011-06-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I posted images of some items that I'd picked up at the local op shop and sent off to the upholsterer. Well, yesterday they were delivered and I was pleasantly surprised at the tranformation. This $50 chaise and ottoman:

Now look like this:

This poor old $20 armchair:

Has been transformed Cinderella-like into this:

These $2 retro bar stools:

Look very 70s St Tropez in fabric from Ici et La:

I think the red and black look very cosy snuggled together with the cold westerly blowing outside:

Also, the house above the boatshed is slowly being transformed from this:

To this:

Here is the street view:

Which now looks like this:

Quite an improvement don't you think? Now for some more winter projects to keep me occupied over the next few months.

Thanks Leah

2011-06-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to a delicious lunch hosted by Leah of The Inside Story for her Home Atelier. Leah has fantastic taste, which is reflected in her home, the food, and the atelier itself:

Among my delightful fellow guests was another blogger, Carolyn of Desire Empire, who it was great to meet in person. One of the topics that came up at lunch was the idea that life is too short and that ideally it should always be about beautiful surroundings, good food and great company. Oh and champagne of course:

Thanks so much Leah for a little bit of grace and elegance on the south coast, and for an inspirational day.

The 'I'm Grateful' link supplied by Maxabella Loves

Chateau-Chic (with a touch of Coastal Industrial)

2011-06-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some lovely buys I've found lately. This red cast iron cooking pot was at the op-shop for $5 last week. The enamel is slightly corroded, so it is now a fruit bowl:

This set of three white bowls cost less than $10, and has already been used every day:

Here is the fabric from Ici et La that I have chosen for my retro stools. They are at the upholsterer now:

I've also been shopping on-line from Pony Rider. The bird wall-spot on the left now joins the vintage bird print:

The black and white 'Blossoms' cushion is also from Pony Rider:

So is this 'Ribbons' design cushion:

And here is my seaside painting collection:

It's nice when you can finally say you have a 'look', even if it sounds a bit convoluted. 'Coastal Industrial Chateau-chic' - I like it!

This is my 300th Post, so I'd like to thank everyone who has been with me on this journey. I really appreciate your comments and the fact that you have hung in there, through the good times and bad. x

Boatshed Winter

2011-06-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

As the days draw shorter, the wattle is flowering:

Its mimosa-like blossoms bringing a golden warmth to the boatshed:

It's time for welcoming visitors into the cosy warmth:

And for making pasta:

And baking cupcakes:

You gotta love winter!

Before and After

2011-05-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

I have a number of projects on the go at the moment. Recently I found this chaise and ottoman for $50, so they are at the upholsterer waiting to be transformed into something beautiful. Or at least I hope so:

This is part of a $2 white table light which I (really my husband - he's better at it) am painting with aluminium paint:

At $2 each, these retro bar stools are not my usual thing but, hey, I'm branching out and becoming less 'safe'. We'll see how they turn out with some new fabric seating:

This wing chair for $20 is a bit hard to visualise as something beautiful, but I love a challenge:

This is a $2 table which my gorgeous hubby has transformed with some black paint and two new boards:

Into this:

I'll post my other ugly ducklings after their transformations.

Also, the lovely Georgina from Little Dream Girl has awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award. I've written seven things about myself in my previous post, and I'm sure the blogosphere has heard enough about me for now. Thanks Georgina - it's always exciting to receive awards from fellow bloggers.

Finally, thank you to everyone for the encouraging comments for my previous post. They mean a lot. xx

I've Been Tagged

2011-05-25T03:10:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Camille for the Versatile Blogger award. According to Camille,

"If you receive this award you list seven random things about yourself that people might find interesting and then give the award to ten to fifteen blogs that you've recently discovered. "

So here are seven random things about me:

1. I started blogging over three years ago when I read an article about the wonderful Anna Spiro and looked at her blog. Not only does she have a great eye, she's a lovely person as well. I was hooked on blogs immediately.

2. Two years ago I graduated with a PhD in English Literature but I've recently come to the realisation that I don't want to pursue an academic career.

3. Instead I'm going to start a Visual Arts course next semester.

4. Last August when I was holidaying in London I found a lump in my groin which turned out to be malignant. It was a very rare sarcoma. Two operations and an 8 inch scar later, I think (and hope) that the cancer is completely gone. I feel in a way that I have received a gift - I'm going to pursue the important things and not waste time on what is not right for me. Hence numbers 2 and 3.

5. The world of design blogs has increased my knowledge amazingly. Through them I have found out about my favourite design people such as John Derian, Emily Chalmers, Anne Shore, Lyn Gardener, Shannon Fricke and many others. I've also found out about amazing stores such as Anthropologie, and have become an avid reader of design magazines and books.

6. My PhD wasn't wasted because I've had a book and some articles published, and learnt a whole lot about A. S. Byatt whose books were the topic of my thesis.

7. Blogging has taught me that you're not crazy if you have a love for rooms, houses, furniture, colours, shapes and textures, as well as images of these, no matter how blurry. It's opened my eyes to a whole lot of great people out there who are similarly hooked. Most of all it's taught me the importance of following your bliss.

Now I'm going to pass the Versatile Blogger award on to these lovely bloggers, who have been keeping me company on my difficult journey over the past few months, without realising it:

Autumn Boatshed Revamp

2011-05-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

As the days are getting shorter and the nights colder, it's time to make the boatshed cosy. So I've been shopping for a few items to combine with vintage stuff I already had. I made some cushions from the offcuts left over from the stool reupholstering:

I bought two beautiful vintage deckchairs for $3 each:

A new pendant light shade from Ikea:

Cushions from Freedom and rug from Ikea:

A little vintage chair for $8 from a local second hand store:

An Ikea bedside table lamp:

Now that the inside is taken care of, it's time to paint some exteriors. This laundry looks so much better in dark charcoal than it ever did in white:

Here it is as a work-in-progress:

I'll keep you updated on the progress of this beach cottage as it undergoes a coat of charcoal paint. Can't wait to see it:

Favourite Sydney Restaurant - Via NYC and Paris

2011-05-07T02:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I visited Felix, a new Sydney restaurant. It's reminiscent of a Parisian bistro, and also felt just like I was in Balthazar in New York. The marbled entryway is similar to the one at Balthazar:

Sorry about the poor quality of this image - you can just see the lovely timber ceiling:

The decor is classic, with white subway tiles, Thonet chairs, white tablecloths:

A mural:

And white chicken wire tiles on the floor:

I had the chicken soup with barley, lemon and peas, which was delicious:

And the best Reuben sandwich this side of a New York deli:

The service was just as impressive as the decor and food, even though the restaurant was really busy. I would thoroughly recommend a visit, especially if you need a Manhattan fix.

Work In Progress

2011-05-03T00:45:00.000-07:00

Remember this post about my proposed kitchen renovation? Well, it's been coming along slowly. This was how it looked at the time:

I finally visited Freedom and bought this kitchen island:

Along with a couple of these:

And here is how it looks at the moment:

I had originally planned to paint the entire wall behind the sink in chalkboard paint, but instead I just made a blackboard with one of these frames:

I had also planned on painting the cupboard doors white, but I'm leaving them at the moment because I'm not sure. The next step is to paint the tiles white. I've also had one of these ugly stools re-covered and ...

Voila! I'm pretty happy with the result:

Unearthed

2011-04-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

Over Easter here at the boatshed, we've been cleaning out a detached shed, which contains a couple of generations' worth of stuff. Here's what I found and have upcycled. A metal watering can and two little terracotta pots for herbs:

An oar and a prawning net:

Another prawning net and an old wooden crate:

This white flaking wooden box with odds and ends:

Which, when emptied and cleaned up, looks great on top of my new (old) cupboard:

As a repository for my odds and ends - French postcards, napkins and tarnished old cutlery:

It's amazing what you can unearth in an old shed.

P.S. Thank you for all your kind comments about my book. Here is the link to the publisher's blurb:

http://www.c-s-p.org/flyers/The-Still-Life-in-the-Fiction-of-A--S--Byatt1-4438-2385-6.htm

Interior Alchemy - Rebecca Purcell

2011-04-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of this book by Rebecca Purcell, formerly of ABC Carpet and Home, and anthropologie catalogues:

I felt like she understands my aesthetic, my ideology. I have just finished writing a PhD thesis which has now been published as a book. It started as an analysis of the role of art in women's fiction. Over the six years it took me to write it, it evolved into a study of materialist culture, of objects such as paintings, curiousity cabinets, kitchen utensils and other still life elements, and the sensual pleasure that these evoke. Today when I was reading Rebecca Purcell's website, I discovered that she also has a love of objects. Her ideology captures the essence of what I tried to achieve in that thesis and what, I have since discovered, shapes my world view.

In her essay called "MODERNOSTALGIA: an Exploration Into the World of Aesthetics", Rebecca says:

"I have always enjoyed the art of personal style, but I never really liked the rat race of trying to look like I had money. Not that you have to have money to have style but the two are often linked. In other words, trying to make inexpensive things look wonderful is more enjoyable for me than having the economic means to buy something already fabulous (well, most of the time). Fortunately, there has been a growing community of like-minded individuals who adore items for their intrinsic character rather than striving for upper class sensibilities, or social sanctioning. I of course champion the recent popularity of this trend that favors nostalgic items mixed in an eclectic fashion, most often with a little something macabre or funky thrown in. A look I call modern nostalgic, or “Modernostalgia”. “Modern” refers to that which is unique to our era, a very diverse mix of genres and styles. It can also refer to 20th century design that is, often, a part of the look, like accents from the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s. “Nostalgic” refers to the use of many vintage and antique elements usually arranged in a rather casual manner. Think cabinet of curiosities, think Bobo (bohemian bourgeois), the movie “Amelie” or simply visualize the variety of a flea market turned into a home or a wardrobe."

She goes on to say:

"So, is Modernostalgia, or whatever you want to call it, tacky and/or over? Certainly not in my book! First of all this look is a part of remembering the past and when is that supposed to be over? When do we suddenly decide that we all want to live in a Star Trek environment that bears no reference to the peoples of the past and the things they used and lived with? I am not saying that every one should love the modern nostalgic aesthetic, just that it is really not a thing that can be “dated.” As a reaction to our increasingly technological world some of us really need a few old, battered bits around. Nostalgia is only a bad thing when it replaces an interest in what is new, with a misguided desire for an over idealized past that never existed. Second, the “weathered look” so associated with a modern nostalgic aesthetic, is part of reality. Weather happens. During the process of participating in life, every object becomes worn in some respect either from handling or environmental conditions. So an older table, darkened by wax, oils and spills, marked with scuffs and dings, referred to by some as having a nostalgic, even sentimental “look”, is simply a table that has participated in life. Yes, some designers actually imitate this effect, just as some create the effect of looking pristine and not weathered."

It's lovely when you find someone who is able to articulate the way you feel, isn't it?

Image from 'Interior Alchemy' book found on this site.

Ugly Ducklings and Beautiful Things

2011-04-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

I'd seen these poor stools in the op shop a few times but had decided that, even at $1 each, they were beyond redemption. Then I started to take a bit more notice and, ignoring the hideous vinyl cover stapled to the top, I realised that the metal legs had a nice shape. So I prised back the vinyl on one of them, and saw red leather. I paid my $2 and liberated them:

I see one of my missions in life as rescuing such ugly ducklings and trying to make them beautiful, not always successfully. In this case it was easy. The red leather is gorgeous and just required a bit of stitching:

This little cupboard was also $1. I loved the wheels, handle and shabby cream paint, but hated the chipboard which had been roughly screwed on top:

A clean and a bit of black paint and it looks a lot better, don't you think?

Now I have somewhere to store my glasses:

These lovely jars, on the other hand, didn't require any work. They are beautiful in their simplicity. Three of them have labels under glass, which is very exciting, and they all have their stoppers. I was quite amazed to see apothecary jars at an op shop. I have always wanted some but was not prepared to pay exhorbitant prices. At $13 each, these were a bargain:

As was this grey and white striped jug which, along with two identical but larger ones, was only $4:

P.S. Thank you to everyone who supported my previous two posts. It was not my intention to cause worry for the wrong people, but I inadvertently did. So, after careful consideration I have deleted the posts.

Pale and Interesting

2011-04-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

I have just received my copy of Pale and Interesting by Atlanta Bartlett:

I've loved her style since I bought At Home With White a few years ago. These images are from her website, also called Pale and Interesting. The French grain sack cushions, metal lamp and chipped timber furniture:

A beautiful blue bed and dyed grey linen:

Cloches and silver candlesticks:

French vintage monogrammed tea towels:

These doors, shelf, cushions and blankets:

Apothecary jars and mirrors:

. . . are a few of my favourite things.

Peppergreen Antiques

2011-04-01T01:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we went for a drive to one of my favourite stores, Peppergreen Antiques, at Berrima, in the NSW Southern Highlands:

They had some lovely antique French grain sacks:

And I love the way everything is displayed in old haberdashery cabinets:

The sense of order is one of my favourite things about the store. These soup tureens look lovely grouped together:

As does this Johnson tableware grouped by colour:

I was tempted by the French monogrammed sheets:

But in the end, I splurged on a grain sack, which is now being used as a cushion in the boatshed:

$3 Well Spent

2011-03-27T00:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I made a quick visit to the local op shop and much to my surprise found this original Thonet chair. It has the label under the seat. And it only cost $2:

Two days ago I found these two original oil paintings:

They only cost 50 cents each. Less than a tube of paint. Now they form part of my oil painting collection (which admittedly two days ago consisted of one painting):

So, for the price of a cup of coffee, I now have some lovely additions to the boatshed.

Kitchen Inspiration

2011-03-24T23:44:00.000-07:00

Now that I am committed to renovating my kitchen, I'm looking everywhere for ideas. These images are from a local vegetarian restaurant, Pilgrim's at Huskisson. I love the combination of mismatched timber tables, blue metal chairs, polished concrete floor and Ikea utensil holder:

The industrial lighting against the pressed metal ceiling panels is gorgeous:

I love the stainless steel counters:

And the chalkboard and wooden blocks:

The burgers taste pretty good too.

Kitchen Makeover Time

2011-03-21T00:51:00.000-07:00

The time has come and I can't ignore it any longer. This kitchen needs a makeover. It's not in the boatshed but is in another house not too far away:

I have a few ideas which have been helped along by the latest Freedom catalogue. I love this stool:

And this chair:

I would love a kitchen island and this free-standing one with stainless steel benchtop would look great:

Especially with this pot rack above it:

I'll post my other ideas this week.

Fleur Wood at my Local Beach

2011-03-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

I have long been an admirer of fashion designer Fleur Wood. I love going into her store in the Strand Arcade, Sydney, just so I can step into the dressing rooms which are cleverly concealed behind these glass display cases:

And I love the placement of these mirrors and ballerina prints in her Chatswood Chase store:

I even own this dress, although it doesn't look like this on me, unfortunately:

So I was thrilled to learn that Fleur has a book out, appropriately titled Food Fashion Friends:

Yesterday my copy arrived, and is full of beautifully styled events such as this Hot House Tea party. Aren't the pastel peacock chairs gorgeous?

And I can't wait to cook this rhubarb meringue cake. The recipes are all included:

Here is the Citrus Tea, Lemon Cake with Earl Grey Icing and Coconut Ice:

This image is from a beautifully styled dinner with a shell theme, including sea urchin shells threaded with fairy lights:

A gorgeous Southern Highlands picnic:

And here is a modelling shoot at Hyams Beach, which is my closest beach:

I always knew Hyams was stunning, due to it having "the whitest sand in the world", and the shots in the book have really captured its beauty.

My Lucky Day

2011-03-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

I stopped in at the local op shop the other day and saw this lovely faded, hand-stitched, hand-quilted patchwork quilt for sale for $2. I was a bit worried they had stuck the wrong price on it as I expected to pay more.

When I took it to the counter the lovely lady said that because it was bit faded and tattered, she would give it to me for free. I guess the idea of shabby chic hasn't arrived in my town yet. I walked away very happy and have been spending a few relaxing hours patching the patches. What could be a better way to pass the day!

Why Can't The Boatshed Look Like This?

2011-03-03T19:09:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be lovely if my bathroom looked like these ones?

Or if I could do this with just a few odd chairs?

Or put a curtain round a bed and make it look like this?

Or drape a quilt just so?

Or have a kitchen in this particular shade of Wedgewood blue?

But then I'd have to be Twig Hutchinson, the stylist known for her past work for Toast:

Well at least I can visit her website whenever I need something beautiful to look at:

First four images from Apartment Therapy

Last six from Leah-The Inside Story blog

Boatshed Bliss

2011-02-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

I've just found some images of our boatshed that didn't end up in the Country Style magazine article two years ago. I think I prefer some of them to those that were published:

What do you think?

Images from this website.

Spreading the (Cushion) Love

2011-02-26T17:07:00.000-08:00

Remember this cushion I made a few weeks ago?

I decided the fabric would look better in another setting, so here it is looking very different on a chair from Ikea in a city apartment:

I put another one on the couch in the apartment:

I was so happy with the result I made another, larger one, which is perfect for this 70s chair in an 1890s house:

And one for the bed, which lifts the white bed-linen. Fairly economical considering all four cushions came from three metres of material:

Remember these ones that I made from some Ici et La fabric?

They have found new homes in the 1890s house:

I think they look great on the dark timber of these chairs, don't you?

And with a bit of leftover fabric, I covered a chair cushion for the bedroom:

Oh, I almost forgot, I made a cushion for a chair in the house above the boatshed as well:

These last four came from one metre of fabric!

Top Ten Valentine's Day Destinations

2011-02-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

It's really difficult for me to decide on my favourite Valentine's Day treat. Maybe High Tea at the Windsor Hotel, Melbourne:

Or a picnic on the banks of the Seine, low-key but nonetheless highly romantic:

Visiting the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles is to surround yourself with a vision of romance and beauty:

The view from Cortona in Tuscany is breathtakingly romantic and the food is unsurpassed :

Balthazar's in New York is where you feel like you're in France, but you're in New York so it's fantastic anyway:

The Chateau les Reynats outside Perigueux has the most spectacular food this side of a Michelin star and the waiters are sweethearts:

Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como is so romantic that James Bond went there to recuperate while in love with Vesper Lynd in "Casino Royale":

This table for two in the cafe at the pink villa of Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild on the French Riviera has a view which is one of the most romantic in the world:

The White House at Daylesford is my favourite romantic destination in Australia. This bed makes you want to jump in immediately:

Le Grand Colbert in Paris is so romantic that it was the setting for the reunion in "Something's Gotta Give". And the "best roast chicken in the universe" really is:

Or maybe I'll just sit at home with my special valentine and ponder this view:

Happy Valentine's Day wherever you are!

Recycled Art

2011-02-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

Two of my New Year's resolutions are currently shaping the look of the boatshed. The first is that due to lack of storage I need to start using things. The second is to try and limit the number of objects in the boatshed which are newer than forty years old. Both of these resolutions have been supported by the two market stalls I have had. While searching my storage space for usable things, I came across these pieces of art which I found at the op shop a few years ago but didn't put up on the wall at the time. I consider this art deco mirror an art work because of its lovely scallop shell shape:

The frame of this oil painting was quite hideous and detracted from it, so I took it off:

This bird is print is a real favourite of mine. I love the frame and the bright colours:

This print of two sisters is my absolute favourite. It looks very old and the frame is beautiful:

The days when I could pick up so many treasures at the op shop are long gone. I think I found the bottom three in the one day. I still pay a visit every so often just in case.

Summer Boatshed Projects

2011-01-29T23:32:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been a little bit "over" a couple of pieces of furniture in the boatshed because the timber was a bad shade of brown - namely this stool I covered in Amy Butler fabric:

And this glass-topped table:

So, last week, I finally had time to haulthem outside to be repainted:

Now that that wrong shade of brown stain has been painted over, I love them:

Another project was sewing cushion covers. Just looking at them makes me feel summery:

Upcycled Cushion Love

2011-01-15T22:44:00.000-08:00

During my recent stay at The White House at Daylesford, I fell in love with Lyn Gardener's beautiful French linen cushions:

She has loads of them all over the place and they look so understated and elegant.Unfortunately when I've seen them for sale they are way outside my budget. So I upcycled a teatowel and voila!:

While not as professional or gorgeous as those at The White House, I'm quite pleased with my cushion that began life as a teatowel.

I Love This Book

2011-01-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

My lovely friend Belinda gave me a copy of this book a few days ago. It's compiled by Frankie, which I think is a great magazine:

The book provides plenty of interiors which have a vintage, eclectic style, such as the Vintage Espresso cafe at Mermaid Beach, Australia:

I love the combination of vintage fabrics and wallpapers in the home of Tif Fussell, who is behind the Dottie Angel blog:

This is the London flat of Barny and Becky who own The Peanut Vendor store:

But my favourite images are from the house and shop of Emily Chalmers, who owns Caravan in London. I went to the shop earlier this year but she was there and I felt awkward about asking to take photos. Now I have a record of the shop interior:

It's the kind of book I love, where every time you dip into it, you see something else fabulous. I thoroughly recommend it.

Images from this site.

Boatshed Christmas

2010-12-27T21:10:00.000-08:00

Something Sewn:

Something Picked:

Something Baked:

Something Steamed:

Something Cute:

Add up to a Perfect Christmas. I hope you all had a lovely day!

The White House

2010-12-11T17:09:00.000-08:00

I've just been to Daylesford where, for three whole days, I pretended I actually lived in this house. As most people would already know, it's owned by Lyn Gardener of Melbourne's Empire Vintage store. From the moment I stepped through the front door, the house worked its magic:

I felt like Goldilocks but I wasn't allowed to try all the beds. It was a difficult choice between this room with the French vintage toile wallpaper:

But I love the Deb Bowness wallpaper in this room, so this was it:

When I saw the apothecary cabinet in the self-contained bedroom in the garden, I was briefly tempted. But, no, I stuck to my original choice:

A fire had been thoughtfully laid, and the sofas are big and comfy. I love the mirrors and industrial lighting:

The bathroom has a chandelier above the bath (which I forgot to photograph):

The library has more Deb Bowness wallpaper and club chairs:

The attention to detail is very thoughtful. There were fresh flowers on this set of old post office boxes in the bathroom:

The soap and toiletries come in these brown bottles:

The fridge contained eggs, butter, milk and marmalade for breakfast:

And there was fresh bread and oranges for juice:

Although it's an 1850s miner's cottage, the house could be from any or no time. Overall I'd have to say it feels like being in France. But somehow it feels so much better than any French house I've ever stayed in. Thank you, Lyn for letting me pretend for a few days.

My Mid-Century Conversion

2010-11-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

Remember this $5 Parker table I bought at the op shop?

Here it is after I filled the gouge, lightly sanded it and applied a fair amount of oil. Now it's one of my favourite pieces of furniture and I'm so glad I brought it home and gave it a new lease of life:

I've certainly become a convert to mid-century furniture after years of not really appreciating it.

Market Fun

2010-11-19T22:24:00.000-08:00

As part of my current de-cluttering campaign, I decided to have a stall at the local market:

Having previously had a stall many years ago where no one bought a single thing, I was understandably nervous. So as not to repeat that rather demoralising experience, I priced everything quite low:

I was determined that, come what may, I would have fun. I had a sign, I had bunting:

Luckily, my low pricing policy worked out. Many bargains were had, and I now have a bit more room in the boatshed. I can thoroughly recommend a market stall as part of a de-cluttering plan. Then just drop off what you don't sell at the op shop on the way home, and everyone wins.

Making Do

2010-11-15T15:19:00.000-08:00

One of my philosophies has always been to reuse things where possible. In that spirit, I hemmed some op shop tablecloths and strung them up when I needed curtains for the boatshed bathroom last year. I've been happy with them, but lately I've felt the need for more muted, paler, restful tones around me. Every time I went into the bathroom, these bright curtains jarred a little:

So in an effort to make the bathroom more Zen-like, I raided my fabric shelf, and found some remnants I'd bought cheaply at No Chintz a while ago. Used as a trim on part of a white linen table cloth, it makes quite an impressive curtain:

The other window received the same treatment. Bright happy vintage roses gone:

Replaced with calming white linen with pale green paisley trim:

Feeling emboldened by success, I took this pine table and assorted olive and bright green chairs and gave them a makeover as well. I'm pretty happy with that result too:

It just goes to show what you can do with a sewing machine, some fabric scraps and a tin of paint. You certainly don't need lots of cash to improve your surroundings.

Sometimes When Things Are Just Not Working . . .

2010-11-06T19:49:00.000-07:00

. . . you need to step back and take a long hard look. On the same property as the boatshed is a house, whose living room has looked like this for the past five years. While I've made do with the furniture due to a lack of funds, the Klimt print on the wall bothered me in that it seemed a little too formal for the laid-back beachy feel I wanted:

So I took it off the wall. Pretty radical after five years. Then I got a mirror from somewhere else that seemed to be a little more casual and put it up in its place. I think the room works a lot better now:

On the front veranda is a setting which I recently had re-covered and I like the sand coloured upholstery. I threw some cushions on it a few months ago because I had them lying around, and there they've stayed. But I've always thought the autumnal tones didn't look quite right. They weren't totally wrong, but something about them niggled:

So I put these blue-toned ones there instead, and I think they fit the over all aesthetic of the house much better, and make me want to sit there:

Now to tackle a few other problem areas that don't quite work . . . I think I'll be posting on this quite regularly in future.

Thank You Shannon Fricke

2010-11-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

While I was at Byron Bay, I spent a day at a decorating workshop held by Shannon Fricke at Bangalow. Meeting Shannon was inspirational. Even though she's extremely successful in the design world, she's very open and friendly. It was just like having a very stylish sister.The workshop was held in a beautiful restful space, where I met women from very different backgrounds all united by their desire to surround themselves and their loved ones in aesthetically pleasing environments:

Shannon's hard-working staff cooked a mouthwatering lunch:

Shannon's enthusiasm for design is contagious and she makes decorating look effortless:

There's nothing better than spending a day indulging your creative side by playing around with swatches, mood boards and tear sheets:

I would thoroughly recommend booking one of Shannon's workshops in 2011. Details are on her website.

Atlantic Guest Houses Byron Bay

2010-11-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

Just arrived back from a relaxing trip to beautiful Byron Bay, where we stayed at Atlantic Guest Houses. It is situated right in the middle of town and is made up of several buildings comprising various types of accommodation from shared to suite. I just loved the decor. These are two of the thoughtfully-planned buildings:

I'm not sure what they look like inside, but judging from the exterior, I'd say rather good. We stayed in one of the rooms in another building - the Coconut. It was tastefully decorated and very light and airy with its own en suite and outdoor area:

It opened off this hallway (I love the chairs):

And the mid-century buffet:

At the end of the hall at the back of the building was this gorgeous kitchen, complete with recipe books and everything you would need to cook up a storm:

Bifold doors opened out onto this great outdoor area:

I would certainly recommend staying there, and can't wait to go again. It was very reasonably priced, too.

My Changing Aesthetic

2010-10-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

These images will no doubt surprise anyone who has looked at my blog over the last three years, due to the fact that the boatshed has a predominantly white colour scheme with a few pops of colour in pink and green. However, as has been evident in my recent posts, I've widened my horizons and started considering black timberwork and natural surfaces. I believe that these are compatible with white walls, and lend a bit of drama to a space that could otherwise be a bit bland. So, this week I've been a little adventurous in considering options I would perhaps not have previously considered. For instance, painting these once green-toned chairs black:

And getting excited about this old metal shelving:

The piece de resistance is this table that I found at the opshop yesterday. I thought that the best thing about it was that it only cost $5. Until I turned it over and saw that it was manufactured by Parker, an iconic Australian manufacturer whose furniture I love:

It does have a tiny gouge, but nothing that a bit of filler wouldn't fix:

It seemed sacrilegious to paint it white (or black), so purists will be happy. It stays as it is.

Thanks for the Mention

2010-10-25T22:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to Little Dream Girl for mentioning my blog x

Beautiful Byron

2010-10-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite places in the world is Byron Bay. Pretty soon we'll be taking a little trip there, and will be staying at Atlantic Guesthouses. The rooms look like they'll be light and airy:

I love the black curtains and these cushions:

And the pink chair has a great retro feel:

Images from Atlantic Guesthouses website.

Her Dark Materials

2010-10-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

Finally my book has arrived and it is just as good as I had hoped. "Dark Nostalgia"by Eva Hagberg is all about interiors which have been informed by a sense of a past that never existed, if that makes sense. But while I love the images, what does it for me is the language she uses to describe both the aesthetic itself and her feelings toward these rooms. Here's an example:

"The layering of history that we see in these spaces, the weight with which so many of them have been considered and designed, immediately reassures us that our today-even once we've left the cocooned surroundings of dark wood and detailed chandeliers and stuffed eagles and weighty whale bones- is going to be better than all right...The collection of knotty planks and rococo mirrors and reclaimed lights and ancient fan belts have all come together to paint a picture of a time that never was, but still a time that I can remember wanting". That's poetry to my ears.

One of the interiors featured is that of Freeman's Hotel in Manhattan:

And the Manhattan loft of Robyn Standefer and Stephen Alesch. As a former teacher I love the chalkboard. And I wouldn't mind the map drawer either:

Images from The Faster Times website

My favourite restaurant in the book is Public which was, as Hagberg so eloquently puts it, "one of the first New York restaurants to play with an aesthetic of reinterpreted nostalgia, and it became a touchstone for historically informed readaptive reuse-the pleasure of the reclaimed barn door, the brightly dropped filament bulb. . . .The designers looked to ideas of collective memory as articulated through a public library and the thrill of discovery inherent in its card catalogs . . . The detail expressed in Public, in the consistency of design from the typewriter typography of the menus to the obviously government-issue doors, the hanging mailbox keys with their rubber-stamp labels, and the books with their Dewey decimal-inspired classifications lining the coat check space, creates an unexpected but familiar sense of honesty."

Image from Peter Gordon website

Image from Public website

As a former librarian, I'm in love with the whole card catalogue and Dewey decimal-labelled books aesthetic. Here's my own little card catalogue looking a little lost amidst the coloured cushions:

Spring Cleaning

2010-09-26T00:04:00.000-07:00

Since I began this blog three years ago, there have been a few changes which I haven't kept up with in the blogging world. So, while I'm making a whole lot of changes in the boatshed and indeed my life, why not update the look of my blog? I'm still learning though,and have just wasted a whole Sunday afternoon on what would take most experienced bloggers an hour I'm sure.

Dark Nostalgia

2010-09-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because my mood of late has been somewhat darker, but as someone whose decorating style has to date been fairly bright and shiny, with the boatshed characterised by expanses of white interspersed with lots of prettiness:

And more of the same:

I've suddenly turned into someone who would await with anticipation the following recently-ordered volume:

This book by Eva Hasberg, according to The Faster Times, 'explores 25 contemporary spaces that have been designed with an eye to the past.Across the U.S., with forays to London and Paris, Hagberg looks at bars, restaurants, hotels, and homes, considering their emotional resonance along with their styling. “We are recreating our own history and embracing the darkness that comes with it,” she writes in the book’s introduction. Designers are restoring this imagined past through warm, tactile materials, creating interiors that immediately evoke a time and place that feels familiar, if a little mysterious. Ultimately, “we have become nostalgic for a time that never existed.”'

Below is an image from the book of the loft apartment of Stephen Alesh and Robin Standefer of Roman and Williams. I love the map drawer, botanical prints and see sponges, as well as the use of black painted timberwork:

And the Julian Schnabel-designed Gramercy Hotel in Mahattan:

This is the Apotheke Hotel, also in Manhattan. According to the Steampunk Home blog, this hotel is designed to look like a 19th century Austrian apothecary:

I'm not sure why I've taken to this aesthetic so strongly. It's not just because it's informed by a sense of history and craftmanship, but that it recreates a history that never really was, that is timeless. I'm not really one to want a room from the past to be replicated exactly, because I find this a bit too serious, but am much more open to the idea of pastiche and its associated playfulness. Consequently, a few changes are afoot here in the boatshed which may take a while to come to fruition.

Chatsworth

2010-09-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

We were fortunate to be able to stay in our motor home on the grounds of Chatsworth, a massive country estate with almost 300 rooms, and once dubbed "The Palace of the Peak". This is the quaint gateway which allows people in wheelchairs to access the property:

The house iteself provided the inspiration for "Pemberley", Mr Darcy's home in Jane Austen's novel, "Pride and Prejudice". It was aslo the home of Georgiana the Fifth Duchess of Devonshire, whose story was told in the film "The Duchess" with Keira Knightley:

One of the ceilings:

While there, we saw an exhibition to commemorate Deborah the present dowager Duchess. This is a photograph from a fashion shoot, with Deborah and her granddaughter, model Stella Tennant:

The beautiful dining room with rose-coloured glassware:

This sculpture hall was used in the recent film version of "Pride and Prejudice" starring Keira Knightley:

A Moveable Feast

2010-09-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm deliberately misusing Hemingway's quotation about Paris being a moveable feast, which wasn't about food at all. It merely meant that memories of one's early life in Paris could always be conjured up in later life. However, I'm referring specifically to food memories, not of Paris, but of Britain. In Wales I tried a greengage for the first time in my life:

And bought fresh blackberries at a farmer's market:

For the first time I tried Eton Mess, not in Eton, but in Cheltenham:

And discovered that mushy peas are an excellent accompaniment to cod and chips:

Windfalls found on a table in a country churchyard have a romantic timelessness that could be out of a George Eliot novel :

This Bakewell Pudding, tasted in Bakewell, was delicious:

As was a Welsh cake in, of course, Wales:

In Diana's Footsteps

2010-09-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

This is where her life began, at Althorp, a life fit for a Princess-to-be. Not exactly in this building, which houses the stables, although they are very grand:

The main house is covered by scaffolding due to work on the cladding and roof. Diana's brother Charles vacates the estate during July and August, but the house is left much as it is when his family is in residence, with books, games, and other personal touches casually left in public view. This is part of its charm for visitors:

However, Diana growing up in such a beautiful environment could not keep her safe in later life. Here is the road above the Alma Tunnel in Paris, where she met her death thirteeen years ago. Because the public cannot access the tunnel itself, this replica of the flame of the Statue of Liberty above it serves as a de facto memorial:

The public in their grief have scrawled messages, one pointing out the irony that Diana, whose mythological name means the huntress, found herself hunted in her final moments:

Two years ago, I photographed another memorial at Harrod's in London, but it is no longer there as Dodi's father has since sold the store:

Now Diana is remembered through the memorial fountain in Hyde Park, near Kensington Palace, where she once lived:

Although the fountain's design was criticised when it first opened, it is utilised by many children, a fact which Diana would have loved:

The gates of Kensington Palace, the site of a sea of flowers and an outpouring of grief at her death:

The Diana memorial playground behind the palace:

There is a sense of symmetry in the fact that Diana is now buried on an island on the estate where she grew up:

This is truly a fitting temple to her memory:

Rest in peace.

On the Road

2010-08-15T07:48:00.000-07:00

Even though my time in London was limited, I managed to cram in some culture, including this eerily life-like reconstruction of Churchill's underground shelter at the Cabinet War Rooms:

And Cy Twombly at the Tate Modern - it looks like blood, but is about Bacchus, so it's wine:

Then Yinka Shonibare's "Ship in a Bottle" at Trafalgar Square:

Which is so amazing, Í had to get a closeup:

The gowns at the "Grace Kelly - Style Icon" exhibition at the Victoria and Albert:

And this awesome installation of speakers producing sound from a vacuum-cleaner-operated pianola at the Saatchi Gallery:

Now we're in the countryside, having opted for a quieter life in our motor home for the next six weeks:

It's very spacious, with all the comforts of home. Not having been in a motor home before, I was a bit nervous, but now I'm thoroughly enjoying it:

I could really get used to this life:

Spitalfields

2010-08-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

I've been in London for almost a week but unfortunately have not been able to do much, due to having to correct proofs for a book which will hardly sell any copies. However, I did manage a quick trip to Spitalfields, which is one of my favourite places here, as I love Brick Lane and Spitalfields Markets. I had a very yummy pizza with chorizo, caramelised onion, buffalo mozzarella and mushrooms at Story Deli:

Story Deli is owned by Ann Shore, who used to also have a shop nearby called Story, which many fellow bloggers would have heard of. I tried to visit Story two years ago and found it only opened on the one day I could not go there. This year I went again to find it closed, this time permanently. Luckily, she has relocated her stock to the back of Story Deli so I got to see it anyway:

Story Deli is very cool, especially these mirrors:

Then I went to visit another store which had also been closed last time and hurray it was open. This is Emily Chalmers's 'Caravan' which I couldn't get any photos of but this is her website. And she was actually in the shop! I love her book 'Flea Market Style' and was quite starstruck. She has lots of very sweet homewares such as ceramic animals, snowdomes and vintage floral cushions. Unfortunately I have issues with my suitcase already being overweight, so I bought a card and fled the premises.

Grace Kelly at the V&A tomorrow then I reluctantly leave this great city.

Sex and the City - Parisian Style

2010-07-31T11:59:00.000-07:00

I had a bit of a Sex and the City day in Paris yesterday. Fristly I went to see lots of lovely frocks at the Yves St Laurent exhibition at the Petit Palais. Over 300 frocks to be precise. It is the first retrospective of the designer's work and is arranged thematically with rooms devoted to such topics as the smoking jacket, evening gowns, and St Laurent's collaboration with Catherine Deneuve on such films as "Belle du Jour":

After a morning filled with beautiful designer gowns, I had a spa at the Paris Mosque. The tea room which serves various teas in beautiful tea glasses, is just how I imagine Morocco to be:

For a very reasonable 58 Euros, I had the Oriental package which includes lunch (I chose a delicious couscous with lamb):

Followed by mint tea and pastry:

Also included is the entry into the hammam, together with an exfoliation by one of the assistants, and a 10 minute massage:

Then it was off to the Marais for dinner with the boys in the gay area of Paris:

Paul Bocuse

2010-07-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

Last week we were in Lyon to eat at the 3 Michelin Star restaurant of Paul Bocuse. At the beginning of the evening Paul Bocuse's wife greeted diners at their tables, which was sweet. The decor was very opulent:

The amuse bouche was delicious:

As was the foie gras:

And beef with porcini mushrooms:

The deserts came with complimentary creme brulee:

And the floating island is made the way Paul Bocuse's grandmother made it:

The petit fours had to be smuggled into my handbag because I couldn't fit them in:

My favourite dessert was the fresh raspberries with sorbet:

Chosen from the crowded dessert trolley:

The cheese trolley was also quite extensive:

Overall, the experience was not quite as good as I expected, particularly the somewhat aloof waiters.

Lake Como

2010-07-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

We've just spent a fantastic three nights at Lake Como. We spent two days taking ferry rides up and down the lake and visiting some amazing villas. Unfortunately we could only see this one from the water as we couldn't afford the accommodation price. It is the Villa D'Este, supposedly the best hotel in the world:

Fortunately, we were able to take a tour of Villa Del Balbianello. It's closed on Monday and Wednesday and accessible only by water except on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. On those days, you can walk to it for about two kilometres from the village of Lenno. The only way you can see inside (as we did) is to take a guided tour, which was well worthwhile. This is the view from the garden:

The villa featured in the film Casino Royale as the place where James Bond convalesces.This is the loggia:

This is the terrace which was the scene of Anakin and Padme's first kiss in Star Wars:

The villa looks very impressive from the water:

We also visited the gardens of Villa Melzi near Bellagio:

And toured both the villa and gardens at Villa Carlotta near Tremezzo:

Bramasole

2010-07-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Today we found Bramasole, the house from Frances Mayes's book, "Under the Tuscan Sun". The tourist office was very helpful in giving us directions to walk there from Cortona. The trouble was that we tried it yesterday in 35 degree heat and it took so long that we turned back before we reached it. Then today, we found alternative directions on the net about how to reach it by car. We followed the instructions to a gate which opens onto a lavender-lined drive:

This little niche is to the right of the gate:

Then I looked up, and there was Bramasole above me, in apricot tones amidst manicured gardens full of flowers:

Cortona

2010-07-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

We are now in Cortona, two weeks before the "Tuscan Sun Festival" begins. Apparently in two weeks' time, Sting and Trudie Styler, Charles Dance and many more actors, musicians and artists will be arriving for the festival. Even Frances Mayes will be attending the launch of her latest book. But at the moment, the Piazza della Republica is relatively quiet:

Last night, the Piazza Signorelli was busy with quite a few people dancing to a band:

The public gardens:

What a view:

The food is wonderful - veal with mushrooms, vitello tonnato:

Tagliatelle with mushrooms, Pappardelle with wild boar:

And crostini spread with tomato, liver and mushroom:

My Obsession

2010-07-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

My obsession with Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman and Williams continues. How beautiful is this black sink in their apartment?:

Image from Remodelista
There is a fantastic short film on the web, by Brennan Staciewicz, at http://vimeo.com/10582751, in which they discuss their philosophy:

Robin Standefer [speaking about their renovations to the Standard restaurant]:"We try to find that sweet spot, something that's familiar and has a sense of meory that's not a complete recreation. [The global financial crisis] has made people pay attention to real value versus perceived value. [For her and her husband, in going to Europe and Asia] there's a whole other level of old . . . Those issues of a sense of memory and a sense of materiality and materials from the earth and trying to connect a lot of different references to come together to kind of create a new one is an important way that we think you can achieve that sense of timelessness".

Stephen Alesch:"[When they work on a space such as a hotel there is a sense of] who that visitor is".
Robin Standefer: "I think it's for us what we want [the guests] to do. We love the old school Grand Hotel vibe where it's a real meeting hall, a real gathering".
Stephen Alesch: "It's pretty much traditional architecture but the goal is to tear it up, to really . . . use it".
Robin Standefer: "If we create a platform for [guests] to use it and live and eat, then they'll think about the experience they had there the last time, the great day they had reading,. . . that day they sat in the corner of that clubby bar and had that . . . awesome weird drink, and that's . . . pretty inspiring".
Stephen Alesch: "The textures I think are really important . . . because they're not just sight-based, and for an architect and artist, interior designers, I think that one of the limitations of these trades is they're completely focused on sight and it's a very limited way to see things".

Robin Standefer: "There's a million stories in the lobby".
Stephen Alesch: "I think the present is a little shrill sometimes . . . To be in a space and have it be a little transforming, not necessarily calming, justy a different moment, a slightly dream-like moment, thank God for that . . . you shouldn't just dream at night . . . The communication of objects is so important to us, the dialogue that's happening".
Robin Standefer: "It's musical for us".

From these comments, the ideas that I love most are the concept that they want hotel guests to interact with their surroundings in a dream-like way. This made me think about what Clive Bell said in his book Art, almost one hundred years ago, that in certain works of art "lines and colours combined in a particular way, certain forms and relations of forms, stir our aesthetic emotions".

Another idea I like is that their spaces are not just direct historical recreations, but that they create an entirely new reference from the older ones, which is original yet has links with the past. I love the materiality and tactility of their spaces, as well as they way they value objects and elevate them to the level of art:

Image from Remodelista

Cool Places on the Riviera

2010-07-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

We're in Nice for two more days, and have been taking in the sights of the Cote D'Azur. This is the beach at Les Issambres, between St Tropez and St Raphael:

But the true Riviera experience is to be had at St Jean-Cap Ferrat, where we discovered the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. This was built by Baroness Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild in 1912. Apparently Pink is preforming in Nice tonight not far from us, but frankly we overdosed on pink today. Apparently it was the Baroness's favourite colour, to the extent that flamingoes were her favourite animal. This is the front facade of the villa (see what I mean?):

Even her exquisite collection of Sevres porcelain was displayed against a pink background:

This is the interior, which is designed in the style of Italian Renaissance villas:

Even the furniture has a rosy hue, including these seats for the pets:

The gardens are wonderful, with fountains gushing to music every twenty minutes:

The tearoom. This is what I call a room with a view:

There are several gardens themed after different countries, as the Baroness was a keen traveller. Not sure whether this is the Florentine or Spanish garden, but they're all spectacular:

After our visit we went to nearby Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, to the Villa Grecque Kerylos. This was built by archeologist Theodore Reinach in 1908, and is a reproduction of a first-century Athenian villa, which he and his family actually lived in. My favourite room was this bathroom with a three-foot deep bath:

From every window the view was fantastic. The yellow blob in the water is a guy on a lilo who looks like he has just swum off one of the many luxury yachts:

Who would want to be anywhere else?

Nice

2010-07-09T23:30:00.000-07:00

We are now in our third exchange, this time at an apartment in the centre of Nice. We were sorry to leave our last one as we loved the house and the local area. On our last day, we went to visit this bookshop in Le Somail, which claims to have 50,000 books. It was quite impressive to see such a place in the small village:

Then we had a degustation at the chateau at Ventenac, and bought some wine:

For our last dinner, Helene baked a beautiful chocolate cake:

But our disappointment at leaving was somewhat reduced by the fact that we would be spending the night at one of our favourite places - Cassis. Unfortunately the Cassitel hotel was booked out, which is where Virginia Woolf stayed in the late 1920s, while her sister Vanessa took a villa in the town:

We did find a vacancy at another hotel a few minutes' walk from the harbour and that night we wanted to try the bouillabaise for which the area is famous. Not far from our table, a fisherman was casting his line:

The bouillabaise was spectacular:

After a lovely night in Cassis, we carried onto Nice. We are in a light airy apartment on top of an old building, and we can see this amazing sculpture from our bedroom window:

This is the view from the kitchen balcony. I love the air of decaying grandeur of the buildings around us:

This morning, I walked down to the beachfront, where the morning haze had not lifted, but it was free of the crowds that come later in the day:

My main purpose for venturing out so early was to make a trip to the Cours Saleya flower market, which opens at 6am every day except Monday when it becomes an antique market:

I didn't buy any flowers, though. About half of the market is taken up with fruit and vegetables, some of which I bought from this lovely lady:

Roman and Williams

2010-07-07T04:41:00.000-07:00

Not much excites me when I open an Australian design magazine any more. While I appreciate mid-century design, I don't like the bland manufactured look of many Australian designers now. I like a lot of character and combinations of industrial, mid-west, mid-century etc. Also, I am veering more and more away from colours like pink, which I love, to neutral ones and tactile elements like steel, fur, marble etc. Affording these is another thing altogether. Just before I left Australia I read a Vogue article about New York design firm, Roman and Williams. I admire their stance on architectural integrity, and I love their muted, neutral schemes.Their style reminds me of John Derian's and Hollister Hovey's, with bones, shells, botanical prints etc. Their kitchen is stunning, particularly the use of marble:

This is the kitchen of Gwyneth Paltrow's New York residence. I love the combination of marble with the steel and glass of the apothecary cabinet:

This is their Montauk home. The white is offset by the deep timbers and artworks:

The fur throw looks great against the timber:

They took advantage of the missing drawer in this chest to store towels:

I love the black cupboards in their Montauk kitchen:

Images from Desire to Inspire.

Looks like I'll be having a market stall when I get back home, to sell all my colourful cushions, plates, lamp shades, prints etc and go on a shopping trip.

Around Languedoc

2010-07-07T02:13:00.000-07:00

We have been exploring the local area and found we are close to the Canal du Midi. This is a little shop on the banks of the canal, complete with an oven for baking bread fresh each day:

This is the little town of Le Somail, which is our favourite. The barge on the left is a shop:

We have also visited Carcassone, the medieval walled city whose turrets were added on in the nineteenth century:

And of course we had to try the local dish, Cassoulet, which is comprised of duck, sausage and beans and is very yummy:

James has also cooked us some rabbit which was beautiful:

And I made some jam from figs in our tree to eat with cheese:

Narbonne

2010-07-04T09:20:00.001-07:00

We are staying for a week at a home exchange near Narbonne, close to the Mediterranean coast. The house is quite large, so we have invited some guests:

The hammock in the garden is so inviting, it's difficult to tear ourselves away to explore the surrounding area:

However, we have managed to visit Beziers, where there are 9 locks which are part of the Canal du Midi. The canal forms part of a waterway across France:

We also went to Narbonne to buy supplies at the covered market, which is one of the best in France:

And stopped off at Narbonne Plage where some of us (not me) had a dip in the (chilly) Mediterranean:

We have been lucky enough to have our visitors James and Helene cook a delicious meal. Helene prepared the entree of foie gras:

James cooking the duck breast:

The finished product: duck breast with a sauce of tomatoes and figs from the tree in the garden, washed down with the local red wine:

Some sunflowers we have seen on our drives:

Last night, we had a meal in the local village restaurant, which was very nice:

The Chateau

2010-07-02T00:42:00.000-07:00

After we left Arcachon, we stopped overnight near Perigueux at the Chateau Des Reynats, which we stumbled across two years ago. We had dinner on the terrace overlooking the pool:

Firstly we had apperitifs with olives, some kind of purple potato chips, and parmesan-coated cashews. I had never tried Pastis, so I did:

We chose the 39 Euro menu, which was great value. First came the amuse-bouche of melon soup with froth, served with cheese biscuits:

Then mushroom custard/soup which was delicious. Around the side of the plate were summer truffles, which have a much subtler flavour than the black ones:

The main course was sea bream with a beetroot terrine:

Then came the cheese platter complete with jams such as fig or blackcurrant:

Dessert was strawberry sorbet accompanied by marinated strawberries, into which were dipped these little cakes with green tea on top. Sounds unusual but tastes great. Then, to finish, was the apricot and passionfruit juice, with shortbread topped with mango puree:

It was a beautifully tasting culinary adventure. The waiters are lovely - we remembered two of them from our last visit. Hopefully we'll come back next year.

Bordeaux Wine Tasting

2010-07-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

While at Arcachon, we took a day trip to Bordeaux, about 2 hours away, for the Wine Festival. Tents were set up along the banks of the Garonne, representing the wineries around Bordeaux:

The wine was good but for me, as usual, it was more about the food they were selling there. This is a canele, the local Bordeaux vanilla-infused cake:

And instead of hotdogs and hamburgers, there was terrine and pate:

And this pizza with goat's cheese:

And there was my old favourite, oysters with sausages, to accompany a cold glass of dry white wine:

Arcachon

2010-07-01T23:18:00.000-07:00

We have just spent a week in a house exchange at Arcachon on the Atlantic coast of southwest France. On our way down the coast we stopped in at La Rochelle and went across the bridge to the Ile de Re. The island's largest town, St Martin-de-Re is well worth going to, with a little harbour and many seafood restaurants:

Further south, Arcachon is a magical place with a lovely beach and temperatures of around 28 degrees with a sea breeze:

Oysters are everywhere. This lady has an oyster stall which is open on weekends:

There was a bakery around the corner where we got a baguette each day and, for a special treat, madeleines, just like Proust described:

The town is divided into four quarters, named after the seasons. The Winter Town is up a hill and has many large, nineteenth century houses:

Arcachon has a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays:

This is the Art Deco public lift between the waterfront streets and the Winter Town:

My Lonely Planet guide says that the local dish is oysters with sausages. I wanted to try it, but found it was not as commonly available as the guide had said. Eventually I managed to order it and it was as good as I had hoped:

And ten minutes' drive away is the massive Dune de Pilat which is growing and has already swallowed a hotel:

Norman Conquests

2010-06-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to Bayeux to see the tapestry. It's a thousand years old and depicts William the Conqueror and the Normans conquering Britain in 1066. There is a fitting symmetry in the fact that at a nearby World War II memorial, an inscription reads: "We, whom William once conquered, have now set free the conqueror's native land":

We then visited the Museum at Caen, which depicts the steps leading up to World War II and eventually the Normandy landings in 1944:

Then to Point Du Hoc, where US soldiers scaled the cliffs to disable German guns prior to the D-Day landings:

And Pegasus Bridge, where three Allied gliders landed and the soldiers saved the bridge:

Arromanches is a coastal town where the Allies unloaded prefabricated marinas, named Mulberry Harbours. It's a very pretty town. Our friends were staying in the corner building with blue shutters:

Parts of the portable harbours can be seen in the distance, still there after 60 years:

Who could fail to be moved by the American war cemetery above Omaha Beach. It features in the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, one of my favourite films:

Then we went back to Bayeux for a dinner of galettes, a buckwheat pancake traditionally made with sausage. They were accompanied, as is customary, by local cider in an earthenware bowl:

What a day! Certainly full of food for thought.

The Grand Tour Has Begun

2010-06-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

Even though Henry James makes it sound so romantic, the Grand Tour of Europe in the nineteenth century was possibly a bit more trouble than it is today. What with all those trunks and hatboxes and maids and carriages. I just left Sydney Airport with one suitcase:

Then when we arrived in Paris, we picked up our brand new leased Peugeot:

Then drove to Chartres to sleep off the jetlag. Not before walking up to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral first:

One hundred years ago, when Clive Bell of the Bloomsbury Group, wrote about the Gothic Cathedral's beautiful windows, he meant the 'Chartres blue' ones below the rose. But, as is evident in the above image, that facade has scaffolding on it and it's impossible to see the windows. So I had to settle for these no less stunning ones:

Then we walked to the covered market in the centre of town, held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. That's paella in front, and rotisserie chickens dripping their fat onto potatoes:

Beautiful fresh fruit and vegetables are in abundance:

And cheeses of every shape look so tempting:

Don't the strawberries look wonderful in these blue and white containers?:

I bought some nectarines, apricots and cherries and made my own still life back at the hotel. For an Aussie, eating fruit like this in June is such a treat:

I Only Read Fashion Magazines for the Furniture

2010-06-14T15:37:00.001-07:00

Even though I prefer to spend my money on design magazines, every now and then a fashion cover catches my eye, as was the case with this March 2010 Tatler. While I must admit I do love the Dolce & Gabbana dress, my eye was drawn to the subtle way it complements the chintzy cushions:

And I love the way this button back chair sets off the Moschino dress:

And this rug has just the right amount of faded grace as a background to this gorgeous Roberto Cavalli dress:

This is my favourite. Who would have thought blue plates on a dresser could look so up to date. (Dior dress very lovely too of course):

While I'm not denying the appeal of Amber's endless legs, it's the yummy chair that captured my attention:

Top Image from Vogue.com website
Other images from Fashionising.com

I must admit that I was also quite interested in the clothes after all.

Who knows, if they keep making furniture look so good, Tatler could join the ranks of my regular design magazines.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

2010-06-01T16:59:00.000-07:00

Last night even though there was a chill in the air, I went out onto the boatshed deck to look at the stars over the water. The Southern Cross was hanging there as it always does. Then I looked inside, and saw a cosy warm, bejewelled cavern:

Until then, I hadn't thought about how much I'll miss the boatshed while I'm away for the next few months. I'll also miss being able to cook and entertain. Last Saturday we had our friends Annabel and Peter to lunch. I wanted to do a vegetarian meze platter, so I made some risotto cakes with artichokes and lemon:

And some corn fritters with dill and coriander:

A rocket, pear, walnut and parmesan salad:

A white chocolate and raspberry tart:

Then put it together with some oven-roasted tomatoes, a beetroot, feta and mint salad, caponata and bread:

Little boatshed, I'll miss you:

Top Seven London Shops

2010-05-30T04:51:00.001-07:00

In my previous post, I mentioned ten places I would be seeing in Paris when I'm there in a few weeks' time. What I didn't mention was that I'll be away for 3 months altogether in France, Italy and England. I'll try and blog as often as I can while I'm away. When I'm in London, these are the Top Ten places I hope to visit:

1. Story - I want to take up where my sad story left off two years ago, when I found that the only day of the week on which it was open, I was going to be 200 miles away:

2. Rachel Riley - last time, I lusted over the beautiful childrens' clothes and what was more, they were on sale. I didn't have a little person to by them for at the time, but I think I could find one now:

3. Caravan - Last time, it was closed while it relocated, so this visit is long overdue:

Image from Caravan website

Image from Oh Joy blogspot

4. Lisa Stickley - Last trip I hadn't even heard of this shop. Now, thanks to my Jeu de Paume books, I certainly have. I might pick up one of these table napkins:

Images from A Bloomsbury Life Blogspot

5. Anthropologie - Now that this great store has a branch in London, I'll be able to get my fix here instead of in the U. S.:

Images from Enhance the Everyday blog

6. Shabby Chic - this store should be open by then:

Images from Shabby Chic Website

7. The Cross - So far the only thing I've been able to afford is a white wooden letter E. But I'm determined to find something this time:

Paris Top Ten

2010-05-25T20:58:00.001-07:00

In a few weeks' time I'll be in Paris, and I have quite a list of places to see. Some of them I haven't been able to get out of my head since my last trip, so will be happily revisiting, such as Laduree for its gelato colours:

And a picnic on the banks of the Seine is a must:

As is a stroll along the Boulevarde St Michel, or Boul' Miche as it is known:

Then there is the Grand Colbert at 2 Rue Vivienne, a little bistro where the hot chocolate was a meal in itself last time:

I'm going to the Marches des Puces or Flea Markets at Porte de Vanves, just for these fabrics alone:

Not to mention a street market for the chicken with fat dripping down onto the potatoes, or then there's the healthier option of fruit and vegetables:

There are places where I've never been before, such as the store Merci:

Image from Tara Bradford Photography website

I can't wait to visit the Musee des Artes Decoratifs in the Rue de Rivoli:

Image from Musee website.

Then there is the Shakespeare and Company bookstore:

Image from store website

Image from Rough Luxe website

Not forgetting the Fauchon store at Place de la Madeleine, where I might pick up some madeleines or macaroons. There is sugar in these packets:

Image from French Blue