Design Dilemma Solved

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?

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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:

• The Inside Story
• Naturally Carol
• Comeca Jones
• Claudia Lane
• Love in a B and B
• Beachcomber
• Andrea
• Simmone

Autumn Boatshed Revamp

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: