My Family On Australia Day

I'm a week late I know but didn't get a chance to upload these earlier. Last tuesday was Australia Day and we had a wonderful family BBQ at my mum's new place. I have an extremely talented photographer brother in law and I had to show off his pics of the day :)

My girl Soph :)


My boy Will :)

My baby nephew Logan :)

My big nephew Zach :)

Pool fun with Zachy and his dad :)

My mama :)

The food and beverages were heavenly :)

My brother in laws Scott and Rique and my sister Sarah :)

Awwww it was too much for some ;)

On another small note my son started highschool (middle school) last thursday and I'm still trying to come to terms with it hahaha :)

How did he get so big so fast?

Will and his best mate Bailey :)

I know this post is completely design unrelated but I couldn't help but show off my beautiful family. They mean the world to me :)

A lovely quote and a lovely thought....

Rachel Ashwell - Shabby Chic.

White will be the colour of my year...

(At home with white)

I know some of you maybe thinking booooring but after living in a home with dark timber furniture and dark timber floors for so many years I'm dying to lighten things up for a change.

(Jacqueline Adams antiques)

Mum feels the same. She has dark furniture too that she's had forever and although she can't part with most of it she's going to lighten up her surroundings as much as she can too.

(Mari Eriksson)

My place already has a white tiled floor throughout most of it and white walls. The kitchen and main bathroom are also white. I just need to make a few modifications :)

(Sharyn Cairns)

I'd like to buy white furniture for my front living and dining room but of course my accents will have to include my favourite muted palette.

The front rooms will be soft and feminine and the back family room, although still with white floors and walls will also include hues of charcoal, french grey, red in winter and blue in summer.

There is also a garage conversion, now a rumpus for the kids and that is the only room I plan to darken a little to make it more cosy and comfy. A brooding teenage retreat haha.

Of course, will this all be completed by the end of the year? probably not hehe but It's definitely a work in progress that will keep me focused and inspired throughout :)

A new year...

And a new attempt at finding my way back to blogging. I hope this year will be more inspiring than the last. Reading all your amazing blogs though kept my heart fluttering. I am in awe of you all, seriously! Some of the posts you make literally take my breath away. Off the top of my head some of the highlights of last year was the incredible completion of Mz A-M's home, The divine transformation of Mz Giannetti's laundry and study and also the hugely anticipated release of Mz Ashwell and Mz Archers latest books. Both of which have become my new bibles and barely leave my arms.

My other favourite book purchases are Sibella Court's Etcetera, Josephine Ryan's Essentially French, Gail Abbott's Living With Light and another little Aussie gem called A Life On Pittwater by Susan Duncan. Heavenly reading!

Currently living together, my mum and I have spent many hours lolling around on the floor and couch immersed in our decorating books, sketching, list writing and overall planning the creation of her newly purchased home, currently undergoing renovations, as well as, once she moves out, the transformation of my new place of residence.

Basically, my marriage ended and I've spent the last year throwing myself into my work and trying to ease my children into a home without their dad. Fortunately they still see him all the time. My mum sold her lake house which was another emotional time for us considering we built it almost 30 years ago, but she's downsized into a lovely coastal home only 10mins from the beautiful beaches of Sydney. I can't wait to see her wave her magic wand and create something amazing :)

She is off to a good start, losing an unnecessary bathroom to open up the kitchen and a clean palette of white walls and white lime washed timber floors.

Once her home is done and dusted I can begin mine :) complete creative control! Oh let the fun begin hehe.

Oh p.s LOVED the new Nancy Meyers movie It's complicated. Just like a man seeing Angelina Jolie appear in her first scene of a movie I oooh'd and ahhh'd at that kitchen!! Hahaha

(please click image to enlarge)

Mz Meyers rocked my world again with that house and wasn't the movie hilarious? haha

I hope all my northern hemisphere pals are keeping warm and my southern hemisphere pals are staying cool :) I've missed you all and I wish you a truly wonderful new year xx

Oh Wow!

Kitty and all :)

Caryn Grossman courtesy of Desire To Inspire.

Pure Indulgence...

(please click images to enlarge)



Soooo If I could have one really big indulgence in life it would have to be my very own bathing/dressing room and it would look just like the one above.

As we all know bathing is actually an art form and a moment in time that should never be rushed. Bathing and dressing for less than an hour is a sin. It's a time, whether you're a busy career woman or housewife for you to unwind and forget about the stresses of the day.

From the book Comfortable Country - Having a bath is a superbly comfortable way of slowing down. Bathing is not simply to do with getting clean; a shower can do that. The ritual of running the water, adding a swoosh of scented salts or a glug of luxurious oil, then sliding down for a long soak, makes having a bath a ceremony.

For true connoisseurs of bathing you must begin with a truly spectacular bath. Something so alluring you can't bare to be away from it. My favourite is this stunning stone bath or even a copper or claw foot.

The iron or glass table is a sweet addition for your scented candles, oils and perhaps a glass of wine :)

A simple chandelier is a must as well as some beautiful hooks or a dressing screen for a robe

I believe the picture above is the same room as the first, styled differently.




Again, this is the same room but you can see it's actually a whole bedroom. My bathing/dressing room would be seperate from my bedroom for complete privacy and no disruptions.

I do love the idea of the bathtub at a window. If bathing while the sun is still up, soaking while letting your thoughts drift outside is pure bliss.



The above pic is my father and step mothers guest bathroom in their home in the southern highlands. The relaxing view outside that window is absolutely stunning.



I imagine these beautiful etched doors would lead me from my bedroom to my bathing room with a white sheer curtain pulled across once inside.

I would have a big white fluffy rug to soften and pamper my feet with the luxurious texture.



I'm also thinking a fireplace of some sort is quite essential.



Once your bathing is done it's time for dressing. I would have a large antique armoire in the room filled with fluffy white towels. It also makes perfect storage for your candles, oils and salts supplies.

Finally, no bathing/dressing room would be complete without a stunning girly vanity. Mine would look similar to this with a skirt, tufted chair or stool, marble top, venetian mirror, sconces and an abundance of perfumes and lotions, powders and a little makeup.

*sigh*

thank you for allowing me to dream a while ;)


image sources -

1. Comfortable Country
2. Country French Antiques
3. Domino Magazine
4. self
5. Colonial East
6. Cote De Texas
7. Colonial East
8. Charles Faudree via Cote De Texas
9. Mark Cutler Designs

Rooms that make me go mmmmmmm.

(please click to enlarge)

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All images are courtesy of House Beautiful 500 makeovers book :)

Appalling scanning, my sincerest apologies.

I hope you are all well. I think of you all the time and continue to read and adore your amazing blogs. They are an endless source of incredible inspiration :)

A xox.