Perfect pot

Well after a very quiet weekend I'm almost fully recovered from whatever virus it was that robbed me of much of last week. Damn nasty bug!

Anyway, this post is for my sister Jacky - I just wanted her to see how lovely the very rustic pot that she gave me for my birthday looks on my back deck... Not sure whether to leave the pot empty or to plant something (just don't know what!) in it. Mmmm, I'll have to give that some thought.

Moorishness

Scott Weston Architecture Design is an innovative Sydney based design practice that has worked on a myriad of residential and commercial projects. I've seen some of his work in home & design magazines and it always strikes me as extremely colourful, which can be a bit much for a girl like me who likes calm, neutral spaces. But there's one of his residential projects that uses Moorish influences but still has a significant injection of colour, and I quite like it.

Here, take a look for yourself and see what you think...

The canopy is incredible, as is the mix of cushions and striped banquette seat, whilst the Thonet chairs and scrubbed timber table show a more pared back, restrained side to the home. (I honestly think there's no way I would ever be able to mix all those patterns, stripes and colours!).

Opposite the dining area is a bare white wall that really lets the wrought iron bannister/stairwell strut its stuff...

The adjoining kitchen runs along one wall - it has beautiful blue & white tiles and a muted gold surface for the pantry door.

The bathroom is a contrast of black & white mosaics used to create a strong geometric pattern, and curved lines...

And the little courtyard just outside the dining area features heavy use of tiling and timber seating. It looks like a lovely little sun trap...


What do you think...too much colour or just enough?

(Images: Scott Weston Architecture Design).

Under the weather

I am feeling quite under the weather today and so I've resigned myself to the fact that most of the day will be spent on the sofa reading, sleeping off and on, and drinking copious amounts of green tea.

Meanwhile my shoes have been left by the fireplace where I took them off last night to warm my toes...

The dishes from last night's family dinner stand sentry by the kitchen sink... My bed remains unmade (in more ways than one!)...

And work has ground to a halt at my desk...

Oh well, there's always tomorrow!

Designer rugs

Here in Australia it seems that every time you open a homewares magazine yet another designer is trying their hand at designing rugs. The cross-pollination makes sense of course, and it was probably only a matter of time. Indeed, Designer Rugs has collaborated with quite a few designers to create some striking ranges of rugs, including...

Fashion and textile designer Georgia Chapman of Vixen...

Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson of renown Australian fashion team Easton Pearson...

Creative design dynamo Catherine Martin...

Jewellery and homewares designers Dinosaur Designs...

Internationally famous fashion designer Akira Isogawa...

And now Australian textile, accessories & homewares designer Nicola Cerini (known mainly for her handbags) has recently added another string to her bow with the release of a very vibrant range of rugs available through her own company.

The seed pod rug (which is my favourite in the range)...

The ocean inspired Neptunes Necklage rug...

The Poppy rug...

The Club Rush rug inspired by native plants...

And the very vivid Impatiens rug...

(Images: 1-5 Designer Rugs; 6-10 Nicola Cerini)

Guest post @ From the Right Bank to the Left Coast

Alek from the fabulous blog From the Right Bank to the Left Coast is currently away enjoying a holiday in Paris (I can't tell you how green with envy I am!). And while she's away she has asked a few blogger friends to guest post for her. Today it's my turn, so if you like, pop on over to Alek's blog to see my guest post about the Melbourne furniture design company, Zuster.

(Image: Zuster)

Monday morning shop post - Poulier and Poulier

The husband & wife team Lisa and Mark Poulier are Melbourne-based graphic designers and, being lovers of typography, they have created this very stylish range of prints and tea towels, available through their company Poulier and Poulier.

This is my favourite, and I think I should purchase it to hang next to my husband's desk...

This is a print of the Kew tram roll. They also have Toorak, Fitzroy & St Kilda tram roll prints and tea towels.

And how cute is this 'T' towel. Too pretty to use to dry the dishes with I reckon.

All images are from Poulier and Poulier.

French Facade

Just a quick post today - work has been super, super busy as looming deadlines for three different projects simultaneously converge!

I wish I could be magically transported to this beautiful homewares shop in Paris. I just love the bicycles on the pavement, the lamp in the window, the ironwork in the windows above the shop and the beautiful blue that is the door and window frame. I wonder what's inside...

Image from Loft Life Magazine.

Where do you wish you could be magically transported this weekend? Au revoir till next week.

Lee :)

Linocuts

Last weekend my sister and I spent a lovely afternoon attending a linocut demonstration by artist Helen Timbury. As part of the demonstration we got to fool around with some of Helen's linocuts and (lucky us) we go to take home this linocut of an owl (which is now pinned up in my office area)...

And this little black bird with wings that look like leaves...

This is one of Helen's beautiful linocuts...
I love detail and colour in Helen's linocuts and I'm excited to be attending a linocut workshop in August to learn some of these techniques. Should be great fun!

You can see more of Helen Timbury's work here.

Stationery love

I love stationery - I enjoy touching it, looking at it, using it, coveting it and even making it (I currently have a fixation with making envelopes!!!).

Last night I had dinner with some girlfriends, and my friend Brenda gave me a lovely box of stationery from Mudlark as a belated birthday present. When I got home late last night I absent-mindedly plonked the box down on my bedside table, right on top of my Amy Butler stationery box. And then when I was making my bed this morning, I looked a bit closer at these gorgeous stationery boxes and thought that they looked so nice sitting there together next to books I'm currently reading.


Here are the stationery boxes resting on the handmade quilt that my sister made me...

And isn't the quote on the inside of the Mudlark stationery box lovely: 'Nothing is worth more than this day' (Johann Van Goethe). How true is that! Such lovely stationery, and now I'm inspired to write a note to someone today.

Mt Rael Retreat

For me a perfect weekend away with my husband would be lunch at Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander (and some tastings from their cheese room), a visit to some the wineries in the Yarra Valley, including Yering Station, and a night or two staying in the Tane Suite at Mt Rael Retreat in Healesville...

All images from Mt Rael Retreat.

Monday Morning Shop Post - Est

I love 'out of the way' shops that are tucked away in the quiet little urban villages of Melbourne...which brings me to Est, a pretty little shop situated in the recently revived Auburn Village shopping strip in Hawthorn - there are now some great little homewares and clothing stores and cafes in this area and I love visiting for a browse and a coffee.

This lovely shop is earthy, organic and you almost feel virtuous purchasing their good, honest products. I remember years ago buying Est's first & original product, the virgin olive oil soap ball (which they've sort of become famous for in Melbourne). These soap balls are handmade from natural products and they smell divine. I would challenge anyone to step into their lovely little shop and come out empty handed! It really is quite a small space but it's packed to the rafters with beautiful tactile, organic and natural products.The very first Est product, the virgin olive oil soap ball...Botanical body scrub made from all natural products by the team at Est...Velvet lip balm...
As well as their own products, Est have sourced some great products from around the world for us Melburnians to enjoy. Here are just a few.

Vegetable brushes from Germany... Italian string that looks stunning and has a million and one uses...

Handmade books from India...

French caramels...

The last time I visited Est I purchased two of these quaint little rust birds. They look lovely hanging from the willow tree in my back garden...

And best of all... Est products are not just for Melburnians, they also have online shopping if you're interested in checking it out.

All images from Est Australia.