Oh...Olio

I must have walked through the very beautiful Block Arcade and on to Block Place hundreds and hundreds of times in the past twenty years or so...how is it that I never even noticed Olio Cucina e Trattoria @ 32 Block Place?  Just shows how sadly lacking my observation skills are!  But next time I stroll through Block Place I'm going to stop, look around and grab a coffee or meal at Olio....

I love the red geraniums, brightly painted stair rails and the use of colanders and tomato tins as lightshades! Goes to show that great style doesn't have to cost the earth.

[Images from Georgeous]

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Wishing all those who pass this way a joyful Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

[Image: Country Living]

Signing off for the year and looking forward to posting more in 2011 and visiting all my favourite blogs.

All the best for the festive season!

Fleur-ishness

Just a little further along from the Rose Street shops in Armadale, if you follow your nose you will find the sweetest, freshest blooms at 'Fleur' - a gorgeous florist with a white backdrop that lets the flowers shine - compliments of the wonderful Fleur McHarg. If only I lived within walking distance, I'd buy my blooms there every week...

[All images from Fleur]

Country idyll

One of the nice things about Melbourne is that there are some really lovely places in the surrounding regions that are only an hour or two away, and just perfect for a weekend getaway. Take very recently opened 'Twigs on High' luxury B&B accommodation in Trentham, situated between Woodend and Daylesford (two perfect getaways in their own right), it's described on the site as 'luxe country', and looking at these gorgeous pictures I can understand why...

Want to stay at Twigs, then check it all out here.

P.S. Please excuse my absence from my blog the last week or so, while I wish I was somewhere very lovely like Twigs, I was actually in Wellington, New Zealand work. Not quite the same thing!

[All images from Twigs]

Turning decorations into cards

The weekend was a whirlwind of Christmas shopping, Christmas celebrations and Christmas card making. I took these Polli decorations...

And turned them into these simple but sweet Christmas cards...

Thirty or so Christmas cards now written and posted - one Christmas task down and only a trillion to go! No wonder they call this the silly season.

Villa in the Huon Valley

The latest issue of Australian House & Garden (January 2011) has a lovely feature on the B&B retreat, Villa Talia located near Cygnet in the Huon Valley, Tasmania. It looks very, very appealing from the front hallway...

To the magnificent vista...

And everything else in between...

I've always wanted to do a road trip around Tasmania, and when I do a stopover at Villa Talia would be quite lovely.

[All images from Villa Talia]

Great colour combos

Interior designer Camilla Molders is certainly not afraid to use bright colours to make a statement in a home.  I love these colour combos she has used...

Orange and pink:

Turquoise and red:

Black and citrus colours:

You can see more of Camilla's gorgeous work here.

A fine use of chairs

I think that this beautiful home has used chairs in a way that really shows them and the space to their best advantage. What do you think?

[All images from Robert Mills Architects]

Today I love...

These fabulous budgerigar paintings by artist Ben Quilty:

The new towel range from Aura Home - I'm thinking of the spot towels (second image at front) for my own bathroom:

This great book from Mary Randolph Carter (it's on my Christmas wishlist):

[Image: Amazon]

These prints from Southwood Home - green being my favourite colour, I especially love the 'Eat Your Greens' print on the far left:

Speaking of green, I think these green tiles are pretty gorgeous too:

[Image: Hecker Guthrie]

And also this glass and ceramic collection - simple but stunning: 

[Image: Martha Stewart]

And finally, who could go past a great shell collection like this:

[Image: Martha Stewart]

Wishing you a happy weekend.