a little birdy ..

love, love, LOVE ...

How cute is this. I am completely in love with this funny coat hanger (or finger hanger as it is called). I found this via the DecorDir web/blog and they are made in the US by Meninos. I hope they ship here ...

droolworthy cushions ..

I found these fantastic cushions from Canvas in Elwood via the DesignEx website - they will be exhibiting there in Sydney 22-24 April 2010. They have a huge range of styles and colours but I am particularly fond of the graphic black and white patterns. Here are a few from there range. Nice .. don't you agree .. ?

blue as a feature colour ..

Red has been the 'it' colour in regards to adding a feature colour throughout homes in recent years and I think I might be moving away from it. My new 'it' colour is blue. I am looking at a pendant light for above my (yet to be made by magnificent hubby who can make anything) wooden table with white chairs. This one from Matt Blatt keeps grabbing my attention. It is the Aero Pendant Light @ $195. Perhaps I could team it with the Replica Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair - such a lovely comfy looking chair that would sit perfectly in my lounge.
I am also attaching some great blue based stylings which I found on the Made By Girl blog (fellow graphic designer Jen Ramos) which just make my little heart flutter ..

how to be a 'follower' on this blog ..

I thought I would work out for you all how to become a follower on this blog (sounds very sinister doesn't it - like I have started some crazy design cult where we all have to wear black rimmed glasses and lots of black clothes). Anyway, as I am in my pj's having been working from 6am this morning maybe I am not a designer after all .. maybe I just a person with a fancy computer who likes to make things pretty.
Anyway, I have gotten off track.
All you do is click on the link that says 'become a follower'. You are given 3 options .. press the Google one .. it then asks you for a password and then press OK. Simple. You are done.
I really appreciate it. Yipeeeeeee

oeke patterns and designs ..

As I don't have megabucks to get great shots of my OEKE umbrellas in fancy places, sometimes I sit here late at night and pick resort locations where I think they would look great. I superimpose the umbrellas into the photo and think 'yes, they would work there'. I thought I would post some images to show you what I mean. Click the image of the resort to find out more information of where they are from where they are from ..

i think I need this bag ..

My boys are at their grandparents and we are renovating our front entrance - long story, but I am tired and had some design work to finish for one of my favourite clients - so, had a little free time in front of computer and searched around and found this oh-so-appropriate bag. They are from Darren Firth's Keepsmesane blog and he designed these to go with a range for a client in San Fransisco.
With all the cool quotes on anything from cups and posters, to t's and teatowels, I found this rather interesting and have not seen similar in my searches.
Hope you are all having a great Sunday and will add more next week (ahh, tomorrow??)

chic chik!!

I have just returned from the new Piccadilly Market in Geelong where I met the wonderfully creative Catherine Westwood of CHIK DESIGN. I just fell in love with her fantastic wooden pear trees and had to buy one. It looks lovely in my lounge and matches perfectly with my new floorboards. I thought I best let everyone else know about her fantastic product as well. Visit her online shop at chikdesign.com.au

saturday funny ...

This is SO not design related in any way, but I thought I would give you all (whoever you are .. is anyone there??) a laugh for Saturday. I was sent this by my most beautiful SIL and just thought it too funny not too post ..

Byron Bay artist ..

I just love these artworks from fellow Melbournian (now living in Byron Bay) .. Tiffany Calder Kingston. Her delightful largescale paintings just seem to capture the landscape she paints in perfectly. From a design perspective, her colours are neutral enough to fit into any home interior - adding a peaceful element to any home. Check out her website www.artbytiffany.com

Time for sleep ..

I have a large bedroom. New. Unfurnished apart from a new kingsize bed (oh so lovely) and a large flatscreen wallmounted TV. I need to expand my thinking in regards to how to furnish a bedroom. I could easily fit a couch, 2 armchairs .. and? well, that is it? I have no idea what else to do with it. Here are some images I have found that display larger bedrooms with furniture placement that may suit my needs. If I ever get to actually finish the room, I will post some pics. For now, start counting sheep and dream of BBB (beautiful, big bedroom) ..

Floorboards .. can you ever go wrong?

I love floorboards. We have put them in the last 3 houses we have renovated. The first 2 houses had jarrah (trendy at the time). The 3rd was spotted gum. Apart from the fact they just looks SO perfect, they are easy to clean and hard wearing. Not sure what my favourite colour will be in next house (did I actually say that, we are DONE renovating .. aren't we??) but have found this lovely selection of different colours to inspire anyone else out there who is currently making their decision ...
I also love the largescale lamps in the background of 2 of the shots. I am currently in the process of deciding which lamp for our lounge .. but I will leave that for another entry ..

wall decals ...

Usually I am not a big fan of wall decals. They seem to be everywhere and I'm not sure of putting them on my kids walls (ie: they will just pull them off all the time - boys will be boys). But I received my regular mumsgrapevine.com.au email this morning and on there I spotted mymunchkinhome.com.au. They have inspired me to put some on my 2 boys rooms walls. I think it is the larger size format that does it for me. They even have a nice wall quote one (I have a friend who is looking to include inspirational wording amongst her wall of photographs in her ultra lovely new home) which has great fonts and nice wording. Check out the website and see if you agree ...

cool font posters ..

As I am a graphic designer I tend to do all the posters around our house to match whatever space I have. I have a large HP printer that can print on canvas or paper .. and I either use an Ikea frame or get one specially made up. BUT. In saying that, I found these really cool posters (especially if you are from the USofA) from a site called www.orkposters.com
Very cool, very individual, great price .. and original. Well done ORK!

The ultra groovy Paul Hopper .. stylist

Todays post is on the ultra groovy Paul Joseph Hopper - stylist to oh so many magazines (senior stylist at House & Garden, and freelancer t to Vogue Living, Home Beautiful, Good Taste, Notebook and also my favourite mag Habitus! He also has a degree in both Art & Design AND Horticulture. He chooses the most amazing products and manages to put them all together and makes them look magical.
I've been in contact with him recently as he has included the OEKE umbrella into his outdoor furniture (online) business Terrace Outdoor Living, which he runs with his friend and business partner Bianca Moore. They are hoping to open a pop-up store very soon .. so keep a look out.

megan morton - stylish new book

The amazing Megan Morton has just released a new book and even though I am yet to get my hands on a copy, I know it will be filled with fantastic styling ideas. Megan has her hand in many projects from her design consultancy with Sara Silm (makingbeautiful.com.au) to her other business (thepropery.com.au) and also contributes to many house-y type magazines. I love her style (mixed, stylish, droolworthy) and her new book should be great reading.
Also, note the use of the Tolix stool and seating .. yummmm