WHITE ON !!!

I am just having my lunch and popped over to Emmas Designblog to have a browse and found this lovely picture. There are sooo many things in this home that caught my eye I just couldn't resist showing you. Here I the things I like (in no particular order): - thinking cap artwork - little speaker wayyyy up top in white (why do speaker companies do them in black!!!) - grey rug on arm of couch with the white cross on it - the little 'tree stump' candle - the hatstand - the indoor plants - the stack of magazines on the floor (bottom right) - the back door - the stacking of books and items in bookshelves BUT the overall whiteness of this room just suits my mood today.

SOUTHMARC 'KIDS STYLE' ...

We are yet to do up our boys rooms. Probably a good thing considering they still somehow manage to put texta all over their walls .. and bluetak is still their favourite 'sticky item'. But hoping to get onto it by years end. I would just love something like these for them. Little nooks to hide things in, built in desk and I just know they would love to sleep up top. Might show them these piccies when they get home from kindy + school and see what they think. They love it when I show them things on the computer. They get all excited. And after seeing these pics, so do I.

These are from Southmarc (see previous post).

SYDNEY ARCHITECTS HOME ..

Oh my. When I start hunting down houses, sometimes magical places like these appear and it makes it all worthwhile. This is a Sydney architects home. Nikki South, of Southmarc, has created some amazing places in the short time she has opened her design practice. She has also won the 2008 NSW Architecture Award for Multiple Housing AND just recently won a commendation for the 2010 Australian Interior Design Awards for Colour in Residential Design. All that is clearly evident in her own home she has created for her family. The pictures tell all .. but if you visit here you can read all about it. I will post next on one of her completed homes (where the kids rooms are just too cool). Happy reading ..

CURLEWIS CALLING ..

This little doozy of a house is in a suburb not far from where I live. It has been on the market for a little while but I am sure one day soon one lucky person will snap it up and (hopefully) enjoy it for many years to come. It is situated in a little pocket near the bay where all surrounding houses are on 4+ acres. I'm sure less than 10 years ago the same area was made up of farms and old houses - but now it is a fancy-smancy new suburb. I just love this one. I drive by and dream of turning into the drive and saying 'honey, I'm home'. Wouldn't that be nice. Oh well, a girl can dream can't she. You can find this on realetate.com.au (see link)

I LOVE LAMPS ..

There. I have said it. I love lamps. The Mr has pretty much banned me from buying any more .. but really, what better way to light a home than with a lamp. Pendant lights are nice, downlights are attractive - but lamps are THE best. This Australian site, called Lights and Lamps, has a huge range that caters for all types. I have picked a few that I would like to have right now .. might have to sneak a purchase in before the Mr founds out ....

DESIGNER BOYS ..

Remember THE BLOCK. I truly loved that show. It must have been on about 7 years ago (the first one anyway) as I remember having my first son, Joe, and watching the final in hospital after he was born. I was still completely drugged up and could barely see the teeny-weeny hospital TV (can't they put some big flat screens in??) but I was adament I wanted to watch the final. Anyway, getting off track here. Do you remember Gavin and Warren - they were so much fun too watch. Well, after the show they have continued doing what they are good at and have decorated more than 750 houses in Australia. They live on a small farm outside Byron (noice!!!) and have also decided to launch their own art site. It's called the 'Designer Boys Collection' and they have some really nice artworks. Here are some of their images. I know they are doing Decoration & Design in Melbourne this coming July so I might just have to pop in and say hello. I hope (I think it was Gavin??) he still has that slightly-annoying nasally laugh ... (-:

FANCY FINDS ..

Hi everyone. Sorry for my lack of posts. I have been working like a .. umm .. well, like a graphic designer who has aLOT of work to do. BUT. I was speaking with a friend last night (I am about to do her logo for her new clothing venture - will post about that when I am finished and she is up and posted) and she told me about bigcartel.com .. a great place where you can build your own site for a very minimal cost. I am looking at updating my oeke site as it is looking a little boring AND I want to add new pics and comments when I have them. Anyway, whilst browsing their samples I found this great place called green tee gallery. Part blog, part shopping cart - it had these great images on there that I just could not NOT let you all see. Cool aren't they. LOVE the rocking chair. Perhaps I am dreaming about sitting in it, reading a book and quietly saving the world .. (-:

ME TO A T ...

I found this great quote on the real fun Just Beautiful Things blog. I only found this site tonight via the Beach Bungalow 8 blog. As this week has been quite hectic and I can see the next 6 months just fly by .. I just LOVE this quote. It is like it was written just for me. Maybe you too?

FREE (yes, that's right, FREE) HOTEL ROOM ..

As part of a push by Tourism Victoria and Lost and Found, a wonderfully fitted out hotel room within the Little Collins Hotel, with Melbourne made and designed products used throughout - are offering FREE accommodation. Yep, that's right. You read it correctly ... FREE. Open from 1 June to 31 August 2010, the room itself is available for up to three nights on weekends (Friday to Sunday) and up to four nights during the week (Monday to Thursday). Using the room to showcase many Melbourne design talents such as PierreandCharlotte, Third Drawer Down, Temperature Design, Thomas Place and Linen & Moore (amongst others), the only way to book the room is to apply online and then 'hopefully' you will be able to secure a spot. I'm guessing if you are reading this and planning a trip to Melbourne in June/July/August - you might be dashing off to apply. Wait for meeeee.... (note: I used 'large' font on this one so you can read it quickly).

A TAD BUSY ..

DEFINATELY NOT RUN OF THE MILL ..

I love renovating. Sure, it is tiring, somewhat boring and can be very messy (especially plastering) BUT to transform older homes into new homes is great. Changing lighting, adding/removing walls, switches, bathrooms, kitchens .. oh the joy of it all. I found the architectural firm Robert Mills Architecture Melbourne via the HabitusLiving site. The images here are off a home the firm has worked on in the Goulburn Valley (Victoria, Australia). What was once only a late 1800's homestead now incorporates a long pavillion to sit and admire the rolling hills. If you go through their website you can see more wonderful transformations or check out the 'contemporary projects' section .. lots of jaw-dropping piccies in there!!

THUNDERBOLT OF LIGHTNING ..

I shouldn't blogging. I should be working. Yikes, dilemma .. dilemma. But if I wasn't blogging I would never have found this delightfully gorgeous illustration from Lauren Carney. Lauren is from Brisbane, has a great blog .. and is just the cutest little illustrator I have ever come across. (note: as my first 'tape' I ever bought was Queen, I find this just way too funny).

UAP sounds good to me ..

Reading back through issue 40 of Indesign magazine, I found an advertisement for UAP - Urban Art Projects. With offices in Australia, North America & the Middle East and China I'm amazed I haven't made a note of their work previously. They work with a multitude of artists and create the most amazing sculptures, architectural elements and urban art projects. They have worked in partnership with well known firms such as Hassell Architects, Geyer Design and Westin Hotels and when you visit their site you will see why. They also have a blog which is updated with projects that are both complete and nearing completion. I must admit to loving all the sculptural work they provide for residential and commercial clients. And from a graphic design perspective, their logo and website is really clean and I just love it ALL.

SISTERLY LOVE ..

It was my little sisters birthday on the weekend. I call her little but, I have to admit, we are all getting older. I remember when she started driving and it really weirded me out seeing her behind the steering wheel .. like she should still be riding a bike. Happy birthday Shen!! Speaking of sisters, I found a great blog call I (heart) Sisterbrand. They are a group of graphic designers who design some really cool layered type graphics. They do book covers, gocards (never heard of them but heh, I'm all for learning new things) and lots of other great things. They say 'We like to cross the borders of art, design and photography' and they are true to their word. They have a blog too which is great fun to look through. Here are some of the images that are on their site. Gotta love sisters (-: