want want want list

Some inspirational styling from Karin Meyn to whet your appetite, and a few things on my want want want list.  

 I am slightly obsessed with these petrified wood sculptures.  Amazingly it is wood that has turned into a mineral but still looks like wood.  So badly want some of these.  The Sourceress has some beauties online.

Arteriors book ends - I don't need book ends but I still want these
And then there is lighting.  I am always on the look out for unusual lighting.  I really like the new Josh and Jenna range from Beacon.  Good prices and lovely materials, I think this copper and cement Gaston uplight would be fab in Miss E's room.  The bottom light is the Spence from the same range.  Sandwiched in between is the fabulous Pileo lamp by Porada.  A real feature piece but a feature price tag to match, but it could be a design classic, I love it.

Sigh... so pretty...

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black rooster decor... mid century lights and gold accents

I am always looking for interesting light fixtures, I really believe they lift a room to a new level.  
So I am very excited to share a new online discovery with you.  Black Rooster Decor is an online decor store with a carefully curated selection of furniture, and their lighting is fantastic.
Good pricing and international shipping too, put this store on your browsing list!!


Clockwise from top left: Multi-brass pendant, Gold leather pencil case, Snow Marble table lamp, Crackled Gold Stool, Brass double shade floor lamp,  Gold/Leather rug 

I am thinking about the semi-flush mount pendant for our entrance way.  A modern interpretation of the Sciolari lights that I obsess about but cannot either find or afford.

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Weylandts to open in melbourne

I often pop in at the Weylandts website to have a look at their furniture and moodboards.  It is one of the stores I miss most from Cape Town.  Great styling and good prices and I always loved their showrooms.  This is a styling story that I always associate with good South African design, modern but textured, high end gloss with organic shapes.
So I was very excited to see they are planning to open a showroom in Melbourne this October.  I am very interested to see what they bring, I am hoping its going to be lots of lighting because I can never find anything interesting and affordable in Australia.  

I still love the Anenome lamp, imagine how dramatic it would look over my outdoor table against the black walls!!  They used to stock a coco stick chandelier which I coveted for years.  Perhaps they will bring it back!!
So have a sneak peak at the type of look they have and I will let you know when and where as soon a I find out.  Just another reason to pop down to Melbourne sometime soon.  As if slow cooked eggs at Cumulus wasn't temptation enough.

Who can resist a crochet kudu!!!

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more mid century obsessions...the bumling pendant

Finally I know what this light is!!!  I have been stalking images of it online since I saw this one below.  I love the shape and the colours it comes in.  If I didn't already have a lovely pendant over my dining table this would be very tempting.

| Bumling over table  |  Yellow Bumling |  Hans Wegner chair in orange  |
The Bumling was designed in 1968 by Anders Pehrsson for Atelje Lyktan, its only just mid century I suppose.  I love the rounded shape 

|  Bumling over table  |  Brass bumling via 1stdibs  |  Candle stick from Nordic Bliss  |
And the best news of all is that it is still in production, try Scandinavian Design Center.   Or you can look for them second hand too, I have spotted a few on ebay and craiglist.

|  Bumling over table via My Ideal Home  |  Red Bumling |  Scandinavian Chair  |

Pretty gorgeous aren't they.  Would love to find a spot for one somewhere.

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bright and white and bright with white

A collection of bright and lovely things - bright white, or just bright - to go with the lovely bright winters day we are having.  Have a happy and bright day!

 |Personalised monogrammed iphone cases |Guardia Table Lamp |Sunday Wash Line candle |

About a Chair | Telegram Clamp Lamp |Mermaid Lagoon iphone cases |

A little story about the candle, Sniff designs candle fragrances with strong memory connections, this one is from the cotton sheets drying in the hot sun, love the idea.
My favourite memory scents are epoxy resin and wood shavings, takes me straight back to my grandfathers workshop, and the dry dusty smell of parched winter grass on the highveldt.

What are your strongest memory scents?

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an obsession with sciolari

This all began with a light I missed at auction.  It was a huge opaque white and amber ice glass chandelier, ugly but good ugly and I had never seen anything like it before.  I googled "ice glass chandelier" and before I knew it I was smitten with mid century modern chandeliers.  

| Gaetano Sciolari Cubic on 1stdibs |70's Gaetano chandelier on 1stdibs |  

I missed the light, I bid a top of $500 and looking back I could have paid triple and still had a bargain, it went for $550.  (Muffled screams of frustration).  I didn't win the auction but I certainly caught the bug: Kalmar the king of ice glass chandeliers; and Sciolari's timeless classics.

|Mid century brass & lucite chandelier |Sciolari used in a modern kitchen on the Marion House Book |

I can't understand why these have not been brought back into production.  I would happily buy a replica.  The pieces are sculptural, much more interesting than the majority of modern and expensive offerings out there.

| Over a dining table via Inspired Design| Brass chandelier via liveaucutioneers | 

Unfortunately I am not alone in my obsession and these lovely pieces are expensive to buy, probably around $3,500 upwards for a good one.  When you think how sculptural they are, and how unique, that is not as extravagant as it sounds.  A a good painting will cost you at least that.

| Ceiling mounted fixture in chrome |

Gaetano Sciolari designed these amazing modernist masterpieces from the 50's to the 70's, working with large lighting firms like Stilnovo (Milan) and Lightolier (New York) before starting to manufacture his own line.

So here I am trawling the web for a forgotten bargain, like the one I missed out on.  Do you have a treasure you hunt for?  Oh well, happy hunting...  

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something fresh from Blu Dot

I spotted an interesting lamp, the perimeter floor lamp from Blu Dot, in the latest edition of Belle magazine and went on an internet hunt to find out more.  I was delighted to discover it was actually available in Sydney, so I went on a real life hunt to the store.  
The store, in Alexandria, has only been open a month although Blu Dot has been selling online in Australia since 2012.  In store I met the enthusiastic Brett Conroy who is passionate about their philosophy of creating affordable designer pieces - useful, affordable, desirable is their mantra.  

Below are my favourite picks.  The Charlie rug ($699) has great colours that will mix easily with other furniture.  A good price for its size (approx 1.8 x 1.2).
I really like that hint of pink and grey with the more traditional reds and browns.

The Splash Coat Rack is another good looking piece.  At $389 its stylish and practical, great for renters who can't hang a coat rack, and not a huge investment in the dipped look that is so hot right now.  

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in the pink

Feeling the pinkness on Pinterest recently.  The Voice of Reason would veto these all but I think they are pretty.  I am going to buy the pinkest flowers I can find today - a pink fix with no commitment.

Clockwise from top left:  soft light from vintage lamp shades - how clever and pretty, gorgeous pink typewriter makeover from girl inspired, wish I had thought of using a zinc tub for a laundry sink, bird and roses watercolour on rice paper by Jinghua Gao Dalia on the Daily Paintworks

Had to add this from Greige by Design.

Love this colour blocking if you are lucky enough to have super high ceilings.

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in search of inspiration

I was thinking of peonies this morning and then I spotted this arrangement on Mo+Mo Living.  I am hoping to find some so that I can style up my gorgeous new West Elm lamp.  
Yes its arrived and its totally gorgeous and now I wish I had two.  

Sigh...I guess I can't have everything.

I will have to see if peonies are in season yet.

I am slightly obsessed with finding interesting light fittings at the moment. Australian retailers seem to offer lighting that is cheap and nasty, not so cheap but still nasty, boring, or beautiful and boy it must be gold plated to justify that price.  

I have been impressed by West Elm's style, quality and delivery, would highly recommend them to other Aussies.  We still have to put up the long arm chandelier that I ordered a month ago but its going to look gorgeous.   I love this pendant below (spotted in Pinterest but I can't find a credit).  Looks almost like a laundry hamper that has been turned upside down.  I think it might be this bamboo and cotton lamp from Dutch Ay Illuminate.

These pendants remind me of prayer lanterns.  These are Schooley Lamps by Mark Eden and I am determined to try and make one.  Will let you know if it works or if its a pinstrosity.  

Please let me know where you find your lights.

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don't you love.....industrial inspiration

West Elm I am in love (and they aren't paying me to say this so it will have to be unrequited love).  Hello industrial beauty, just when I thought I would never find a lamp that I like and can also afford, up you popped.

50% off shipping, sigh... can I resist.

It kind of reminds me of these lamps in this Adam Rolston designed living room which are ugly, but good ugly. (an Elle Decor image via The Artful Shopper)

Love this lamp and love this room.  That tree framed in the window...just gorgeous. (via When my eyes light up)

Could this oversize floor lamp from Ikea be a reasonable proxy?  Will have to see what it looks like up close next time I am in the store.  Sometimes they are nice from far but far from nice, but at $70 it sure suits my pocket.

I still love this pendant rusted metal pendant made by Joost (via Aibigail Ahern).  I made a similar one for our previous home but it didn't survive the move.  All you need is a roll of chicken wire, rust spray paint, and some pliers and you can make one too.  Effective, cheap and easy to make, you should give it a go.

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To do list and the dream list at my house

Sometimes I have to remind myself that this house is only 9 months old and we have achieved a lot already.  So many projects still to do, finishing touches to find, and tasks to finish.   With a limitless budget this would all be done in a flash(note to self "buy lottery ticket").  Failing the lottery we are doing a lot of the work ourselves, making our dollars stretch where they can.  It can be frustrating because it takes longer, but it is satisfying to do something ourselves.    

This is some of what is on my to do and dream lists at the moment:
- order these hooks for hanging towels at the poolside (via abodent)
- look out for long narrow table for bedroom, love the oversize mirrors (via Etcekodeco)
- plant wisteria to catch the season as it turns
- could this (finally) be the light for our dining room or entrance? (via Shelterholic)
- find reasonably priced cobbles so we can finish the driveway

Setting realistic goals:
With Little Miss J in tow things take longer than I would like and its easy to get frustrated.  Ashley from She Makes a Home wrote a brilliant post this week on the importance of setting realistic goals, of coming to terms with the interruptions that come with having a young family.  Ashley was talking about working from home, but it resonates strongly with my desire to get things done, and the frustration of not being able to do everything I want to.  

I would make long to do lists and then get so frustrated when a week went by with nothing accomplished.  The length of the lists were overwhelming, seeing the same tasks week after week demoralising.

I had an epiphany:

• make a list but divide tasks into necessary, urgent, important & nice to do (yes yes you have heard it before)
• do the necessary and urgent first and as soon in the week as possible.  Once they are done you get to move onto the fun stuff.
• schedule in the important, like bills and emails, so you don't get behind.
• choose one nice to do task each week, yes only one, and focus on getting it done.

On my list above, only the wisteria and the cobbles are important, all the rest are nice to have's or dreams.  It takes the pressure off knowing I only have two things to focus on, and if things go pear shaped this week neither are even important and I can let them go.
Sharing my dreams here helps too, putting the thoughts and images into a post stops them racing around my head.  Also I won't lose track of my ideas and thoughts.

One week I focused on getting the washing line set up.  Sounds crazy but it's a lot of little jobs: finding the drill, two trips to the hardware to get the right size drill bits and screws, finding the position of the wall supports, measuring the correct height, assembling the thing from the pathetic instructions.  At the end of the week the line was up, task firmly crossed off the list forever.  I had to laugh when I read Mia's post at Number-Nineteen on Monday, she is also celebrating the convenience of a new washing line.

This week it has been all about getting the children's clothes sorted as the seasons change.
I have done the sorting but the neatly labeled bundles are still sitting on the table until I buy a new plastic crate to store them in.  It all takes time, it will be done by Sunday.

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I need the serenity.....of these calming living spaces

After three days of stormy weather we all have cabin fever.  The kids woke up before 6am, my rhubarb jelly is not a success, its been a grumpy old day.  I need the serenity and space of these  living spaces. Lots of white, a little bit of rustic, mid century vignettes, no clutter.  Feel the serenity! 

The pendant!  I want something with that feel for my entrance.   And isn't that courtyard perfect for a quiet cup of coffee.   Images above and below via South Shore Decorating

 The image below is one I keep coming back to at the moment.  Perhaps because I envy the displays on the low tables, so not possible with a 1 year old!!  Perhaps because I have kelim envy.  Would love to see the rest of the house but I have never been able to find it.

And then I want to wake up, on the right side of the bed, with the summer sun shining and go and swim in this pool.  (both images via Blood & Champagne)

Well I can dream, and I feel a little less grumpy.  Time to go and hug my poor grumped at family.

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Reclaimed timber.... as kitchen wall detail

I adore this space!  I covet the chandelier (Ochre), Iceland poppies are a favourite flower, reclaimed wood detail in the kitchen, light flooding in, a fire place.  Heaven.Image via Elle Decor

The Voice of Reason has been working on our own wood wall detail today.  He has already built  two gorgeous reclaimed wood screening walls in the garden (a post for another day), but today he was working on a timber detail in our wine cellar.  We created a small cellar area off our kitchen and we want it to be a gorgeous little space, a secret detail you only see from the kitchen.   VoR is using left over oak floor board to clad the far wall, the oak now runs seamlessly across the floor and up to the ceiling, very hip Melbourne restaurant.

The space is changing before my eyes from bland to gorgeous, will keep you posted!  

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Don't you love...mason jar chandeliers

This chandelier would be perfect for over the dining room table.  Perhaps I should have a midwinters party so that I have a reason to build one.

Images via Style Me Pretty

 I think I need to remember this setting for Christmas dinner.
Anybody seen any good chandelier DIY's? I can never look at enough.

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Perfect editing

I wish my space could look so crisp and strong!

image via Decorology

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