Renovation inspiration!

Wow, wow, WOW!

This home was featured in September 2014 feature of House & Garden.

I did a bit of stalking (haha) and visited the builders site from the information in the magazine: http://darvillbuilders.com.au

It was designed by Highgate House Interiors http://www.highgatehouse.com.au/

I have poured over the images again and again. Can't wait to renovate (about 4/5 years I would say).

Swoon!

Catching up!

 

There is a lot I haven't blogged about due to a bit of a hiatus, so I'll just start with some of the most recent happenings! I bought some new lamps - MK thought they needed some more adorning so there are plenty of stickers around.

 

 

I have big custom framing plans as discussed in previous posts - but indulged in a cheap Kmart sunburst mirror ($19) for the interim! Not bad!

 

 

I have just completed a Circle of Security course, it was brilliant. I could do a whole post on that alone!

 

 

After our Caloundra holiday added a few more things to the wall! It's growing, growing.

 

 

And speaking of growing, my baby girl is growing, growing too! This is this morning, a rainy morning so had her gorgeous pink coat on to go to ballet.

 

Life is pretty wonderful at the moment. So incredibly lucky. Hope this post finds you all well, too.

Holiday fun!

 

It had definitely been a while since we have had a holiday - we calculated back to before Will was born!

 

We decided to flick the Hawaii idea for now and go somewhere closer to home, Caloundra.

 

It was all kinds of soul-good lovely. You wouldn't know it was Winter, that is for sure. We spent a lot of time at the beach, swimming in the resort Jacuzzi, the men went fishing and plenty of eating. The markets are on every Sunday and they were so great - worth even a trip up to the coast for those alone.

 

It was so lovely we are planning on going back in November - can't wait!

 

MK keeps asking when we can go on 'her holiday' again! Bless.

Photographing Miss V!

 

I had the honour of photographing Miss V, a little darling second child from Mother's Group - K's oldest and Madeline are the same age.

 

 

Isn't she absolutely gorgeous! The curls are stunning!

 

 

She didn't quite get the smash concept but atleast we tried and her Mum K is happy with the results. I love gifting photography because it is just getting more and more expensive for families to get photos.

 

 

I have downloaded trial versions of Photoshop and Lightroom to try editing - I have a few library books on hold to try and figure it all out! Good fun!

12WBT

 

There was a commitment months ago - perhaps 7 (!) that I was going to do 12WBT on my own - well you can imagine where I ended up - see after photo on the right below!

 

 

I signed up for the Michelle Bridges online program and I am loving learning to cook and I am very slowly losing weight - I actually think I am not eating enough calories as William is still feeding and more often whilst being sick the last month or so. I have been keeping an Instagram diary of sorts and I love having that visual outlet.

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately my knees are causing trouble again and I am off to the podiatrist to get some orthotics to correct the gait. I am dying to run!

 

 

I am hoping to lose about 10kg all up.

Dressing windows...

 

We have some French doors/windows at the front of our home that need some sort of window coverings -I had read on Georgica Pond blog that Melinda had sourced some fabric for her living area from a Profile Fabrics sold out of Seaforth at approximately $30 a metre - such a steal compared to Kravet etc etc. Doesn't it look stunning as drapery?

 

 

I ordered a metre and used it as a test run - please excuse the picture on the wall not centred etc etc and I put it to Instagram to see what people thought. The overwhelming response was to stick to plain - which was the original plan - haha!

 

 

I then came across this image on Instagram and I love this blind with the ribbon trim - perhaps I could do navy? It's all decorating hits and misses!

 

Bedroom musings...

 

How stunning are the blues on this bed? Spotted on Instagram. I decided I might like to have a blue tone alternative to the black and white palette I have. I love the blue quilt in the below pic!

 

 

Target and Myer were having a sale so I bought some blue pillowcases (for like $6 for the pair) and the roll cushion for about $25 reduced (Sheridan from Myer).

 

 

I am yet to use the blue floral fabric from the living room so thought I could make some more cushions for our bed.

 

I also wanted to ditch the cheap silver lamps from Kmart and was admiring some resin ones on eBay that seemed to be reasonably priced.

 

I ran into Freedom the other day and their resin lamps were reduced to $30 each - bargain! The online picture doesn't do justice at all, they are really lovely and I love the square shades!

 

Sew crazy...

 

Mum went away recently and I borrowed her sewing machine - I had pinned a lot of sewing projects so just wanted to see if I could make things! I made a couple of dolly nappies, a reversible bag and stayed up to 2am in the morning making a dress for Madeline (with Ollie's moral support).

 

 

 

 

The dress is quite sweet - but a little big - I was pinning it here to take it up.

 

 

It was good fun! I have a book of Softies to make next time I borrow the machine.

Some more photos...

 

Took some photos for a beautiful little family last weekend. I know the Mama through work.

 

 

Snapped these on my iPhone, a beautiful afternoon at New Farm Park with our Nanny Gold Coast.

 

I'm hoping to do a cake smash with Will over this long weekend.

Bunnings lighting!

 

I was in Bunnings getting a fiddle-leaf fig and decided to have a wander while I had some time (and a compliant baby haha!) I was surprised to find a decent chandelier - maybe dining room?

 

 

Or these crystal spheres?

 

 

Love these glass bells. I'm re-thinking my kitchen lights. Just need to hang them all so it is done!

 

 

And also love these spheres for the bathrooms.

 

 

Bunnings huh. Who woulda' thunkit.

This week...

 

Earthborn were having a sale this week, 50% off. I picked up this cabinet (originally $600) for less than 50% at $150!

 

 

The blue and white pot looks stunning with lilies! And one of my favourite pictures of MK and I.

 

 

I went to the Magnolia sale and bought some Schumacher Trelllis off cuts for $4. Mum is going to sew it into a runner for me for the little cabinet above. Gosh I would love to buy it to make roman blinds for the front room.

 

 

My first issue of House Beautiful arrived - a subscription from my in-laws. A chair sporting a practice cover and a new fiddle-leaf fig from Bunnings.

 

 

Bed looking comfy - picture still to be framed!

Cross Bench

 

Sooo, I was on instagram again and stumbled across a lady whose husband had made a cross bench to be adorned with fabric etc. for her bedroom.

 

And I thought - ADAM COULD DO THAT! Haha!

 

I have seen the benches quite frequently on Pinterest but to buy one locally or to import one, the costs are ludicrous. So I asked Adam, he said it would be easy - he just needs time. (Don't we all).

 

I had a quick look on Pinterest and found some good examples:

 

A longer studded one:

 

A shorter studded one:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A tufted one:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And in situ:

 

 

Now just to find him some of that time...

Framing!

The magazines have arrived, I love them! (Posted below again!)

Which begs the question, how to frame them?!

I love the matting proportions here.

I love how they flank a mirror and the blue and white here.

These proportions and frame colour are lovely.

And more examples of simple framing to let the images 'do the talking'.

My current favourite is the frames flanking a mirror. I think they are destined for the dining room!