Sunshine Award For Haven Home, thank you...

What a beautiful way to finish the week, I have been honoured with the Sunshine Award that so many other such deserving fellow bloggers deserve! Thank you so much to "Aspirations of A Southern Housewife" for your kindness:-).

There is so much to be learned from so many of you who create and inspire the rest of us everyday with you energy, passion and love for what you do and what you share - if I can help contribute in even a small way to making that happen for others, then I have achieved what Haven Home is all about - sharing beautful places, spaces and experiences with you.

I look forward to sharing this award with others who are very deserving...stay tuned as I invite them shortly...

Wishing you all the most wonderful weekend, full of happiness, fun and everything you want it to be!!!

If you don't know it already, you must visit (and now follow!!) "Aspirations of A Souther Housewife"...

www.southernaspirations.blogspot.com

Cooking Beautifully at Capital Kitchen

It's easy to get excited about something when you are passionate about it, & for those who know me at all know that I love sharing my passion for gorgeous new spaces, places & experiences. Such is my excitement for my latest discovery, I simply have to share it with you. The new Chadstone Retail feast includes the divine Capital Kitchen, located in the newest wing of this shopping extravaganza in Melbourne.

The atmosphere is so welcoming, & the interior fitout a brilliant commercial design incorporating a perfect balance of natural materials with cosmopolitan chic. I felt like I could be standing in a Conran cafe in London, or possibly the divine bakery featured in Meryl Streep's latest movie, "It's Complicated" (the styling & set design absolutely gorgeous). It's the latest project by the The Big Group team, the amazing event management company founded by the delightful & dynamic Bruce & Chyka Keebough. I absolutely love it!

Since it has opened, it has been one of my destination locations with friends (before the latest addition to Chadstone, it was 5 years since my last visit), & on each occasion, I have delighted in the experience of sitting in a different 'zone'. On the first occasion when I was meeting a friend for morning coffee, we perched on the metal stools at the very relaxed & social old oak bench, located amongst the hub of activity, (& perfect if you're on your own enjoying a latte with the paper).

On another visit, I relaxed in the divine charcoal wool armchairs enjoying a coffee over conversation, & the other was outside at the outdoor coffee bar. This outdoor corner is resplendent with surrounding landscaping & no doubt hand picked & very bespoke pieces. On this occasion, I couldn't have picked a more perfect afternoon to savour the atmosphere after a dose of retail therapy (& how much more enjoyable it is when you're on holidays). As I took in the afternoon sunshine sitting at the outdoor bar, my ideal customer experience was complete when one of the best (& hottest) lattes I've ever had, was served to me with a genuinely happy smile & customer attention.

Before or after you enjoy the menu of delights, make sure you take time to browse the homewares on offer, the merchandising making not buying something most unlikely. Everything for catering, the kitchen, gift giving to entertaining, Capital Kitchen has it all covered - in one stunning space.

It is fast becoming a favourite with other traders in the centre, offering an extensive menu from morning snacks, lunch, afternoon tea & everything in between. With the liquor license arriving soon, enjoying a pizza & salad with a chilled glass of wine will certainly make late night trading all the more enjoyable!

Capital Kitchen

Ground Floor

(Next to Tiffany & Co)

Chadstone Centre

Chadstone.

P: 03 9563 4144

Happy Australia Day

What a stunning day to celebrate Australia Day...sunshine, beautiful weather, family, friends, social gatherings, happiness, freedom, relaxing, rejoicing...

This afternoon I drove to the Mornington Peninsula with family to see friends & family (yes again, but I just love it) & of course we had to take the most scenic route along Belleura Hill Road - it really gives you the most majestic view of Mornington Bay, the water, the yacht club, sunshine, breathtaking on a day like today. Everywhere I looked people are happy, relaxing, laughing, together, just enjoying being amongst the mood & festive spirit of our special day...yes, we are very lucky indeed...enjoy your special day, & wishing you a wonderful week!

honey field - "rough and ready, yet beautiful"

If you visit the delightful seaside town of Robe in South Australia, you would know the divine homewares store "Holiday", created & owned by Rayna Fahey-Hooper. It has everything for coastal, country & town, plus everything else to create your ideal haven. Her latest project, honey field, is absolutely gorgeous and every bit as impressive.

With Rayna's passion, vision & interior expertise, she restored and rebuilt the 1850s stone cottage from its previous state of disrepair with Ado Bastiaans, a Hungarian-born stonemason she met in the Barossa Valley. Rayna's brief was simple: " rough & ready, yet beautiful".

It is luxury accommodation ideally for one or two guests only, but with every comfort and luxury for the perfect weekend away. It combines Rayna's love of South France, with its flavour of French country style combined with Mediterranean living. Rayna describes it as "...essentially one large room featuring a fully equipped kitchen, living room with stone open fireplaces, a charming dining area & a romantic sleeping space"

I already have my ideal weekend getaway to Robe planned: book into honey field, enjoy a leisurely breakfast of croissants & a strong morning coffee prepared in the gorgeous stone kitchen, then wander off to Holiday to source bespoke pieces, charming touches & authentic fare to replicate the look for your own french savoir faire!

honey field

Kingston Road

ROBE SA

1300 760 629

Symmetry, Luxury & Comfort for Bespoke & Sublime Design

The interior style by renowned & very modest London architect & designer, David Collins, is about symmetry, timeless luxury & comfort. His passion for colour, is evident throughout his London home. Luxurious textures & materials highlight various shades in the blue colour palette, including stunning blue silk-velvet chairs, a bespoke blue pigskin writing desk, white lacquer outdoor furniture finished with navy cushions & Frette bedlinen.

Artwork & small luxuries incorporate shades of aubergine, bronze & dusty pink. The luxurious white cashmere sofa is sublime, framed by bronze lamps with soft applegreen drum shades. The attention to detail, yet understated elegance, is his signature throughout, and absolutely divine.

White & Green impatiens combine with white decking to create a simple yet classic & stunning frame for the symmetrical furniture floorplan against the London landscape. Morning coffee, brunch, lunch, drinks or dinner all no doubt work very well in this space...

Welcome to the New Year...

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that 2010 is beginning brilliantly for you all, with much happiness, success, great healthy and prosperity on the horizon for the year ahead!

Where last year went I don't know, but I'm rather delighted that the new year has begun, as I've been partial to even numbers far moreso than odd!

Well, with a new year comes new beginnings, and so I felt it appropriate to create a fresh look...yesterday my sister and I drove down to Linton's Garden and Home at Mt Eliza, insearch of garden inspiration. I love the peninsula, and the weather was perfect to enjoy the drive around the coast. As always, I love to see what is new with building, renovation and architectural projects. We stopped to look at a property we have been familiar with for many years as it is now on the market, and although it would be wonderful to see it renovated and retained as a family home, it is such a big property that it is likely to be sold for redevelopment.

The street is full of renovation and redevelopment, how much can change in just a few years. It was lovely to see a neighbouring property with a very tasteful and timeless makeover, the facade & architectural bones nurtured and retained, framing a stunning renovation of the home and garden landscape. The colour scheme & window treatments both my favourite, the classic pantone grey highlighted by the clotted cream woodwork and trims, carried through to the cream plantation shutters. So inspired do I continue to be when I see this combination, I simply had to adopt it for Haven Home for 2010!