Inspiration...

A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a spark that creates extraordinary results...

Author unknown...

Monday, May 16, 2011

"Blue Monday: 7 Nearly Blue Rooms"

I was delighted when I was approached by the online design firm, Design Shuffle (http://www.designshuffle.com/) an American social media site filled with Interior Design Ideas from top tier design talent from around the globe. Registration to this absolutely fabulous online design resource is free, and for those of you who love the world of interior design, contemporary, classic, eclectic or otherwise, I highly recommend you register.

I hope you enjoy this post, "Blue Monday: 7 Nearly Blue Rooms" written by Lindsay, one of the Design Shuffle team, and I look forward to sharing more from them, with you, in future.




While a hint of blue Mondays may leave one down and out, blue in the home is anything but. Blue comes in a bevy of tints and shades, its effects are almost always calm, cooling and meditative. Tints of blue in Robyn's Egg, Periwinkle, Sky and Powder work beautifully in the bedroom, office or as an exercise room. Even more vibrant shades with hints of green, think Peacock and Teal, are cool and calm in the living room or den. If you're hoping to incorporate a new, versatile colour into your interior design ideas, blue is definitely a great place to start.

The above room is an example of a vibrant shade of turquoise done in the bedroom. It may be bright, but the white and gray accents of the bed, nightstands and lamps, offset the shock and it's still calming.



In the bedroom, above, pale blue walls give off a cool, calming effect and are accented by similarly tints of blue in the bed's headboard, as well as the curtains. White of course works well here, but chocolate brown offers a surprising, though understated, pop of colour.



While this sitting room, above is another 'tropical' shade of blue, its vibrancy is well-balanced by chocolate, camel and ivory.



In this Nantucket beach house, above, the designer evokes oceanic blues and white throughout, but the high ceilings and beautiful, natural light of the bathroom, together with the pale blue walls, evokes an almost airy quality.





Deep navy walls are young, fresh and feminine, thanks to french mirrors, a Phillipe Starke Ghost chair, and bright pops of lipstick red.





The above classic pairing of white and a deep shade of cobalt blue is stately, yet serene in the drawing room of this villa on the island of Capri. It's one of the easiest interior design ideas to incorporate into your home because of its simplicity.




This room is actually mostly white, but the painted wooden floors in Robyn's Egg Blue together with the sunlight, create an unbelievably serene feeling, almost like the ocean.


These rooms are proof positive that blue can be calming, cooling, even vibrant, but never sad.


Design Shuffle



Thursday, May 5, 2011

Natural Winter Warmth
















Natural, neutral, white & cream together, timeless, chic, warm, always works & looks divine

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Living with TOAST









I love TOAST. Whether for your home or your wardrobe, the mix of colour, layers & textures combine key pieces with simple touches to create an endless thread of inspiration...


Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Millswyn





Yesterday I enjoyed a fabulous girls' lunch at The Millswyn, my second since it opened only a few months ago. Located opposite the Botanic Gardens, & site of the once infamous formal dining institution, Lynches, it has been completely reinvented with new soul & energy & is absolutely divine. It is testament to a brilliant design interpretation between owner/entrepreneur, Davis Yu, & renowned interior design team, Hecker Guthrie. Working with a neutral base palette, the detail in the fittings & fitout also reveal an appreciation for Scandinavian design & New York style.


The service was both efficient & enthusiastic, & the food a perfect Saturday menu of gourmet delights. We lingered longer over wine & coffee, savouring the atmosphere of the cocktail bar & the music in a very understated, relaxed & welcoming ambience at this fabulously chic new dining establishment. Now, to organise dinner...

The Millswyn


Thursday, April 7, 2011

Holiday Solitude...

Autumn, my very favourite season. Whether Easter or a cosy weekend away, a coastal retreat is my ideal getaway as the nights get cooler, the leaves change. Fresh sea air, sleeping, reading, movies, no time restraints. Brunch at all hours, walks along the beach, a picnic with friends...I'm looking forward to relaxing & enjoying a few simple pleasures, to re-energise & have time to do little that we all need to find.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Iris' Holiday Heaven...



Like so many Nancy Meyers' fans, I adore her style & appreciation for beautiful furnishings & focal pieces. For those of us who embrace romantic comedies, complete with stunning set design,The Holiday is the perfect movie (yes, I too watched it once again tonight, & loved it even more!).
Timeless, Hamptons influence, belgian interior colour palettes & the perfect balance of natural materials against the sophisticated blend of texture & space threads throughout "Amanda's" home in this always feel good title.
Together with 'It's Complicated' & 'Something's Gotta Give', 'The Holiday' completes a visual feast of sophisticated, yet understated & timeless interior design, but echoes warmth & comfort from every aspect...set design made for home...

Sunday, January 23, 2011

From Hotel to Home with Crown Gifts online...


Crown Gifts - luxurious pillows all wrapped up


Crown Metropol Bathrobe-available in velour, micro fibre, waffle-weave

Crown Towers Doona Cover

Crown Promenade Ensemble

Crown Towers Pillowcase



Crown Towers Ensemble

Crown Metropol Pillowcase



The world renowned Crown Hotel Melbourne epitomises luxury & opulence. The experience bestowed upon guests is now available to replicate at home, through the Crown Gifts online store...
The superb 'At Home' collection offers a range of beautiful bedlinen & accessories to recreate the inhouse luxury that is resplendent in every suite of Crown Towers, Crown Promenade & Crown Metropol.
Whether your perfect night's sleep requires duck & feather down pillows, complete with doonas to match, luxury thread count sheets & pillowcases, or the divine touch of a Crown Metropol bathrobe, the 'At Home' collection from Crown Gifts online is now available for you to enjoy everyday... at home...
For more information on the luxurious Crown Gifts, visit: http://www.crowngifts.com.au/


Monday, January 17, 2011

Divine style with Suzie Anderson at Home...







There are moments when you walk into a space, whether it be a home, a retail store or a hotel interior, & you think, this is absolutely divine! Such is the style of Suzie Anderson, owner of the magnificient Hopewood Country House in Bowral, NSW, & home to the gorgeous "French & Country".
When the time came several years ago for Suzie to sell her much loved Blue Mountains retreat, the many pieces that she collected & restored were relocated to the Sudney Antique Centre, where they were featured in a small French flavoured stand. From then, her collections expanded to include a European style, favouring original painted pieces in shades of faded greys, sage greens & white, all of which remain constants in her interior palette today. A more contemporary, masculine balance has evolved in recent years with Belgian accents adding a stronger focus to rustic collections.
From the idyllic setting of her home, the historic Hopewood Estate, French & Country expanded to occupy the old property stables. Through a series of Open days & appointments, customers were invited to enjoy the beautiful ambience of Suzie's interior magic in her Highlands property.
Her love for creating "a home environment...a tribute to all the senses", (which I completely appreciate & endeavour to emulate whether at home, for a client or in retail interiors), is once again evident in her latest decorating emporium, Susie Anderson Home. Again, this divine environment reflects her personal style with unique & wonderful pieces. Enjoy a weekend retreat at this stunning estate & experience it from the moment you arrive...

Suzie Anderson Home
Contact details:
By appointment at Hopewood Country House: 0411 4488 17
Also at Highland House, 21 Boolwey St., Bowral, NSW. (02) 4861 2195

Monday, November 29, 2010

Melting Magic in Nottinghill

Melt. What a deliciously appropriate name for a gorgeous chocolatier, in the heart of divine Nottinghill. Family, festive spirit & merchandising delights for all to enjoy, as shared by Bill Granger & his 3 daughters. Chocolate treats & perfect gifts all wrapped up in bonbon colours, simply yet beautifully displayed & something for all ages. I love the idea of one gift, whether it be a bonbon chocolate, soap, or a decoration for the tree, buy one in each colour, make a story, & make a statement, simple & understated - one of each colour, wrapped in a gorgeous little carry bag & tied with grosgrain ribbon to match, finished of course with a simple festive tag.

Hot pink with orange, lime & hotpink, or all 3 together, always looks fresh, happy & very chic. Hydrangeas & fairy lights, Jo Malone Candles, traditional carols, mince tarts, shortbread & eggnog, yes, I'm ready for Christmas coffee with friends:-)

http://www.meltchocolates.com/

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

OPENING THIS THURSDAY......

The Colour Lab Store/Cafe-Melbourne

opens THIS THURSDAY!!!

We can hardly wait...morning coffee (Nick makes the best latte!), freshly squeezed juices, delicious breakfast & lunch menu (I've been very lucky to sample many of the delights on offer by the Cafe Manager, Caroline, her culinary expertise is just amazing!), lots of energy, inviting ambience, friendly & fabulous staff, & a brilliant mix of produce & product. Over the past 3 months, there has been such excitement from other traders & business owners, Stonnington residents, customers & colleagues...thank you all so much for waiting so patiently for the doors to open, it has indeed been a huge project, but we promise you that it has been well worth the wait!!

We hope that you are going to love it as much as we already do, & that you will become familiar faces & regular customers. We are really looking forward to sharing our store, cafe, events, workshops & calendar activities with you as we open the first Colour Lab Store/Cafe this Thursday, November 4th, 2010 at 9am!! :-)

The Colour Lab Store/Cafe Melbourne
385 High St.,
Prahran, Melbourne. 3181
P: 03 9510 3858
E: thecolourlab@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Exciting new retail concept in Melbourne...opening soon....

Opening Soon...

The Colour Lab Store/Cafe - Melbourne

Hello there!! I know, it's been far too long since I last posted a blog, but I have been very involved in a very exciting new retail brand, due to open VERY SOON!!

The Colour Lab Store/Cafe, the pilot store for a dynamic global roll out plan, is situated next to the beautiful Victoria Gardens in Prahran, Melbourne. It brings together a brilliant concept that is bound to soon become a destination location for retail, cafe & health lovers, embracing layers of colour in food, home, & for yourself, to enjoy, share & experience!!


This is an all encompassing new business brand & philosophy for creator & owner, Roz Mackay, an amazingly energetic, inspiring & passionate entrepreneur who has previously shared this collective vision in individual portfolios, including retail homewares & Interiors, cafes & art galleries.

The Colour Lab Store/Cafe - Melbourne, will offer a range of services & products, from cafe, take home produce, convenience shopping for busy professionals, weekend hampers for picnics in the park, gifts for every occasion, Vision Board workshops (a must for men & women, truly inspiring & insightful), & event management, fresh juices for that morning energy boost, to the best in coffee from Byron Bay Coffee Company.

Colour is energy, emotion & personal expression in all that we do, how we live, what we eat & how we feel. From the moment you walk in the door (& what a landmark door it is!), to the moment you leave, the team at The Colour Lab Store/Cafe - Melbourne, want to make sure that every customer feels energised, rejuvenated, happy & inspired...to enjoy the very best possible 'feel good' experience...

Stay tuned for The Colour Lab Store/Cafe - Melbourne lead up & opening...we can hardly wait!!!

The Colour Lab
385 High St.,
Prahran, VIC 3181
P: 03 9510 3858
E: thecolourlab@gmail.com
http://www.thecolourlab.com.au/

Thursday, June 10, 2010

St Regis Punta Mita Resort - Mexican Magic...































St Regis Punta Mita Resort, is a magical & oh so beautiful coastal destination on the North of Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Instrumental to the development of this world class resort, was Interior Designer Roy Azar, who has lived in Mexico since 1970. At 22, he established his own design practice, & has channeled his passion for design, inspired by everyday objects, into his client work, including commercial & residential design, & in more recent years, the world of hospitality. His style includes new traditional, modern & natural, classic cool & rustic chic...all with timeless aesthetic appreciation.
The book of the same name, has been created with the same passion as the resort itself, & embodies the stunning beauty of the timeless appeal created by his vision. It absorbs your imagination, & takes you far away to a paradise on the Pacific Coast of Mexico...simply heaven...
"St Regis Punta Mita" by Roy Azar
Hasson publishing