General update, dragons & rainbows!

 I have had another busy week here - which I love, except it was made particularly difficult because I've hurt my leg tripping over the vacuum cord! As you do. Major ouch! I fell onto the concrete floor and am a total mess. (I'll spare you the gory details!) I have decided that vacuums are dangerous things and need to be used sparingly! (or one needs to engage someone else to clean. He he!) 

Anyhoo.... this is what I've been up to lately:

AFTER

BEFORE

The Terrigal Project is being put back together again; what a difference changing a roof line and adding a few windows can make! It never ceases to amaze me that homes are built with no consideration to aspect or in this case, a spectacular ocean view! David designed these changes to fit within a tight budget. Money well spent I reckon!

I've been looking for bathroom tiles for the same job. I was leaning towards a charcoal tile to continue the flow from carpet to tile. (The client having chosen charcoal carpet) but I've been given a 'no' to this suggestion so am exploring sandy hues instead....and had meetings with several kitchen contractors too regarding pricing.

Davo and I ate our weight with 'Wamby Whoppers' last weekend. If you're ever in Wamberal, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, they're a legendary hamburger! We followed them with a family bowling game which was lots of fun!

 We had to laugh at our eldest daughter's tiny feet (size 3) compared to her boyfriend's (size 13). They're both 22.

Having completed their uni degrees, they are contemplating the big 'move out' together in 'the big smoke'. O.M.G. My baby..... in Surry Hills!!!! Eeeek!

They don't want our stored Javi lounge, they want their own 'stuff'. Fair enough. So Davo and I scrounged this from the side of the road.

Retro Fantastic!!! And in such well loved condition. Thank you Hugh, I hope your father in law, at 94, hears that his well loved lounge will have a new lease of life with my daughter and her BF.

J, D & I went to see the 'How to Train Your Dragon' show at Sydney's Acer Arena too. Wow! We loved 'Walking With Dinosaurs'  last year but this was amazing.

No 2 daughter, A's BF surprised her with tickets to the show the day before we went. Very sweet!

We read the book quite a few years ago and then the movie adaptation came out. This was the icing on the cake. At nine, J still loves the soft toy souvenirs; Toothless now a part of his bedroom collection.

And to top off a perfect day, how better than Grandad making some paper aeroplanes for a flight competition in their backyard! Magic!

 Today I remembered my friend Lisa who lost her battle with Leukemia. We shaved last year to raise funds for this worthy cause but coloured this time. 

A rainbow of hope for other sufferers.

x KL

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Rain Shower purchase! Yay!

 The main bedroom ensuite is progressing....and, you guessed it, slowly! 

It never ceases to amaze me how much timber is 'eaten-up' in adding niches, lowered ceilings and pelmets but details like these take a room from ordinary to extra-ordinary!

I've already purchased the majority of the P.C items, (mostly on sale) but the over-head rain shower needed immediate ordering to finalise the plumbing.

We first fell in love with the idea of an over head rain shower when staying at a Sydney hotel (can't remember which, The Westin rings a bell but I can't find a photo to confirm it!) 

And have seen many pictures since that have kept 'the dream alive'!

The 'dream' shower morphed into a newer beast in the mean time. Complete with LED lighting.

WOW!

So off I went in search of our piece of tropical paradise.

Mmmmm... there's nothing like the 'B' word (that's 'Budget' for the uninitiated), to bring a fantasy and quickened pulse back under control.

 

So here we have it; the Rogerseller 'Cloud Cover'  ceiling mounted shower head. With LED lighting on LHS (Aaahhh....), same sans LED on RHS.... that one's mine and, I think I can still afford soap!

x KL

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On my radar....

Source: http://www.etsy.com/shop/seasidestudiosuk

Everywhere I look, I seem to spy watery, aqua and turquoise tones. They are usually teamed with coral and aquatic themed motifs too. I know the colours have been popular forever but is there more than usual on the radar?

Even Freedom have invested heavily in this colour and style in everything from bed linen to cushions and decor accents. I might be less surprised if we were coming into spring or summer but these new ranges have been released for winter.

Even the replica 'series 7' chair sports this new colourway!

Living by the ocean, I love all these pieces. I could see them in The Terrigal Project too.

What do you think? Is this a long term trend or a 'flash in the pan' fad?

x KL 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Ripples of indecision!

 It's funny how one relatively small decision can create a ripple that changes the direction of a project.

Whilst looking at carpets for The Terrigal Project (classic beige tones as requested by client), they asked what I had selected for our own home and I pointed it out. They loved it immediately. This then lead me to looking for charcoal hued tiles for the bathroom floors to tie in. 

I sent the clients to check out this display and they fell in love with the red walls! Ummm... the brief was beachy - coastal! But hey, this is their house...yup, we can work with this.

They then found a set of 10 dining chairs they loved. Super comfy, on sale, as is. This is the fabric.

 This is leading me back to the original brief.... sandy hues and a more relaxed vibe.

When I decorate my own homes, they evolve slowly... as finances allow. One decision leads to the next and adds to the former framework. Assisting in decision making for a total revamp, all at once is very challenging. I think if given total carte blanche it may be relatively easy to get a cohesive design happening but the wide ranging tastes and indecision of my friends at each step is proving difficult. I am feeling increasingly out of my depth.

Any tips warmly welcomed!

x KL 

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

External flooring & pool surrounds...

 

We're still a LONG way from pool surrounds (Here's where we're at) however to complete other external areas, the outside flooring needs to be decided upon. Whilst scouting for tiles for The Terrigal Project I came across these Travertine tiles in a 'french' pattern.

Talk about L.O.V.E. at first sight!

They will butt up against (proposed) charcoal coloured carpet (play, dining and main bedrooms) and  the 600 mm square marble tiles in the family room.

400 mm square format marble in our guest bedroom en suite.

I know they can't 'match' the marble; it being unsuitable for outside and around the pool. 

I considered, very seriously, grey basalt, but it absorbs heat and becomes too hot to be considered as a pool surround. Likewise, sandstone and light hues can be too reflective and therefore blinding on a hot Australian summer's day.

I considered timber (over the existing slab) too, but heat was also no-no too in this case.

Any ideas?

What do you think of the travertine? In this pattern? (In a contemporary home)

All input greatly appreciated....

x KL

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Main ensuite inspiration & progress!

 THIS was the photograph that inspired my plans for our main bedroom en suite. 

Elegant and understated, sophisticated yet subtle.

 I particularly loved the towel niches at the end of the bath and imagined a gorgeous display area for my coral and candles. Unperturbed that mine was a contemporary build, I took these design ideas and adapted them for my plans.

 I added greater width so they were symmetrical with the bath layout as this example shows above.

The marble seen in both these images adds to my wishfull thinking! LOL!

And here is where we're at. 

Our bath is freestanding (Kado Lure) but I hope to accommodate the bath spout and mixer in the lower section of this solid unit; floor mounted bath spouts costing a bomb!

Today hubby and I spent several hours discussing the practical means to achieve the look I wanted. 

Under shelf tiling was a no-no. Hello! I have pictorial evidence that it can be done.! I requested lighting to each shelf too.... eeek!

In the end, it was all resolved and now I can't wait for it to 'happen'. Thank God I'm not paying darling Hub on an hourly rate though.......!

x KL

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

My black beauty is complete!

Plush delivered the stainless steel legs / base frame today for the playroom lounge and the driver put it all together. He was such a lovely guy. He was telling me that he is a qualified surveyor, but earns more as a truck driver. Go figure!

 

Having never seen the lounge in this fabric (I chose it from a tiny sample in store) or in this layout, it was exciting to see that it looks OK.  David hadn't seen the lounge at all and he thankfully gave it the thumbs up too. I'll re-wrap it up tomorrow so that it is protected until in gets in its correct room and upstairs is finished. I'm tempted to have a 'play' with some cushions on it first though! He he!

The photo above (without flash) shows the deep charcoal colour best. The flash tending to lighten it in photos. She's only a petite lounge as the room where it is intended, is modest in size. Just perfect for PlayStation gaming and Lego building!

Above is a follow up picture of the ensuite cavity doors and shower / toilet cubicles beyond, which were framed out on Sunday afternoon. Baby steps but in the right direction!

x KL 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

Love a lazy sunday!

Wasted a few hours of rare sunshine here yesterday whilst catching up on some favourite mags with a cup of tea in bed. After posting my Luxe list # 1, I couldn't believe the number of images of the same blanket featured in several articles in Belle.

I've obviously in good company with my love of this beauty!

x KL 

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!

My Luxe Lust List....# 1 Hermes Blankets

Do you, like me, have champagne taste on a beer budget?

I thought I'd start a regular Luxe Lust List to record some serious wish-list items. More for me than you really but I hope you'll enjoy it too!

# 1. Hermes Blankets

x KL 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!