Domestic stuff and good design - dinnerware

I had a wee read of my own posts today and realised that I have no idea what I'm doing. Technically, I think I'm getting better. I know how to put credits under photos, shift their position, adjust their size and have added labels to my blog! Content wise? Well, it looks as mad as an old woman's breakfast. (All over the place!) So I thought I'd try sticking with a 'theme' for a week and thought I'd start with the items that have good design and are boringly practical.
There are lots of great stores, online and / or retail that specialise in this sort of thing. 'Top 3' by design is one of my faves and I love receiving their catalogues.

Above are some pictures of my everyday crockery. They are housed temporarily, (as is the case for most stuff about here) in an Ikea Expedit bookcase. (I have 6 of these bookcases. They're so versatile!) For awhile now I've noticed how worn they're looking and so an update will be soon required. They're a mish mash of brands; Maxwell Williams (porcelain), Vue (fine bone china) and Freedom. The bottom picture shows how they have worn. The porcelain gets marked indelibly by cutlery, far more than the bone china which is also whiter and finer looking. I bought the lipped dinner plates from Freedom because I liked their shape. And that lip is practical too! Below are my current 'TOP OF THE LIST' favourites for purchase. They're from Noritake and are designed by Marc Newson. High quality fine bone china. Tick. White. Tick. Lipped plates. Tick. Divine, don't you think?

Photos courtesy of Noritake

They are not available until August here, but can be pre-ordered - at a discounted price!!! Yee Ha!!!

x KL

A Confession - 7 deadly sins

I've never lied about my decorating tastes. I have openly shared my somewhat robust acceptance and appreciation of most 'styles'. I think that is why I term myself 'ectectic'. It saves me from committing to one design preference for any length of time. And, what I create is more interesting than mish mash - I hope.

My confession here revolves around the seven deadly sins; 

Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy and Gluttony that were first listed in AD 590 and made widely feared by Pope Gregory. Theologically, sin creates the threat of eternal damnation and Reconciliation is the way to forgiveness ...and polishing your halo. 

Soooo... here  is my confessional!

WRATH: (Anger) Mmmm. I'll preface this with excuses. Monthly cycle, pre- menopause, pre-diabetic, no thyroid, living in the build, eating dust constantly. But this makes me cranky....

   Give me a break!!!!

Acceptable

GREED: Not satisfied with one Bromely, I bought two. No excuses. Very guilty! (And, Shhhh, I'd like another one!!!)  

 

 SLOTH: (Avoidance of labour) Well. This goes without saying or pictures! If I didn't play on my new laptop so much the house might be closer to completion. And the apple wouldn't have fallen so close to the tree. (I don't want my darling daughter of said slothful bedroom interned to a fiery existence!)

Our last project

PRIDE: (Vanity) Oh yes, guilty again. I am proud of the tiny bits that are finished. I LOVE my marble flooring in the bathrooms and now I know the house plan 'works' - I'll tell anyone who'll listen I was the architect! Oh, and our last house wasn't too shabby either!

LUST: (Passion)Yes, guilty again. Oh dear. I am passionate about interiors. I get so excited by a new challenge that when friends move, build or renovate I am there with my creative hat on, wanted or not and reveling in the creation of new ideas!

ENVY: Now, style stalking, magazine worship and blog loving is not true envy is it? It's research, inspirational gathering, recon!  OK. My guilty confession is that this vice is one I succumb to the most frequently. My 'wish list' only contracts if i can cross something off. Please understand.  

My temporary entry arrangement!

Entry Envy? You bet!!!

GLUTTONY: Damn.Yes. I want it all! And, I want it now!!!!! The hilarious part is that if you look at my current entry proposition, that beautiful packing grate was heaven senta few months ago!

It was a ginormous improvement to the plank entry that we had to get in and out of the house. Am I never satisfied? Where will it end?

(Well.... between you and me and this sacrosanct confessional; the pic above right looks like one damn fine destination!)

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment; I love receiving feedback! It helps me get to know you too!

Annual migration

We are very fortunate here to have great views of the ocean. The front of our house faces North to North - East and we have designed the house to capture those views with deck areas off the family room, formal lounge / dining and main bedroom. One of the nicest parts of our design (I think!), is the multi - purpose laundry area. It overlooks the largest deck area on the middle level and is very generous in size. We have incorporated concertina windows to one wall of the laundry so that it can be used additionally as a kitchenette or bar area servicing this entertainment level.  The pool will be on this level too. One day!!!!
I was ironing today and saw my first whale of the season. They do an annual migration north to warmer waters to have their calves. We then get a birdseye's view again on their return in September, bubs in tow, often playing together in groups for a few hours! Magic!!!

Don't you just hate power lines!!!? The whale was breaching. It made my day! And I found this picture of the HMAS Adelaide being scuttled to form an artificially reef off Avoca Beach. My eldest daughter snapped this one from our top deck a few months ago whilst we has a lovely brunch and glass of champers to watch with lots of friends!

IT dilemmas

Can anyone point me in the correct direction for some simple Blog tutorials? I have seen people post pictures into comments forms but was unable to work out how to do this when I wanted to reply to a dilemma of B from B is Building a House.

I need assistance with referencing pictures too. How do you put it under each picture in tiny print?

I'll just have to slightly modify my mantra till I get it all worked out! (The pic above is perfect but that 'or' should read 'and'!)
x KL

'The Block'

Photo Courtesy of Channel Nine

Are you watching the new series of The Block on Channel Nine? The time slot doesn't suit me so I watch the downloaded version the next morning whilst I'm on the treadmill. It definitely keeps me entertained whilst I do this new brain - numbingly boring activity!.

I liked the bedroom above that was designed by Shannon and Aaron in the first elimination episode. It would slot quite easily into my house! (I might moderate the black with another 'blackish' colour though) I particularly LOVE that round rug from RC&D (Rugs, Carpet & Design) and have already checked out their website. This rug isn't featured so I'll have to give them a call. It is stunning, don't you think? Does anyone know any more information, such as cost?

Have you ever noticed that when your looking to buy a new (insert desired object) that you seem to see them everywhere? What came first? Your idea or the trend? Am I subconsciously following an emerging trend or do I have a great idea and then am conscious of something similar when I see it? Anyhow, dark walls; charcoal, black, grey - they all seem to be very popular at the moment and that means more inspirational images for me. Yippee!!!