New Season Homewares

I love the changes that a new season brings, especially those affecting the home in autumn and spring. Freshly into Autumn, my fave stores are restocking their wares in tempting new designs that reflect now, global trends.

Here's some of my latest faves:

1. The ombre trend is fading (LOL) but this snugly throw in blue still looks the business to Moi! Ombre Throw in Blue $59.95 $44.95 Bed Bath 'n Table

2. Love the Scandi look but find the Pia Cross blankey a bit exy? Try this look-a-like; Portland Onyx Throw $99.99 from Adairs

3. Addicted to linen sheeting? Warm up the palette for autumn with colour-of-the-moment, Indigo from $75 (pair of pillowcases) In Bed Store

4. 5. & 6. I love beautiful towels and the Vue Spa range are sumptuous. Love the velvet banding and jewel like colours!(emerging trend?) There are multitudes of mix 'n match items too! Pictured are turquoise, chevron silver and charcoal from $9.95 (face washer) exclusive to Myer

7. 8. & 9. No autumn update is complete without some new cushions. I'm crushing the velvet options this season in brights and patterns. Emerald Velvet $120 from Harold's Finishing Touches. Silvan silk velvet $130 and Mavi silk velvet  from $100 Cultiver

And of course, all these items can be purchased online! Yippee!

What's on your wish list for autumn?

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

I spy

Top to bottom, Left to right:
 

A Father's Day gift idea? Blueprint Print $24.95 from The Home

My latest love: Iron & Glass display boxes by House Doctor. Royal Designs

Online buy: Adia Kibur Crystal Earings from Shopbop. $22 USD with free delivery to Oz!

Faux Plant. All the good ones are exy. But unkillable; a worthwhile investment? Image: Pinterest.
 

EF-S-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Perfect wide angle lense for entry level DSLR users. $449 Canon.

I still get frustrated that West Elm Australia doesn't stock all the seriously swishy goodies of its US counterpart. Small marble based Pillar Table Lamp from West Elm USA.
 

Chinoiserie perfection! Did you know bed sizes are different all over the world? Makes international purchase impossible except for pillows! Sheridan Eastcott Euro. House of Frazer UK.

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 
You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

winter

via Abode

 Mother Nature skipped Autumn and Winter has been slow to arrive here this year. Whilst we have been enjoying the unseasonably warm weather, I was aware of a strong desire for some variation. This long weekend has brought wet, cooler temperatures and although not nice for holiday makers, I've quite enjoyed the excuse to snuggle-up inside. I think I was missing the transformation in wardrobe and decor that comes with a change of season!

One of the items on my winter 'radar' and wish-list has been Mongolian wool cushions.

 

 Anywho, in perfect timing, a white, Mongolian wool cushion has arrived at La Hacienda from Abode Living! It has definitely added the requisite texture and warmth to our new sofa and is divinely soft. 

Only problem? I think it needs a friend...

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

currently coveting

 1. / 2. / 3. / 4. / 5. / 6.

Image: The Design Chaser

 1. Hay Tray Table from Designcraft.
I've been spying these little occasional tables featured in a multitude of homes on many favourite blogs. I think they'd be perfect for the family room here. Luckily these Danish design pieces are available in Australia from several retailers. Hay has many covetable pieces; I'm also drooling over their strap mirror and marble trays!

Image: West Elm USA

2. Eduardo Garza Crystal Box from West Elm.
 While West Elm may now have a retail outlet here, the best stuff remains frustratingly confined to the US stores. This handmade box was created in collaboration with New York sculptor Eduardo Garza. and is made from soapstone, brass and crystal.

Image: Moth Design

  

3. Kate Spade Rose Scented Candle from Nordstrom.

One of my favourite blogs is Erica Cook's Moth Design. I spied this little Kate Spade black and white candle in an image of her recently revamped bedroom, as seen above. Love. I haven't been able to track a stockist here but Nordstrom sell and ship internationally. The candle comes in a few different colourways / designs including a gold spot one. *Drool*!

Image: HOFP

 4. Chunk Candlestick by Menu.

Another all-time-favourite blog is The House of Philia or HOFP. Every area of her home is beautifully curated and I'm always spying beautiful, classic homewares to covet! The Menu Chunk Candlesticks (marble / copper) are one such example. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate a local stockist nor an international site for these so they may stay an unattainable dream. A bit like the Georg Jensen Thermos. Again spied on HOFP's blog, in an image of her swish bar cart. Readily available worldwide, this is a real luxury priced item though, and may stay on the wish list for some time to come!

Image: HOFP

 5. Georg Jensen Bernadotte Thermo from Georg Jensen.
 

6. Ceramic Jewelry Tray from J. Crew.

A recent post on The Zhush, alerted me to this cute little jewelery tray in my favourite combination of black and white. Available through J.Crew with international shipping, this baby is winging her way to me now! Yippee!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback! If you enjoy my ramblings, perhaps consider following by Email, Bloglovin' or Google+. Join this site via Google Friend's Connect so I can follow you too!

seren'dipitous online shopping!

I've found an aesthetic soul-mate in Aaron Bourne of Harold's Finishing Touches.

 After 'discovering' him via Jen Bishop of The Interiors Addict in 2012, there's been little need for trawling the Internet for special pieces that pique my interest. No sore feet and disappointment in the local store offerings either!

Except for the faux bovine skull, all the items below are from his online store - it's a good thing (for my wallet) I don't live near enough to pop into his physical one!

Another serendipitous online find was the replica Constellation Map - Explorer; Compass to The Southern Sky, below right. Not a bad representation of the Thomas O'Brien map featured in the Elle Decor image, below left. Thank you Mimosa Lane for the tip off!

 I'm also excited to have secured the charcoal linen King bedhead I wanted for our new main bedroom. Dilema I posted about HERE, resolved! Yee Ha! 

Can you believe we're well past the half way mark of 2013?! 

Someone mentioned Christmas to me the other day. *shudder* 

Don't know about you, but I feel like I'm in some kind of space- time warp continuum where everything is sped up! Wish it would slow down so I could disembark! LOL!

x KL 

 Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

My Saturday...

Top to Bottom, Left to Right:

Unpacked these wee Kidrobot POP Balloon animals that I found on Ebay. They are sooo cute! I bought the cheapest ones as I want to paint them all the one colour. Gold.  Like Holly from Glamourmash did. Love. (PS: Check out Holly's Blog for some awesome glamour inspiration!)

The Middle Child, A, is contemplating leaving the nest!!! *sob*  

Maybe. 

Or going to Europe. Or back to Uni... 

Just-in-case the move wins her internal debate she bought this eight seater dining setting. A $250 bargain. In as-new-condition. She's my girl! LOL! And it is now sitting upstairs in a recently cleared area. I will not repeat David's enthusiastic exclamation at it's arrival. Aunt Mary's fridge and washing machine are to join it next week. Hooray.......N O T!

All those Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma and West Elm pre-opening blogger posts have had me enthralled and glued to my iPad.  

My invite obviously got lost in the mail.

 I'm more an online shopper these days anywho... so thought I'd give them a whirl. Clickety-clack and this PB faux coral whatsie should be knocking on moi's door. Will keep you up to date on the service...

Our main bedroom, walk-in-robe and the shoe cupboard are all ready for fit-out; architraves, skirting and doors. Then we can paint! Yippee!!!! (NO prizes for what David did today!)

My secret (shhhh) Mother's Day pressie from J.Crew arrived yesterday. I first told you more about it HERE. It is absolutely beautiful and antiquey looking but sadly is going to be returned. Maybe it's the old scraggy neck and a gazillion scars but it just doesn't sit right. It's shaped so it sits off the chest in a bulky way....I do not need more bulk! The second pic shows how it's curved. Must ask Ms Moth if hers does that too? 

Had a bit of a fiddle with the niche styling. I think the rear wall needs to be painted?

See the A4 swatch on the lower LHS of the artwork? Dulux Timeless Grey. 

Whatchathunk?

Drafted some landscaping plans....a girl's gotta dream! (And I was procrastinating from cleaning out the bird cage....LOL!)

Speaking of birds....perhaps this guy can replace the necklace for Mother's Day? 

Ooooh, there's a happy thought!

Hope you had a lovely Saturday....what did you get up to?

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!

arty farty stuff

 I am soooo itching to get 'upstairs' - s p r e a d  o u t  - and unpack all the treasures I've amassed and those that have been packed away for over three years! In the mean time, I swing between decorating the lower house with enthusiasm or treat it with total distain disinterest.
 (Ditto the house cleaning) Eeeek!

As mentioned once ?  (LOL) before, we are aiming at completing the unfinished areas downstairs whilst waiting for funds to allow the completion of the upper areas. I'm trying to visualise and decorate a half finished house and half finished rooms to make our current, less-than-perfect, living arrangements as comfortable and aesthetically pleasing as possible!

This is the view, upon entering the house and looking right from the entry into the family room.
(Hello S!; who declined this incredible photo opportunity!) This is a 'temporary' dining area; it will be an unencumbered walkway when we occupy upstairs and is the only good image I have of the area I wish to discuss in this post!

I created a deep 'niche' for art on the far wall as it was an obvious view line from the entry. (There will be a retractable wall / door in between to isolate when needed) This is an expected high traffic area to the family room, pool, outside entertaining, beds 3 & 4 and laundry / entertaining kitchen.
The wall was created initially as a repository for a fully retractable glass wall between the family room and outdoor entertaining area.

O.K.... so back to decorating! I bought my first carved skull for this niche (LHS pic) as I had always envisioned sculpture here. The skull created drama though, if you're interested; HERE, HERE and HERE. Apart from being disappointed in the carving quality, the skull was too small for the niche so I on-sold it on eBay and after a holiday to Bali, welcomed Bindi to our home (RHS pic)

Bindi didn't look right either though, even though better scaled for the spot so I've tried a few various arty- farty arrangements...

...and decided Bindi definitely needed a new home. She has temporarily ?  replaced an artwork on the charcoal hall wall. (Still to be hung properly though!) Thoughts?

Which left the niche still empty. Damn.
Anyhoo....then I saw a Designer Boys framed sea fan. The colour, composition and size were all perfect....SO..... here she is:

I obviously need to tidy up all the crap that magnetises itself to that ledge and also do a wee bit of styling. And Davo needs to finish the niche light....

 Ho Hum...but at least one wall has it's centerpiece finalised, right?

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!

Hello Gorgeous!

 School holidays are drawing to an end here, mores the pity. At 10, J is very independent and I can enjoy a lazy sleep-in when there's no school. No chasing him to bed at night is also heaven. We're getting back to routine over the weekend though in prep for Monday!

David has been busy upstairs again....no prizes for guessing what he's still doing! 

Bought these black and white vases after 'um'ing and 'ah'ing for an eternity at Freedom and ordered a designer-copy-cat spine book tower thingy. It takes 12 weeks to get one! I just expected them to pop it in my car. LOL! Live and learn! I serendipitously received a $50 gift voucher too which was unexpected. Not sure what I'll buy with it yet....

Remember my recent post about Juju hats? Mine arrived today.... I love it's texture but I sadly packed it away until upstairs is ready to be decorated. *sigh*

And this absolutely gorgeous, sparkly Anya Hindmarch clutch may or may not be delivered soon. Perhaps in time for Mother's Day? NET-A-PORTER....I lurve you!

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!

On My Radar: Gold Highlights

 Are you conscious of Metallic Gold making a reappearance into interior design?

It seemed to fall by the way side in the past 15 years or so but I'm noticing its warmth being added again. Shiny, matte, copper, rose or gleaming yellow are all increasingly being selected;. adding a subtle touch here, a pop of glint there.

I still love silver as a contemporary highlight but am really loving these inspiring images. It's like a breath of fresh air. Of course all the pictures here also feature my favourite Black and White palette!
You know it's a big trend when the high-street stores include it in their new collections too. Country Road have stayed on the fence and have both options available!

 Silver or Gold....
Any preference?

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!