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

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a new favourite

Stumbled upon the Black + White tasticness of Stylizmo HERE. Well worth a peep!

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!

Blog Love & Top Interiors Predictions for 2013

I have a gazillion blogs that I follow, subscribe to, and love. 

Some are like mine; personal journeys of building, interiors, life or fashion.

Others are 'professional' specialist types and then there's the  'in-betweeners'!

I've been following Jen Bishop of Interiors Addict for a long time and always read her posts with the greatest of interest.
(She started as an in-betweener and is now a professional, you can read her blog's pedigree HERE!)

Jen's blog has a finger on the pulse of interior design and her posts are always very fresh and informative. I often 'hear it first' through this site.

Anyhoo...thought I'd share her latest post: Top Interior Predictions for 2013.

Jen asked some of Australia’s best interior designers and stylists for their opinion of what 2013 will bring in terms of interiors trends. Here’s what they had to say: 

"Steve Cordony, interior design editor, Belle magazine, and stylist: “This coming year I think we will see lots of natural materials such as marble, timber, brass, copper and cut glass which evoke a sense of calm and grounding. Using different shades and tones of trending colours such as blue, green and orange will inject warmth into our spaces. Quirky pieces (think spiky sculptures and animal shaped ceramics) and one-off finds will add a sense of interest and adventure into our interiors.”
Stylist and author Megan Morton: “People are now understanding the value and inherent beauty of interiors that are created with hand and heart. This explains the rise and rise of the craft and handmade movement. I predict we will see an even richer combination of made and bought, providing even more delicious spaces.”
Interior designer Greg Natale: “I see Memphis Milano becoming an influence on design again. Memphis was a design movement and furniture company started by Ettore Sottsass in the 80s. It was a reaction against Modernism and I think personally, they were trying to create warm interiors again by injecting humour and colour. What I like about Memphis is the asymmetrical shapes, black and white stripes, strong colour and wit.”
Stylist Jason Grant: “I like to encourage people to find their own style, to buy what they love and not to to be a slave to trends.”
Interior designer David Hicks: “2013 will see individual style flourish as we continue to head in a non-conformist way. Regency, bold patterns and extravagant designs may give way to the liveability of more subtle, tactile designs with pops of pattern and colour.”
Interior designer Aaron Wong: “”I feel that interior design is taking a bigger interest in not just what fills out the room but how the walls and ceilings are treated. I think there will be more interesting finishes for walls and ceilings that go beyond your standard paint and wallpaper. Oh, and brass!”
Stylist Jane Frosh: “‘Gold, peach and dusty emerald confetti bomb explosion. Boom! (How much fun would that be?) Rockstar glam slammed back to earth with natural linens and textiles.”
Home stager and stylist Naomi Findlay of the International Institute of Home Staging: “Geometric shapes will still be in, and lots of textures. I also think wallpapers are making a bit of a resurgence too.”
Interior designer Chelsea Hing: “Colour will be big this year as more and more people grow tired of a neutral palette and come over to the dark side. We’ll see loads of experimentation, burning of the rule books and a total embrace of individualism as we realise the path to self expression is through embracing what really makes us happy.”
Stylist Jacinta Preston: “High technology collides with the handmade: our homes are smarter but the trend for a more personal connection continues. Our homes are a self portrait of who we are, where we’ve been and where we’re going. Mother nature and the natural world merge with the machine-made to change our ideas on material selection, decoration and craft.  Colour crush: blue. Blue is the Hugh Jackman of colours! Everybody loves Hugh and everybody loves blue.”
Stylist Emma Blomfield: “Be bold and brave. It’s easy to be beige so take a risk with the smaller stuff and go nuts with soft furnishings like cushions, rugs and throws. Pops of colour dispersed through the room will give you something to look at instead of everything blending together. Splash out with some digitally printed canvases, watercolour cushions and dyed cow hide rugs.” "

Fascinated? Impressed? ! Interiors Addict has to be one of my most favourite sites. If you haven't already; bookmark, subscribe or follow NOW!

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!

Things I'm loving....

The discovery of the elusive Higgs boson particle by Physicists at CERN (The European Organisation for Nuclear Research). Finally! Remember the date 4th July, 2012!

News of the safe arrival of my friend's bub. Welcome gorgeous girl!

Stalking the always fresh styling of Claudia Peepmystyle and her friend Hannah. 

Above is Hannah's study in her new home.

Image on the left courtesy of Bondville. The image on the right from a favourite blog but I am unable to reference appropriately. If this is yours please let me know so I can rectify this.

 Artwork by clever people who actually follow through with a creative idea achieving something extraordinary!

Cartier re-released Juste un Clou jewelry. *Sigh*

Moth orchids and striking wall paper

Wise words and quatrefoil designs

Source: Coco Republic Design Field Notes

The Avoca Beach House by Saville Isaacs.

Witnessing our last building project, the Avoca Beach House gather recognition. The architect being awarded the Gerberit Prize at last week's Australian Institute of Architects NSW Awards.

 I'm also loving hanging out with my eldest daughter and first nest flier, S who has come home for the weekend.Yay!!!

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!

Keeping the dream alive!

 The latest edition of Adore Home online magazine has been released. I had a lovely morning perusing all its goodness with a nice hot cuppa. I'm relieved that my Black and White decorating scheme is still a current trend, given that I've still got a long way to go before our house is finished!

A favourite home of mine, that of Vanessa & Matt Dixon was featured too. I've seen this home before but was reminded of how sophisticated a coastal scheme can be. Featuring lots of White & Black, it has reignited my love and enthusiasm for, my own semi-complete home as some areas are almost exactly what I have visualised my finished rooms to look like!

Although I'm still planning a black kitchen with Cararra marble island, Vanessa's kitchen is the same layout as mine and features a window splash back too. Aaahhh....still in love!

And the vanity in the main bedroom en suite mirrors my plans! Unfortunately I'll have semi recessed bowls (a cost saving and irreversible decision as I've purchased them) but the marble, shaving mirrors, free standing bath and coral decor are just perfectly in tune with me.

 I was also excited to see more of Claudia Stephenson's creative home featured too. I follow her blog, Peepmystyle.blogspot.com and have mentioned her HERE before. I'm always inspired by her creative ideas and recommendations. She is getting married this week too....Congrats guys!

We are having a big clean up here, trying to make room for more building progress. My tea cups empty so I better get the work boots on!

Have a great weekend!

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!

Serenity

How simple and stunning is this bedroom? I love the generosity of scale and sense of serenity. This room is one of six within a penthouse designed by Selldorf Architects. I stumbled upon the image via Cococozy, one of my favourite blogs. I wonder whether the furnishings in the room would look as spectacular without those tall windows and with a more modest ceiling height? 

Different homes and different designers but I think the images below share a common aesthetic.

by David Hicks

by Kelly Hoppen i think?

image : Donna Hay via Coastal Style blog

Maybe I'm just dreaming of a serene, white Christmas?

(...and a Hermes throw he he!)

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!

Frederic Berthier Architecture

Appartment Poissonniere

This post is unashamedly lifted from PLASTOLUX, a new blog that I have started following that showcases modern design. I haven't posted many inspirational homes for a while and I just swooned when I saw these images.

As Plastolux says, this is an almost perfect minimal and modern interior.

http://www.fredericberthier.com

Photos by Benoit Linero

All via PLASTOLUX

What do you think?

I adore it but I know I love my 'stuff' too much to realistically design a home and keep the aesthetic as clean as this. Great inspiration though! The chevron floors contrasting with the crisp white walls. A dash of dramatic black and generous use of stunning marble. Restraint.Yes, I should definitely try to incorporate these ideas.

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!

US shopping...more success!

 Remember my Moth Design blog recommendation ? I became particularly enamoured with Erica's tiny glass bud vases and ceramic urchin votive. She displayed tiny clusters of them in many rooms throughout her home.

Moth Design - En suite cart

Moth Design - Main Bedroom bedside table; I loved those bud vases!

 I found that they were still available at Velocity Art & Design and used my trusty US forwarding service, MyUS to get them shipped here to Australia! Yippee!!! And here they are in Australia - simply perfect!

Above & Below: sweet little urchin vases

My new ceramic urchin votives from US store Velocity.

x KL