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

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my luxe lust list # 6: ... marble

Marble is an absolute classic and timeless material. It screams Luxe in every setting and is currently enjoying an enormous resurgence in popularity, not only in traditional use (tile, slab, object) but also newly  interpreted in everything from contemporary artworks to fashion fabrics.

I've always lusted after Calcutta Marble and have few decor pieces that have whet my appetite. Our main en suite floor will soon (I Hope!) feature its grey and white goodness and I'm still wishfully imagining the proposed kitchen island to be topped with a cool, honed slab.

The floors in the lower level of our house are marble (Crema Perla) but the current trend in Marble is for White or Black and veined in monochromatic tones. The best thing about a product becoming 'on trend' is that main street stores add it to their seasonal inventory, and often at very reasonable price points too! This is happening here at the moment with all the larger retailers stocking some form of marble ware.


1. Cheese Board $39.95 Freedom
2. Lisa T Clock $70 Target
3. Hand poured Soy Candle Candlelit & Co
 4. Pillar Table Lamp $289 West Elm
 5. Metro Table Lamp $149 Freedom

I love (and prefer) online shopping, but in a rare day popping into some local stores, found marble items everywhere. Not online yet but in store, I found (and may have bought! he he) beautiful marble bathroom accessories at Domayne, Freedom and Pillowtalk. Freedom had (in addition to the items pictured above) some gorgeous house-shaped paperweights too.

I really like being able to add small touches of this luxe material to my home but with greater outlay, comes greater impact. Below are some of my favourite Pinterest inspirational images...

Missed any of my other Luxe Lust Lists? Catch up here:

1. Hermes Blankets
2. Eames Walnut Stools 
3.Eero Saarinen Tables
4. Fur Throws
5. Leopard Print

x KL

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

In - console - able

 Well, impatience has got the better of me and I've been shopping for an elusive furniture item for the still not finished house. Again. Ooops!

We have an alcove at the top of the stairs that is pretty vital interiors-wise, as it's the fist thing to be seen after entering the house and arriving, via the stairs, at the upper main living area.

                      LEFT: Council plans                                                                  RIGHT: Modified design with alcove

I've posted about our House Plans before, specifically the changes I made and why we created this alcove HERE. I want the furnished alcove to really have that 'WOW' factor and have had my heart set on a rustic console to contrast with the contemporary architecture and dark wall.

Well, here's my Progress Report:

An existing console, temporarily residing in the entry has turned legs and is way too 'country' for this house and the alcove. It serves a function for now but will be put into storage.

Bought on sale, this Freedom console I bought HERE is just too small for the scale of the room. Luckily, a girlfriend is considering buying it from me.

 This antique console was bought via eBay. It is stunning but, eeek.... too big! Will try to find somewhere else to showcase this beauty.

 So, last weekend I bought this Chinese console off Gumtree and Eureka! Perfect size, style and scale BUT...

Looking up underneath it as you walk up the stairs is less than impressive. Another FAIL!

 Soooo, I'm now back to square one with the alcove. David has suggested a low sideboard with drawers but I think I'll struggle to get something to fit within the shallow depth of 420 mm (the alcove is 2100 mm wide).

 I had a custom designed unit priced and may need to go that route but I really like the look of rustic timber against the dark wall.

Any ideas?

x KL

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

In the frame

I mentioned in a previous post my fascination with framed display boxes.

Everything just looks a bit more 'special' when displayed under a cloche or in one of these cases.

 But it seems I have a bit of a weak spot for all things 'framed' in steel; my first foray into custom design was the steel framed desk (pictured below) that I had made for our previous property.

 I love lighting options in this style too...the left one was recently featured on the reality show The Block, whilst I have purchased two of the right design for our dining area.

These Kubus by Lassen, bowls and candlesticks in black or copper are gorgeous!

 And a black Hay Tray Table is high on my wish-list....*sigh*

It seems that there are a multitude of objects in this style about at the moment...

Lanterns anyone?

 

My DIY coffee table project (which is still sans top) is another commitment I've made to this style.

Last week, I popped into my local Freedom store and came across the CBD table range.

The side tables in black were reduced from $210 each to $45!

 (Get your skates on if you want some too!)

 I grabbed a pair with the intention of switching the simple glass tops for marble to match the proposed top of my coffee table but atm the glass looks fine. I think they'd make excellent bedside tables too if you were tight on space. . .

x KL

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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!

3 weeks lost

 Losing three weeks of my life to sickness has been frustrating...most of all the inability to 'do' anything, go anywhere and feeling confined. I was pretty zonked on painkillers and one can only peruse so many magazines! Headaches made any indulgence in real literature impossible.

So, I shopped. 

Online of course...

....just a little....

Here's the deets....

My love of Camilla saw this long kaftan (which was on sale!) pop into my cart. Even though I'm a curvy girl, the style swamps me so I'm going to get it reworked into a sleeved dress.

New season Country Road tempted...and fed my continuing pastel pink obsession with these summer jeans and vase. 

The shoe height on these CR mules are just right for this ol' gal but I think I'll return them for the white colourway which is everywhere this season!

Ordered two of these light fixtures from Beacon Lighting for over the dining table. David picked them up and HATES them. . . Beacon have a great return policy but I'm going to try to 'sell' them to hubby first!

J is growing like no tomorrow. At 12, he is now as tall as me. He seems to have outgrown every wardrobe item in the past three weeks! New CR jeans (he hates the button fly) and a new Tee are a stop-gap till I can take him shopping. 

Whilst I was buying from CR I also grabbed this black smock which will hide my puffed up belly. I think it will look sweet over the pink jeans. The detailing is gorgeous!

My hospital admission was so hurried that I was admitted with only the clothes I was wearing! Mum grabbed these men's flannies for me from Lowes. Super sloppy, soft and warm. Perfect post surgery. Thanks Mummy!!!!

Harold's always has something I 'need'. Cough. A handful of porcupine quills and an emu egg have now been added to my collection of curiosities!

 There is one more thing that I bought from my hospital bed...

It's a biggie and I am very excited about it! I think it deserves its own post though, so stay tuned!

Here's a teaser...

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

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

Shopping, House Progress and other important thoughts...

 A few weekends ago, David completed the construction of a small deck on the middle level at our place. It provides a link between the large entertaining space and stairs, to a wee rear courtyard and a clothes drying area. It also allows access to the external pool W.C and a secondary access to the laundry / lower kitchenette. The Merbau timber still needs to be sealed, the stairs stained to match and a privacy screen added but its another thing to cross off that list! Yay!

In MAJOR NEWS...the lounge room is ready for sanding! We had a professional plasterer here last week and once we trim the windows (goodbye weekend) we'll be all systems go for sealant and paint! The main bedroom en suite ceilings still need a top coat and then they'll be ready to paint too, after which waterproofing can begin! Hallelujah!!!

Post Christmas, my love of Gold has continued unabated...this sweet gold cushion from Castle adds a dash of glitz and comfort to the dining chair I use at the laptop. Whilst I was shopping there (online of course!) I added these pillowslips to my cart for J's bed.

Styled bed (Left) via The Design Files

The bench I ordered has arrived; it's the perfect length for the end of our King sized bed. It will remain in the guest room when we move into the main bedroom though for seating and as a luggage drop zone for guests. It's white linen so until the plaster dust is finito it's staying under packaging wraps!

 Today I bought this cute hand made silver ring by Von Treskow. I have several pieces of their exquisite jewelry and love that this 6 pence ring mixes rose-gold and silver together! I was extra lucky to find it heavily discounted in a one-day sale at a local store.

 I finally tracked down (yes; like a super sleuth! Ha ha!) a gorgeous, leather wrapped round mirror as lusted after HERE. This pic is of it in brown but mine is black. And I got is below cost! 

*happy, happy, happy dance*

I'm thinking of featuring it either in the entry or above the fireplace. ?

I pinned the below, left image, when I first laid eyes on it. It is Olivia Palermo's living room and I coveted both the Hermes tray and the mirror encrusted cushions. I've pinned many more images featuring these two items on my Pinterest boards but now happily own them too. Mine are those pictured below, right!

After my long winded post HERE regarding my newly completed shoe cupboard, I found some US sourced plastic boxes on eBay that fitted all the requirements I needed. I made an initial purchase of ten and am happy with them so have ordered twenty more. Will show you the cupboard again when sorted! I think the Ikea office boxes would have worked equally well but I was swayed by the convenience of online shopping / home delivery again! (I was house-bound with the plasterer all week and awfully impatient, LOL!) Would LOVE Ikea to sell online! *sigh*

Have you noticed the new-season ranges are being released ATM? I'm thrilled to see that leather pants / jeggings are still fashionable (I invested in a pair two winters ago) but would like a new feminine tunic or shirt to go with them. All the items below are from Country Road. I bought this dress and blazer but the blazer was tiny...so unfortunately, back it went. Looking forward to seeing these tops when they're available!

 Country Road has one of their eagerly awaited spend-n'-save promotions on currently too. I made use of it to buy the dress above, the pretty pink tea towel (Yup, a concurring colour addiction as posted HERE) and the beige / black pillowcases seen below, for J. They haven't been delivered yet, (there is no local CR Homewares store so I'm buying online again) but I'm hoping they will go with J's Pony Rider quilt which I bought eons ago (read about it HERE) which needs some pillowcases to go with it. Fingers crossed that at 30 % off, these work!

And I'm toying with this little fox pillow for him too. It's sooo god-damn cute!

Loving the idea of leopard / ocelot print slip-ons for winter. They look super comfy and casual. Now I just need to narrow down the choice!

Just like the decision to buy a new wallet. I'm definitely heading into the need rather than want category for this. A good wallet is usually a long term commitment for me. Any recommendations?

Ceasarstone will soon be releasing their latest range of composite stone surfaces. I am very excited about the Calacatta Classic due for release in July. There could be a new contender for the kitchen island!

 Decisions! Decisions!

Stayed tuned! Exciting times ahead!

x KL

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Do I? Dont I? Yup, I did!

 When I mentioned this outdoor modular from Myer being well priced in my last post, I didn't know of their one day Super Saturday Special.....

 Glad I read Friday's late night e-mail!

Already reduced by 30%, they offered another equal-value item for FREE!

Basically 2-for-1 at the reduced price.

This means I paid under $1000, and got both sets! 

 They may not be designer pieces (Dedon still on the lust list) but will adequately fulfill both aesthetic and function needs.

 Most importantly, they were extremely budget friendly!

Sooo, that's the pool area furnished (I might re-upholster the cushions in white?) and the upstairs deck off the dining room. And previously purchased tables and chairs (all still in storage) will adequately provide seating for the other two patios; one off our main bedroom and another adjacent to the Playroom. More 'stuff' to store but these savings were worth grabbing!

Happy Days!

x KL

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whatchaupto?

 We're approximately at the half-way point of the school holidays here. 

Christmas / New Year celebrations and catch-ups with family and friends have dominated the last three weeks, along with lots of lazy sleep ins.

Below is a snapshot...

And here's the extended version for those that like deets!.....

A very well priced outdoor modular from Myer...do I / don't I?
The black and white combo is hard to find, as is the compact shape...
BUT, will it rust....?

POK cutlery tray $199 now $39. Good protection for my new gold cutlery, no?

There are good mags and ho-hum ones. Same goes for individual editions.
THIS one, THIS edition...W.O.W.! Don't miss out!

My head's still being turned by round, equestrian hardware mirrors.....
Have tracked down a 'maybe'. . .

There's good bedlinen bargains to be had...Drooled over this set at Adairs before Christmas and now it's even cheaper. But do I NEED it? (I'm trying to be good!)

I didn't know I needed this ottoman till I spotted it in a wholesaler's 'super specials'.
I think it will look terrific at the end of the Guest Bedroom bed.

David and I are still debating the upstairs flooring choice. Balancing budget / quality / aesthetics and what the heart wants is HARD. An ongoing, and time consuming quandary....

We're still 'puppy-sitting'. No complaints here...am a bit smitten (am cooking the wee thing special meals....WTF!?) J is in LOVE and enjoying every minute...
and he's away from gaming. Hooray!

He even made a dog kennel with David. On the tools. Highly supervised.
Boy heaven!

David goes back to work next week and had intended on doing lots here in his break; but didn't. 
One 'top coat' on the plastered lounge room walls (the last room to be done) was achieved though. Puppy play, beer and chillaxin' (his term!) distracted him somewhat!

The girl's bedroom wardrobes received handles....yay! and I got to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.
Please note the carpet is temporary glamping....not the finished floor!

Daughter # 2 turned 22, which we celebrated at a Austrian Schnitzel hous and followed up with watching a new Disney production Frozen. Highly recommended.

"....do you wanna build a snowman...."

I've been trying to convince David that this method of Christmas Tree storage is the way to go since...I do it all. He thought I was nuts till I showed him this picture from a like-minded genius.
Maybe next year...

Congrats to my darling friend GB on his recent engagement. Woo Hoo !

Are you feeling pastels? Pink? Dunno why, but I am. Just a wee pillowcase indulgence ATM....

I hate finding a favourite dress is poor quality. I received a refund but I would have preferred to keep the dress. Even pure silk should be able to withstand more than one wear!

The investigation on main bedroom en suite flooring has begun. Marble, yes! White with black, Black with white..? Another quandary!

Nothing like celebrating the new year with an OLD friend! We've known each other for 48 years!
Emptied a few of these!

Love these pineapple lamps. Adairs tempting me again....

Camping; 'Over-safety cautious Mummy style'. Am I helicoptering? J and a mate didn't mind.
 It's a fun sleepover idea!

How's your break been...
Whatchaupto?

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!