Wednesday, 10 February 2010

LonnyMag is out!

Run over!!!

I'd love to see Lonny in A5 sized print magazines... subscription only!!

by drey at 9:59 PM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Monday, 8 February 2010

Excuse me while I turn voyeur...

Flickr marvel gulp

I love looking at how other people arrange their dressers and cabinets. I have a real weakness for dressers and china cabinets... Hence my huge piece :) Of course, space permitting, I have another 2 (which are in storage).

Whilst unpacking and organising my favourite china pieces, I faced the conundrum.. how do you stack china cups and saucers?

Like this? (This is what I've always done)



Or perhaps like this?



Or perhaps like Flickr maguire0423's method: (not sure about the amount of hooks I'll have to use to achieve that, though!)

Anyhow, I went a-voyeuring on Flickr...

This is my favourite display by far. Of course, you'd have to have heaps of space!!! I reckon my all white Johnson Bros would look spectacular in a similar cabinet, but a bright yellow, chartruese or hot pink...

Flickr Penelope waits

Flickr Amy Cluck of Peptogirl Industries

Flickr The Nostalgia Fairy

Flickr MODERN REVIVAL

Flickr Rachel

Flickr janehlong

Flickr babydoll1989

Flickr Sherry's Rose Cottage

Flickr decorology

Flickr emmmmzeeee

Flickr sammawamma

Flickr jessicav|jecca

Isn't Fiestaware a gorgeous riot of colour?

Flickr MHerron_99

Flickr eeeelaine88

Flickr Island Gardener

Flickr Jacquiscloset

Flickr mylulabelles

Flickr [Jodie]

Flickr The Vintage Magpie

Flickr Happy Loves Rosie

Flickr Snowdrops in Spring

Flickr JoyfulOtter

Flickr Cottageqt

Flickr harperscout52

Flickr toriejayne

Flickr Knitty, Vintage and Rosy

by drey at 7:39 PM | 1 comments (create) - (View)

Friday, 5 February 2010

Thrifting :)

We've been unpacking in spurts. Today I unpacked and hung a few things in the "boudoir-cum-dressing table" area I've commandeered in the "bedroom" zone. Got to use my new spirit level, a farewell gift from a friend back in Melbourne. I hung up my treasured wall shelf (last used to store toilet paper and a few things in the ensuite in previous home) to store my creams, perfume bottles and bits of jewellery.

At my previous home

Today

My mother-in-law works in an upmarket op-shop (e.g. Vinnies) and we often get to see the more interesting wares and clothes. Her shop specialises in vintage clothes and jewellery...

The other day I scored these vintage Indian silver filigree earrings, $18.



And this vintage children's book, Ameliaranne Bridesmaid by Ethelberta Morris, 1946.



A few vacancies for young ladies of good appearance to train as mannequins.

Ameliaranne's frock was taken off and hung up, and then she sat on a stool in corner and watched while the other ladies took turns in showing off frocks. Velvet frocks, satin frocks, brocaded frocks, chiffon frocks - Ameliaranne had never seen so many clothes in al her life. "But not one you could mind a baby in," said Ameliaranne to herself. "I'd rather be comfortable than grand."

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by drey at 11:56 PM | 3 comments (create) - (View)

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

White, white, white

My brother in law built this studio we now call home. In NSW, apparently anything larger than 9 x 4.5 meters (29.5 x 15 foot) require extra permits, and council approvals. They then consider it a "substantial building".

So this is why it is small.

And my brother in law (who is very handy and loves working with his hands, and wood) was into the "wood, wood, wood" phase. Hence the overkill of unfinished plywood and cover strips everywhere. He's thankfully now been exposed via yours truly to better taste, better design and awareness of the plethora of beautiful rooms I have on file.

We do have plans to paint the entire place white, budgets allowing. But forgive me whilst I go on an all-white binge!

Anna Spiro's home of Absolutely Beautiful Things

Image via Beach Studio

Anna Spiro's home of Absolutely Beautiful Things

Image via Lifestyle: Beyond Tradition -- A Folk Art Collection in New Hampshire

Image via Country Home

Gywneth Paltrow's kitchen

Lizard Management

Image via Living Etc

Image via Cottage Living

Image via Phillippe Starck

Image via Gunkelman Flesher

Image via wohn idee

by drey at 8:35 AM | 7 comments (create) - (View)

Saturday, 30 January 2010

First weekend: Relaxing a.k.a. garage sales!

Like the little dance shoe single earring I thrifted? Might turn it into a brooch. Or pendant. We'll see.

It's my first weekend here. I have been so blessed by my in laws (hence referred to as "family") and so many of you readers. So surprised by the support emails, the understanding and encouragement! Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

I lived in this area some years ago for 3 years and used to really get into one of my favourite activities:

garage sale and thrifting

. This week gone by has been hard on my nerves, with unpacking, finding space, making do etc etc. So today, my MIL (mother in law) took me garage sale-ing with her (she loves it, and now is so glad to have someone else go with her that she doesn't have to drag around, i.e. her husband!!).

I scored my first Chris Chun piece at $2!! It's only a cheapie teapot stand from Ashdene, but it's so pretty!



(I've adored Chris Chun's works for so long. My favourites would have to be Kyoto Blossom and The Celebration, but at those prices, I'll have to content myself with them as my screensaver!)

I also scored a surprise gift from my MIL. I said "I love that, mum" but since there was no price on it (there were prices on the other pieces surrounding it) I thought it wasn't for sale. I walked out, mum stayed inside. Mum walked out with it, big grin on her face. Presenting it to me with a kiss, "It was only $3, darling!" MILs are great.



(If we stay longer than 8 months, we're painting the entire place white. Walls, doors, trim... everything. The slightly white-washed plywood walls is driving me mad.)

Isn't she gorgeous?

Got the cutest monkey skipping rope for Hannah for $5, brand new still in packaging... I was happy.



Also scored a cute stout yellow art glass vase to add to my collection :)
[Of course, said collection is packed away beneath oodles of newspaper and bubble wrap in box #67.)
Only 50¢ :)

by drey at 4:45 PM | 2 comments (create) - (View)

Thursday, 28 January 2010

Moving and why

Thanks to you all who have sent me comments and personal emails and messages. I hate moving (esp to a rental or a smaller space).



The long and short of it all is that we have moved back to the in laws to pursue two dreams: having another baby and opening a third-wave cafe focusing on speciality coffee (sorry guys, but Starbucks is not real coffee, it's confectionery coffee!!!). We have been passionate about coffee for a while now, (third wave style) of course...



So there it is. Sacrifices of following our dreams? The main one: moving from a spacious, lovely 220m2 (2370 sq foot) home into a 40.5m2 (430 sq foot) shoebox. Literally. Picture a shoebox. Corner off one tiny slim space (the width of a toilet bowl and a half, and the length of a small shower stall, sink and toilet bowl and narry a space to step in between) for the bathroom. As my father in law pointed out, we've lost 80% of our living space.



And no built ins... so every piece of furniture we bring in needs to count for way more than "just a coffee table" or "just a hall table". I've had to look at pieces that go upward rather than sprawl-ward.

Pardon the clothes, unmade bed (why make bed when the rest is so bomb-shelter-like?)

So now, our TV shares a sideboard with our underclothes. Our coffee table will be dining table cum toy storage. Our bed will also store bed linen beneath. Our bedside tables will share dressing table uses... One chest of drawers will now be used to store the clothes of 2 adults and 1 very fashionable almost-4 year old.

Please do keep reading this blog as I find ways to make our shoebox a home for the next 2 years. (Or less, please God??)
Thank you for reading this major whine... I thought I should update you (and whine) hahahah :)
Thanks also for bearing and caring for me. Photos to come soon.

Blessings on you all!

by drey at 9:16 AM | 6 comments (create) - (View)

Sunday, 24 January 2010

Finally

We've moved. Today. We're so exhausted... emotionally, physically and mentally. We've moved from a 220m2 home to a tiny one-room studio at the back of my in law's place. So it's all high stresses, moving was a nightmare...

But we are back with family.

Talk soon!!!

by drey at 7:14 PM | 5 comments (create) - (View)

Sunday, 17 January 2010

Peony accessories

Via Green Wedding Shoes

I love peonies and am so into wearing it everywhere now.... Let's go shopping!!

Belts

Via Charlotte English Boutique

Via mykarim @ Etsy

Via fatalefemme @ Etsy

In your hair

Via PenelliBelle @ Etsy

Around your neck

Via myrakim @ Etsy

Shoes, shoes, shoes

Via bpoetic @ Etsy

Brooches, pins

Via RiRiFisch @ Etsy

Via RiRiFisch @ Etsy

Via Cultivar @ Etsy

Via myrakim @ Etsy

Scarfs, shawls, those things

Via ericacavanagh @ Etsy

Wrist-wear

Via invitemecreative @ Etsy

Like any of them? I'm dying to go shopping!!!!

by drey at 11:35 PM | 2 comments (create) - (View)

Thursday, 14 January 2010

Anna Wintour

I am looking forward to ordering The September Issue, featuring Anna Wintour, to be released in April 2010 on DVD.



It's a documentary, sort of answering the Devil Wears Prada, showing the other side to the sleek image of the top lady at a top fashion magazine. The September Issue is normally the fattest monthly edition of Vogue and it basically records the creative and financial organisation chaos to produce it. We apparently get to see a way more human side to what is thought to be Meryl Streep's character in Devil Wears Prada (incidentally, the story is written by Ms Wintour's former personal assistant). Of course, she still has to guard herself because her every word, action is seen through media's often very critising eyes.



Anyone seen it? What did you think?

The September Issue at IMDB.com
The September Issue official site
The September Issue at Amazon

by drey at 10:44 PM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

I want a terrarium... and a hedgehog... or two!

Ever since seeing Martha Stewart's video podcast on how to create terrariums and care for them, I've been looking for an old, oversized glass jar. We're moving up to the Blue Mountains in 2 weeks and being up a mountain is one of the best places to score some good carpet moss plants... so terrariums are definitely in my future!



But would I let you down by stopping just there? Of course not!

Not enough that terrariums are absolutely top on my favourite items to have for interest, now I want some of Woodland Terrarium magic from Etsy seller DoodleBirdie's store!

I'd get me some:

toadstools

Via Etsy's doodlebirdie store

cute little yellow birds perched on birdbaths

Via Etsy's doodlebirdie store

and my favourites so far: mama and little baby hedgehogs!!

Via Etsy's doodlebirdie store

and of course, to finish it off,

toadstool home for secret fairy (or hedgehog family!)

Via Etsy's doodlebirdie store

Links:

Read more about how to with a succulent terrarium (succulent versions most be uncovered).

by drey at 2:32 PM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Monday, 11 January 2010

Dresses on walls

Sarah Kaye Representations

I don't like dust... or dusting, but have always loved the romance of a frilly, beautiful dress hanging on some wall to create such a feminine touch. (No one in my family would blink at that, with what I have hanging around the place and my well-known quirkiness.)

I did hang my favourite two of Hannah's frocks when she was a year old in her room, but that's gone now, packed away.



But I gathered some great eye candy from my inspiration files:

Image via Beach Studios

Image via Polly Wreford

Image via Selina Lake

Rachel Whiting

Image via Country Living

Image via House to Home

Image via Melanie Coddington

Image via Debi Treloar

Aren't you inspired? I am! Even though we can't afford much now, or will have the room... I can't help but go back to yearn for a few of my favourites from Etsy; like sellers Calendar Girl, TimelessVixenVintage and vintage & silk.

by Etsy seller CalendarGirlVintage

by Etsy seller TimelessVixenVintage

by Etsy seller TimelessVixenVintage

by Etsy seller TimelessVixenVintage

Great blog to visit: dress, design and decor

by drey at 10:43 PM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Friday, 8 January 2010

Well Dressed Home by Annette Tatum

This holiday season I have been trying to tuck into my new favourite home design book, The Well-Dressed Home, borrowed from the library. Relatives and busyness has vied for my time and I find myself going back to the beginning to savour the photos again and again!



Annette Tatum's book The Well-Dressed Home is filled with beautiful photos... Annette shares about how one's wardrobe (wished or real) is able to render a beautiful home... and it is so inspiring. Photographs in this lovely tome are by Karyn Millet. (Read an interview with them here.)



Cococozy has also done a blogpost on it with an interview by Miss Tatum in which she talks about the mantra she firmly believes in: look to your own creative fashion style to guide you in your choices for your own home decor.



Of course, not everyone has a couture wardrobe, but restrained by body-shape, body-size, affordability, suitability, but the "wished-for" wardrobe equally plays a large part in being able to inspire your home decor...



I am one of those who have a wished-for wardrobe... I adore the vintage green Chanel coat that stylish Anne Hathaway wore on The Devil Wears Prada (which she then later bought at auction after the movie was produced):



Or this gorgeous trim look by said same woman:



I am drawn to boldly coloured but tailored, smart pieces. I also am drawn to luxurious fabrics like pure wool, taffeta, boucle... What does that translate to?

Back to Tatum...

In an interview with Free Spirit Fabric house blog, Annette Tatum mentions that she allows everything to inspire her, from "vintage textiles, old trims, wallpaper samples, colour chips... old documents and fabric samples that I have found from traveling" right to architectural building elements in old cities like NY or Paris.





I'll just HAVE to buy this book. It's too good to put down. It's too good NOT to have. I love that this is a how-to-style guide too, not just "Ooh have a look at this and that"....

Photos by Karen Millet

by drey at 10:27 PM | 2 comments (create) - (View)

Tuesday, 5 January 2010

Colin & Justin

I am a big fan of the wonderful people Colin Macallister and Justin Ryan are, and the work they demand and produce. I discovered them in 2006 when I was in Canada for 3 months, watching HGTV day in, day out...

Colin and Justin's book, the Home Heist

Now they have finally arrived to Australia's FreetoAir on How Not to Decorate, which is such a cool move by Channel Seven! :) But of course, this is 2 years old stuff... But anyhow, I love their work and thought I'd gather some of my favourite before and afters floating around www from their Home Heist seasons:

LIke this fab basement makeover:



Black, white and yellow living/dining:

Nugget of wisdom from the duo: One of the easiest ways to create a changeable interior is to opt for a predominance of neutral walls against which other detailing can be layered as and when required.

One of the things I love about the duo is their versatility in being able to create stunning diverse styles... to suit the tastes of the home owner.. like this gorgeous bright country-feel living room:



I do love Justin's more flamboyant's personal style... esp his trademark OTT brooches:



And what about the gorgeous chocolate wall backdrop for these two funny designers? I love the sideboard with the white Ikea framing black and white shots, with the lime green vases ... mmm chic, no? A makeover for a office boss!

Another tip from the duo: Unify! If you're not starting from scratch, unify mismatched existing furniture with a coat of paint or spray varnish.

I love this next touch of the bright orange light shades in this Toronto loft space, so totally individual!

Another tip: To help create a successful kids bedroom, good storage is paramount. With this in mind, make sure you add loads of sleek drawer systems, tons of roomy storage boxes and legions of bottomless chests!

Not my favourite look, but this lustry bathroom is sensational!



And this masculine, and striking black, grey and white living room:



And this sweet yet modern purple and white living room, with custom stripes flanking the fireplace!

Tip: If your rooms are small and you have to work with a staircase, dispense with the idea of a drywall banister (that could have made an already small home feel even tighter). Opt instead for two- by two-inch timber struts placed at two-inch intervals at either side. Painted crisp white, they help sharpen the scheme and provide wondrous decorating pop against a backdrop.

And one of my favourite wow rooms, a glorious modern take on a very traditional foyer.. love the sharp navy blue and white wallpaper, painted staircase... with the traditional rounded base round table painted glorious white... mmmm:

Tip: An auspiciously hung mirror will help bounce natural light (not to mention a last place to check your pucker before leaving for work) while carefully positioned lamps will provide atmospheric glow upon entry. If you've space for a console, pop a lamp either side, and a mirror between, to make a wonderful statement.

Another tip: If you have a long skinny hall which you'd like to visually foreshorten, then choose a paint shade a tone or two darker than main areas and use this on the wall furthest from the entrance. You'll be amazed at the difference.

Yet another tip: Hallways with extra tall ceilings can be tamed with a dado rail. Paint the area above the rail a few shades darker than your main wall colour to bring down perceived height.

Love this raspberry (more watermelon to me) and white living room update too!



I love yellow as you might have discovered... but this BRIGHT yellow kitchen feels a little too much, but nevertheless, stunning!

Hot tip: If you're planning a top-tier shade such as this, the duo recommend detail-free doors. Extra carving or scribing plus such a bright colour spec would simply be a stage too far.

Another great point: Because the yellow is so eye poppingly bright, another dramatic shade on the walls would have confused matters. Select a soft colour to create diffused contrast. Warmer tones such as cream or magnolia would be completely wrong in tandem with our bright primary shade and would have diminished impact resulting in "muddy" or visually "dirty'' aesthetics.

A white bedroom with restrained red touches that feel almost restful!

Another tip, of course! The before walls was a deep red, so the duo advise to save money, using big-box-store budget latex for the first couple of coats of white, then finishing off with a coat of premier quality product.

I'm not a fan of feature/accent walls, but C&J assuade my trepidations with painting the adjoining wall AND the stair treads the same colour!



What about a tartan-check bedroom? Sounds awful? Not when C&J get to it!



Those gorgeous Home-Sense-prettied-up lamps were only $50 a pop!

Oooh. My heart stopped when I first saw this yellow, white and black bedroom...



Another country feel bedroom with a smart pale blue and white feel... and more white furniture:



Ohh. Another beautiful room in white and charcoal, restrained, smart and definitely chic.



What about pink? Soft pink living room



And this great idea for a bedhead: paint it on!



How funny that these two unabashedly gay comedic design gurus grace the covers of 2 Harlequin romances??

Lastly I leave you with Justin's oft-used phrase: To fail to plan is to plan to fail!

Any chance of getting full DVDs of seasons, guys??? Since we'll probably get to watch Home Heist on Australian TV in 2014!!

All photos are from Your Home, Canada.

by drey at 1:04 AM | 7 comments (create) - (View)

Sunday, 3 January 2010

Zara Home for iPhone

Zara Home has a gorgeous app for iPhone :) Loving the pretty pictures!!

by drey at 11:49 PM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Saturday, 2 January 2010

The Classic Chic: The Little Black Dress of Interiors

Via Etsy seller KittyKatKards

There is an old adage that if a woman walks into a room and is complimented on her dress, then it is not a good dress; if she is told that she looks good, then the dress is a success...



The dress is designed for the wman, not the other way around.



For a home interior to endure, it too has to suit its wearer, the inhabitant.



It takes time to form a multi-faced home into a fluid whole. A mere collection of beautiful furnhiture is not nenough, nor does it make for wellbeing.

Suzanne Trocme, The Classic Chic.

by drey at 10:34 AM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Thursday, 31 December 2009

Pretty silk

I just couldn't stop from blogging about this pretty dressing room I spotted a few days ago at Mornington Antique Centre on Tyabb Road, Mornington, VIC, Australia. It was so pretty and simple.



Here goes another round of searches on eBay for a silk shawl!

by drey at 11:51 PM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Wednesday, 30 December 2009

Barbie Store, Shanghai

A New Year's Eve treat... and feast for the eye:

For just the "gawk and gasp" treat, I discovered the Barbie store in Shanghai, China ages ago and this has been in my inspiration-need-to-blog files...

Mattel installed a Barbie store in Shanghai, China to mark its 50th anniversary... complete with psychedelic pink escalator..

here

here

This flagship contains a spa, cafe, design studio, fashion stage and thousands and thousands of new and vintage Barbies.

I grew up with Barbie, only having one doll, coveting my younger cousin's 3-4 figures. Mum couldn't afford Barbie clothes or shoes for my doll (hand me down from said cousin) so I learnt to make my own with mum's Singer sewing machine... I still remember the pink work suit ... and the apple green Audrey-style dress I made for her...

But I gave that all up when I turned 13.

Until now.



What's that dotting the stairwell, you say?

Let's look closer...



Closer!



875 Barbie. And since they're glassed in individual boxes... no DUSTING!

More, more!

here

Spa or beauty parlour, or cosmetic shop, Barbie-themed, of course!





Clothes





Gasping and gawking? :) I do like it. White, bright, clean and very funky stairwell! (I hope they pay their cleaning crew damn well.)

Read more here.

But as for me? 20 years later... I have my own Barbie doll... again... but this time, designed by design icon Jonathan Adler!

This is NOT a Hannah product!

by drey at 9:59 PM | 2 comments (create) - (View)

Thursday, 24 December 2009

Blessed Christmas

To all my readers, I wish you a warm, cheery Christmas and may 2010 be full of joy, laughter and love for you and your loved ones.

by drey at 2:13 PM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Christmas at Martha Stewart

I enjoyed looking at pictures of Martha Stewart's home decorated for Christmas... gorgeous ideas to keep!

by drey at 9:59 AM | 0 comments (create) - (View)

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Pretty ballerina

Been meaning to share with you this pretty thrifted and fixed brooch... it's just a cheapie '50s piece, but I love its delicacy...

Picked up for just $0.50 at Salvos, and then fitted with a new backing from Spotlight with some Araldite..



Just makes me happy!

by drey at 11:39 PM | 0 comments (create) - (View)