In conversation with... me.

Finally reading through my building (but still VERY modest) pile of magazines*, I went through Elle Decoration UK October 2008.

I particularly enjoy reading witty "10 questions about some famous person" and enjoyed reading in that issue an interview with Arik Levy, designer for Living Divani, Molteni and Baleri Italia... so I thought I'd give the questions he was asked a go myself!
(This is not an exercise in self-promoting etc, but just to have some fun with myself!)

And besides... it's Saturday.



Tell me five words to describe yourself?
Comfortable. Efficient. Colour. Linen. Eclectic.

What words do you most overuse?
Hannah!!!!!!!??!?!?!?!?

What's your idea of a perfect day?
Left alone at home on an overcast 20°C with a car, left to potter around, to read, to have a long shower, to do a little gardening, to bake to some good music.

Do you have any regrets?
Only two weeks ago I read How to Live Without Regret by Charles Stanley and was so encouraged by it. Stanley clarifies that regret is rooted in unresolved guilt. I.e. regret is without forgiveness. (Forgiving yourself and the other person) One of the most important questions about regret is "Was there something more I could have done?"
In the light of the above, yes... I regret I did not say enough "I love yous" and "Thank yous" and "Sorry's" when I could have.

What's the quality you most admire in a man?
Strength of character and body without violence, strength enough to apologise, strength enough to love and strength enough to be sad.

If you could be any other nationality what would it be?
Free.

Are you religious?
Not in the traditional sense, but I am a Christian, living and breathing.

What is your favourite snack?
Green mango pickle (Chinese style)

What do you think you'd taste like?
Chicken.

What talent would you most like to possess?
To be able to make money to be able to give money.

If you were a vegetable, what would you be?
A cucumber: versatile in all sorts of dishes, a source of relaxation and a "cooling" agent.

And if you were an animal?
A dolphin: they are around water (which I love!) all the time, they smile perpetually and they're extremely clever.

What was your dream job as a child?
Newscaster. I loved that their job was to read aloud. (I've grown up to hate that now heheheh)

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Hannah.

How do you define style?
Mature yet child-like outlook on life, quietly confident about yourself and what/who you believe in, and an ability to hone your home to reflect that quiet, confident space inside you.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd love to be able to handle +25°C days better.

Do you have a motto?
Just get it done!

What would you do if you ruled the world?
Make beautiful furniture CHEAPER!



*Speaking of magazines I'm very very very disappointed that Domino Magazine is closing its doors due to the tough times in the USA economy :( I really enjoyed reading the issues... one of my absolute favourites!

Rearranging

It's been 35-45°C heat days recently and I don't like summer, much less, hothothotdays... so I try to stay indoors most of the time.

My entryway MCM cabinet was rather bare on the top and after oiling it, I thought it would be nice to start a small collection of pink vases/urns etc. I have a few already ... so after a harvesting of them, I set them on the top.



I like. Might change the colours now and then... blues... whites...

Hope I get more pinkly gorgeous vessels!

Decor vignettes

Just a few shots taken at Christmas 2008 of the decor at my in laws and relatives' places. While not all my taste, it does show good personal taste :)

My mother in law's (MIL) small but growing vintage perfume collection on a Matson gold plated vanity tray with birds and flowers


A shot of the guest bedroom. MIL has always had a more Australian country-fied decor sense. I went through a shabby chic phase about 4 years ago which has triggered the same in hers lately so she's been trying to move towards that too... it's a nice blend, I think, showcased in this bedroom.


Another shot of same bedroom. The side table with the Avon green perfume decanter, green Sylvac terrier dog and vintage clock. I don't know if you can spot this, but there are doll ballet shoes on either side of the Avon. Very cute. (No place to put one's glasses or cup etc, but not many sleep overnight in this room anyway!)


A shot of the guest bed. It's only a single bed, my sister in law's old bed. With vintage eiderdown and vintage black and beige hat. The pink one's not vintage, it's just there because I didn't want the dog, cat and my daughter getting near it!


MIL's sewing corner. She made that noticeboard above the machine herself! I love the result. Will be getting her to do one for me when I find the perfect vintage frame!


A boudoir and vanity scene at my aunt-in-law's place. She's got a beautiful house, completely redone in shabby chic sensibilities in pale greens and white. It's the last time we'll see this place like this: she's rented the place out and when she moves back in, she is going to redo everything in French gray-blue. This is her collection of expensive perfume bottles on a vintage-to-die-for vanity tray, sitting on top of a Carrera marble top she had cut for a ornate sideboard she's placed in her bathroom.


A green cane and seagrass settee in the living room with a kitcsh green and gold mantel mirror above. Austrian green vase at the top with that shot of brilliant green punctuates the green in this area. Both pieces are for sale.


A shot of her bedroom with the blue and grey bedspread and the upholstered bedhead. She has her hands on the most beautiful of items but she's always been great at editing her own work. The gold vintage clock on her bedside table is... well.. gold... but it's alone, not flanked with more kitcshy stuff... which I really liked.




A shot of the entry into her tiny kitchen. Her kitchen boasts white subway tiles, white everything with an oversized clock. I love the edited plates she's hung on the kitchen cabinet. Nothing expensive... just pretty.


Her small but growing collection of Mackenzies Child enamelware. I LOVE this stuff. Wish I could afford them!


I hope you enjoyed those few decor vignettes of my in-law-family :) How do your family decorate?

Inspiration at my desk

I moved a few things around recently and just put these on my desk temporarily while re-arranging another spot..

I've left them there because I love the different shapes, textures, lines and finishes of white! (And that burst of yellow, a Christmas gift from MIL.)

Secretaire DIY ala Eddie Ross

For 2 weeks now husband and I have been considering a major move in our lives which has been triggered by Christmas 2008. Will talk more about things when we have made more of a decision... but it involves planning a new floorplan!

So when I spotted this secretaire DIY ala the frightfully talented Eddie Ross* (Top Design Season 2 contestant and Senior Style Editor, Martha Stewart Living) I got all excited. The new floorplan planned during Christmas 2 weeks ago involves a much needed secretaire for books, storage and deskspace. Since I can't afford a new one at my favourite store for $3950, my secretaire will also most likely be a product of a similar DIY job.

Before:




After:


Thanks Eddie for the inspiration and encouragement!

Btw, this is another secretaire Eddie DIYed! Love the punch of colour too!




*I know this sounds so lame, but we here in Australia don't enjoy most of the American produced interior design shows on free to air... but I scored a copy of Top Design Season 2 and have been enjoying it after my family sleep. So hence my seemingly late-oh-so-overdue discovery of Eddie Ross!

Quick shots of Christmas 2008

Just wanted to share some shots of Christmas 2008 with you:

Gathering #1: With our friends at our place







Gathering #2: 12 hours' drive away at my in laws













Gathering #3: At husband's aunt's place







Gathering #4: At my sister in law's place

Today I'm inspired by

... vintage floral bouquets in simple white frames against a snowy white wall...


I've been trying to collect them especially since we moved and I painted my large and high living room 3-4 coats of white :) I don't have as many nice ones since they are getting expensive...

Here's my slowly growing collection:


This is my latest... a floral bouquet painted 2 years ago by my husband's 94 year old Nanna.


Coco+Kelley also posted a similar image here. (Actually looks like the same frames rearranged!)

James Merrell

Tea Party ala Christmas 2008

While away for Christmas at my in laws we had such a good relaxed holiday there for once. Normally it's running around for family get togethers, spending 3-4 hours on the road amongst Sydney traffic. This time, we took it so easy.

(The holiday started badly with a smashed windscreen and oil leaking... so we desperately needed a good time after that.)

And we did.

Here's a shot of a tea party setting I set out just to play with my camera. My MIL has spent years collecting antique gorgeous china and I dragged out some of her best :)

Kim's Kitchen Remodel ala Greentea Design & Kitchens

My sponsor, Greentea Design, did a fantastic job imho remodeling blogger friend Kim's kitchen.

Kim is one half co-owner of wildly popular blog Desire to Inspire and she moved into her own house in Canada and did a really good job with her then-kitchen. It went from this:





To this with the help of boyfriend Jeff and some good blogland suggestions:





(which is bloody awesome as it is since it was looking so cool and glowy)

And in Sept 08, Kim revealed a biggie: she scored a deal with greentea design & kitchens; in exchange for some extensive coverage on their work in her kitchen, she'd get a package of some awesome japanese-inspired kitchen cabinets.

This was the discussed plan:



And after four months, here is her fantastic new kitchen!











Read Kim's kitchen reno here.

See more of greentea designs & kitchens here.

Well done guys!!!!!

Nicola by Shabner for sale.

This is now for sale. I thought I'd offer it here before eBay-ing it. Any takers? I can try to remove it from the frame and insert it into a mailing tube if preferred, since the frame is damaged at the bottom.

Measurements with frame are 60cm height, 50cm width.

Leave a comment or email me via my paperbean design website.