And I couldn't walk away without these.
Only $7 at Bunnings and this now graces my desk! :) Happy Happy Days :)
Now looking for a pretty planter.
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Happy Yellow Gerberas
I've been trying slowly to add more indoor plants in our home. After spending a motza on my side garden very recently, I didn't want to purchase any more from Bunnings. But we had to stop there for a pee break for Hannah and husband today and that meant doing the obligatory 30 mins stopover at the Bunnings indoor playground for Hannah.
And I couldn't walk away without these.
Only $7 at Bunnings and this now graces my desk! :) Happy Happy Days :)
Now looking for a pretty planter.
And I couldn't walk away without these.
Only $7 at Bunnings and this now graces my desk! :) Happy Happy Days :)
Now looking for a pretty planter.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Side garden makeover: 98% done!
FINALLY.
Today is a big day.
Today is a happy day!!!
I blogged about the state of the side garden when we moved in 12 months ago.
Refresher:
The day we bought:
I knew when we bought the place we'd totally redo this space. I didn't think the plants were children friendly (or ANY friendly) and wasn't a really nice space to get out to.
I could handle the other half (no trees/shrubs half) myself fairly okay...
But what I hadn't realised is that landscaping costs a motza! And this wasn't work husband and I knew how to do ourselves (let alone complete ourselves!)... what with removing giant lava rocks, giant shrubs, poky palm stubs etc etc...
So last April, we dragged the in laws down from Sydney... and got to work:
Mum-in-law and dad-in-law are seasoned gardeners and in particular, mum-in-law has an inner gardener-drive that scaresus me!
At the end of 2 days, we had a nice new canvas:
And in the last few months, we've seeded that area with grass, watched it grow... and we've discovered we got MONSTER GRASS! Husband has to mow that patch every 2.5 weeks!
But over the past week, I was determined to do something about the area... see the patch of earth RIGHT under the gables WILL NOT grow grass despite seeding, watering etc. It's been roughly 5 months and NO grass will grow there. And it looked odd and ugly... Plus the grass that did grow had taken root and it was time to furnish the space :)
Today is the 98% mark!!!
We got some small gardenia plants and some giant concrete pots the same shade as the render on the house (lucky!) and a ton of pebbles. I also moved my little birdbath to the space. I wish the darn giant no-one-wants lava rock would just disappear... but until then, it's part of the landscape. I got some cheapie solar garden lights as well and dotted them around the place.
Still need to plant the climbing star jasmines in yellow and whites against the wall... but otherwise, we're done. Just mowing now.
Happy day.
Today is a big day.
Today is a happy day!!!
I blogged about the state of the side garden when we moved in 12 months ago.
Refresher:
The day we bought:
I knew when we bought the place we'd totally redo this space. I didn't think the plants were children friendly (or ANY friendly) and wasn't a really nice space to get out to.
I could handle the other half (no trees/shrubs half) myself fairly okay...
But what I hadn't realised is that landscaping costs a motza! And this wasn't work husband and I knew how to do ourselves (let alone complete ourselves!)... what with removing giant lava rocks, giant shrubs, poky palm stubs etc etc...
So last April, we dragged the in laws down from Sydney... and got to work:
Mum-in-law and dad-in-law are seasoned gardeners and in particular, mum-in-law has an inner gardener-drive that scares
At the end of 2 days, we had a nice new canvas:
And in the last few months, we've seeded that area with grass, watched it grow... and we've discovered we got MONSTER GRASS! Husband has to mow that patch every 2.5 weeks!
But over the past week, I was determined to do something about the area... see the patch of earth RIGHT under the gables WILL NOT grow grass despite seeding, watering etc. It's been roughly 5 months and NO grass will grow there. And it looked odd and ugly... Plus the grass that did grow had taken root and it was time to furnish the space :)
Today is the 98% mark!!!
We got some small gardenia plants and some giant concrete pots the same shade as the render on the house (lucky!) and a ton of pebbles. I also moved my little birdbath to the space. I wish the darn giant no-one-wants lava rock would just disappear... but until then, it's part of the landscape. I got some cheapie solar garden lights as well and dotted them around the place.
Still need to plant the climbing star jasmines in yellow and whites against the wall... but otherwise, we're done. Just mowing now.
Happy day.
Yellow and white ceiling
I'd love to have an ornate ceiling... I'd so do this with it... love love love the buttery yellow and classic white:
Apparently this is 53, D. Pedro V.St. Lisbon, from Flickr user: F.lopes
Friday, 21 August 2009
Blown away: Anna Spiro
of uber popular design blog Absolutely Beautiful Things has
1. FINALLY updated her black and spiro website! It's so pretty, so simple, so me!
2. Been featured in the latest Australian Vogue Living (I've sent my hubby to get me a copy today!)
Filled with the most gorgeous photos... also on her website.
Kudos Anna!
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Art deco 1920s decor: Jeeves & Wooster
I enjoyed a recent-shown-on Australian-TV-but-ancient re-run of Parkinson a few weeks ago. He hosted Hugh Laurie and in the course of the show, Hugh Laurie made a mention to his previous work in Jeeves and Wooster (with co-star Stephen Fry in 1990-93). This perked my interest tremendously because I'm a great fan of PG Wodehouse's work and love the Jeeves series.
But the decor is what I'm here to gab about... a mere 2-3 years ago, the 1920s/art deco was never something I liked. But with the re-emergence of the 1950s Eames et all's decor, I've come to truly appreciate furniture and furnishings with clean, archtectural, sharp lines but incredibly beautifully crafted. ['Course, later 1930s art nouveau pieces tended to be over-flourished, as captured in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.]
Let's move on... the single uppercrust gentlemen's living quarters as depicted in Jeeves and Wooster is something quite beautiful; warm honey tones, well made but understated furniture, unornamental... (Bertram "Bertie" Wooster is a well-to-do bachelor, a minor aristocrat and member of the 1920s idle rich).
Starting at the front door... I love the detail on the front door and trim, wish moldings today were as classy!
The foyer is not cluttered, simple and the colours of the whole apartment is easy on the eye and rather classy, even for today.
Check out the light fitting, the tortoiseshell umbrella and walking stick stand, the warm cappucino paint and the super white moldings and doors and trimmings!
Facing the front door is Wooster's ne'er-used writing desk/office and living room.
I must say this living room is my favourite in the house. It's beautifully placed, beautifully put together and the pieces are beautifully made/chosen! Three well appointed, comfortable seats, placed around a 1920s fireplace and dotted with two small side tables... all gorgeous honey maple burr!
Love the detail of the simple mirror on the mantel of the fireplace. Again I am wowed by the detail of the door (to his bedroom). Simple lines of the fireplace too, repetition of the mirror surfaces at the bottom... And in the mirror, you can see that behind the 3 seater couch, there is Wooster's grand baby piano! mmmmmmmmm
Have you ran your hands against these sorts of 1920s pieces? The wood is so smooth... the craftsmanship so fine... mmmmmm I love how each wall has just one painting...
Behind the sofa, opposite the piano is the door to kitchen and double doors to dining room. I love also the understated "bar" next to the kitchen door... on a quiet console...
And behind those double doors... is a simply furnished dining room. Of course, centrepiece is a lovely art deco dining suite, seating 6.
Did you notice the lovely detail on the doors?? Mm-hmm!
The sideboard next to the service door to the kitchen is the same wood of course, and above it a metal artwork piece... in bronze?
The kitchen is starkly different! Nothing rich in furnishings, but still very amply stocked, plenty of storage and nothing dirty, everything's in place.
And in the bedroom... again the furnishings are simple yet expensive looking.
The bed faces the door... and is flanked by two side tables... but what I do love is the dresser with its cute drawers!
The first episode you see an empty tortoiseshell vase on the console table on the right... but after hiring the awesome Jeeves, that vase is always filled with white flowers... nice, against the coffee coloured wall.
Next to the door is the gentlemen's wardrobe, built into the wall. Looks oh so neat, but hides a plethora of 1920s gentlemen's attire and pieces.
Next to the bed on the wall separating the bathroom is a handsome chest with some classy and understated silver dresser pieces... the equivalent of a dressing table, I'd suppose! The man-version.
I really do like that idea. Might steal it :)
I really liked the layout of the apartment too... very well planned... luxuries (I mean, a baby grand in a small one bedroom apartment)... but sparse-ish.
And because I'm mad as a hatter, and don't require sleep heh... I thought I'd map it out...
But the decor is what I'm here to gab about... a mere 2-3 years ago, the 1920s/art deco was never something I liked. But with the re-emergence of the 1950s Eames et all's decor, I've come to truly appreciate furniture and furnishings with clean, archtectural, sharp lines but incredibly beautifully crafted. ['Course, later 1930s art nouveau pieces tended to be over-flourished, as captured in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.]
Let's move on... the single uppercrust gentlemen's living quarters as depicted in Jeeves and Wooster is something quite beautiful; warm honey tones, well made but understated furniture, unornamental... (Bertram "Bertie" Wooster is a well-to-do bachelor, a minor aristocrat and member of the 1920s idle rich).
Starting at the front door... I love the detail on the front door and trim, wish moldings today were as classy!
The foyer is not cluttered, simple and the colours of the whole apartment is easy on the eye and rather classy, even for today.
Check out the light fitting, the tortoiseshell umbrella and walking stick stand, the warm cappucino paint and the super white moldings and doors and trimmings!
Facing the front door is Wooster's ne'er-used writing desk/office and living room.
I must say this living room is my favourite in the house. It's beautifully placed, beautifully put together and the pieces are beautifully made/chosen! Three well appointed, comfortable seats, placed around a 1920s fireplace and dotted with two small side tables... all gorgeous honey maple burr!
Love the detail of the simple mirror on the mantel of the fireplace. Again I am wowed by the detail of the door (to his bedroom). Simple lines of the fireplace too, repetition of the mirror surfaces at the bottom... And in the mirror, you can see that behind the 3 seater couch, there is Wooster's grand baby piano! mmmmmmmmm
Have you ran your hands against these sorts of 1920s pieces? The wood is so smooth... the craftsmanship so fine... mmmmmm I love how each wall has just one painting...
Behind the sofa, opposite the piano is the door to kitchen and double doors to dining room. I love also the understated "bar" next to the kitchen door... on a quiet console...
And behind those double doors... is a simply furnished dining room. Of course, centrepiece is a lovely art deco dining suite, seating 6.
Did you notice the lovely detail on the doors?? Mm-hmm!
The sideboard next to the service door to the kitchen is the same wood of course, and above it a metal artwork piece... in bronze?
The kitchen is starkly different! Nothing rich in furnishings, but still very amply stocked, plenty of storage and nothing dirty, everything's in place.
And in the bedroom... again the furnishings are simple yet expensive looking.
The bed faces the door... and is flanked by two side tables... but what I do love is the dresser with its cute drawers!
The first episode you see an empty tortoiseshell vase on the console table on the right... but after hiring the awesome Jeeves, that vase is always filled with white flowers... nice, against the coffee coloured wall.
Next to the door is the gentlemen's wardrobe, built into the wall. Looks oh so neat, but hides a plethora of 1920s gentlemen's attire and pieces.
Next to the bed on the wall separating the bathroom is a handsome chest with some classy and understated silver dresser pieces... the equivalent of a dressing table, I'd suppose! The man-version.
I really do like that idea. Might steal it :)
I really liked the layout of the apartment too... very well planned... luxuries (I mean, a baby grand in a small one bedroom apartment)... but sparse-ish.
And because I'm mad as a hatter, and don't require sleep heh... I thought I'd map it out...
Click here for larger sized floorplan. Green: scenery painting(s); Blue: mirrors
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
The Attack of the Snails!!!
ARRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!
What is happening!???? I went out tonight to get the husband from the train station and came home to THIS!!!!!!
EVERY speck on the wall is a SNAIL!
EVERY.
HELP!
What is happening!???? I went out tonight to get the husband from the train station and came home to THIS!!!!!!
EVERY speck on the wall is a SNAIL!
EVERY.
HELP!
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
5 years!
Been blogging on bijou kaleidoscope for 5 years this month! wow.
Thanks for being on this journey with me!
Thanks for being on this journey with me!
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Working on my front porch
Taken just before buying the house
Our house fronts a main street so it gets very dusty from traffic plus Australia is suffering from its worst drought.
So I can only dream of a pretty front porch. Of course, I'd love to have it like any of these gorgeous porches, with chairs, tables, pretty pieces:
Flickr: amboseli
Flickr: Paige One
Flickr: creative little daisy
Flickr: cafechatelaine
Flickr: jipsi
Of course, I must make mention of the GREAT job blogger friend Nicole from Making it Lovely did... all of 8 months' pregnant! See more here! I love the pretty green and the FREEhand painted "rug"!
Nicole's Flickr
Back to my own little home...
Taken right after the weeping blossom was replanted last April from a badly placed spot at the back. It was also dying...
Taken today
Hopefully we get green and blossoms (nothing blossomed last year!) in spring which will definitely pretty up my front!
Factors of problem
1. Aforementioned drought and dustiness.
2. We don't have a fence (yet!) so nothing of great value and easy to take-off-with for my front...
3. My dusty front porch and busy road in front with no privacy fence or shrubs/plants/hedges ensures we never spend relaxing time there... so it would be a waste of money to get garden or wicker seats (like I love!)
So. Ideas time!
Maybe the best thing to do is gathering flowers and plants on a cart
Via Lani's Porch
Flickr: luvmykatz
I'm going to save the little nest I found too, maybe pop it in my front porch vignette (or not).
Utilising a rack for plants or pots is also a nice idea...
Flickr: joleenieweenie
I love this collection of birdhouses here! Nice idea!
Flickr: liquidskyarts
A little pretty lamp is such a nice touch!
Flickr: anne_dillingham
As of this morning, there was but one lonely concrete urn.
Any ideas you care to share too?
I'm not yet ready to reveal what I did today and will do next weekend (hopefully!).
Stay tuned for next installment of the Front Porch Pretty Up.
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