... for my love

xxx

x

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The Vintage Bookworm

I have a particularly vivid memory of spending an entire rainy afternoon at my grandmother's house reading her original copy of Snow White - carefully turning the crumbly-edged pages, my fingers touching the ragged linen edges of the hardcover - the smell of the old ink, the slight dampness of the paper.  In that moment, a love of all things old and precious was born.  Vintage books have always held a strange allure for me.  There is something so moving about all those colourful spines with gold lettering that have bravely held together someone else's words for the children of the future to behold.  Magic.  

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Chaos Theory

I live in a crazy house.  A tiny home that is literally stuffed to the ceiling with a toddler, a husband, Daphne Cat, our "must, MUST have" vintage finds, fabrics, stone samples, books, teapots and so many beaten-up old chairs we have no idea what to do with them all!  From sun up til sun down, life is beautiful and chaotic.  It is our constant quest to improve, rearrange and store all our stuff in a way that inspires us.  My husband and I run our design business from our back sunroom (which on rare occasions doubles as a dining room) so we are passionate about living and working in a space that reflects our style and which promotes original thought... throw into that equation a vocal toddler with his own, very definite ideas on interior decoration!

So I'm always on the hunt for proof that other people manage to live a similar, crazy existence while maintaining their creative identity.  Here is a stunningly original family home that is so colourful, cozy and happy - enjoy!

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Add a Little Joy

I loved this... so literal, so quirky, so cool!

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Peaceful Tones

This gorgeous collection of images is from one of my favourite blogs, Hannas Form.  I love the combination of neutral, organic tones accented with touches of silver.  Beautiful, restful and natural - great inspiration for an interior palette.

Buttoned Headboard

This stunningly beautiful winged headboard from The White Company is my current favourite.  I love the way the gentle tapered edge gives just a suggestion of cocooned comfort without appearing too overbearing.  So elegant.  So wow.  So want it x

Little Girl's Study Nook

When I was seven, I remember being totally smitten with stationery of all descriptions and the idea of sitting down at a desk to do "work".  I had a vast collection of glitter pens, stickers, rainbow pencils, fluorescent paper clips, erasers shaped as fruit, post-it-notes in all shades of pink and purple and reams and reams of paper.  So when I saw the above image, my seven-year-old self nearly fainted with longing.  I can just imagine sitting up there, earnestly filing and shuffling and sorting my stationery - such a gorgeous, simple space for a little girl to pretend to be big x

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Make a Statement

Even me, self-confessed addict of All Things White & Pastel, occasionally sees the need to create bright, bold, beautiful decorating statements.  I don't do it often.  I prefer to limit such outbursts to a few, stunning and memorable moments when the desire to bring a dynamic punch into a home seems like the most natural course of action imaginable - when the combination of pattern, form and colour are so delicious, I can't possibly pass them up.

My rules: Do it right.  Do it well. Do it BIG.

Don't be shy, or half-baked, or demure - the result will look silly if you second-guess your gut.  Have the courage to paint a bookshelf in candy tangerine orange or a hang a crystal-encrusted chandelier in your loo.  The point is to do it because you love it, because it makes your heart sing, because life is way too short to surround yourself entirely with neurotically well matched bedlinen. 

Be brave and say it loud... the effect will be magical when it sets sail on a sea of whispered whimsical thoughts x

The Importance of a Comfortable Sofa

I offer people decorating advice on a daily basis - I tell them what colours to paint their walls - what tiles they should use in their bathroom - what fabric to cover their chairs - sometimes they listen, quite often they don't!  But the one piece of advice I almost shove down their throats with religious fervour, is to choose the most comfortable sofa they can possibly afford.  Looks are obviously a consideration too, but life is simply far too short to have a sofa that is all sharp edges and slim tailored perfection when your rear end is craving a fat, juicy feather cushion.

I have sat on sofas that could double as a rock formation.  I have literally bounced off sofas that have been so over-stuffed with cheap foam they look like they've had a trip to the plastic surgeon.  I have sunk deep into the recesses of poor construction like I'm being sucked into a bed of quicksand.  However you manage it (stop eating for a month - recycle teabags - wash your hair in laundry detergent) promise me, PROMISE ME, that you will save up and buy a beautiful, shloompy, squishy, divine sofa in a gorgeous fabric that calls your name every time you walk through the door!

Your bottom will thank me, of that I am sure x

The Butterfly Theory

Metamorphosis.... every little caterpillar is capable of it!

x

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My Endless Sea of Love

Oceans to cross
with a sea of letters
floating like paper magic on the tide

A story began
a prophecy completed
stitched to the wings of a butterfly

Love lives here
in the cracks and the corners
with the eskimo kisses from our boy

Happy Valentine my handsome man

x

Tissue Pompom Revival

I know the old tissue pompom has been kind of done to death BUT....

have you ever thought of using one on a bed?

LOVE

it

a LOT

x

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