Books, beds and bathrooms

For me there's nothing nicer than a wall of books. Except my problem is I keep every book I ever get and, as I discovered during the unpacking, we have so many books - quite a few of which I don't know why I kept in the first place! And the sad thing is, second hand book shops are now pretty fussy about what they stock and even charities are being selective. So now I've made a pact to only keep ones I really, really liked and want to have on the shelves.

Here is a little corner of the study with flying ducks on the wall from Delilah Devine's Esty shop (aka Linda from Adelaide) who makes them from vintage wallpaper and eco ply. She also does flying horses! Have to point out another of homemade cushion and the old green phone I bought a while ago that our electrician has just spent ages on to get it working properly and restore its ring. Being the youthful age he is, he thought it rather quaint and couldn't get over how long it took to dial (I didn't like to tell him we had one of these when I was growing up!).

Through the door at the end of the bookshelves you get to the master ensuite - hence the continuation of the timber. I spent ages looking for bathroom mirror lights I liked (which hubby never quite understood!) and finally found these Italian numbers which fitted the bill nicely.

Then through the ensuite you get to the master bedroom (and another homemade cushion!).

And if you're lying there, you get to look here ...

Glad we went for the extra carpet underlay as the carpet is soooo comfy. And in case you're wondering the carpet is Cavalier Bremworth NZ wool and all the bedroom curtains are a sheer of some sort with a neutral blackout lining behind so you can get the best of all worlds: privacy, light and total darkness as required.

I'm Dreamin' About ...

... Books!

And wondering if we have enough book shelving in the new house. We've got built-in shelving planned for the study but that's it and our current old bookcase is now unusable thanks to the chewed sides as decorated by our dog!!

Here's what I like ...

Both images from the one apartment via Trendland.

And here's a cute idea for recyling vintage books to make your own shelving ...

Image via Belle Maison

P.S Am currently reading 'Noah's Compass' by Anne Tyler and can't put it down! Highly recommend it for those looking for a good read.

Tracy Kendall Wallpaper

Where have I been not to have been aware of British designer Tracy Kendall's bespoke wallpaper?

Thankfully my interior design friend, Rachel, pointed her out to me a couple of days ago and suggested I consider one of her text designs for the toilet/powder room in the upstairs living area which I was planning on wallpapering.

You could catch up with world news (not sure on what exactly!) while you're spending a tinkle and emerge feeling instantly more knowledgeable with the Newsprint design.

Or take in a bit of Shakespeare with the Midsummer's Nights Dream paper.

Or ponder books you might one day read with the Books' designs.

I wouldn't put a set of cutlery in a toilet but how great would they look in a kitchen/dining space?

And I doubt sequinned wallpaper would last long in a household with children and dogs!

But I think one that might work is this Text design which reads whichever way you want!

I'm a Published Author!

I hope you all don't mind me doing a little self-promotion but it's not everyday you get a book published!

I recently won the Kinglake Unpublished Author Competition for the women's fiction genre for my novel Moral's Inc which meant publication - whoopee!

A brief blurb to give you an insight: Samantha Connors may look like a woman of the world: ex-model, magazine columnist, author and mother of one. But she is not, it seems, a woman in control of her life. One evening she turns on the televsion and comes face to face with an old fling and the father of her 19-year-old daughter, Millie, whom she's not seen for 19 years. When Vince Bradley - once a model, then a pig farmer and now Governor of Indianapolis running for the U.S Presidency - flaunts his capped dentures on the late night news, Sam knows her life is about to change forever.

If you want to read more about it you can go to my website or to the UK Kinglake Publishing website.

And if you're feeling so inclined you can also buy it online at Amazon, Amazon UK, WHSmith's, Waterstones, Blackwell's and Play.com.

Well, enough about me! I'll back on to the house build and design inspirations later in the week ...

I'm Dreamin' Of ... A Funky Bookcase

Yes, that's right, people I've decided to have a weekly section called 'I'm Dreamin' Of ...' to feature things that either I have been dreaming of owning, hadn't realised I was dreaming of owning until I saw them or just things I love that inspire lots of dreamy moments.

Today's piece is a funky bookcase by Colombian-based designers Malagana Design.

The Equilibrium bookcase turns your sense of balance on its head to give you something functional but quirky. Says Malagana's website: While its compartments seem to float in the air, Equilibrium can hold over 120 Lbs of weight and its different modules allow to keep books and magazines organized in a natural tilted position that eliminates the need for bookends.

I like.
I want.
I'll have to be content to dreaming about putting this quirky number in my living room.

Images via The Contemporist

Holiday R&R

It's the start of the school hols and we're having a week away with friends at a place called Forster up the coast, about four and a half hours drive from Sydney. This isn't the house we're staying in - although I've heard it's nice. But this outdoor room - yes, that's right, outdoor - has all the elements of a place ideal for rest and relxation: lots of plump cushions, a large lounger on which to lie and rest one's feet, a log fire, and ample, stylish side tables for cups of tea or glasses of wine.

I aim to read Megan Morton's Home Love, finish Lionel Shriver's latest book, So Much for That, sing badly on Singstar, go for long walks, and enjoy time with family and our friends.

And when we get back, we'll get to see progress on the house!

The Seductive Nature of Books

Design must seduce, shape, and perhaps more importantly,

evoke an emotional response.

April Greiman

My emotional response to the Bookshelf Porn website, which Kate from Love You Big alerted me to is: 

[scream] I want them all!

Have a great weekend!