We're In!

I can't believe it - we're in and we survived! It was a day of contrasts last Thursday: I think it was probably the more organised move of the nine we've done in the past 15 years but it was definitely the most chaotic at the moving in stage.

Think: painters still painting when removalists arrive, cleaners trying to clean when removalists arrive, curtains being hung when removalists arrive, electrician fixing lighting when removalists arrive! It was a menagerie of beavers beavering away and we turn up with a ton of boxes and furniture on the pretext of moving in.

Perhaps we were mad but then, again, I'm loving being back despite the amount of work still to be done and the things we've discovered that haven't been done when they should have. But we have flushing toilets, an amazing view and beds to sleep in so what more could you want?

Instead of taking photos of what is yet to be finished (ie study joinery, more painting, more blinds, shower screens, bathroom mirrors ... and that's just the inside!) I've taken a few snaps of the good bits (in fact I've taken quite a few so I'll post them over two blogs).

Entry hall table

Entry - view from the top of the stairs

Entry stairs with paintings, yet to be hung, by my dad of our old dog and our new one, Ruby

At the top of the stairs you get to the dining area

... and the living space

... and the kitchen (don't look at the missing dishwasher and cupboard doors)

More to come over the weekend, folks!

Zhushed Cane Chairs & Cushions

Finally, I've got round to finishing and photographing my newly revamped cane chairs!

Thanks to Nicole from Yardage Design and a friend who has a sewing machine, the old cushions are no longer and, thanks to a couple of cans of white spray paint, the old brown cane chairs that needed some lovin' are now white.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view!) I was so keen to get spraying that I forgot to take 'before' shots but if you can imagine faded dirty brown cane and red and white striped cushions beginning to mould then you get the picture.

They now match my S.H.E revamped retro chairs and have joined them at the bach.

This is the Agapanthus fabric from Yardage Design and you can check out Nicole's other fabric here.

Chair Love

Image: Living Etc

I just love these armchairs - the colours, the fabric and the fact they are old chairs that have been reupholstered. Have you ever mix-and-matched different fabrics on the one chair?

P.S. Now, I have to apologise for my lack of blog-visiting lately. I've been really missing everyone's updates and the inspiring world of design blogs but have just had too much on and something had to give. But hopefully, I'll have more time very soon! xoxo J

When a Room goes Pop!

Image via Belle Maison

At first glance you may think, 'nice room'. But if you look at the detail I think there is much to love. The olive green armchair draws you in. It looks so inviting especially teamed with a gorgeously bright cushion. Then there's the rustic coffee table (even though nothing else in the room is rustic), the butterfly print, the modern fireplace and built-in chunky shelving, the peacock-inspired rug and circular side table. I love a good bit of inspiration.

Happy weekend everyone!

Rockin' Rocking Chair

You may remember I mentioned my Mum's old rocking chair which was passed on to me several years ago that I loved but was looking a little worse for wear? Well, my friend Camilla of S.H.E furniture has waved her magic wand and spruced it up for me. Unfortunately I didn't take any 'before' photos but you can see how lovely it looks now ...

When I say 'waved her magic wand' she actually spent about 10 hours sanding it back to get rid of all the staining (there was lots apparently and it was beginning to peel), and fixing up the back leg ends that had been chewed by my old dog! She then put Estapol - a special polyurethane wood finish - on it to give it a lovely matt sheen and make it look brand new again.

They also made me a cushion in Cloth fabric - one side to match the mid-century chairs they 'upcycled' for me.

And the other side to match the other chairs I have up at Hardys Bay.

Mum reckons the chair is at least 45 years old, if not more. So now I reckon it'll easily last another 45, especially as Camilla thought it well made and in good condition despite the stains and chewed ends. Maybe one day my girls will sit in it and rock their little children on their laps as my mother did with me and so on down the generations ...

Chairs, Glorious Chairs

Image from Arianna Belle via Elle Decor

After reading a lovely new blog recently by Arianna Belle, I was reminded of my love of chairs and how I had a few images floating around of them that I should share. Don't the earthy tones of the fabric of the chairs in chrome contrast so well with the simple white table? 

And what about these office chairs teamed with this timber table in a Sydney house I saw advertised for sale recently? Very comfy, I'm sure, or would everyone spend their time at the table swivelling?

Or how about a different chair for each place setting as in this house that won a 2010 Australian Interior Design Award?

Dramatic, bold prints look great on dramatic bold chairs, as shown here via Bryonie Porter wallpaper (it's the chest that's wallpapered!)

And there's nothing like a girly chair for a girly bedroom (actually I really like the mannequin - what a perfect way to store and display jewellery).

Image via Belle Maison

I do love a bit of vintage and these two chairs are great examples that come with footstools as well and are covered in delightful fabric to give them zing!

Image from Desire to Inspire via Flicker