Virtual Renovating

Image via emmas blog (just because I liked it!)

I can't believe I never knew about these things until now: Renovating and decorating via free online websites that let you design houses and decorate rooms from the comfort of your ergonomic desk chair - or, in my case, my rather un-ergonomic dining chair.

And I can't believe I found out about one of them - Floor Planner - via my daughter. Yes, indeedy peoples, my 12-year-old is designing her very own virtual beach house for her Design and Technology class. Even my 10-year-old is doing it now and only last night showed me the top floor of her 'house' with its room full of arcade games - her idea of heaven clearly!

Then I read in the Sydney Morning Herald the other day about a whole raft of other such sites that I never knew about and quite frankly, could have used over the past year.

My Deco: where you can design a 3D room, add furniture, make moodboards and get ideas from other people's room designs.

Google Sketchup: which is a more architecturally inclined modelling program.

3Dream: uses video-game technology to allow you to draw up floor plans, add the joinery and then choose from real-life furniture, fabric swatches, lights and art.

They could be real time-wasters but I reckon if you're having a hard time envisaging a room or the plan of a house, they could be just what you need.

Has anyone used one of these before? I'd love to hear how it went!

Fancying ...

Image via The House that A-M Built via House and Garden

Summer and lazy days by a pool

Image via The Design Files

An ergonomic desk chair

Image via Desire to Inspire

This shower (but no close neighbours nearby!)

Image via All Women's Talk

Chocolate cake ... mmm, yum

What are you fancying right now?

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.

I'm Dreamin Of ... Blue

Back in October I wrote a post which I thought would become a weekly thing called I'm Dreamin' Of ... But whether I was trying not to do too much dreaming or perhaps because I got distracted, it kind of peetered out.

So I thought I'd revive it.

Today, like many days, I'm Dreamin' Of all things Blue. Not because I'm sad but because I love the colour blue. All blues, actually. Robin's Egg, Duck Egg, Turquoise, Teal, Aqua, Sky, Navy, Indigo and everything else in between.

Here is a random selection of images I had on file that all feature blue - although I should add that that wasn't the reason I saved them (or maybe, unconsciously, it was?!) ...

What colour tickles your fancy?

Images via: The Design Files, The Zhush, Ferm Living, Belle Maison, The Design Files, House of Turquoise.

Fabric Love: Ink and Spindle

Am feeling a creative urge coming on and have found myself oogling and googling online fabric stores with a view to making some cushions.

And I really love Melbourne-based Ink and Spindle's hand-printed textiles. These are some of my favourites ...

Wrens in Inky Blue

Gingko in Dusty Pink & Red

Kangaroo Paw in Charcoal & Sage

Birch Forest in Robin's Egg

But then they have all sorts of others in different colours, too ...

Little Forest in Sage & Lime

Lace Fans in Saffron

Bonsai in Deep Red on Unbleached

Birch Forest in Almond

The fabric bundles are tempting ...

Check it out for yourself at the Ink and Spindle website or follow their blog.

But that's enough from me! I have a deadline looming ...

A Dutch Kitchen

I can't decide if I like this kitchen or not.

I've always loved the idea of a clutter-free, minimalist, all-white kitchen (although how one can maintain this with kids, I don't know??) but this one -  a newly renovated apartment in Amsterdam by Hofman Dujardin Architects - seems a little too stark for my liking.

Yet I love that the large central island is the kitchen, plus the amazing floor-to-ceiling windows, the comfy looking dining chairs, colourful table centrepiece and the timber floors.

Images via The Contemporist

But I'm not sure about the light. It's as if some weird spider-like alien is about to land.

What do you think?

Weekend Fun, Movies and Magazines!

Good morning all! How was your weekend? Mine involved a whirlwind trip back to Auckland to surprise my Dad on his 80th birthday! The look on his face when I turned up at the door on Friday afternoon was priceless (sorry no pix!). It was a special time with family and being able to catch-up with friends.

Plus, I was able to indulge in some magazine reading on the plane (even though I have tried to hone back on my magazine purchases!) The latest Home Beautiful and Australian House and Garden are definitely worth a read if you live Down Under.

I now want to make this recipe - fettucine with prawns, tomato, chilli and capers ...

Home Beautiful, pg 148

Was inspired by these grey tones and industrial style in this room ...

Home Beautiful, pg 49.

 And got caught up in the romanticism and dreamy whites of stylist Lyn Gardener's home - even though it's not really my style ...

Australian House & Garden, pg 94.

And the Australian House & Garden even came in handy when I couldn't watch the gruesome arm-chopping scene in the movie '127 Hours' - as a screen cover! 

P.S. If you haven't seen it, don't be put off by the five minutes of yuk as it is a fanstically done movie - very gripping and heart-wrenching knowing that it is a true story. I'm note sure if it's up for any Oscars but I can't wait to find out what movies will be winners. What are your picks?

I'm Dreamin' Of ... well, definitely not a white Christmas!

I'm actually dreaming of a sunny one! Well, at least the rain hasn't dampened the start of my Christmas shopping. Am feeling quite good about having ventured to both actual shops and those online - although I can't post any of my good finds as I don't want to give the game away to the intended recipients! Needless to say, I'm feeling in more of a festive mood and am looking forward to spending time with the family in the sun (hint, hint oh sun up there!) at Christmas time. What about you? Have you started Christmas shopping?

In a bid to organise my computer files, I've also been going through my 'sources of inspiration' images I've collected over time. Here are some rooms that I love for being fun, eclectic and colourful and, I think, have a hint of Christmas spirit about them despite there being no green or red in sight!

 Image via Belle Maison

Am loving the coffee table and the sofa, even though I have to say, I probably wouldn't buy a teal-coloured sofa. Yet it really works here.

If you haven't heard about the UK's Bryonie Porter and her wallpapered furniture, you've got to check out her site - here - what cool stuff and she even commissions. Too bad we're not in London!

Well, okay, so I said there wasn't any red but it really helps bring alive this neutral room and it's unusual mix of styles.

Image via Australian Interior Design Awards

Now, if this doesn't scream summer time, Christmas time, relax-outside-for-a-bbq-by-the-pool-time I don't know what does. You could entertain a crowd here!

Image via Belle Maison

Okay, so maybe this isn't so colourful but after all that entertaining you might want somewhere serene and peaceful to retire to and this bedroom corner looks like just the spot. I've always wanted a mannequin to drape my jewels (!) over and a girly spot in which to powder my nose but hubby isn't so keen on too much girly stuff! I guess when he lives with a house full of girls (even the dog) he's allowed some respite.

Happy Christmas shopping everyone!

Friday Fishin'

I wish had some riveting updates on our house build but there's really not a lot to say or show. Rain has held up the second floor slab going on and other work that's been completed (ie retaining walls, finishing the lower level brick work etc) isn't worthy of a either a photo or a blog post. Slowly but surely we are getting there but, like everyone in Sydney, we're sick of the cold, rainy, windy days that make it feel more like winter than spring.

I wouldn't mind jetting off to this house, though, that's not only got the weather but a rather amazing pool and house design that looks rather resort-like.

The Fish House which is described as a 'modern tropical bungalow' - which downplays it somewhat, don't you think? - is in Singapore and was designed by Guz Architects.

I mean, check out the master bedroom ensuite - what views, what size!

Enjoy the weekend folks!

Images via The Contemporist

Mirror Envy

Image via House of Turquoise

I have mirror envy. Of no mirror in particular. Just mirrors of all shapes and sizes, any sort of frame, both new and old.

Image via Apartment Therapy

I was reminded of this on my long walk home today from the Holden service centre where I had to take my car to be fixed (flat battery + electrical problem = $$$ and no car for the time being!!) when I popped into a mirror shop I had been wanting to visit for ages but had only ever passed in my car.

Image via Georgetown Custom Homes

And wow, I was dazzled. As I wandered through the shop I 'bought' a mirror for every room in the house. Not because I think we should all be primping and preening ourselves but because I love the look of them and how they can become like pieces of art.

Image via The Design Files

Image via Apartment Therapy

 

Image via Crafty Nest

Do you love mirrors too? What are your favourites?

I feel in need of some encouraging words today and think these should do it - which I will admit I 'pinched' from an email from one of the members of an online freelance journalists group I belong to. It was quoted for an entirely different reason but it got my attention ...

'Whatever you can do or think you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius and magic in it. Begin it now.'

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

So, go on, be bold and take the leap!

And enjoy the weekend!

Mood Boards: Girls' Bedrooms

What better way to spend a ghastly rainy Sunday (ie yesterday) than by making mood boards! My two girls and I had a ball going through magazines and putting together ideas for the rooms in the house and I let them run free with their bedrooms.

As you can see my eldest has gone for a base of black and white and wants to liven it up with turquoise and purple. And where are those wallpapers I blogged about in my last post, you may be wondering? Well, she's got them on another piece of card but thought maybe a more subtle design would be better (I told you there'd be a lot of fickleness going on!). But hey, I think it looks quite sophisticated and pretty, don't you?

My youngest teamed the Dog in the Park wallpaper with lime green, blue and a dash of yellow. Bright and breezy that can be toned down with white bed linen and furniture.

I then went and looked at the other rooms in the house and it was such a great process as it really helped me 'see' each room and because I stuck each image down with Blu-tack I could take items away and add others to change the look and feel. It sure beat having a [large] stack of cuttings that, apart from giving me ideas and inspiration, were also making me feel confused and overwhelmed. This way - and with only an A4-sized card - I had to be ruthless and only keep things that really worked. I also found images (both online and in magazines) of furniture and other items similar to those we already owned, such as our sleigh bed, driftwood lamp, chocolate leather armchairs, so I could see how they would fit in with the choices of colour scheme, wallpaper, curtaining etc and, in some cases, which room they would go in. You could also do this with artwork, family photos, plants to help get the feel for what the 'real' room could look like. And rearranging is as easy as lifting a finger! I highly recommend it.

Ideas, excitement, patience ...

Am very excited as next Tuesday is the day planned for the second level floor slab to be poured! To actually get up there and see what it will be like in our living/kitchen/deck area is what I have been waiting for for ages.

But settle petal, I hear you say. And quite rightly too. Patience is a virtue in this building business. Have to settle, instead, for gorgeous styled images of other peoples' homes which are bursting out of the magazines I buy and the websites and blogs I peruse.

One potential change to the interior - which may or may not happen as it will depend on how it looks - is that we could keep one wall in the rumpus room in the original brick (instead of cladding over it) to give it a bit of an industrial feel. I got quite excited about the idea (as I am wont to do) but hubby isn't so sure and he may be right as in a relatively modern house it may just look weird or stupid or just plain wonky. Anyway, this image is the kind of the look we could achieve ...

There would be two long, large windows either side of the TV on the wall, and facing it a fun sofa plus a pool table on timber floors, if you get the idea. Silly? Who knows. We'll just have to wait and see.

Interior Inspiration

Have stumbled upon (via The Design Files) an interior design duo who are channelling exactly the kind of feel I'd like for our house. Fiona Lynch and Mardi Doherty of Doherty Lynch, based in Melbourne, use clean lines, neutral bases and then pop them with a burst of colour - often wallpaper - and I'm liking it.

Images via The Design Files and Doherty Lynch

Love, love, love this kitchen! You can read The Design Files' interview with them here.