Grasscloth Walls

Our entrance hall is in need of a lift. I had originally painted it Dulux Whisper White, which I love as a neutral almost-white, but it's a bit too stark for the foyer which I feel is in desperate need of some warmth and personality and I just love colour too much to stick with white. I am still on the hunt for a beautiful rug as a jumping off point as the cowhide just doesn't work there and proves annoyingly easy to trip over.  We are now going to deconstruct the furniture/artwork arrangement we did some months ago, as below,  as we just don't feel it works in the space.

The fish painting will move into the living area and will help me settle on a colour scheme for there. It will be replaced by a mirror. The legs of the Ikea cabinet will be cut down as it's too high and dominating (perhaps even painted white) and what's on top will be rethought. I have since added a pair of pineapple lamps as it was in need of some soft lighting, and I can never have too many lamps, plus I ordered two bamboo chairs, but it's all too much and just doesn't feel cosy or welcoming enough. So back to the drawing board!

I was going to do a pretty Benjamin Moore inspired beigey/stone wall colour, but I just can't go past grasscloth as a way to inject some colour, texture, personality and style into this space. Plus I'm completely obsessed by it. Sadly it's fiendishly expensive, so I won't be able to do the area I would like to (ie the whole house!), but if I only do the dominant walls in the foyer, and perhaps even instal some wainscoting or a chair rail I will hopefully only need a few rolls. 

This is the Kravet grasscloth I'm considering. It does come in a lovely soft aqua but I think I need to add some colours other than the various shades of blue that dominate the house.

Check out these amazing grasscloth and other woven, textural wallcoverings and you'll see why it's so hard to go past.

Who wouldn't love an entrance as charming and welcoming as this.

Utterly adore this Marco Meneguzzi designed entrance in Sydney and those giant botanicals.

Gives such a lift and added style to this staircase

Always loved this Diane Bergeron designed room with that lovely inky wallpaper

For more inspiration and grasscloth covered walls plus these sources, go to my Pinterest board "Decorating Details" here.

If money was no object and you could add one decorating detail to your house, what would it be? Mine is definitely wallpaper in every colour, shape and pattern.

Inspiring Spaces

I hope you all had a great long weekend, despite the inclement weather. I'm battling a rather unpleasant cold, so combined with late stages of pregnancy and all the aches, pains and general fed-upness that brings, I'm not feeling too chipper about things. I am SO bad at pregnancy, truly, I just don't have the stamina for it. Now I remember why I was going to tattoo "NEVER DO THIS AGAIN" on my arm after I had my daughter! But mostly, I just want to meet this little ray of sunshine as soon as possible and get on with our life as a family of 5. The anticipation/excitement/anxiety is killing me as much as the bladder pain!

Did manage to see two films recently, in keeping with my current theme, - What to Expect When You're Expecting- I give it 2 out of 5 stars (a wasted opportunity) and Friends with Kids - 4 out of 5 stars  (great cast, clever script, real life).

So as I try to clear my foggy mind, struggle to pull on my last remaining pair of maternity leggings (sadly all that fits me now) and focus on what I need to do over the next few weeks, here's some chic inspiration for those of you who like the subtlety of more monochromatic decor.

via Decorpad

via Design Indulgences

via Decorpad

Pinterest

via Martha Stewart

via House Beautiful

via Sarah Richardson Design

via Julie Couch

via House Beautiful

via Phoebe Howard

via Tiffany Eastman Interiors

via New England Home

via Pinterest

via Pottery Barn

Light Love

I know there are hundreds of things readily available in the US we all wish we could get here or at least shipped here without having to spend a small fortune. Rugs and wallpaper are the one thing killing me at the moment!

I hear you when you pine over taps, bathroom accessories, tiles, bedding, furniture, rugs, fabric, wallpaper et al. Not a day goes by when I don't find a product I'm desperate to have only to find it's not shipped here, or if it is will cost more than the item itself.

But lighting is one of the topics that I get the most emails about. Everybody seems to be eternally frustrated about the lack of choice here when it comes to bathrooms sconces, lanterns, exterior lights, chandeliers, pendants or lamps etc.



Things are improving and the fact that we can now at least have many of these products shipped here, is at least a step in the right direction, although you do have the conversion and installation issue.

We can have access to the likes of Pottery Barn, West Elm, Ballard, Circa Lighting, anything on Overstock (to name a few) shipped directly, and although the cost of shipping is often prohibitive, if you really desperately want it, it can be yours. Then again you can always use a third party from any retailer if you are happy to risk the unknown cost of shipping at point of purchase.


I guess if the economy continues to nose dive in the US and elsewhere, retailers will continue to look for markets further afield and we can hopefully benefit from that. And hope that the shipping costs will fall in line as well.

So talking of lights, these images feature a spectacularly drool worthy pendant from Circa Lighting to make your heart skip a beat.

The Single Sloane Street light - simply beautiful. Don't fret, it can be yours - at a price!

If you can add to the list of US retailers who will ship to Australia, I'm always keen to expand my list!

Kitchen Love

My kitchen was one of the first things completed in this house, although the blind for the window and screen rollers on the bi-folds only went up on the weekend, but I still think about my dream kitchen (one without the limitations of an old house reno), and am constantly drawn to gorgeous photos of inspiring and beautiful kitchens. I never tire of looking at them.

This image from Visual Comfort is the kind of kitchen that just makes me gasp, and feel slightly pained at the same time ie that it's not mine.

What's not to love about this kitchen. The joinery, the tiles, the glass doors, the contrasting benchtop, the stools, the sofa, the Barbara Barry lights, the touches of yellow - I couldn't ask for more.

Here's some more of my favourite kitchens from a past kitchen post here.

Despite my feeling like I could barely put one foot in front of the other on the weekend, I did manage to put up two Roman blinds and six screen roller blinds by myself. Probably the stupidest thing I've done in a while, given I thought I was going to go into labour by the end of it, but I just couldn't bare the huge boxes lying in the foyer being tripped over and have been desperate to get window coverings downstairs for some insulation and privacy.

I'll show you some pics later this week.

Have the central gas heating being installed today, which will be a welcome relief. Trying to keep warm with a couple of little oil heaters hasn't been easy given this big open space downstairs and how cold it's been. Not sure how the hubby is going to respond when he gets back tomorrow given that when he left I was going to buy one portable gas heater and have now advanced myself to central heating. But couldn't get past the government warnings of toxic fumes and carbon monoxide poisoning and figured that bringing a newborn home to that wasn't particularly wise. After his purchase of the unauthorised antiques I think we can call it even!

Inspiring Vignette

It's Friday - I'm utterly exhausted and officially over it (being pregnant that is). Carrying around this already 3kg baby, at 34 weeks, only heaven knows how big it will be at term. No wonder I can't walk, sleep or sit comfortably. I'm surprised my kids haven't given me up to child services or moved out yet, as I'm sure I would be voted worst mother ever with all the shouting, nagging, berating and general lack of tolerance, patience and understanding I have shown of late. Can't wait for my husband to get back from his trip and bear the brunt for them. 

I need a little calmness and serenity - and found some in this soothing and gentle image.

Pinterest

Have a restful weekend.