Designer Admirer - Marika Meyer

I love coming across designers I haven't heard of before. That's not to say they haven't been taking the design world by storm for some time, but their work is new to me. This happened this week with Marika Meyer, whose work I discovered through The Lennoxx, which featured her work in the DC Design House from earlier this year. 

I was captivated by this room she created for the show house, with that fabulous bookcase featuring the trellis wallpaper and I knew she was a designer I had to find out more about. Here's that fabulous room she designed featuring a pretty palette of cream, beige, green and blue with a subtle mix of patterns and textures that combine effortlessly to create an harmonious, stylish and welcoming space.

There's a good lesson in bookcase styling too. Love the barely noticeable blue trim at the bottom of the armchairs that ties in with the other dots of blue around the space.

How stunning is that lantern? From Urban Electric Co.

I love her restrained use of blue and white china. So easy to overdo collections of the stuff, but here is just adds the right amount of detail and colour. 

I know they are popular and impossibly chic, but I just don't go for those ottomans with carved animal legs. I find them strange and creepy!

Photography by Angie Seckinger Photography

I do love the rug, with that subtle pattern and colours with the pops of blue.

Here is some more of her design work displaying a lovely, effortless, relaxed and liveable style. Enjoy.

Love the lamps.

Great grey and white striped floor.

You had me at grasscloth and paneling.

Another heavenly rug.

She clearly likes using wallpaper to back bookcases and it sure works.

Love the subtle impact that pair of those oversized glass chartreuse lamps.

Oh my, the coffered ceiling combined with the tongue and groove paneling - what a dynamic duo.

This time she painted the back of the bookcase, still looks sensational.

For more of Marika's work, visit her portfolio here.

American coastal style on our doorstep

Can you guess where this photo was taken?

I bet you're thinking it's a quaint church in a picturesque town somewhere on the US East Coast. Well, it's actually right here, in Sydney. I took it last Friday.

At Breakfast Point - a 52ha waterfront residential village in Sydney, designed and developed by Rosecorp. It's situated on the inner harbour near Concord, and consists of a mix of individual homes, apartments and townhouses, all designed with a distinctly classic American coastal style.

I was at Ikea, which is just up the road at Rhodes, near Homebush Bay. I've been meaning to visit it for years, and as I had a spare half hour and a sleeping baby in the car, I thought I'd pop by.

The development was designed to be self-sustaining and thus includes a number of facilities available to all residents, including this wonderful community hall, available for weddings and special events.

It overlooks the village green and cricket oval. You can see the Harbour Bridge and city in the background below. It development has a distinctly "Truman Show" feel about it.

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Landscaping is beautifully done, with these massive palms dotted around the grounds.

Entrance to country club. Who wouldn't want to be a member here? I'd never leave.

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How fab is that building? Complete with lap pool, lagoon pool, gym, library, cafe and tennis courts.

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The streetscapes and landscaping is beautifully done. The whole place is immaculately kept and very well presented. There are properties for sale, so check out www.breakfastpoint.com.au for more information.

This is a row of shops in the village square, which has restaurants, hairdresser, childcare and more.

I love this kind of corrugated roof, which is done a lot in the US, usually with copper but this is as effective with iron.

The details are well considered, and paint colours all whites, grey and natural timbers.

Some of the freestanding houses on the foreshore. It reminds me a bit of a residential development you might find in Florida even. I was driving around taking photos out the car window with my phone, so now the best shots.

This is the view from one of the houses.

So it's encouraging to know that there are tasteful and stylish residential developments being built in Australia, not just the usual mass produced ugly monstrosities that are a blight on the landscape. I think this is beautifully done and a credit to the developers. 

And not surprisingly, the family who own Rosecorp, the Rose Family, own one of Sydney's most beautiful homes on Palm Beach. So it's no surprise their good taste and classic American aesthetic should extend to their commercial projects. In fact, I was so excited when their daughter Marisa was in touch with me and few months ago and invited me to see the house in person. Haven't been yet, but fingers crossed!

I took these photos sneaking around the boundary one day trying to get a better view! It's really the most stunning home, and the architectural details are gorgeous with the copper and shingled, the clapboard, transoms, paneling, posts and railings. I love it.

Here's some interior shots from the internet.

Other images by Melinda Hartwright.

PS I seem to have run out of downloadable photo space on blogger, so couldn't post any more, but you get the picture. Will have to investigate.....