Jan 9

Hello 2012!

Posted in Architecture, Celebrations, musings

And welcome to a brand new year! I really didn’t intend on taking such a prolonged break from blogging, but towards the end of last year things were so busy that for one reason or another I did end up taking an unannounced little holiday from my computer. And, I have to say, it has been great not feeling tied to technology every day (except for checking ebay and properties on the ipad of course!). In fact I haven’t even set foot in my office for weeks, which means today is all about catching on emails!

So, what have I been up to since I last posted? We had a lovely Christmas day at my parents’ house with my side of the family, and then Christmas dinner at my in-laws (I love having them all to our place but our house is too small for everyone to be comfortable, and actually it worked out great to come home to a clean house with no cleaning to do on Christmas). On Christmas night we walked around the city and saw the beautiful light display on the facade of St Paul’s Cathedral:

In the lead up to Christmas I really enjoyed visiting new blogs (new to me) and seeing other people’s Christmas decorations and preparations for celebrations:

It’s classic voyeurism I know, but I do love glimpses into other people’s homes! This (above) is from a blog I enjoyed reading called 3 peanuts. Considering the subject matter here I should clarify my comment a few weeks ago about not being a big fan of modern bauble wreaths - I do really dislike the gaudy new ones in the shops but the wreaths made from vintage or antique glass baubles (as here) can be lovely.

A couple of days ago we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary, and were able to have a few days away alone in country Victoria (see terrible attempt at a shot of a country town view above). In some ways the last ten years seems to have flown by, but when I think about how much we have changed and done in those ten years - degrees finished, three cities, five homes, not to mention three children - it does feel as though we deserve to celebrate a little milestone! It was lovely to be without the kids just for a little while, and do some antique shopping:

And being in the country inevitably led to my continued daydreaming about having a little place there for ourselves, though my dreams are not so little:

Haha! I’d love a miniature version of this. I’ve been busy looking at country properties (little humble cottages), as well as houses in Melbourne - I’m desperate for more space at home! I’d love something with some interesting character but rundown enough that I can really put my stamp on it:

I’m starting this year feeling truly grateful for our family and for all the wonderful possibilities that the future holds for us. Our second child starts Prep this year and so I think it will be a year of new beginnings and positive change. 2011 was my first full year of writing this blog and also of running my own business, and while it came with its challenging moments, I was at times a little overwhelmed by the positive support I received from readers, from strangers out there in the aether that is the blog world whose emails really are wonderful motivation, and most of all from clients who allowed me to help them in their homes. Thank you! Decorating-wise, I came home this week from our time away feeling so inspired and full of ideas, which my husband listened to me describe with good humour on the way home in the car. More on those ideas tomorrow!

Naomi xx

 

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Dec 16

Wonderful Christmas House

Posted in Architecture, Celebrations, traditional home, Uncategorized

I’ve mentioned before that one of my favourite magazines for Christmas decorating inspiration is Traditional Home. I’m not really one for modern Christmas decorations (wreaths of coloured baubles and the like), and prefer a more traditional approach; really I have always been seduced by that luxury of lots of foliage, beautifully wrapped gifts, deep colours, twinkling lights in a dark room, crystal and silver..

but it doesn’t have to be red and gold, I saw some gorgeous white ornaments and decorations in Bed Bath and Table yesterday (all on sale too). I’d just like the white-laden tree to sit by a beautiful traditional rug in warm colours! Anyway, this home to me is perfect for this sort of nest-like Christmas decorating.

I’m drawn to the warmth of all that unpainted beautiful timber in the floors, doors and architraves, the stone and brickwork and the traditional furnishings. I love that all the natural materials are celebrated and not covered up - my mum would say it has integrity (we had a heated discussion on this topic when I wanted to use stone to cover dark brickwork on the outside of my parents’ house- mum argued forcefully that to cover her ‘good, honest brickwork’ would be to rob her home of integrity - yes, house talk is serious business! I’m still not sure whether ugly integrity is worth displaying..)

What a fabulous upstairs bedroom (above) - I’d love to sleep in a bedroom with a fireplace and a pitched ceiling line like this!

I do think when I look at this office how fabulous the bookcases would look painted grey! But don’t the timber shelves, traditional rug, brick walls and Christmas greenery go well together?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Naomi x

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Dec 5

Red and more red

Posted in Celebrations, projects/ my work, red

I’ve been looking at this shelf in black for a home office project I’ve begun work on, but then I saw it in red. A pair of these would look fantastic paired with the black wing chair I’m using as a desk chair! I love the style of this shelf but I also like the pop of the colour. It got me thinking about using red to pull a room together:

I really like the red of the door and cabinet against the coffee-coloured walls (above). If the walls were white it might be a little too ‘Christmas’ for all year round!

Another room featuring a pop of red and chiang mai dragon fabric, but this time ‘pulling out’ the blue from the fabric. The red rug and table really brings warmth and cosiness to this living room.

A red dining chair is a great way to introduce some cheer and warmth to a room. It can look sophisticated or more ‘country’ depending on what it’s paired with. I remember a few years ago seeing a house decorated for Christmas in Traditional Home magazine, where the dining room was painted pea green and an antique table was paired with lacquered red, vaguely chinoiserie-style dining chairs, similar to the ones above. There were lots of reflective surfaces too; mirrors, glass hurricanes and giant mercury glass baubles hanging from the chandelier. It was quite formal but the red chairs made it fun and more accessible.

I’ve also been admiring this room (above). Of course I’m a big fan of blue and white, and the aged patina of the French and Gustavian pieces here paired with pale fabrics is just beautiful. But don’t the red barn doors give the room something extra?

And speaking of gorgeous red doors! I’m tempted to paint my front door a glossy red just for the Holiday season - would that demonstrate some sort of tragic over-commitment to decorating? Seriously though, the combination of black, white and red with some touches of real greenery is a classic that never dates. It just so happens it’s perfect for this time of year too!

Have a great day xx

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Dec 1

Traditional Christmas Inspiration

Posted in Celebrations

Well today is the first day of that month, and Christmas wreaths are going up on front doors (including ours) all around our neighbourhood. I have to say, it’s not just my kids who get excited about the decorations everyone puts up in and outside their houses! I love everything about Christmas; the traditional hymns, going to church and visiting the Nativity display, time with family, the cooking, shopping for and giving presents, the carols, and of course, the decorating! This year I am really into a cosy, traditional look. I haven’t actually done this at home but I have this fantasy Christmas room in my head that to be would be perfect this year. It has warm brown/grey walls (I think of the colour as milk chocolate), big comfy armchairs, maybe French in style with some dark timber frames, upholstered in white and scattered in subtly patterned velvet cushions in reds and golds. The tree in my fantasy room is huge, twinkling with lots of lights, and filling the room with that wonderful real tree smell. Shining silver trays laden with mercury glass tealights, crystal goblets and bowls of treats sit atop gleaming antique tables and squashy ottomans. Get the picture? Very cosy and enveloping, very traditional.

My favourite two magazines for Christmas spreads are Homes & Gardens (UK) and Traditional Home (did I mention this before?). This room (above) was in Homes & Gardens a few years ago (though I think this picture may be from House & Home) and I wish I had pictures of the rest of it! It had that moth-grey colour on the walls, lots of jewel colours and raspberry in the decorating mixed with greenery, and I remember coming back to it again and again that year!

I really went off red for Christmas and really in general a few years ago, but now I am loving it! It seems to me (this year at least) that no other colour quite conveys that festive feeling..

You may have seen this home in Traditional Home mag a couple of years ago (above). It was one of my favourite Christmas issues ever, and though I’ve searched through my magazine collection I can’t find it! I was obsessed with the architecture of the home and the French-style decor.

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