Our Living Area And A Bathroom Floor Update

A photo of our living room through our French doors. I have added some pieces in here over the last week and I will show you more images soon. You would notice I don't have a rug down...there is a reason, actually 2 little ones! Through the Summer months I decided it was so much easier to take up our jute rug while the boys are running in and out of these doors covered in grass and the like. It makes it a breeze just to sweep up at the end of each day because the boys run in and out of these doors and carry in bits of everything!

I don't think I have ever showed this view of our living space before. You can see how it works with the kitchen and dining space (I must sort that 'BLOOM' sign out, always moves). I did add the big wicker trunk to the side of the sofa which I am loving...anyway, bathroom floor update....
Mic was away for work all weekend, and while he was gone I pulled up the lino to discover lovely Tasmanian Hardwood floorboards like the rest of our house, and they are in fairly good condition. There was a patch though that had really old newsprint on it. I tried to take a detailed shot for you...you may be able to make out the print! Well I sat for hours with a chisel, scrapping this stuff off!!

This is what it all looks like this morning.

I wont be able to do anything in here much this week as I have lots on with other jobs, but I will be hoping to get some gaping etc done on the weekend ready for a coat of BIN primer as there are some old stains here and there that will bleed through my top coat if I don't seal them properly. I am happy to leave them raw for now.

Hope you have a lovely day.

Ness xx

You Make Me Smile...

Since the problems I have had with our old computer has ended with the purchase of my new laptop, I have lost quite a few awards that some of you gave me. I was extremely thankful for all of them and I am sorry I had not mentioned them before this, but all of my saved photo files had vanished, including the images of the awards and who gave them to me.

This one above was from Obee Designs and I have to tell you all things that make me happy.

This list can change daily, but for the moment, this is what I smile about...

Now there are the obvious things like our boys and my loving Husband, Mic...other than that -
I love our big fireplace in our kitchen and this winter I plan on using it more. Last winter we relied on our reverse cycle heating, but it is not the same. I love changing the displays on the mantel often too and since this photo it has changed a few times. I also love our big clock.

Next is creating...anything. Food for our family, a welcoming home, a beautiful event and little things I come up with on the spot like this canvas which has the La Balloon image I have recently put on a new cover in my Store.These may make there way to the store if there is enough interest.

via pottery barn

White bathrooms that don't feature run of the mill fittings and fixtures...and lots of baskets!

While we are on the subject of bathrooms, look what is under the ugly lino in our bathroom!!! Now this makes me smile. I am still working on finishing, but have been very busy with other projects this week, and I promise to show you images as soon as I have it all sorted.

paddington Perspective I think!
Next up is barns. I love them and you would all know by now how much I want one to put on our property to turn into a store, a permanent store. This one in Bowral NSW is gorgeous, but an old one would be perfect for me.

Sewing. Now this wasn't always the case and when I was at school hated sewing with a passion, but since we first moved out of home, sewing just happened and I would make white roman blinds and drapes for the rental house we first lived in to give it the feel it was ours...from there it has taken hold and now I sew everything...literally!

This cover is a new one I have added to my Store.
New friends and inspiration I always get from all of you bloggers and readers. This blog has been a great thing for me and I thank you all for your ever supportive comments and emails. This image above is from Maria over at Dreamy Whites. This is a blog you must look at, you will be amazed...trust me!

Eva Lindh
...and as always, beautiful home wares and styling.
It never ceases to amaze me what some white fabric and old scrubby wood can do...especially when teamed up with Swedish, French and slightly industrial pieces.

Well that is what makes me smile this week and I thank you all for your awards. I am very lucky to have all of you with me on this trip.

Ness xx

Thanks Brooke - my go to Designer xx

country living

A pale palette in a kitchen, well anywhere really, for me is a wonderful base to start adding texture and kitchenalia to give a sense of warmth and interest to the family hub. This kitchen above, is wonderful and something I could easily live with. Everything here adds interest, right from the beaded board on the range, subway tiles, moulded doors, basket drawers, old cutting board...and the all white appliances and crockery.

I have long loved bin pull handles on drawers and mortise knobs for cupboard doors - so....
...last week I ordered 11 of these and 6 bin pull handles to match in brushed nickle to adorn our kitchen, below.The doors are still waiting for the new knobs, which will arrive in about 10 days and I cant wait to get them on. i am, however becoming a dab hand at opening the tall pantry doors with my big toe...well I cant chip the new paint now!
I have been thinking of the kitchen at the top of the post and thinking how I can add more textural interest in our kitchen. I have a few pieces already, but it needs something else and I knew who I would ask....

Brooke Giannetti from Velvet & Linen.
We seem to have the same aesthetic and sense of style, so when I found her recent post in my email inbox I was SO happy. Brooke and I have spoken about how much our style is alike and I look around her 'new' kitchen, which was made over for a photo shoot and as an updated relation of her style, and think we really do have similar tastes - and that the thing I am missing is some potted greenery. Our kitchen needs some green!
I have 4 little European box topiaries out in the shed which have been waiting to be potted in little zinc buckets for some time now...must get on to that.
They will sit on our kitchen bench.

traditional home
...Like this one.

I think it will add that softness that our bench needs. Although I am a stickler for an uncluttered bench top, I do love it when we have fresh flowers and greenery on them, so a permanent patch of green will be perfect...and it will sit so nicely against the white.
I am just so happy to have someone like Brooke to bounce ideas off, knowing that we are on the same wave length.

So, this post is for you Brooke to say thank you for all of your encouraging support, friendship and for being a great mentor to me - you are the best!

Ness xx

A Gorgeous picnic...

If you have been celebrating Australia Day, I hoped you enjoyed it...if not, I hope you enjoy these images of a beautiful picnic.

Ours was no where as stunning as this one, but just imagine for a second - packing up your vintage china and glasses, French linen napkins and a soft herringbone blanket in your vintage suitcase to head on out by the water for a feast with family and friends to celebrate what it is to be Australian.
When you arrive at your destination, you find the most beautiful shade tree, the type you would hang a tyre swing from, layout your blanket, turn on the soundtrack to Somethings Gotta Give and brake out your old Grans wooden board. Some fresh bread from that wood fire oven bakery you passed along the way and the most delightful cheese from the twilight farmers market gets the day off to a start while the B-B-Q is fired up, and not with the usual fare of steak, sausages etc, but marinated chicken, stuffed zucchini, eggplant and the like.
You watch the men and the kids play cricket and swim in the water.

While all this is happening you set up a zone with linen pillows, and an impromptu flower arrangement from daisies and lawn chamomile that were growing by your feet.
A table that was found by the water, left by others you cover in a spare blanket you have in the boot of the car...oh and you just happened to have some spare Tolix stools!!
This becomes your outdoor dining room ready for the feast.

I know it would never happen...but just play along OK?!
As the day wears on and full stomachs take hold, a afternoon nap is in order. You set up some little hurricanes from vintage mercury glass ready for the evening.
After the long day, the kids flake out under the umbrella, covered in the softest pashminas, a little sun kissed from all of the cricket and the swimming, and the grownups have a well deserved cup of coffee and a huge chunk of Pavlova while the sun dims...how Australian is that!!!?
Well, I hope you all liked my fanciful take on an Australian picnic - well it is what I would love anyway.
I love being Australian!
Ness xx
images- Aust Country Style

Preparing For Tomorrow...

house beautiful

Today was one of those relaxing, sunny days - you know the type where you have every intention of doing something grand, but the warm Summer sun just beckons you outside?

Well that was today. Tomorrow we celebrate Australia Day and just about everyone I know does this with a good 'ol Aussie barbie, or B-B-Q. We are having one here with our family, so today I spent some time sorting out where we will be eating and celebrating what it is to be Australian...it doesn't look as good as the image above, but it will do.

Eva Lindh

I did come to the realisation while I was out there, that we have to get started on the gardens. We started, then we were held up inside again fitting French doors and the like.

Oh well.

I had planned to bring you some more of the 'No cost bathroom makeover' today, but I didn't do a thing in there, but I will show you some images soon.

Have a wonderful day, wont you?

Ness xx

Rooms in Taupe ... so what shade is more you ...

Continuing the series about rooms with color ... here are some rooms done in Taupe ... but wait a sec., did you by any chance believe you liked your walls toned down ... and well ! ... may be taupe is more for you ... :)

... o.k then , ... did you think of what shade is more you ... cause even in colors like taupe ... you are sure to be looking at a basket full of shades ... like the first picture ... a much darker shade ... more towards a mudbrown or this picture above ... the room is more brown grey taupe ... :)

... traditional idea of a taupe room is some what this shade ... what is wonderful is how it goes well with so many other colors and shades ... you can do up your room furniture in shades of polish ranging from walnut to rosewood ... even teak ...have white surface finishes ... black ... I think taupe carries all of then very comfortably ...

... and so if white walls are not for you ... as in ... ah! I've had them all my life ... I'm soooo ... not in the mood for white anymore ... then taupe can sure be on your radar ... it'll give you shades that'll make you scratch your head for what really gels with ... my space being more me ... :)

... and it is even versatile to change and accomodate different styles ... be it traditional ... modern ... ethnic ... or just about everything eclectic ...

... often people talk about colors which have no character and they will make you believe the bolder... brighter or darker the shade ... the most gutsy and expressive the resident ... ... well ! I can't seem to quite digest that ... I think it couldn't be farther from truth ...

... the color that best puts all your collections together and makes you feel at home is the best option for you ... and often it may need you to get some professional help to get that bit correct ...

... Hope you were able to discover ... somebit into your personal preferences ... when it comes to deciding a color for your rooms ... feel free to write to me ... would love to hear your side of the if's ... buts ... wants and don't's ... :)... especially if you have doubts about any particular color or shade ...

Somethings Gotta Give Frenzy

Nancy Fishelson via Country Home

This image has sparked many a decorating frenzy and I know I have showed it before, but I just love it and thought it fitting for a restful Friday post.

Today has been much better and I think my run last night really cleared my head. Mason is over his bubble intoxication ;0) and all is looking good for the weekend.

The La Balloon cover I showed yesterday has been sold and I hope to make up some more and re stock the shop this weekend.

I also endeavour to do some little changes to our house if I get the time...I watched my favourite movie 'Somethings Gotta Give' and drooled over the sets house, which had me looking around at what I could do in here to get 'the feel'.

If you are after some inspiration this weekend, head over to Joni's blog Cote De Texas and click on her interview with the extremely talented Beth Rubino, who is the wonder behind the set looking like somewhere I could move into tomorrow...she even gives up where the blue striped rug came from.

Have a great one,

Ness xx

Home makes me smile...

One of those days!

Mason, our 3 year old swallowed dish washing liquid on the way back from the grocery store. I panicked and felt really teary while talking to the Poisons Center. He is OK, but I think he regretted it!

So, I took some photos of things that make me smile and feel calm...basically home.

This one is of the mirror Dad made us that's in the dining area, looking into the living room. The afternoon sun was just starting to come over the top of our house to fill the living room with light.

My $50 Chaise. How can that not make me smile and it is filled with the ticking, tufted base I made and a heap of cushions/pillows that I have made. It is in the hallway, right outside of our bedroom door and I love seeing it.

3 gorgeous little bottles I bought in Oatlands on a trip with my Mum and the boys and an old picture frame, picked up at the markets.
And finally, a new cover for my Etsy Store called La balloon (I really like this one and have made something else with it that I will show you soon) which is on a stack of books all about white interiors....ah smile =0)
The day has ended well with a nice 3km run to get rid of the stress.
Lets hope tomorrow goes smoothly!
Ness xx

Re purposing storage

Looking through some of my files and some of my favourite blogs for bathroom inspiration, I have found some wonderful cupboards and drawers that could be re-purposed into vanities and linen storage. This one above from Tricia Foley I saved for the worn wood on the top of the unit. I would love to have a top like this sealed with an organic bees wax that water just beads off.
This one I found via My Lovely Things and would make great linen storage don't you think?
Imagine it filled with loads of vintage Irish, French and Belgian linen pillow slips and crisp white sheets...nice. I do like the chairs in here too.

So cute!

I cant remember where I spied this image, so I am sorry. However, this is something I could really do in our bathroom. Although I would love pressed tin panels painted white behind the taps.

and finally this gorgeous set of drawers I viewed over at Shannon Frickes blog this morning from Anthropology. I would adore something quirky like this against all the white beaded board, except we would need four drawers...one for each family member. I guess my drawer would be '2ND'.
This is high on the list for a vanity replacement!
Ness xx

Tools down on the bathroom today while I play Nurse!

No work on the bathroom today. I have two little men who are snuggled up on the sofa, unwell. So instead I thought I would get the office in order ready for the year. You may remember, I used to sit behind the desk, but I have moved it to the wall to make more room in the center for cutting fabric and screen printing and the like. The sewing machine has had a day off today and is now covered in a vintage embroidered linen cloth...it doesn't know itself!
I love this space and I love working in this space. The light from the French door is lovely and even in this photo which was taken early morning (the light doesn't come in here until at least 10ish am) it still has a softness to it. You can see my little 'file drawers' on top of the white cupboard...there are made from old wardrobe drawers and hold all my to do things. I am still using the cot side rail to drape all of the fabric that is ready to be sewn. It just works so well that I haven't found anything to replace it yet!

I have taken so much from my desk top (it was a shambles from the Christmas chaos and orders etc), but I did steal the grey pitcher from the bathroom for the shot. My white one was having a clean and awaiting new greenery.

Anyway, thank you all so much for your encouraging comments on my super mini budget bathroom makeover. I am hoping to do some more in there tomorrow, but for now I have a muesli slice to make and two little men to attend to.

Have a wonderful day wont you?

Ness xx

Off to Brussels

I'm out of town this week on a press trip to Brussels where I'll be attending BRAFA, the Brussels Antiques and Fine Arts Fair. It should be an interesting trip, and I look forward to filling you in on it when I get back. See you next week!