A sense of design

2012-02-20T19:13:00.000+11:00

So a little more on my holidays, we stayed at the lovely Peppers Anchorage in Nelson Bay on the NSW mid north coast.

We just wanted to relax for a week by the water and even though it rained a couple of times, it didn't stop us!

I just enjoyed taking photos....even with my little camera...cant wait to get a good SLR one day!

And I had fun playing around with the photo editing software on my new iPad....yeah, I finally got one!!!!

I'm back...at last!!!

2012-02-16T13:58:00.000+11:00

I must admit I have found it hard to get back into blogging after a lovely looooong holiday plus my computer is broken and so I am doing this on a borrowed computer so this is just a quicky!

I thought I would share one of my photos from my time away on the lovely mid north coast of NSW

On the whole we were lucky with the weather..... it seemed to be pouring with rain everywhere but in our little pocket... though we did have the occassional storm come through.... which I actually quite like especially the drama of this picture.

More to come....

Summer in Sydney

2012-01-05T11:07:00.001+11:00

Well I hope you have all been having a wonderful Christmas and New Year, I am on my long summer break and will only be posting spasmodically.... I just need time to thoroughly relax!!!!

Not that I am always relaxing, I have managed to get a couple of jobs done that have been playing on my mind, the linen press got totally sorted.... the storeroom had a big organise and chuck .... and the kitchen has had everything taken out of the cupboards, cleaned inside and out and re-organised....wow, that feels soooo good!!!!

But there has been play, and this is what summer is all about.....

This beautiful child friendly beach is not too far away on the Northern Beaches, imagine living in one of these lovely houses right on the beach....... now I am not going to name it....I know I am mean but it is a lovely little secret beach and it's nice to keep it that way!!!

Now I am off to find my sun screen.....

Linking to

Savvy Southern Style

It's official...I am in love!

2011-12-21T10:50:00.000+11:00

With a house that is!!!!

I saw this house on Traditional Home online and wow....I want to have this life, I want a white Christmas in Connecticut and sit in front of roaring fires and I even want their dogs!!!

If you haven't seen it let me show you a wonderful Christmas setting....

Be still my beating heart..... how amazing is this house and how lucky are the people who live here! I have never seen an outdoor porch like it, it certainly would be an experience sitting wrapped in rugs on a winter's day in front of that fireplace.

If you would like to see more have a look here

7 sins- Gluttony - A Christmas treat

2011-12-19T12:14:00.000+11:00

I just wanted to share with you a yummy treat that I made for my extended family Christmas dinner on the weekend. A white chocolate and mixed berry cheesecake....yum......easy to make and very easy to eat!!!

Ingredients

12 x macadamia cookies (crushed)

30-50g of melted butter

300g mixed frozen berries

2 tablespoons of boiling water

3 1/2 teaspoons powdered gelatine

180g white chocolate (chopped)

2 x 250g blocks of Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)

1/3 cup caster sugar (super fine)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

185ml can light evaporated milk

1) Crush the biscuits and add in melted butter, then press into base of 22cm round spring form pan which has the base and sides lined with baking paper

2) Scatter half of the berries over the base and then refrigerate until the nxt step.

3) Place boiling water in heatproof container and sprinkle over gelatine. Use a fork to wisk until gelatine is disolved.
4) Melt chocolate in a heat proof bowl over a pan of boiling water, stirring with a metal spoon until melted and smooth.
5) Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in evaporated milk, chocolate and gelatine mixture.
6) Pour cream cheese mixture into pan and scatter with berries
7) Refrigerate over night to set

8) Simply plate up and enjoy, serves about 10

Linking to

Eazy Peazy Christmas table cloth

2011-12-12T06:48:00.003+11:00

HO HO HO!!! This is just too easy!!! I wanted to make a new table cloth for my Christmas table and the theme this year is ....... black and silver...... I know a little odd having black for Christmas but I really wanted to try something different this year and the main theme is silver.... so I thought that the perfect foil (no pun intended) for silver is black!

So all you need is some hessian (colour of your choice) it is only about $6 a metre and you can make it as long as you need. It is a great way of integrating different tables if you are adding them all together for the big family do! Some silver acrylic artists paint, a stencil brush and of course a stencil ( I used an old one that you may have seen several times already on this blog - I like to get my moneys worth!!!!!) Also you will need a ground cloth to put under the hessian so the paint doesn't go through and a chalk pencil to lightly mark the middle of the cloth.

I just used one of the medallions to be repeated down the middle and since I wasn't being over fussy, I just held it in place as I used the stencil brush. It only took minutes to dry as the fabric soaked it up, you could add a fabric medium to the paint but it works without it!

I didn't even hem the table cloth, I will just let it fray a little.... that is the great thing about hessian! How simple and effective is it! I have already made the silver bon bons to go with it but you will have to wait to see the finished table setting!!!

Linking to

Tip Junkie

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

2011-12-08T23:01:00.000+11:00

Well with the weather we have been having in Sydney and many other parts of the country it feels like we are heading into a northern Christmas!!! Rain and cold winds, it is the coldest start to summer in 50 years.

Just when we packed away the winter woolies and the electric blankets we have been shivering away in our homes and work places, I have even had the fire on a few nights...in summer!!!! The lawns have grown long and I need to get out there and mow as soon as it is dry but it is definitely time for the Chrissy decorations to come out....

Sorry about the quality of the photos, using my old camera at the moment, and as I am working so much in the lead up to Christmas I only have time to shoot at night....ahhhhh I am looking forward to having a break, I will be having most of January off work to spend some time with my little one!

Anyway I thought in the little time I have tonight (in between cooking cup cakes - Olivia is having a slumber party tomorrow night for her 9th birthday) I thought I would try and make one of those Christmas bauble wreaths you see on lots of blogs at the moment.... and guess what.....they are so easy!!! So I thought I would show you how to do it if you haven't caught up with it yet.

Now I just used materials I had at home....so it was a bit of a freebee, maybe next year I will spend some more time and money and really go to town on it.

All you need is an old wire coat hanger or some wire. Cut of the hook and shape into a circle....

Gather your baubles....you need quite a few....cut off the strings and then just start threading them on in a random way!!

When you are done twist the wire together at the end and tie a bow to cover it and that's it.....easy!

OK, well maybe next time I will spend a little more time and make it something really spectacular but for now I am happy.

Also my little one is growing up and while it is her party tomorrow night, she will actually be turning 9 in early January but as everyone is away on holidays so party time is now! It has been a busy time for her as well with end of year dance concert and getting an award at final assembly for academic excellence she has done very well this year!

Still cant get my head around little ones in stage makeup for the dance concerts but she loved it and had a lot of fun........so yes apart from the weather.... it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Black is back!

2011-12-02T01:00:00.003+11:00

Black technically is not a colour, it is the absence of light so therefore is not a colour........well....we all know that black is a colour and a very versatile colour at that!!!! Depending what colour black is teamed with you can get very different results.

Black mixed with jewel like colours such as red, hot pink, turquoise or yellow will give you a very vibrant, lively environment. Use them sparingly as they are not restful on the eye but will give you an exciting pop to your decor. Below is a perfect example of black and a bright hot pink used very well together, the pink is used minimally so as not to overwhelm.

By far my favourite way to use black is as a neutral, teamed with grey or beige to give a sophisticated touch to any room. The following images show how well black works in different rooms sometimes in surprisingly unexpexted places.....

Bathrooms

Black used in small touches in the bathrooms is a very sophisticated look.

It is glamourous without being showy.

Or you could go the unexpected and paint all the walls black contrasting with the white trim and black and white toile as in the bathroom below!

Kitchens

again the unexpected, black walls in the kitchen contrasting with the white cabinetry....... clean and sharp design with an industrial edge

contrasting cabinets and islands...sophisticated and beautiful

Dining

This room with its blackboard wall, open shelves, industrial light has inner city cafe vibe.... but be warned it is hard to carry off a design like this with this much black

uber stylish dining room, lots of black toned down with wood tones and some bling to liven up the room. Try and imagine this room without the mirror, crystal and even the silver studs on the black chairs....the whole room would just be overwhelmed by the dark tones.

Bedrooms

Black says romance

and wow!

Living rooms etc

One of my favourite combinations beige and black very sophisticated

love this, black ceiling and floors... pulls your eye through to the black door at the end...what lies beyond?

Classic black and white...what an amazing laundry....you will never close the door on this one!

flat black paint and then stencilled with gloss black....instant damask

And finally the classic black front door, still my favourite entrance colour.

I will be making some changes to my place soon and be adding some more touches of sophistication with

black! It's back!

All these images can be found on my Pinterest board 'black is back' follow the links!

Before & after light!

2011-11-28T07:52:00.002+11:00

There has been something I have been mulling over for a while that I needed to change in Olivia's new room.... her light fitting..... now her light was left over from when her much older sister had that room and I didn't think that the chanderlier with a black string drum shade around, had quite the right vibe in a little tweens room which was all turquoise, white, orange and pink!!!

A little too sophisticated for the young one but I wanted the option of going back to it at some future stage, so I had to work out how to give it a temporary makeover that would work long term. My added problem was that whatever I did to it had to be done is situ as I would have needed an electrician to take it down and then put it up again when I made it over....nah....not spending money on that!!! Which brings me to my second problem, it had to be done cheap!!!

So I was wandering around Lincraft on the weekend looking for inspiration when....

yeah!!! I found it, and only $5 a ball!

It is kind of a fluffy nylon wool! Perfect and perfect colour.

Now all I had to do was spend the next few hours wrapping it round and round the shade....

couldn't get more simple!!!

How cute is it now....and such a simple makeover. You could use this technique on any shade and when you are sick of the colour or want a change, just cut it off and the original is still underneath!!!

I love a good job done!

Linking to

Playful Decor

Tip Junkie

Twilight x 2

2011-11-24T06:30:00.001+11:00

You know that green light you get towards twilight on a rainy day, colours seem to pop out at you... I find it fascinating, it doesn't last long, so when I saw it tonight I rushed out to take a few photos of the house. Of course you can never truly catch the colours in all their natural beauty but here they are....

Sadly, it doesn't really show the true beauty of the twilight but there was another twilight I enjoyed the other night........

Twilight, Breaking Dawn Part 1

A group of girlfriends and I went to see it on Monday night...we decided to do it in style with Gold class tickets and a glass or two of wine!!! Cant wait for part 2.... I know I am a tragic!

Pretty in pink!

2011-11-22T18:02:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone I know I have been missing in action lately but work is ramping up for the usual pre-christmas rush and life has been busy on the homefront with kids and friends and not a lot of time for much else! I have managed to fit in a bit of my addiction though......it is harmless, well for the most part.....Pinterest!!!

Today I thought I would share with you how wonderful a little touch of pink is (and maybe more than a little in some cases!!!!)

Pink and white in the bedroom is a classic combination for a soft femine relazing look. Make sure you use lots of fresh white to balance it out.

Many people would think that pink shouldn't be used in the living room ( maybe too many bad memories from back in the '80s where it was badly used and over used!) Here you can see in these images above how well pink combines with different colours - pink and yellow or pink and orange for a fresh, lively look or pink and cool grey and pink and silver for a calm, quiet look.

Hot pink for that surprise design element.It shouts at you "Here I am - wow!!!"

and last but not least, don't forget the bathroom....fresh and stunning, you just feel happy here and so would all your guests!!

All these images are available to view on my Pinterest board!

Nemisis

2011-11-17T06:00:00.001+11:00

Meet my nemisis.... I showed it to you last week....it's a stump!!!

I spent hours trying to dig it out on the weekend........

and dug....

and dug.......but it was still rock steady (it is hard to see from these photos how deep I have dug but I think I will pop out on the other side of the world soon!!!).

I will not be defeated.... so does anyone have ideas on how to get a big stump out.... unfortunately it cant cost anything as I would rather spend my limited budget on new plants!!

You see I believe that the outside should be as beautiful as the inside. If you love designing your interiors, dont neglect the exteriors, they are just bigger outdoor rooms and one enhances the other.

My heart soars when in the early morning I wander around my garden and I see all the hard work I have put in and the newly shaped garden beds and plants coming to life. OK well small things make me happy!

Now...back to that stump ........

An icon and art!!!

2011-11-15T06:00:00.002+11:00

Every year about this time Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach hosts "Sculpture by the Sea". This year is the 15th anniversary. It is a wonderful day out to wander the shores and pathways to discover one amazing sculpture after another. Now there are a lot of pictures but I hope they delight you as much as they do me!

The beautiful and iconic Bondi Beach

Yes.....I know there were a lot of images but it was worth it wasn't it!!! And this is only a selection, there are more and the only way you will see them all is by going yourself and if you are not nearby, put it on your todo list for next year...... and then have a swim at that lovely beach, you will need to after all of that!

Garden update

2011-11-09T07:01:00.001+11:00

We are having a funny old spring the weather is hot then cold, it is dry then wet, a little confusing for the poor plants but after years of drought it sure is enjoying all the rain! So I thought I would bring you up to date with all the work on the side and front gardens - for those of you who don't know, I live on a corner block of just over 1100 square metres, which is bigger than some and smaller than others!!!

Now due to an acute lack of money, the only way this garden is going to happen is by hard graft....by me and lots of begging of cuttings and transplanting of unwanted plants. I do have an occassional splurge on plants at the local nursery or hardware store (I feel a bit guilty afterwards....just can't help myself sometimes).

So on with the photos....

The hydrangeas are just starting, I love the big blue bobbing heads, can't wait until they are out....

I am so lucky that I have such a beautiful old Japanese maple, it really is the star of the garden. Luckily the lavenders are coping with the big wet, not sure how well they will go with the humidity that is already starting to grow this early in the season.

The new side beds have taken shape and I have started planting them out with perennials

I love the oak leaf hydrangeas, I have wanted some for a long time.

Unfortunately not everything is going well, my English elm has had some massive die back and I have just had to chop it back but I can see the die back is still travelling down the trunk like and insidious poison, I am afraid it is not long for this world. I have been trying to decide what to replant in its place.... maybe a jacaranda or maybe a magnolia.... we will have to see, I love them both

And I have started clearing the mound of fishbone ferns under the old liquid amber tree, I may grow more of the oak leaf hydrangeas under here or some cliveas. There is a little fly in the ointment here....

Yes.... a big tree trunk I have to dig out....sigh....it is a rubber tree, I may have to dig to China to get the roots all out..... Oh well that is for another day!!!

It is the little things that count!

2011-11-06T21:20:00.005+11:00

So I have a little photo frame in my bedroom....I have had it for years and it is has a photo of my two eldest children from when they were really little, so it is cute. BUT the frame is dated, it just does not fit in my room, the colour is all wrong BUT... I am reluctant to get rid of it.... I don't know why, it jars at me everytime I look at it.... so time for a rethink!

What it needed was a simple makeover with some silver gilding that I just happened to have left over from previous jobs. If you would like a tutorial on how to do silver (or gold) leaf click here. I just had to take the frame apart and update with the silver leaf and .....

Now.... no more clashing in my room...well, in this area anyway!!!!

It is the liitle things that count..........

I may hunt out some of my other photo frames and give them a makeover as well!

Linking to

Remodelaholic

High five for a high tea!!!

2011-11-01T20:42:00.000+11:00

I was very fortunate last week to be asked along to a magical experience with my eldest daughter, Dom, her best friend Sarah and her mum Jenny to High Tea at "TheVictoria Room" . This amazing place is situated at Level 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, Sydney. To all of my lovely readers from other countries around the world..... well you will just have to come out for a visit!!!

Now I hadn't been here before so I was not sure what to expect and wow was I blown away....it was like stepping in to another time and place, it actually felt a bit like being on the set of Nichole Kidman's movie Moulin Rouge with its ecletic furnishings and atmospheric lighting.

Not only was the place amazing to experience but the food and tea selection was wonderful too and I haven't experienced such attentive service in a long time.....

Please visit them here to see so much more of this amazing place and book a unique experience for yourselves. This is not an ad for them I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it!!!! Of course it helped that the company was so good.... as well as the champagne.... you should always start a high tea with a good vintage champagne!

Olivia's final room reveal....well almost!!!

2011-10-31T08:00:00.004+11:00

Yippee....it's done....except for one or two small things, Olivia's room. The cabinet maker has been and it is all painted...yep all four coats but at least I know it is well painted!

The one or two little things left is really not that much, just looking out for the right fabric to make her cushion for her new window seat (this was highly requested and anticipated by my young one, who loves to read) and the fabric covered pin board for the back of her desk.

So here it is.........

It is a beautiful light, bright room which should see an almost nine year old well into her tweens.... not that it isn't going to have a few tweeks and colour changes along the way, it wouldn't be in my nature not to!!

And here is my inspirational picture I found on Pinterest for this shelf and window seat unit....

Pretty close isn't it....I really need to get moving on finding that fabric for the seat!!!

Linking to

Playful Decor

I could.....

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000+11:00

So here's the thing.....I have spent another looong day at work, I have talked non stop about bathrooms and design and products, done the accounts, juggled deliveries and averted a crisis or two and then talked some more!!! Dont get me wrong, I enjoy my work but sometimes at the end of the day, after I have picked up the little one, made dinner and got her off to bed, I sit down to relax in front of the telly with my laptop and cruise the blogs I love and discover some new ones and then maybe hit Pinterest for a while ......but.... I then start to feel the guilts....... I could be spending my time more productively...... actually Pinterest doesn't really help.....I could be........

cleaning out my vanity and getting the towels and bits organised....wonderful shelf dividers.... I would be so happy looking at this instead of my dark hole with things in plastic boxes!!!

organise my handbags in my wardrobe.....mine just get tossed on to the top shelf

organise my freezer.....actually I did do this the other night....well not all the lovely baskets with labels but I did defrost the freezer (with my hairdryer-do be careful if you try this yourself -water and electricity dont mix!!) I threw out a whole bunch of meat that was way out of date because the drawer was too frozen over!!

I could be making these.......

How cute are these!!!

I could get a head start on Christmas

Maybe I will just imagine myself in a happy place!!!! Oh oh...it's a bathroom again!!!

Updating 50 things before 50

2011-10-26T06:57:00.000+11:00

Just thought I would re-visit to see where I was up to with my list! Not doing too badly, the most exciting thing for me is losing over 10 kgs.... I am continuing on and hope to loose another 15kgs....don't worry, I wont disappear! I am doing it the old fashioned way.... eating less and exercising more! And doing it slowly, so hopefully it will stay off!

Here is the list...in no particular order

1. Finish decorating the main bedroom almost....just the bedhead to go

2. ~~Finish painting all inside trim and doors~~ done!

3. Finish painting exterior windows (there are 6 to go, and all multi-paned)

4. ~~Help eldest daughter move out to her own place :-) (she is 23!)~~ done

5. ~~Move youngest daughter to eldest daughter's bigger room (hopefully after she has moved out!)~~ done

6. ~~Redecorate that new bedroom for youngest daughter~~ done

7. ~~Turn youngest daughter's room (now vacated) into my office....yippy!~~ changed my mind now it is a guest bedroom! Done

8. Finish floor in family room

9. Build a vegi garden

10. Landscape side garden half way through this!

11. Learn how to use my DSLR camera better (well it is actually my son's but he lets me use it)

12. New light fitting for over the dining table

13. Have a holiday

14. Build an ensuite (OK this is one of the big ticket items that I want but cant afford)

15. Learn a graphics program ( I was a graphic designer before computers.... I know I am that old)

16. ~~Loose 10 kg (22 lbs) alright I need to loose more but I figure that this is achievable!~~ Done!!! Woohoo going for another 15kgs!!!!!!!!!!

17. ~~Exercise more started exercising again.~~... I am actually running....never done that before!!!!

18. Change hair colour

19. Register new business name

20. ~~Visit the MCA (museum of contemporary art - Sydney)~~ How funny as soon as I wrote this they closed it for a year to renovate it!!!!

21. Research into running a Bed and Breakfast

22. ~~Plant more trees~~ planted 3 more

23. New fence for backyard

24. ~~Stencil wall in dining room~~ done

25. Build hall station

26. ~~Organise hall cupboard~~ done

27. Create artwork wall in family room

28. ~~Get a new lap top~~ done yippee

29. Get an Ipad (just for the fun of it!)

30. Get a full health check including a breast screen all done except for the breast screen!

31. Get my home featured in a home decor magazine (this one might be a stretch) been featured in the local rag!!! Will still try for a decor mag!

32. Do more interior design work

33. ~~Cook healthier food~~ Yes this goes with the weight loss!!!

34. Cook more food in advance and freeze

35. Reduce spend on credit card been better lately.... this is up and down

36. Take up tennis again

37. ~~Make a mirror for over the sideboard~~ bought one and made them for the bedroom instead!!!

38. Practise clipping the dog to look at little less scrappy as in my first attempt

39. ~~Go on at least one date ( I have been single for a very long time!)~~ had 1 date! That one wont be repeated!!!!!

40. ~~Contact friends more often~~ definitely getting better

41. ~~Get back into painting (artwork that is!)~~ Yes have been painting more lately!!!!

42. Crochet blanket for Youngest one started

43. Learn a new craft

44. ~~Learn MYOB (it is an accounting program)~~ Learning it the moment - yep now got it down pat!!!

45. Be more organised with my blogging (the office will help)

46. Learn more about HTML

47. Try making a skirt again ( I haven't sewed clothes since the kids were young)

48. Take up pilates again (if I can find a cheap enough class they are sooooo expensive)

49. Contact other Aussie bloggers in decor/craft/design/DIY

50. Plan something special for turning 50! I have some things in mind for this

Wellllll......I haven't been doing too badly.... some of the big ticket items might be hard since there is a distinct lack of money at the moment!!!

Dyp tych or two!!!

2011-10-24T06:20:00.003+11:00

Well I decided I didn't like the painting (the cheapy one I bought) for the guest bedroom.....

It is cute but not quite right, so I decided to paint a dyp tych (a painting over two panels - a triptych is a painting over three panels). I saw a quilt on Pinterest that I used for inspiration....

source

How gorgeous is this!!! So here is my attempt.....

Well it is cute but perhaps still not what I want for this space. It will stay for now until I find what I really want for here....... thank goodness for Command strips, you can hang pictures without ruining the wall!

Linking to

Kitsch or style icon

2011-10-18T06:00:00.001+11:00

Look you know I love them... you have seen my friend before

My buddy the gnome!!! He watches over me while I cook.... I really should name him.... Bert, what do you think??? Suits him? Well what I wanted to talk about, was how the every day, the common, the kitsch, can become cool!

The King of Cool - Phillip Starck took the gnome to a whole new level - his gnome stool in black or gold - very cool but not really my style (lets face it.... I am not even a little bit cool!)

Freedom Furniture gives you a choice of three colours

See gnomes like to hang out in kitchens! These ones are from etsy shop "2 chicks and a fancy owl"

I think they know Bert

Whilst not quite style icons, these four season gnomes are very cute and are from etsy shop "Cutesypoo"

These are gorgeous from a very interesting blog Aesthetic Outburst for baby or me!

BUT

my favourite all time gnome is still this one....

via Pinterest

Perhaps I should just bite the bullet and buy this one....after all a girl can't have too many gnomes!

A deck affair!

2011-10-13T07:10:00.000+11:00

Well with the warmer weather comes deck time! I did a part revamp on the deck about 18 months ago .... when the old pergola fell down. It was made out of the wrong type of timber and had the heavy weight of wisteria growing all over it. Now normally I love wisteria but I swear in the Sydney climate it grows like a triffid.... I am sure that you can see it grow as you sit there....so as lovely as it was, it had to go.

Now the rest of the deck isn't to my taste, rusting wrought iron railings and 70's era tiles but one day..... In the mean time I had the pergola rebuilt bigger and better with a semi transparent roof this time. Here are some images.

The beautiful Bella enjoys this area as well....

The outdoor dining area is right outside the kitchen and living room.

I love these Moroccan style lanterns that I had my friend wire up for extra lighting. At night they have wonderful pattens of light playing across the brickwork.

I made this wall art quite a few years ago, I did a course in hand painted ceramics and have always meant to do more... just another thing on my ever growing list!

I had to move the day bed inside to the family room for now as it was starting to get ruined outside... maybe too many little animals on it!!! By the way.... my dog is not dead despite appearances.... just sleeping!!!

7 sins - Gluttony - Please explain....

2011-10-10T20:56:00.001+11:00

OK...it is a bit of a mystery.... it is definitly not an Aussie thing.... though I wish it was!!!!

SMORES!!

What are they exactly???

They look amazing on Pinterest!

I keep hearing about them on blogs!

How could you not like this.... I am putting on weight just looking at it!

I am a little confused as to what they are made of....

Is this it.....chocolate, marshmallows and biscuits?

Are there other combinations?

Is it the national food of the US as pavlova is Australia's national food ;-)

This is my pavlova you can find the recipe here

Now at the center of a pav is marshmallow.... if you cook it right!

What I want to know is if you combine my pav with a biscuit base and a chocolate top

would you have a giant SMORE!!!!

That would be a truely international desert!

Smores images from Pinterest

Update on Olivia's new room

2011-10-08T08:49:00.000+11:00

So an update on how I am going on Olivia's new room, all the painting has been done, I am just waiting on the cabinet maker to work his magic, I have used this image from Pinterest as inspiration for her new desk, bookshelves and window seat.

Lets hope that it looks as good as this when it's done.... though I fear that there will be a lot more painting involved, to keep cost down I said I would paint it of course...... I think I will have paint brushes permantly grafted to my hands, that is all I seem to do these days! Anyway back to the pictures of Olivia's room....

There is no mistaking which one is her room! Just a few things I have painted for her over time!

Her hand me down bed, newly painted and her new doona cover really add a splash of colour to the room. I forgot to mention before that the doona cover comes from Adairs Kids range and is called Amelia Elephant!

Well Olivia loves her cover so much, she asked me to paint a picture of the elephant for her walls, so her wish is my command!!! I actually enjoyed doing it.

I haven't hung it yet, I am waiting for the new book shelves to go in first so I can place it properly.

I painted my old wicker bedside tables white, one is in here the other in the new guest room. The lamp is new too, the base came from Sirroco's second store, it had some marks on it but nothing that a blast of white spray paint cant fix! Then I needed a nice (cheap) shade in a turquoise colour, luckily Target comes to the rescue ( I always wish that Target Australia was as good as Target US but it is finally getting better)

Olivia's little friend the fish is happy with the new set up and I know Olivia is too. Stay tuned and hopefully we will have those shelves up soon....cant wait to do some more painting....groan!

Bedhead inspiration

2011-10-07T07:39:00.003+11:00

I have just shown you my new guest bedroom....

But I am still finding it a bit lacking.... my cheapy painting from Typo is not cutting it.... the bed needs some kind of bedhead and artwork behind it.... so I thought I would check out Pinterest for some ideas (natch!)

Fun look with the timber and the deer head behind but maybe slightly kooky for me!

The old doors are interesting but maybe a little too rustic for my house....

I love, love, love this....what a great pop of colour and what a great shape....maybe

This would be great for a beach house but not my landlocked home!

OK...first find a magnificent mirror....OMG

Next find amazing carved panel.....seriously it is lovely....I just have to learn how to carve!

And finally for now ....has anyone noticed the hole in the roof.... nothing like a bit of gal corri for a bed head with a difference.... I can do this.... a bit worried about the sharp edges.

All these images can be found on my Pinterest

Calm and peaceful guest room

2011-10-04T07:39:00.005+11:00

Olivia has moved into her new room (I will show you where I am with that during the week), so it was time to makeover her old room into a guest room. I was going to make it in to my study but decided that at the moment I didn't really need one....maybe later.

The main criteria I had with this room was to do it as cheap as possible, reuse items from other rooms and make it calm and peaceful.

So here is a reminder of how it was before....

I am not changing the room colour but I have stenciled one of the walls (with the stencil I used in the dining room and left over white paint) and a little rearrangement....

The only new thing here is the doona cover and cushion plus the little print above the bed which I bought from Typo for just $12....it will do for now until I find something more suitable!

The bedside table is the ancient one from my bedroom which I spray painted white (the other one is in Olivia's bedroom - waste not want not!)

The lamp was in the lounge room and was a bit hidden away and rarely used, so out it came to shine in here.... ps, it was just a cheapy from Bunnings but looks great, it all depends on the context!

Search through your house for little bits and pieces for display, in this case I have some of my fledgling milk glass collection and some of my design books. If a guest is staying over, they will have something nice to look through!

I love the chanderlier in this room, I wanted to change it over into Olivia's new room but she likes the one that is already there..... that is still an ongoing discussion!

and of course I had to put in one of my favourite childhood images, from the original Christopher Robin and Winne the Pooh book. Funny how some memories stick from childhood, my mum had the original book and I remember being allowd to read it carefully when I was young...I loved the images, so much nicer than the Disney version!

Linking to

Still working on youngest one's new room! Sneak peak!

2011-09-28T20:02:00.000+10:00

Well I have finished scraping back and painting all the woodwork in my daughter's new room...it was bad....I hate multi-paned windows.....yeah, yeah I know they look great....as long as you dont have to prep and paint them!

But moving on, with inspiration from this image on Pinterest....

Love the brightly painted iron bed, so I did this....

Lovely turquoise! (so much better than the black)

I have now found a great doona cover set which is going to really pop with colour in this room.

The little touches of turquoise will tie in nicely with the bed.

I am also in the middle of a rather large painting for her room which is the center motif on the bed cover.

I will show you more as I do it....stay tuned

Family room reveal!

2011-09-26T21:29:00.006+10:00

I have finally got round to finishing the family room....wellll....almost....just a few things to go!!!! But I thought it was OK to show you now. I have been searching for before photos but can't find them anywhere so you will just have to use your imagination!!

Ok, so here we go.... picture this, when I bought this house it only had one living combined dining room so I always knew I would have to add a room on somewhere but that is difficult when there is no money! So the obvious thing was to convert the cobwebbed, spider heaven with asbestos ceiling, single unlined brick walls with numerous vent holes, double car garage. After all why does the car need a home when my kids need a family room!

Well it was revolting, for the first year or so, I tried just doing a temporary makeover....hiding the garage doors and junk that we all need to store in the garage behind a wall of curtains (the only cheap ones I could find that were cheap enough to cover the whole wall were a lovely shade of poo brown).I also scraped back the muck off the bare concrete and painted it and the unlined walls. The room only had one small window on the western wall and an old door that was the only entrance into the room from the back deck (apart from the garage doors which I had now sealed off and removed the mechanism so that you couldn't enter there).

Lesson learned in removing the ancient mechanism of the old tilt-a-doors...when using angle grinder (for the first time) make sure you get son to wear tight flame proof top as he holds the mechanism for me. Instead son was wearing loose open necked T shirt as a cascade of sparks fell down the back of his neck and he couldn't let go....very crucial that he didn't ...so he just kept yelping...whilst I struggled to hold back the giggles.

I had the old rear door changed to a glass door to let in a little more natural light but still the kids weren't feeling the love in there! It was freezing in winter, still quite ugly, and that asbestos fibro ceiling just seemed foreboading.... so after saving up some more money I decided to have it fixed up properly.

Enter my ex who is a builder, to help out (thank you) he framed up the walls and with some help from me and the long suffering son (well he wanted the family room too) we gyprocked the walls. As well I had bought from Ebay a second hand window complete with plantation shutters (score!) so cheap, and a beaut pair of french doors which were top half glass from an old terrace house in the city (these doors are now in the internal entrance from the lounge into the family room - so much better than going outside to get in there!!!!)

Here are the new doors leading into the family room, they look like they have been there forever!

Open doors, please come in....

About the only picture I could find of the work in progress. I got rid of the pool table, the kids begged me for it and then never used it!!! Well with the money I bought them a large screen TV instead!!!

All newly gyprocked and painted, just waiting on new coffee table from the competion I won

This is it, cant wait, it was out of stock so I think I have at least another 2 weeks (the other one is so wobbly)

I love my new red ottomans, they are light weight with little carry straps so the kids can move them round the room as needed for playstation or games or just TV watching.

New TV to keep everyone happy!!! The doorway on the right leads to the storeroom I had built in, it runs the length of the room and is only about a metre wide, just enough for shelving and room to walk down.the side. Most of the furniture, art and accessories in the room I already had. The leather sofa is a least 15 years old and still going strong ( I gave its pair to my older daughter when she moved out) it looks so much better when its mixed up.

I love this print, it won the Archibold Prize in 2004, I saw the original and it was magnificent.

Craig Ruddy's portrait of indigenous acter David Gulpilil titled Two Worlds

This area gets a lot of use, it's my son's and my studio bench. The cupboards were left over from when I bought the second hand display kitchen for my laundry on Ebay, so free!!!! (well cheap anyway) and then I just bought a laminate bench top for practical studio use. I made the pinboard with some old skirting board I had hanging around and covered some soft board with a curtain panel I had.

It is a great room that gets a lot of use now... no longer the scary spider playground of before. The fibro ceiling was left in place and gyprocked over, safer than removing it. The floor had another coat of floor paint and one day when I can afford it I will have a floating timber floor put in with a moisture barrier underneath it. And when I get round to it the long wall will have some sort of gallery wall when I can make a decision on what to do!

Linking to
Savvy Southern Style
Delightful Order
French Country Cottage
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
The Shabby Nest
Funky Junk Interiors

Inspiration for a young girl's room makeover.....

2011-09-25T22:34:00.000+10:00

So as I have mentioned a FEW times now, my eldest daughter has moved out and the youngest is going to be moving into her larger room which means I need inspiration!!! So of course I turn to Pinterest!

This is very cute! Olivia would love to have a little sister to share with..... but that is not going to happen!! And I have been told that pink is OUT! I told her that black is OUT! She is 8 going on 16!

I love the blue and pink...but as I said pink is OUT, the tree mural is interesting though.

The white painted timber panelling is very fresh and the high shelves are a great use of space along with the toe to toe divan beds.

This is just fun, I love the colour, you can't help but be happy in a room like this.

How gorgeous, don't think the budget will stretch to this!

This would be every little girl's dream, wouldn't it but I think this would limit any future changes to the room and I LIKE to make changes!!!

I thought about getting her a day bed but we have inherited her sister's old iron bed.

What a great use of space in this compact room for two. A sophisticated colour pallette of beige and pink.

Another great day bed, the walls are a very pretty light aqua.

WOW! Maybe for when she is a teen ager!

LOVE THIS...I know, I know it is PINK but it also a lot of WHITE!

Well that is some food for thought at the moment.... in the meantime, I am still slugging away painting windows, skirting boards and doors.

You can find all these images my Pinterest

Dining dilema!

2011-09-20T21:00:00.000+10:00

I was having a chat to a friend of mine the other night about their house, I have been helping them ramp up the style a bit since they moved in a few months ago. The house is stunning with breath taking views over the ocean, it was their holiday home but why not have that holiday 365 days a year.... so they made the decision to sell up their home close to the city and move to the beach!

Now as I have said, it is a stunning home with spectacular views but was furnished in a fairly bland way originally as it was not a permanent residence. A lot of the furniture from their city home wasn't the right vibe for this very modern home but some of the pieces have melded quite well.

The trick now is to give this open plan space with it's white walls and very modern kitchen, character, colour and warmth without detracting from those views. We have injected a bit of colour into the living area by introducing some turquoise accessories and some great art but now it is time to concentrate on the dining area.

They have room for a very large dining table that will seat 10 and have 8 existing chairs in a woven seagrass. I would like my friends to choose 2 new dining chairs for either end of the table that will be real statement pieces so I have a collection of images to provoke ideas for them and getting them to think a little outside the square.

These images are quite diverse in style but they are all a little quirky using a mix of chairs. The idea is to get some reactions to these images so that they can work out what they hate and what they love but also how to look at things differently, you don't have to have matching sets..... sometimes mixing things up makes a much more interesting room.

They also need to look at lighting and maybe a rug to anchor the dining area. Large open plan rooms are great but they do have their challenges as well. It is important to have furniture that is the right proportions or they will end up looking a bit lost or as my mum says "a pimple on a pumpkin".

My greatest pet hate when it comes to decorating is rooms that look like they have been bought as a package deal straight out of a catalog. That is why it is important to mix it up a bit....get some old and new.... mix across the ages......be brave and don't bland out!

The images are from Pinterest

Just because it's fun!

2011-09-19T19:47:00.000+10:00

You know how it is, you are cruising around on Pinterest and you start to see a few interesting shots and then you see a few more and you think... what the!!!

Do people actually do that!

How I would have loved it when I was a kid!

What fun!

Imagine the fun!

All these images are from here on my board on Pinterest

SPRING.....

2011-09-18T21:13:00.000+10:00

Prepare yourselves for an explosion of colour.....no artsy shots, just the pure colour of flowers...... I snuck out early this morning to capture a few moments in my garden before I subjected myself to a second day of scraping and undercoating the multi-paned windows in my oldest daughter's recently vacated bedroom..... groan!!!!!!!

It was a beautiful sunny day of 27 degrees...... oh I would have loved to have spent the day out there but when there is work to do.... we groan and whinge and ..... get on with it.

BTW just had a series of blood tests and the only thing that came back was that I was seriously low in vitamin D, my level is 35 and apparently the low end of normal is about 50 so the doctor has put me on high dosage capsules for the next 2 months to try and bring it up again........ I have no idea how this happens when I love being out in the garden but let this be a warning to all of you, there are no symptoms but vitamin D is essential to strong bones and muscles, so why dont you get yours checked too! Maybe I should have gone out and gardened today instead!

Well...she has moved out now the work starts!

2011-09-14T19:27:00.000+10:00

So as I have said before, my eldest has moved out (by the way it is her 23rd birthday today, Happy Birthday Dom!!!), now it is time to get to work on her bedroom! Well she hasn't totally cleared it out yet, so I need to get in there and get the last bits and pieces out. She has left her old iron bed soooo....time for a makeover!!

Looks like I will be getting on to ebay again!!! Too much stuff to keep!

Though I do have plans for these old wicker bedside tables.... I have had them for over 20 years.... I think some white spray paint will transform them and they will last another 20 years!!!!

Olivia will be moving into the larger room (and her room will become a spare room come study for me!)Her sister's old black iron bed was not working for me.... time for something a little bit more fun....go turquoise paint!!!

Well first I undercoated it with Zinser bulls eye, my go to undercoat that works on just about everything!!!

Here comes the turquoise!!!

I couldn't find turquoise spray paint so I had to buy a tin of oil based paint....hmpfff.... a lot more work! But worth it! Though I dont think Olivia is over the moon about it yet....she just has to wait and see the big picture.

So stay tuned and see how the room transforms.... I might even keep the room colour, it was only painted a year ago and I quite like the colour and it seems to work well with the turquoise....there is a lot of other work to do, for some reason I didn't paint the windows in Dom's room when we first moved in so it is time to do that but of course it will be a lot harder now that I have had shutters installed....groan.... plus the skirting boards and door somehow missed painting....funny what you notice when most of the furniture has been removed!!

Well there is a lot of work to do ... I will keep you posted on how I am going!!!!

DIY Mirrors

2011-09-12T18:48:00.001+10:00

Finally.... I talked about it a couple of times but it was a project I kept getting side tracked on.... my DIY mirrors for my bedroom! They are actually very simple and didn't take long to make.....once I started! So give it a try, they look great and are very cost effective.

I used 12mm mdf and framed the top edge in 6mm DAR (not sure what DAR stands for but it is straight edge timber cut square all around). I bought 30cm bevel edge mirrors from the local hardware store. Measure carefully and have the mdf cut to size, remembering to add the extra for the DAR around the edge and a little bit more for a space between the mirrors.

I decided to make my finished size mirrors 2 across and 3 up.

I mitre cut the DAR and used wood glue to attach it to the top edge of the boards ( I made 2 mirrors) I then clamped the edges and allowed them to dry overnight. Once that was done I stained and varnished the frame and edges plus the area on the board that would show up between the mirrors.

The mirrors were then attached to the backing board with glazing silicon. Now these mirrors are very heavy I made sure that the hanging hooks on the back were heavy duty ones that could take the weight!

So what do you think....was it worth waiting for? Now, I know you are going to say it.....where is the padded headboard..... it's coming.....well its on the list, you cant rush a girl! The bedroom is almost complete!!!

Ahhh......I love my bedroom!

A shout out for my boy!

2011-09-07T17:19:00.007+10:00

My son is studying design at uni and he has just started getting into photography. On a recent trip to Thailand he was able to indulge in his new passion..... photography that is!!! So I am going to share some of his images with you. When I get a chance I will be enlarging some of these and displaying them in the family room....good design is about unique personal touches.

all these images are subject to copyrights for Christian Andree available to view here http://workoflifeofashark.tumblr.com/

This is just a small selection of his images.... I love them and look forward to seeing how his fledgling talent grows.

Where in the world....

2011-09-05T21:18:00.001+10:00

Where in the world do all these fabulous maps come from. You all know that I loooove Pinterest and I have ventured down this map way before but I thought I would share with you some more great images to inspire you to search out some of your own!

Reminds me of an episode of Dr Who....you know the one where all the planets converged...oh sorry that is just me being the sci-fi nerd!!!

Where we fell in love....well you, not me.... or them.... or ....

A great eclectic dining room, love the Eame's chairs, just like the one I just bought Olivia!

Look closely they are all one map, divided into eight....do you think it is Paris? My eyesight is not good enough but the whole room has that french salon vibe!

Colour co-ordinated map...yellow and turquoise...who would have thought you could find such an on trend map!

Dream sweat dreams of travel....

Sweet dreams 2....definitely Paris this time!

A lovely vignette!

So are you inspired, you can find these and more here

I went to the movies and I have been featured again!

2011-09-04T19:52:00.000+10:00

I went to the movies last night....I went on my own...I often do this, it has never worried me to go on my own because you don't talk to anyone anyway....... but there are times when you see a movie like the one last night where you wish there was someone you could have shared the experience with.

The movie I saw was "The Help"........what a remarkable story! I guess not having grown up in the US I was unaware of this time in history. It just takes a few brave souls to make a difference in life! I wont say too much so that those who have yet to see it will have the same response that I did.

It is the first time I have been to a movie when the credits came up, nobody moved...not a soul....each of us so lost in our own thoughts replaying parts in our heads where we cried or laughed or felt ashamed that fellow humans could have treated others as less than human.

I encourage you all to go and see this remarkable movie.

On a lighter note, I have been featured again!! Yippee!!! Ok it was my kitchen again..... it seems to be popular! So a big thank you to Cassity at Remodelaholic for the feature.....I still cringe when I see that before photo!

Award and a great surprise

2011-09-03T16:23:00.001+10:00

A big thank you to Megan at "A lived in home" for awarding me the versatile blogger award...

It is lovely to get the feedback and know that people out there are enjoying my blog!

My other BIG news is that I entered a competition a couple of weeks ago with one of my local paper/mags called the Northside Courier...we had to send in a photo of our favourite room and write in 25 words or less why......... so I did.......and I won. YIPPEE!!! A $2000 voucher to Dare Furniture Gallery!!! Woohoo!!!

So I have already ordered this....

Cooper coffee table for the family room (have to wait for 5-6 weeks as they have just sold out....I am so impatient)

I bought four of these for my eldest daughter for her new flat.... she is going for a bit of a retro look and there is nothing like an Eames dining chair to help that along!

And one of these (Eames tower chair) for my youngest daughter for her desk.... she chose it, so it seems that she is also heading down the modernist design ethic as well... not bad for an eight year old.

I also bought a few cushions and a throw and there goes half of the money!!!! I am not sure what I will get with the rest of the money but I have a year to choose. It is so exciting!

Bye bye winter.....hello spring!

2011-08-31T16:37:00.000+10:00

It's the last day of winter .....come on down SPRING!!!!!

I LOVE my garden!

I know that some of you on the other side of the world are heading into Autumn which is often quite a relief after a hot hot summer but it is an even bigger relief when winter ends and spring erupts in an explosion of blossoms. Bulbs start inching their way up through the warming soils....birds are chorusing as they welcome the coming days.

Yep....it is a time I love!!!!

Sorry, sorry, sorry....

2011-08-29T21:40:00.000+10:00

I haven't posted for a while, I have been a little preoccupied...my eldest daughter and her boyfriend have flown the coop. I know I said that this is what I have been waiting for but it still feels strange when it happens. They have found a fab place with amazing views of the harbour...well lovely peaks of the harbour actually but what a fun first place!!!

This is all I am able to show you now, as my daughter it turns out, is as obsessive as me when it comes to not showing her place until it is perfect...it is a hard lesson to learn that a place is never perfect or finished!

Sorry they are only blurry twilight shots of the view from their flat that is all I could cope with due to my exhaustion on my last run over there with the last few boxes.

It has been a busy week and an even busier weekend. As the young ones do, they decided to not get a removalist instead they had me!!! YEP... me and them....we moved a LOT of VERY HEAVY things!!! I gave them one of the leather sofas in the family room.........it is big.......it is heavy......it is awkward.....it had to go up three flights of stairs and then it had to fit through the door......... it got stuck half way through...... but desperation and some more manoeuvring got it through.........I was not taking it back down three flights of stairs!!!!!

So they have already been out and bought a great floor lamp to set it off.......

This is very cool, I think they will end up with quite a modernist look, quite different from my own but a style I still love and am drawn to. I just hope that they explore their design options and get out and source some great second hand products to get a more authentic modernist look rather than purchasing it all as repros.

Well my sore back and I will leave you for now but I have some exciting news coming up in a few days time....stay tuned!

Have you noticed....the map trend!

2011-08-22T22:48:00.000+10:00

Once you start noticing them, you see them everywhere. I am always curious what is the impetus for a new trend, though having noticed it, it is probably not new! Maybe it is the need to travel but not being able to afford it in this current financial climate....or is that just me!!!

Anyway....on to the maps and world globes...you know I kinda of like it and the more I see of it the more I like it maybe it is the nostalgia .... the old school days.....

Who'd have thunked it....two people came up with the same idea of creating lights out of globes cut in half!

Map wall art.... an area close to your heart?

Cover some old boxes for a colourful quirky look on your book shelves.

I want this chair, it would look great in the family room or kids room or study....

This is cute, I am not sure if I would do it but.....

We can sit at the table and decide where we want to go next....Tahiti looks nice!

OK.... now I have always have had a lot of patience but this is one or two steps to far.... amazing!

All of these images can be found on my Pinterest check them out and find some more, maybe you will start some map art of your own!

Thinking outside of the square

2011-08-20T19:36:00.000+10:00

Next time you need a new light and you want something a little unusual.... think outside of the square. In fact have a look around your house and you might find something sitting there waiting for your inspiration to fire!!

When grouped together the singular becomes extraordinary!

Tea for 2 or 3,4,5 .... very cute tea cups make a very sweet light fitting

Mason jars - we don't have these in Australia maybe we could use large vegemite jars!

Very appropriate a wooden peg light in the laundry...if you are running a bit short on washing day you could borrow some from above!

I love these... a new take on a crystal chanderlier and if you decide to give up the drink you now know what you can do with all those decanters you have lying around!

This one made me laugh when I realised that they were all wooden coat hangers!

This one left me awestruck...door plates from old locks. It has a great industrial feel and the mix of colours are wonderful with their time warn appearance.

And last but by no means least is a new take on the world...how wonderful in a kids room an old globe chopped in half....light and enlightment in one!

All of these images can be found on my Pinterest.

Am I done, am I done!!!!

2011-08-15T19:09:00.004+10:00

Well I know I said that I was going to make a mirror for my dining roome wall but I found something better.... and it was on sale!!! I did buy the materials for making the mirror but I now have something else in mind for that, so you will just have to wait and see.

So here is my lovely wall that I just stenciled waiting for a mirror...

Yes it is lovely but it is waiting..... for this....

Yep...I'm loving it!!! I am so happy ..... am I done, is the room finished?

No of course not, a room is never finished but this is good!

linking to:
Mod Vintage Life
Savvy Southern Style
Delightful Order
House of Hepworths

Beautiful terrace lottery

2011-08-13T21:49:00.000+10:00

No need to buy tickets.... I already have the winning one....well that's what I think every time I buy a lottery ticket. I am always extremely confident that I am going to win....still waiting but I know this one will be it!

I love this house, it is an inner city terrace in Leichhardt a very trendy suburb teeming with life, cafes and interesting little shops and minutes to the CBD. They have totally renovated and furnished this one. It is a Boystown Lottery and you can buy the tickets here as long as you realise that I have the winning ticket!!!!

An end terrace...I could live here

The main bedroom with ensuite, it has it's own little balcony, I would make a few changes - the carpet for one thing and I am not sure if the blue is quite my style but a lovely light and airy room.

Morning cuppa on the balcony?

The second bedroom upstairs, perfect for Olivia!

The third bedroom is downstairs, I think I would change it to a study come cosy TV/library/guest room. I will have to tell the older two that there is no room to live here....just to come visit!

Formal lounge...nice but needs warming up and some more personality.

Apart from the dining table which is very unusual, I think I would change a lot of this open plan kitchen /dining / family room it is a little too contemporary for me.

Love the little garden.... yes I think I could make this home...with just a few touches!

Tutorial - Bathroom design - style

2011-08-10T18:25:00.002+10:00

Bathroom design is something I deal with on a day to day basis. It is my day job, I spend a lot of time thinking about bathrooms....funny really when I have only done a makeover on mine and not a full reno!!! So I thought I would go through some of the processes you need to think about. In this ongoing series I will be taking you through style, design, tiles, lighting, do's and dont's and anything else I can think of!

Part 1 - Style

OK this one is going to be a little difficult to define as I have noticed that it is very much a country by country thing and although I am based in Australia, blogs have a world wide audience, so be aware that some of my advice will be Aussie skewed.

In Australia we have a tendency by far to go for quite a modern sleek look in bathrooms. The top of the line is quality stone, porcelain or glass tiles with custom vanities, solid stone baths, European tapware, wall hung toilets with in-wall cisterns and large frameless glass shower screens. All very sleek, clean and minimalist.

freestanding baths are right on trend and marble tiles add a timeless luxury

the frameless blade shower screen is very now but you must make sure that the water is well contained in the area, linear grates are perfect for this situation with the fall to the back of the shower. Word of warning, if the blade is not long enough you will get a lot of overspray into the bathroom.

Pure luxury, a room with a view ... quite a masculine bathroom with the dark wood surfaces both on the floor and ceiling. The different surfaces add interest and texture to the room.

large format tiles, built in cabinetry, double basins, freestanding baths all of these make a top quality contemporary bathroom

glass splash back tiles, good lighting and double basins

Asian influence with special artistic touches, never be afraid of displaying works of art in the bathroom as long as you have good ventilation. This bathroom does lack natural light which can be a drawback at times but sometimes it is unavoidable.

This is something I do a lot in bathroom design, I run a feature tile over the floor up the bath and on one wall, then use a less expensive white tile on the other walls. More bang for your buck!! plus it is not overwhelming, this pietra grey marble is very dark and would have been overpowering in such a small space.

via

One of the big new trends for ensuites (if there is room) is a his and hers vanity rather than one large one with individual mirrors above each basin

the individual mirrors allows for easier lighting either side of the mirror

via

no arguments with separate vanities.

via

my personal preference is for something a little bit more traditional but not quite so grand as the bathroom above. There are not too many of us that can afford to use this amount of space!

this is probably a bit more like it but I would tend to avoid carrera marble on the bench tops as from experience they don't stand up well to makeup stains.