Halloween

Give me a themed event any day and I am in my element. My favourites are Easter and Halloween. Now Australia is not known for its Halloween celebrations but over the years we have slowly been warming to it. You only have to into shopping centres to see we are inundated with spooky themed tableware, ghastly treats and fancy dress attire.

I love it.

So over the weekend the kids and I decorated our little dining and living rooms and set about placing Halloween placards up the driveway. Not to mention the 'caution do not enter' tape we draped across the front fence.

Now I'm not expecting trick or treaters tomorrow night given we are on acreage and it's a fair distance between houses for little legs but I might just leave a bowl of lollies out the front on the gate for any drivers by with sweet toothed littlies.

We are having our family over tonight for a pre-Halloween dinner consisting of green worms (basil pesto pasta) and blood red velvet cupcakes. Yum.

Next year I have plans to make these little ghostly forms and put them in the front paddock. Can imagine how eery they will look at night.

Happy Halloween.

Boys Bedroom

I am having fun creating the concepts for my kids' bedrooms in the new house and have been gathering inspiration from a number of sources including Pinterest and my favourite mags.

I can clearly see the rooms in my head but in order to share my vision I have found mood boards helpful. At the moment I am putting together my son’s. He adores all things orange and has done so since I can remember. A year or so ago I came across a vintage replica print of TinTin orange in a magazine, so I copied it and put it in a folder. Yes...I still gather images old school and love my Kikki K My Dream Home folder of clippings and images. I thought the print would be a great focal point for his room.

Now as luck or fate would have it I was walking along the Left Bank in Paris earlier this year (heading towards Shakespeare & Company – but that’s another story ) and there it was. Hanging in a green vendor’s trolley. I had to buy it even if it was just for the story on how it came to be.

So I have the print. Yet to be framed but still wanting to use it as the focal point in his room.
 

Existing Tall Boy                                             For the desk, three powder coated stools in red, green and blue

Creating an above desk lighting system from painted plumbers pipe and multi bulb hanging pendants 

Using timber panelling for the desktop and a blue/grey colour scheme

I am yet to consider a rug and he has a number of other prints and toys which will take pride and place but a good start I think.

Happy planning.

Planning the new kitchen

For me the kitchen is one of the most important areas in our home. It’s our hub. Where we meet, hang out, create and share. So when designing our new home, careful thought needs to be given to the kitchen.

What inspires me...

don't you just love the grey cupboard! 

 Love the contrasting cupboard colours

And what can I say, I just adore linens



Have a lovely Friday!

Finds ... Tea Urn

All my life I have been a dedicated coffee drinker. To me the sound of beans being ground in the morning followed by that first whiff of freshly brewed liquid gold is the best way to start the day.

However, in recent years I have ventured into the world of tea. I think for me it’s the art or ritual of making a cuppa that I enjoy the most. Placing the tea pot , cup and saucer and cold milk jug on a tray with nice linen, taking up a spot outside with a book or magazine and just taking a moment to enjoy. Heavenly!

Now my first encounter with a silver tea urn was at an interior design workshop I attended a couple of years back. The table had been laid with vintage cups and saucers, small finger sandwiches and an old family heirloom – a silver tea urn.

It was love at first sight.

After much investigation online I discovered the styles were endless but had difficulty locating the ideal one in Australia.

After searching around (like I need an excuse to explore vintage shops) I came across an antique store west of Brisbane and found this gorgeous little tea kettle/urn. It had a dent in the side but was assured it could be restored quite simply by a silversmith.

  

Edwardian Silver Plated Tea Kettle with Spirit Warmer

So the next task I have is to find a silversmith and have this little baby restored back to its original condition.

I am hoping it will take pride and place alongside my ever growing collection of vintage tea cups.

Loves...Pinterest

It is becoming my Sunday morning ritual to find a nice quiet place on the property, set myself up with a cup of tea and my laptop and browse inspirational images on Pinterest.

With focus now on building our home, here are some of my new home loves....



 http://www.pinterest.com/growsimplelovel

 

 

Happy Sunday