More Photos Coming...

Our Kathryn Ireland book signing went very well yesterday. I have more photos to share on my other camera so do bear with me...I will post more photos during the week. It was so inspiring listening to Kathryn talk about her love of colour and how she gets her inspiration for her beautiful fabric collections.

A Tidy Up

We have a little sun room off our bedroom which, since we have been living here, I have used as a dressing room. Although I try to keep this room tidy, it always ends up looking like a bomb has hit it by the end of the week.

I was prompted to have a big clean up recently when Harry came into my dressing room one morning as I was getting ready for work and just shook his head in disbelief at the mess I had got myself into. I had shoes, bags, clothes and jewellery sprawled across the entire room. It started to occur to me that when a 7 year old boy thinks it's bad, then it must be bad!

After a few intense hours of tidying and sorting, it was so nice to see the top of the built-in drawers again. To celebrate my clean-up I purchased some fresh flowers, arranged them in an old crystal vase my grandmother gave me and placed them on the drawers with some magazines and other little bits. I also decided to bring home an Antique still life oil painting which has been in the shop for well over 6 months. Nobody else wanted it and I loved it from the moment I found it, so home it came. It really is amazing how great a tidy up can make you feel. Hopefully I will be able to keep it this way...well at least until next weekend.

Reminder

A reminder that US Interior Designer Kathryn Ireland will be at Black & Spiro this Monday 8th February from 12 noon to launch her new book, Creating a Home.

If you would love to meet her and grab a signed copy of her beautiful book do pop in as everyone is welcome. We will also have some of her divine fabrics on display which can be ordered by the meter.

Two Lovely Bedrooms

I was on the Living Etc. website today and I came across these two bedrooms I love. The top one in particular is my favourite. I love the thrown together mix of patterned fabrics and vintage pieces. This style of decorating always looks unique and individual. The thing I like best in the bottom room is the cabinetry...fantastic idea for a small room don't you think?! I even love the idea of installing bookcasing around a bed in this same way.

A Pretty Boat House

Look at this pretty Boat House....so lovely and inviting. What a perfect spot for a Summer Holiday.


Image 1 & 2 - Mike Newling

Kathryn Ireland Book Signing at Black & Spiro

I am so thrilled to announce that U.S. Interior Designer Kathryn Ireland will be doing a book signing for the launch of her beautiful new book, Kathryn M. Ireland Creating a Home, at Black & Spiro on Monday 8th February, 2010 at 12 noon.

I am extending an invitation to all my blog readers, clients and friends to attend this very exciting event here at Black & Spiro.

Please email me for further details if required. anna@blackandspiro.com.au

We look forward to seeing you. Everyone is welcome.

Black and Spiro

768 Brunswick Street

New Farm Qld 4005

Australia

Ph - 07 3254 3000

Image 1 & 2 via cote de texas, Image 3 via Kathryn Ireland

Big & Bold in 2010

Sonia Arriola's report on this years Maison et Objet in Paris reveals that a trend for large scale prints, bold colour pairings, denim blue, and neutrals that shimmer will be all the rage in 2010. I loved this image she shared on her flickr of some curtains hanging in the Dedar showroom in Paris...the fabric was apparently created to represent a digital print. To me they even look a bit ikatish!

Image - Katherine Kostreva

Happy Australia Day!

To me today is all about being with family and friends {near somewhere to swim!!} and being so grateful for this wonderful place we live in.

Oh, and every single time I hear THIS SONG and THIS SONG I get goose bumps all over...

image 1 - Francois Hallard, Image 2 - Christine Rudolph

A Lovely Bathroom

I've been looking through my saved bathroom images for some inspiration for an upcoming project and this one which was featured in a recent edition of Living Etc. which Kelly posted late last year keeps jumping out at me. I adore the frilling detail on the black and white stripe curtain and of course the all-white colour palette is divine!

Friday Flowers

I certainly can't take the credit for these beautiful floral arrangement however, I had to share them with you. They are by the very talented Simone Gooch from Fjura Florist in Sydney.

Happy Weekend. See you next week.

Loving Catherine's Aqua Kitchen

Wow, I totally love this aqua kitchen which my friend Catherine Shields designed for the Seafarers Beach Cottages she recently renovated. I believe you can rent these gorgeous beach houses for a holiday. Check out Catherine's blog, In My House for further details...

More Stuart Membery Photos

I love the lattice wall he has created above which he has then layered with some of his beautiful furniture pieces.

I absolutley loved this idea for a dog's bowl above. Stuart has used a beautiful clam shell which is secured onto his deck next to a tap to fill it up...so gorgeous...obviously his 2 beautiful Golden Retrievers think so too!



It was so hot the day we were there {even though his property gets the most wonderful breezes}...all I wanted to do was jump into his divine pool clothes and all...it looked so enticing!

Here are some more photos of Stuart Membery's home which we had the pleasure of visiting just before Christmas. I will be sure to share some more photos with you tomorrow!

All images - Anna Spiro

I'm Back!!

Hello!! I am thrilled to be back after what seems like a very long hiatus! Whilst away from the blog, I have had a wonderful Summer holiday with my family and I have also been busily working on all the wonderful things we have in store for Black & Spiro in 2010.

One very exciting bit of news which I will share with you is that just a few days before Christmas I visited Stuart Membery in Indonesia. We went to his beautiful home and viewed his amazing furniture which we are bringing a container load of into Australia...due to arrive here in a few months time.

It was an absolute delight meeting Stuart and being able to visit his home was a very exciting experience.

Not only will we be receiving lots of Stuart's wonderful pieces, we have sourced some beautiful, unique accessory pieces including lots of lovely woven trays, baskets etc. which will be coming on the container as well so do stay tuned!!

I will share a few photos of Stuart's home this week here on the blog. You may spot some of the furniture pieces in the photos which we are going to be stocking here at Black & Spiro so if anyone is interested in any piece they see, just let me know. anna@blackandspiro.com.au

It's great to be back and I can't wait to share with you everything we have in store for this very exciting year ahead!!

xo

Anna

Image - Anna Spiro - Stuart Membery's pool area

Time Flies

It seems that time really has run away from me. It's been 2 weeks since I have posted and what a hectic time it's been.

In all of the craziness, I have hardly had a moment to think about Christmas. Harry and Brad can't believe how uninteresting our Christmas tree is this year!! They think that I have turned from being a Christmas obsessed maniac to a Christmas Grinch! Not so, I keep on telling them...just lots of other great things I am trying to work through...

As from this Wednesday I will be taking one month away from the blog. I need some time to recharge and refresh...however, I am very much looking forward to continue to share my experiences, inspirations, travels etc. with you all in 2010 here on ABT!!!

Image - John Dolan photographer

Christmas Wish List

These heart design breakfast cups and saucers by Nina Campbell are definitely something to add to the Christmas wish list. In fact Nina has an entire range of heart printed china on her website.

PS. Sorry I haven't been here much this week...things are pretty hectic around here at the moment.

xo

Anna

New Bits at Black & Spiro

We've finally received our delivery of Megan Park cushions in at Black & Spiro along with some of our other lovely cushions {top image}. I thought I would take a couple of photos of some other bits which we just received in last week. The little Antique brass mirror is one of my favourite things in the shop at the moment and the colourful ginger jar lamp bases are divine!!

For all enquiries, please email us info@blackandspiro.com.au

Ashgrove House

Images above and below you may be able to spot the floor in the sun room to the left which we had painted in a green and white stripe. We will be doing some beautiful white cane pieces upholstered in lovely bright fabrics in this area in the New Year.

Here are some photos of a job I finished off this morning for a lovely, lovely client at Ashgrove. The brief was to create an area which was fresh, bright, colourful and family friendly. This is what I created.

Black & Spiro Today

I love the new painting we have just received into the shop by Diana Favell...thought you would love to see a photo of it. It's so big and gorgeous!!

How much is that doggie in the window?

I brought Ned into work today in an attempt to cheer myself up. His favourite spot in the entire store was sitting in the front window next to our beautiful new curtains watching the traffic and passers-by. I couldn't resist snapping this photo above.

Country Road Christmas Catalogue

It was lovely to receive the Country Road Christmas catalogue in the mail last night. It's filled with lots of great gift ideas. I absolutely loved the cover which I have posted above.

Overloaded

It seems I am a little overloaded this week along with suffering an awful summer flu...may have to take a couple of days away from here. I promise I'll be back soon!

xo
Anna

illustration by samantha hahn

Friday Flowers

Here are some beautiful fresh pink peonies which I just arranged and placed on our entrance table at Black & Spiro along with a collection of other lovely things. Have a great weekend!

xo
Anna

Christmas Card Idea

I love Anne Harwell's Christmas cards this year. They are available in a set of 8 at Anne's etsy store...

Black & Spiro Christmas Window

I've been meaning to post these photos of our Christmas windows at Black & Spiro which we installed last week. I feel like I am always one of the last stores in Brisbane to install Christmas! Anyway, I went for a very bright pink and yellow combination this year. I wanted to end 2009 on a lovely bright note!

PS. The wreath is made out of beautiful dried out Australian native bush {very hard to see from these pictures} which a lovely lady in Melbourne made for me. I then decorated the wreath with silver baubles tied on with torn strips of fabric and ribbon.

Christmas Gift Idea

This gift idea is one for the husbands even though I am sure there wouldn't be any husbands reading this blog!!

Last Christmas one of my client's husbands emailed me very last minute {as husbands do} asking for my help with a present for his wife. I found this beautiful Antique chair for him and had it quickly recovered in a pretty piece of fabric we had in stock. I think I turned the whole thing around in about 14 days which was a huge feat considering the chair came up from one of my dealers in Melbourne and also considering it was 2 weeks before Christmas which is our busiest time of year! His wife absolutely loved the chair and was so surprised by it's presence on Christmas morning. I think I would be in shock too if my husband thought about organising something like this for me.

Let me know if I can help any of your husbands with a gift this Christmas!!

In It's Home

You might remember this old Puerto Rican cabinet we had painted in a soft mint green which was in our Black & Spiro front window for a little while. I thought I would show you it in it's new home. My clients have placed it in their new kitchen which was still having the finishing touches done to it when I was there snapping away these photos this morning. The pink Smeg fridge is definitely something I covet along with the lovely set of old scales!!

Christmas Gift Idea

For the friend or relative who has everything, I think these personalised paperweights from Iomoi make for a fantastic gift. A couple of Christmas' ago I gave all my girlfriends one of these and they loved them. I think they look great on a coffee table or bedside table clustered in a group. Maybe this could be the start of a collection of paper weights for your friend/relative! My only problem is choosing which one to go for as there are SO many gorgeous designs to select from!!

Stuart Membery

Although this post isn't really Christmas related, I had a feeling you would love to know about a new friend of mine, Stuart Membery. My Australian readers may remember Stuart from the fashion industry in Australia in the 1980's and also as the man behind bringing Esprit to Australia many moons ago.

This week I've had a few email conversations with Stuart and then yesterday he picked up the phone and called me from his divine home in Bali. Stuart's home has been featured in this month's House & Garden magazine and I must say I feel like I could move straight in and not change a thing. It actually reminds me of something my mother would create. His mismatch of cane furniture, collected things like shells, baskets, books and magazines is very much a look I love and have grown up with myself. The whole thing feels like I have seen it before. I absolutely adore his aesthetic and as for his life in Bali, well it sounds amazing.

Apparently, US decorator and journalist, Annie Kelly has just been over to visit Stuart and has photographed the house and it seems that international interest for his homewares and furniture is mounting daily....including my own keen interest in his products for our Black & Spiro store which we are renovating and extending in 2010.

I will be sure to keep you updated with our purchase of his pieces for Black & Spiro. In the meantime, you must race out and grab a copy of this month's House & Garden and see for yourself how beautiful his home is and how wonderful his life sounds!!

Gift Ideas at Simon Johnson

If you are looking for a gift for someone who enjoys cooking {or eating} this Christmas I would highly recommend you check out the Simon Johnson online store. They have some wonderful things and ship all over Australia. I loved the styling of their gift collection catalogue as above and I know a little 6 year old who will love the giant midi Durade chocolate fish {105 grams} which I will be ordering in for his Christmas stocking!

Christmas Wreaths Australian Style

A flowering gum wreath from Grandiflora hangs on Beth from Boatshed Chic's front door above. Beth's amazing boat shed was featured in the Christmas issue of Country Style magazine last year {2008}.


Here in Saskia Haveke's own entryway hangs one of her amazing creations; a flannel flower-and-pieris-laden lichen branch wreath as featured in Inside Out Christmas Issue 2007.

Here in Australia it is a little harder to keep live Christmas wreaths looking wonderful and fresh due to our extremely hot Summer weather. However, that doesn't stop celebrated florists like Saskia Havekes of Grandiflora creating amazing wreaths for her clients and her own home at Christmas. Saskia tends to use Australian natives in her wreaths which can be hardier and more inclined to last. If you opt for a fresh wreath this Christmas I would suggest filling a spray bottle with water and spraying the wreath at least twice a day to keep it looking fresh and beautiful.

Another wonderful and hardy option for warmer climates would be to decorate a branch wreath with succulents like April Hiler has done above.

T'is The Season

It's usually around early to mid November each year that I start to get my thinking cap on with regards to my plans and ideas for Christmas. All the inspiring Christmas ideas are out in the Magazines by this time each year and most stores have their Christmas decorations up and the season is in full swing.

My planning for this year's Christmas started over the weekend with my purchase of the December issue of Inside Out magazine whose Christmas spread each year is one of my absolute favourites. Not only did I scour through this year's issue, I pulled out issues from previous years which were so beautiful and thought provoking!!

One thing I read in the December 2008 issue which I absolutely loved was a quote by Stylist Lynsey Fryers;

"Don't be put off by thinking you must do things in a certain way, because Christmas is so personal."

I for one am a person who does do Christmas a little more on the abstract side when it comes to the colours/patterns/papers/decorations I use. I tend to love a touch of pink, yellow, lime green, aqua and orange. I find that even though these colours aren't really traditional Christmas colours, to me they are festive and bright and happy.

Over the weekend I went back through the photos of what I created last year to get myself motivated. Harry and I also cooked up a batch of star shaped short bread as a practice run for the 14 batches we will be cooking the week of Christmas to give to our family & friends.

So, in the coming weeks I thought I would talk and post all things Christmas. From entertaining ideas, gift wrapping ideas, decorations and gifts. I hope in some way I can inspire you to create something wonderful of your own this Christmas. Let's join together and celebrate the spirit of this wonderful season!!

xo

Anna

Image 1 - wreath by Saskia Havekes of Grandiflora, Image 2 - Lynsey Fryers home & quote via Inside Out magazine December 2008, Image 3 - Cover of Inside Out December 2009 Christmas issue, Image 4 - My 2008 Christmas Tree creation.

I Love Her Dress Too!!

And look at her fabulous dress!! Thanks for emailing me this one Kelly!!

PS. Kelly said that she saved this photo a couple of years ago from an advertisement for a fabric house! Could it be Clarence House? They always do the best advertisements along with Osborne & Little!!

I Love Her Dress

I have had this image saved in my picture file for a long time and as I was flipping through my images today I spotted it again. I absolutely LOVE her dress. I think she looks so groovy and stylish!

Image - Hugh Stewart