Today I Love...

I stumbled across this gorgeous image on Decorno this morning which was originally posted by Abbey at Abbey Goes Design Scouting. Wonderful scouting Abbey! I love everything about this room from the beautiful portrait to that gorgeous green fabric on the French chair. This is such a fresh and pretty look which I am completely and utterly in Love with!!! Anyone know what the fabric on the French chair is? I'm thinking it is probably something vintage.

Image originally via Better Homes & Gardens

Current Obsession

Lately I have been completely obsessed with this brushed Silver plated cutlery by Italian company Gervasoni. I am actually thinking of stocking this beautiful range at Black & Spiro. I love that it is a modern take on an old traditional design...so beautiful!

A Helping Hand

Sometimes we all need a little help. I know when I first started this blog in December 2006 I had no idea what I was doing. It would have been wonderful to have had a little bit of help and guidance. The very kind Felicity over at All Things Bright & Beautiful is currently offering help to new bloggers with a series of posts about the tricks of the trade. So if you are a new blogger or even an old blogger who would just like a little helping hand head on over to Felicity's gorgeous blog. Oh, and do say hi to her for me!!

Happy Weekend!

Image via Garden Rooms

This image above has inspired me to have a garden dinner party in the next few weeks - so pretty and I love the old wire hanging baskets used as lanterns. Have a great weekend! See you next week.

Layers of Pattern

Image - Anna Spiro Guest Bedroom @ Ormiston House

Image - Elle Decoration - Liza Giles' Home via This is Glamorous

Image - XT Decor Mag

Image - Chris Chen Photographer via Desire to Inspire

Image - Vogue Living Australia - Chrissie Jeffrie's Home

Pattern layering in some people's opinion is over-the-top. I on the other hand feel that with a good eye mixing patterns is both a fun and exciting way to add personality to your home. If you have a set colour palette you are working with my advice is to select patterns within those colours therefore creating a central theme to work around. There really are no rules and the look is one of mismatch and nonconformity. A question often asked by my clients about pattern and mixing patterns is - "Is this going to date?" My answer is always "It only dates if you let date ie. let the look evolve over time by adding new bits to compliment old bits." One way to be able to have this look without worrying about the expense of recovering sofas and chairs once you tire of the look is to select a simple base like a plain for your upholstery and then add the patterns into the cushions, throws and accessories. This allows you to add and take away cushions/pieces when you feel like it. I have posted some of my favourite images above which display pattern layering. The top image is the guest bedroom in my old house which I decorated with pattern on pattern. The patterned quilt is a Douglas & Hope creation which I will treasure forever! I challenge you to be excited about pattern mixing. Be confident in your selections and don't worry if it doesn't match - that's the look!!!

A Chic Salvage

Image - Eric Cahan via Habitually Chic

After

Before

Beth over at Boat Shed Chic was recently inspired by the ottoman covered in Florence Broadhurst Circles & Squares in Gwenyth Paltrow's house as featured on the front cover of the November 2007 edition of American House & Garden. As you can see above Beth's old ottoman has had a dramatic face lift with it's gorgeous new fabric and white painted legs. Beth has vowed to leave the upholstery work to the experts next time but what a beautiful job she has done!!

Dana's Home

Dana emailed me late last year with a link to her new blog Blush & Flax. While I was scouring through her gorgeous site I stumbled across these pictures of her own home which I had to share. The house looks so serene and peaceful due to the monochromatic colours she has selected and I must say everything has been very stylishly put together. I love the collection of candlesticks on the dining table and the gorgeous little bristle woodland figures.

Dana's brief description about her home as below;

"We bought a old 1830's Greek Revival Parsonage to a Church in Aug 2001. We did most of the renovation of the old part of the house ourselves. The main house was structurally fine but had a bad addition put on in the 50's that connected the main house to the barn near it. In July 2005 we started a major structural rebuild of the barn and addition. We added 2000 sq ft to the house on the same footprint. There is still more work to do, but we moved in on Nov 2006. I'm still decorating with little pieces. The kitchen center island was custom made with old chinese elm doors...they even have nail holes from the fixtures. The kitchen counter is NOT stained but of the original color of wood, called "African Walnut" - just sanded and oiled. The bathroom has one of my favorite old mirrors. You really can't see yourself in it but it gives a nice feel to the bathroom. The stairs in the hallway are covered in a old mangle cloth I got from ebay seller called loodylady in england. I re-upholstered the brown chairs and the couch is slip covered in oatmeal linen. I collect old lighted globes because I love the light they cast at night. It's warm, romantic and different. The coffee table is made of old Chinese doors and was made by Vivian Kimmelman at Berkshire Home and Antiques."

I hope you enjoyed seeing Dana's gorgeous home as much as I did and that pristine snow just sets off the whole thing don't you think!! Thanks for opening up your home Dana and I can't wait to see more pictures as the house evolves!!

Etsy Addict...

Doily Notecards @ Beauideal

Dragondino Snailgeese @ Kinchi

Keep Calm & Carry On Poster @ Sfgirlbybay

Personalised Notecards @ Enfin, La Voila

Hand made & Hand stamped Thank you Bowl @ Paloma's Nest

Vintage Fabric Cushion @ Absoluut

Patterned Gift Tags @ Elfrida

Vintage Fairy Tale Text Envelopes @ Red Caboose Designs

Dutch Lady Figurine @ Blue Bell Bazaar

Italian Embroidered Cotton Initial Ribbon @ Angelaliguori

Fancy Face Clutch @ Pretty Lil Things

Worcester Porcelain Ginger Jar Print @ Annechovie

Sewing Tape with French Writing @ Matatabi

Dress Doily Note Cards @ Small White Pebble

I have to admit my addiction for Etsy has escalated over the holidays with all my spare time. I thought I'd show you a few of my current favourite things as above.

Touching Base...

Image - Paul Costello via Desire to Inspire

Just a little note to say hi and to let you all know that my normal daily posts will resume as from tomorrow - see you then!!

And So We Start Again...

Image - Anna Spiro - Sofa & Flowers @ Home

Another New Year has begun and so we start again hopefully refreshed and excited about the year which lies ahead of us. I have just come home from a week at our house at the beach which has been a very unusually wet and almost cool week of Summer here in South East Queensland. We were unable to go to the beach all week and except for my morning walks we were either held up in our house or my family's beach house. This weather encouraged lots of family talks, reading, rests and beautiful cooking. Even though a lot of people have been disappointed by our weather for the holidays I on the other hand enjoyed the cool and the other things I engaged myself in - a nice change to our usually humid hot Summer days. I will be posting intermittently over the next week as I am heading back to the beach tomorrow. I hope you are having a lovely festive season. I'd love to hear what you've all been getting up to!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I would like to extend warm wishes to all of my readers and fellow bloggers for a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. I am taking the next few days off to spend with my family. I'll be back very soon. Take care over the holidays and I look forward to lots more fun together in 2008!!

xo

Anna

And The Winner Is...

Entry 19 - Alison & Gail's Christmas

Congratulations Alison & Gail - you have won the Absolutely Beautiful Christmas competition!!! Thank you to everyone who entered the competition and also the other 2 finalists Felicity & Nancy congratulations to you too. Thank you also for all of the votes we received. It really was so wonderful to have such a big response to this special Christmas competition!!! I can't wait to see which cushion Alison & Gail select as their prize. I'll be sure to post the cushion once they have made their decision!!

Merry Christmas!!!
XO
Anna

Two More Sleeps...

Whilst browsing around blogland today I came across this beautiful Christmas image on Modern Country blog which I had to share. I have loved seeing everyone's Christmas inspiration around the world and the way in which others celebrate and prepare for Christmas in their home. We have been counting down the days in our home with Harry announcing this morning that there are only 2 more sleeps to go!! Don't forget I will be announcing the winner of my Christmas competition tomorrow night (Christmas Eve) at 8.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time. Voting will close tomorrow night at 6.00pm Aust. EST so please do cast your vote for one of our finalists below.

A Beautiful Gesture

Recently I have been enamored by the work of illustrator and decorative designer Patricia van Essche. Introduced to me by fellow blogger and friend Ronda from the fantastic blog All The Best, Patricia has very generously painted a few of my vignettes above and also a beautiful Birthday gift - she painted me at my 30th Birthday back in October this year. Patricia has certainly had a wonderful career thus far working for 15 years in New York as a designer and design director for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein & Liz Claiborne. These days Patricia offers a wide range of design services through her business PVE Design. I am looking forward to asking her to paint a few more things for me in the new year for Black & Spiro. Thank you for these beautiful paintings Patricia - you are certainly one very talented and generous woman and I am one very lucky person to be receiving such a beautiful and thoughtful gift!!

VOTE TODAY

Today is the last day to vote for the 3 finalists in my Absolutely Beautiful Christmas Competition so please cast your vote for your favourite entry TODAY. I will be announcing the 3 finalists tonight at 8.00pm Australian Eastern Standard time. Thanks everyone who has voted so far!

Sneak Peak - Brisbane Apartment

Here are a couple of images of an apartment I have been working on lately on the river in an inner city suburb of Brisbane. It is a lovely apartment with a very homey atmosphere - quite unlike most apartments in Brisbane which tend to usually be very modern. We have been adding a few new touches to update it. We just finished off the guest bedroom today and the formal lounge room. I am currently working on the casual lounge room which I hope to have finished end of January/early February.

Arranging Things

I was at the book store yesterday picking up some last minute books for Christmas when I stumbled across this gorgeous looking book which I couldn't resist buying for myself. The illustration on the front cover was the first thing that struck my attention and the title was the thing that sealed the deal. The illustrations are beautiful. I haven't had time to read it yet but after reading the only review of the book on Amazon tonight I am afraid I may be a little disappointed. I do love the illustrations so all is not lost and I love the cover so even if it isn't a good read I am happy I purchased the book as I like looking at it sitting on my current book pile on my entrance table.