Dreaming of Faraway Places

I woke up this morning and for some strange reason I had Paris on my mind. I then started to think of Positano in Italy and then I went on to think of Lake Como and Venice and my final thoughts, before I dragged myself out of bed, were of the Notting Hill markets in London.

After dropping Harry at school, I came to work and I heard the girls talking about Paris and my mind started to drift again. Then I was flipping through my photo file on my laptop and spotted a few images of some more special places. I don't know what's wrong with me. I wasn't thinking about these places yesterday. I must have caught some sort of travel bug overnight.

Gosh I hope I am better tomorrow as I don't think I could stand another day dreaming about these beautiful places without transferring a few frequent flyer points and hastily booking some flights...mmm an early night might just be what the doctor has ordered for me to rid myself of these dreadful thoughts!!

Image 1 - Corrie Bond Photographer, Image 2 - Corrie Bond Photographer, Image 3 - Source unknown, Image 4 - Vi.sualize.us

Dreamy Bedroom

I think this bedroom is lovely. My favourite things are the blue and white stripe frilled cushions on the bed and the rug and the Antique bed end stool and the chandelier...well that's just about everything! I would be very happy sleeping in a simple, understated peaceful room like this.

Image - Morten Holtum Photography via Desire to Inspire

Today I Love...

These very pretty images by Lobster & Swan.

Annechovie Print Sale

If you are trying to create an artwork cluster wall or just trying to find some lovely prints then you must know about Anne Harwell's amazing sale. Anne is currently offering 2 prints for the price of 1 at her Etsy store. I think this is an offer too good to pass by. Offer is only available until this Saturday 16th May.

Image - Annechovie

Kitchen Furniture

In a kitchen I am very fond of using old pieces of furniture instead of cabinetry, where I can. I find it gives a kitchen a more lived-in, individual look.

In my own kitchen at home I have used a chest of drawers which houses my napery collection and also an old French Armoire which we use as our pantry.

When I stumbled across this image {top} I instantly fell in love with the old table which they used in the centre of the kitchen. I love the look of the aged marble with its dints and scratches and chips.

Talking of dints and scratches and chips...I often have clients who are worried about marble getting damaged. I always say to them that in actual fact, marble looks better with age!

Image 1 - Source unknown

Image 2 - Anna Spiro

Friday Flowers

Have a lovely weekend and Happy Mother's Day for Sunday!!

xx

Anna

Image - Anna Spiro - Friday Flowers Series

Megan Park Cushions

I am very excited about the arrival of our new Megan Park cushions at Black & Spiro. They are so colourful and the embroidery detailing is lovely. We are stocking quite a few of the different designs. I think they look wonderful mixed in with our beautiful custom made cushions.

Thank You Apartment Therapy

Thank you Jenny Butler from Apartment Therapy for featuring my home in the AT House Tour series. I am so honored to have been asked.

Image - Anna Spiro

Chic Vintage Style

These beautiful red and yellow vintage photos have me inspired this week. Look at the upholstery on those car seats.....Tres Chic!

Image 1 & 2 - Milliemott's Photostream @ Flickr

Friday Flowers {On Thursday}

I am posting my weekly Friday flower arrangement today {Thursday} as I am signing off a little early this week. I hope you have a nice weekend and I look forward to catching up with you all next week.

xx
Anna

Recent Project

We worked around the client's existing bed head above and just added the lamps and bed cushions.

Here are a few snippets of a house I just finished working on. We re-used a few of the client's existing pieces and added some new pieces and lots of pretty fabrics to freshen up the home.

Today I Love...

I love this green and white gingham slip covered armchair with the lace trim detail along the bottom hemline. Such a pretty chair sitting on my favourite white painted floorboards.

Image - Country Home via Mary Ruffle

Happy Thought

Image 1 - Elizabeth Messina via Mary Ruffle

Image 2 - Kate Spade

Pretty House

Amanda posted this gorgeous house yesterday so I don't want to steal her thunder however, I do really love this exterior shot with the billowing sheer curtains. Isn't it gorgeous? You must go and see the rest of the house on Amanda's blog.

Image - Country Living Magazine via Swish & Swanky Blog

A Little Flower Arranging Spot

And just in case I didn't post enough images to get you excited about a flower shed yesterday, here's one more. Although I think this one is a little corner in a kitchen. I just love the mix of blue and white china, fresh flowers, old family photographs and the pretty little wall lights.


Image - House Beautiful via Mary Ruffle

A Flower Shed

One day I would love to have a flower shed in which I could arrange flowers and store all of my vases and baskets and garden things. In my perfect flower shed I would have a large sink, a large work bench, lots of shelving and places to hang baskets and buckets. I would also have a pretty spot for some lovely old chairs where I could sit and drink tea with a friend whilst I contemplated my next arrangement!! I must get this book above called Shed Chic as I am sure it would provide lots more inspiration for my little flower shed.

Image 1 & 2 via Belle Maison Blog

Glamorous Times

Following on from my vintage fashion posters which I posted last week...

I am very inspired by the style and grace of these women. Look at the beautiful dress Grace Kelly is wearing in the bottom image. I just adore the green and white floral fabric it is made in. On another note, look at the curved banquettes which are made in white painted lattice. There is just so much inspiration in these beautiful images.

Image 1 - Vi.sualize.us, Image 2 - Grace Kelly via Porchlight Interiors Blog

Friday Flowers

Here are some flowers I arranged this afternoon for the weekend. Thanks for visiting me here this week and for all of your lovely comments!! See you next week.

xx

Anna

The Artist

Yesterday I posted images of our new display at Black & Spiro in which we have a painting by a talented new artist we are representing.

Her name is Diana and she is a friend of my mothers. She has been painting on and off for years. She painted the painting below and gave it to us as an engagement present 8 years ago. She has been painting for family and friends mostly however, she recently decided she would paint a few of my vignettes.

A few weeks ago she arrived at Black & Spiro with the painting above of some pink peonies I had arranged in a blue and white ginger jar on the bench in our kitchen at home. I actually posted this image on the blog late last year and she loved it so much that she painted it. I instantly fell in love with the painting. One of our customers also fell in love with it and it sold on the very first day we displayed it.

Her second painting which I posted yesterday also sold on the very first day we displayed it. We are now awaiting delivery of painting number 3 with a couple of our customers wanting to be notified when it arrives.

Diana is so excited, as am I. I have always loved her style and I am just so thrilled that she has finally taken the step to allow me to have her beautiful paintings on display at Black & Spiro.



Diana gave us the painting above for our Engagement present and I have continued to love it over the years. I have it hanging in our kitchen at home above an old chest of drawers which houses my napery collection.

Black & Spiro Today

Here are some photos of our new display at Black & Spiro. I am thrilled to have a painting by a new artist we are representing exclusively at Black & Spiro in the display. She will be painting some of my table vignettes in the future which is very exciting.

Catherine Martin's Vogue Living

I just received my copy of the latest Vogue Living edited by guest editor Catherine Martin {thanks for the heads up Amanda}. I am so excited about this issue. I have been trying not to open it up all day so that I can enjoy it without interuption tonight but it just keeps on beckoning me as it sits beside me on my desk. I think it's going to be one of the best issues of late.

I Love...

I love this beautiful collection of things. Maybe I love it because there are some pretty blue and white pieces and pink and white pieces {my favourite} or maybe because the collection is just so imperfectly compiled. I'm not really into a big matching set of anything. Yes, that's why I think it appeals to me so much...it's mismatch heaven!!

Image via Brabourne Farm Blog

**Reminder

Image 1 & 2 via vi.sualize.us

Black & Spiro Today

I finally had all of the beautiful vintage fashion posters, which I purchased in Paris last year, framed. Today I had them hung in a cluster on a wall in our new display at Black & Spiro.

We used a silver bamboo frame on the posters with a white matting board. They look so beautiful. We have a total of 16 available for sale however, I think I am going to find it very hard to let some of these beauties go!!

I will be posting more photos of the display later this week, once the new curtains are installed, so do stay tuned.

PS. Notice the aqua wall they are hung on. I told you I was into aqua at the moment!!

I have been asked to provide pricing on the posters by a few readers. They are all $340.00 except for the LV one which is $480.00. Thanks for your interest!! Oh, and if you would like to see the full set available please email me anna@blackandspiro.com.au and I will email them all through to you.

Interchangeable Design

I think this Peter Dunham room above is divine. I love the wall colour. I love the mismatched artwork on the walls. I love the coffee table. I love the sisal rug which I feel grounds the room beautifully and I love the fresh pink Peonies placed on the coffee table.

It looks like Peter may have done a little redecorating when you compare the above photos of his room to the below photos.

Designers are always tempted by the most beautiful new ranges of fabrics and wallpapers. I know myself when I see a fabric in a new collection I can't live without I have a few cushions made in it for my sofa at home. I suppose for me, that's the wonderful thing about having a white sofa as it is so interchangeable.

Which way do you prefer Peter's room? The first way as above or the second way as below?

A Little Bit of Aqua

It seems I am inspired by touches of aqua. Scrolling through my picture files I notice I have lately saved quite a few aqua interiors as inspiration. I thought I would share a few with you.

Image 1 - via Interior Divine Blog, Image 2 - via Mrs Blandings Blog, Image 3 - via Patricia Gray Blog