Get Simone's Look!!

I've had such a lovely response to my House Tour post from yesterday. Thank you everyone who either left me a comment here at ABT or emailed me directly. It was so lovely to hear from you. The obvious thing we all loved in Simone & Richard's house was the framed vintage swimsuits. What a fantastic idea for a beach house. Simone purchased all of these swimsuits on Ebay so keep your eyes peeled!!

In response to yesterday's post I thought it would be fun to put together a few things currently available on Ebay which would be similar things Simone would have purchased when decorating her house. Enjoy my selections and take a leaf from Simone's book - don't pay too much for anything vintage as there will always be something else just around the corner!!

Note - Click on label under each picture to be directed to the item listing on Ebay.

Vintage Shabby Chic Rose China Jug - Current Price - $5.00

Vintage Cane Writing Desk - Current Price - $65.00


Lady Head Vase - Current Price - $20.50


Old Cane 2 Seater & 2 Armchairs - Current Price - $99.00


Shabby Chic Antique Dresser - Current Price - $169.99


Vintage Cane Daybed - Current Price - $50.00


Cane Bedroom Dresser - Current Price - $19.99


Vintage Milk Glass Vase - Current Price - $15.50


Oh damn it these ones ended but sold for a mere $18.88


Cane Hall Table - Buy It Now Price - $89.00 (Probably a bit exy!!)

50's Shabby Chic Bedroom Chair - Current Price - $40.00


Vintage Linen Tea Towels - Current Price - $3.00

House Tour - Simone & Richard's Beach House

Vintage ladies swimmers framed and hung on a wall in the breakfast room.

An Australian flag flies in the wind on the property next door.

A vintage tea towel framed in a vintage frame which Simone has given a fresh coat of white paint.

What's a beach house without a set of vintage oars??

Vintage vases filled with flowers from the garden adorn table tops throughout the house.

Jody's house warming gift - perfect pink and white cupcakes from The Cupcake Company.

As time passes Simone will collect more bits and pieces to fill this gorgeous little shelf.

Vintage cane dining chairs - another fabulous Ebay find!!

A sailing boat with a navy blue hull sailed past in the afternoon....so pretty!

OMG - It's a head vase!! I LOVE head vases and this one is gorgeous and was filled with fresh flowers picked from the garden.

The 2 wing chairs came from Ebay with a 4 seater sofa. They work so perfectly in the room!!

A beautiful collection of vintage things above.

My favourite thing was the pair of vintage child's swimmers framed and hung on the wall. What a beautiful idea!!



This vintage chair was in Charli's bedroom...so cute!!




I think I might have been bidding against her on this yellow cane chair on Ebay not so long ago...

Inside Simone has opted for mismatched vintage dining chairs around the breakfast room table.

I am so thrilled to be able to share with you these pictures of the most beautiful beach house owned by my friends Simone & Richard and their little daughter Charli. Yesterday we were invited to lunch with 4 of our other friends and their children at their new home which they just moved into only a few months ago.

Simone is one of the most creative people I know. She owns a gorgeous little shop in Bulimba in Brisbane called House & Doll which is filled to the brim with pretty children's toys. A lover of all things vintage Simone has decorated their new home from scratch with the most fabulous pieces of furniture and accessories all of which she has either purchased on Ebay or at the shop at their local tip. Everything in their home is cherished and loved and put together with so much style and creative genius, something that money can't buy.

We were all treated to a special lunch cooked by our friend Jody and as we sat and enjoyed the view of the bay on a perfect day we chatted and watched the children play on the grass in front of us. I cooked my famous lemon and coconut cake for dessert (well only famous within my family and friends) and I topped it with fresh flowers which I picked from Simone's garden. Jody also took some gorgeous cupcakes from The Cupcake Company as a house warming gift which we all enjoyed.

It really was the most perfect Sunday lunch and I was completely in awe of their beautiful home and Simone's amazing creativity. It just goes to show that even working on a tight budget you can create something very, very special. I just can't wait to go back for another visit!!

All Images - Anna Spiro - Richard & Simone's House

The Week Ahead...

Hi All, I hope you had a great weekend! I've had a lovely weekend. Today my husband, Harry & I were invited to lunch at our friends new beach house right on the water on the bayside in Brisbane. Their house is DIVINE and I'm so excited as I will be taking you on a tour of it this week here at ABT so do stay tuned as you will LOVE this gorgeous house which Simone has decorated from top to bottom in vintage furniture and on a budget!! See you all tomorrow!!

Image - Anna Spiro - Lunch at Simone & Richard's

Happy Weekend!!

Oh, and do have a Happy Weekend! I feel like I need to have a hot soapy bath, lie in it until the water starts turning cold and then go straight to bed. It's been another hectic week and I just can't wait to sleep-in in the morning!! xxx Anna

Image by Cig Harvey Photographer

More Cottage Love...

I absolutely LOVE this gorgeous little 1920's cottage owned by U.S. designer Tia Zoldan as featured in Cottage Living. As she says in the article "The second I saw this house, I knew it was mine. It was love at first sight." I can certainly relate to that feeling!

Colour Connections

These three images were sitting in my picture file and they all looked so beautiful together I had to share them with you. Top image is from U.S. Vogue via All Things Bright & Beautiful, Middle Image is from Martha Stewart and of course the beautiful illustration in the bottom image is by the very the talented Patricia an Essche from PVE blog for Marnie over at MRR Design.

A Sweet Little Girl's Bedroom

Here is a bedroom which I have just completed for a little 2 year old girl. We used a mixture of pink, turquoise and white to create a fresh, pretty yet simple room.

White Cottage Love!!

Two gorgeous white timber cottages via Martha Stewart swept me off my feet and took my breath away today...

Cute Tree Seats

I'd definitely love one of these gorgeous tree seats made if I owned a large country house with lots of beautiful land around me! So cute!

Image 1 via Nibs Blog, Image 2 via Matha Stewart

Blue, White & Vintage!!

I absolutely adore this Domino feature - full to the brim with a few of my favourite things - blue, white and lots of vintage!! I seem to be in a blue mood this week but then again I think I'm always in a blue mood and a pink mood and a white mood etc. etc.!!

Today I Love...

I'm loving this white room - white floors, white walls and a table full of beautiful things. I would love to see some beautiful bright cushions on the sofa but that's just me!!

Images via Paul Massey Photographer

Into The Blue

Some pretty blue inspiration above. I love how the girl's swimmers in the top image look just like the blue hydrangea in the bottom image!!

Top image - Cig Harvey Photographer, Bottom image - Madison Magazine

Decoration + Design Seminar Series

I thought I would let you know about the Decoration + Design International Seminar Series being held in Melbourne 17th/18th July 2008 in conjunction with the Decoration + Design Trade show & also Furnitex. Amongst a round up of International Industry leaders I will be hosting a 1 hour seminar about the Phenomenon of Blogging within the Design Industry. If you are in Melbourne at this time and would like to join us please click HERE to be directed to the registration form or for more details click HERE to visit the website. Kathryn Ireland (US textile designer) will also be holding a seminar. I have posted about Kathryn before here at ABT - how exciting!!