You're Invited To A Tea Party

Your invitation is waiting for you at Pink Mohair...

A Snapshot of Betsy Johnson

Eccentric Fashion Designer Betsy Johnson's New York apartment has been featured in this month's American House and Garden. Johnson is widely known for her extremely over-the-top glamorous fashion designs and it looks like a bit of her craziness has found its way into her complete renovation of this downtown apartment. It's said that she has used a mixture of vintage and modern pieces and then signature candy pink walls to put a final stamp on her new absolutely beautiful haven.

Photo's courtesy of House & Garden

Vintage House & Garden

House & Garden Cover January 1st, 1920 by H. George Brandt above

House & Garden Cover January 1st, 1922 by H. George Brandt above

House & Garden Cover April 1st, 1935 by Pierre Brisaudd above

We all know about vintage Vogue covers and photos but also available for purchase from the CondeNast website are vintage House & Garden covers which, as an Interior Designer, I am mad about. I would love to cover the walls in my office with some of these. It's very interesting to note that although these covers are all roughly 80 years old they could well have been painted today as they depict scenes which seem to be so like designs which are being created today. For example a traditional plate wall above is similar to that created by Kelly Wearstler at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica - a modern take on traditional design.

Rockridge - A Beautiful Beach Retreat

Just 50 minutes drive from Sydney this beautiful beach retreat awaits you. Rockridge sits perched at the top of Palm Beach and was originally built as a Gentleman's residence in the 1940's. Now operated as a boutique holiday rental property through Contemporary Hotels, the house maintains many of its original features - stone fireplace, beautifully crafted joinery, timber floors and the most beautiful view of the Palm Beach Peninsula. A host of modern amenities have been added to the property to make your stay as comfortable as possible including a swimming pool just in case you don't feel like trekking down the steps to the beach . If you are desperately craving for a week at the beach then consider Rockridge as your first port of call.

More From My "I Love" File

I adore this house by Steven Gambrel which was featured in Elle Decor June/July 2004 edition. Just another lot of images from my "I Love" file.

A Rosy Little Posie - Alicia Paulson

Creative genius, Alicia Paulson, is the brains behind the web store Posie - Rosy Little Things and also the beautiful blog Posie Gets Cozy. I adore her hand screen printed stationery and also her beautiful hand made paper poppy boxes. Apartment Therapy just featured Alicia's gorgeously pretty house in one of their house tours so go and have a look at the photos on AT as I know you will love them!!

I also loved Alicia's beautiful welcome note on her site which I have posted below;

"Somewhere in your imagination is a midwestern summer that seemed impossibly long, a spare room at Grandma's where the bed was dressed in white cotton and roses, a neighbor's porch swing where you read novel after novel about girls who had horses. Humidity cloaked. Lightning bugs hovered. What could you do but dream?
At Posie, I remember this place too, and design things that didn't exist there, but could have.
Entirely handmade in my home studio in Portland, Oregon, Posie: Rosy Little Things is an original line of products and patterns created by, me, Alicia Paulson."

New Window Display at Black & Spiro

Today the girls and I created a new window display at Black & Spiro. I wanted a bright, fresh look so we opted for one of the gorgeous floral display drops I just purchased from Mokum. Into the mix we threw one of the much loved pink and mother of pearl inlay chest of drawers, some of our couture cushions, lots of mixed floral ginger jars and of course fresh flowers which always finish off a display perfectly. The girls were a bit worried that it was all a bit much but I said to them to think outside the square and opt for a bit of the unexpected especially when doing a window display as it is important that we catch the attention of passers by!!

Kitchen Dreaming

I'm dreaming of a new kitchen and I would be thrilled to bits with any of the above!! I particularly love the top pink wallpapered kitchen - I think this would be so fun to do in an apartment! I think it's so wonderful that wallpaper is creeping into the kitchen again and not just into hallways and feature walls in bedrooms and sitting rooms! It would even be fun to wallpaper a splash back and then cover it with glass to add a bit of interest to a simple white kitchen - even though I am such a huge fan of simple white kitchens!!

Images above from Domino.

An Outdoor Room

I was just searching through the Domino site and I found this gorgeous outdoor room which I adore. I especially love the blue and white curtains. I could imagine a relaxing Sunday afternoon spent lounging around on this gorgeous verandah with friends.

Saturday Night With Friends

Sometimes it can be so wonderful just to sit with a very close friend and chat. Tonight we visited our friends at their house and while the children played happily downstairs and the men watched a movie upstairs, Annie and I just sat in her beautiful lounge room with the candles lit and some of her amazing French music playing in the background. We had planned to leave the children with our husbands and then go to a late movie but instead we started to chat and then we decided that we were having so much fun that we would cancel the movie and stay and chat some more. We looked through some of her books and magazines on her gorgeous collection filled coffee table whilst we enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine. We talked about everything. I so much enjoyed this time with my friend. We have so much in common and whilst some people would think that we are mad talking about the things we talk about - we think we are quite normal!! We even discussed the prospect of setting up a monthly design book/magazine club with our other friends!! As I have said before friendship to me is a very important element of my life and nights like these are recorded in my memory forever and ever. Thanks Ann for being my friend and for such a fun, relaxing and memorable night!!

Photo's above are of Annie's collection of things on her coffee table.

Family Time

It's Friday night and we are at home having a quiet night together as a family which I love so much - just the three of us. We had roast chicken for dinner (thanks to Rhonda), a few glasses of wine, candles lit and lots of family chatting. The weather has cooled down a bit and there is a slight breeze blowing through the house. The c.d. player is blaring out all my favourite c.d.'s - a bit of Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Katie Melua, Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble. Isn't it wonderful to end a busy week this way and tomorrow I can sleep in and get up when I want and the best thing of all is that I can spend the whole day with my 4 year old son. Times like these are so very special to me as a working mother. I bundle them up and keep them inside and when I'm having a really bad day at work I stop and remember these special times and I think that's what's important in life - family time!

Photo above courtesy of inside.

It's as Simple as Black & White...

Photo above taken by me at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica designed by Kellly Wearster

Osborne & Little Vintage Wallpaper

New Black & White fabric collection from Westbury

Mirror from Pieces

Image from Inside


Black and White - a classic colour combination which is always so striking when applied. It's clean, it's fresh and it's bold and I love it and if you want to add a little bit of colour you can and then just as easily as you added it you can take the colour away again if you feel like it. What are your thoughts - Do you like the Black & White colour combination?

I wish I could....

I would love to just sit and soak in this bath for hours with lots of candles, a glass of wine, a bit of Madeleine Peyroux playing in the background and a copy of the March edition of Australian Vogue Living in my hands which I am really pining for - due out here in Aus 17th Feb!! Maybe I'll have my copy just in time for the weekend...fingers crossed!!

Bathroom above by Nate Berkus.

More Black & Spiro

Here is another picture of Black & Spiro. I purchased the above set of butterfly embroideries from Variegated Inc. via Etsy which I originally found via Design Sponge. We just hung them today and they look fantastic against the Designers Guild wallpaper.

Happy Valentines Day

A very Happy Valentines Day to you all. I hope each and every one of you are spoilt today and who knows maybe you'll even be surprised!! Have a fun day!


Oh and if you are wondering what my Valentines Day display looks like at Black & Spiro, visit Avril's site as she has posted it. www.janedavril.blogspot.com


Photograph above is from Vintage Weave Interiors. Please have a look at their beautiful site. They have some fanstastic things in their online shop.

More Pictures of My Work

Above are some more images of my work. This is a very modern inner city architect designed house which we have mixed up a little bit by throwing in some bright florals and some eclectic pieces. The owners are thrilled to bits with the addition of some colour and are even contemplating some more in other areas of the house. I'll post you more pictures as this gorgeous house evolves.

New Designers Guild Collection - Oriental Garden

I just previewed the new Designers Guild fabric and wallpaper collection this afternoon - Oriental Garden - which is due for release in Australia mid-March. It is fantastic. There seems to be a chinoiserie theme running through the collection which I adore. We have chosen some beautiful things for the shop which I will post once we have installed the display.

New Piece at Black & Spiro

We just received this chair in at Black & Spiro today. It is actually a bit late as I ordered it in October last year. Oh well, I love it and it certainly looks wonderful with our new (and also late) yellow curtains!!

Christopher Spitzmiller Lamps

I just wish that we had a lamp supplier here in Australia like Christopher Spitzmiller. His beautiful hand made ceramic lamps are timeless and luxurious and would certainly be a wonderful accessory in a room. I especially love the vibrant colours he produces these lamps in - so fabulous!! Spitzmiller is based in New York City with a team of 6 skilled craftsmen who create these beautiful pieces of art.

Guest Post from Sally - An Organised Interior

Would this amazing Poliform wardrobe look as stunning if there were clothes crammed in the drawers, coats on the floor and rows of empty coat hangers (because your laundry is unwashed and unironed)?

The importance of organisation cannot be underestimated in having a stunning interior!

Yes, I know I can be pedantic– I could dream of nothing more enjoyable and relaxing than a Friday night at home, a glass of Savignon Blanc in one hand – my labeling machine in the other…

Being organised is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also can be an extremely liberating exercise! It is really quite surprising what a short amount of time it takes to maintain an organised office or home.

For those who are time poor – employ a professional organiser to coach you to a more streamlined home and life. For those of you who feel you have the time, motivation and skills to “go it alone”, there are some fantastic products to help you.


Kikki-k is my absolute favourite site. The passionate founder – Kristina “Kikki” Karlsson was a girl passionate about Swedish Design, and organisation. Longing for an office which would be an extension of her personality and her love of all things beautiful – she created Kikki-k.

So, I challenge you – take the opportunity THIS WEEKEND – to organise a drawer or a cupboard or your coffee table. You might be inspired to do one more! Don’t try to tackle your whole house in a weekend. I guarantee you will feel absolutely FANTASTIC once you have done it. But, believe me, a glass of wine in one hand makes it SO much more enjoyable….


There you have it - that's my passion - beautiful & ORGANISED interiors. For more information on professional organisation please contact me at Black & Spiro as we are about to set up an Organised Interiors department at Black & Spiro. My email address is sally@blackandspiro.com.au

Thanks for reading!!

XOXO
Sally