The reality is that although our house looks pristine and white in the lovely spread Canadian House & Home did in their current issue, it really isn't like that in real life...
I thought I would share a few images with you of Ned and my mum and dad's Golden Retriever, Gus from the weekend. We had Gus over to stay for a couple of days and look what they got up to!
Obviously Ned became very scared once he spotted me...he jumped off the sofa very quickly and couldn't believe that Gus had the guts to remain there without any worries what-so-ever. If you look closely you can see that the white slip covered sofa is in a terrible state...I think it might need a new cover in some hardy denim next time round!!
Just a bit of evidence to show you that we actually live in a white-with-dirty-smudges-everywhere house!!
Just a bit of evidence to show you that we actually live in a white-with-dirty-smudges-everywhere house!!
They are the most gorgeous pics! Ned and Gus are beautiful boys - kinda glad to see your house ins't always spotless, 'cause mine sure isn't!
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, Is it not funny how well we know our animals, and them us? ;)
ReplyDeleteI too, live in an almost white house, loving it, but with two cats, it does get a bit dirty at times, but I think "we" are the only ones who see it....
By the way, would love to see the upstairs of your office one of these days....
Northern Light
Ha ha this is really funny but also so very true. Photographers can really work wonders, but they can only create good pictures if there is a good basis to work with making smudges irrelevant. Love your house!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteoh those photos are so cute _ oh well thats what slipcovers and napisan are for lol. melxxx
ReplyDeleteGreat pics - how do you get your white sofas clean again ?
ReplyDeleteThese babies are absolutely beautiful . . too too sweet!
ReplyDeleteIt's almost impossible to keep things perfect when you have pets. I get annoyed sometimes, but then when you see their cute face, it's hard to be mad!
ReplyDeleteWhat cuties! And I never would have noticed that on your sofa if you hadn't done a close up. Your place looks so beautiful!! Love your pillows!
Ha, just like my 12 year old cloth nappies on top of my kitchen stools, where the boys sit... great bolognaise absorbers! See we can all live with white... it just takes a bit of scheming.... oh and huggies wipes for the stains on the cream leather lounge and the chux magic erasers for the handprints on the walls and the jif cream cleanser for the scratches on the stone benchtops! A-M xx
ReplyDeleteoh Anna - you make me laugh!! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that...and "keeping it real", love your house even more now!! Mrs C x
ReplyDeleteThose are two gorgeous dogs! I think they'd get the run of my house, how could you resist those big brown eyes!
ReplyDeleteAngex
Yowza! You are waaaaayyyy cool! If I wrote this, the entire post would be in all caps, followed by exclamation marks and plenty of *&%$£@!!!
ReplyDeleteLike a couple of naughty children - they are beautiful. My parents' retriever is always lolling about on their white couch too and as he is their new "child" he gets away with it! I'm not sure how you manage it but your home looks pristine in all the pictures I've seen - I think there might be a book in that - How to Really Live With White... perhaps?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your honesty Anna!! I love those beautiful dogs and am so heartened you can have a beautiful home and a big dog (not to mention kids!) in your life at the same time :)
ReplyDeleteit still looks great! I love how one is scared and the other doesn't seem to be bothered at all :)
ReplyDeleteOh I hear you Anna! - I have the most beautiful feather filled white slip cover sofa - but it takes a terrible beating - and I don't even have pets. In summer it is fake tan and winter it is the slip of the red wine - i'm thinking of recovering it!
ReplyDeletex
Brilliant post..Well done on your honesty (best policy my grandmother always says!!)
ReplyDeleteToo funny. Love the 'butter wouldn't melt' look on Ned's face
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't on that couch, he really really wasn't. You are only imagining he was on the couch. So adorable, and I am loving the blog, I have been just cruising around in awe.
ReplyDeleteI am Lisa aka The Bumpkin, and I love the whole feel of your design, brave with the pink. Nice to meet you, do come and visit me at the swing some time.
Oh, but such cute doggies!
ReplyDeleteAdorable Dogs. I love my dog, he's 14 and sleeps on my bed. He's having an awful time climbing up and jumping off 3 feet. I am thinking of putting the mattress on the floor. Now the delima,
ReplyDeleteHow can I get in and out?
Great Post.
yvonne
oh but they are ADORABLE! Missed the spread in Canadian House and Home but must try to track it down.
ReplyDeleteLove this! It's a picture of my reality, except there are 5 of them! Nothing white in this house! LOL
ReplyDeleteNow you're talking! I have two white slip covered sofas and five cats. Thanks for the reality check.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna,
ReplyDeleteDon't we all live with dirty smudges! I can say I never feel better than right before a party or photo shoot when my house is tip top. But, that's really not very often. Your dogs are so cute.
Ha! Ha! this looks like a Candid Camera - that Ned is a darling - I especially like the pix where he is looking at you over the sofa, expecting Gus to cop it..... Yes.... and how did you manage to get the white sofa clean again? This si something I also would like to know....
ReplyDeletesweetest doggies. i just want to curl up with him on your sofa!!! that is so funny about how one got scared and the other-not so much
ReplyDeleteWell, I know your home is beautiful and probably perfect most of the time. I love Golden Retrievers!
ReplyDeleteKarena
Art by Karena
Hi Anna,
ReplyDeletePriceless pictures of the "Real Dogs of Brisbane." A new reality show!
~janet
I just love your blog! But it was nice to share this post with my 5 year old son who loved it:)!
ReplyDeleteOh, I just love Ned and Gus. Gus seems like he has a fun personality...hopping off the sofa as if he hadn't been there and maybe waiting for you to call Ned off! We had two Labs and a home is definitely dirtier with dogs (well, at least mine had dog hair everywhere no matter how I tried to conquer it!) Great post!
ReplyDeleteNaw, you don't need new slipcovers. Oxy Clean your slipcovers in the washing machine on cold (sometime twice), and you are good to go again. I am a true believer as I have white slipcovers in a few places in my house... the resident children, hubby, black lab, and cat live quite comfortably without living in dead fear of me having a meltdown.
ReplyDeletemb from Dallas
so precious!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honesty! It's how we all live really - white or no white. I have brown leather sofas and four children and three cats therefore there are many, many scratches on them but I try to look at it as patina....
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Ned is looking fabulous as usual. He is so adorable, and so is your parents pup as well!!
ReplyDeleteThis post is so funny, I laughed. The dogs are real cuties.xo
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of Ned hiding behind the couch!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of making a white denim slip cover for an old 1960's love seat sleeper sofa. I can't justify the cost of upholstering a sleeper sofa (so much more expensive than a regular couch) but maybe I can put together a slip cover on my own??? Anyone know of a good tutorial? I'm a pretty solid seamstress :)
ReplyDeleteCute! Love it :)
ReplyDeleteI loved my golden retreiver to pieces, but she is not allowed on the sofa! It is brown chenille...can you imagine how awful it would look!?
ReplyDeletethank goodness!!! I feel so much better now :)
ReplyDeleteNed's expressions are priceless! He is on the ground all "Look at me ! I'm the good dog! I got off the couch!" and the one where he is peeking from behind the sofa is too cute. They are like people aren't they? The little one trying to do the right thing and the old one doesn't give a hoot!
ReplyDeletePS: I love your blog and dream of the day I can own my own home and enjoy decorating the way you do.
Ahh these are my favorite posts... I love to see everyon'es homes "lived in." The dogs are too cute.. Couldn't get mad at those faces :)
ReplyDeletexx trina
Ahh these are my favorite posts... I love to see everyon'es homes "lived in." The dogs are too cute.. Couldn't get mad at those faces :)
ReplyDeletexx trina
sorry to say but good to know you have smudges too! I love all these white interiors on various blogs and decor magazines but I have to idea how they can keep it so cool. I have 3 dogs (my kids) and I have hair, drool and smudges everywhere. It is hard to up. Anyway..love the blog and the doggies!
ReplyDeletethank you...you are a favorite of mine...and you might have just saved my sanity...
ReplyDeleteThat 4th photo down of Ned looking guilty is PRICELESS! Love your home and really love your blog.
ReplyDeleteIt would be impossible to rouse on them when they are just so cute.
ReplyDeleteDog hair and smudges are part of the house and I wouldn't have it any other way!!
Character marks! I love this series of pics, Anne ~ I think it's wonderful to see that your home is truly lived in.
ReplyDeleteThey are adorable and so is your blog. Best wishes...
ReplyDeleteThe dogs are adorable and your house looked amazing in the magazine!
ReplyDeleteAdorable dogs, your home is truly lived in with a bit of dust and dirt! I love your home.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Julie
The play by play pics are absolutely adorable! Ned is such a good boy! : ) I love the reality of these pictures. My chocolate lab is napping on our couch as I write this. : )
ReplyDeleteyes the reality is fabulous isnt it! beautiful, our yellow lab loves our white sofa and we have a black lab on her way to live with us, I'm sure she will love the sofa to! thankyou for your beautiful images, so inspirational, and love of life
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I've seen Ned pictures, glad he's back!
ReplyDeleteBut the question is- how did you get them out? Plain old bleach in the wash?
ReplyDeleteMy dog has his favorite spot on what used to be a light cream sofa. It's no longer light cream.
Hard to stay mad at those two! Nice to be in the same boat!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Thank you for your authenticity (and my husband thanks you more!). I think designer Ruthie Sommers echoed your thoughts, that reality is rarely ever picture- perfect.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to Canadian House & Home. I was thrilled, when I saw your editorial! I'm so glad CH&H are venturing out of Canada to bring outstanding design work to it's readers.
ReplyDelete