You've probably all heard of the DELUXE fashion online shopping site that is NET-A-PORTER (click link), if you haven't, you must have a look, you won't be able to help yourself from drawling over these stunning collections of clothes!!!

If you're fortunate enough to have gone through with a purchase and wondered where your parcel came from, well, here it is!!!!!! The head office in London. It was recently designed by STUDIOFIBRE (click link to view office and watch a video of an interview with the founder of Net-a-porter Natalie Massenet). For me it's all about the ceiling, it is gorgeous!! And, the arrangement of "top hat" lights took me a double take to realise they where hats! I can't help thinking it resembles heaven (that is fashion heaven!!!), I'm just wondering where they keep all those beautiful clothes!!!! X X X

While I'm on the topic of glass (a la "my last post") thought I'd tell you about Bribe Glassware (click link), they are the designers of this lamp, pretty COOL HEY!!!! I'm loving the red cord. OHHHH, this would be gorgeous as a pendant light! WELL, no worries there, because they have a BRIDE BESPOKE section of their company!!!? They're happy to custom design mouth blown glass into table lamps, wall sconces, pendant lights and standard lamps. HELPING YOU CREATE A ONE OF A KIND!!!! Because if you're anything like me, I'm always looking for things a little off beat, reflecting my own creativity. Mmmmmmmmmm, I might give them a call???? X X X

There's just 'SOMETHING' about clear glass that is beautiful! It reflects its' surroundings and I think it can feel almost ghostly as its' transparency lets you see what's going on behind it??? Glass is subtle, "WOW" factor without being too loud!! I think these glass pendant lights are a good example of this, these stunners are from Gordon Ramsay's MAZE GRILL in Melbourne (click link), the restaurant's interiors are soooooooo slick, I LIKE!!!!!! They were designed and custom made by Bates Smart Architects (click link), I love the way a row of them isn't too much, where as a row of pendant lights made of an opaque material may seem too IN YOUR FACE!!! (literally) These lights have an industrial warehouse look to them, but are gentle and romantic at the same time, OHHH imagine if they were dimmed, they'd certainly create a breathtaking ambience for dining! X X

Ok, this post is for those of you who don't have foxtel!!! My husband nagged me for years to get it, and I'm telling you after watching the premiere of GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA last night I'm sooooooooooooooo glad we've got it. WOW, BRILLIANT, FREAKN LOVED IT!!!!! And well done Peter Maddison who is the host and also happens to be an award winning architect! He was fantastic!!!! Totally the opposite to the UK's Kevin McCloud, Peter was most importantly himself, obviously very passionate about design.

I'm not going to say much, the photos above speak for themselves, the story of this house (named Callignee) was amazing and the owner so driven with emotion!! So, if you don't have foxtel click on these two links, watch and ENJOY!!!!!! X X X
LINK 1
LINK 2

I've been on the hunt for a while for some outdoor furniture to put next to our pool, I'm so indecisive, it frustrates my husband, he doesn't care he just wants something to sit on. We had our pool put in two years ago and after one summer of sitting around it in an old camping arm chair, I feel I better hurry and make a decision before he rushes out and buys something hideous!!!!!

I've looked and looked, but keep coming back to my original idea of something similar to the Yuzuru Yamakawa range of wicker arm chairs, I know it's very 50's/60's and I'm sure our grandparents' owned some of this furniture, but I LOVE IT! I just feel the urge to have some wicker!!! ( hoping my kids don't get into the habit of picking at it, like I remember doing as a kid)

This particular chair was designed by Yuzuru Yamakawa (Japanese) and his design team. Yamakawa Rattan was established in 1950, Mr Yamakawa has spent his entire life producing and designing rattan/wicker furniture. He knows the material inside & out and uses his knowledge to create a unique style that has become his own. His design philosophy is “Contemporary yet Natural” and based on three pillars; function-ability, produce-ability, and comfort-ability.

As with Mr Thonet's 'Bentwood' chair, Mr Yamakawa heats the rattan with steam, the poles become soft and can be easily bent into a variety of shapes and forms without cracking. Finished rattan is very hard and almost indestructible.

HOWEVER!!! No matter how much LOVING I have for this chair, I just have this feeling my kids will carry on the tradition of "WICKER PICKING"!!!!!! I honestly remember doing it as a child, sometimes not even aware, my wicker picking just became an addiction! So I've found a solution, it's more modern, made of hand woven synthetic wicker and is UV protected (perfect for our ridiculous hot summers). I know it looks quite different from the original, but I kinda like it!!! X X

HERE IT IS!!!!



IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT MORE WICKER PLEASE CLICK THESE SITE LINKS
MARK TUCKEY Mr Tuckey sells the original Yuzuru Yamakawa chair
FEEL GOOD DESIGNS love the furniture on this site
SIKA

'Be Happy' by Patrick Lindsay

For any of you that live in Sydney, thought I'd let you know about the "Celebrating Motherhood" exhibition organised by Amelia McFarlane (friend of my sister). It's a collaboration of creative works by 22 artists to help raise money for Breast Cancer Research and Amelia's mother, Judi McFarlane's treatment.

CELEBRATING MOTHERHOOD EXHIBITION

FROM OCTOBER 19TH 2010

102 Burton St, Darlinghurst Sydney

Artists include: Marnie Wark, Amy Prior, Kirsty Shadiac, Megan Morton, Rebecca Cool (event photo), James Gordon, Lisa Cooper, Tory Bauer, Minnie Taylor, Sam Barrett, Jodie Fried, Greig Fraser, Imogen Wiseman, Amikka May, Kara Loan, Sophie DuBois, Lauren Horton, Amanda McLaughlin, Janet McLearie, Krew Boylan, Carly Schwerdt, Rebecca Trevitt, & Amelia McFarlane.

Among this list of artists is my sister and ME!!!! This is the first time I've been asked to exhibit, so a little nervous, but it's for such a good cause, it was very easy to say 'yes', but secretly thinking 'SHIT SHIT, OMG, people will actually be looking at my painting!!!!! I hope they like it!!! Well, here it is, I've named her 'NATIVE MOTHER', charcoal and oils on a linen fabric canvas. (click on image to see larger) My sister's beautiful piece is a tapestry of our mother's face, I don't have a photo, but I can tell you my sister is a wiz with her hands, always making, beading, painting or finding things on the side of the road and turning them into master pieces!!!!!



So, if you are looking for something to do, go have a look at these pieces of art inspired by motherhood, then when you get home go ring your MUM and have a chat!!!!!! Because, 'We' mums are very precious!!!!! X X

This is a great example why WHITE works!!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!! click HERE to see all photos!!

This home was shot by Todd Selby. If you haven't checked out The Selby (click on link) you must, this is a great site. Todd set this site up in 2008 originally just of his friends' homes, within months he received up to 35,000 visitors a day. His site became so popular, people started contacting him, wanting their homes to be featured on the site (celebs, artists, interior designers, fashion designers, writers, people's homes that are over flowing with culture and art!). But, what I enjoy the most is reading his quirky hand written interview at the end of each spread of photos! He has also released a book called The Selby in Your Place, available atAmazon (click link)

Viewing these homes certainly makes you realise it's all the odds and ends, people collect over time that gives a place something special, hardly any of these places are unique buildings or newly renovated. Anyway, just an interesting thought! X

I thought I'd do a quick post on another boutique hotel in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, called the EMPORIUM, (click link) this hotel made my jaw drop when we entered the foyer!!!!

A collection of filigree screens and mirrors line the walls of the lobby, inspired by the canopy of frangipani trees, that are abundant in this area. Then you approach what looks like a boat made of brass, when in fact it's actually the reception desk. The colour RED dominates the feel of the room! I have to say red certainly isn't my first choice as a feature colour, it's a strong colour, but with so many mirrors, chandeliers, zebra prints, contrasting fabrics and textures, it all just seems to work, giving you that WOW factor!!!!

The Cocktail bar is definitely worth wondering down to for a G&T! A conference/dining table surrounded by a glass wall show casing wine, greets you when you walk in. Then behind the bar is the most magnificent 19th Century Chandelier, she's the big MUM MA of the bar, no matter where you are sitting she's in view!!!! STUNNING!!!

The rooms are quite the opposite to all the colour down stairs. They're dark and cosy (our room a touch small), but the bathroom makes up for the lack of light/white in the bedroom, it's totally tiled in carrara marble, AHHHHHHH..... I love a marble bathroom!!!

This is an amazing hotel, right at the heart of some great shopping, it's literally out the front. From memory they had very expensive toiletries (shampoo, soap,etc) which of course ended up in our bags!!!! I would definitely recommend staying here, if not, just sneaking in to check out the lobby and cocktail bar is worth it!! X