Beautifully Complicated, Again!

Yep, I am still smitten with the set design from the movie 'It's Complicated'. I have been looking through these stunning images and finding more to love with each view. The detail from the set design by Beth Rubino is perfect. In this shot of the potting shed, above I love that you can imagine someone here covered with dirt, planting little seedlings. It is tidy but not overly organised...I like that!
Now, hows this for an outdoor entertaining area?
Olive trees in weathered pots, lanterns, climbing roses and my favourite feature...those doors!
Imagine sitting here looking over at ...

this!!!

I vow to one day have a veggie patch that is beautiful as this! It may be when I am retired, but thats ok - I would still love one.
Does anyone have one this perfect, well maybe Paul Bangay!

oh, a larder! and a marble island, oh and French doors to the larder, oh and.....
a stunning hallway!

This 'home' is SO very welcoming I would be there all the time offering to buy it from the owner!!One thing I really do like about the most recent sets from Beth Rubino, 'Something's Gotta Give' and 'It's Complicated' is the wicker roman blinds paired with the linen drapes. To me this is so homely as many movies are adorned with bug, luxurious drapes that are either ugly or insanely expensive. This is something that is attainable to the rest of us. Even if you can't afford the linen, you could get away with a painters drop clothed, washed in fabric softener a few times and sewn to look the part.

And speaking of the blinds, these matchstick blinds work for me too.
The more I have been seeing shots with shelves either side of the window, the more I am loving them. Even though we ditched our own ones to open our kitchen, I am thinking in the next kitchen we have, maybe some will 'pop' up ;0) I don't think I could be dealing with all of the appliances on the counter though...I love clean benches!

Oh, and my dear Dad has finished our center island redo and all I have to do is paint, add the handles and make the linen curtain to go along the front then I can reveal. The one above reminded me.

Look what else I stumbled on...the living room from Nancy Meyer's other film and set sensation, "Father Of The Bride". I love this movie too.

These sofas are dreamy and i could imagine curling up on them.

I is pouring rain here and we are getting snow and there is a huge cold front about to hit. We are cozy by the fire though and I have a lot of inside jobs to do this weekend.

I hope you all have an amazing weekend.

Ness xx

Perfectly Complicated!

I know the set from any of Nancy Meyer's films have been blogged about many times over, but I am just smitten by the design of The Bakery, which is the store owned by Meryl Streep's character Jane.

I have drawn so many versions of my dream store from this set design which was created by Meyers, Production Designer Jon Hutman and of course the uber talented Set Designer, Beth Rubino who has worked on many of Meyers' masterpieces. Maybe this is why I fell in love with this set in an instant. Beth is amazing!
Could you just imagine your local greengrocer/bakery to be this chic and perfect?
Oh, I wish!
To see more amazing shots from this movie and many of the other gorgeous Nancy Meyers films just visit Cote De Texas. Joni has really gone into extraordinary detail with loads of info and mouth watering, overly inspiring images.
Ness xx

Giving You The Slip!

image unknown...sorry

The slipcover is an amazing thing when you have two little boys bouncing all over the place with muddy feet, grubby hands and always covered in grass or sand. It is slipcovers that have made family homes live able, attainable and designable. With a swathe of white denim, or better still white linen, a slipcover can be easily made.

Our own sofa is covered in a slipcover made by me and has been one of the best things the old sewing machine has ever run up, is always being washed and still looks great.

I have yet to cover the other sofa, just haven't had the time, but have put it in my diary to be done and finally I will have the slip covered sofas I have wanted since the boys were born.
The new Nancy Meyers film "It's Complicated", with its gorgeous set, courtesy of the amazing Beth Rubino, has a slip covered living room and I always feel that a family living space should be designed with comfort as well as beauty in mind. The slipcover is perfect for this. No need to cringe when you have a dinner party if your good friend has had a few to many wines and takes her banana pudding with butterscotch sauce over to the sofa to join the men on a debate about cars...just throw it in the soak bucket when they leave, wash and voila! new sofa again.


The famous set of Nancy Meyers "Something's Gotta Give", which was also designed by Beth Rubino, has set many a heart a flutter and a rush was made by those who could wield a sewing machine to cover their unloved sofas and breathe new life into them. I also love the fact that you can make seasonal covers for Winter, Summer and all in between for the small cost of some fabric.
Heiberg Cummings Design

Even the most hideous sofa can be turned into a thing of beauty, by removing big bulky back rests and creating a cosy haven with loads of down filled cushions to take their place. This one here reminds me of one I have seen made over, which had said bulky back cushions which were ripped off, and reused as smaller cushions and made an ugly couch somewhat of a statement piece.
Victoria Hagen
Anything can be covered with a slip and I have done many of my own pieces, like our wing back chair, Chaise, sofa.....
Anyway you look at it, the slipcover is here to stay!
Ness xx

A Little Bit Of Hampton's Love...

Architectural Digest
If I could have a home built to my specs with no money spared it would be a Hampton's Style home. Not necessarily in The Hampton's, just with all the gobsmackingly gorgeous style that the design divas that grace this area seem to have running through them.
The neutral pallet awash with white, natural fibres like linen, jute, wicker etc and LOADS of style.

via material girls
I found this shot of above of this wonderful dining room in The Hampton's with a gorgeous blue and white rug, which picks up the blue in the chairs and is reminiscent of that wonderful living room rug in Somethings Gotta Give...and you know I love that!
I think the chandelier, which is encrusted in shells is a wonderfully unexpected addition to the space...the space is so beautiful.

Victoria Hagen
This room just screams Hampton's beach side living!
Victoria Hagen is a master at this and she has nailed this look here. I would love a huge jute rug this size. Ours is good for our room and the function of that space, but I would love it to run to near the edges...next house!
Country Home

This store in The Hampton's is so pretty. Big, blousy vintage florals on the cushion/pillow covers with the stripes look great under that stunning mirror.

Curb Design Network
And how can you not love this!?

The shingles! the doors! The roof lines! Proportions! Pool!.........

You must get why I love this style.

Ness xx

Whiteport, New England Style

I have always loved New England style, and have a huge amount of images in my files of this decorating style, so I thought I would show you how they all tie in with the beautiful Australian store, Whiteport. I was recently contacted by the delightful Jennifer McCabe asking me to let you all know of the wonderful discount Whiteport is offering at the moment. If you go to the homepage and leave your email details to subscribe, you will receive 20% off your next purchase!!! Well you will see how this ties in to the New England style....

This little hint of a dining room screams 'casual chic', and New England. Pale floors, loads of white and natural wood and washable cotton everywhere. Don't you just want to move in? Me to!

This is the porch of Jennifer's home. Not only is she super stylish, she is a bargain hunter...like me. This setting she bought off Ebay for a small price, re covered in white and voila! Stylish outdoor setting.

Her bathroom is just gorgeous and has been in my head recently while I ponder our bathroom reno. White with black accents and white washed wood...how can you go wrong?

This cushion would look lovely on a plump white sofa over looking the ocean. It is available from Whiteport. I want some. My Sister will too!!

You know I want this all white ginger jar from Whiteport!

Imagine a group of these mixed in with blue and white ones...ahhh.

Not only is the store beautiful, Jennifer's blog is lovely too. She has a liking for a Designer I admire, Vincent Wolf.

Whiteport's range of lotions and potions look good enough to eat, especially sitting on these waffle towels....in white!

I can just imagine all of these in a New England style home, and with a fire place that is simply beautiful, you could stay all year round.

The only thing that is missing from the photo above is a vintage look wicker basket full of kindling, like these from Shabby Homestyles...

...and a bowl full of these gorgeous little white pebbles from Mondo Cherry. They remind me of the ones from Somethings Gotta Give...but cuter.

I don't think it would be a New England home without a flag and a lighthouse. I love the fact that the light house is white and not that over done red stripe kind.

..and would all these things make sense if there wasn't somewhere to kick off your sandy shoes and plonk down for an evening by candle light, the sound of waves and the ocean breeze sending you to sleep while someone else done the cooking...absolutely not!

For great ideas visit Jennifer and her team at Whiteport.
Ness xx
other photos via New England Lifestyle...ta!

Living Dreams

BH&G

Our side deck projects kicks off tomorrow and our new French doors are being made as we speak (yay!), so I will have to paint again when they are put in and have been thinking of how to finish off our living room. Here is what I would love to do.

Our walls will go back to a very light linen colour and I will keep our sisal mat. My Sister and I will be making slip covers for the lounge which can be machine washed. The photos that Vicki Archer so kindly emailed me, will be hung in black frames with big white mats, and I will absolutely be including Hydrangeas in there as above.

Marley& Lockyer

I will be making some of these and some of the linen button cushions for the lounge. You can buy these from my Etsy Shop.

Somethings Gotta Give Set
Ultimately I would love to have a reading space as beautiful as this, but as our living area isn't overly huge...I may take this idea of the wicker chairs to the deck (???)

Chameleon House

Something like this as a console would be divine...my eyes are peeled for one.

Somethings Gotta Give Set
....if it looks as beautifully comfortable as this I will be wrapped.
We have had our driveway done today...yay, no more dust getting trailed through the house!!
Have a great day,
Ness xx

For kitchen inspiration

While we have been renovating our home we have been thinking about what to do with our Kitchen to make it 'do', until we can totally re do it. We will paint the doors white and dress it up with some new hardware, but ultimately I am not sure what we will end up with...but I like these Kitchens.

image - Kitchen Bath Ideas
This one for the colour (obvious). I'm not usually a fan of over heads, but these ones look like a window and I would still be able to see my white iron stone. I have always wanted silver hardware and accessories too, and definitely a silver bridge tap set.

image - unknown
I adore beaded walls (tongue and groove in Aussie) and LOVE this kitchen!

Don't think I would change a thing.

image - Kitchen Bath Ideas
Old world bliss, and the colour of the cupboards is very welcoming and homely...all it needs is a big roaring fire in the corner somewhere. The glass feature under the range is lovely.

image - Kitchen Bath Ideas

This reminds me of my Auntie Eileen's home which I always have loved as a child and even now.

This island is way too long to fit our kitchen, but I adore the turned legs and bin pull handles. The colour of the wood goes so well with the ceiling beams don't you think?

I shudder to think of what we are in for when we do our kitchen, so I will be happy just painting it and pretty-ing it up for now!!!

Ness xx

Outdoor Fancy

image - Madison via Lily-G

image -Somethings Gotta Give
I SO need a holiday, or a little rest. This Courtyard would be perfect. All of the elements in this photo would lovely in my yard - an old iron clock, terracotta and standard tree (I would have an Olive), marble and iron table and the beautiful biscuit colour on the walls...Or, I could just lie around the pool here on the perfect Steamer Chair with drink in hand...Bliss!
PS- Thank you to all who either left a comment or sent me an email about my troubles yesterday. As yet, it is still an issue but I have looked at all the positives to keep my going. It is nice to know so many of you care about my little Shoppe...Ta!
Happy Wednesday, Ness xx

Somethings Gotta Give Designer & Artist

I have been doing some fishing on the Designer of the movie "Somethings Gotta Give", and found out that it is not Beth Rubino as I previously thought, more like James Radin. Beth is the set designer, James is the actual brains behind the set. He is also Nancy Meyers, Director of the movies, personal designer. Above is one of the Kitchens from his portfolio, which looks a hell of a lot like the set, without being an exact copy...I love it.

"A Late Homecoming"-R. Kenton Nelson

This art work is by R.Kenton Nelson, who painted very simple scenes of a simple time. His work is displayed right through the House. The only catch is that you can't buy prints etc as he does not sell for profit on a massive scale (unless it is for Charity). His work is so crisp, clean and beautiful.

Another of James' work, a kitchen from Maine. Soap stone counters as well. Gorgeous!
More work from James, a stunning dining room.
"Lunch"- R. Kenton Nelson

I love this painting, urban, classic and that feel from the 1920's. The colours are fabulous.

I hope you all had a great weekend. We went up to the snow for a day with the boys and done the markets as it was a beautiful day. Hope yours was a nice. Ness xx

images from - jamesradin.com and rkentonnelson.com