...love...

content agency

...dreamy pressed tin panel ceiling above a Victorian style bath with white subway tile...
home beautiful
...squishy white, feather filled cushioned window seat...

decor8

...white storage with worn wood pieces...

lexington
...window filled living space, surrounded by bead board walls, white slipcovers, navy blue and a hint of red...
this is what I love right now
Ness xx

Coastal Beauty...

Digging through the inspiration photos is always something I enjoy doing. Deleting things as I go that don't apply at the moment is like having a huge Spring clean out.

While I was looking I found these stunners. This one above was from Steve Giannetti, this man can design!! (thanks A-M for the fix up). I am loving the loving the light fittings and the silver accents in this room. Of course the Hydrangeas fit right in!
I always enjoy visiting Karnas Hus. This blog is full of coastal chic and this room is beautiful.
I especially love the curtain fabric and the cushions on the white sofa. The addition of white Geraniums is perfect for this room. It reminds me of a wonderful Summer beach holiday.

The always beautiful Whiteport, which is full of lovely things has given me loads of inspiration today though. I am loving the stripe cushions and I have recently purchased some gorgeous French General stripe in a similar colourway which I am hoping to turn into covers very soon. Over the last few weeks I have been thinking of using our big wicker trunk as a coffee table for a change (and to stop the boys dive bombing the sofa from the coffee table!) and this image has made my mind up that I am going to give it a try.

I had hoped to show you the finished kitchen island today, but instead we spent the weekend digging up the back yard with a burst water main and chasing up plumbers...joy! It is coming, I promise =0)
Ness xx

Miners Cottage Makeover...mission impossible??

You are about to see images of the Miners Cottage I am about to start work on. Before we get there though, I thought I would show you some images that have inspired me for this makeover.

This one above is just lovely and I am planning on using a lot of whites and navy blue anchored with some natural tones as well. The client is ex-navy and loves ships, boats and related paraphernalia, and the fact the cottage is not far from the beach, it seemed fitting to begin the inspiration here.
The whole India Hicks/Ralph Lauren colour palette is something that keeps popping to mind and the stripes too...there will be stripes!
Now...here are some shots I took of the cottage on Sunday...

The cottage is teeny and hasn't had anyone living in it for over 7 years...LOTS of cobwebs and spiders about and that "I haven't been used for a long time" smell to it. This shot is the master bedroom. There are two bedrooms and this is the brightest of them. That bush out the window will be going which will let in LOADS more light.

This shot is the hallway, looking out of the living room to the front door, which is a French door.
That dark lump up the floor is a dead bird which I had to scoop up...I know!
Nothing in this house is straight, as you can see from the angle the door is on. Those heavy shelves have to say, as do a lot of things as the client is the caretaker of the cottage, not the owner. Otherwise the place would be getting re plastered, re carpeted etc. So I have my work cut out for me! Love the stripe carpet!



Here is the dining room. The doors there were French doors that were broken...I think I am going to look for them in the old barn out the back. The light this room is missing out on because of these heavy doors is a shame.
The kitchen. It has new blackwood cabinets which is a plus, and bead board, so there is some hope. The ceiling height is just above my head...and I am only small.
The other side of the kitchen with its old wood burning stove.

I quite like this. Now the job begins. The client moves in sometime in July, so that is my deadline. I have a small budget to do loads of work with, so I will be visiting all of my favourite haunts to find loads of thrifty bargains...and have loads of fun doing it.

Mission Impossible...I don't think so. Well I hope not.
I will keep you updated as it goes on.
Wish me luck =0)
Ness xx

Wrap Up Of The Beach House

house beautiful

Today is the wrap up of my dream beach house and the rest of it isn't too hard to explain. They are restful areas and the decor is according.

This bedroom above is just perfect. Huge bench at the foot of the bed, French Doors, loads of feather filled linens and carrying on from the rest of the house is the beaded white walls, sisal matting and slipcovers.

"Evening Plunge" - Maggie Taylor

I would however want to put this gorgeous art work of a very tranquil lake across from the bed so we could see it when we woke.
Ness Lockyer
The next photos are from a display home and I would love this seating arrangement to go under the art work across from our bed.
Ness Lockyer
The trunk would go great in the boys dorm-style room for their beach gear.
Ness Lockyer
And last, but not least, a simple bathroom (as I wouldn't want to spend all my holiday time scrubbing!!). This one from the display home would be great. A walk in wet room shower, double basins for us all to clamber about and a concealed toilet (you can just see Declan's arm at the end of the basins) along with a set of French doors so you could access the shower with your sandy feet right from the deck would just finish it off nicely.

unknown...sorry
And of course some sun lounges on a huge deck right of the sand, outdoor shower head and quintessential palm tree for that total beach holiday feel. I hope you all enjoyed the tour of the beach home I will never have...unless I win big. Then I will have a party!!

Ness xx

Beach House Kitchen/Dining

The Dream House (from my files)

Regular readers will know this is my dream kitchen...I am not going to say that I will use all elements from this kitchen as it would be in my normal house -but I will take the banks of doors, painted beams and expanse of white thanks! of course the walls will be beaded.
Eric Roth Photography
Beaded walls like this, but all the way up. I am liking the check roman shades for the beach house too....and a Mora clock would just be heaven!

Coastal living
Easy going dining chairs that could be pulled up outside as well as used inside would be a great option....ah and there are the doors and drapes and limed floors.

Christopher Peacock Kitchens
Limed ceilings would be perfect - as would this kitchen! Baskets, stainless, scrubby wood and white. If I could take the main elements from the first kitchen and put them in here I would be done. Really I am not being too fussy here am I?

I will wrap up my dream beach house tomorrow with the rest of the tour...you might be getting bored!

Ness xx

Part 2 of My Beach House- Living Areas

from my files
Welcome to my 'Beach House'. Yesterday I took you through what would make up the entry hall, today I am showing you through the living areas. This image above is from the file marked "My Dream Home"...I don't see why it can't be my dream Beach House either.
Banks of doors (Ala Somethings Gotta Give), loads of squishy white slip covered sofas, iron stone on display, white Hydrangeas in huge glazed pots and loads of wicker and worn wood...ah!
House Beautiful
The walls would be beaded, and white to show of the vintage botanical prints which would hang in a group of 6 above the fireplace. There would have to be a silver industrial lamp somewhere too and definitely a sisal rug on limed floors.
Marley & Lockyer
Of course there would be some of my own grain sack pillows mixed with blue and white fabrics on the other ones to sink into while on the sofa.
Country Home
The ticking on these chairs here would be a perfect little accent on box cushions on the floor in a huge informal pile so the children could lay all over while they make beach collages! Wicker blinds are a must...and I am in love with the pitch forks!!
NZ House & Garden
...you know there would be LOADS of blue and white pieces about filled with fresh flowers too.
Skona Hem

As much as I love a traditional fire...I am keen on something unusual like this...in a huge convict sandstone mantel.

Coastal Living
A few oars on the wall, although probably done to death, I think would go great in our beach house. Not the new reproduction kind, but some old, worn scrubby looking ones with old flaky red paint peeking through...and an old racing number!

from Brooke Giannetti
This would be the perfect drapery for our living areas - long, full and light.

Restoration Hardware
On shelves would be linen covered books alongside others, removed from there colourful sleeves to show the subdued colours of their binding...all held up with some sort of tremendous corbel or Architectural piece as a bookend.
Victoria Hagen

A telescope to watch the yachts out on the sea and a big, beautiful Wing back chair to curl up in beside the fire on a chilly night would cap it all off.

Ness xx

Tomorrow I hope you will join me for a tour of the Kitchen =0)

Welcome to my beach house...sort of!

Country Living
Welcome to my beach house...if I had one!
The home we are in at the moment would have to be my dream home, I love it...but if I were going to have a beach house - this is what it would look like. Over the next few days I am going to show you what would make my 'Dream Beach House'. I hope you will join me.
First up is the entry....

Sarah Richardson
As you can see in the first image..it is a double story home to take in maximum views of the beach. So, a lovely white railing with dark wood floors would welcome our guests and some sort of slip covered seating. I would change this particular wall lining to beaded board...in white!

Victoria Hagen

I have always wanted to have an entry with enough space to accommodate a round table to hold a huge urn/vase of flowers...what a gorgeous way to be welcomed!

Elle Decor
The wicker market baskets are a nice touch in an entry to grab as you head on down to the seaside farmers markets for more fresh flowers and produce for dinner....
Kari Herer
...blooms like this are always in abundance to fill your vintage vase etc.

Lexington
A huge mirror, or like here - two, would be a beautiful way to bounce light into the entry from the oceans sparkle.

"Dawn Break" - Dawn Reader
I have read that images of calm water are best for a home as they don't create problems...so, this beautiful calm beach scene on canvas would be a perfect image in my entry.

via Simply Natural Decor

Now, failing a entry big enough to accommodate my round table....a wonderful long console that could hold said vase of fresh market blooms...and plenty of baskets and drawers for keys, flip flops, sarongs and sunglasses - all ready to go!

Tomorrow I will show you my beach house living areas....hope you'll come too!

Ness xx

Inspiration....

My day was hectic to say the least. Workout in the morning, back home for a Upholstery quote, then a meeting with the Bride to finalise details for the Spring Wedding I am styling, making new living room curtains...and covering my sofa!!!

I am using this home as inspiration for the feel I want our own home to take on - light , bright and airy with loads of texture. We have recently added wicker roman blinds and will soon paint the kitchen white when the rain stops. I love the hint of raspberry in the cushions and the wooden pieces to ground all of the white.
I am still working out details for our bathroom renovation, but the new wall and window has been ordered so I can finally see some light! I would love shutters on the windows like this.
OK, some of you probably think I am mad for covering our sofa by myself, but we just don't have it in the budget with all of the other major things that is going on here. I am making a fitted slip cover very similar to this one, and it is turning out really well. I will post pics once I am done.
The new curtains I have made are in a white twill for over the French doors in the living room and the sunlight through them just lights up the room. I have some chair prints on order in a more contemporary style than this one.

The colour of these curtains is what I replaced them for.
This photo is just lovely. Everything here is right up my alley....I have just realised that this post seems like I am trying to mimic this home. I promise I am not, but looking through some old images of saved homes the other day, I realised just how much this home is what I am after.
I would love to hear what you think of the new scheme I am planning...and have a wonderful weekend.
Ness xx
all images - country living

White and Wonderful

coastal living

This room is just wonderful...light, bright, little bit seaside, little bit shabby and a little bit French, grain sacks, beaded board walls and shades of white. Love it!

Ness xx

Loving...

living etc
...this gorgeously stunning bench. Why? Stuffed feather pad covered in a faded ticking, hint of French style and loads of white...that's why!robin stubbert
...and this beautiful blue and white linen and the cute little bowls. They all fit perfectly into this 'clean, fresh and unfussy' thing I have going on, and it also has a little Parisian chic there too. Love it all.
Ness xx