Thanks Brooke - my go to Designer xx

country living

A pale palette in a kitchen, well anywhere really, for me is a wonderful base to start adding texture and kitchenalia to give a sense of warmth and interest to the family hub. This kitchen above, is wonderful and something I could easily live with. Everything here adds interest, right from the beaded board on the range, subway tiles, moulded doors, basket drawers, old cutting board...and the all white appliances and crockery.

I have long loved bin pull handles on drawers and mortise knobs for cupboard doors - so....
...last week I ordered 11 of these and 6 bin pull handles to match in brushed nickle to adorn our kitchen, below.The doors are still waiting for the new knobs, which will arrive in about 10 days and I cant wait to get them on. i am, however becoming a dab hand at opening the tall pantry doors with my big toe...well I cant chip the new paint now!
I have been thinking of the kitchen at the top of the post and thinking how I can add more textural interest in our kitchen. I have a few pieces already, but it needs something else and I knew who I would ask....

Brooke Giannetti from Velvet & Linen.
We seem to have the same aesthetic and sense of style, so when I found her recent post in my email inbox I was SO happy. Brooke and I have spoken about how much our style is alike and I look around her 'new' kitchen, which was made over for a photo shoot and as an updated relation of her style, and think we really do have similar tastes - and that the thing I am missing is some potted greenery. Our kitchen needs some green!
I have 4 little European box topiaries out in the shed which have been waiting to be potted in little zinc buckets for some time now...must get on to that.
They will sit on our kitchen bench.

traditional home
...Like this one.

I think it will add that softness that our bench needs. Although I am a stickler for an uncluttered bench top, I do love it when we have fresh flowers and greenery on them, so a permanent patch of green will be perfect...and it will sit so nicely against the white.
I am just so happy to have someone like Brooke to bounce ideas off, knowing that we are on the same wave length.

So, this post is for you Brooke to say thank you for all of your encouraging support, friendship and for being a great mentor to me - you are the best!

Ness xx

Farmhouse Flair

This farmhouse I recently spied at Country Living is just wonderful. The living area is amazing and while I was uploading these images seen a lot of others in my file that I thought would be perfect partners for this home.

I could imagine this living area attached to this...gorgeous dining area I seen over at Velvet & Linen. It is amazing! and what farmhouse would be complete with some sort of exposed beams..somewhere?

I could also picture this scrubby wooden beauty along the wall near the table and kitchen to house all of the vintage linens and ironstone. It looks great dressed for the holidays.

What a collection!!

Perfect for a farmhouse. Old rug beaters up the stairs with a hooked stair runner...leading to...

This sweet bathroom.

I love the toile sink skirt, vanilla beaded boards and the white trim and of course the sink!

And I could imagine that it joins on to this very serene room filled with vintage simplicity. There is nothing better to me than slipping into soft white linens...ahhh!
Images 1, 3, 4, 5 Country Living - image 2 Velvet & Linen.
What a beautiful home. Imagine it dressed for the season?
Ness xx

Cupboard Dilemma!

Ever since we moved into our home over 6 years ago, I have been dying to paint our Kitchen cupboards all white. When we began to renovate our 133 year old home the kitchen started off with open shelves either side of our window...it didn't work with the space, made it heavy and they had to go. Now I see photos and think "I wouldn't mind having some place to display my collection of white ceramics and ironware", but I don't want open shelves. I have been thinking for a while now that when the cupboards get painted (sooner than later) I would like to change one of our double pantry cupboards into a wire fronted display piece and have the other one in chalkboard paint...but now I have added our little chalkboard on the side of the pantry, I think that an all blackboard pantry would be too dark....sigh!


So, now I have become obsessed with cupboards and how I can pretty our Kitchen doors up with out spending a bomb doing it...this I can do!

I have thought that maybe I could tear off 2 of the doors and have some shelves exposed and maybe a gorgeous skirt (like Brooke has done here in her Chanel Islands home)...but that would mean a major configuration of the other pantry which is attached and lots of $$$ - not going to work.

..maybe we should rip that side out and have a freestanding unit in its place - no, then it would mean re plastering the wall and we would still have to re configure the other pantry...argh!


...bite the bullet and take off all the doors and have some wonderful colour splashed onto the back of the cupboard to highlight my collection? What do I do with ugly tins of food?
I would just love to have a huge Armoire that I could fill with beauty, open when I felt like it, shut if it was a little messy and be done, but no...an old house is never going to play your way!

So, I am back to the idea of painting the cupboards all white, maybe cutting some panels out of two of the doors, filling with mesh (so you can see the collection) and keeping the other two doors intact to hide everyday food items and dressing the doors with some nickle bin pull handles on the drawers and nickle knobs on the doors.

How much can I pull this off for? I am going to do the math and try to shock you when it is done...do you think I can do it on a shoestring? Any tips??

Ness xx

image #1,3,4 Country Living, #2 Brooke Giannetti,

#5 via Modern Country

Brickmakers finalists - voting starts Monday!!

The gorgeous Brooke Giannetti is holding an amazing competition where readers recently sent in shots of a room, like the one above, that they thought needed the Brickmakers table...there is 3 of the tables to be given away! Brooke kindly asked me to be one of the judges and after quite a few hours of looking at the 170 entries...I had to choose 5!!

Now we need your help. Head over to Velvet & Linen tomorrow (Monday 23rd Nov) to vote for the finalists. There are some great rooms to choose from.

Thanks Brooke for including me.

Ness xx

A Lighting Snippet, Appology and a Mention!!

Image - Brooke Giannetti

Firstly I will start with the mention. The lovely Brooke from Velvet & Linen has recently done an interview over at Ivan Meade's Blog...and mentioned Marley & Lockyer as one of her inspirations along with blogs like Cote De Texas!!! I am so humbled that Brooke would place me up with the likes of Joni Webb!!
Lighting - Buyster Lighting
Next up...here is the lighting sample that the lovely Maree (who is really, really fast on getting back to you!) is sending me for review to put in our living room. You may remember that I have been after a light to put in that space for some time. My love of chandeliers had been a little worn because I have seen them everywhere...this one is a happy medium - drum shade and chandelier. Best of both worlds.
As soon as this lovely turns up I will show you it in situ...stay tuned.
image - via Mary Ruffle
And finally, an apology. I am sorry I didn't post yesterday but something was up with Blogger...for me anyway. Every Blogspot address I tried to view, it came up with some crazy number sequence. I am just happy to see my blog didn't get swallowed into cyber space!
So, have a wonderful weekend and thank you to Brooke for your kind mention and Ivan for recognising a brilliant talent in Brooke.
Check out the interview HERE.
Ness xx

Gorgeous Country Home

This stunning home belongs to Caroline Scheeler and was recently featured in Country Living. I have fallen in love with the dark colours against the crisp white and this kitchen is a beautiful example of how well dark walls and white accents work together. The colour of the walls is Ralph Lauren "Mercer" paint and the marble chosen because it will age.

What a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by! The coffee table can be bought here in Australia at Orson & Blake.

This has to be the idea of the week! These panels were rescued from an old Horse stable and pair up well with an antique French gilded mirror...and I love the reflection!!

As you can see Caroline is Equestrian mad. I love the fact that it is not little statues and kitsch horse things every where. She has worked out a wonderful balance of showing what she loves...with style!
Gorgeous!!!
The Belgian sofa is an antique. It has been matched up reclaimed and new reproduction pieces. They all look wonderful together.

I am not usually a fan of animal prints, but I can take it here. The Italian headboard reminds me of Brooke Giannetti's home.

Panelling in a bathroom always looks stylish, and I love it around this bath.
The fact that Caroline travels the world for her job is evident in all of the well chosen vignettes she has around her home. This one features a vintage Italian sunburst mirror, a foot of an old claw foot bath and suitcases she has picked up at a Belgian flea market.

I just love it!
Oh - the Church wasn't that bad =0). I give you a before and after when I have finished.

Ness xx

Bathroom Renovation Thoughts

From my Dream Home file - unknown

Don't get excited this is not it. If I could wave a wand it would!
Lyn Gardener
We haven't made any progress on our bathroom as yet. Still waiting on our window to arrive, and then we can get started making the bathroom smaller. It is a huge space and we will still have a big bathroom even with us stealing a little for a built-in Laundry and linen press.
With all the rain we have had, and then the sunshine today, I wanted to get out a crow bar or something and start ripping off the old ranch board we have lived with for over 6 years! At least I would feel like something is getting done.
Our bathroom space has a claw foot with shower over, sink, toilet, laundry and cupboard which houses our linen, 11 foot ceilings....and no style!
BH&G
I have been thinking on and off what we will do in there. Until we see what is lurking under the ranch board and the cement sheeting that covers the beautiful Tasmanian oak floorboards (which I hope are in good condition still) we have no idea really where to start. I would how ever like to find the old wall boards that we found in other parts of the house and paint them white, like Layla has done in her hallway. This would save LOADS of money and give the space some texture and a wonderful nod to the history of our old home, "Glenlee". Some beaded board sheets would also look great, like above...don't know yet.
Home Beautiful -I think
As for what we are going to do with the sink and vanity is still in the air. I would really like a double one, but something like an old dresser up cycled with a porcelain bowl on top and a bridge tap would be lovely. Of course there will be a big mirror above it.
I really like the little toile roman blind in this bathroom with the white.


Mabley & Handler

The small subway tile would look beautiful in there.
via The Lettered Cottage
Mic really wants a shower and I tend to agree. I would like to have the bath and shower separate as I am over the curtain sticking to our legs.
Trying to work out how and where we will put it is becoming a hassle. We don't want to move too much plumbing as the budget will blow out for sure.

Brooke Giannetti

This works for me. A clear glass shower screen with the shower heads pointing towards it and no door is something I have had in my head for quite a while now. Like wet room on a smaller scale. I also love how all the walls are plastered, with California One Kote I think, and just the shower is tiled.
via The Laurel Hedge
These twin showers look great...I could have each of our boys in at the same time!
The idea of tiling up to the glass like I mentioned above is another thought. Having the shower heads pointing to the opening wouldn't work in our house. The shower heads are magnificent. If anyone knows of where to get some like these would you please email me?

unknown - sorry

Another suggestion from Mic was to get rid of our old claw foot all together!!! NO! This was one of the selling features of the house. I have always wanted one, and now that we do he wants to get rid of it! It needs help, I understand, but it has history...it will be 100 years old on the 9/4/10...it has the date it was made welded on it!

I also feel that being a four bedroom house, that if we ever had to sell it (I will have to be old and dead!!) just a shower wouldn't do in a family sized home.

Brooke Giannetti
So, what do we do with the underneath part of the bath? We plan to paint the floors like we did in our bedroom, but we need tiles and waterproofing around it. This idea from Brooke was perfect. A 'bath mat' I have named it. Made of tiles, not cotton. So it would look like a rug and function as a splash proof saviour from our kids and their aqua aerobics!

I might even whip out the sketches and some before shots if I am game enough to show you.
That is my thoughts on that!
Ness xx

Here we go again...

source

My thoughts have really shifted into gear to do our bathroom which is screaming out for a makeover. So, I have been saving file after file of photos and suppliers and have realised that I actually do know what I would like in here (I thought it was going to be a hard task). This bathroom above would look perfect in our home and has all of the elements I am yearning for in this space. Bath under a window, loads of panelled storage, telephone style taps, venetian mirror, lots of fresh white...and wood floors!

source
Now, Brooke has given me the perfect idea to the wooden floor worries...a tile 'mat'!! I love this idea and think it would make a feature of our claw foot bath if it was under the window. I always thought I wanted a chandelier in here, but after seeing the glass bell jar light Brooke has used, I am loving it. The panelling is superb.
source
I really want to keep a sense of age and nostalgia in this space and would love to hunt down some beautiful taps like these. I have the Samuel Heath catalogue coming to me, which I am sure I will have oodles of wants from.

source
Beaded white walls is high on the list of wants for this rooms, actually must haves, and I love it with this double vanity and the shutters. Our bathroom has some serious privacy issues and I would love to have a clear glass window like in the first photo, so shutters would be great.

source

Our toilet is in the same room (it is a huge space) and for some privacy we have for a long time talked about a nib wall to hide it, but keep the space open. Like this photo, but it would stop where the beading stops and the top part of the wall would be open...does that make sense?
source
We have an old dresser like this which is still dark wood which I have been drawn to for a vanity. We certainly have the space to use it and I would like a white ironstone looking basin on top to keep the old feeling to the room. Crystal knobs will be the go.

source

I do, however like the idea of 2 vanities side by side, but the space is so large a substantial piece like the dresser would fit better in terms of scale.

source

We have tossed up the idea of separating the shower into a glass frame away from the bath. With the two boys, the idea of a shower space is a must. I love the storage pigeon holes in the reflection.

source

I want to have some vintage inspired pieces about like jug and bowls filled with flowers, loads of linen towels, candles and clear glass pieces. I really want our home to help dictate what goes into the room to help it feel like part of our home, not just a new addition.

Now the fun begins...budgets! Ness xx

Blame The Convicts!

Atlanta Bartlett

So, I thought today I would be able to show you our new French Doors, and Kitchen window...but NO! as usual the wonderful technical (sarcasm here) building prowess of the early convicts who built our home have failed...again! Our poor Builder was all geared up to put some doors in this morning...and hit a bump! Back in the 1800's when they used their thumbs held up in front of their eyes to see if something was straight, just doesn't work! S0 Chris (Builder) had to make up these little glass boxes to fix on the top of the doors as there was all sorts of dramas. This took up the whole day, so now he won't be back until Sunday. I thought, as I promised to show you some doors, I would show you these...


Velvet & Linen

They are Brooke Giannetti's door's and they are divine. Ours will look similar to these, so we can all imagine together. At least I get to paint them while I wait for Sunday...oh Joy!

We did get the Kitchen window fitted...there's something.

Ness xx

Gorgeous Claws...

Martyn Thompson

I can't think of a more beautiful bathroom feature than a clawfoot. I know this image doesn't have feet..but I still class it as a clawfoot. This bathroom is breathtaking with all of the roughness in wood, brick antlers and old signs...then this stunning white piece to really make a statement.

Brooke Giannetti

Another 'no foot clawfoot', courtesy of Brooke Giannetti. The tile platform we are thinking of stealing for our own bathroom makeover as we don't want to loose our wide wooden floors...love it!


Mari Eriksson Photography

Ahh! A clawfoot. You can't go wrong with a Chandelier, jug and bowl, lots of white and a beautiful bath.

Via - Velvet & Linen

See! It is a successful formula...Clawfoot + jug and bowl + Chandelier (can't see it but I bet its there)= Magnificently beautiful bathroom.
What a great way to use an awkward spot under the eaves.


Via - Daisy Pink Cupcake

This is Heaven.

I would need to have some texture to make it work for me. Stone, wicker and some worn wood.

We haven't even attempted our bathroom yet as it is HUGE! Like, the same size as our kitchen/dining area (have a look here to see the size), so in the meantime I will just have to squint at our clawfoot and pretend the surroundings are as beautiful as these.

Ness xx

PS- it is raining here and 16C...lovely!