French Air..

Skona Hem

Another glorious Spring day here and with this delightful weather comes Spring cleaning and airing out the house after the cooped up season that is Winter.

Now, I have already done the cleaning, so my attention has turned to French doors.

I love them and find that the cross breeze that can be gained from these beauties is unlike anything offered by a window.

It's like opening your houses eyes after a long hibernation.

Our own French doors were the best thing we have done to the house. Not only do they look great, but the capture the ocean and river breezes which fill our living areas and bedroom's with crisp, flower scented air.

This photo I took last Summer and you will notice that the rugs is up. This is the next thing on my list of Spring to-do's. The evenings are still a little too crisp to pull it up right now, but over the next few weeks it will happen and then I will feel like Spring is really here.
Ness xx

Nearly there...

Thank you to everyone for the wonderful comments about my slipcovers. It was very encouraging. I thought I would take some new photos now I have added the new cushions i made today and to show you the room nearly finished with the new curtains...and in better light. Yesterdays photos were terrible and I am sorry.

***Please be aware that this canvas is temporary and is hanging from a hook that was already there so it is too high. It will save time patching when the new work goes up***
These are the new ones I made from the material I bought in Sydney at Ikea. I am still after a lovely RL inspired blue and white floral to have on the sofas, but this navy one will do in the meantime.

So here is the living room as it looks today, the 1st day of Spring! I am not settled on the canvas above the sofa and I have my eye out for the perfect (is there such a thing?) statement piece to go here, but I am happy for now. You can see the new white curtains I made for the French doors. I love these. The light coming through them just illuminates the room. If you are wondering what the little black thing is above the doors, it is a bird silhouette.
I hope you like...I am sure it will change!!
Ness xx

Have a wonderful weekend

Robin Stubbert
It is sooooo cold here right now that I will be hibernating indoors this weekend, trying to get some of my long awaited projects done...and sorting out the details for the fabulous giveaway starting Monday!!!
Have a great one, Ness xx

Savour The Sun...

After a week of horrible, wet and cold weather, today we had a sunny day. I have thrown open the French doors and windows to give our home a good airing which has been lovely. These photos are to keep some sun and colour in my day. Source

This one above is beautiful. I adore those cushions on the couch and the hint of green in the cupboard. It all looks so fresh with the white and those pink Peonies.
Source
This space is begging for some of those pillows in the top photo, a sisal rug and some muted Hydrangeas on the little table.


Source

Vincent Wolf always puts together wonderful spaces like this living room. I love the used of old wicker baskets and plates along with chippy painted pieces to give texture to a room. It looks so inviting.

Source (I Think)
Another pretty room to brighten up your day. The view outside is so lovely and the drama of beams and beaded walls brings warmth to this space.

Source

Ah, and where would a sunny day be without a vase of fresh flowers picked from the garden? The idea of cherry blossoms in the bell jar is perfect. Lets hope the sun continues for a few more days.

Ness xx

French Vanilla

You would expect this house to be in France...but no, it is in Tooting in the UK. The house is 'Elmbourne' and I am smitten with it. I thought I would take you for a look.

All through the house are these glorious French doors, which tease you into the next room. Like this view of the living room with its marble and cast iron fireplace. The parquet floors are beautiful and they are shown so well by the white interior.
I love the palette here of white, creams, bisque, grey and hints of green. The mouldings, cornices and architraves are just lovely. My Mum has one of those coffee tables...except Mum's was $10!!

Oh, bliss! Every detail of this place is divine. Every outlook from each room is just as beautiful as the last. I could just wander aimlessly around here for days and not get fed up. The Armoire is a nice touch to this library.

The dining would be a stunning lit by candlelight. I would have to add a huge clear glass chandelier though and some wall sconces...maybe a Aubusson rug under the table...and some fresh greenery in a big vase.

Another view of the dining room. I love the thought of the French doors everywhere. In a country like the UK, every ounce of light would matter and having no heavy doors to shut of natural light is a great way to keep the house looking open and airy...even in the depths of Winter.
The master bedroom is so peaceful, and pretty. I love the white floors, what a great idea...hehe! I must admit, putting the white painted floors in our own bedroom was the best weekend I have spent painting...ever!
Don't faint on me but...this is the dressing room just off the master!!! I know, you should see the shoe storage! Couldn't you imagine throwing open those beautiful doors open and seeing everything at a glance? This reminds me a little of Carrie from SITC's walk in that Mr Big made for her.

Another room...just as pretty with a little reading nook nestled under the eaves.

There are obviously lots of Women who live here. this is what I would imagine a little girls room to look like...all white and cream with hits of pink scattered here and there.

Last, but not least, the bathroom. I just think this is perfect. It is about the size of our bathroom and I have earmarked this for our file. I love the suspended sink under that superb mirror, the little make up area and of course the tub...just heaven.

I hope you enjoyed the little tour and your Easter. Ness xx

Apologie in white...

I would like to apologise for my absence from everyones comment pages of late. It is not me to visit and not leave a comment, but as I have to finish off painting our doors and make up curtains etc I have been a little time poor...so I am making up to you all with these white lovelies.

Please be warned that the following pictures may make you want to head to your nearest paint shop for the biggest tin of white paint you can find for a full white out!

Just letting you know before we start looking at these wonderful, beautiful interiors I have dug out. I think you will find there is something for everyone.

Pic - BH&G

Mmmmm! Bliss! Fave chair, Armoire, creamy white walls and loads of style. This room is by the talented Vincent Wolf.

Pic - Skona Hem
Modern with a hint of vintage glamour. I like it.

Pic - Skona Hem
What a lovely kids room. I always dreamed of a built in bed like this as a child. My own little space to escape to and a cocoon like feeling to keep me safe from the boogie man.
Pic - Atlanta Homes
A very sophisticated space with a very restrained palette, which is what you want to unwind in...clear your mind after a rough week.

Pic -Atlant Bartlett
Gorgeous personified! The amazing Atlanta is a modern master when it comes to whipping a white interior into life.

Pic - Baileys

and who could forget the washroom. I know it is just for Laundry to be done in, but I think it should have a sense of you and your palette and a hint of luxury, like this Belfast sink. Let's face it, if you are anything like me, you spend ALOT of time in this space...and ours needs re doing.
Something else to add on to 'The List'!

I posted about this beautiful little seaside shack when I first started to blog. It is just lovely, all white, French inspired and uber luxe...for a shack!

I would love to take this little white palace and plonk it into our back yard, where I would while away my time (!) and create and just be with all this lovely-ness.

maybe this can be the blueprint for the office/studio space that I have always yearned for in our little nook out the back we call the 'Woodshed'. It's not any more, now it is our outdoor dining space. I sit in there and wonder 'how hard would it be to line this to turn into my sewing space and get our spare room back as the guest room'? Not hard I would think....add it to 'The List'!

I hope you enjoyed these beautiful white spaces, and hope you all can forgive my absence.

Ness xx

French Door before & afters...

Let me take you on a little journey of where we started on the French door journey...
BEFORE
in all of its pinky glory, pre paint, our house really needed something on this side of the house, and as our windows were rotting with age we thought 'wouldn't French doors be great'. This photo was during the painting stage.

DURING
Here we are when the wonderful 'Chris the Builder' (or as the kids called him Bob The Builder!). He laid our new veranda base, which I thought was wonderful as I pondered on what was coming...

TODAY
Here we are!!! New French doors. Still not finished painting yet, but I couldn't wait to do a TA DA! Our veranda still has to be erected (coming soon) and gardens etc done to finish, but what a difference. We love it. Chris worked some magic, let me tell you! There were lots of snags along the way, which he dealt with beautifully and we are so pleased with the result.

DURING - inside.

This is while they were going in the living room. Plaster dust everywhere and nearly done.TODAY
I had them open today while I was cleaning and dressing the room again. It was bliss! We, well I have waited SO long to get French doors along this side of the house...well worth it.
We did have a moment where we thought about painting them the charcoal colour, but it didn't look right, so back to white.

This is the door in Declan's room. Chris had to make up little glass boxes for the top of the doors (one of the snags) and the little pieces for the corners of the architrave (another snag). they look so good though. These doors will be getting stained like the rest of the woodwork in here.

Now all I have to do is make up curtains for them all. Any suggestions. I was thinking a putty colour for the living room, natural for Mics slot car room (I didn't show you those, they look the same as Declan's room) and maybe a denim for Declan's door. decisions!!

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

I'm Drawn....

image via Dreamhouse

...to everything in this image...
This would be my perfect interior. It has all that I love like the black, not too fussy
Chandelier. The centre island with wicker drawers and white serving ware displayed underneath and the pot rack above it. The awesome range above a chef envy stove. I can't fully make out the flower on the island, but I think it is white Hydrangea's.
The fantastic dining table with Spanish style scrolled legs and a marble top (no gouges from textas here) and paired with beautiful French style chairs that have beautiful white frocks on with just a hint of frou frou in the ruffled bottoms.
I love threes, so am diggin' the Lavenders on the table in terracotta and the clear glass canisters in 3's on the back counter. Let's not forget the lovely soft Linen colour on the walls and the stunning ceiling beams, French doors to wash the space in a warming glow, a beautiful outlook to the lush green garden, stone floors and perfectly laid out...now how do I get this home??
Ness xx

Working on...working drawings!

As you may know we are in the thick of renovating our home. We have planned to put in French doors where all of these windows are and a veranda along this side of the house since we moved in nearly 6 years ago. The last window will be a double door. I have been planning this for some time and finally settled on the working drawing to show to Builders etc, I thought you might like to see....


I had to take this with our camera as it wouldn't scan!
As you might be able to make out, we planned for two French doors to replace the double windows, singles French doors replacing the other two windows, all with over lights above.
I had drawn a cross rail for the veranda, but since we have completed the front veranda (photos of this soon), we have changed our mind and gone with no rails.
That is the beauty of a working drawing, it is not a plan, and you will change it as things don't fit in, new products are found etc.
You might be able to see how it all ties in with what is already existing..or not!

This is what I had planned for inside where the double French doors will be, the living room our the back of the house. It has changed slightly since this was sketched (furniture arrangement I mean), but you can see what we wanted to do with dressing the doors.
Lucky they are working drawings I say!!


This is a job I am working on at the moment which is by the Ocean.

Loads of potential, gorgeous views, but it just needs brought out of the 70's.

The plan here is to bag the outside in a light Latte colour with Charcoal accents (not black). Get rid of Mt Everest stairs and make a main entrance on the first level with beautiful double doors. The top floor will become a balcony to enjoy the sea views. Eventually new windows will be put in and the Garage doors replaced and a beach/ coastal inspired garden will be added.

It is great to have a conceptual sketch to show a client or Builder so they can really get into your head and see exactly what you mean...then you can bombard them with colour chips, swatches etc!! Brooke this post was for you.
Sketches by me!

Sanders Wood

What a place to unwind....and it belongs to Bruce and Vannese Siney, the parents of our own Chyka Keebaugh.
Vannese is a devoted Francophile, and their stunning home resembles a French country house. These doors were once part of French Chateau, picked up on one of their many trips to France. They used to go four times a year!! Vannese loves richly layered interiors and is solely ruled by her heart, not any rules when it comes to putting her style together.

This beautiful piece is covered in a rough brown velvet and picks up all of the ornate mirrors (one which belonged to Italy's last King) and frames that the couple have picked up on their travels. Vannese has finished a lot of the walls and furniture in an antiqued and distressed finish she has concocted herself.

This sunny space has been dubbed 'The Gallery', and displays her exotic Birdcage collection. French wrought iron chairs and sisal matting give the whole space a pretty look.

Linden trees have been trained to climb this wrought iron frame, creating a relaxing canopy that exudes French style. They have even made a small wood of silver birches in drifts, Japanese maples, a sea of forget-me-not and daffodils. Sanders Wood is named after the wood in Winnie the Pooh. It is within this wood the Sinney's have made paths for their Grandchildren to explore ...one called 'Francesca's Way', and the other 'Benjamin's Track'. And on 18 Hectares of stunning land, there are plenty of places for your mind to wander.

Ness xx

images- Aust Country Style

Indoors or Outdoors?

This home I have in my file is in the NSW Southern Highlands. The whole house is stunning, but I wanted to show you this outdoor area, which I love. The huge Mirror over the table is just perfect for this space...I could spend hours here.

The indoors is just as divine. I love the doors, which are like my own and all of the little pieces that give this place a such a beautiful feel to it like the antique French dining chairs, urns and that lovely Chandelier. I don't quite know which is my favourite..I'm torn. Ness xx
image -Country Home Ideas