Whiteport Giveaway!!

How are we all today?

Good I hope. If not, I have a little something that will cheer you up!

A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Brought to you by the beautiful Whiteport.

I have long been an admirer of Whiteport and the founder, Jennifer McCabe.

Not only is the store beautiful, but her home is too.

Here is Jennifer's bathroom, which is just what I would like in our own.

Vintage, and white =0)

Here is the lovely and generous Jeniffer in her kitchen at home.

I see this shot and wished we had our white floorboards in all of the rooms in our house.

It is nice to know that Jennifer lives with the Whiteport philosophy

~ All things white =0)

Jennifer has been lovely enough to offer one of you the chance to win your choice of either...

The Florence Urn

OR

The Brewster Jam Carry!

How lovely is that?

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and let us know what else would you have in your home from Whiteport

...that's it!

Thanks Jennifer.

The winner will be drawn on Sunday evening at about 9pm Tassie time (Australia) and announced then.

Good luck =0)

At Home With Country - C&R's Book Review and a winner!!!

I am so honoured to have been asked by Christina Strutt and her wonderful crew to review her 5th book, At Home With Country. I did feel very nervous doing this, a a little like I was handing in a paper at school (except everyone gets to read it not just the Teacher!). So, when the beautiful book arrive the other day and I managed to pry it from my Mum's hands, I sat with pen and paper and started to write. Then it struck me, what was I doing, this book is amazing!!

Christina was a Stylist at Vogue before starting her very successful fabric company Cabbages & Roses!!! This book doesn't need a review, it speaks for itself.

So, I just immersed myself in it, coffee and cake in hand and soaked up every beautiful country image...this is where I stopped...and thought.
I love country, and so many people say they are 'over it' and it has been done to death...yeah, the mass produced country style with ducks in hats and mice and wheat in the kitchen etc...not this country style - THIS will never die or be done to death. The real country home is full of comfortable, beautiful, practical pieces. Lived in, loved in crumpled, washable fabrics - you know the stuff....and Christina has shown this perfectly. Not only is this book a journey through gorgeous homes, but different styles of homes all with a 'real country' feel. It is a look that can fit anywhere, from an 11th century home to a loft in Manhattan, a house boat to a English cottage...and when done well, will never date.

This brand is stunning regardless!

The whole way through you are taken on a visual journey with the C&R's range of stunning fabrics and shown how versatile florals, stripes and checks can be.
I loved that there are references with each home as to the name of the fabric, and a sample section at the back to see the ranges together and how they all work together.

The homes Christina has selected are beautiful and this one called "Bridgehampton Cottage" shows the C&R's fabric so well. The white walls give the fabric center stage and it goes so well with the antiques and quirky vignettes.
This is what being at home with country should be about. Casual, yet thoughtful arrangements that will be moved frequently, nothing that is overly precious and all having a function.
I was extremely happy to see that my favourite designer Tricia Foley's Manhattan Loft and her equally stunning Long Island home made an appearance. I also loved the Langton range of fabrics she has used in both homes.

As my scanner was playing up I couldn't get an image of the Paris Rose fabric Tricia used on this sofa in her loft, but you will just have to buy the book and see for yourself as well as Christina's stunning and so homely "Brook Cottage", where the Cabbages & Roses label was started. Her amazing tent is something to be bookmarked for future reference and the first time I had ever seen her tent was also the first time I had seen the C&R's fabric.
If you are looking for an inspiring book, something to look at over and over again, then At Home With Country will not disappoint - I promise you! =0)

Thank you so much for letting me review your book Christina, I LOVE it!
{all photos by Edina Van Der Wyck for Cico Books}

NOW TO THE GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

let's get straight to it!

According to Random.org, the winner of the fabulous shopper tote and amazing scented candle, both by Cabbages & Roses is.....

http://thewickerhouse.blogspot.com

Congratulations Emily. If you could send me an email with your details please, I will get your goodies out to you =0)
...and thank you to all who entered.

Ness xx

Guest Blogger, Cristina Strutt...and a GIVEAWAY!

Today I have something special to share with you all. The amazing Christina Strutt from Cabbages & Roses has been kind enough to do a guest post on my blog, share some tips on decorating and also sponsor a beautiful GIVEAWAY for you all!!!

Take it away Christina!

------------------------------------------
DEAR NESS,
I WAS THRILLED THAT YOU ASKED CABBAGES & ROSES TO MAKE
AN ENTRY FOR YOUR BLOG. HERE ARE 10 SMALL TIPS THAT WILL
HOPEFULLY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE:
1. FAIL TO PLAN IS TO PLAN TO FAIL. DO WHAT PROFESSIONAL
DECORATORS DO AND MAKE A BOARD WITH PAINT COLOURS,
FABRICS, FLOOR COVERINGS AND FURNITURE PLAN.

2. GET SAMPLE POTS OF PAINT COLOURS AND PAINT AREAS IN
THE DARKEST PART OF THE ROOM AND IN THE LIGHTEST THE
COLOUR WILL VARY GREATLY, SO MAKE SURE IT WORKS
EVERYWHERE NOT JUST BY THE WINDOW.

3. IF YOU DON'T ABSOLUTELY ADORE THE PAINT COLOUR -
CHANGE IT - YOU WILL NOT LEARN TO LOVE IT/LIVE WITH IT - IT
WILL ANNOY YOU UNTIL IT IS CHANGED, AND BETTER TO
CHANGE IT WHILST THE FURNITURE IS OUT OF THE WAY RATHER
THAN WHEN YOU HAVE PUT THE ROOM BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

4. PERIODICALLY RE ARRANGE YOUR TREASURES - PUT THEM IN
DIFFERENT ROOMS OR SETTINGS - I FIND THIS INSPIRES ME AND IS
A CHEAP WAY TO GET A NEW ROOM.

5. FLEA MARKETS AND ANTIQUES FAIRS ARE HEAVEN FOR
ANYONE DECORATING A HOME. ONE MANS TREASURE IS
ANOTHER MANS JUNK SO THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM TO
MANOEUVRE ON THE PRICE.

6. WHEN LOOKING FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PIECE OF FURNITURE AT
A FLEA MARKET, IMAGINE IT PAINTED WHITE - THIS WILL BRING A
PIECE FROM HEAVY 1940'S TO 21ST CENTURY SHABBY CHIC IN AN
INSTANT.

7. FLOORING SHOULD BE A NEUTRAL AND AS NATURAL AS YOU
CAN AFFORD. ALTHOUGH A LAMINATE WOOD FLOORING IS
CHEAPER THAN THE REAL THING, IT WONT LAST OR AGE AS WELL
AS REAL WOODEN FLOORBOARDS.

8. IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO RE DECORATE A ROOM AS WELL
AS YOU WOULD LIKE, PAINT IT WHITE. A CLEAN WHITE ROOM IS
A BLANK CANVAS WHICH CAN BE LEFT STARK AND MODERN
AND MINIMALIST, OR COSIED UP WITH FURNITURE, RUGS AND
PAINTINGS.

9. WHEN INVESTING IN ANYTHING FOR THE HOME BE IT FABRIC
FOR DRAPES, OR A PIECE OF FURNITURE ASK YOURSELF WILL I
LOVE THIS UNTIL I DIE CAN I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF MY EYES FOR
THE REST OF MY LIFE AND STILL LOVE IT IF THE ANSWER IS YES THEN
GO FOR IT.

10. HAVE FUN

XXC

---------------------------------------------------------

Thank you so much Christina for guest blogging for me. Your images are gorgeous and your advice priceless!

GIVEAWAY TIME =0)

Christina has been kind enough to offer one reader a gorgeous scented Cabbages & Roses candle, which comes in a beautifully labeled glass jar and box, and also a lovely shopper tote in the beautiful Cabbages & Roses fabric, Hatley in Cherise.

All you have to do is leave a comment and if you would like another entry head over to the lovely Cabbages & Roses blog and leave a comment there - simple!...just let me know in your comment.

The giveaway will be drawn on Monday 5th July, Australian time.
Ness xx

Thanks to Kathrine and Suzie to for all of your help, and of course Christina xx

Sarah Richardson, an amazing Designer.

For those of you who have been following for a while, you will know that Sarah Richardson is one of my all time favourite Designers and I have been following her career for many, many years.

The sweet Chania from razamataz has been kind enough to show each stage of her Farmhouse renovation for us mere mortals who can't get this show - that would be me!

I just wanted to show you some of my favourite pieces from this series.

Her kitchen is amazing and now that our kitchen is painted and has hardware, I plan to dress it a little more and this image is laid out like our own kitchen...without all of the style that SR oozes.

I could so see this in our kitchen. Not sure how it would look next to our fire place though.
This is the sort of cupboard conversion we would love in our own bathroom, yep it is still going and we are having trouble getting some replacement boards. Once it is done I will be on the lookout for an old dresser or the like to convert to our vanity. I love the use of the yellow mirror - very cute!


and the yellow tub and curtains. I think I need some curtains....
This bedroom is amazing, but I wont spoil it for you.

You can head to Chania's blog or go to HGTV for a look yourself..or if you are lucky enough, watch.

While you are watching, I will be channelling my inner Sarah to see what I can do in this kitchen of ours =0)

Ness xx
images courtesy of Razamataz and hgtv

C&R Book Review and a recipe...

Firstly I wanted to say thank you all for your lovely comments and emails about our $5 sideboard. It was very nice of you all.

Next I wanted to tell you about this as I cant contain it any longer.

I have been asked to do a book review for Christina Strutt's amazing new book...

At Home With Country.

The photo at the top of the post is a sneak peek at the book...it looks amazing and I am now awaiting my hard copy in the mail. Every day I have been checking the mailbox in anticipation of this book. I have Christina's other books and they are just beautiful. If you don't know who Christina is or have never seen any of the Cabbages and Roses fabrics, you are in for a treat. They are all based on vintage prints and have a faded quality to them which is so pretty. Christina's outdoor area which looks like a huge canvas tent has been in my favourites file forever and the interior of this space is superb.

While I wait on the postie to deliver this gem I have been looking through the Cabbages & Roses website, and found these...

This French grey set of drawers is circa 1870 and is just perfect. There are so many beautiful pieces on the C&R website and if I was able to, I would have them all!

Especially this stunning Armoire which is circa 1890. It looks wonderful filled with Christina's fabrics which are also on the site.
But, I would be happy with one of her deckchairs to remind me of Summer. As soon as I have the book I will be sure to give it a thorough going over and will tell you all about it...I cant wait!

After yesterdays post I have had lots of emails about the recipe for these Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins I made, so here it is....I never put all of the following in, especially the butter and sugar, I always use less and put loads more raspberries and white choc in instead =0)

170gms (about 1/2 cup) of Caster Sugar

2 eggs

200gms Butter

2 cups of sifted self raising flour

80 mls of milk

1/2 cup of Raspberries

1/4 cup of white chocolate chips

Method

-----------

1. Whisk eggs and sugar until thick

2.Add butter, flour and milk

3. add raspberries and chocolate

4. Stir gently until just combined

5. Spoon into muffin trays and press extra choc and raspberries into top.

6. Bake in moderate oven (about 180 C) for about 30 minutes or until golden.

Easy! Enjoy.

Ness xx

Thanks Layla!!!

Exciting news....

Layla Palmer's gorgeous new e-book "Creating An Inspired Home" has been released. I purchased my copy and was thrilled with not only the amazing work and product that Layla has created, but for the fact that Layla has included a link to my store in her favourite Etsy stores page!!

Saying I was thrilled would be an understatement. Not only was my store included but along with great stores like Eddie Ross!!! Yep, wrapped. Thank you Layla, you are so sweet.

The ever gorgeous Tina from Rubies Place has tagged me to mention 7 things that I love. So the above e-book is included in this list!

I have done this sort of tag before, so I will try and come up with some different things.

Hanging out in our old house with my lovely little family is a given. These 2 little Men and Mic give me so much support, love and security and I thank them dearly...and they have to put up me shifting furniture and changing things around all the time - secretly they love it!!

Being inspired by you gorgeous bloggers. I recently seen this beautiful lift blind over at Anettes Hus and was instantly on the search through my linen for an old monogrammed sheet to make into one. I have found the sheet, but I am not sure where I am putting it yet. All I know is that I love it!

Thank you for being such an inspiring bunch!

The hunt for a bargain is always something that makes me smile.
Finding the unloved, breathing new life into it and making it a piece that guests ask about is such a buzz. Thanks Mum for putting that in me xxHaving the ability to create something from nothing with my hands. I am so blessed to have the talent that I have. Being able to draw, paint, sew, do calligraphy, sign writing, decorating and training people who are unfit and making them into stronger, better beings is something that gives me daily joy and I don't know what would happen if I lost these things.

Although this is still an un renovated space, I do love my workspace/office. All I have done in there is painted it white and we added the French door. This room gets amazing light in the afternoon whatever the season and it is where I take the detailed shots for the shop. If I ever get to have my office outside, I would love to have this room as our master bedroom...its big enough!

So that's it. I hope I didn't bore you too much.

I did want to let all of my Aussie readers that I have just today opened a store on Madeit! It is an Australian site that deals in AU dollars so there is no need to worry about conversions etc.

Visit http://madeit.com.au/marleyandlockyer to have a look. I will be adding more items over the next week.

Ness xx

Ina's Paris Apartment.

When I posted about Ina Garten's barn not long ago, a few of you had asked if I had seen her Paris apartment - yes I had...and here it is in all it's glory.

Being that Ina is the entertainer extraordinaire, this shot complete with dining setting was a perfect shot I thought.
I love that this apartment could be any ones place, not just a multi millionaire's.
It is filled with simple, lovely, vintage pieces and Ina enjoys unwinding here. I would too.

Obviously the kitchen is a cooks dream, and even when she is here unwinding there is a lot of cooking and entertaining like only Ina knows how to do.

Now, these are the only images I could find, but if you have some more, I would love to see.

I hope you all have an awesome weekend and I will see you all on Monday.

Ness xx

Can't remember which magazine these are from..I know, naughty!

...and Kelly McGuill has a blog!

Lori from Frugal Farmhouse Designs blogged about the very talented Kelly McGuill the other day and that she has a blog...didn't know that.

I went over for a look and was blown away. I have admired Kelly for some time now, but was very pleased to see that she loves one of my all time favourite Designers, Tricia Foley!

Kelly's work is amazing and all that she uses is so my style =0)

I loved this shot because I have a wicker trunk beside our sofa and before Summer arrived, we had our blanket box as our coffee table on a jute rug with trim like this...and you know I use hydrangeas and have a thing for long branches!
The botanical images on the wall is something I would love to have in our living room somewhere too. The big mirror up the back of the shot reminds me of the window like mirrors my Dad makes...love it.
Kelly's use of white is so beautiful and I love throwing in industrial elements into a space like steel, nickle, signs etc and really liked what she has done with this kitchen.
Ticking is another love of mine...and I have this exact one! the blue and white fabric on the armchairs reminds me of another favourite of mine - blue and white china.
...but it is this space that makes me swoon!
White ginger jar lamp base, slip covered sofa, wooden floors, white furniture tucked in with wooden pieces and hints of greenery.
I am liking Kelly's style a lot!
Head over to Kelly's blog and check out more of her work. It is stunning.
http://kellymcguill.blogspot.com
Ness xx
all images via Kelly McGuill

Ina Garten...Now THIS is a barn!!!

After lots of emails from you all about the latest issue of House Beautiful and the amazing Ina Garten aka The Barefoot Contessa's barn in the Hampton's, you know I had to look for more.

A barn and the Hampton's...now that's me!

Ina's barn has been built on her stunning East Hampton's estate and would do most of us as the main home. The exterior is not like a barn at all. Lets have a look!

Is this not the most amazing kitchen/dinning area you have ever seen? An 18 foot long counter was designed with the master cooks favourite passion in mind and Ina didn't do the normal designing elements for a kitchen like the triangle and the textbook spacing of the counter tops...both of which she says don't work...and Ina would know!

The paint colour on the wall of this Belgian inspired barn is Farrow & Ball's 'Light Gray' and the counter top is a Petite Fossil Belgian Stone. The gorgeous cupboard in the background is Axel Vervoordt.

Ina says that the fireplace is without a mantel because it would have been too decorative. I love that at the end of the day, it is a barn, not the main house and the temptation to fit it out like a house would have been so hard, but she held out to keep the Belgian feel of the space.

OMG!!!

...yep, a serious chef lives here.
Gorgeous, serene...

The table is a 17th century French table and the linens are by the amazing company Frette.

I like that there is no artwork above the bed.
Stripe rugs must be a Hampton's staple, and I like it. The restrained palette is just gorgeous and Ina worked with Robert Stilin to create this oh so perfect barn. What a great pair...maybe she can add Decorator to her resume!

How about this for a relaxing space!? simply adorned with a little Olive tree in a mossy terracotta pot, stool, white towels and soaps this would be a welcome haven after a long day over a hot oven!

The outdoor areas don't let the interior down either. The wall sconces and lamps are by Greg Yale and the 1920's rattan chairs just ooze Hampton's style. Ina has planted the trees around the barn in no straight lined formations, like a lot of homes will do. As Ina says, if the trees are planted randomly and close to the home, they seem like they have always been there.

This image shows Ina's stunning main house through the trees and this new barn compliments it sweetly. Everything Ina and Architect, Frank Greenwald have achieved here is just perfect. And the 'barn' now takes over as the place to film, cook, write and create magic that only The Barefoot Contessa can do.
Ina, if you need someone to watch the barn while you are abroad...just call me =0)
Ness xx
All images - House Beautiful