Some bargain finds...and a winner!

Firstly, thank you all for entering the giveaway. I will announce the winner at the end of this post. While it was running, I took the time to spend with my family and some visitors we had...and I done some shopping!!!

The first thing I bought on our travels was this beautiful wicker heart from The Vintage Rose in Launceston, which is owned by the sweetheart Amanda. While the boys were off at the motor museum, I snuck around to visit with Amanda and had a lovely chat with her and looked through all of the amazing new things she has in store. I bought a few things which I will show you in another post.
It is all whitewashed, so its right up my alley!

I love this old syphon bottle and spotted it after the second passing at the Evandale markets. I cant believe I didn't see it first time around! The man at the stall marked it down to $10.00 for me! I had been admiring one the day before which was not as pretty and it was $70.00.

I love that it has lots of elements in it that I love so much, old glass, text in white, silver and the creamy top. I weighs a tonne and the glass is really thick...and it works still =0)
The makers mark is still visible on the back. I haven't worked out where it will go yet though.
Guess what I did find.....

I have been after one for ages and it was on the top of my 'have to find list'. The wood is just glorious and I have no intentions of painting this piece - ever! I know a big call from me, but look at it!

Have you guessed??

Yup, a glorious bentwood chair! Although it is not an original Thonet chair, for $25.00 I was happy to walk away with it under my arm! There were 4 of them can you believe, but the others were very rickety. This one is really sturdy so I am very, very happy. Now I can check that box on my list off =0)
I found it at an amazing new old ware store, which I will be visiting next time with trailer in tow!!

I will be making the seat for this soon.

These little finials are also on the cards for a makeover. Probably not a great deal will happen to these. I will give them a good clean and take off the old screws and see where to go from there. Cute though.

I also bought this ugly Betty of a chair. The actual chair is lovely if you can look past the horrid 80's paint job. It is sturdy and I can imagine this is going to be a full weekend project.
Next piece is this little caddy thing for my office desk. It will be getting a fresh coat of white paint and will house all of my office paraphernalia...for $10.00 I thought it was cheap storage.

Now I just have to get on with getting them all made over!! easier said than done I know. Our visitors have left now, so life goes back to normal.

Now, on to the winner. After all the email and etsy entries and all of you who had extra entries was tallied, the final number of entries was a wonderful 682!!! I have since been to random.org and put in this number to get back the number 43.

This number belongs to My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia!

Yay, a winner!! Congratulations and I will be in contact soon. Thank you again to all who entered. I will be having another one soon =0)

See you tomorrow...told you, back to normal!

Ness xx

Picasso had one...I want one too!

This image has me hanging for the new little junk shop up the road to re open. They have a No.14 Vienna Thonet chair down there with a price tag of $10 on it!

I have wanted some of these design icons for ages and now that the kitchen is done, the table (like the one above) is crying for some.
apartment therapy
For those of you who don't know what Thonet chair is (the one above is the No.18 chair made in 1876) it is basically the first mass produced, flat packet chair which was started by a man named Michael Thonet circa 1819. He was the first person to make bentwood furniture using steam to shape European Beech to make this everlasting design. The chair comes in 6 components with a few nuts etc and a plywood seat to make a wonderful iconic piece known as either a bistro chair or in the No. 14's case, a 'Consumer Chair'.


All I know is I love them, want some and need the man down the way to open his door so I can hand over my $10 and be on my way. I almost feel guilty because they can sell from $1000.00 to $30, 000.00 (apparently) for an original one. He obviously doesn't know what he has. I will have to put me best "What a cute little chair. This would look good in my bathroom don't you think?" face on...like I have no idea what it is.
Wish me luck! I have about 4 days or so to wait and see if he is open...argh!
Ness xx
Fire Update - As of this afternoon, the fire is semi under control. The cooler day we had has set the men up to do some fierce back burning and they managed to set up some strong containment lines. Tomorrow we are in for a scorcher and relative humidity is basically nil (a fires best friend), so it could all be for nothing. Lets hope the lines contain. Thank you all for your concern. It has been lovely. You are all wonderful people and I am lucky to call you friends. xx

Living by Sarah Richardson

Sarah Richardson has been one of my favourite Designers for a very long time. Her attention to detail and ability to bring a warm and very chic space together seems effortless. I especially love her range of furniture and how she creates little spots to read and relax.
This room is just lovely. The detail on the linen chairs is beautiful. I miss that I can't watch her show on TV anymore...it was one of my favourites!!
Sarah has really created the ideal coastal living room here. She always seems to get the colour right and doesn't go too over the top with it all.

I must say though, I do love her calming spaces as well - like this little seating nook in a bedroom. For more on this very talented Designer - visit HERE.

All photos via Sarah Richardson Design

Ness xx

Beautiful dining spaces to share...

traditional home

The fact that so many families don't eat together for at least one meal a day I find very sad. The French have got it right...they always have sit down meals and it is just part of what they do and I love it. I thought some inspirational eating areas would ignite every ones desire to eat like the French, at a set table with their families. Here are some favourites of mine and what you can do to draw everyone in for the elusive family dinner... raphael designs via abt

As you all know, from yesterdays post, I am a fan of flowers. Just filling a jug of blooms from the garden can bring a little cheer to the table. You don't have to go all out to lay the table either, a simple table runner, like this photo, looks stylish...and so, so simple. Even a length of fabric with both edges tucked under can suffice. You don't even have to sew!

traditional home
I am a fan for themes. It can be as easy as a colour theme. Here, blue and white is the star of this setting and I love the fact that they have chosen the blue and white covers and upholstery to tie in with their china. Even the flowers match beautifully. Couldn't you imagine a gorgeous lazy Sunday Summer lunch here?

country living
Do you have an old set of dining chairs that you may be trying to stay clear of at mealtimes? Well, dig out some old pillow cases, fabric, curtains etc that have something interesting on them. It could be the pattern, texture, colour, sentiments or it could be some vintage linen, like here. Take a deep breath, and start cutting. You will be amazed how lovely mismatched chairs can look with some 'new' covers on them.
coastal living
If your still not convinced, and the thought of cutting up Grannies antique French linen sheet set from her Wedding for your chairs makes you cringe...maybe get some paint out instead. These chairs look wonderful in blue against the white table. It can be as easy as getting some sample pots and a weekend...and they don't all have to match in colour either.

coastal living
...or you could just cover the tops! This can be done with pillow cases, so you don't have to sew again!! Just slip them over the tops of the chairs. Here they have been accessorised with colourful buttons and pick up other colours in the rooms.
bh&g
Maybe you don't even have a dining area. Any small area can be made as an eating space and here it is outside on a porch. Two chairs and a small patio table is all you need (obviously if there are more of you, you'll have to improvise). I love the French poster and jug of daisies to make it more dining room like....how could you not want to share your day over dinner with loved ones here?
via mels rose place

But for me, the ultimate family meal setting is a fully laid table, blooms, candles and a little bit of heartfelt thought to show these people how special they are to you (oh and good food is always a winner!!!).

I hope you all have a wonderful meal this evening with your loved ones...at a special table, where ever it may be.

Ness xx

Texture is King!

Today I am loving the furniture in this beautiful home. Everything in this home is so wonderfully textural and warming. In this photo I love the little tufted parts of the linen chair with their frayed edges and the burlap cover with its little ruffle.
This bedroom doesn't have too many textures, but still holds the warm vanilla palette beautifully. I imagine out the window is a lush green courtyard to wake to.

Quintessentially Cottage! Skirted linen sink and beaded boards always say welcome to me, especially out here in the country. The tap ware is just like what I want for our bathroom reno.
How cute is the little glass lamp base? I wonder if it was re-purposed from a glass bathroom set.
More texture. Sisal matting, waffle weave pleated cover and flaky cream paint...just lovely. The faded botanical print fabric works so well as accents.

The room as a whole is beautiful. I adore the weathered stone on the walls. What a gorgeous base for starting a room scheme. Seeing the room together just proves that texture is King!

Ness xx

all images - Country Living

Provence in New Zealand

Our friends across the ocean in NZ really do live a beautiful life. After seeing Anna Spiro's photos of her recent trip there, and the constant eye candy that is in one of my favourite magazines NZ House & Gardens, I am wanting to go there for a holiday more and more. This month I was taken in by this beautiful home from 1916, that has been lovingly restored by Aussie couple Hans and Helen van der Muelen and there Interior Designer Daughter, Anna.
Each photo of the house is gorgeous. Like this little white cabana with its aqua pool.
They even give you a peek inside the cabana. That colour on the walls is basically the linen shade I want for our living room (if anyone knows what it is, please email me).
Couldn't you just imagine lounging around here in the Summer months, making Lunch dwindle into Dinner?

The couples' Daughter, Anna, moved to NZ from Sydney for 9 months to Project Manage the makeover. What a lovely job she has done.
Lots of milky whites, linen, Travertine floors and neutral shades make for one little piece of Heaven....off to read the rest.

Ness xx

For your next photo shoot

This majestic home is a photo shoot rent space! I know...WHY!! People should be filling these wonderful plaster walls with warmth and promise. Oh well! you can rent it for the day, week or however long for your next catalogue shoot or feature film. I would be happy with a peek in side and that sofa thanks ;) The whole home is filled with period features and gorgeous windows that fill it with loads of natural light.It is situated in London somewhere, and has a mix of French and English pieces, or you can bring your own. I could imagine a million photo shoots in this house.

I wonder if the owners would miss some of the pieces after I left? I love the tall skirting boards, old mantels lime washed floor boards...and that big frame.

The kitchen is sweet. I could imagine a Winter shoot here. Loads of creamy cable knit and food props like baguettes, knobs of butter in little china dishes, big white ironstone casseroles ready for the oven, and a couple of children near the heater with their brown paper covered crayons drawing on butchers paper and Mum hanging them on a twine line with wooden dolly pegs. Little white washed pots filled with Lavender lined up along the window and loads of fresh produce sticking out of the wicker baskets....

...or a small stack of fluffy white towels on this divine chair, some waffle weave slippers and a glass of Champagne and some bubbles beside it that have spilled over. Little glass crystal glasses that are being make shift hurricane lamps and a big chunk of L'Occitane soap resting on some white pebbles.
Can't you just see that in here?
This unexpected sink I am not sure if it is in the bathroom, kitchen or laundry. I would like to think it is in the laundry with a little line of natural coloured knitted socks hanging from it and some shelves near by with big glass canisters on them filled with washing powder, chunks of soap, wooden pegs and the like...and big zinc scoops inside.

Well, back to reality. It is an amazing home and I love it.

Ness xx

shootfactory

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!