Somethings Missing...

I adore this print (anyone know where I can get it?)
Something is missing from my design space, and our home actually.
An awesome statement piece which is functional. One with storage, style, quirkiness and timeless appeal, complete with beautiful vignette on top =0)
Something particularly like the first image
...but I would take any of them
Which one do you like?
Ness xx
all images - content agency

A Storage Wish

coastal living

Storage has always been an issue for us and on top of my list for our new home will be storage. We never had a problem in our kitchen with storage, just the bedrooms...I just couldn't help but show you this kitchen. I love the drawers everywhere - and the bead board walls!!
Tricia Foley
I love this storage solution in this Laundry room designed by the fabulous Tricia Foley. It amazing and oh so chic too!

Sarah Richardson Designs

...and although I am not overly into open

shelving in the kitchen (we ripped ours out when we re lined the kitchen as it always looked wrong and I was sick of dusting them!), but I am liking this shelving system in Sarah's farmhouse.

So while I continue moving furniture about our house this weekend and getting the rooms ready to out the house on the market, I will be thinking about the 'list' for the next home we buy. Hopefully I can show you what I have been up to.

Ness xx

Re purposing storage

Looking through some of my files and some of my favourite blogs for bathroom inspiration, I have found some wonderful cupboards and drawers that could be re-purposed into vanities and linen storage. This one above from Tricia Foley I saved for the worn wood on the top of the unit. I would love to have a top like this sealed with an organic bees wax that water just beads off.
This one I found via My Lovely Things and would make great linen storage don't you think?
Imagine it filled with loads of vintage Irish, French and Belgian linen pillow slips and crisp white sheets...nice. I do like the chairs in here too.

So cute!

I cant remember where I spied this image, so I am sorry. However, this is something I could really do in our bathroom. Although I would love pressed tin panels painted white behind the taps.

and finally this gorgeous set of drawers I viewed over at Shannon Frickes blog this morning from Anthropology. I would adore something quirky like this against all the white beaded board, except we would need four drawers...one for each family member. I guess my drawer would be '2ND'.
This is high on the list for a vanity replacement!
Ness xx

Flags and my office...

From my files - mag no longer in print

What is it about flags that have me hooked? Not sure, but I do know that I would love and old, faded, slightly tattered one to fill my office wall. This US one is fantastic propped against the wall and I have long loved this photo because of this flag in the frame.

This is my office at present and this wall is where I envision the tattered fabric. Being that I am of Scottish heritage (all my family were born there) and Australian (I was the only one born here), I think it would be fitting to have the St Andrews cross and an Aussie flag together...

unknown...sorry!

...or a Union jack which is an amazing design against white walls.
Now, I am not about to start a new redecorating project in my office..although tempting...because I have so much on at the moment, but I have been sitting here thinking 'I really want to change something...anything around!'. The fact I am in here makes sense.

Restoration Hardware
So some other things I would love in here would be some of these little destination signs, which I think I will have a go at myself...
Decorpad

...loads of shelves and white painted floors like we have in our bedroom. The current carpet in here is old and three different brown tones...eew!

Sarah Richardson
And to finish -linen and white covered books to fill the shelves. To think this all started with a photo of a flag!!.....
Ness xx

Well Travelled Storage

home beautiful
Suitcases are just the most versatile pieces, besides the obvious, that anyone can have. I have always loved vintage suitcases to have anything from blankets, magazines, craft paraphernalia and the like to tuck away into. Stacked on top of one another they just look amazing and make wonderfully whimsical side tables in a bedroom.
home beautiful

For a modern approach or just for a splash of colour, these red cases are just the thing. I could imagine these in a child's room for cars (in our case) or for Barbie's shoes and outfits.

from my file-unknown

These ones paired next to this gorgeous Armoire look like they are meant to be. I am still trying to get my old ones finished, but maybe I will be as old as these when they are done!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, Ness xx

For the time being...

Aust Country Style

I have really had this urge of late to do something to our old bathroom. Can't do too much as it is not on the current renovation budget list, but I would like to give it a lick of paint and a mini make over that costs hardly a cent. This photo above has inspired me for a long time now, and I am going to use this as a starting point. I will need to take some photos so you can all appreciate what we are living with at the moment...ranch board walls, beige toilet, a wood wall with shiny orange lacquer...and the laundry chucked in too!
kitchenbathideas.com
I love this little nook to hid the toilet area without stealing light from the space. I would have the window up a little higher. The beaded walls is something that will eventually be in the plans, but for now a coat of white paint on the ranch board will have to do...and definitely on the orange lacquered bath wall.

atlantabartlett.com
I adore these pretty little tea cups used as jewelry catchalls. Simple little things like this will be on the cards to bring a bit of vintage to the space.


aust country style
This is another favourite bathroom image which I have posted a long time ago. I would love to have a pale floor in our bathroom. Currently it is a mish mash of brown geo patterns that aways look dirty...eew! I would love to rip this up and paint the floors white like our bedroom. A Chandelier would be nice, but not for this mini makeover...we have the bath though!
Ness xx

A lack of...

Looking around our place today (we are rained in) I have really noticed our lack of storage. There are no built in cupboards, and while we do have storage it is all in the way of old wardrobes, small cupboards etc. So I went through my files and found these very useful...and very beautiful examples.... {unknown}

My favourite. The pale blue at the back of the shelves is so refreshing against those creamy white plates and picks up the blue Chandelier drops. I think the old dining setting make this room for me as well. It is gorgeous.

Chykah Keebaugh
I have long loved this grey beauty, especially with the ladder. I have long wanted one of these Library style units with ladder. There is a store in the Southern Highlands, not far from Mum and Dads that has quite a few I fancy. That wing back chair is lovely.


{Celia Domenech}
A little too modern for our current home, but I still love it all the same. I would love to have something like this built around a window with a little seat you could snuggle into on a day like today and cocoon in your books with a woolly blanket and a hot coffee.
{Country Living magazine}
This movable set of shelves would be great in a rental (which never seem to have enough storage). This looks wonderful with the white ironstone and glassware displayed on it. Units like this can be found cheaply, painted or waxed and used anywhere like the Bathroom (think loads of fluffy white towels, cut glass dishes and French soaps), Office (think matching Aqua filing boxes and Magazine holders), Kids' room (for extra blankets, books, toys etc) and lets not forget the Garage, which is probably what it is intended for in the first place.
...I really need some more storage...

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, see you Monday!
Ness xx

Cafe dreams for Cab...

My dear Sister Caroline (Cab, the eldest one who is moving here near me) has had a dream for a Cafe of her own for some time now. She was planning to have it in the grand building below, that was also going to be the premises my own little shop. We have been working out details of what will be the overall feel of this Restaurant Cafe for a year now, waiting with baited breath to see if it will eventuate here or not. I have the interior completely mapped out in my head and on paper and wanted to share some ideas....

This would be the entrance for Cab's Cafe (my shop is the mirror image) which can also be accessed by double doors to the left (Theatre entrance).

This was taken some time ago...but it doesn't look much different outside yet. It is the original Theatre from the gold rush years when our little town was the biggest in Tasmania. It is being restored to house a scaled down version of a picture theatre, restaurant, shop and office space. I picture twisted pines in tall pots to welcome diners....

Martha Stewart
..and gorgeous white and cafe latte coloured serving pieces all housed in glass covered glass shelving units...


Martha Stewart

...a functional coffee station, that is also pleasing to the eye, with more open shelving. The shelves would be glass though. (I nearly choked when I seen this kitchen as it is pretty much what I had in my sketches). It would also include the name of the Cafe in one of the bigger shelves 'floating' on glass backed with a chocolate colour...


Villa Maison
Coffee would be served on silver trays in chunky white mugs...


Villa Maison

...to tables laid with wicker accessories and crisp white linen...

We both had the idea of a really indulgent and comfortable coffee area, for those who just want a coffee, feeding Mothers, elderly and anyone who just wanted to chill out. I can not think of a better way to do that than on a feather filled Queen Anne Sofa along with a big wide squat coffee table.


Martha Stewart
...there would be a raised bench near the coffee counter for those who want to read the paper and wait for there order to go perched on linen covered stools with chocolate coloured legs. In this space there will also be a small retail space in a warm wood shelving unit and this one below always comes up as the ultimate to display Cab's gorgeous range of organic products...

via Lily G
This just screams vintage and sums up the old building lovely.

via - Lily G
Now I haven't forgot about the kitchen area. As some of it can be seen from the dining area, I think it should be just as beautiful. Although there won't be cupboard doors like this (not practical), there will be a big island for preparing food and a light fixture like this will not only be gorgeous...it is much better than working under some horrid, headache inducing fluorescent light (there will be some just not here). I love the fact that this light fixture is so wide that it can still house the amount of light bulbs needed to create enough light to meet standards and so she doesn't chop off a finger!!! I also think there should be a tile type picture display that can be wiped off for hygiene.

Martha Stewart
This is a similar layout to the island and benches and as she will have a huge walk in freezer, some doors like this would be heaven...but I think it will be glass :(

Martha Stewart
Now after all of the diners have gone, dishes have been placed through the washer, wouldn't it be nice to wipe down your counters and wash your hands of the night in a beautiful Belfast Sink like this?....Now let's hope it all happens so I can bring it to life!

Ness xx

White Wonders...

This image above by the delightful Atlanta Bartlett sums up everything I adore.

White (of course), wicker baskets, Hydrangeas in tin bucket, wooden console, propped up mirror, text (and a D for Declan), wooden floors, beaded board and industrial light.

I thought of my own space in our hallway that has some of these elements. I promise I had done this before I seen Atlanta's picture. Which got me thinking about other elements I love and would like to include I our reno/makeover (which seems to never end)...

Via Willow Decor

To find a vintage flour sack cushion like this. A real deal one!

Slettvol

Create a living space that welcomes togetherness, comfort and that kick off your shoes attitude. Not forgetting the 'don't worry if you spill something, there slipcovers' philosophy. I plan to make our slip covers soon.

I don't have stairs, but this space at Brooke Giannetti's house is gorgeous and I love the grey, white and wood, over sized clock face (I'm obsessed) and the whole feel she has created.

David Met Nicole

Something like this divine set of drawers, which I would paint a chipped duck egg green for my work room.

Me & Mo
Some beautiful pieces of silver, and mercury glass for a little shine.

Via Simply Natural

You know how much I want one of these. This one has the perfect finish and fabric colour.

Cest la Vie

...and a statement piece for the kitchen like this delicious plate.

I could have carried this on for pages, but I will spare you all the pain of my lust list for another day. Ness xx