Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Mirror, mirror....

So...now that my ceilings are all white and wonderful, I've organised for my mate Bill to cover those last few brick walls with gyprock, and I'm telling you, I cannot wait to be rid of them. But as Bill has a holiday booked and will be away for the next couple of weeks (very inconsiderate of him, don't you think?) I'll take this time to plan my decorating theme for the dining area. At the moment, I have a large timber-framed mirror on the wall, and a sideboard, and I'll be giving them both a facelift with a fresh coat of paint. These are a few of the images I've saved, and of course there's a definite theme emerging here:


 lavender grove via locationworks.com






The gorgeous work of Steve and Brooke Gianetti







lavender grove via locationworks.com



As usual, I'm drawn to the idea of painting the mirror either black or white. I could, of course, silver leaf it,  which I'm sure Kerry would recommend! And I'm quite liking the touches of gold that have found their way back into vogue in recent times, but my house is a little too rustic and rough around the edges for it to work.

I'll be back tomorrow with some pics of my pretty new ceilings, and also the mirror and sideboard in question. In the meantime, feel free to give my your opinions - your ideas are always so inspired. Ok, must go - I have a game to watch! 

See you tomorrow,



Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Juggling act


Well, the footy boys have a rest day today, which I know comes as a relief to both the players and spectators. After a good win in their first game yesterday, they had a narrow loss in their afternoon match. There were a few concussions and some very sore bodies, so I know having a day off today will be very welcome. Many of the boys have also just finished playing in the school First IV rugby union team, and I'm sure that fatigue has definitely set in. Thanks so much to everyone for the support, I know if the boys had time to read your comments they'd be thrilled!


So today, I was planning to catch up on some long-overdue housework, and getting stuck into some more painting for my upcoming webstore (more on that soon!) But that won't be happening, as I'm taking my youngest daughter back to the doctor for the third time this month. She's been suffering with terrible migraines, and we're having very little luck getting them under control. This is something that no-one in our family has any experience with, and unfortunately it's proving hard to find the right treatment. At fourteen, it's been really difficult for her to try to cope with school, sport and friends, while suffering with debilitating headaches. So fingers crossed, we find a solution and get her back to her normal, happy and pain-free self really soon.

Somewhere, in amongst all the happenings in the family, I'm trying to find the time to do all the things that need to be done - to be a mum, wife, and run a business. Of course, some things have fallen by the wayside, and the house looks like a bomb site! But, in the whole scheme of things, the housework is so unimportant, and I'm focusing on looking after my family first. So, I do apologise for my absence at the moment, I can assure you that I am reading each and every one of your wonderful comments, and I really appreciate that you take the time out of your busy day to visit my blog. I know I'm not alone, we all have our own juggling acts to perform, so thanks to each and every one of you.

On a positive note, my bff Bill toiled away tirelessly yesterday, to finish my ceiling. It was so nice to come home to see it looking all pretty and white. As soon as I get the time, I'll take some pics of the finished product. And as I can't possibly post without including some pretty pictures, here are a few, just because they're beautiful!






windsor smith



 carolyne roehm


Sorry for the long post, but that is my life at the moment. And if anyone out there has any experience with migraines, or some advice on what's worked for them, I'd be really grateful. I'm happy to try anything if it will help.


Have a great day everyone,

Right treatment










Vallone Design



Phoebe Howard

 photos My Home Ideas

Every window deserves right treatment.

If you need a help to beautify your place please contact VT Interiors
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DIY Tables by Goncalo Campos

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I love the genius of product design. The series of tables designed by Goncalo Campos, are made only using two basic materials, fabric and wood, the most commonly used materials in most households They are designed to be assembled with no glues or external fixtures, other than fabric, using a simple construction technique - they look primitive but at the same time very elegant. I can see the possibilities using beautiful woods, such as ebony, walnut, or perhaps fumed wood, and coordinating the fabric to match the colors and mood of your room. They would make wonderful conversation pieces for a wedding, or summer lawn party.

Images Courtesy of Gonçalo Campos. Goncalo Campos is a Portuguese designer, born in 1986. Graduated in product design in 2008, after which joined Fabrica team, for a year and created a series of  of tables which were featured in the exhibition Mais que Partes (More Than Parts), shown in the Fabrica features shop in Lisbon.

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Fumed wood veneers – White Ebony

Patricia Gray Inc is an award winning Interior Design firm  in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT  in the world of Interior Design.
2010 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Furniture IS Lifestyle - DEDON LAUNCHES “COMING HOME”, A LIMITED-EDITION BOOK BY BRUCE WEBER

 Dedon Lifestyle Advertising What are you doing this summer
DEDON LAUNCHES “COMING HOME”, A LIMITED-EDITION BOOK BY BRUCE WEBER

I love the new lifestyle advertising campaign that the Dutch company Dedon, a manufacturer of outdoor furnishings, has launched.  You may have seen the ads for this Dedon campaign in some of the recent Design magazines - Dedon is selling their furniture as lifestyle.  DEDON takes its collaboration with legendary American fashion photographer Bruce Weber to a next level with the publication of a new book Coming Home, a sumptuously produced, limited edition book. Building on themes that Weber developed for the current DEDON advertising campaign, Coming Home is an exploration into the meaning of home and the feelings we hold for it. Personal, poetic and eclectic, the book weaves together exclusive imagery by Bruce Weber with artwork and illustrations specially commissioned by the photographer. Watch the Dedon movie in large format here, or on YouTube here.  The music and imagery are spectacular.  The movie starts with a quote from the movie Out of Africa - the words of Denys Finch Hatton, played by Robert Redford: “I don’t want to live someone else’s idea of how to live.”

Dedon Lifestyle Advertising  
DEDON “COMING HOME”, A LIMITED-EDITION BOOK BY BRUCE WEBER

Dedon Lifestyle Advertising
DEDON “COMING HOME”, A LIMITED-EDITION BOOK BY BRUCE WEBER

Dedon Lifestyle Advertising
DEDON “COMING HOME”, A LIMITED-EDITION BOOK BY BRUCE WEBER

Dedon Lifestyle Advertising 
DEDON “COMING HOME”, A LIMITED-EDITION BOOK BY BRUCE WEBER
A multilevel treehouse, a cast and crew of 60 people with legendary fashion photographer Bruce Weber keeping it all together.

Dedon Lifestyle Advertising
DEDON “COMING HOME”, A LIMITED-EDITION BOOK BY BRUCE WEBER

When I first saw the Dedon ad campaign, by Bruce Webber I was mesmerized by it.  Some people I have talked to just don’t get it. 
After all Bruce Webber was the photographer for the controversial ad campaign for Calvin Klein in the 90’s, and
Webber also photographed a shirtless Chris Isaak in bed for a fashion spread in Rolling Stone
Dedon says about Coming Home “…….it is an exploration into the meaning of home and the feelings we hold for it.”
I say that ‘Furniture IS Lifestyle’ and has as much of a message to say about how we live as Fashion does!

What do you think about ‘Lifestyle Advertising?’  Leave your comment here.

 PG Dedon 1 Article AD SpainPG Dedon 2 Article AD Spain 
PG Dedon 4 Article AD SpainPG Dedon 3 Article AD Spain
DEDON “
COMING HOME”, A LIMITED-EDITION BOOK BY BRUCE WEBER Architectural Digest Spain - May 2010
Postscript:  These are scans from a Spanish magazine that my friend and fellow blogger Ivan Meade sent to me after I published this article.

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and WHAT'S HOT
in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Monday, June 28, 2010

Is this Australia's perfect house?

A few years ago, there was an article in the paper about a property that had been awarded Australia's best. There was a small picture of the house, and when I saw it, it literally took my breath away. Of course, that small pic only whet my appetite for more, and after some serious stalking, I found just what I was looking for. Take a look. Perfect location (Byron Bay hinterland - delicious!) and beautifully considered design. No wonder this home took out the top prize - I don't think it gets much better than this:

the home features a 100 year-old turret from Scots College, Warwick (A-M, this one's for you!)





 the dam is stocked with perch


 
I might just take a dip in the 21 metre infinity-edge pool



there's a section of rare rainforest on the 100 acre property



the home took five years to build - the 150 custom-made verandah posts were designed especially for the property

the attention to detail is amazing - look at those windows!



no, this isnt the main house - it's just the garage/games room/studio



the home was decorated by Coco Republic - nothing but the best


You can read more about this gorgeous home here and here. It was on the market for only $7.5 million. Worth every penny I think - if only I had enough of those pennies to snap it up for myself!

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments, wishing my son luck with his football. They worked wonders - the boys won both games convincingly yesterday! Fingers crossed today will bring more of the same - they have one more pool match this morning, before heading into finals over the rest of the week.

Hope you all have a great day too,