escapade: 1/1/10

Showing newest 10 of 37 posts from 1/1/10 - 2/1/10. Show older posts

Friday, January 29, 2010

Relaxing, earthy neutrals

I could spend the entire weekend in this lounge-y relaxing cabana at the home of Jacques Grange. The bright white walls and ceiling keep the earty neutrals looking fresh.
Collapsing and relaxing on the plush, deep cushions
- bright sunshine and a cool breeze floating in the open windows...

{Photos:home of Jacques Grange,by Martin Morrell for W Magazine}

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Travels with J Crew... Portugal!

It's been over 15 years since I was lucky enough to visit Portugal, (gosh, am I really that old?!)
but was absolutely delighted to see J Crew's Spring catalogue shot in throughout Lisbon and surrounding areas in Portugal. Soft, muted tones against the gorgeous weathered architecture, rich golds, oversized gems and lovely pink roses everywhere!

This season's catalogue is a real feast for the eyes...

Loved the bright, fresh shots of turquoise blue - it's instantly energizing!

And for more fun, be sure to go to their site to see outtakes from their five day photoshoot and so many photos of beautiful Portugal.

{The tiles!! - need I say more? You simply have to look!}

{All images: J. Crew}

Easy DIY: faux porcelain vases

Dying to try this clever DIY project - so clever and so (seemingly) easy by Erica from PS I Made this. Get ready to channel your inner Adler and try this project - I'd love to try a glossy white office set.

{Images: PS I Made this, also seen at Design Sponge}

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

A fresh look in black + white

The home on the cover of this month's Style at Home caught my eye immediately. A chic black and white palette and floooded in light, jewelry artist Rikke Granscoe's home is stunning with classical architectural details like crown molding and vintage window latches. This fresh space was indicative of what was to come in this month's issue. I was pleasantly surprised with the magazine's updated look and lots of beautiful inspiration.

A simple black and white palette combined with more casual furniture - the X based dining table, natural jute rugs and overstuffed white upholstery gives a understated, sophisticated tone.

A picnic style bench give a casual tone to the eat-in kitchen.

The bright floral prints mounted on glossy acrylic pop against the calm white palette.

{All photos: Photography by Anita Behrendt for Style at Home February '10 - get it on newsstands now or visit them online.}

A dashing little gentleman + A winner...

The winner of the Photography Art Store give-away is Camberley from The Bella Life.
Congratulations!

{Please email me your contact details so we can arrange to send your prize to you :) }

{Image: Club Monaco}

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Darlington Apartment

It's been quite a while since I first saw this photo (below) of this perfect little entrance vignette and instantly fell in love. Simple, modern and full of carefully selected little details - the fashion books, the casually leaned art, the black tassle key chain on a glass paneled door and of course - the most adorable little pair of red rubber ballet flats... oh, I could go on! But needless to say, I was happy to come across the rest of this beautiful space, and thrilled to see that the rest of the apartment was just as nice.

An all-white space with lots of natural touches - hard wood flooring, sea grass rugs and wood furniture and picture frames. Strong natural elements have such a grounding force, I find it gives a much more relaxed atmosphere and instantly lets you unwind.

The home has a strong focus on mid-century modern, but the relaxed furniture and organic textures give it a modern boost and stop it from looking too stylized.

I love the blood orange colour of these bentwood chairs against a naturaly pine table, combined with an oversized blackboard and quirky overhead lighting = so much fun!

Oh, so zen - this beautiful kimono is like a work of art hung on a clean white wardrobe.

And of course, like every perfect apartment, it happens to have the perfect outdoor space. I'd happily spend hours reading out here in the warm afternoon sun. The trumpeted moonflowers hang overhead - a favourite of mine, we had them in our backyard growing up.

Like this beautiful space, I think it's also quite important to point out that these 'perfect apartments' are not lavish or overly extravagant. Just simply presented and carefully edited - also a big statement to how beautiful things are against a simple white backdrop.

{Photos:Arent & Pyke. 'The Darlington apartment' in Sydney, Australia was designed by Arent & Pyke, and
won the Best of State Residential Design Awards in 2009. Don't you love the name?}

Sartorialust: Basic winter black

It always brings a smile to see a burst of winter sunshine after days of grey. I love the constrast of matte black against the warm glow of the sunlight in her hair. Beautiful.

{Photo: Garance Dore via DefinitelyGolden}

Monday, January 25, 2010

Bright stars

What better to compliment all white than a big dose of bright colour? Sounds just about perfect on a rather dreary grey day. This Sydney couple wanted neutral space to serve as a backdrop for their creative endeavours. The result is a bright and happy space flooded and perfectly showcasing the most cheerful, candy hued art and lush tropical flowers, it made me happy right away, just to see it. Needless to say, I'd like to move in right away...

{Photos: Prue Roscoe for Australian Vogue Living found at AubreyRoad}

Breathing space...

My mind's always a little chaotic on a busy Monday morning, seeking the solitude of all white to ease into a new week...

{Images: 1,5- MarthaStewart, 2- MelanieAcevedo,, 3,7- Laurie Frankel, 4- Shawn&Amy via ApartmentTherapy}

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Weekend amore...

A special milestone and just couldn't resist a little getaway to one of the most exceedingly romantic cities imaginable - Venice.

The longest lunches in the darkest corner of a charming cafe, shared with the person with whom you can spend hours talking about anything and everything...

Idle strolls and stolen kisses in a maze of winding corridors...

Never passing up delectably sweet treats, with two spoons to share...

The soft, warm glow of a city that seems to sing sweet nothings to you...

The vivid contrast of brilliant aquamarine blue against soft coral and pink...

A quiet moment alone with your thoughts and a satisfied feeling that at this moment,
everything is in its right place...

Collapsing in happy exhaustion after a day that was pure bliss...

Waking up to a brand new morning - shimmering with irridescent sunlight, the fresh breeze blowing in your face, and the delighted moment when you realize you get to do it all over again...

{Two years ago today, I ran off to a courthouse with a man I love even more now than I did then. To Andrew- thank you for always having faith in me, and making me believe that nothing is impossible!}

{Photos: Mario Testino for Vogue, July '05, Stylist Grace Coddington via the lovely Dustjacket Attic;
photos of Venice taken from Tablet Hotels}