A Bright Compromise…

Colour blocking has hit Australian stores. But I’m not quite ready to give up my winter neutrals for an all-out colour explosion. So here’s my compromise. Colour AND neutrals. Ingenious, no?

Here are a few of my go-to combinations:

ORANGE AND GREY – a time honoured classic for a reason, any orange works with any grey. The possibilities are endless!

Try this combination with a chunky knit cardigan in dark grey and a Sportsgirl grey pocket tee, paired with Just Jeans Second Skin jeans in a nice dark wash and classic black over-the-knee boots from Tony Bianco. Then add some orange accessories, such as this George scarf, Sportsgirl watch and citrus toned nailpolish like Atomic Orange or Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It from OPI.

CANDY HUES AND NEUTRAL TONES – just the thing to ease you into Spring.

I recently bought these shorts from ASOS (if you haven’t discovered it yet, what are you waiting for? Get your ass over there… but then come back and keep reading please) and I’m loving the way they have been styled in this picture. I’m just about as pale as the girl in the photo so I’m loving the cream shades they’ve paired the bright shorts with. Definitely something I will be trying.

I’m also loving the idea of teaming this gorgeous candy pink singlet from Dotti with these delicate cream lace shorts from Sportsgirl. Then you just throw on a cream cardigan, again from Sportsgirl, and you’re ready for the Winter/Spring transition.

I spend a lot of time in Sportsgirl, if you haven’t already been able to tell, but I bought this gorgeous oversize knit jumper yesterday and I can’t wait to wear it. The photo doesn’t do it any justice, the pink is this beautiful border-line fluorescent pink. Teamed with the lovely natural colour it’s perfect for that transition to Spring. I’m thinking dark jeans and boots now, and light washed jeans and strappy flats for later. Plus it will be perfect to throw over your denim cut-offs and singlet on those spring/summer nights at the beach when it gets a little bit chilly.

So get compromising, sartorially that is. -C

Ready to relax…

There’s some saying about not being able to relax in a messy room. And I am in desperate need of some relaxation, so that meant my room needed cleaning, asap.

I’m not an unclean person, just very messy. I will keep my workspace immaculate, don’t mind tidying up other people’s houses, but when it comes to my room, I tend to chuck things on the nearest flat surface and go.

So, this morning I waded into the sea of clothes, shoes and bags and started tidying. And the result is pretty good, if I don’t say so myself. You can see all the surfaces and I’ve even managed to arrange things nicely, in the hopes of maybe keeping it that way.

I have had my bedside table ever since I moved to a single bed when I was a kid, so it’s looking a little worse for wear. Unable to afford a new one, I thought I would spruce it up a bit with some wallpaper from a sample book of discontinued patterns. I chose subdued colours that matched the wall colour so that the look was nice and harmonious.

On the other side of the bed, my other mismatched bedside table holds some of my design books and a vase of beautiful (faux) orchids.

In one corner of the room is a little collection of items dedicated to the men in my family. A camera that belonged to my Pop, a photo of my Grandad and a photo of a floating Coke can that my dad took years ago in South Australia.

And this little vingette to hide the powerpoint next to my wardrobe. Pink cherry blossom, a beauty case from an op-shop and some round storage boxes as well as a ceramic elephant my aunt bought back from Bali.

Hanging on a wall is a pinboard that I put everything I find inspiring on. From clippings from fashion and design magazines to fabric, mementos and old movie tickets I pin anything that makes me happy onto this board. I love to lie in bed and look over it, reminding myself of good times with friends or plans and aspirations.

So that’s my room as of today. Hopefully it will stay looking just as clean and tidy for weeks to come. -C

 

The end is in sight…

I am currently lounging on the couch bundled up in a warm cardie with a cup of tea and Law & Order reruns on the TV. It seems like the best plan of action on a windy, rainy Saturday afternoon.

As I sit, my feet are resting on our brand new coffee table which has finally arrived after months of waiting. And as I look around the room I realise that it is finally looking like it might be finished soon. So I thought I’d share some of the more complete parts with you.

The new coffee table looks gorgeous with a few knick knacks, books and flowers. I had to pile some books in the open shelf underneath because my cat, Manny, thinks it is the perfect place to hide when planning an ambush.

The console table in the entrance is also looking very smart. We bought some more of the yellow flowers that inspired the accent colour, they really give a fresh feel. And we have a new mirror hanging above the table, perfect for a last minute check before you head out the door in the morning.

After we decided on the yellow accent, I found these beautiful cushions. I love the geometric pattern on the larger cushion. If only I could find a similar pattern for the Rosenstengl chair I need recovered.

Speaking of accents, I am in love with the new glass light switches we found. They match the wall colour almost exactly! And it was a complete fluke. The push-button switch is fun to press every time too.

 

 

Other things I am in love with are the 3 pendant lights hanging above the dining table. The black accents pick up the black tones in the walnut table and they lend a modern elegance to the space. All we need now is the wenge Thonet chairs to replace the current ones and tie the whole look together.

I plan to continue the black accents through the dining area in a bid to provide definition between it and the living area. I think it is important in a large open plan room to define your spaces. I also need to find a beautiful steel blue rug for the living area.

So that’s the room so far. I’ll keep you posted as the final bits of furniture arrive and I put the final decorative touches in place. -C

Life… or something like it

I have to apologise for my lack of action in the blogging department of late. I have been doing some volunteer work at a local interior design firm run by Anna Spiro, whose blog Absolutely Beautiful Things has a cult design following. Check it out for some inspiration or just as procrastination.

I suppose you could say, after months of idle unemployment I have finally got myself a life, or something like it. I will try and post something more this weekend, but for now here is a little bit of inspiration for you.

Usually a lot of the design focused stuff that I post up here is girly or at least girl related because it’s stuff that I would want in my house/apartment when I eventually get one.

But, reading Lonny Magazine this week I came across this article on designing for guys. And, with a younger brother who will undoubtably need my design prowess in the future, I thought maybe I should look into it.

Image courtesy of Lonny Magazine http://www.lonnymag.com

I love the mix of modern, retro and rustic with some kitsch thrown in for flavour. Even though it says it’s for guys, I want the cluster of giant light bulbs pendant light that hangs above the coffee table for myself.

Read the rest of the article at www.lonnymag.com, part of the new trend of online magazines. These books are exactly like print magazines however they are fully constructed and read online. Plus they’re usually free!

So that’s your small bite of the design world for now. I promise to post some more in the near future. -C