Interior Design

I am typing one fingered after surgery on my left hand yesterday, so please forgive me for keeping this brief and letting the images of today's house tour speak for themselves.  This beautiful home is the project of  Jade interiors ,  two best friends, Erin and Kirsten who are business partners in their interior design company .  Photography - Samantha Kelly I am sure you have been inspired by this lovely home, Erin and Kirsten also have a blog where you can read all about their Bluffdale project and where the pieces were purchased, along with some before photos..... Read more here

Achieving a restful nights sleep is paramount to our well being and recently I learnt that it is not just about a good mattress and restful surroundings, there are other reasons we may not be sleeping well.  I for one believe you need a restful environment for a good night's sleep and although I purchased a very good bed and mattress, decorated my room in restful colours and bought expensive bed linen, I am still not sleeping well. My nights usually consist of tossing and turning and flipping my pillow over endlessly to find the coolest part. So, late last year when Sleepyhead, with the help of Dr Libby, launched 'Sleep Solutions', essential sleep products designed to give the ultimate night's rest, I eagerly attended their launch to gather information to see if they could improve my nights sleep. The first thing I discovered was quite frightening...Did you know that in just one night we can loose up to 500mls of water from our bodies. Although Math may not be my forte...

1. Image via Pinterest/ Coastal Style This week I want to share some beautiful bathroom spaces, bathrooms are no longer clinical spaces void of design, these days they are often an extension of a master suite and should not only be practical but also elegant. Whether you have the luxury of a large bathroom or a very small space, there is always a free standing bath to fit, even for the tightest of spots. If you have room add some personality to your bathroom with a stunning mirror and a lovely chair, the perfect spot for a home pedicure.  I have always wanted a free standing bath and excited about my main bathroom down at the beach house which will have a free standing bath in front of a low window.   With regards to lighting, don't go for your typical bathroom light or spot-lights, look for something feminine and beautiful, crystal chandeliers work wonderfully in a bathroom. 2. Soften hard lines and add romance using soft drapes around a free standing bath - Design by Studiom...

1. Recently I came across a beautiful Brisbane home whose interior has been designed by mother and daughter design duo, Verandah House. I was initially drawn to the image above as I love the black and white contrast and how beautifully the bookshelf has been styled. Recently I've been helping out in a shop my son manages, Matt has a background in retail and visual merchandising and I was commenting on his beautiful window and table top displays. He said that he not only changes the window weekly, he also moves around objects in the shop to keep it fresh and interesting. I feel this attitude should also apply to our homes and I am a great believer in changing around objects by putting away some items and replacing them or moving things around from one room to another. I had a black and white theme going on in my bedroom last winter but have switched back to pale blue and white for summer. However I am seeing lots of inspiration from this Verandah House  project and a few ideas ...

I hope everyone had a great New Year, I have had a few weeks off from blogging and have been enjoying the NZ sunshine and getting stuck into my latest painting. So, it's back to the blog today and starting off the new year off with an eclectic interior I am sure you will enjoy. I have not previously featured the work of the design team from Studio Morton  but quite taken with their inspiring, eclectic style. This project in Paddington, London, has a mix of a few styles that have been brought together to create a home that surely stamps it's owners personality in this vibrant suburb. This home has in fact been featured in the UK, 2014 Homes and Garden Magazine, November issue. I was first drawn to the Asian influence seen in some of the rooms, I guess that might be because of my time living in South East Asia, I too have a few pieces of Asian style furniture. I love the simplicity of the narrow straight lines seen in Chinese furniture such as the simple black console in the hall...