Mouth dropping, swoon evoking perfection

It is as it says in the title. I was doing my usual internet snooping, killing a few hours clicking on one link, being taken to another etc until WHAM, I was stopped dead in my tracks by this show stopper. Take a little peak around the beautiful Waiheke Island (NZ) abode of Kate and Barry Hastings. They have thought of everything – little cozy reading nooks, shutters on the verandah (so you can sleep out there on steamy nights), flowing living spaces and oodles of warmth and character. Every single room has something that I desperately covet. Go on, go see for yourself!

Source | NZ House and Garden

Easy like a Sunday morning

We are now pushing our way into what should be a crisp and chilly Autumn. Errrm someone neglected to tell Sydney that because yesterday we baked down at the beach with temperatures hitting 27 degrees. The sun was hot, the water was warm and there wasn’t even a breath of wind in the air. It sure is a far cry from the icy Autumns London used to throw at us. (LOVING it by the way)! But today has seen a change and a hoodie and brolly was required on our walk down to the beach to get our favoured Sunday coffee. We are currently tucked up inside, enjoying Anzac biscuits and movies while a red lentil curry simmers away in my new slow cooker. Man I love Sundays!

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Did I tell you about this?

Excuse me if I am a little frazzled but I have been up since 3am when our wonderful neighbours, 3 floors above us decided to come home and be sick all over the building and onto our balcony. And you would be forgiven for thinking this, but no, we don’t live in a frat house. Turns out we are not cut out for apartment life and have been researching breaking our lease. It’s a little stressy round here so it’s no surprise that my mind keeps wondering to our magical Christmas break. Did I tell you about it? We spent 2 weeks with family and friends in one of the most beautiful spots in New South Wales.

All images via Wishful Thinking

Can’t help myself… must pin them!

Every now and then my Pinterest board blows up with a particular kind of inspiration for me. I’m not always conscious of what I am pinning but before I know it, a pattern has developed. Lately, it’s been subway tiles. Now I know they are nothing new and the trend might already be waning (please say it isn’t so) but I can’t help myself, I can NOT pin them! It’s these beauties with the dark grout that have my heart in flutters.

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Those clever Belgians

I’ve been bad. Very bad. I just woke up with this urge to shop on Saturday, and shop I did. I’ve just looked up from my laptop position on the sofa and did a quick survey of our open plan living room and kitchen and every available surface is cluttered with miscellanea (all beautiful and all necessary of course). This brings me great joy because I love me some layers but I’m already thinking of all the dusting I’ll have to do and all the cursing I will be doing when we move again. It’s times like these that I wish I was more practical and sensible and well, Belgian. They always seem to have the right balance in their homes. Not too much, and certainly never sparse. Which ultimately means less time dusting and more time drinking delicious beer. Take this Belgian farmhouse below for example – simple raw materials of chalky wood, rustic bricks and polished concrete are all the accessories a house like this needs. I could do this… maybe.

Source | Remodelista

Every Little Thing – Week 2

Just a couple of snippets from our Sydney explorations as tourists in a new city. Woollahra was next on our list…

Vincent looked like a good place to be romanced (*hint*hint*)

You know I am a sucker for good signage

Note the neat pile of newspapers – freshly delivered by the newspaper fairy

I’ve already sized up the curtains

Either here or Vincent, I am not fussy

All images via Wishful Thinking

For a quiet, rainy Sunday afternoon

As much as it pained me to get rid of most of my possessions a few months ago, I knew it was cathartic for me to purge. If we are being honest here, I might as well fess up and admit that I have been shopping up a storm, replacing all (and then some) of the items that I gave away or turfed. I have had far too much fun discovering some fantastic Aussie shops but I really miss my beloved Amazon (which I used every month in the UK). In particular, I miss being able to by a book on a whim and have it be waiting at my front door the next day (although I have recently discovered that I can buy from the US Amazon, I’ll just have to endure the wait). Top of my order list will be The Inspired Home: Nests of Creatives by Kim Ficaro and Todd Nickey. The book details the personal styles of eclectic creatives – apart from being the pure eye-candy you can expect from a beautifully curated interiors book, it completely satisfies my unashamedly nosy nose. Here’s a sneak peek inside:

Source | Remodelista  Photography | Ditte Isager