SHOP VISIT : THOMAS & CO, TWENTY TWENTY ONE & AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT!

PATTERN LOVE! I love the power patterns have to incite excitement in us, literally. My heart really does skip just a bit faster when I look at all of these gorgeous bowls at Thomas & co 

Being a total impulse shopper, I was contemplating for five minutes about getting this silver lamp. Silver, ball-y lights are very Sterling Coopers office in Season 4 which is definitely a point of reference for me ( see photos below )

How good is this table? The lights, the colour scheme, the glass, the lucite... YES!

Beautiful Eileen gray-esque bar cart. Sparkly, Sparkly, Shiny, Shiny  

Thomas and Co was awesome and such an enjoyable browse for me because it was ECLECTIC.  They weren't afraid of colours, patterns and choosing more daring pieces which I'm absolutely all about. And on top of that, they were quite MCM and 70's inspired which is even better. I saw lots of pieces which I loved, including the very beautiful silver floor lamp which is just above that reminded me of something Roger Sterling would've had in his office. His office in Season 4 is a point of reference for me just like Saint Laurent by Bertrand Bonello. I love having these things to call my point of references because if people ask me what I like, I can just point them in that direction. Pithy, right? 

I love every single one of these pendant lamps! 

These black leather arm chairs are beauties and that silver stool is good enough to be an ornamental piece

These elegant table lamps would look stunning next to some black leather sofas or armchairs

Twenty Twenty one was going through a huge clear out sale so if you guys are after some really noteworthy glassware and ceramic pieces, then this is the place to go. The owner of the shop and I shared the similar story of not having a certfied design background but just having a keen interest in design and decor ( his specialty is glassware, was so caught up in conversation I forgot to ask for his name! ). He also shared a couple of his decorating stories including his love for dark colours in his home and having deep reds and even deep purples that basically resembles black on his walls at home. I'm glad somebody else shares my love for dark walls and isn't afraid of using colour! It's not to be feared, it's vibrant and has movement!

It's a 'form' circus right here 

How good is this lamp? 

There was an excess of gorgeous things for your shelf here. I found lots of vases, plates, soaps, candles and ceramics  ( all on sale ) that would've looked fantastic on any shelf. I felt inspired after I left Twenty twenty one to get working on my shelf game.

There's something so pleasing to the eye to see lots of plates and bowls stacked on to of each other, don't you feel? 

An assortment of beautiful things for ones table or shelf 

Really loved the square mirror hanging on the wall 

Beautiful ceramic mugs by Robert Gordon ( website HERE ) 

I'm a colour lover, but no, you really can't beat the restrained grace that is muted tones and colours 

Afterwards I popped by to the Fabric Store on Brunswick street ( check'em out here ). If I thought that Tessuti ( blog post here ) had a great range of Liberty fabrics, then I had no idea what I was about witness at the fabric store! Look at the stunning-ness. You can't tell me you don't feel some elevation of joy just by looking at these beautiful designs?! These fabrics were for making swimwear which was evident by the sign but also after I felt the fabrics myself. Stretchy and perfect for the sea. If you're a good sewer and want some new bathers, this is such a good find for you!!! 

I bought a sample which was on sale ( $8 for half a meter, what a bargain!!! ) for my flat lay. I have a few good samples of fabric now which I think I might use for the inlay of my side table. It's nice to have something covering the wooden bottom just for that extra something, something.

And so here's the announcement. As of next week I'll be interning as an editorial and marketing assistant at Est living magazine which you can check out here. I'm super grateful for this position even as an internship thing because to be honest, even internships are a challenge to get these days. Companies treat their hiring process for them exactly the same as paying jobs and it's such a great opportunity to update my portfolio, skills and best of all, to CONTRIBUTE TO A DESIGN AND DECOR PUBLICATION! 😛 😛 😛

Watch this space for updates and possible work up on their website and online magazine as the weeks go by

-Y

Thomas & Co ( or Thomas Gannan ) 
214 Brunswick St
Fitzroy, Victoria
9416 1063

Twenty Twenty One
160 Johnston St, Fitzroy,
Victoria 
9417 6503

The Fabric Store
184 Brunswick St
Fitzroy, Victoria
9416 4455

SHOP VISIT : THE MODERN

The really great thing about Scandinavian furniture and design is that you can have a lot of it and it doesn't clash with anything else you have. They're the perfect 'foundational' pieces to build upon with other styles, colours and eras of design 

Such a photogenic way to display all the prints

Loving this set up right here. That green vase is beautiful, and the oval coffee table is a nice spin from the round one featured a couple of photos below this one 

When will winter come and deliver us from the stinking mess that is summer? These throws look so soft and warm and the colour selection is perfect! I love the bright orange, pink and green ones the best

I was really motivated to go out last week to visit more furniture stores and to actually ( gasp ) try and talk to some of the people who work there to get to know their furniture and design story. I feel like the best blogs always involve others in some way...

Pretty crazy about this vase. I love this shape and have seen lots of shoots and spreads where Hydrangeas look amazing in this shape of vase 

I came across The Modern ( visit their website here ) by chance when I was wondering from Fitzroy towards Collingwood. I had seen many Scandinavian furniture shops ( haven't we all? ) but I felt like The Modern really was the best take I had seen for a while, especially in a shops setting. First of all, I think part of that was because everything was brand, spanking new. Secondly I just think the particular pieces that they chose were just really quite excellent. It gave a soft, balmy sheen to the entire store which I loved. Thirdly, they had a super comprehensive collection of Marimekko homewares. The sales assistant, Meg kindly let me take all the rolls of fabric and lay them on a counter to take photos of.

I spoke to Meg about what kinds of things she liked to decorate her home with. I found out she was an eclectic decorator like I am and was into vintage furnishings. She also expressed her interest in the Punk movement of the 70's and how she began her career in Fashion. When I posed the question of whether she enjoyed buying clothes or decorations for her home more, she said clothes because with your home, you can't switch things up as often as you'd like. I had to agree, although I love interiors and furniture, you can't swap your old sofa or dining table whenever you wanted to like you can with your coats, tops and shoes. An old filing cabinet re-painted with a pink finishing was her item that she wanted most right now as a new addition to her home. 

I think this along with the big green vase were my two top picks from The Modern. I love a good desk for working. I think the prestige of any job is having your own 'space' to work and having a handsome desk just adds to that. Working in a space which makes you feel good will only go to improve your quality of work, in my opinion. I work best in a space which looks good and feels good and having a good desk is totally a part of that. You can put your favourite knick knacks or flowers on the top ledge of this desk and its the perfect size to force you to be mindful of the things you choose to put on it. Too big of a table allows you to bring in more which isn't conducive to being tidy.

I love a side table! Especially a well styled one by your bedside. Like clothes, we shouldn't be confined to categories ( I browse mens styles openly and will be open to buying children's sizes if they fit ) and if you see a ______ that would be better as a ______, then by all means do it. Bar carts make great side tables and in this case, what looks to be a mobile kitchen drawer ( or seems like it should be ) stands in as a living room side table perfectly. 

One of the best looking and well set up furniture shops I've seen in a while 

You get sort of excited when you go into a store and you like more than four items which was definitely the case in this shop. The sofas, dining tables and side tables were excellent. Meg also shared a tidbit with me about one of their small side tables. An inconspicuous article accompanied by a small photograph of the table ran in a Sydney newspaper to a rave response. They sold out the entire warehouse of that particular side table within days. It's crazy how such a small article created such a wave of success. 

Loved this long dining table. The gathering of friends and family in a home seems so warm and nice to me, it's really such a shame that cooking and I just can't get along

I'm really into round tables right now. Round dining tables and round coffee tables too. They have the power to soften any space. I'm also really into the cow skin rug here as well although I've begun to move away from them and be more into zebra skin lately. 

If you really like Marimekko, then you should definitely come here to see their range of Marimekko wares. Their choice of wares is just as good as the Marimekko store itself! The Modern is definitely a must if you like Scandi furniture. As I mentioned before, Scandinavian furniture is versatile and can be incorporated into a home easily because the style is neutral. Some of the best things are always chanced upon and this is definitely the case with The Modern! Thanks Meg for letting me take photos and share the store on P.F.F!

The Modern Furniture Store
176 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, VIC
9416 0564

FRIDAY BOOK STACK : VOGUE LIVING AUSTRALIA

LIVING for this 70's house. Love the winding stair case, the art on the wall and how the art and the finishings of the room match 

I'm sitting here writing this, exhausted from a whole day of visiting new furniture shops and getting to know the people who work there and what their whole decorating and design stories are. It's the best kind of exhaustion though because the most rewarding part of any project is literally the people you meet and seeing the bigger picture of what you're into. All the photos will be spread out over three entries for next week, so keep your eyes peeled. An advanced thank you to all of the shop staff ( if they're reading this! ) for letting me take photos!

I think I've basically cleaned out the entire interior decorating section of my local library so I'm gonna head over to some other libraries soon to get more lust worthy photos. I have to admit, doing the Friday bookstack is one of my favourite parts of running this blog ( and from the looks of things, it's also your favourite part too ) There's no other way you can get so many beautiful colours, items and furniture together in one place.

My fascination and obsession with the Warhol gang / Studio 54 gang will last forever. There's never been a whole group of people more gorgeous, talented, well-dressed and eccentric 

Came across this couch in the Saint Laurent movie ( I'm always referring back to that movie because it's a staple to me ) and I love it. It's a historical furniture piece called the DS-600 System Sofa

White minimalism done well 

Black furnishings and walls bring a depth of luxury into the space 

These dark, moody rooms belong to the interior designer, Abigail Ahern who discovered the inky goodness of dark tones and colours when she painted a small alcove of her home. " I was amazed by how it transformed the way a little table with a vase on top really popped out against it". Before she knew it, she painted the entire room and then another and then another. Ahern keeps it balanced by adding feminine touches such as faux flowers and curved accents. I'm very much a fan of what she's created and I hope those who don't believe black can be great for a home can see that it's actually really lovely by these photos. 

I really enjoy her bravery in doing this because I used to not be able to imagine dark colours being useable and gorgeous but now,  I'm a total convert. I think the idea of having a dark wall in a bedroom is appropriate. Your bedroom is the space to retire, to wind down and having a dark wall ( or even room, for that matter ) aids in that process of winding down. It's lights out, literally. Also on top of that, I find black to be a warm tone, funnily enough. It's warm because the black forces the dimensions of the room onto/into itself. White is more cold than black because it creates more space that goes outwards, rather than inwards like black does. Black also absorbs heat, which creates warmth physically.

Snapshots from the Missoni Exhibition

I LOVE stars! I recently bought a new star shirt which I'll be sharing with you guys soon. 

Wanted to include this for the ornate prints. William Morris ( who does designs super similar to what you're seeing here ) is one of my favourite artists for his classical drawings of flowers and plant life. I love intricate designs and I love old school prints just like the ones featured here. It's very lush and old world, vintage luxury ( both great things in my books ). I also wanted to point out that the woman on that out of this world sofa with the out of this world tapestries / textiles is Jackie O's sister, Lee Radziwill who I actually think has way better taste than the original O of the family. Her book " Happy Times " ( check it out here ) is on my wish list.

🌟🌟 More stars! 🌟🌟

So, I found a copy of the famous Panthella lamp on Ebay. The seller was in Singapore and I'm pretty sure they had a few of these stocked somewhere in their warehouse. It was also the cheapest knock off I had seen because even the knock offs can range anywhere between 400-600 dollars. I was really tempted to buy it, but I thought that the price they were asking ( $300AU ) was still too expensive for me but NOT in general. $300AU is a steal for a Panthella copy. If only I were more cashed up to purchase this because it really was an excellent find. The shape is beautiful. I'm a big fan of curved designs with soft or no edges at all. It's also very space age which is a theme that I am very drawn to. I follow the panthella hash tag on Instagram and these lamps look so beautiful in any space that you place them in. 

ARTIST : Ben Quilty 

Seeing both these fluiding abstracts reminds me of why I love painting them in the first place. It's a blender of colours, forms and there are no rules to where the flow will go next.

ARTIST : Alesandro Ljubicic

Designers Draga Obradovic and Stefano Guidotti in Sicily 

Love it. Love the gold, love the spheres, love the warmth luxuriousness

I know everybody is always dying to go overseas and I'm no different right now. I know there's a barrage of amazing shops and furniture exhibitions all over Europe and parts of the States and I'm dying to go. I know one day I'll be overseas again in no time but I just can't help thinking about all the incredible things to see in terms of decorating, homewares and furniture over the pond and I just get itchy feet! 

Instagram is seriously such an important tool. Through it I've seen and even spoken to shop owners, antique dealers and decorators who haven't been scared to reach out and say Hello. You get such a global feeling of community when people who love what you do simply give you a follow or even tell you that they like what you're doing. I've always been socially awkward but my love for decorating and beautiful things has been such an encouraging force to get more connected.

Pierre Berge ( YSL's partner and manager for many years throughout his career ) has the kind of taste and decorating gusto that I envy and admire. For one, you can tell he isn't afraid. He's flamboyant in every sense of the word. You can almost imagine him throwing colour, fabrics and flowers into the air, laughing and enjoying every moment as he does it. The hydrangeas are stunning, I think they are such a choice flower for every room. The textiles... you don't even want to get me started! It's patterns, movement and drama for days which is exactly the kind of energy I want from a room. I see a lot of these kinds of rooms in French and Italian decorating which only reaffirms my yearning to be in Europe so I can unleash my wild patterned self in unabashed vigor!

It's difficult to really take the reigns of my decorating spirit when I'm still at home with my parents. But I know that once I do leave, flowers will be a huge part of my new home. 

A great example of mantle magic 

I think for shelves to show their full decorating potential, you either have to stuff it full of things or leave them relatively bare like this. I've always been a maximalist when it comes to shelves but seeing this one with only a few items here and there is making me want to try out the simple route 

I love lucite / acrylic and glass furniture. There's something instantly cool and understated chic about seeing through something. These acrylic cubes make gorgeous book cases which are both gems for display as well as functional to use. I've been eyeing some lucite side tables on Etsy which I always keep tabs on. The best thing about clear furniture is that you can really go nuts in dressing it up, adding ornaments, place mats, flowers - the works. That makes it easy for someone who's into having 'more' like me in the decorating department. 

From a Missoni exhibition celebrating the labels long years of colour and kinship to family 

A grand example of Chateaux Chic  

I'm officially into round dining tables. I've always been square as square when it comes to dining tables but if given the choice between a square dining table or a round one, I'm pretty sure I'd pick the round one for my dining area. Round looks a lot more playful, soft and less traditional but I'm not afraid of that. 

The living area of Rosita Missoni's home. I think decorating is exactly like fashion. In fact, it's fashion for your home and I like it when I go in a room and get the vibe of the people who live there immediately. I like when a person isn't scared of doing a style fully fledged and I especially love a person who uses and loves colour just like me. What I want to see most of all when I go into a space is the 'values' of the person. Do they like colour? no colour? do they like eclectic style or unified style? Are they into old items or brand new items? 

I love that bookshelf which goes right up to the very top of the ceiling! 

I like that she's using Missoni textiles in her own home ( I think... the rugs look very Missoni to me and why not use your own label when you can get it for free or at a way cheaper price? ) 

A beautiful marbled bathroom with rose gold accents 

I'm excited to share with you my photos from my day out today next week. I'm really determined to keep the blog going as is all throughout the year even though I'm going to be crazily busy in two weeks time for the next six months. I'll be studying a Cert IV in Marketing and communication to update my skills which sees me at uni three days a week from 9-5. But as I just mentioned, I am really determined to keep things going because I'm sick of ditching projects before they get to their fullest potential. I also may have some exciting news to do with decorating depending on how things go next week... so just keep your eyes and ears open ✌ ✌ ✌

Have an awesome and relaxing weekend!

Vogue Living Mar / April '16
Vogue Living May / June '17
Vogue Living Jan / Feb '18
https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living