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

WHAT MAKES A BEAUTIFUL ROOM? / ' DECORATING VALUES '

Image found on Tumblr with unknown credit

Credit goes to : Abe Martinez, originally posted on Apartment Therapy here

Credit goes to : Sandra Rojo, Originally posted on Apartment Therapy here 

Image found on Tumblr with Unknown credit 

Whenever I come across a space that I love, the first thing I try to do is to ' work out ' why the place looks so good. I pick apart all the elements of that room and try to see what meaningful connections I can make to reveal the answers to why that space is so GOOD. Sometimes it's obvious why but at other times, you really just can't work it out.

Is it the choice of objects? Homewares? Furniture? Is it a matter of taste or is it a matter of space?

Beautiful spaces talk. They give us an impression of something 'living'. The space has its own life and attitude. If you're unsure what I mean, recall a time where you've been within a space that you've regarded as beautiful. Didn't it represent something bigger than simply just a room? Didn't it denote something deeper like : Luxury, Timelessness, Youth, Class, Leisure and Novelty? 

Beyond simply taste in furnishings and the period in which the space is from, beautiful spaces instill peace in us. They manage to be functional, personal as well as rejuvenating. I can only go by feeling. By intuition. Wealth and money do not always promise a beautiful space. It's about a claim to living and dominating the space using that as your guiding force. It's about staying true to ones taste but also sacrificing what ' we want to do ' in favour of what's going to be more favourable aesthetically.

Image found on Tumblr with Unknown Credit 

Jo Malone Head Offices, Credit goes to : Rose Uniacke, Originally posted here 

Credit goes to :  Tom Newton, originally posted on Into the gloss 

Credit goes to : Simon Watson, originally posted on Architectural Digest

Credit goes to : Benjamin Edwards, originally posted on My Scandinavian Home, reposted by Gravity Home Blog

For Christmas, I got a book called INTERIORS NOW published my Taschen and I wanted to include some good examples of homes which showed strong ' decorating values '. What I mean by this is that you can tell just be a glance into their rooms what the owner values aesthetically. It might be colour, lack thereof, antiques, modern furniture etc. I am a super eclectic decorator which I believe can be done well but is difficult to do, so I'm always on the lookout for tips on either how to blend eclecticism together ( I'm writing a blogpost about this really soon ) or just forthright examples of one style done full throttle.

TRANCOSCO, Bahia, Brazil - OWNER : Wilbert Das 

This entirely white room was chosen for obvious reasons. What I can't resist about doing an entire room in one theme or colour is that it makes a statement. It's a 'look' and it's the most direct and easy way of creating an atmosphere. In regards to the context of that room, it's appropriate seeing as the home was in Brazil. Having an all white room harks to its beachy roots and balmy evening nights. 

JOUARS - PONTCHARTRAIN, Ile de France, France - OWNER : Olivier Auclert 

I had to put in this home because of its unapologetically weird and true to itself nature. The rest of the house also shares this rooms vibe of seventies meets opshop cave. I'd love to experience this place for its novelty because the regular accoutrements of an average home just don't apply here and I love that for it's 'beyond-ness'.

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MILAN, Lombardy Italy - OWNER : Britt Moran & Emiliano Salci

I've always liked European style, especially the really bourgeois, old school stuff. Wall paneling, flowers, gold trimmed photos frames, tapestries and designer chairs. This is one of my absolute favourite vibes! I think not only does this style show a lot of aesthetic value, it also shows a lot of familial values as well as tradition is a big part of bourgeois style.

MIAMI, Miami Shores, Florida - OWNER : Doug Meyer 

I included this to show that bright coloured rooms is an aesthetic in itself and that the owner here really goes in for the kill in his style values. Despite the pop vinyl colours, the room still retains a mature charm thanks to the cane chair and clever use of muted blues for the bedding.

Eclecticism Done well
MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia - OWNER : David Bromley 

This is a prime example of eclecticism done well. Nothing in the room has any direct unifying relation to each other aesthetically. There are pictures of butterflies, old school persian rugs, child-like looking diagrams and a horse on top of a crate with Asian characters. But somehow, it all makes complete sense! The eternal learning experience for me is going to be how to do a room like this one that looks more refined and grown up but still holding onto that playful eclectic quality.

I've learnt that for me, one of my values when it comes to interior decorating is tactile experience. If it doesn't feel right when I'm touching or holding it, then most likely, it won't get bought. Of course, this applies more to things like bedding and towels but similarly, I'm less convinced in ornamental decorations if they just don't feel right. What are some of the things which guides your decorating compass? Are you into colour? Textures or are you more of a minimalist? 

BEECHWORTH & YACKANDANDAH

Loved the idyll setting of this house and the flower bush in front of it. This was right across the cottage my dad and I were staying in 

Some Australiana 

A shelf in " Beechworth Galleries " which is an antique / junk shop in the middle of town

An entire shop dedicated to Buddha and buddha related trinkets and goods in the neighbouring town of Yackandandah 

Carol & Carol Living in the middle of Beechworth township. Thank you so much to C&C for their permission in letting me take photos of their wonderful shop! 

Just got back today after my five day long trip away to Beechworth and Mansfield and I just want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you that are reading this! I hope you guys have a really well deserved break and an awesome New years and to pat yourself on the back for working so hard this year. I'm ready for a brand new year like all of you and have lots of secret plans and projects tucked into my head that I can't wait to unleash as I'm sure you guys do too.

So my trip to Mansfield and Beechworth was so great. It was literally just the perfect amount of time away and I got so much done in terms of mentally prepping for the year to come. I also just loved the experience of staying somewhere far away from home in the peaceful countryside which was amazing. For two days, I relaxed by the lake reading my book and just enjoying the scenery before heading into town. I found this amazing textiles shop with honestly some of the best patterns I've ever seen in my life. I also enjoyed some lovely local made Jam and home grown produce. This is the best thing about country towns, their produce is literally THE BEST. 

Beautiful shelves at Carol and Carol living. Loved the unifying colour schemes throughout and its beachy vibes 

' Eva's secret ' in the middle of Beechworth township. A really great shop with beautiful displays and VM'ing 

After my stay at Mansfield, I headed into Beechworth. This was an impromptu trip since it wasn't originally in the agenda. But my dad asked me if there were any other surrounding towns I'd like to check out and I remembered ages ago someone said that Beechworth had terrific boutiques and homewares. I wasn't disappointed. They really knew how to live in Beechworth. Fresh produce, amazing homewares, good textiles and locally produced goods. The ONLY thing I would say is that I just wished that there were more shops there for me to parouse around in 👀. I bought some last minute christmas gifts at this shop called Eva's secret which is the shop just above ( They have a shop here in Melbourne's Fitzroy as well ). 

Some lovely bookends at Beechworth Galleries

' Divine Linen ' in Beechworth 

Textiles Perve : Patterns for days at ' Divine Linen ' in Beechworth 

Loved that cabinet in the front window. I don't actually think it's a cabinet but some kind shrine 

Loved all the little road side shops with their fresh fruits, vegetables and locally made jams. H-E-A-V-E-N 

The pattern selection at the Mansfield textiles shop was AMAZING and the woman who worked there was so kind and allowed me to take as many photos as I wanted to as well 

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous 

I felt so rejuvenated being amongst nature. Just seeing it around me in the car on the way there managed to get me to relax and to re-wind after so much this year. I felt cleansed just enjoying the views of the mountains, open fields and forests which made up the landscape. I got to thinking about the different types of natural landscapes that I've seen throughout my life. From Europe to Japan and China and Australia. The differing colours, forms and shapes really define the place which they grow in. 

Had to stop by the side of the road to marvel at these amazing wild flowers. Who knew they could grow so beautifully without deliberate care? I guess mother nature gives the most love sometimes 

It felt amazing to be in nature again after a long, long time 

I feel happy to be back home again and to be able to be in my 'base' place to work on Paintings, Flowers and Furniture. Let's make 2018 a year of more paintings, more flowers and more furniture to marvel and enjoy. Once again, Merry Christmas and a Happy new year to you all!