SPOTLIGHT ON, FORNASETTI

Although my preferences for interiors are now much more pared back and quiet, I can't help but still be drawn to drama and colour when it comes to decorative items. Fornasetti is wild, glamorous and right at home with any storyteller. My first impression of it was Versace meets the mad hatter with its surrealist but sumptuous designs and shapes. My favourites are definitely the candles which make the prettiest centrepieces for any dressing table or mantle. Having one piece in your home adds the perfect amount of whimsy and wonder, transporting you from daily monotony to a colourful fantasy escape.

All images and items can be found on Fornasetti's official website

BLUEPRINT FOR MY FUTURE APARTMENT

See the entire home right here

I'm going crazy for Alvhem, the Swedish real estate website which I mentioned in my previous post. The vibes, colours and looks for all these homes are beyond stunning and I'm drawing a lot of inspiration for the future through their styling.

It's actually insane how fast taste changes. In the time span between when I stopped blogging and right now, my taste has changed dramatically. What I used to preach and pander on about " Drama, colour, movement " is something that's quickly fading into the background to make way for.... nothingness. No colour,  no movement. Just stillness and pared back colours and textures ( or lack there of )

The oatmeal and dust coloured bedding completes the bedroom to make it truly a nest of comfort for the owner 

This apartment grabbed my attention immediately. We tend to go through thousands of photos in a month of idyllic surroundings, rooms and destinations but rarely do we ever find the " OMG" moment. This was it for me, I found my oh my god moment. This room is the blueprint for wherever I move out to in the future. Most likely, it will be an apartment and although that thought brings joy to me, it also stirs up fear as well since my last three living situations came with awful neighbours who made my life hell. 

Clear, glass vases are sparkling to the eye and inject an immediate 'clean' and 'sharp' feel to any room 

The gorgeous thing about this apartment, is that it has all the good parts about the Scandi look minus the 'budget' vibe that came with it as the trend set deeper and deeper into the interior design world. I love the colours here, the natural fibers and the no fuss, no detail cleanliness that comes about that. My favourite pieces of furniture has got to be the round, white dining table and the wooden chairs. The entire apartment is decked out in only around ten colours with four being the leaders of the medley.

Although colour is receding further and further away for me in relevance, I will always have a place for it in my heart. I always feel like reiterating that because I don't see myself as one of those people who 'hate' colour. But when I look at my own life I never wear it or use it. But I love it... colour is an emotional experience for me, I can't let go of it completely. I suppose it's not being forgotten entirely, but rather it's taking a different turn.

This shot compelled me to save it to my computer because of how similar the set out is to the apartments that you find in Melbourne. All the other apartments on Alvhem are perfect but the design and aesthetic is really something that is more common in Europe and not in Australia. With this one, the design is generic, I've seen it many, many times on real estate websites in Melbourne and so it was a realistic and helpful choice for what is immediately achievable. 

Avoiding colour and pattern guarantees the home to have a more calming and serene atmosphere - two things I'm always trying to seek more of in life 

Another thing that I love about this apartment is that its look is easy and inexpensive to achieve. You can virtually get everything you see at Ikea and that's absolutely fine by me. There's no shame in shopping there like some people think there is. If you're a young person, realistically, where else are you going to go? If you have a good eye, nobody will care where you get your items from. Trust me, I and everybody I know do it all the time.

The best part is that I won't have to spend a fortune to complete this look for when the big day comes of me moving out again. What's the blue print for your future apartment or ideal home?

A STUNNING APARTMENT IN SWEDEN FOR SALE

There is definitely something about kitchens and their seamless way of communicating the story of the family ( or couple, or single ) that lives there

I have to say, it feels so good to be doing this again. Blogging about amazing homes and good interiors, it literally fulfils a part of me that hasn't been nurtured in a while in lieu of studying and getting as good a marks as possible at uni. Now i'm heading into my break, I'll totally have more time to focus on PFF and pick up where I left off as best as possible.

I came across this amazing apartment on one of my favourite online interiors haunts Gravity Home. They always find the kind of homes I love and this gem in Sweden is another example of how they get it right each time. This apartment is situated in Brf Stinsen and has been listed on Alvhem which appears to be a real estate agency in Gothenburg.

What really captured me to this home is the beautiful wallpaper just behind the dining table. I love a wallpaper feature, especially when its in a dining or communal area. The owner has managed to strike a beautiful harmony by keeping everything else tonal and minimal and letting the wallpaper sing its song of colour throughout the space.

I love older styled homes for all the intricate details that new builders can try to fake but really, will never be able to achieve. Older homes are a slight obsession for me because of their time-machine powers as well as their aesthetic value  

What's terrific about this dining area is the proof that you can mix colours upon colours and patterns upon patterns and avoid overwhelm. Just look at this space here. There's flowers on the walls, inca inspired textiles on the floor and cushions that follow suit in its energy. But it all manages to eschew any sense of jarring-ness and actually communicate a homey, warm and inviting vibe. It's the exact type of style I like. Loads of personality but welcoming and inviting in its wake. 

My favourite detail? The white brick style tile on the walls - love it ! 

An all white bathroom is elegant, clean and simple. Three things we all want to achieve and is the benchmark of any timeless home. Proving that brightness and lightness elevate any space, this apartment is such a versatile and lively foundation for ultimately any project or aesthetic vision. A lush outdoor area is the cherry on the cake for this apartment. The green is a perfect backdrop for summer lunches or just a cup of tea alone on a Sunday. 

I love balconies because they just embody homey weekend living. 

DESIGNER DIARY : ROSE UNIACKE

Pimlico House Photoshoot : Originally posted here

Pimlico House photoshoot : Originally posted here
 Such a grand and regal living area which has hints to old world salons in Europe but also hooks us back to the present day by the contemporary swing of the coffee table and books 

If Grange's decorating vibes are what P.F.F aspires to be, Uniacke's homes are where we aspire to LIVE. Not that Grange's homes are unliveable, they certainly are however his homes are showful whereas Uniacke's homes are restful in a lay your head after a hard day in your own luxurious world kind of way.

“Pared-down can be cold, but with Rose it isn’t” Chrissie Rucker, The White Company source

Dubbed the queen of serene by The Sunday Times, Uniacke's portfolio of residential properties show us what it means to live well. Living well is a mix of comfort, worldiness and of course, serenity - something that Uniacke has a deep appreciation and understanding of. And what could be more appropriate of an atmosphere to come home to? Being a certified antiques dealer and furniture restorer greatly boosts the power she has to make her visions come alive and she strongly believes in mixing old and new as part of what guides her styling choices.

Pimlico house 2 : Originally posted here
Perfect simplicity - Anymore and this hallway's entire presence would be disturbed. The vases atop of the cabinet is just the right amount of decoration this hallway needs and it adds so much to the entirety of the space, in my opinion 

Pimlico house 2 : Originally posted here
Beautiful shelf space with a true emphasis on liveability. Uniacke's interiors encourage practicality, living in - not just somewhere to admire for its beauty

Her residential spaces communicate clearly to us as inhabitants. Her kitchen and dining areas make me think of private moments at 6am in the morning, knowing the day ahead is coming along and that this is the only time I'll be having to myself before things really roll in. You can imagine the kind of life you'd lead in her spaces. It's all about these moments of savouring, relishing and appreciating. I couldn't imagine anything more ideal for our homes. If we can instil this type of philosophy in our minds through conscious home making, we help ourselves by truly seeing that what we feed our homes, ultimately feeds us. 

Comfort does not mean sloppy. It can be done in irreverence and should be done in this way. Uniacke's rooms are irreverent in the sense that they are not about stimulating the senses. Like Grange's and some of O'brien's spaces, we are given a lot to work with - which is great. Stimulation is equal to excitement which is what draws novelty seekers in like me. But Uniacke's spaces proves colour and movement are not the only ways to create an impression.  

Battersea House : Originally posted here
I love the mix of Antique furnishings with the modernist and straight edged details of this particular apartment. I love a good balance when it comes to mixing and Uniacke absolutely does it in in the beat of her own drum here 

Battersea House : Originally posted here
Beautiful, practical, elegant, stylish - I could go on about how much this kitchen is in my favour. There's the right amount of glasses and objects on the shelves to make this space look homely but still minimal and uncluttered

Battersea House : Originally posted here
I love a touch of yellow in any room especially paired with some green 

Mayfair Apartment : Originally posted here

Mayfair apartment : Originally posted here

I fell head over heels for this sofa and living room space when I first saw it. First of all, the colouring is amazing. The teal and the light beige combine together perfectly. This space is completely about luxuriating in ones own time and privacy. It's a slow paced room that's welcoming to anyone who enters. It has elegance, charm and personality. There's also definitely something British about it which annoyingly, I cannot make tangible in words.

" Rose is equally comfortable hosting a meal on the kitchen table as a party for 150. The house is the perfect backdrop for entertaining because you can roam, sit, talk, relax. Nothing is too precious " Mel Agace, Film Producer source

This is such a 'claim to life' room to me because you can tell so much about the lifestyle and living values of the inhabitants. It's deceptive in its simplicity because it seems like something that anybody can put together. But the choices of colour, ornament and materiality had to have been chosen under a strict code to the initial vision in place.

Marylebone Apartment : Originally posted here

A Godwin House : Originally posted here
There are some spaces that are so stunning that there's no way they can be from the present day. I feel like this bathroom space qualifies as absolutely one of those 

Pimlico House : Originally posted here
 Although not the first word that's probably used to describe Uniacke, she is a bit of an eclectic decorator. She finds different things from a variety of places but which all share some commonality between them 

Pimlico House : Originally posted here

Pimlico House : Originally posted here

Pimlico House : Originally posted here

Uniacke's work is what homes should aspire to have a bit of. It's not about having the most impressive antiques or the most amazing wallpaper. Home is home and it should feel like a place of refuge and where you can escape and just be at the end of the day. It's a reminder that decorating isn't always just about making spaces look gorgeous, it's also about putting our extra hands at work in making a space liveable and somewhere that actually recharges us. Have a look at her shop that's part of her website here for more ideas on how to get some of her world into yours.

All photography rights belong to that of the original publisher. Photography credit is always provided if known

DESIGNER DIARY : JACQUES GRANGE

Original Photo posted here : Grange's apartment is shown here with the mountains of books and magazines on his table. I love this kind of mess. It's the kind of mess that is seen in all types of creative people's homes. This photo was pulled from an article written about Grange's auctioning off of his Art collection published by the NY times. Well worth a visit for their beautiful photos 

Original Photo posted here : I love the colour scheme here. Metallics and beiges mix together to create a very elegant and graceful atmosphere

I know I say this every week but I really LOVE this weeks designer. If there's one designer that can succinctly capture what this entire blog's decorating aesthetic is about, it's got to be Grange. I've already posted his work on Instagram about four or five times unknowingly, until things lined up together and I got a name and boy am I glad I got a name. Grange is all about old world glamour. All that kind of stuff that we're afraid to do for fear of looking too bold or ostentatious.

" It's all about Instinct. The rule is that there is no rules "source

The kind of grandness that he casually conjures comes instinctively. His interiors follow no rules or conventions. They are not outcomes of a plan or of a strict check list. When rooms come together in this way, the energy is different. The intuitive, effortless thing comes into play ( which you know I love but also have things to say about here ) He is a collector and an appreciator of beauty which I guess you can generalise to all designers but for Grange, it's his choice of objects which really spell this out to us. The kinds of things he chooses to display in his home make a large part of our impression of him.

Original Photo posted here : Gorgeous, gorgeous! Colourful pops of colour mixed with sentimental framed photos and ( one of my favourite items to see ) cups full of pencils, pens and stationery

Photo originally posted here : Excellent colour choice again. I'll never get sick of beige interiors with good choices of colour to bring it all alive. Stacked books, a mix of items on the table - Grange understands how to do the kind of messy we 'try' so hard to attain

Original photo posted here 

Grange's career reads more like a phone book of legends. Having worked with names such as Paloma Picasso, Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, Sofia Coppola and The Olsen twins just to scratch the surface, it really does seem like he never began from the bottom but has been at the top since the beginning. How many other interior decorators can boast that their very first on the job experience was working on the restoration of The Petit Trianon? His career is really one that only comes once in a while and what a true legacy he has. 

Sometimes I compare French and Italian decorating and find many similarities. Grange is skirting the line between the two, in my opinion. He doesn't hold back in the colour, lush objects and flamboyancy which gives him a very Italian flair. But his allegiance to classicism and love of modern things makes him quite French too. 

Original Photo here

Original Photo here

Original photo posted here

There is so much going on in this living room and that's why I love it. But to be able to do it with balance and symmetry is important and Grange knowingly has a firm hand on all his textures and colours here. Grange gives us a show. He gives us joy and movement and excitement through his work and he makes rooms really come alive. There is novelty in his rooms and that's why they're such a joy to look at. I love the taxidermy on the shelf above the books and the big bouquet of flowers in the vase behind the velvet couch. So many things popping out of their shells in the best way possible.

Original photo posted here : A hotel room in Paris decorated by Grange. He really loves good chairs and sofas, I've noticed. Even when he's showing more restraint you can still tell that its his work 

Original Photo posted here

What I've noticed in all industries and fields is a snubbery of fun. As people get higher in their fields, they become more conservative and dismissive of people who like to experiment or to just have fun. 

However, it's interesting to note that having novelty items such as this bird bed actually shows that someone is established in their field, where the lifestyle that's needed to create fantasy and escapism is well and truly theirs. Real wealth is being able to do this. Having the resources to make daily life, sometimes so boring, grey and mundane into something vibrant, young and joyful for everyday. 

Original photo posted here

Original photo posted here

Original photo posted here

When you look at how his rooms are assembled, you feel as if all of it has come together in his mind by the inspiration of one colour or one object. By that one instigating force, an entire world spins together.

" He makes it seem easy to get things right, It isn't easy. It is a real talent " Joe Donnelly, Art Collector source 

He's intuitive in his way of working and that's really exciting to me because I understand that way of working the best. I've always tried to make 'plans' and 'strategies' but inevitably fail hard at them. I hate that restrictive way of working. You find one item and from that one item will come a slew of colours, installations, furniture shapes etc. That's really eclectic decorating, being intuitive like that and I love how Grange is proving to us that not having a plan can work to our favour if we're confident. 

Photo originally posted here 

For some designers, it's really all about the structural and dimensional elements of the room but for Grange, it's about decorating. For me, I love grand interiors like his but feel apprehension in allowing myself to be this grandiose. This is why I love Europe. You are allowed ( and almost expected to in certain countries and regions ) to be bold, colourful and proud of your choices. Where I'm from, there is a lot more emphasis on casual and laid back style and to have your home in Grange's style might incite a lot of, "Woah, that's pretty intense" reactions. 

Original photo posted here : Even when there are only a few items on display, his never ending love of colour and texture make the space his

Original photo posted here : BRILLIANT! That table and the red accents everywhere look incredible in this white room 

Original Photo posted here : I'd love to be able to be brave enough to have super luxe finishings like that painting in the gold frame as well as the chandelier here. But the modest part of me just wins every time. 

Original photo found via Pinterest here

All in all, Grange's work is the kind of style that I truly define as amazing. As always, it's almost impossible to justify why as with all things visual that captivate and move us, but it's all to do with his love of joy, colour and movement. His appreciation for what's fine and authentic gives his work an extra boost of credibility and gusto.

It's enjoyable for me to see people with his kinds of lavish taste do it in a way that isn't ostentatious or obnoxious as can be the case quite often. It's this precise point which allays me from experimenting it in my own space. As always, what comes naturally and what is natural for ourselves is what looks the best. How true is this for Grange!

Original Photo posted here : Great vase selection here. Good colours and for the amount of gold that he's using, it's not coming across as crude or obnoxious in anyway. Expert indeed! 

All photography rights belong to that of the original publishers. Photography credit is always provided if known