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

CHRISTMAS WISHLIST 2017

From Top Row :
William Morris Cushion Cover $66.32 Here, Diptyque Candle in Tubereuse $78 Here, Ivory Heidi Table Lamp $129 Here, Cynthia vase by Grace by Linen House $59.95 Here, Desert Linen Quilt Cover by Kip and Co $299 - $399 Here, Wingback Chair by Tom Dixon 3285 pounds Here ( Please check websites for more information on prices. I've chosen websites from all over the web so prices may not always be in Australian dollars ) 

I enjoy creating these wishlists even if the things in them are totally out of budget ( aka Wingback chair but the dramatic shape makes it very lustworthy ) These are some of my favourite items for 2017. It's always fun to buy things that make your home that much cosier. Things like candles, throws and cushions not only look good, but actually make you feel more comfortable being at home.

I've finished my Diptyque candle which I bought in a Yuzu scent and would love to splurge on the Tuberose one which was my runner up favourite after the Yuzu ( FYI : Diptyque candles don't have a very strong scent, so if you're looking for something that's going to be very dispersing, you might want to try something else ) The Cynthia vase would have to be my favourite item in this family. I love the tortoise shell colouring which I think would pair well with red or orange flowers.

I've had Yapatkwa Tapestry bookmarked in my Etsy list for months now. I began to be interested in Tapestry and textiles just shortly before I returned to Melbourne and their store has the works when it comes to that. William Morris is an amazing artist who specialised in lots of Textile designs during the 1800's and its his designs which I'm really, really drawn to. The cushion above is just one of the many designs featured in Yapatkwa's shop and if you're looking for a gift for someone who seems to have everything, I'd say this would be a really good answer to that.

From Top Row : 
Alto Red Wine Glass Set of 4 $59.95 by Countryroad Here, Caboche Table Light Foscarini 510 pounds here, ' Gervase by the Pool ' Giclee Print by Luke Edward Hall 195 pounds Here, Tanum Rug $19.99 by Ikea here, Recycled Aluminium Bowl by Oxfam $19.95 Here, Bodum Chambord Coffee Press 4 Cup $44.95 by House here 

My runner up item after the Cynthia vase would have to be Bodum Chambord coffee press. Often we tend to go cheap on certain items which is understandable but the thought of starting my day with this deluxe coffee plunger sounds like heaven. Right now, I have one that I bought from Kmart which does the job fine but it lacks the ease and comfort which I know this high quality plunger would bring.

I've been to Ikea to check out these Tanum rugs and they're great. The colours complement each other well and best of all, they're affordable. Pairing two together will be long enough to be a hall runner and I can see them being easily used in any room of the house. I've also included something from the Oxfam shop in the spirit of Christmas. They have some nice homewares in there including lots of bowls, knickknacks and bags. I've been getting into fruit bowls lately, so I had to include a bright, silver one in the list. 

From Top Row : Atlas Box by Jonathan Adler $1324 Here, Brass Tumbler by Linen House $25.95 Here, Parma Bath Mat by Missoni Home $279 Here, Colour Study by Bridgette Mcnab $850 Here, Ceramic Box by Artesania De Galicia $155 Here, Prussian Carp Pillow in Paprika by Luru Home $174 Here 

I was very taken by the Atlas Box by Jonathan Adler. It's nifty, each compartment slides out as a tray for small belongings and knick knacks. It's beautiful and would be a character building addition to any shelf. I'm a sucker for nice boxes, so I had to add the ceramic box by Artesania de Galicia as well. The Missoni Home bath mat is almost too good to use for the bathroom. In fact, I would happily use it as a wall hanging as some people do with rugs and textiles intended for floors. Missoni home do some incredible textiles. It isn't an everyday purchase but if you're a fan of textiles like I am, their website is definitely worth a visit just for the textiles perve.

From Top Row : Dos Lineas de Miro Shower Curtain $51.74 by Society6 Here, Thomas Bedside Table by Brosa $249 Here, Marble Soap Dish by Linen House $21.95 Here, Leopard Object by West Elm $49.00 Here

The Leopard Object by West Elm would look really nice on a table as a 'paper weight' for books or on a shelf. I love statement ornaments especially ones in gold or silver. I haven't really been to many homes where people still use shower curtains but if you do use them, I feel like getting a statement shower curtain instantly gives your bathroom a staple vibe. Novelty ones will always be my favourite despite my continuing penchant for more grown up choices in furnishings.

This Christmas I'm going on a camping trip to Lake Eildon. I can't wait to spend some time painting in nature and also just relaxing next to the lake. I hope you'll have a really fun Christmas and get a good rest over the new years break too. Happy 2018! 

WAVERLEY ANTIQUES BAZAAR

I have to say, the best part of China is Chinoiserie and I'm pretty certain that it wasn't even really cultivated by the Chinese but rather the French who took to it and made it their ' own '

Some beautifully packaged and displayed house paints for sale 

Yesterday, I went to the Waverley Antiques Bazaar ( website ) which is conveniently located just one suburb away from me. I have to say, I was absolutely amazed that there was this gem so close to my suburb where to be quite honest, there's really nothing that interesting at all! The first thing I thought of when I came in was " This place is a really well kept secret". In my twelve to thirteen years of living and knowing all the good places to shop in Melbourne pretty darn well, I have never even heard of this place until today. I found out whilst just doing a bit of research of good markets and bazaars for antiques and I caught wind of this. It just proves you never know what's around the corner.

Let's just stop and appreciate how excellent this Wooden bar is. 

I'm really impressed with this place and I have to admit, I feel like I'm giving away a good secret because the prices here are really cheap and the selection of items is excellent. The best places to go for vintage and antiquey items will always be further out from trendy areas where store owners are clued up about their clientele. There were lots and lots of vases, jewellery, knick knacks and also clothing too. I was most impressed with the range of homewares there like cups, plates, jars etc. The actual place is huge. I spent about three hours browsing and even then, I feel like it wasn't enough time to properly sift through the amount of things that are packed in there. 

This particular stall was my favourite. I could tell straight away the owners of the stall had a good eye for sixties furniture. These are some champagne saucers which were on sale ( and were displayed beautifully in the wooden bar just above) that I really loved. I was contemplating buying them but the miser in me poked his head out and asked, " How often do you really drink champagne?" The quality of the items were high as well. They felt brand new and not vintage at all. 

Annoyingly, I am awesome at being able to pick the most expensive item in any shop without even knowing the price in the first place. I fell in love with an orange porcelain sculpture of a woman made in Hungary but it was unfortunately way out of budget at $495. I stupidly didn't take a photo to show you guys but I just wanted to include that tidbit of information and how often it happens.

These days, I do have more of a penchant for brand new items but I will never ever rule out a browse in a bazaar or second hand shop. I love antiques and items from another time. They just have a completely unique vibe about them that new items completely lack. Having items here and there that are vintage is definitely my thing and I'll always love looking through places like I went to today.  There's nothing that genuinely gets me excited like a day at a brand new market to explore. 

The gold lion against the plate .... 💯 

Very, very close to purchasing these but I've become an extremely discriminating shopper these days. What stopped me was that I don't really drink cold liquids that often so they most likely wouldn't of gotten used. But seriously, aren't these so good!? 

Also contemplated buying this coffee jar. The one at our house is looking a bit grey these days. Can't go past pops of colour.

Super gorgeous pieces right here. I love the chair and the table ( looks like a backgammon one ) I'm pretty sure the chair is a special type but i'm not sure what it's actually for. I still think it would make a really stately piece in any living room though 

I couldn't believe this was only $95. Seeing this reminded me straight away of Paris and I wondered whether this was used in a cafe back in the sixties or fifties in its hey day. The ashtray was slide-able. I can definitely see someone lighting up using this table whilst enjoying a drink late a night. Again, I was impressed with the selection of things here when I saw this piece.

The thing about these bazaars is that you can get so overwhelmed with the amount of items that are for sale. When it comes to these sort of stores, I do think it's best to be as discriminating as possible as our sense of judgement can often get swayed when there are just so many things demanding our attention. When I was younger, I wasn't that good at doing this and ended up wasting a lot of money. But now, seeing as I know my own style a lot better, shopping has become a lot more efficient on my time as well as money.

This got my attention and I was contemplating getting it 

There was one stall which focused on Italian and imported fabrics as well as tapestries. I really liked this particular piece of fabric. It had a reassuring weight to it and I was thinking about using it as a rug for my room. I was drawn to the colours and pattern most of all. It would have complemented my muted red throw really well.

All in all, it was a trip that was well worth the visit. If you drive and have a day off, then you should definitely come and check this out. The prices are excellent and so is the choice of items. Thanks for reading! See you in the next post!