Designalogue

Meh. Its winter. I’m cold and well, a bit grumpy.

So I’m self diagnosing my meh with a case of the winter blues and prescribing me some happy pills in the form of eye candy. STAT!

My eye candy trip goes a little something like this…

I will begin by a quiet and lazy read in this armchair by the fire. A good spot to read the new issue of Inside Out.

(something about that fire makes me keep looking…)

1.

After my initial mag flip through, I’ll walk down the hallway,

2.

And up the stairs,

3.

Through the dining room (made the detour just to get an eye full of the blue!)

4

Then into the sitting room, where I ‘ll skim the shelves looking for a book to read, while taking in an eye full of the fabulous stripey blinds.

5.

I’ll stop by the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

and a snack…

6.

I will eat my snack of choice whilst warming my legs while I stand by the fire.

7.

Then I will make my way into the sun room where I will drink my tea, basking in both the winter rays, as well as the beauty of the brass coffee table (or is it dulled copper? either way – yum!)

8.

About now my meh is softening somewhat.

But instead of a sun soaked read, Im feeling lazy (warning – tread carefully, Im still a bit meh & can bite!!) so instead,  I will head to the media room where I will watch some episodes of Grand Designs -hoping to see the one about the Huf haus (those Germans are efficient & clever aren’t they!)

If thats not doing it for me, then I will watch Labrinyth for the millionth time.  This scene never fails to cheer me up.

9.

After basking in my Bowie glow, I think a bath. This one will do:

10.

Though really, I would prefer this one:

11.

Whoa, the eye candy pills are kicking in……I need me a nap.

This bed looks inviting enough to do the job…

12.

Sweet dreams!

I hope my eye candy come down isn’t too harsh!

Picture credits:

1. Random file found – not sure where came from   2.   Tracey Garet Design 3. Another random 4. S Russell Groves 5. Tracey Garet Design  6.  S  Russell Groves 7. Jason Martin Design 8. Tracey Garet 9.  via Things that Inspire 10. Blustin Heath Design 11. Cote Maison via la Lampshade 12. Peter Dunham Design

So Happy new year to all! 2010 -sounds so futurey doesn’t it!

I’m just popping by very briefly to say Hello & ask the questions that usually follow on from greetings (feel free to respond in the comments!)

I plan on returning with more semi regular posts kinda soon – I’m just waiting for the blog mojo to return!

In the mean time – a shot of eye candy via An Indian Summer:

Via An Indian Summer

Psst – I especially love this above picture as just recently I picked up an exact little basket table at the local charity shop for $5 – bargain!

Now just to find a home for it.

Recently when I was perusing the interwebs, I came across a great example of that old thing called  ’same same – but different’

This example of which I speak is the boutique showroom of the clever LA based design duo Woodson & Rummerfield.  They think of their retail boutique as the most stylish house on the block.  Having had a look through photographs of their showroom, I wouldn’t doubt that it is just that!

So then, same same- but different… The W&R showroom is a great example of how the same space can be completely transformed into a different space by changing the furniture, colour schemes & wot not!

See:

The first image is a room setting furnished with beautiful Florence Broadhurst fabrics & wallpaper (side note: the fabric on the ottoman is so fabulously gorgeous & a current obsession of mine – I am busting to use it somewhere!)

So, same room, same furniture layout but different wot nots.  Looks quite different to the room above though -yes?!

& repeat……

Whoops! The repeat function got a bit stuck!

OK, so granted the above are still all in a similar design atheistic, but I think you can understand the point of which I make!

All pictures via Woodson & Rummerfield’s house of Design

Today is my big sisters birthday and to celebrate the occasion- I got me my favorite annual design book!

How sweet am I?!!!

Not just any book you see, its the Andrew Martin Interior Design review -featuring 460 pages of eye popping interior design deliciousness and inspiration.

Referred to around the global traps as ‘the Oscars for the design industry’. I wont dispute.

Its only available in my town for a very short time- once a year, in limited numbers and only from one supplier – I gotta get my hands on it & quick sticks!

and my hands upon I did!

Measuring at nearly 5cm or 2 inches thick -its a no go/too hard for scanning to share the goodness…but rather than totally withholding the oodles of eye candy within, I have taken a couple of crappy snaps to share the love and that will have to do your curiosity until I get around to looking up the websites of the designers featured and showing you some goodies that way.

You were warned in advance – so no petty tut tutting at the quality of  following pictures!!

And still in keeping with the horsey theme…

Tomorrow is my super cute, but not so cute tanties niece’s 4th birthday! Her present is a plum tree.

for real!

She has more than enough toys to play with or not, so fella and I decided to encourage her nature spirit by giving her her very own tree to nurture and look after!

Stay tuned to see how that turns out!

Oh,and happy birthday to you Min!

Its been a while between posts. Quite a while. So sorry for the trouble that would have occurred if you were holding your breath between postings!

Instead of making excuses for my loooong absence, I shall just proceed…..

Now, once again here at Designalogue blog, the subject of today’s post isn’t the most original or ground breaking subject to the blogosphere, in fact only just last week ever the fabulous  Design Crisis did a post on this very topic – Scattered cluster art walls things. (yes, that IS the technical industry term used!)

But this posting is once again with purpose! The purpose being to show a lovely client of mine just how fabulous cluster walls of all different shapes and sizes can look! (and the double purpose of said lovely client then also feeling confident that its the right choice for her home!)

So, enough of my prattling and on with the eye candy:

David Jimenez

Via Dwellings & Decor

David Jimenez

Nate Berkus

Jeff Andrews Design

Peter Dunham

Jeffers design Group

Via Desire to Inspire

Andrew Suvlasky Design

David Jimenez

Miles Redd

via Desire to Inspire

Preston Lee Design

Miles Redd

Jeff Andrews Design

Via Ish & Chi

Kathryn Scott Design

Via Ish & Chi

Just a few pictures there to get the point well across!

Well thats all for now – I’m off to organize me a picnic! Fella & I are off for a loved up sunset cruise tonight on this!

So until next time peoples!

It all happened in the blink of an eye and before I even knew it, Designalogue blog turned a whole year old – today! Happy Birthday blog!

Sorry I neglect you often blog -but then, I never promised you anything else.

So to signify this momentous occasion, some random eye candy! (Cause blog, I ain’t got the time today for anything else!)

SR Gambrel

Kara Mann Design

Tim Clarke Inc

Nate Berkus

SR Gambrel

Kishani Perera

Kishani Perera

Kishani Perera

Kishani Perera

Miles Redd via House Beautiful

Aw, all just so pretty!

All I want to say is that I think this photograph is fabulous.

Katie Lockhart via Desire to Inspire

I wanna get me a giant bunny too!

The other day I had quite a beast of a day!

I went and heard the Paul Simmons co founder & creative whizz of wallpaper & fabric fabulousness Timorous Beasties talk – not once, but twice!

Lucky for me he is a great speaker full of interesting stories (told in a fabulous Scottish accent!), gorgeous goodies to show and not even too bad on the eye!!

I first heard him in the morning talk at a seminar at a trade show that was in town where he talked about the ‘evolution of textiles’ – a subject I could listen to for days and weeks as its totally my thing!

One story, which sadly I don’t have any visuals to back me up (so just use your imagination please!) was about a toile from the 1770′s. (for those not in the know, a toile is a fabric depicting a scene or story – usually in one colour….this is what wikipedia say!) It featured a young woman and a man having a chat, then in toile fashion as the pictures go on-the story evolves and in this case the is man getting a little tooo frisky and forcefully with the young innocent lady, and then as it goes… the young women is left destitute on the street with a baby. Ah, history in pictures! (and ladies you be warned!!!)

Historically, toiles clearly weren’t too shy about showing the macabre sides of life, unlike now where they generally are all about the pretty and fluff!

So after a really interesting morning talk, I then heard him again at a suppliers ‘doo’ in the evening -oh, but I wasn’t stalking him or nothin!! Again some more stories and a good look at the fabrics and papers from his ranges. I had a wee chat with him, but possibly surprising to those who know me –  I get all shy and don’t know what to say- so I don’t get to dazzle him with MY fabulousness!?!! Instead a few of my ‘design friend gang’ downed the champers and giggled in the corner until heading to the pub near by to do more of said giggling and champers downing!!!

Anyway – onto the visuals……following are some of the designs of Timourous Beasties:

Oh, isn’t this a pretty little bar scene. I can totally see Nana Beryl or Auntie Val pouring an afternoons secret shandy in here.

Hang on… Just what is going on on that wall….lets look a little closer:

On closer inspection this toile shows modern London:  kids drinking in the park, someone getting mugged at gun point. Does Nana Beryl even know?!!!

Moving on….Oh, isn’t this lovely. a cute orchid print wallpaper in this cute restaurant.  Lets order shall we…I have decided this restaurant is of Asian influence, so I will have spring rolls for starters, then some other kinda yummy after that.

Um hang on, what is that blur in the background? I think I need to look into this wallpaper a little further too….

Hmm, good thing I did or we would have missed the manga porn image behind the flower! Spit out that spring roll Nana- we are leaving!

While that bite digests and the scandals set in our stomachs, lets just move on to more TB eye candy:

And then finally this classic flocked damask wallpaper, where all I will say is the devil is in the detail!

(psst – not the paper I would choose for a kids room!!)

Well I think that’s about enough for now! So over & out from me for now! For more of the gorgeousness of Timorous Beasties click yourself onto here and enjoy!

The subject of todays’ post is anything but a unique and groundbreaking subject matter to the regulars of the blogosphere.

But as well as the place of random eye candy and occasional life happenings updates, Designalogue is also a place where clients drop on in and see what I have been up to and see examples of the things that I have been prattling on to them about!

So today’s post is just that! For the lovely Mrs R – this is what I’ve been going on and on and on about!…

The rest of you are ofcourse more than welcome. so strap yourselves in – there is a whole lotta coming…

So then… banquet seating…

Strike the vinyl number found at the local pizza joint image from your mind. As the following eye candy will prove – banquet seating is suitable for all kinds of interiors.

Psst – I also want to point out with this picture just how well a banquet can be used with classic furniture pieces. Nothing screaming kitcheney in this lil number!

Phoebe Howard

This is just a closer image of the same – just to get that point well & truly fixed in your mind! (though in the reality of this pic, I doubt the lamp could really be that close…elbows & animated conversation & all that!)

Phoebe Howard

This next little lot give good examples of how custom made upholstered furniture pieces can be used as banquet seating. I say custom made due to table heights and table lengths.

Phoebe Howard

Kishani Perera

Kenneth Brown Design

Wilson & Assoc - via Desire to Inspire

These next lot of eye candy are examples of custom built in banquets: (side note -can be a good use for extra storage underneath!)

via House of Turquoise

Via Desire to Inspire

Steven Gambrel

Markham Roberts

Steven Gambrel

Tim Clarke

Christopher Maya

Tori Golub Interiors

Robyn Karp Interiors via Desire to Inspire

Steven Gambrel

Kenneth Brown Design

Wilson & assoc via Desire to Inspire

Tim Clarke

Peter Dunham

not sure where I found this!

Always a padded bench option… may look great in a picture, but personally just makes me think of sore backs!

Homes & Gardens

Diamond Baratta Design

These next are an example of purpose built installations:

Todd Romano

Shelton Mindel via Desire to Inspire

Kinney Chan & Assoc

OK, so yeah, this is the same room as above…a different angle…but the chairs are quite fabulous & deserve another look in!

Kinney Chan & Assoc

Andrew Suvlasky Designs

Kinney Chan & Assoc

And so that’s that subject done for now!! What do you say Mrs R – shall we do it?!!

Thoughts to share anyone?

The Cockatoo, for those who aren’t in the know; are an native bird to my lovely home land of Australia. But as this is a designed based blog, and not a bird fact forum, I will spare you from too many a detail of the pretties! Except, they are in some regional areas considered a pest, and in more city dwelling areas considered a pet! In captivity, they are known to live for up to 50 years.

My point is this, Cockatoo’s are not something that one should commit to lightly. And with this in mind, I am also thinking of the gorgeous limited edition Cockatoo rugs by Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs!

I’m sure many of you have seen the pattern of which I speak – its appearance on the front cover of the latest Issue of Australian Vogue living, has caused quite a stir in the world of late (and rightly so I say!)

Available for adoption to good homes: Limited edition rugs – three colourways, and only five of each.

Personally I think the adoption process for these lovelies is too lax. The ‘candidate’ should be subjected to at the very least a home inspection!

But alas, we know that’s not going to be the ca$e.

All I am saying is that I hope the people who adopt these lovelies, fully appreciate them and treat them with the respect that they deserve. To think of a coffee table upon, or even a baby spew incident…well that just breaks my heart!

Please. Give them a good home. I know I would make Cockatoo ‘yellow’ a very happy and long life together.