Designalogue

If you gave me a verbal description of this house:  Canary yellow walls, bright blue ceiling, timber veneered dining room, black marble fireplace – I would most likely have smiled at you ever so sweetly and thought to myself – EW, someones stuck in 1985 …or thereabouts (hey – don’t get time specific picky on me!)  

But it works! – I really dig it!

Its no wonder really. It is the work of a clever Melbourne designer Geoffrey Browne who is well known in these parts for his design fabulousness! He knows what he is doing – Indeed! 

He has no website (that I can find) to show more of his fabulousness – so you will just have to trust me when I tell you he is a clever fella with a whole lotta gorgeousness strings in his bow!! 

There are a few pieces I could live with out – Romanesque columns for one, but overall I think its a whole lotta fabulousness!

I know in reality I couldn’t really live with a white sofa – (I cant even wear white due to the spillage factor – Im a mess, its true!) but this white buttoned number does things to me… and the canary yellow -i want more, more, more! Ahh…

It is in fact currently for sale details here 

I have a new Designer Crush!

This time it is Molly Luetkemeyer from LA design firm ‘M Design Interiors Inc’ who is very worthy of this prestigious title!

I am completely smitten by her work.

Looking through her portfolio, it is full of spaces with such personality and soul -something I really value in my own design work.

I want to hang out in each and every room here!

Marc Newson is a rather clever fella! I remember the first time I heard his name, Madonna was lounging upon a cool metal loungey chair that looked oddly enticing in a ‘who cares about comfort’ type way in her film clip ‘Rain’.

Apparently an Australian Industrial designer had made this chair – his name, Marc Newson. My Design Crush began…

Since his Madonna days, he has been a clever and rather busy fella! Designing bags for Samsonite, a concept car for Ford, lots of stuff for Alessi, first class lounges at the Melbourne Airport (that I am unlikely to ever see!) and the odd cool bar and restaurant in NYC, a hotel in Madrid, Boutiques in Berlin, a lighting gig for the Sydney opera house at the Olympic Games in 2000, And, ofcourse I cant forget to mention a jet AND space plane. Variety IS the spice of life, as it is said!!

He is Uber cool. My Designer Crush could be love…

Marc Newson - where my crush began - The Lockheed lounge 86-88. Pic via Design Boom

Marc Newsons' Ford concept Car. Milan 2000. Pic via Design Boom

Marc Newson- Ford Concept car 1999

Marc Newson- Qantas First Class Lounge via Cool Hunter

Marc Newson - Qantas First class lounge via Cool Hunter

Marc Newson -Kelvin 40 Concept jet

Marc Newson Space plane 2007

Marc Newson - Lighting the Sydney Opera House for the 2000 Sydney Olympics

Marc Newson Hotel Puerta America, Madrid 2005

Marc Newson - Syn Recording Studio Tokyo 199

Another Obsession Confession from me today!

Today I’m feeling stripey! – I DO love a good bold stripe!

Robert Passal

Robert Passal

Siskin Valls Interior Design via Desire to Inspire

Kate Parkin

Markham Roberts - Still stripes!

Siskin Valls Interior Design via Desire to Inspire

Burnham Design

Miles Redd

via Habitually Chic

CMD

Ingelwood stripe

Todd Romano

When I am looking at designers and stylists portfolios, I always love looking at the bits and pieces they use to style up the shot!

My favorite accessory is fruit! An instant shot of freshness!

Abi Boura Stylist - Via Desire to Inspire

Angela Free Design

Miles Redd

Gabellini Sheppard Associates Via Desire to Inspire

Camilla Molders Design

Abi Boura Stylist via Desire to Inspire

Amy Devault via Desire to Inspire

Markham Roberts - I spy a sneaky pineapple!

Jolanda Burkhard Stylist via Desire to Inspire

Jolanda Burkhard Stylist via Desire to Inspire. I spy a fig branch!

Diana Civil

Dominic Blackmore -Stylingworld

Selina Lake

Mary Macdonald via Stuio Annetta

Antoine Proulx via Studio Annetta (LOVE the rug too!)

Abigail Edwards@Era Management -via Desire to Inspire

House Of Pictures

I think a good way to start his blog is to share a few of my ‘Designer Crush’s’!

Unoriginal to design blog land, I am a huge fan of American designer Kelly Wearstler! I love the drama she creates in her work. I find her use of colour so emotive and powerful.

I first ‘found’ her years ago when I was in a book shop flipping through some design books and I just couldn’t put it down! Happily on that day the ‘fella’ & I decided to each buy one book! I chose her book “modern glamour” and ‘tall man’ bought “1000 films you should see in your life”. Quite a contrast!!! Not surprisingly, I have devoured my book & I know he has barely looked at his!

(Due to my ‘novice’ skills here so far, I have no Kelly Wearstler pics to share – so check out the KWID website to see her gorgeousness!)

Another ‘designer crush’ I have is on Kathryn Ireland. I was lucky enough to hear her speak at a trade show here in Melbourne a few weeks ago. She is full of energy and I could have listened to her talk for hours! She is a shameless name dropper (by her own admission!) and I loved every second of it!!!

As well as doing fabulous decorating projects, Kathryn also designs her own fabric range, beautiful patterns printed onto hemp base cloths. I am yet to get my hands on her fabrics but will devour when I do!! In the meantime the signed copy I have her book “Classic Country” will have to do it for me! (who is the name dropper now!!)

The image below is off her own kitchen in her house in LA. I LOVE the colours & un-preciousness of the interior. Its a kitchen where real lfe happens!! its not shown here, but this room also has an original ‘Damien Hirst’ piece. A modern peice that doesnt look out of place!

Kathryn Ireland via House Beautiful