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

Aw, poor Designalogue Blog. You are so neglected by your maker. 3 months since my last post. Oops.

I wouldn’t say you have been forgotten about you dear blog…just kinda pushed you to the back of my mind while I got on with other things.  But blog guilt has  finally got to me, and so here I am giving you a bit of the attention that you desire. (Take what you can get!)

So to news of late…

I recently flew up to  Darwin for a few days to work on a project. For those not familiar with Australia’s geography, Darwin is the city up the top & in the middle of Australia where its hot, really hot all the time and they have  a lot of  big bitey things in the water. (of which I saw none – kinda sadly!) My only brush with the interesting nature of the area was accidentally peeing on a sweet little green tree frog. I didn’t realise the little guy was there until it was too late…… but saved in time before the flush! Lesson learned – when in the tropics, check where you are sitting! Even where you are sitting is in a bathroom on the second floor – wee critters like climbing pipes it seems!

Sadly and well, very inconveniently my camera died. As it turns out little snappy cameras cant handle being dropped on the floor after about 110 times. Up till that last drop, I swear it was totally fine. Life without a camera on hand to snap away is a bit sad. The camera in my Iphone  just doesnt cut it. So until a new camera comes  my way…will my vague descriptions of things work on a design based blog?

Im thinking not.

So no pictures to share of interesting things in Darwin. But hopefully  I will have got around to getting myself a new camera by my next trip up in a few months time. Maybe  then we can have a slide night?

As this is a design based blog, I cant leave this post without a picture or two – so thought I would share some chairs that I recently had re upholstered for a client:

Before – needing a bit of zhoosh!

Before....

& after….

They are part of a project that is coming along so beautifully & I cant wait to share it… but all in good time!

In Melbourne town right now you cant go to far without having some sort of horseyness image in your face thanks to the Spring racing carnival that has just begun.

So I figure, if you cant beat em, join em!

Many many many more horsey pictures coming your way soon!

via Things that inspire

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 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.

I’ve gone and got myself tagged again! This time the lovely Qerat infected me!

The point again to share 6 things about myself. But with all this tagging going on, IMO struggling to keep up with new things to share, a girl has gotta keep some mystery you know!

So Im instead going to share some Randomania instead:

1. I was reliving some childhood memories the other day and You tube-ing the fabulous TV show from my childhood  Fraggle Rock! I came across this classic gem, which the fella and I decided should be the song to get us all motivated throughout this global recession!

Um, I am having all sorts of trouble uploading this video – so you will just have to expel that tiny bit of energy & click on the link to make it work instead! Doozers

2. My favoritest film of ALL time is the Labyrinth.

3. So, I will admit.. I have a bit of an obsession…. I cant get enough of coloured glass.

I just love it and have, um, quite a bit in my house…….

There is actually more than this, but the photos were even more crapola than these. So you will just have to believe me!

4. I cant throw away, give away or even loan out my design magazines. This does create a bit of a storage issue, but I deal. Each month I buy about 8-9 mags and I devour them and re-read many times over! (Also – happily these are a tax deduction, so that’s a happy ending!)

5. I still drink coffee daily. I never pretended I was going to give it up- just keeping you up to speed!

6. I love my iPhone and hate synthetic fabrics on upholstery.

Ah, six points = done.

I don’t want to give myself a reputation for being a girl who gives infections, so once again: dear readers and blogging friends, if you wanna, do it! If not, I wont hunt you down!!

Where ever you live on the planet earth, at 8.30pm this Saturday it is Earth Hour.

So in preparation for an hour with the lights out, its candle time! What be more appropriate than this gorgeousie light globe candle from Queen B candles!

(Oh, and And just so you know it is even more perfect as its a non toxic emitting candle made from beeswax not paraffin like most other candles available – loving the Queen B candles!)

And the teacup candles are a bit special too!

I want me some!

Well happily anyway.

Could you?

In the current issue of Australian shelter mag Inside Out, there is photographic proof of what I have long suspected is true. The Truman show is real, and yes, I am the star of it.

Can you pick it up where you are in the world?!!! Do you get reception?

Anyway, the photographic proof of which I speak is a house that has long been in MY head: the location – Byron Bay Hinterland (soooo beautiful there), the of view of rolling hills I desire to stare out at, just the whole sensibility of the joint being a well thought out sustainable build and I even dig the frisky red rabbit keeping an eye on things!

If it turns out the Truman/Camilla show isn’t a happening (ah, doubt that!), then the architect and current* home owner  Sharon Fraser and I are kindred spirits cause I love it so.

The bunny is on the lookout for me!

Are sunken lounges making a come back?

Yeah, those are views I could look at.

Not such a bad scene to wake up to

Now this, is very cool indeed.

If you are wanting the TV to be the focus of the room its just like magic-now you see it… but suddenly there is more to life and you don’t want the tele to be the focus of all – so whoosh and kaboom and now you don’t!

If that doesn’t quite explain to your liking, then try this instead: Using a mechanical rope and pulley system, the painting moves up or down to cover the TV screen or not. The concept is way impressive anyway – but then in this case its a painting of fish – well, that just rocks my world people!

This rocks my world

Obviously for those who know me once I move in there will be many many more cushions (Yes, this yet another admission of ‘interior’ addictions I have)  undoubtedly  more colour and general stuff -you know a nick-nak or two!!! But I am confident it will still do it all justice!

And so how about a round of applause for my first scan job here at Designalogue!!!

Oh thank you, thank you! Now if I can only work out how to capture an image in a site using Flash……. (you people seem to do so, but I no can!)

Photographs by Richard Powers

*current – consider this marching orders! I’m moving in – oh but don’t freak out or anything i will be nice about it all!!