Bon Voyage... see you soon!

Today I'm heading off on an exciting holiday to Europe! A belated birthday trip - where I will also be visiting my sister & [future] brother-in-law in London, then travelling through Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France, back to London for a short stay again and then through to Bangkok for a summery stopover before hitting home...

The image I have posted is from a 'Happy Travelling' card from my Mum & Dad - too cute.

I 'm off for several weeks but hope to post blogs on Palatial Living where & when I can especially all the little interior haunts and galleries I'll be checking out! So please stay tuned and I will see you very shortly - til then take care & have fun with colour & style! S xxx

Image from Hallmark - Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions.

Spring Afternoon...a little cat nap!

It's been a crazy week so far [only Tuesday!], I have a new client & have been wrapped up in their colour project over the weekend for their delivery on Wednesday evening, I am so excited because I think it looks amazing and can't wait to show them...

So this afternoon I feel like I could curl up and have a little afternoon cat-nap in this outdoor oasis and comfy lounge! I'll keep dreaming... xx S

Image from Sunset Living

The Different Faces of the Chandelier...

I have been looking at lighting options lately & came across these images of these gorgeous chandeliers... there's one for all tastes and nearly all rooms, and the best thing they don't have to be in the traditional 'Marie Antoinette' crystal look! I like them all... I just need more rooms now! Enjoy x


Images from Traditional Living

Styling on a Shoestring!

Dining Room credenza & a selection of existing objects

Fresh Flowers - usually in white, make a big difference.

Clutter free table top surfaces make for a fresh clean approach.

Flowers don't always have to be store bought - these verigated camellias are fresh from the garden.

Vintage pieces - cleaned up and newly presented.

Art work when hung over an area is best left if filling & painting cannot be done - a quick clean of frames and the works, and a small gallery is had.

Fabulous paintings - these work well because the imagery is themed [subconsciously] around foliage, landscape and flora.

A quick was of existing cushion covers and repositioning can make them come alive again.

De cluttering is the key word - allow people who are viewing your home to imagine where they would like to mentally put their things.

Vintage & timber furniture requires polishing - use good furniture oil with a soft cloth, some furniture will drink it up if it hasn't been polished in a while.

[Vintage] Photos in well maintained frames add a small touch of personality, and familiarityy.

When it comes to selling & moving house sometimes the budget just won't stretch far enough to accommodate a pre-sale makeover that includes paint, new carpet or hiring furniture - so what to do? In this this home I helped my grandmother-in-law make sure the auction sale of her home went as far as it could.

Here's How....

• De clutter - store all unnecessary furniture and objects - the more you can move out of your home (within reason) the more the potential buyers can see the entirety of the space
  sort out what you have - 3 rules toss - keep and undecided
  the undecided pile can't exceed the the keep pile and must be dealt with at the end of all three piles
  from the the toss pile if these items are saleable think about eBay, or trading post, or your giving to your local charity or church sale to help them out. Remember just because you don't want it think if does have another life elsewhere if not throw it out to the bin!
• If you can't paint then clean - some sugar soap, warm water, white vinegar, bicarb soda and vanilla essence with some elbow grease can go a long way.
• Using what you've got - after decluttering & packing away pick key pieces that are worthy to display - this doesn't mean knick knacks or porcelain figurines, or the fake flowers that still need dusting! This means a beautiful vase; glass objects or objects from overseas travels - themed if possible i.e Asian or African artifacts - not your Mickey ears from Disney land! Or working clocks that also double as standalone objects; 1 or 2 photographs - not the glamour ones or the family pixie photos, any desirable framed art work - not the Metallica poster still blue tacked!
  but do not clutter!

Lastly the one thing I would spend money on when getting your home ready to sale (other than professional advice such as this!) is fresh flowers. depending on the home and the targeted potential buyer sometimes a mixture of freshly picked garden flowers & foliage combined with store bought flowers can be successful as in these images. But if you don't have garden and are not too confident with flowers in general then you will always win with White Flowers - mostly Oriental Lilies, or Peonies, or Tea Roses - no quirky supermarket or petrol station mixes!

Images by Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

Friday Fruit...

With warm weather upon us this weekend [in Sydney up to 30 degrees Celsius] I was feeling a little conscious of bearing arms - literally ! I am a little partial the pear is one of my favourite fruits - to eat, for it's silhouette and variations of colour, and also to use for styling props.

In one of my final year exhibitions at Uni I explored the pear, it's shape and symbolisms, the works were titled ' Belonging'. My inspiration was from years as a little girl visiting the Australian National Gallery, Canberra [A.C.T] where at the entrance to it there is a magnificent sculptural work of bronzed pears that I covet to this day, titled “The Final Pear Version” by George Baldessin[b.1939 -d.1978]. Several years ago I was over-the-moon as I finally was able to get my hands on an official NGA photo release of it - where it lives framed in my upstairs gallery frame montage. The pear [speckled brown Bartlett's] was even present at our wedding reception[some 5 years ago now] as a sculptural piece placed next to clear slumped glass candle votives & offsetting the urns filled with vine, berries, and magnolias & roses posed a fabulous natural mix [I'll post an image of it shortly].

So here's a colourful, textural, healthy option to the weekend... For a safe dose of Vitamin D in the onset of Spring Summer weather, and a crunchy few pears!! Enjoy x

Image from House Beautiful

Beautiful Lines at The Westin, Sydney.

We recently stayed at The Westin, Sydney for our [wedding] anniversary - a mark from the 5 years ago that we had stayed there on our wedding night... And still to this day the architecture and the sublime combination of old & new buildings is truly remarkable. For those who aren't sure where the Westin, Sydney it's main entrance is on Pitt Street, and is cushioned by the the GPO Martin Place. Each in their own right a footprint in Sydney's historical architectural building path, the GPO in Martni Place is most always recognised as a semi closed pedestrian walkway with the ANZAC cenotaph & the large working clock tower.

GPO, at No. 1 Martin Place, is a sleek, urban blend of food, wine and lifestyle on the lower ground floor of the heritage GPO building (previously the General Post Office) in Sydney's CBD. Restaurants, bars, cafes and Food Emporium create an uber-chic environment. The beautiful, Italian Renaissance building built in 1865 was fully refurbished in 1999 and is one of the country's landmark buildings. With its Italian Renaissance features, the lower ground floor of the GPO is not only a food and lifestyle experience, but also offers a rare glimpse at Sydney's architectural heritage, such as the original Tank Stream which is open to the public for viewing.I'm sure you'll agree it is just stunning...

Images from Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

Bedroom Inspiration...

Our bed is due to go to God soon - it's had a great life, so now I'm looking at new beds - frames, headboards & mattresses and further inspiration for our bedroom at the moment... I have a few pieces I think I will keep & re-vamp and several I think would work better as newly introduced pieces. So before I make any major purchases and any unnecessary painting or upholstery work I am looking at a few different approaches to bedroom settings and colouring, naturally I get caught on blue, white and a neutral colour palette! However aside from colour - styling and what I need out of the bed and will it go with existing pieces is quite a high priority...

I found these great bedroom images in my photo file [above] that I quite like - they're fresh, contemporary, stylish and have a sense of relaxation - all feelings very important in my bedroom sanctuary. So I will keep on with the search - will let you know how I go and what we come up with!

Images from Southern Accents, House Beautiful, & Country Living

Just because...

Image from vi.sualize.us

The Idea of Waiting...

Amongst other things... I have a few exciting things in the pipeline at the moment - I have a wonderful new client & delivery for part of their project next week, before I go away for several weeks for a long awaited trip (very belated 30th birthday - 1 month shy off the next birthday!!) to Europe next week - where I will visit & stay with my sister & future brother in law in London see old friends & then go off on a little European Whirl through Holland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland & France then back in London and home via sultry Bangkok! So I think Andy was right... the idea of waiting can make it all the more exciting.

Image from vi.sualize.us

Happy Father's Day...

For Dad.

All Wrapped up....

Mounted & Framed - perfect!

Wishing my dear Dad, my wonderful Pa, and fantastic Father-in-Law, and to all the Dad's out there today... a very Happy Father's Day ! I hope you treasure the hand made cards & gifts, and love when the pocket money & part time job's start to pay off for all the other things you wanted!! I returned to the 'hand made' side this Father's Day & decided to mount & frame a concert poster & ticket from the 'Simon & Garfunkl - Old Friends' Sydney concert this past June that I had bought for my Dad's 60th that we also attended together...

I know he'll love it it marks his big 6-0 and Father's Day '09. Now I just need to frame mine!

Images from Kikki K & Verandah Home + Garden Living Solutions

Special Friday Flowers...

I am heading off a little early this weekend for a surprise getaway that my husband has planned - very excited! So in the spirit of our [5th] Wedding anniversary, one of my favourite flowers that was displayed in bloom & foliage form at our wedding & reception was the magnolia grandiflora. This plant & its' bloom has the whole package - it is so very graceful, elegant, vivaciously full, and incredible hardy - all qualities I admire...

So here's to some special Friday Flowers for your wonderful weekend ahead, take care & have fun! x S

Image from Living Etc.

5 Years Ago...Today.

Today is our 5th Wedding Anniversary... And like many who celebrate a milestone, especially those of wedding anniversaries, I am really not sure where 5 years has come & gone to, but what I do know is that [so far] it's been a great ride with my best friend & No. 1 fan beside me...

Happy Anniversary Darling, the best is yet to come! Always yours xxx S

Image by Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

How to Get Framed!

Family - People & Places themed, varied sizes all balck frames
Graphic & Animated themed - size & frame colour related

Architectual drawings themed

Have you always wanted to create the perfect picture wall? Well here's a few little tips that might help you get there.. I like to organize my photos or prints according to theme such as colour, or subject - such as a favourite artist's style, or places visited, vintage postcards,floral & garden inspired prints, your child's recent paintings & drawings, or a seaside theme. By doing this you create a natural cohesive group that allows the eye to easily move through and over the aesthetic feast.

I like to coordinate postcard prints from recent gallery exhibitions then group them from colour through to style, I also like to print my favourite photos in black & white print and then order frames and matting from my local art store. This makes it so easy that they almost arrange themselves - the trick is to edit before you frame - not every photo or print will look great all up at once - besides you can change them around to suit the season or feel of the room that you want. For more tips & tricks visit the US business - The Picture Wall Company. And most importantly have fun when you're putting it together!

Images from House Beautiful & Living Etc. Magazine

1st Sept - Spring on our Door Step...

For some it's the 1st Day of Spring - 1st September {southern hemisphere} some would argue the equinox is the turning point but here in Australia it isn't all that obvious some days hit high 20's some mid - teen's. But what is obvious is the the fresh lime green for new buds on Japanese maples, Chinese Tallowood, and my flowering Crab Apple tree, and not to mention the white full buds of the juicy creamy white Gardenias!

Image from Country Living