Two Favourite Things...

I love this image {that I found over at gorgeous blog 'Santa Barbara| Chic' by Kelly Oshiro} these would have to be two of my favourite things, aside from daughter & husband, family & pets, oh and some jewels, and  a few pieces of art-work, and maybe a just a few more things!

What are two of your favourite things? Can you limit it to just two! S x

Imaginative Bookends...Not just for little people!

'Early Bird' bookends by Cocoon Couture

'Cheeky Squirrel' bookends by Cocoon Couture

'Sleep Owl' bookends by Cocoon Couture

Many of you know my endless passion for books, and almost all related to books, so you can understand that this now manifests and translates to my baby - daughter, and how I am building up her fabulous childhood library full of mine & my husband's all-time favourite children's books, as well as all the many great new ones too! So with books must come well appointed accessories and book ends are definitely a necessity, not only in function but also form... [can you tell I'm a fine arts design grad - we argued this stuff all the time form vs. function/ function vs. form  -another time for that debate - discussion!]. 

Well here you can tell why I fell in love with these bookends from Cocoon Couture - I adore them all but I think the 'Early Birds' would be just perfect for Isabelle's bookcase [will definitely have to get them now], and has almost become a little signature motif for her decor coupled with her cherry blossom decal [bought from etsy.com - all of which - her complete nursery - I promise I will post on Palatial Living very soon]. Take a look at these ever so fabulous book ends - you'll want them yourself if not for a bit of whimsy or friendly character on your bookshelf around a corner! Enjoy x

Images via Cocoon Couture

Library Love...

My love of books & a desire for a library [built in - floor to ceiling bookshelves - preferably a whole room or it could be a long hall way] continues... I especially like the chic red  shade reading lamps, the painted floorboards & the charcoal/ black wicker rocker with pale blue upholstered chair pad! Cup of tea please! S x

Image via Country Living

Fab New Book... Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces.

You know how much I love books here's another to my 'Palatial Living' collection - Take a look at this fab 'new' book released in May this year - by Apartment Therapy [we love them] aptly titled Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces.  Apartment Therapy is considered THE go-to for small space solutions and they have achieved this with gorgeous images of vignettes in this book - by showing you how you can have your personal objects in your living space - whilst trying to not look cluttered, but more so 'layered with meaning'. I've got this one on order! For more of Apartment Therapy visit their website.

Please Visit 'The Palatial Living Store' [powered through Amazon] if you'd like to purchase any of these great books.

Image from Visualize.us & Amazon.com for more info go to - Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces

Other fantastic Apartment Therapy books are - Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure & Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions

Trending Alice...

Above - Tea Pot Necklace
Above - Hearts Tea cup Rings

Above - Green Glass Tea Cup Sets

Above - Bunny printed Clutch

Above - Original 1930's version - French Edition - illustrated, Alice & The Looking Glass.

With the latest version of Lewis Carroll's famous fable of Alice in Wonderland - 'Alice' movie directed by Tim Burton, and starring a number of Hollywood heavy weights including Anne Hathaway & Johnny Depp ... Here Etsy have trended a newsletter dedicated to all things 'Alice'! I particularly fell in love with the tea pot/ tea cup theme and an original French illustrated version of 'Alice & the Looking Glass'.

Terribly fabulous - don't you think!

Images - All items can be found on Etsy.com, some may be sold out due to popularity.

Early Christmas Gift Arrived!

[Image Above] 'A Passion for Blue & White' by Carolyn Roehm
[Above Image] 'Decorating with Blue & White' by Gail Abbott

I'm so excited - I have to share this with you - last week I received a delivery of an early Christmas gift from my sister, Felic & [soon-to-be] brother-in-law, Alex who are based in London - two wonderful books I have been coveting for a little bit now... 'A Passion for Blue & White' by Carolyn Roehm and 'Decorating with Blue & White' by Gail Abbott Gosh my sister knows me well & sending out my wish lists a little while ago also helps!!

The early delivery surprised both myself and my sister - thanks to Amazon they got here before Christmas! I order most of my art, style & design books from Amazon and always have a several page long wish list running - so when the Aussie dollar is strong I jump on and order several at a time! So if you're thinking of sending presents OS or ordering online & shipping think about getting it crossed off your 'to-do' list sooner than later!

Images from Amazon.com

Book Shelf Love...

Smart Space - Custom-built egg-crate shelving covering an entire wall provides ample room to mix storage and display. A mix of magazine organizers, baskets, and boxes provides storage for periodicals, stationery, and painting and office supplies and creates a pleasing, layered mix of objects.
There's room in the kitchen too...

A winning combo - Special space for art & artifacts with favourite books - back lit with pops of colour that compliments the upholstery.

Quirky & Clever - Three bookcases joined with molding provide plenty of space for books and have a built-in feel. The space above the bookcases is put to use storing extra chairs for guests.

Floor to ceiling befriending the doorway...

I have always adored books & their shelves - here I found some great spaces and places for housing your favourite paper friends, and some with other great neighbours such as seating, art & artifacts, and tea pots & plates. I have always dreamt of having a hall way lined with shelving for books, or a small library & home office again again with a couple of walls lined with books! We had/ some plans drawn up for a home office a little while ago that also incorporated [white] built-in floor to ceiling shelving to house my art & design books...Now just need to keep saving for the conversion, hopefully to too far off in the future!

Images from Country Living, Traditional Home & Sunset Living.

{New} Fave Book... [the nest] home design

I was so excited to receive the book that I had just recently ordered - 'The Nest Home Design Handbook: Simple ways to decorate, organize, and personalize your place '. It is full of gorgeous modern, contemporary & fun styling & decorating ideas - not to mention fabulous colour combinations, you can also keep up-to-date with The Nest decor tips through their web site.

Their sister sites 'The Knot' and 'The Bump' catering for different stages of your life - might also interest you or your friends. I just bought my sister, who was recently engaged 'The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner: Worksheets, Checklists, Etiquette, Calendars, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions'

Find this book on Amazon and check out 'The Nest' website

Early Christmas Present - New Fave Book for Me!

The other day I had an early Christmas splurge on myself - something I can never resist (other than shoes) Interior / Design BOOKS! I found this great book, U.S House Beautiful's 'Colours For your Home - 300 Designer Favourites' from a great design source in Sydney, The Building Bookshop at The Home Ideas Centre. It's one of those books that's small enough tot take anywhere and flick through to get quick inspriation as well as doubling as a good side table book and reference for colour mixes. All paint colours referenced are American but many of them can either be purcahsed in Australia through distributors or colour matched to other large paint companies. The other great part of this book is that well known interior designer share thweir fave colours - so you'll have so much fun further Google-ing their names and work for more inspiration!

Book Blurb.... Colors for Your Home
What transforms a room from monotone to magical? Color! So, if you're nervous about splashing that white with bright, this conveniently portable primer based on House Beautiful's most popular column will help. A convenient flexibind makes this perfect and practical to throw in your bag or car for ease while shopping

Image courtesy of House Beautiful

[Current] Favourite Book

50/60/70:Iconic Australian Houses - author Karen McCartney / photographer Michael Wee

Illustrated throughout with evocative images by internationally renowned photographer Michael Wee - author Karen McCartney has gathered together 15 significant and influential houses from the 1950s through to the 1970s, most of which have never before been comprehensively documented. Each is by a different architect and combines outstanding architectural principles with an interior that remains in keeping with the integrity of the house.

At the best of times I fall head over heels in love with books, but even more so when it comes to any book that covers the following key areas - design, architecture, trends and within an historical context! And Wow - does this book - 50/60/70:Iconic Australian Houses - have it! Plus if it can get any better than that, it is authored by the ever stylish and in-the-know, Karen McCartney (I do think she is amazing), who by day, is also the editor of interior/ exterior bible - 'Inside Out' magazine.
Take a 'Palatial' hint and get yourself this book is it a lavish feast for your senses and an Australian history lesson in iconic design style to boot!

50/60/70:Iconic Australian Houses ($69.95, Murdoch Books) available at all good booksellers.
Image from Murdoch Books

[Current] Additions to the Palatial Library

Furniture: A Concise History (World of Art) / Edward Lucie-Smith

‘Rich in information . . . sharp in perception’

– The Times Educational Supplement

In this illuminating history, text and illustrations combine to offer a view of furniture not as a succession of collectors’ pieces, but as a statement about the society that created it. Edward Lucie-Smith offers insights into almost every period, from the prehistoric to the postmodern – from Neolithic tables to 1960s conversation pits, and from the ceremonial chairs of Egypt in the thirteenth century BC to the designs of John Makepeace.

http://www.thameshudson.com/en/1/9780500201725.mxs?d2322ebbd2b7131596701df1bb090354&0&0&0

Interior Design of the 20th Century (World of Art) Thames & Hudson / Anne Massey

'Notes a range of important issues for the history of interior design in the 20th century'
- Journal of Design History

Every style of interior design is charted in this concise, wide-ranging and indispensable critical survey, from the nineteenth-century Arts and Crafts movement to the present day – including discussions about Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, the Modern Movement and Art Deco through to Hi-Tech and green design. Interior design in the twentieth century saw many changes in direction, all documented and discussed here, with the emergence of professional ‘interior decoration’ and its evolution into interior design. Interiors, domestic and other, are explored and placed within their social, political, economic and cultural context. This revised, expanded and updated edition illustrates recent examples and is brought right up to date with discussions about green design, the unprecedented boom in DIY and the effect of new technology both on the home and the work place.

http://www.thameshudson.com/en/1/9780500203460.mxs?d2322ebbd2b7131596701df1bb090354&0&0&0

[Current] Favourite Books

With a fetish for not only shoes and accessories and almost anything that goes with the words 'interior', 'fabric', 'furniture' and the garden - it would be my affair with books! I often find myself purchasing books online frequently adding to my collection of art, interior, garden and reference books. So without adieu it is with much thanks to Anna, of Black + Spiro fame, and her truly lovely blog site, Absolutely Beautiful Things, (which further inspired me to create my blog - more on that later) for her recent blog on Charlotte Moss, and her new book A Flair for Living.
Thank you Anna for getting me onto this book - I have arranged to order it with my U.S friends, I just adore Charlotte's eclectic lux style, her dedication to her namesake brand, and her attention to detail is remarkable.