Fresh Living Rooms...

Loving these fresh, light & bright Living areas...

some colour combinations and looks can be timeless.

Is it time to mix up your throw cushions, or a fresh coat of paint?

Enjoy,

The soft, creamy gray color running through this small living room

helps it feel bigger, since the eye doesn't focus on it and

goes straight to the windows.

Designed by Ginger Barber. Featured in July 2009 issue

Chardonnay grape vineyards surround this contemporary California farmhouse.

Designer Jean Larette wanted this living room to have a seamless

 indoor-outdoor flow. Two walls of foldable, glass-paned doors take the

 place of solid walls so the owner can feel the breeze and enjoy the view.

images via housebeautiful.com

LOVE-ly Projects... x

Something for your Sweetheart, something for you, something for your home... why not keep a little bit of love all year 'round with these special LOVE-ly Valentine's inspired projects I found whilst looking through some of my fun e-newsletters...

Happy Valentines' Day!

Sarah x

 Modern Valentine's Day Artwork

These cute craft projects make great shelf decorations for Valentine's Day. To craft the collage, cut out repeating shapes from fabric (we used birds and hearts in various sizes) and use spray adhesive to mount on white cardstock; frame. For more advanced crafters, pencil a design on a store-bought canvas, and then sew over your drawing using a thick needle  (used a backstitch technique).

Valentine's Day Banner Bright colors make this Valentine's Day mantel pop -- traditional pink hearts mix with bright orange, yellow, green, and blue patterned fabric on the banner. To make, trace 16 hearts onto pink houndstooth fabric and cut them out. Use a stencil to paint letters onto the hearts to spell out a sweet phrase (like "Be Mine Valentine" shown). Sew the hearts onto colored fabric squares with fun patterns, attach the squares to red ribbon, and hang across a fireplace.

Love Pillow

Dress up a plain throw pillow for Valentine's Day by adding the word "love" with stencils and fabric paint. Cut out your own letters or buy a set of stencils, available at crafts stores, for a quick design.

Tip: Alternate colors for each letter or use a different word on the pillow to make the design your own.

Framed Love Quote Decoration

Decorate a side table or shelf for Valentine's Day with an inspiring love quote in a frame. Using a die-cutting tool, cut a quote (like "Love comforteth like the sunshine after the rain," shown, or one of our other quotes, below) and glue the letters to black cardstock. Tape the finished piece to a mirror with an intricate frame to finish the Valentine's Day-ready decoration. Check Esty.com for more inspirational quotes & printed pieces.

 Heart-to-Heart Garland

Make a garland of hearts cut from fabric scraps layered and attached with iron-on adhesive. Punch small holes in the sides of the hearts and tie them together with ribbon.

 Paper Hearts Wreath

Dozens of colorful hearts flutter on cardstock cut into the shape of a wreath. Use paper punches (about $5-$20 at scrapbook supply and crafts stores) or scissors to cut hearts from colored vellum and lightweight decorative paper. Curl the cutout hearts by scraping them between your thumb and a butter knife just as you would with curling ribbon. Then layer them on the round cardstock base and attach each with a dab of clear-drying glue, either in the center or near one edge. Hang the wreath with ribbon.

Public Display of Affection

Highlight those you love with snapshots and valentines in a three-dimensional display. Gather favorite photos and make black-and-white or sepia copies. Paste some of the copies onto decorative papers and cut into fun shapes. Tuck them in a photo tree from an import or stationery store.

 A Valentine Chandelier

Let Cupid strike your chandelier this Valentine's Day. Simply cut and fold paper hearts to hang from any light fixture whose structure accommodates knotted thread or wire. We've shown multiple hearts stitched together at the center fold, then fanned to create a 3D effect. Beads are added at the end of the thread for sparkle
Note that this particular chandelier is designed to use candles. We recommend that you keep the candles unlit when paper products are hanging below.

Valentine Votive

Fill plain glass votive candleholders with candy nonpareils for seasonal color. Small glass beads from the crafts store offer a similar look.

images & subtext via BHG, Country Living, Snset, Tubmlr, Ballard Design

My Office Chair Cushions...

The Print & Colour soft decor unites! A fun & stylish
cohesion of print & colour that is simple & effective function.

S is for Super Sarah!

M is for Marvelous  Matthew

So I have finished up our personalised [home] office chair cushions - with our initials 'S' for Sarah and 'M' for Matthew... We needed these cushions since our 'office' chairs are not the typical ergonomic style - more a 'comfy' meeting classic tub chair. But I love them and their self jacquard geo design upholstered in French Navy, so they had to stay I just had to come up with a design solution to make them comfy & functional, and stylish to tie back with the overall office colour & decor scheme.

So in keeping with my last 'afternoon' office project - of covering a boring pin board and making a few 'floor' scatter cushions - here I have used the vibrant Hot Candy Pink stripe fabric on the front of the cushion with a plain white backing - and appliqued onto the front of the cushion [strip side] is our first name initial in a 'collegic' style font in a Blue Black woven sateen, I traced from our wooden letters on our shelves.
I also used a thin layer of wadding I had left over from the Christmas stockings that I used as a stabiliser when satin stitching around the letters to sew them on. I do need a couple of new feather inserts for them -  but have made do with a few inserts from the 'spare' room at home & will have to 'make do' for the time being.

The official 'office' poochies - Zach, the Cavoodle &
Lucy the Cavalier King Charles - also like to 'test'
out the floor cushions and our office chairs
from time to time!

 So what do you think?

I love them and think they give an instant lift to what could be quite plain office chairs, plus they provide much needed back support - and tie the print & colour scheme of the soft/ decor for the office in together quite nicely!

Enjoy,

These cushions are doing the right job.
Isabelle - the official product tester for Verandah's floor
scatter/ cushions for our home office!

 

Images by Sarah Verity - Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

A Bit of Christmas...

I thought I'd start sharing some snippets of Christmas, my December 2010 Christmas issue of Australian Country Style just arrived last week and I am loving all the gorgeous magazine Christmas covers. I have started a Christmas cushion project to 'festive-up' my couch cushions, nothing worse than not having enough cushions - although all my family & friends would laugh at that - they mostly can't fit on the couch amongst all the cushions!

So here's a little peek of the fabrics I'm going to use, in my said 'peppermint red & white' colour scheme for this year... Stay tuned - I will reveal all very soon!

images by Sarah Verity - Verandah Home+Garden Living Solutions

Botanical Inspiration...

Whilst 'breathing in' my new Australian House & Garden [Nov '10] issue I came across my very creative & talented textile artist friend Pip's, of PipWilly, beautiful bespoke hand-printed hemp cushions, that can be found at Planet [Furniture] or for other pieces through PipWilly's online store here.I knew they were Pip's the moment I saw them - she has a truly lovely signature drawing style that is unmissable. Styled with Pip's pieces is another talented fave of Palatial Living's - Pony Rider, with their stunning 'Flowerbomb' and 'Sneakers by Chris Searl' Wall dots...I also love their 'Ribbons' cushions especially in red. All teamed with the Kiku armchairs in sumptuous Zimmer+Rhode Portico fabric from Jardan [I dream of a very deep armchair & lounge from Jardan - a lounge wishlist] and 'new love' natural wall colour - 'Rock Quarry' from Endure range Taubmans. Well done Pip - PipWilly & the team from Pony Rider on some gorgeous pieces featured in H&G this month!

Styling by Marie Nichols | Photography by John Paul Urizar

images via Australian House & Garden November 2011 issue

A Sense of Patriotism...

A gorgeous store I found in my travels in The Salamance Arts Centre, Hobart
- had an array of flag 'Union Jack' cushions, bunting and vintage wares.

Over the past few months [since I purchased a layered natural linen Union Jack cushion for my sister's birthday from John Lewis] I have becomed obsessed with Flag motifs that then lent itself to over-size script witing & postage stamp printing, to encompass a smattering of patriotism. I think what draws me to it all are the graphic, symbolic & layering elements and their relative scale... Here are some images I have collected along the way and wanted to share with you. Enjoy x

The Union Jack cushion I purchased for my sister -  celebrating
her recent union to a Briton!
Union Jack Cushion in Natural from John Lewis.com

John Lewis Velvet Union Jack Cushion, Yellow

I love these graphic, colourful, fun & stylish cushions by
 Karen Hilton Designs - 'Pop Britannia' series

Etsy.com

Karen Hilton Designs - 'Pop Britannia' series
Etsy.com

Karen Hilton Designs - 'Pop Britannia' series
'Union Jack' cushion  from Etsy.com

Images via Verandah Home+Garden Living Solutions,

John Lewis.com & Karen Hilton Designs on Etsy.com

In Love with Accents of Rouge...

With cooler mornings, days & evenings upon us [here in the southern hemisphere - for Sydney] I have been cuddling in faux fur blankets, favourite quilts & blankets amongst masses of throw cushions on my lounge, with my darling baby girl, during different parts of the day. As each season I mix up my soft furnishing & accessory colours - the cooler months I particularly love using accents of rouge red - both blue base & orange based reds - teamed with plums & aubergines, and pops of ochre yellows & stormy steel blues - it led me to these rich, warm, cosy images that I had to share with you. Hope you feel snoozy-cosy too!

 

Images via [Australian] Home Beautiful - July 2010 & [Australian] House & Garden - May 2010

Joy... To You!

Just in case you're not checking in to Palatial Living over the next few days, I want to wish you, your family & friends much 'Joy' over this Christmas time...

The gift of love, the gift of peace, the gift of happiness…

May these be yours at Christmas, and throughout the New Year.

Thank you for all your support, for dropping by each day & your kind words of encouragement over the year for both - Palatial Living & my residentialcommercial - interiorexterior colour & styling business, Verandah Home + Garden Living Solutions. Without you I could not have achieved what I have this year! I hope that in some small way I have been able to give you colour & styling inspiration into your daily journey... Take care, Stay Safe & Thank You. S xxx

Print & Pattern Adoration....

I was drawn to this image because I do 'love' these typographical pillow slips combined with a oversize botanical print upholstered onto the headboard. It's whimisical & fun... a cute way to be greeted when going to bed!

Image from Point Click Home

Signature Cushions...

No telling why I love this Cushion... now I just need a 'V' for Verity & Verandah - voila!

Image from BHG

Very Pretty Things... with Prue Trollope.

I received my monthly newsletter from one of my favourite stores, Prue Trollope, located in Sydney's Inner West - Balmain. Prue carries such lovely things, and in particular when in blue & white, with tones of latte & taupe I am there in a flash! So thought it would be nice to share one of my favourite 'pleasure' shopping destinations with you, you may have already visited or read about Prue & her store in many of the (Australian) home & garden magazines or SMH's 'Essential' lift out in 'the Source' published on Thursdays.

Eclectic, pretty mix of old and new homewares - Step into Prue Trollope's fabulous homewares store, scattered with luscious woollen floor rugs, tapestry cushions, retro swimsuits, vintage Korean kimonos, original artworks and cotton quilts, and you'll never want to leave! Prue Trollope’s Balmain boutique is one notable exception. Daring to be different, Prue describes her style as “maximalist,” with an eclectic mix of the old, new, classic and kitsch.

Above. Prue, the women behind the name & the business - Prue Trollope, 21 Mullens Street, Balmain. Phone 9810 6567

The Mullens Street boutique is set within a superb old building which for over seventy-five years operated as a hardware store. The space now takes on a significantly more feminine air, with the nails, dust and rust replaced by the prettiest of pieces for around the home. Peruse the store and you’ll discover luxurious cotton quilts, heavy feather-filled tapestry cushions and woollen hooked floor rugs covered in cabbage roses. A true treasure trove, Prue’s shop features an amazing range of finds such as a 1940’s French bed, beautiful vintage kimonos from Korea and highly comfy canvas shoes from China. You’ll even find large urns for the garden and a great range of gifts, including pearl jewellery, hand-stitched shoulder bags and cute woollen purses. If you are looking to pick up something for the kids, the store also has plenty on offer. Highly popular are handmade wooden stools in the shape of sheep, pigs, dogs and horses. You’ll also find the super-soft Flatout Bears, which Prue and her sister Sarah have sold to famous stores worldwide including Barneys of New York, Paul Smith of London and Le Bon Marche of Paris.

So thought I would share a few of my absolute faves from Prue's store & can also be found on her online store...

Images from Prue Trollope

Happy Friday...

Happy Friday !! Yay it's finally here.... I hope you have had a wonderful week, and an even better weekend! I love this cosy verandah just perfect for afternoon tea, an evening drink - or a snooze & a read! The more cushions the better!

This weekend - for those travelling to the dawn services for ANZAC Day held around the country [Australia & New Zealand] tomorrow morning, please drive safely - my thoughts are with you & your families. Lest we Forget.

Take care, S x.

Image from Country Living

Graphic Cushions - Old MacDonald's Farm

I love these graphic - printed cushions, a series called 'Old MacDonald' By Bumble Belly Designs through Etsy store. The story behind the designs - the the maker tells us that these designs were inspired by her daughter's stories & songs from 'Old MacDonald's Farm'.

Simple inspiration turns to fabulous product idea!