Up in the Alps...

Although yes I love Switzerland [hello Swiss Palatial Living visitors!],and adore this Swiss Chalet perched up in the mountains of ski resort - Verbier [Switzerland] - built by scratch in the past decade & owned by Belgian collector, designer & aesthete Axel Vervoordt.  It's peering out of the pages of my recently delivered Vogue Living Australia - which I have been 'breathing in' for a week or so now! This post is really for my sister & brother-in-law who really really love all things Swiss! Even though they are based in London - they find any and all excuse to get there...mys sister l studied international law & lived at the University of  Bern for 6months, they have skied there [lucky ducks!] and my brother-in-law proposed there! So it's very close to there hearts as you can imagine.

Well maybe this post it is a little for me too - we all love to ski in our family and as it's warming up here in Sydney [again after the wild weather we've had] somehow when it's the season you're in - sometime you tend to think about the opposite season - a bit of 'grass greener' or 'snow whiter'!

Do you have a favourite season, why? Drop me a line I'd love to hear from you x

images via Vogue Living Australia Nov/Dec 2010 issue

Saturated in Shades of Pink...

Shades of Lipstick-Fuchsia -Enhanced Pink... it's funny how sometimes you don't even realise that you have been gravitating to a particular colour - with shades & tints of it, and if not for October [a declared Pink month] then why not anytime too! S x

images via image 1] australian house & garden nov 10 issue, image 2 & 4] australian vogue living sept/oct 10, image 3] inside out Nov/Dec 10 issue cover featuring the home of artist David Band, image 5] postcard for verandah home+garden living solutions, image 6] advert for Wilman Interiors for Hoad Fabrics.

Softer Side...

My recent copy of [Australian] Vogue Living Sept/Oct 2010 issue has opened my eyes to a softer side of lilacs, violets, pistachio, pale sage & forrest greens, then dramatically to be teamed with ebony, eggshell, pale grey & bitter cocoa teak - all to be had in sumptuous studded & button-back upholstery; soft furnishings in velvets, raw silks, and satin; and in grand scale...I would love to incorporate these hues and scheme into a master bedroom or a lounge / dining room in a restored period home. 

I love this editorial piece on the Lime Wood Hotel [UK] - take me there now! Lime Wood, is a luxury country house hotel in England, is set in the heart of the New Forest National Park, 1.5 miles from the small town of Lyndhurst and just an hour and a half drive from London. Take a look & Enjoy x.

For more details on the Lime Wood Hotel - click Here. 

Images via Australian Vogue Living Sept/ Oct 2010 issue now on sale. For subscriptions-click Here.  

Faded Grandeur...

It's strange how sometimes two non-related images or things can completely interlink and inspire me... I was inspired by two main things for this post 'Vogue Living' July/ August 2010 issue with an editorial 'Walls That Talk' of Debra Cronin's gorgeous romantic renovated-dilapidated Woollahra terrace, and a friend's recent facebook [gorgeous] profile pic of herself and her [nearly 1 year old] son reaching for a beautiful chandelier in their home... Led me to post these images that further inspire me, maybe I am preoccupied with the idea of re-decorating our master bedroom! Enjoy x 

images via Australian Vogue Living Aug/Sept 10, Flickr, TelegraphUK, Vi.sualize.us

Happy Weekend....

It's been a great week... I have to apologise with spasmodic posting I've been a little preoccupied with our little girl Isabelle  & her activities [it's getting loads of fun playing with her now] and also 'Verandah' clients, since the website launch. I just received my latest Vogue Living in the post yesterday and love so many of the articles & images - here's a couple in particular I had to share with you.

 I'm off to see one of my lovely clients this weekend to help them get ready to sell their home - so we're on a timeline project for finishing off odd jobs and to stage their home - it's very exciting! What are you up to this weekend?

In Sydney this weekend it's unseasonably warm, as well as bright & sunny - but the 'August Winds' have shown up this week so it's not great picnic weather but at least the washing is getting dry in record time! Thanks again for joining me this week at Palatial Living! Enjoy & Happy Weekend! S x

image via Australian vogue living Sept/Oct 2010 issue

New Hanging Gardens...

 

Think hanging plants are passe, or a thing of the past? Think again - here's a skilful, quirky & lovely way of hanging plants that look more like they are artfully suspended mid-air, than looking like the rattan basket of maiden hair bathroom feature from the early 80's! Check out Boskke.com, as also featured in 'Pavement' Australian Vogue Living July/ August 2010 issue, at a reasonable $39 each you too can get stylish & sustainable and bring a little eco-chic in your living or work space too! It's almost like a case of falling through the looking-glass with Alice! Enjoy x

image via Australian Vogue Living July/August 2010 & Boskke

A Small Break...but still here!

Since having our 1st baby last week I am not sure how often and how predictable I will be in posting on Palatial Living over the next couple of weeks... Seems as though feeding times don't often correspond with creative & inspirational time for me [mummy!]. So please bear with me as my erratic posting hopefully becomes a little more frequent & routine again - as with the feeding & sleeping times of our newest addition - Miss Isabelle! Thank you again for all your kind wishes & support, I hope you will continue to check into Palatial Living & be inspired...Enjoy - S xxx

Image from Vogue Living May/ June 2007, from the home of Gywn Hanssen-Piggott - a favourite Australian ceramicist of mine, who is also inspired by the great Italian painter - Giorgio Morandi, whom I adore with his still life paintings & the exhibition held at Art Gallery of New South Wales some years back.

Early Friday Flowers...

This week I am posting some 'Friday Flowers' - early - on Thursday! Don't you just love these pretty cabbage [style] roses, displayed in interior designer - Sarah Davidson's beautiful Spanish Mission-style apartment featured in Australian Vogue Living this month [March/April 2010 issue].

I'm off for 1 weeks holiday with my darling husband - for our 'baby-moon' pre-baby holiday together... We thought it would be a great time to get away for a little bit whilst [& I can still get on plane!!] to have some time together, to swim, sail, snorkel, read, relax, snooze and all those lovely lazy holiday things, all before our world completely changes when our 1st baby - 'Baby Verity' - arrives in early May!

Hopefully I'll get a chance to check in & post, especially if I find something in my travels on holiday! Take care & Thank You for stopping in at 'Palatial Living' this week. S xoxo

Image from Australian Vogue Living March /April 2010 issue

An Urban Romantic Aesthetic Lives in Pony Rider...

I'm loving artist aware home ware brand Pony Rider - as profiled in Australian Vogue Living March/ April 2010 issue. You know you've done something well when Vogue Living comes to chat about your work & brand... Described as having an 'urban romantic aesthetic' and coined 'industrial vintage' the home ware brand created by Jacqui Lewis & Kelly Searl, their business currently creates and works out of a one room studio amongst the inspiring bush-scape of Sydney's Northern Beaches.

I particularly love their use of 'bird & botanic' inspired prints aptly named 'Flower bomb', their swimmingly fluid 'Ribbons' print & 'Numbers' in vintage style flag cushions. Their 'Numbers' cushion print reminds me of one of my favourite artists, Rosalie Gascoigne's [1917-1999] 'Sweet Lovers' 1990, with printed washed over bold text semiotics. Be sure to check out PonyRider's website on this link and their blog here. Enjoy xxx

[Image 1] Article on Pony Rider from Australian Vogue Living March/April 2010 issue - page 50.
[Image 2] Pony Rider's 'Flower Bomb' cushion

[Image 3] Pony Rider's 'Ribbons' cushion

[Image 4] Pony Rider's 'Numbers' cushion

[Image 5] Rosalie Gascoigne [1917-1999], Sweet Lovers 1990

Collection of Christopher Hodgesand Helen Eager, Sydney© Rosalie Gascoigne Estate,administered by VISCOPY,Australia

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About Pony Rider [from PonyRider.com.au] Pony Rider is about celebrating the beauty in the ordinary everyday things, biting into an overripe plum and in need of a soft tea towel, cracking the top of a creme brulee with a hand printed napkin in your lap, wrapping a pot of freshly brewed tea in a tea towel to stay warm, curling up on cushions on the lounge to read the weekend papers, using the 'good' linen for the everyday.

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With those words evoking all those wonderful senses, how can you not fall in love with wanting some of their pieces... I know I have! S x

Images from Vogue Living March /April 2010 & Pony Rider.com.au

Colour, Books & BookShelf Love...

[image 1] Betsy Morgan's colour blocked book stacks and objects make for beautiful vignettes within the shelf.

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[image 2] Australian Vogue Living March /April 2010 - book suggestions. Check out Amazon.com to add them to your wish list, or to buy!
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[image 3] Betsy Morgan's home office & living area - shows these white shelves are not only for storage but colourful display too!
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I love books, always have, but what else do I love that goes with books is housing & shelving books! Here - I love these White book shelves with painted [bitter mocha] wall colour behind, appears to frame the books and objects within the shelf. And the darker shade used makes for an illusion-ary depth. Taken from Betsey Morgan's family home in Chelsea New York - from Vogue Living March/ April 2010 issue, I especially love all books sorted and stacked by spine/ cover colour - I have all my books presented like this in my shelves at home - it helps to create a clean, organised & colour blocked presentation that is much easier on the eye to follow through the space...

Images from Australian Vogue Living March/ April 2010 issue.

Like I'm in a Candy Store...

I have been pouring over my March/April 2010 issue of Vogue Living for the past couple of weeks since it arrived in the post! I particularly love the article 'Chef's Palette' on 'Caterer's Extraordinaire' Peter Lin & John Wilson's Sydney apartment. Photographed by Petrina Tinslay, Produced by Alexandra Gordon and Written by Kristy De Garis.

Of course you say - I love their expansive pedestal table that is almost completely lined with multiple blue & white porcelain ginger jars, & statuesque Pink Lilac Phalaenopsis orchids - a combination of true heaven for me!
Not to forget - one end of their living space with the fabulous graphic black & white canvas with it's painterly lines combined with wine coloured upholstered armchairs, teamed with fresh, bright coral coloured peonies. So gorgeous - that it made the March/April 2010 cover.... of course! Be sure to procure your copy of this month's Vogue Living now!

Images from Vogue Living March/April 2010 issue.

At Home with Stylish Bright Dinosaurs...

Vogue Living Jan/Feb 2010 issue
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The Ormandy-Olsen Family - left to right - Camille, their daughter, Stephen & Louise.

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No-brainer - above - the inspiration [interior & exterior vista] for this month's Vogue Living Jan/Feb 2010 issue.

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What a treat... this week more of my favourite interior magazines arrived including this gorgeous issue of Vogue Living Jan /Feb 2010 issue. I love the designs and many pieces of Dinosaur Designs, and getting a peek into 2 [Louise Olsen & Stephen Ormandy] of the 3 [Liane Rossler] design team that makes up Dinosaur Design.

I am always fascinated with Louise Olsen - as her family is as interesting as she is - her brother Tim Olsen, is a successful & prominent gallery owner of 'Tim Olsen Gallery' . Both Louise & Tim are the children of celebrated Australian artist John Olsen & his second wife Valerie Olsen. I am a huge admirer of John Olsen's style & work, and studied his collection and artistic journey throughout school & fine arts at university, so I can understand my unconscious pull as to why I am often drawn to most articles about the 'Olsens' and their many artistic endeavours.

Here in this Vogue Living article we are invited into the stylish & artistic home of the Ormandy-Olsen duo, where both individuals showcase their artistic talents from styling, collecting and [Stephen's] paintings.

Another recent & great article where you can find out more about Louise Olsen and Dinosaur Designs' can be found at Australian Edge

Images from Vogue Living issue Jan / Feb 2010