Palatial House Snoop... Beachside Hinterland.

There aren't too many homes that are featured on Palatial Living's House Snoop that I wouldn't want to live in - gosh they are all stunning in their own way, and often when we look for a home they are not only aesthetic drivers such as style, finishes, colours and overall look but we also fit for purpose - is it spacious enough, can we grow in it and with it, is it a great location?

This home featured this week on Palatial Living's House Snoop - has some many of these checked boxes it's hard not to want to keep the floor plans and put it into the 'dream home' folder, well in fact with this home I did just that - I thought the overall space & style  [Australian coastal meets Hampton's style] was phenomenally perfect - for me! I always keep a little folder of images with colours, floor plans and ideas so that one day when I have that 'forever home' to renovate or build I can revisit the folder and see what I still love and what might still be applicable.

Take a little look at this home located in Sydney's Central Coast suburb of Avoca Beach, perched in the hinterland of the beach - the surrounding lush hillside and is approx. 1 1/2hr drive from Sydney [in good traffic!] but I think once you snoop around you'll understand why it would be worth a commute or being able to telecommute and work from home when possible!

Enjoy,

Agent's Blurb... McGrath Real Estate.

A Brand New 750m2 Home on 1894m2 of North Facing Land

Upon inspection you may find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer size and beauty of this gorgeous and secluded Avoca Beach residence. The proportions are as functional as they are generous; the finishes, top shelf and there's just that little bit left for you to personalise the home to suit your own taste. This is a surprising home - for all the right reasons.

- Enormous bedrooms with walk-in robes; large,well appointed bathrooms

- Dream kitchen with walk in pantry, island bench; top of the line appliances

- Spacious undercover entertaining deck flowing from the kitchen and lliving

- Separate music and rumpus room; study that could be another bedroom

- 12 foot ceilings; massive storage plus 30,000L of water harvesting in addition to mains
Property ID: 2008852263

images via domain.com.au - agent mcgrath.com.au



Love to get Lost.

It's Wednesday & I'd love to get lost somewhere beautiful!!



image via tumblr - original source unknown

Easter is Around the Corner...

Easter is just 4 weeks away! Can you believe it... I know I can't it! And Easter this year also marks a big milestone in our home, since this year Good Friday falls on our baby Isabelle's very 1st Birthday! I truly cannot believe where I was this time last year and how very quickly it seems to have flown by! I'm sure many of you feel this way... gee whiz -time - what a precious commodity!

A friend recently emailed me asking me if I was going to share some of my 'Palatial' Easter inspirations here...of course! I love Easter time... So with that in mind I am looking forward to sharing with you some of my Easter inspirations over the next four weeks in the lead up to Easter celebrations & holidays! I thought I had finished decorating my very 'Palatial' Easter Egg Tree over the weekend, but then found some more decorations I wanted to add onto it... So will look to post my photos this week in case you want to get started on your very own Easter tree!

Enjoy,

image via house to home

Wardrobe Love...or Edit.

I'd like a colourfully organised wardrobe like this... especially the clear front drawers, very nifty indeedy! Having working in the fashion industry for many years I have been privy to some substantial discounts and great samples. Needless to say I am wardrobe real-estate poor... but contents rich, and continually edit through various stages & changes in my life!

What do you think of your wardrobe? Love the content - Hate the housing, or Hate the contents - Love the Housing? Or do you just need to de-clutter & edit,edit, edit??

------------------------

Think about the 3 Main Piles When Editing...
1. Keep It - ONLY It Fits you, is flattering and isn't out-of-date - remember that 'old n'daggy' is not vintage! 

2. Sell It on EBay -Clothing Flea Markets, or Give to Charity - well kept clothing without tears or stains donate it to your favourite clothing charity.

3. Toss It - if it doesn't fit - doesn't suit you - out of date - stained or unable to be mended and not worthy of charitable means > Get rid of it!

Et Voila - done!

-----------------------------------

Sometimes easier to write than do... but think of it this way if you're holding onto old stuff that isn't adding anything to your wardrobe life then you're preventing newness and fabulous items that will suit into your life. If the wardrobe is one area this is happening - what other areas in your home or life could this apply to.... Hmmm something to ponder.  

Enjoy,

images via coastal living, mark burstyn, decorpad, house to home, home beautiful, sarah gilbourne design, bh&g, robin bell designs.

La Vie Est Belle, c'est très vrai!

From The Love Shop

'Life is Beautiful ' ~ c'est très vrai [very true] ....

I lurvvve these fabulous prints [esp the one above] by talented JJ of The Love Shop on Etsy, based in Melbourne Australia. Visit HERE for The Love Shop, oh and JJ has a sale on today too be sure to check it out.

Enjoy,

image via the love shop via etsy

2011 Bonds Baby Search... The Polls Are Closing Today at 12noon!

It's your last chance to cast & confirm your very important vote for the 2011 Bonds Baby Search for Miss Isabelle... click here to vote.

Polls Close at 12 noon [Australian Eastern Standard Time] today - 17th March 2011!

Remember if you cast your vote to ensure you check your email InBox or Junk filter for an email from Bonds to confirm your vote. If you don't confirm your vote it won't count!

On that note I I want send a BIG BIG Palatial Thank You to all of you who have kindly voted for Miss Isabelle in this fun competition...

Although we have no expectations of winning it's been a fun thing to do, and allowed me to capture some cute photos of my crawling baby girl and show her off to you - like any good biased mummy!

So if you haven't had chance to vote - jump on this LINK HERE and cast your vote.

Thanks again for having some fun with me!

images by sarah verity, verandah home & garden living solutions

Opening Night... Jodee Knowles is a Friend of Leon.

- Friends of Leon Gallery Window -
by exhibiting artist Jodee Knowles

Are you going to  Friends of Leon Gallery for Jodee Knowles Opening Night 17th March 2011 6-8pm?

Perth Artist Jodee Knowles will showcase her latest works at Friends of Leon Gallery in Surry Hills Sydney. Knowles is one of the hottest emerging artists in Australia today having exhibited all over the world. This is Jodee's second show, 'Independent of Time', at Friends of Leon Gallery, and gallery owner & curator [and also artist] Leon Krasenstein couldn't be more pleased with Knowles second coming - so to speak!

Here's a smidgen of her stunning, surreal pieces... be quick as many of them have been sold already! The exhibition opening is this evening from 6-8pm at the Friends of Leon Gallery located in Sydney's inner city suburb at 82 Marlborough Street Surry Hills 2010. Look out for Jodee's work on Leon's Gallery windows - he always requests exhibiting artists to paint the front & side gallery windows making a real opening statement!

You Have Come to Mean to Me as
Little as Everyone Else. SOLD

Chole

Independent of Time . SOLD

If you're unable to make it this evening the Friends of Leon Gallery is open for public view on  Thursday 11-6pm, Friday 11-6pm and Saturday 11-2pm; or for another time & appointment with Leon please contact him on + 61 2 403 248 978.

Hope you can make it!

Enjoy,

all images courtesy of my friend, Leon - Friends of Leon Gallery

Mid-Week House Snoop...A Lush Little Country Home.

A little Palatial 'little' Country Home located in Sydney's lush green verge of Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands, not 2 hours from Sydney city. I was particularly drawn to the inviting garden and deep verandahs - perfect for a cup of tea and a great interior mag or fave book!

Take a Look & Enjoy,

Agent's Blurb... Margaret McCauley Real Estate

3/31 Station Street Bowral NSW 2576

'Pine Grove'

A haven of understated style, “Pine Grove” is designed to suit the discerning entertainer with a layout featuring superb living spaces and seamless transition through numerous French doors to a divine central Tuscan alfresco courtyard. Inspired by classic Australian homestead architecture this delightful home is set on over half an acre of exquisitely manicured gardens offering total privacy, superb comfort in a peaceful location with an additional fully self contained guest/teenage retreat, and located only moments from local conveniences.

Main House:

• Formal lounge/dining room with open fire place

• Open plan recycled Oregon gourmet kitchen and large casual dining/family room

• Master with ensuite, his and hers walk-in robes and adjoining sitting area

• 2 additional bedrooms with built ins, study

• Main bathroom, laundry, sep. powder room

• Central wide hallway, wooden floor boards, private wrap around verandahs

• Internal access to double garage, off street parking

• Gas central heating, air con., 9 ft ceilings, cubby house, veggie garden, 5000 l water tank

Teenage retreat/guest accommodation:

• 2 bedrooms with built-ins, study/sitting room, bathroom

• Generous combined living/dining area with gas fire place

• Open plan kitchen

• Large loft area with storage

• Private leafy paved outdoor area

Features

Balcony / Patio / Terrace

Bath

Built in Wardrobes

Ensuite(s)

Garden

Gas

Internal Laundry

Modern Bathroom

Modern Kitchen

Polished Timber Floor

Quiet Location

Secure parking

Property ID: 2008765322

images via domain.com.au



Help Japan...

The Help Japan poster has been sold out

Many of us have been simply rocked by the devastation that has surrounded our Australian neighbours in New Zealand with the recent earthquakes, and just this past week the shocking news of the loss of life & displacement from the natural distaste rs of  8.9 earthquakes, tsunamis and the mass of aftershocks in Japan - and increasingly worrying each day is the further endangerment of their nuclear power station, and the surrounding areas this may affect.

They need our help.

Please Donate to the charitable organization of your choice for relief efforts here…

Official Australian Red Cross - to Donate Click Here ; or visit Japan Red Cross who are taking donations directly HERE as are the Japan Society click here the RedCross.org 

http://jeansnow.net/2011/03/15/japan-earthquake-disaster-relief/

Thank You,

image via greg melander

Ever Thought of... A Dash of Fresh Green?

There are so many ways to add colour into your interior space - here today I fell in love with these 'green rooms'. With their bold use of colour blocking, oversize pattern & print - playing with the scale, and playing with the placement - like gingham wallpapered ceilings! How fabulous!

Large or small spaces in each image you can see how the use of green is used in varying balances often tied back with white or off-white, tints & shades of green, and 1 accent colour to break up the focus of the colour blocking. Where natural timber finishes have been used to create a surface texture, white finished furniture may have been used in other spaces and created more dominance & contrast of shape/ depth.

Could this be a hue of green you might want use soon?

I know I love the idea of the wallpaper patterned ceiling!

Enjoy,

images via elle decor, house and home, my home ideas, house beautiful, bhg

For This Week & Today...

Here's to Monday - for the most of us - Here's to the beginning of your week...

Make something count this week!

Enjoy,

image via vi.sualiz.us

Friday Flowers....

Happy Friday & Welcome to the Weekend! Thanks again for joining me at Palatial Living this week, I have a heap of 'home' projects to get done this weekend and the house will be a 'shambles' and of course we have people over too! All happens at once!

Hope you have a great weekend...

Take care & Enjoy,

image via tumblr through milenachka