Make Your Bed Pop!

Very exciting - I have just received the Sheridan e-newsletter about their new & exciting Bed linen range called 'POP' - not only is a range of bed linen but it's an interactive experience too! Here's how it works - you visit their in store 'POP' range and play with all the prints/ patterns and colourways available via a touch screen computer - there you can design & come up with your very own 'Pop' by Sheridan bed sheets, quilt cover and pillow slips for your boudoir! Introducing POP by Sheridan. You won’t have experienced anything like POP before and your bed will never be the same again.

 For Sydney siders - head to these store locations to Start playing & designing...

Myer Sydney City, Level 5.
Myer Castle Hill, Level 2.

David Jones Sydney City, Level 5.

- Have Fun & Enjoy -

An extract from the e-newsletter....The world’s first POP by Sheridan stores.

POP by Sheridan is a new bed linen range that won’t just change that way you make your bed, it will change the way you shop. Be the first to come in store to mix and match your designs on our touch-screens.

Individual pillowcases, sheets and quilt covers in bright, vibrant, colours complemented by simple, bold graphics mean whatever you choose, it will be contemporary, customised and completely you. It’s the most fun you can have creating your own bed.

Queen size prices start from $57.95 for fitted or flat sheets, and quilt covers from $109.95. [all prices in AUD].

images via Sheridan Pop

You Need to Know About... Alexandra Lekias.

If you haven't heard of Alexandra Lekias, self-taught colourful artist hailing from the West Coast, Perth WA,  then you will now... to be truthful I wasn't completely familiar with Lekias work prior to receiving an invite to the exhibition preview, but had seen  Lekias’ work furiously been blogged about through the past few weeks - viral word is such a phenomenon! But after closer inspection [and I am excited to get a real close-up this week!] appears as a fabulous fusion of [tres fashionable] sass, a deft master-skill with ink,  and a cheeky playfulness of luring the viewer into the work by what is an admiration for the sense of colour, movement and line - then to realise actually what subject matter is - they are looking at. That's a trifecta of clever, creative, cheek...

Her pieces are lashed with vivid splashes of colour mixed with black and white ink. Influences of the artists have been noted as to include 15th Century Iconic art, German Expressionist cinema, Japanese Manga as well as the works of Art Nouveau artist Aubrey Beardsley. Sans subject matter - to me is somewhat reminiscent of a favourite artist and UNSW CoFA Alumni, Del Kathryn Barton - who is a recent [2008] AGNSW Archibald Prize Winner - with the style & colour usage with her winning piece You are what is most beautiful about me, a self portrait with Kell and Arella.

I am really looking forward to be attending the 'Friends of Leon' preview this Thursday evening, where the exhibition will run till 5th December.
So importantly - if you're in Sydney get yourself to the 'Friends of Leon Gallery' - or if you visiting our fine city be sure to pop it on your gallery & exhibition list as a must see... 
- Enjoy -

An extract from CuratedMag.com

Friends of Leon Gallery shares word on their upcoming exhibition, “Alexandra Lekias is one of the most exciting artists we have seen. A hidden artistic jewel from Perth who is going to make her mark on the contemporary illustration world. Her November 18th show Lifelong Baby Teeth is set to be one of our biggest and most visual arresting exhibitions to date. ”

Lekias, an illustrator of great precision, melds water color with fine line ink drawing to produce richly symbolic narratives. Much of her work focuses on female figures, her interest in adolescence apparent and her consistency of color tying the greater body of work together.

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

Get To - Friends of Leon Gallery

82 Marlborough Street Surry Hills 2010 NSW [Australia]

A preview of the exhibition, which opens on November 18, 2010, follows.

For more visit Friends of Leon, via their website HERE.

Images via Curated mag.com & trend hunter

On My Desk & On My Walls...

I love my letters - I have always loved typography
 now in 3D.'V'& 'S' - Very Special!
Or for Verandah & Sarah...

A bit tidier than usual... frames hung on
'my side' of the office. Wall colour in Dulux
'Linseed' full tint - one of my fave hues to use.

Hope you had a Palatial weekend! Welcome back to Monday at Palatial Living.... I had an awe inspiring day today at the ISCD campus [located in North Sydney] it was great to be [trying to be] a fly on the wall to see what happens through educator's eyes to a class of adult learners on a creative design path within the Surface Design diploma. Even more so it was lovely that the students seemed to ingratiate themselves to me and their fabulous educator [and my new mentor] Sharon Gage be so gracious as to have me sit in, and pass on her tips & tricks. 

'My side' & the 'top shelf' of the home office!

So now I am back at my [design] desk finishing off a flyer & proposal [very exciting - will share with you when it's all concrete], which got me to think 'What's On my Desk right now...'! You might remember I mentioned a little while ago that I have recently updated our home office space - that my husband & I share, here's a sneak snoop of my desk & boards! Sometimes I feel the urge to style it other times it's just a pile of to-do's and get-through's!

I have a collection of photos, swing tags, art gallery postcards & invites, a photo of my darling baby girl Isabelle, a few pics of Babushkas, the Vogue Milano '10 trend show cd and some wallpaper swatches from Signature Prints, and and a T2 French Earl Grey tea bag I keep meaning to drink! Oh and here's a fun wooden letter' &' and an over sized black wooden peg I just bought at fab store 'Typo' - definitely worth a look.

Promise to post more pics when I have finished labelling the folders and hung the frames on my husbands' side of the office wall! Enjoy!

One of my absolute favourite Australian artists,
Sidney Nolan and his 'Ned Kelly' series.
This particular painting 'Ned Kelly' 1946 is my favourite.

Uber cute Babushka card I bought today for my
mood board from Typo.

images by Sarah Verity - Verandah Home+Garden Living Solutions

Check out these fab office design books from Amazon...

Happy Friday ~ Welcome Weekend...

Today's post is for all us who love the end of the week, Friday, and just can't wait for the weekend....It's also for my sister, Felic, who lives in London - and has posted a status on facebook that she has had to wear her hat, scarf, gloves, and puffy jacket just out of her apartment because it's sooo bitterly cold in London town! Here in Sydney this weekend it's supposed to be a beautiful sunny warm November weekend with tops around 28 to 30C- a real precursor to true Summer weather!

Thank you for visiting Palatial Living this week... I hope to have a surprise for you next week! So Stay Tuned! Until then I hope you have a wonderful weekend & Enjoy...

Today I Found... More Blue & White

I was blog surfing around and came across the gorgeous and very 'Palatial' blog 'Brabourne Farm', an Australian blogger none-the-less too! I don't know why it's taken me this long to find 'Brabourne Farm', but let me tell you that this this blogger is after my own heart with a wonderful sensory overload on stylish, contemporary, romantic, and elegant interior and exterior spaces - oh and did I mention we seem to share the same infatuation with 'Blue & White'!

Here's a few of the 'Blue & White' images that Brabourne Farm has previously posted that I just adore! Enjoy x

images via Brabourne Farm blog

Mid Week House Snoop... Leafy Palatial Park View

What's not to love about this free standing home located in one of Sydney's most desirable leafy near water suburbs of Northbridge. I love the feeling of space, freshness, nestled into the tree tops with  leafy district views across the serene Tunks Park to the Northbridge bridge and Cammeray, this contemporary stylish & elegant freestanding house savours great privacy and has direct access to the park. 

The high ceilings, the timber framed tall - wide bi fold doors &windows always grab me combined with the invitation of opening the inside spaces to the outside, and outside to inside, with a pergola tiled lounge & eating space, as does a Brush Box or Victorian Ash timber floor, and an open fireplace [wood or a jet master]... Makes for a stylish Leafy Palatial home for this week's Mid Week House Snoop. Take a further look & Enjoy!

Agent's Blurb - Belle Property, Neutral Bay

Gorgeous leafy district views and direct access to Tunks Park

Lifestyle - With magical leafy district views across Tunks Park to the Northbridge bridge and Cammeray, this contemporary freestanding house enjoys great privacy with direct access to the park. Spacious open plan interiors flow to an expansive rear deck for casual living/dining with gorgeous views. Positioned in a quiet tree-lined street with a public marina and boat ramp, it's just a 15 minute stroll to Northbridge and Cammeray shops and cafes and 10 minutes to CBD. Surrounded by lush bushland, this wonderfully airy home also features oversized bedrooms and immaculate bathrooms.

Accommodation - A spectacular open plan living/dining room with a gas fireplace and high domed ceilings flows through two sets of elegant bi-folding doors to the huge rear deck overlooking Tunks Park and surrounding leafy districts. Wonderfully light and bright, there is a large new gas kitchen nearby with granite benchtops and stainless steel appliances. With convenient internal access to the double automatic garage, the upper level also has a powder room and laundry room.

Features - Downstairs are the four oversized bedrooms with built-ins and lush leafy views. The huge master overlooks Tunks Park and has a contemporary ensuite with separate 11-jet spa and frameless glass shower. The large second bedroom also has an ensuite, with French doors opening to a side garden terrace. The main bathroom features a frameless glass shower, separate 11-jet spa and granite vanity. There are three large storerooms, ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning and alarm security.

Belle Property specialises in real estate in Northbridge

Features - Air Conditioning, Built-In Wardrobes, Ensuite & Area Views

Property ID: 2008660544

images & sub text via Domain.com.au



Ohhh Christmas is a Creeping!

Serene - Christmas Dove Garland from
3 Girls & A Goat, from Brisbane Australia via Etsy

Vintage Christmas Bunting from AS Boutique via Esty

Fabulous - Sweet Paper Garland X-Mas Dream from
3 Girls & A Goat, from Brisbane Australia via Etsy

Perfect Present Tag - Snow Flake Paper Gift Cards from
3 Girls And A Goat, Brisbane Australia via Etsy

I am sooo excited about Christmas this year - especially since we've our had first baby - little Miss Isabelle, it really seems to make all the difference with Christmas being all about the children... that sense of magic seems to have crept back again and I love it!
I have inspired by a wonderful client of mine, the lovely M.Helm, from her display of hanging ornaments that were artfully suspended from her ceiling over her dining table last year - so that with a few other things that I have also gathered up will begin to hang & arrange festive decor over the next few weeks. Am thinking of a silver-peppermint theme this year [maybe a smattering of navy/ pale blue too] with a lean to an almost Nordic inspiration. I think the lead up to Christmas can be sooo exciting - so hedges are to be trimmed this weekend for pretty twinkling plain fairy lights to be strung up!

Nordic Inspiration from John Lewis

We just placed our order for our fresh Christmas tree with Elf Help, we have had them delivered for the past few years - nothing beats the smell of a fresh tree - it's a real tradition of ours. And I am getting cracking with a few fun 'Palatial' projects - I'm making a special personalised Stocking & Santa sack [pillowcase] for Miss Isabelle; and actually making stockings for Matthew [my husband] & I. Even though we have had one each before this year I want to make family ones for all of us with more design & colour cohesion... I have also come up with a sweet idea for all the babies - Isabelle's friends - from my lovely mother's group too! So stay tuned  I will post pics once all finished! I don't want to give anything away just yet!

Here's a few images that have got me excited - especially with all my fabulous home & interior December issue mags arriving in the mail the past week or so... Enjoy!

Just received my 'JOY' Christmas Shopping invitaion from CR
I love their graphic packagind & instore VM design this year,
centred around core colours Ruby Red, Sunny Yellow,
Navy Blue & Kelly Green - with silver & white!



Rustic Handmade red mixed berry wreath from
Silk N Light Designs via Etsy



Gorgeous Store & Co...

Store & Co. Hobart, Tasmania - Australia.



I love the metal sign 'Free As A Bird'... Also showcasing
 Megan Morton's book 'Home Love' who I had the
pleasure in meeting & having sign my copy
of the book at a recent ISCD event.



Store & Co. front window displays - makes me want to look closer!

I was tidying up my image files and couldn't believe that I hadn't posted these photos of a fabulous store I visited on my holiday to [Hobart] Tasmania a couple of months back! And let me tell you this store is memorable...so I must have been overly distracted to forget to tell you all about it!

Whilst walking down Macquarie Street in search of brunch one morning...I first came across the 'J.Boag & Son' sign [a great Tasmanian Australian brewery] and right next door led me to this fab find of a shop called 'Store & Co.'. We couldn't have missed it really the front pathway display lured me closer to the front window displays and on-in I went! Here's a few snaps of the store that 'Rachel' - one of the store people kindly let me take...

If you get a chance to visit or pop by I highly recommend it - you may come out slightly lighter in the purse or heavier on the credit card though!

Enjoy...

Some days it feels like this sign is a must!

I love the 'bus roll' theme with days of the week.

This is the footpath display outside the 'Store&Co.'
front window display that caught our eye!
An oldie but a goodie - 'Keep Calm And Carry On' is
 one my faves no matter how many times it's
 been done in recent times.

This decal with 'Store' & 'Store Keeper'
definition sits behind the counter.

A 'Store & Co' colleague - Rachel

Beautiful high pressed metal ceilings, the
old original offices and store rooms were
guttted to make this open store space.



A beautiful eclectic mix of vintage hospital furniture and
equipment, flags, furniture and a keen sense
of typography - drew me into its throes!



images by Sarah Verity - Verandah Home+Garden Living Solutions