Weekend Butterfly...

Welcome Weekend!

Here's to a stylish garden-scape and a pair of these gorgeous butterfly chairs.

Did you know about these chairs...

Widely known as BKF chairs in Argentina, the iconic Butterfly Chair was designed by three young architects by the names of Bonet, Kurchner and Ferrari-Hardoy in 1938. They were in turn, inspired by the Tripolina chair first used in North Africa by the British and then the Italians in the 19^th century.

Enormously popular worldwide and sold in the millions during the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, the Butterfly Chair, also known as the AA chair in Europe, remains a design icon, an internationally sought after furniture classic, possessing that rare quality that makes an object or person, a single distinguishable entity – STYLE

Enjoy your weekend - wherever it may be! S.

image via #pinterest see #http://www.muumuubutterflychairs.com.au/ for Australian made butterfly chairs

Top Ten Colours for 2016

Somehow January has flown by already so to kick off the 2016 colour trends that you will start to see coming through stores - amongst homewares, furniture, lifestyle pieces, and fashion - apparel, accessories & make up. These colours have been largely taken from the essential swatch palettes of the S/S 16 and FW 16/17 looks.

These main hues, listed here, are the most impactful and be a tint or shade above or below thee are the ones to look out for. They range from bold earthy shades to dusty-muddy mid tone hues. Each individual colour is made to work into your own palette - not all together! Take a look at a great line up I found via Scarlet Opus from Laura Greenwood.

So here are your slim-lined Top Ten colours for 2016...  Enjoy. S.                       

1. Lunar Gray – An extended palette of muted gray’s play a leading role as an important hue for this year. Taken from a trend that places focus on privacy, time and experience; this color works alongside refined neutrals to portray elegance and timeless fashions. Seen in a matte finish with tone on tone neutrals that are beautiful in their simplicity. This color remains important as the endurance of the new industrial style continues to strengthen.

2. Dusky Mauve – This soft, hazy hue is injected with a gray tone and portrays a poetic authenticity. This dulled, balanced pastel can be combined with moody tinted grays and muted Corals and Pinks with a chalky, powder-coated finish. Dusky Mauve provides a delicate harmony, it is quiet, subdued and projects a sense of well-being.

3. Muted Coral – We saw 2015 fashions embrace the Coral Shrimp as both a solid and accent color. Going forward, we will see this shade diffuse to be more restrained and low-key. It sits within a palette that suggests honesty and long-lived values – it is warm, sophisticated, all-encompassing and works together with mid-toned grays, Mint Green and Dusky Mauve. This is a color that projects a sun-kissed, fresh outlook and will move forward into 2017.

4. Mint Green – This color adds a fresh, contemporary sharpness when used as an accent within a palette. It almost glows when paired against deeper shades. Not only does it portray a pop of optimism and expresses a desire to be more adventurous, but it also encourages unconventional pairings, inspiring a confident use of color. Ombrés, color washes and graduations are the dominant effects when using this tone.

5. Pop Pink – This soda pink has a chalky, matte finish and maintains a New Retro feel. It is taken from a trend named ‘PLAY’ which embraces unexpected color and material combinations; a controlled chaos within urban lifestyles. Pop Pink has no sweetness and extends beyond feminine associations to emerge as a bold, graphic and modern design direction. It works best in a palette where Black is a dominant color and is most fascinating when pared with playful interactions of texture, pattern and shape.

6. Purple Iris – In contrast to the more vibrant tones of 2016, we will also celebrate the mystery and beauty of dark, dusky shades. The deep heather based tones add a level of sophistication and warmth to our 2016 palette. It radiates a jeweled opulence, and combines with warm brass metallic shades to inspire a dramatic, luxurious vibe. Yet it also feels familiar and comforting when combined with heritage fabrics and traditional patterned textiles; blurring the boundaries between modern and time-honored fashions.

7. Mars Rock – This grounded color is taken from our Astro Trend, which is inspired by the grittiness and raw textures of planetary surfaces. Once again we call on nature to inspire, this time in the form of its cracked, rock-like textures and rich crystallized forms. This baked earth tone brings a sophisticated essence into interiors and can be used alongside deep reds, terracotta and space-aged metallic’s to emphasis it’s evolutionary path.

8. True Red – Moving on from the Primal Red seen in 2015, this year True Red evolves to a softer tone. It balances out the intensity of some of the more vivid color contrasts when paired with tonal shades. This color is an essential hue in 2016 as it portrays an artisanal, handcrafted aesthetic where craftsmanship is valued and the beauty of ‘basic’ is admired.

9. Indigo Blue –  Indigo make its presence felt throughout 2016, trending across both fashion and interiors. It is deep, mysterious yet stylish and sophisticated. Indigo is at its most striking and sumptuous alongside rich shades of wine, teal, warm metals, grays, dark wood tones and off white. This color longs for unconventional pairings to emphasis the unexpectedness of how it can be used within an interior.

10. Cobalt Blue – This color works in both contrasting and complimentary ways, it can be paired with a True Red for a bold, contemporary union, or combined with a crisp white for a more radiant effect. When paired with the Indigo blue and Mint green it suggests a more tonal, pleasing mixture. This color can be used both as an accent and a mono solid, where it’s unique, fresh vibrancy makes this a popular choice for 2016.

images & sub text via scarlet opus

Linen Luxe Bedding

 

              

If you're like me bed linen is a compulsion of mine - it's up there with shoes! I can never have enough gorgeous sheets, pillow slips, and duvet covers - not to mention pillows. So when Palatial Living was approached by Parachute [Home] , a bedding linen & home wares business based in Venice L.A. United States, to look at their exciting new Linen range launch this past week - I was already enamored.

Parachute [Home] is the bed linen love child of creator & founder Ariel Kaye. Linen in bedding - I hear you say what? Linen has a beautiful natural quality that allows at each time you wear it and use it becomes softer with each touch. It has the dual ability to look both natural & relaxed whilst still sumptuous & luxurious.

A little fact I love from the Parachute site - did you know that...

You spend ⅓ of your life in bed, so your sleep experience matters.

I know that a good nights sleep is imperative to how I carry out my day and it's success - so comfortable and beautiful bedding is key for me. Ariel Kaye, creator & founder of Parachute (Home) is on this exact wave length, and decided to reinvent the way bedding is marketed and sold, creating her own company called Parachute, which sells bedding direct to the consumer. Parachute launched in January 2014, and on its website, product descriptions play up the use of 100 percent Egyptian cotton, the Italian quality woven fibres that get softer with use and the fact that products are made in Italy. Simplified Parachute bedding is designed in L.A, Made in Italy, and Delivered to Direct to you.

 

Originally Parachute would only offer two fabric choices — percale or sateen — and three colors — white, powder or ash. She also took into consideration the types of bundles she would sell, opting to sell one of her packages without the top sheet. This range concept soon grew to be able offer customers sheet sets, Venice sets, and duvet sets, as well as separates, and the hyperallergenic friendly - duvet insert themselves. And most recently the addition to the Parachute family & existing 2 fabrics on offer - the Linen range.  Luxe Linen now available for your bed!

I adore the climatic synergies that are shared with Australian weather and the Southern Califormian climate - just where Parachute hails from. So why Linen? There are many reasons that Linen is perfect for your bed - a few to name....

Linen in it's appearance shares a dupoly, not only, in it's ability to create both coolness and warmth from it's natural fibires with low conductivity and ease to layer with other bedding, and continues to soften with use. Linen possesses high air permeability and heat conductivity properties. Heat conductivity of linen is five times as high as that of wool and 19 times as that of silk. In hot weather those dressed in linen clothes are found to show the skin temperature 3°-4°C below that of their silk or cotton-wearing friends. According to some studies, a person wearing linen clothes perspires 1.5 times less than when dressed in cotton clothes and twice less than when dressed in viscose clothes. Meanwhile in cold weather linen is an ideal warmth-keeper. So Linen over warmer months is a perfect choice for softness, and breathability.

All year 'round you can't go wrong. Now what colour to pick... plain dye White or Fog, or in French Ticking Stripe when in a Linen Blend

Importantly, and personally for me, I was pleased to learn that Parachute also gives back as a responsible & caring member of the business community. They believe that every one everywhere should have the ability to have a luxurious sleep - and so have partnered with Nothing But Nets, an organization that shares their interest in providing safe sleep to those in need.

For further enquiries on how you can get your own luxe Linen bedding range, and other gorgeous items - please contact Parachute Home. I cannot wait to get my own set of Parachute Linen {Luxe}range onto my bed... I'm leaning to 'Fog' perfect for Sydney-side #PalatialLiving. What about you?

 

Enjoy,

Sarah x #PalatialLiving

 

images via Parachute Instagram

Find #PalatialLiving on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter

Do you have this... 5 Annoying Little Home Problems - For the Fix read here!

 

Is there any way to make my whole house smell fresh without cleaning it from top to bottom

Solution: Sprinkle a few drops of vanilla extract onto your a/c filter. A drop of your favorite essential oil works, too. Or find a great household candle to burn when you are cleaning your home - open the windows up.

Great household candles that are inexpensive and a #PalatialLiving find are #Price's Household Candles - they have one that is called 'Open Window' in Australia they can be found in #Coles supermarkets. #Price’s (UK) is one of the world’s oldest candle manufacturers and produces candles of the highest quality see. this link for more details Their 'FRESH AIR' range are the candles I use in our home.

 

I need help hanging pictures and artwork, but first I need to patch the holes from my previous attempts.

Solution: To patch tiny holes, you'll need a putty knife and patching plaster. If you plan to repaint, look for a plaster and primer in one, like 3M Patch Plus Primer. The first rule when hanging pictures: Don't eyeball it. If you're going to hang multiple pictures, use newspaper to create true-to-size templates of your frames that you can arrange on the wall using painter's tape. Finally, don't align pictures with the ceiling or floor -- they might not be level. Instead, use a level to draw a faint line a few inches down from the ceiling and use that as your starting point.

 

 

I love my stainless-steel appliances but hate all the fingerprints.

Solution: We all have a love/hate relationship with stainless steel. To prevent fingerprints, apply a thin layer of olive oil to the surface using a soft cloth, also old stockings work well for this job.

 

 

 

Is it possible to remove rust stains in a porcelain sink?

Solution: Believe it or not, toothpaste might do the trick. Cover the stain with toothpaste and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with baking soda and rub it out with a clean, soft cloth.

 

Now I know why people say, "I don't do windows." How do you avoid streaks?

Solution: Try washing windows on a cloudy day. Otherwise the sun dries the cleaner before you can wipe it away. Use newspapers instead of paper towels. They do a better job, and they're less expensive.

As a pre-wash solutions #PalatialLiving uses a combination of sugar soap & eucalyptus wool wash with warm water & soft sponge to wash down any dirt grime prior to spraying the windows. A little extra elbow grease is required - but this gets the window sills & frame clean and ensures you're not rubbing dirt particles into the glass when using the spray.Hence making the whole job worthwhile - your total window will have instant yard appeal!

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Perhaps a few of these annoying house jobs, mentioned, are at your home? Now they can be quickly remedied over the weekend!

 

Enjoy,

Sarah x #palatialliving

 

images & subtext via BHG.com

5 Great Ideas for Your Hallway Foyer

Don't Dismiss Decor.

With a little attention to styling, even a small console becomes a major design statement. Strategically hang a mirror to make the space feel twice as large. via my own style

 

Whether you have a narrow small space or a large open void for your front foyer - there's loads you can do with a few little tricks be it wallpaper or paint, baskets or hooks & decor.

 

Here's a few I found via #countryliving #goodhousekeeping that I thought were great to share with you that are in keeping with the Palatial Living mantra - 'Grand or Cosy. In & Out. All Things for Stylish Living', just for you.

 

Enjoy,

Sarah #PalatialLiving

Reimagine Your Closet.

Open up a cramped space and gain a helpful spot for extra seating by ditching the closet door. Hooks and baskets look decorative, but still provide ample storage for your stuff. via Sampson home

 

Get a Skinny Console

If your narrow hallway won't fit the average credenza, slim down. This DIY console makes the most of a tight space by offering extra style and a place to drop your keys. via east coast creative blog

 

 

Go Graphic

A small entryway means you can get away with a bold accent wall. Patterned wallpaper adds definition to a meager foyer and yields instant personality that might overwhelm anywhere else. via Design Indulgence

 

Add Hooks and a Bench

As long as you've got a place to tie your shoes and hang your coat, even the tiniest entryway will feel complete. via House Tweaking

       

 

 

images & subtext via #countryliving & #goodhousekeeping

 

Made With Love - Gifts for Your Mum

 

 

DIY Cheese Markers

Any hostess will love getting handmade stamped cheese markers. To make this adorable Mother's Day gift, place vintage silver-plated forks between two felt pieces and flatten in a vise. Place the front side up on a metal block and use metal stamps and a hammer to mark the name of the cheese. Cut off a few inches at the top of the handle, then make a curly loop by wrapping the handle in felt and curling it backward using pliers

  

 

Made With Love - Gifts for Your Mum x

Not everyone wants to buy something for their Mum, not every Mum suits something store bought.

So with that - there's still time to get making something for your Mum.

Something clever, something purposeful and something gorgeous.

 

Here are some great ideas I have found across a couple of my fave home living sites.

 

Enjoy,

Sarah x #Palatial Living

 

 

Sweet Smelling Candle

There's no Mother's Day gift more classic than a fragrant candle. Pick a scent and color that fits your mother's personality and pair it with our DIY candleholders. To make, spray a light mist of water into a glass holder. Spray a light layer of metallic gold paint on the inside of the holder, painting over the water beads (it will leave the glass slightly translucent); let dry. Add a layer of gold glitter spray to finish.

 

Flower Seed Packets

Celebrate the sweetness both Mom and spring have to offer with flowers that will keep her smiling long after Mother's Day. Wrap store-bought seed packets for your mom's favorite blooms in easy-stitch burlap bags, and seal the bags with a plant marker. If you want to spice up the bag, pin a vintage picture of the flower on top for an added touch.

 

 

'Family" Kitchen Artwork

Family is what is most important on special days like Mother's Day. Give your mom this gift to remind her how much you care. To make, buy several wooden spoons -- one for each letter. Paint the ends of each spoon; let dry. Using a letter stencil, lightly blot white paint to make one letter on each spoon; let dry. Cut a piece of cardboard to fit the opening of a picture frame (make sure the frame can fit all spoons with a 1/2-inch border on all sides). Wrap white canvas around the front of the cardboard; hot-glue to secure. Insert in frame; hot-glue spoons to the canvas.

 

Message in a Jar

Get the kids involved with this cute Mother's Day gift -- a simple jar with notes telling her all the reasons she's loved. Have kids write their thoughts, or have them tell you their ideas and you write them down. Roll up the strips of paper and put them in a jar. Tie a bow around the jar for added flair.

 

Framed Butterfly Family Tree

Mum will love this spring-theme representation of the people she loves most in this easy-to-make family tree project. Design the layout on a separate sheet of paper, assigning different paper colors to different generations. Punch out two butterflies per family member with a crafts punch, and write their name on the top cutout. Keeping the center body on the top cutout flat, fold the wings up; this will give the butterflies a fluttery look. Glue the bodies of each pair of cutouts together using crafts glue or rubber cement. Place butterflies on a matte board and mark positions lightly with a pencil; glue in place on board. Frame the finished butterfly family tree.

 

images & sub text via bhg.com

Found. Mother's Day - A Few Best Gifts...

via HardtoFind.com.au Home is wherever mum is print by BespokeMoments

Ships from CAMDEN, Australia $24.95 + FREE SHIPPING.

It's often hard to find just 1 great gift for your Mum - a gift that sums up a year plus of all the 'Thank You's' and something that is good enough for 'I love You ' that covers more than just one day. And if you're exceptionally lucky like me not only with my own mum, I also have this in my wonderful mother-in-law . So in some ways it makes it very tricky indeed!

I have a lovely little 5yr old daughter, Isabelle, who is a-tuned to all things and especially across what we find together window shopping and images I find through magazines. So much so she's started the phrase 'I wish I had...' as a wistful response much like her mother - me - to the idea of all the things she likes and finds! We make a list and go to #pinterest instead! Whilst nothing genuinely beats the hand picked and hand made items lovingly found at a preschool or school Mother's Day stall. Something I never comprehended until my own daughter proudly wrapped her own finds from a stall and deftly made with love a card filled with pictures of texta coloured flowers and cute figure drawings of her & I together in this fluro colourful garden....

A little online shopping also helps 'til they can buy you what you'd also like to use or wear!  

So with that I've found a few of my favourite things that may just inspire you for Mother's Day gifts too... and coincidently from the beautifully curated Australian site that I have been a long time huge fan of 'hardtofind'

 

Enjoy,

Sarah - #PalatialLiving

 

 

via HardtoFind.com.au Mother's personalised tree of life chain bracelet by Merci Maman 

Ships from London, United Kingdom .$149.00 + FREE SHIPPING       

 

via HardtoFind.com.au Initial jewellery box by Rose St Trading Co

5Ships from Armadale, Australia $119.95 + FREE SHIPPING

 

via HardtoFind.com.au Lapis lazuli blue suede fold-over clutch by The Goods 

Ships from Avalon, Australia $129.00 + FREE SHIPPING. Pom Poms separate.

 

 

 

via HardtoFind.com.au  Woven bracelet in cool mint & silver by theRubz

5Ships from Warriewood, Australia $69.95 + FREE SHIPPING

 

via HardtoFind.com.au  Boho sherbert washable leather gardening gloves by Homegrown & Handmade

5 5Ships from Crossman, Australia $47.90 + FREE SHIPPING

 

 

via HardtoFind.com.au Hand-stamped Mother's Day single vintage teaspoonby Silver Spoon Vintage .

Ships from MILDURA, Australia  $39.00 + FREE SHIPPING

 

 

 via HardtoFind XOXO gold foil greeting card by Elm Paper

Ships from Norwood, Australia $6.50 + FREE SHIPPING

 

 

 

 

Inspired. Make Marks Daily.

Make Marks Daily.

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Make Marks Daily 

I recently read a great article in #AustralianCountryStyle (from Summer January 15 issue) on ceramicist and artist Claire Atkins. As I began reading her story it felt familiar - mainly because her quest & commitment over the course the year for 2014 was to 'Make Marks Daily'.It was this familiarity became apparent as I learnt that we are from same alumni design school, the College of Fine Arts UNSW in Paddington Sydney, also known as CoFA. Whilst Claire a '95 graduate and I a '99 grad we most likely shared a number of the same teachers & professors across the studies we undertook.  
I love this concept, it spurns you to immediately create without being precious about what exactly. It is simple.

It heralds back to teachings I received (most likely from the same professor as Claire) from the once head of school and now assoc dean of international art, and expert ceramicist (Dr.) Vaughan Rees (hails from Australian art royalty also, is the nephew of Australian artist Lloyd Rees).
So this is my small tribute to #MakeMarksDaily - would be a very interesting surface print... It has inspired me to get my

shed in order and set up my studio - soon!
 

Thanks #ClaireAtkins & #AustralianCountryStyle for sharing the inspiration.

Enjoy,

 Sarah - #PalatialLiving
 

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Images: (1) - via #pinterest; (2 - 6) images via Claire Atkins FB page #pinky&maurice contemporary ceramics https://www.facebook.com/PinkyMauriceContemporaryCeramics?fref=photo 

 

For more details please visit:  
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/makemarksdaily

  https://www.facebook.com/PinkyMauriceContemporaryCeramics?fref=photo

 

Get Organised!

It's New Year & It's Time to Get Organised!

Back to School, Back to Work.... New rosters, New calendars, New times, and New routines!Sound like your place? It's certainly mine and keeping on top of it can be tricky if you let it get away from you.

So whilst the New Year is till upon us why not take advantage of the time and get de-cluttered, and super organised with some of these helpful decorating tips centred in and around maximising your organistaion for what's ahead this year!

Some of these projects can be done in an evening or across a weekend. 

So put on your 'tidy' hat and get cracking! S x

 

 

Make the Space Work for You! Whether you have an excess of square footage or are cramped into a too-small space, there are inventive ways to squeeze out useful organization from your home. In a centrally located spot such as a kitchen, a small stretch of wall offers a precious few inches for a family organization spot. Give each person their own slot, or include a message board with important reminders.

Find a version 'here' at Pottery Barn

 

Increase Visibility; Staying organized depends on knowing what you have and where it is; that way, you won’t purchase duplicates or waste time searching for what you need. Putting items on display, such as the narrower shelves filled with shoes, is a great organizational technique to help achieve this goal.

 

Maximise Accessibility - Maximise the Closet Space 

Helping your family stay organized depends on kids and parents being able to use whatever system you have in place. For kids especially, that means ensuring access to all the daily-use items that they can be in charge of, such as clothes and toys. Revamping closets with multi-height rods and storing seasonal clothes within their reach is a great organizational technique. Clothes they’ll grow into or use in different weather can be stashed in up-high, out-of-reach spaces.

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Make It Pretty: It’s so much easier to maintain an organization system if it’s one that you love to look at. Invest in pretty containers , jars, clips and hangers; choose a color scheme; and spend time thinking how your organization can and should be part of your decor.

 

Organize by Person or Function: Bins, baskets, hooks, and containers all lend themselves to a simple but underused organization technique: labeling. Handwritten or computer-generated, labels can quickly help you and your family sort, store, and find what you need. Try labels in an entryway, on shelves, and in the kitchen.

 

Mix Storage Types. Organization options are much more limited if you have just one type of storage - all drawers or open shelves, for example. The most clean-looking, hardworking spaces have a little bit of everything: baskets and bins to hide less visually pleasing elements, open shelves for easy access, and higher-up storage for things that aren’t used as frequently.

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Enjoy,

#palatialliving

 

subtext - images via bhg, pinterest, houzz