Happy Friday... Friday Flowers are a-bloom!

Happy Friday & Welcome Weekend!

I just love the Australian Country Style March 2010 cover with it's vivacious full bright blooms... so deliciously gorgeous it has to make it for Palatial Living's Friday Flowers to share with you!

Also featured here is a fabulous article, from Australian Country Style March issue , on Wildflower Farmer, Craig Scott - who turned his passion of Australian Native Wildflowers into literally a bloomin' successful business... whom he also shares with his father & business partner, Colin - they formed East Coast Wildflowers. Located west of Gosford on Sydney's Central Coast Craig's wildflower farm is also home to his wife, Angie and teenage daughters - Bethany, Miranda, Eden and Cassia, and a Golden Retriever. You can purchase Craig's beautiful wild blooms at Sydney's Flower Markets - at Flemington Markets (Inner West Sydney)... you will be in good company when you have you're on huge bunch of East Coast Wildflowers - some of his clients include Sydney's major florist - Grandiflora, and displayed at the 2007 Apec Summit in the Opera House [Sydney] as well as last year's Christmas event at NSW Government House.

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With my upcoming baby shower I think I may just have to high-tail it in the wee hours of the morning to the markets to try & catch Craig and his team for some spectacular 'bush baby' blooms!

Hope you have wonderful weekend - thank you for all your wonderful comments & emails this week! Take care, Sarah xxx

Be sure to grab you're copy of Australian Country Style in newsagents, and selected supermarkets.

Images from Australian Country Style - March 2010 issue.

Event Alert! '30 Days of Home & Entertaining' ... April 2010

[Image] Letter from Lisa Green, Editor-In-Chief Australian House & Garden magazine, about the H&G event for Thursday 22 April. Click on image to enlarge.

[Image] Gorgeous tran-seasonal palette - Shades of Yellow, Lilac/ Purple and Driftwood / Greys - Australian House & Garden Magazine April 2010

Very Excited - just received my Australian House & Garden April 2010 issue in the post yesterday... it really does pay to subscribe, I feel like it's Christmas all over again each time I get my mags!

And YES it's really '30 days of Home & Entertaining', an event sponsored by Sheridan Australian & CBA, showcasing advice, how-to's and great ideas in the month of April. As part of this festival - there's a [Sydney based event] held by Australian House & Garden magazine on Thursday 22 April that you can register for - through this link...

This is an even opportunity where you will get to meet - the fantastic H&G contributor's such as Shannon Lush - resident home-cleaning columnist, and of Life style's 'Lush House' & 'Spotless' book fame will be, as well as culture icon & critic Leo Schofield - who will be valuing your trash & treasure amongst the Antiques & Collectibles market for a bargain; and not to forget you have the opportunity to meet with fabulous Editor-in-Chief, Lisa Green will be ready for an afternoon tea - joining her will be Garden Designer Helen Young, where you can get your burning garden questions & problems answered, and ultimate guru of style at H&G, Style Director Janet James may divulge some of her coveted styling tricks...!!

I tell you I'm tingling already with anticipation! Sarah xx

Images from 30Daysof Home&Entertaining & Australian House & Garden magazine April 2010 issue

Mid Week House Snoop...takes us to Freshwater,

Mid Week House Snoop this week brings me to this fabulous beach house inspired home - that's perched up on a hill top, in Sydney's Northern Beaches locale, Freshwater... Take a look. Enjoy x

Expansive lush lawn and layered platform deck with shade sails makes for a very inviting rear yard space. combined open plan living & dining spaces lead onto the entertainer's & children friendly back yard

alfresco entertaining - with an outdoor deck and fold away doors to the main living area

private loft living room leading onto the master bedroom

spacious, light filled master bedroom

Agent's Blurb - About the Home - Listed by Belle Property...

Quintessential family beach house, top location, & stunning design.
Lifestyle capturing the essence of relaxed coastal luxury, this resort-inspired beach house rests amid lush gardens on one of Freshwater's best streets, perfect for family living and entertaining, it features soaring cathedral ceilings and a seamless flow to idyllic gardens. Accommodation double bedrooms with built-ins, upper level parent's retreat with north facing terrace and study area, designer CaesarStone gas kitchen, lofty open plan living and dining, deep Merbau deck and level gardens, mezzanine casual living room, family bathroom plus two ensuites. features landscaped tropical garden entry with antique timber doors, double parking, louvered windows for cross-flow ventilation, clerestory windows and skylights drawing in all day sunlight, polished timber floors, plantation shutters, gas heating and ceiling fans. Auction on site 12pm on 13/3/10 (unless sold prior).
Property ID: 2008217048

Images from Domain & Belle Property

More Fabulous Vintage & Recent House Beautiful Blue& White Rooms - Part II...

Following from my previous post yesterday on the fantastic vintage House Beautiful interior spaces dedicated to Blue & White decorating - here is part II - that takes us through the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's with this classic decorating colour combination. Proving that 'Blue & White' can be applied in both contemporary & traditional styles that still looks fresh - even upon years of reflection!

Enjoy x

[image 1] Charlotte Moss Canopy Bed, August 2006
[image 2] Blue White Stairs, December 1993

[image 3] Simple Bedroom, February 1991

[image 4] Blue Sitting Room, December 1984

[Image 5] Bed Canopy, January 1977


images from House Beautiful U.S magazine

Fabulous Vintage House Beautiful...

[image 1] House Beautiful cover, January 1969

[image 2] House Beautiful cover, November 1965
[image 3] House Beautiful cover - May 1951

[image 4] Living Room, February 1950

[image 5] Today's' Colours, January 1940

[image 6] Bedroom fabric - February 1938

You know I will use almost any excuse to use something with a 'Blue & White' decor item, or space... Here - I recently came across these gorgeous vintage House Beautiful [images] magazine covers and interior spreads on specifically - Blue & White - decorated rooms. [For me] It's always pleasing & amazing to see how simple, good taste, combined with careful consideration when using the correct foundations of design can stand the test of time... here are some fantastic examples, where I'm sure you'd agree....

Images from House Beautiful U.S magazine.

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.

Happy Weekend!

Yay - it's Friday!! Hope you have a fun weekend ahead...

We're off to our 'annual' Twilight at Taronga Zoo 2010 concert series this weekend to see 'Neil Diamond' [aka Peter Byrne with the Sydney International Orchestra] cover, with some very dear friends of ours, and out goddaughter... There will be both shameless out-of-tune singing to 'all the favourite songs from 'Hot August Night'; 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' and the 'Jazz Singer' - like our faves 'Sweet Caroline & 'Crunchy Granola Suite', not to mention some serious toe tapping with a wonderful little 3 year old Darling girl, Siena! If you in Sydney living or visiting - there are still tickets for other concerts - visit this link - to see what might take your fancy, and be sure to take a picnic blanket & some nibbles....

Thanks again for dropping by Palatial Living this week - here's to your fabulous weekend! Sarah x

Image from SMH.

House Love... From H&B March '10

This week I received my Home Beautiful March 2010 issue in the post [Yay! I love my subscriptions] and to say that this issue has 'hit it on the head' in my personal colour & style stakes is something... Home Beautiful features this home, that I have shared with here [above images] and several others that take my breath away. This particular home featured her is located in Melbourne suburbs, Victoria, & lived in by owners Craig & Chrissie and their 5 sons!They are not grand in scale or uber-trendy - they are simply stylishly real, fresh & contemporary - certainly somewhere you can envision yourself... well I can! Not to mention H&B's cover - loving that Blue & White combination again - some of these throw cushions look like mine!!

Make sure you grab you're Home Beautiful March 2010 issue to have great read over a cup of tea or a cool drink! Enjoy x

Images from Home Beautiful [Australia] magazine issue March 2010.

Event: Lighting Installation for Chinese New Year...

Thought I would share a fabulous Event: Lighting Installation at the forecourt of Sydney's Customs House, that is currently on in the wake of the Chinese New Year Celebrations for 2010/11 - Year of the Tiger.

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In a wonderful fusion of ancient Asian art forms and modern sensibilities, two massive origami lanterns in the form of tigers, will help Sydney citizens and visitors celebrate the Lunar or Chinese New Year. February 14 will mark the start of the Year of the Tiger, but the two crouching giants will remain at Customs House from February 11 to March 14, 2010.

The lanterns are 2.5 meters high and more than 7 meters long and they are lit by low-energy LED lights. As is fitting in soccer-mad Australia, the felines are not just idly posing, they are playing soccer in celebration of the FIFA soccer world cup. The tigers, commissioned by Customs House to raise awareness about the endangered status of tigers, were designed by Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) with offices in Sydney and Stuttgart, Germany.

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So if you're in Sydney, living or just visiting through this celebration time be sure to take a look at these wonderful 'Tiger' lanterns from dusk... Enjoy x

Images & Event Alert from Cool Hunter

Traces of the City - City Scapes & Map Trends...

[Image 1] New York Subway Token Cuff Links, by QaCreate

[image 2] Eco Friendly jewellery - Map Collage Bangles, by Squishy Sushi.

[image 3] USA Map - covered note book, pencil & bookmark, by Nico PaperGoods

[image 4] Your Bus Map - Customised bus roll - bus stops, by Hirondelle Rustique [reminds me of my fave bus rolls by Print Dolls, and the 'baby' version by Janette over at My Sweet Prints.

[image 5] Tokyo city map - Clock, by Gifted Papers

[image 5] Tokyo city map - Clock, full size image, by Gifted Papers

[Image 6] New York Subway Route Map - Clock, by Gifted Papers

[Image 7] London City Scape - Tea towel prints, London Love II by Caroline Dulko.

I'm loving one of the latest Etsy newsletters I have just recently received - that they have aptly titled - 'City Mouse & Country Mouse'... Here, I have found my favourite pieces from the 'City Mouse' side, I think just love all these maps-lines and the designs they create, it really reminds me of all my school geography lessons & how much I love typographical maps too! Be sure to jump onto Etsy.com and look up these 'craft-i-sans' work! Enjoy x

Images from Etsy.com

2010 Year of the Tiger... Happy Chinese New Year! Gung hay fat choy !!

[Images 1 & 2] From Betsey Johnson Studio

[image 3] From Stillwater Art Studio

To all my friends & colleagues who celebrate Chinese New Year... Wishing you a very Happy New Year, for Sunday 14th February! Gung hay fat choy !!

The Year of the [Metal] Tiger from 14 February 2010 - 2 February 2011. The Chinese zodiac follows a twelve year cycle, each of the years being named after an animal. The Chinese believe that people born in a particular year take on the characteristics of the animal associated with that year.

Tigers are generally - Sensitive, emotional and adventurous. Confident, risk takers and dislike taking orders. Good at seeing problems, but less able to see the solutions. Often seek a shoulder to cry on when feeling down. Warm and generous to the people they love. When opportunity knocks, Metal Tigers open the door. With characteristic Olympian zeal, they seize every chance to better themselves, with a competitive streak that lets nothing or no one get in their way. As aggressive as they are, though, they never trample upon the feelings of others. Always considerate, they are admired and well-liked for their sense of justice and forgiving spirit. They never waste energy holding grudges. Metal Tigers always have the unwavering support of their friends, colleagues, and family. Their industrious work habits usually lead them down a velvety smooth career path and Metal Tigers almost always know the beauty of having achieved great financial success. Because Metal Tigers have so much fire within themselves, they can also warm the hearts of loved ones, which they do with tender passion and compassion.

Hmmm - lots to think about, especially since my baby [due in May] might just have some, or all, of these tendencies since he or she falls under this Chinese Zodiac!

Images from Etsy - Betsey Thompson Studio & Stillwater Art Studio