Indoor Green Dreaming

I have become slightly obsessed with the want to flood a new little project of mine (when it all really happens and comes together) with an abundance of beautiful, huge, crisp, green indoor plants! I love the freshness they add to a space and their ability to bring what is outside, inside. What I could not find an image of, and I am sure would be beautiful, is indoor plants all lit up. The shadows they would cast on a ceiling and a white walls would be magical. I work next door to a plant in my office, and I love it, so I will be envisioning lots in my new home!

I have done this post so that I don't forget that this is something I am definitely working towards!

Credits:1.Photo: Ali Harper Styling: Joy Thigpen 2& 4 http://carlaaston.com/designed/swap-holiday-decor-for-indoor-plants
3.Gröna potäter | Redaktionen | inspiration från IKEA5.http://www.omami.ru/architecture/inner-peace/
6.http://www.omami.ru/architecture/inner-peace/7.http://seagrassinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/09/painted.html

Fishes and swirls

I've always loved the simplicity and effectiveness of Japanese paintings of fish (Koi in particular). The way their bold black and red colouring stands against white backgrounds. I have also been involved with the decor of Sushibox from when it opened it's doors, and turning to these prints was my inspiration for a low cost solution to decorate some of the walls in the little take-away shop, we needed something bold, simple and quick to produce. I have recently added some bright red,  on request, to the monochrome selection of fish that used to be on the walls. 

Here are some images below and my inspiration above.

Monday Home Dreaming

I feel that little can beat the excitement  anxiety and happiness that the purchase of a new home can bring. When it is your first, it is a feeling that will be held in your heart forever. This will be the little space where you will nurture, create and dream. A canvas of your own, where all that you have collected through travels, relationships and life is culminated and collected, displayed or hidden. This is your little space on earth.

On Saturday afternoon, I was invited to a braai at the new home of  very special friends, both travellers, one a photographer, both Artists, newly married, both warm, positive and inspiring. Fran and her husband, Tom, have made their home on the hill tops of Noordhoek.  Their purchase was an empty shell. 

Concrete floors and odd colour walls were left in want of warmth and nurturing, but despite the strangeness that the previous owners had left them with, Fran and Tom felt a sense of hope and happiness in the sale they had stumbled upon. This little piece of haven had a beautiful view, solid walls and a tree-house in a beautiful old tree. It had space, a garden, bones and a heart in the form of an old fireplace and it was begging for their touch.
What has been created is nothing less than inspiring. Their home is filled with relics and paintings that conjure up memories of their travels from London to Cape Town. The feeling of "come in and relax" is evident through big "sink-in" couches, sunny spots on their open verandah, African print cushions and natural, raw materials in a surround of white, crisp walls and joinery, all brought to life through a lick of paint and a homely touch. Old antiques are mixed with Tom's painted memories and carefully styled tops and walls are a testament to Fran's effortless style and sense of home-making.

Enjoy below!

Me, me, me. What I love:

1. The neutral couches and pops of colour through the cushion fabrics

2. The use of Tom's art works as a personal touch to add colour to walls

3. The beautiful sewers table used as a server.

4. The natural, robust materials. Timber, concrete and natural carpets

5. The lavender in the garden sun.

6. The beautiful view 

7. The generous, welcoming outdoor patio, filled with cushions and a huge wooden table.

8. The fireplace, surrounded by relics, books and magazines

9. Flowers and quotes through out the home.

10.The feeling that has been nurtured of being relaxed, comfortable and loved!

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Frances is a full time photographer 

Visit her website here, as well as her facebook page Here

Have a look at Tom's artworks here, all the paintings in the images above are by Tom.

Home images by moi

h a p p y  f r i d a y 

It's the weekend- it's been a busy week. I am staring the weekend off with a gym session and I'm going to end it by hopefully finishing my "re-read" of the Great Gatsby, because I have tickets for the movie on Tuesday and I am beyond excited!

This weekend I want to:

Enjoy a gym session with my sisters and best friend @ TR Studios

Read and snooze- this is a big part of my weekend.

Visit a friend's new home in Noordhoek for a Saturday braai.

Find tiles and basins for a little project I am working on.

I want to eat DimSum, I have a craving at the moment.

T r a n s p o r t  m e  h e r e

And if I could be magically transported anywhere I wanted to be this weekend, I would want to spend tomorrow  in France at a French Antique Market. I'd like to be loaded with Euros, have all the time in the world, not have to endure flight, just blink twice and be back home with all my purchases. I'd want to spend the day browsing, sipping coffee, feeling beautiful antique linens and collecting beautiful pieces!

_____________happy weekend_____________

Bathroom Beautiful

So, some of my favourite things are:

Beautiful Simple Design

Beautiful simple Bathrooms that are uncluttered and clever

Beautiful, simple Sanitary Ware in those bathrooms.

Lately, I have been working on the bathrooms for a few homes. This gives me the opportunity to pour over images, catalogues and books, be inspired and call it "work". One of my favourite and most inspiring publishers for architectural interiors and ideas is the Beta-Plus Publishing range- my dream would be to be sent a copy of whatever they publish. Each edition is filled spaces, furniture and images that you can literally get lost in, and when it is time to be inspired, we turn to their A&D series.

Below is a selection of images that I have taken from their "100 Best Bathrooms" book. Each representing a different style and aesthetic, but each as simple and effective in their realisation as the next.

Me, me, me. Below each set of images are the points I love most about each design

1.Beautiful Timber, my all time favourite
2.The floor-boards, used as panelling on the walls
3.The mixture between the light and warmth and the dark grey basin-stand.

1.The Duck-board shower inserts- I always love this on a shower floor, 

the finish makes me feel like it's holiday.

2.The all-white palette with tiny accents of neutral colours used in the floating shelves 

and the soft furnishing.

3.The thick marble vanity and the basins that seem "carved" from this- 

Carrera Marble- again, a favourite.

1.The simple and bold play of the black bath and white surrounds

2. The thick, carved out shelves with the inclusion of the soft LED lighting

3.Again, the all white palette and simple joinery, little need for frills and fuss.

1.The Black floors- beautifully dramatic!

2.The step into the bath, creating a luxurious, generous surround

3.The beautiful matt-black mixers, bringing in the colour of the floors and light troughs.

1.The moody depth of the Timber and the Grey Walls, 

I love an uncluttered, atmospheric bathroom ( perfect for a guest WC)

2.The thick simple sleeper timber vanities

3.The truth that robust van be absolutely beautiful!

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Bautiful Sanitary Ware can be sourced from these brands- at a price

Alape & Dorenbracht

(click on the names to browse and dream..)

Stockist in Cape Town are FLUSH bathrooms.

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