Shades Of Autumn

Even though it’s still meant to be Autumn, it has been cold here in Brisbane. With the underneath of the house enclosed now, I had visions of warmth and cosiness on the top floor. No such luck.

I bought this last week and am most enamoured with it.  I was gazing at it for the longest time last night trying to work it out.

The men’s posture is tall and proud, dressed in white with a summer glow about them. Head high and kind of jovial looking. 

The women seem to be the opposite - posture meek, heads down, dressed in autumn tones. The colours are lovely.

I wonder where they are. My first thought was somewhere waiting for a boat. Not sure why. It’s always a good sign with art when you’re drawn into what it’s trying to say. What do you see? There's no marking so who painted it is a mystery.

Meanwhile, I was having lunch at a friends house Sunday and took some happy snaps. L lives in a townhouse in Bardon and has almost finished a mini reno. She’s redesigned the internal stairs, had new timber floors laid and the courtyard completely redone. It looks amazing.

I really love the tone of the floors - they even back the strength of the antiques and colour palette and the glass modernises it. And the handles on the cupboards whilst a small detail are super cool.

L lived in Honkers for years and years and has a strong appreciation for Asian antiques and styling. Works well because she's a red girl through and through. Many of these pieces have moved around the world with her and have a unique history.

These chairs are my 2^nd favourite piece that I drool over when visiting. They came out of China and were owned forever ago by a General. He’d had them custom made and faintly below you can see his name enscripted on the back of the chairs.

This chair IS my favourite. This is a Kone Chair by Roger McLay. It was in L's family home while she was growing up and she’s always adored it. Magnificent piece. A brilliant example of post war Australian design.

L then showed me this recent article out of the paper which has them all pictured in the City Hall. Her father was an architect so it’s no surprise he would appreciate such a fabulous piece. I wonder where they all went? Somebody tell me!

Coincidentally, the chairs pictured in the background are also items L grew up with in the family home. She’s having the suite of 6 restored at the moment. I cannot wait to see them in real life. She has no room for them ...

These stools are the most comfortable ever, they’re moulded plywood and ergonomically magical. I remember her looking for these 5 years ago. Took her ages to find and even longer until they arrived. They're from Cherner in the US. They have stunning pieces check them out here. The benchtop was Riverstone from Argentina. I didn't get a good pic but it is the nicest benchtop I've ever seen.

The outdoor courtyard is still a work in progress and is completely different to the indoors tone wise but is linked with the riverstone and a touch of red in the cushion accents. Being that she had to buy an enormous piece of stone 4 years ago (when she did the kitchen) she managed to work it in now as a feature in the wall.  

So private and fresh. Still some landscaping and hanging the curtain screening's to do. The lounge was a great purchase. You can move it around into various configurations, storage under the seats, the double can fold out to a bed and that coffee table turns into a dining table. You pull the 4 pieces up in front of you to dining height. Handy.

On a beautiful day in May, champers in hand with a soft breeze and birds chirping, it was a most relaxing atmosphere.

This painting was done by one of her sisters of the family home front door. Isn't it fabbo!

 

L's home is a great example of what my blog is about. Nostalgia and Now. Mixing your own history with how you live and what you love today. Sentimentality is what makes this eclectic mix work - in my opinion.

 

Now, we are embarking on a project at home with some tiling. So I may have something on the renovation to finally share.

House For Sale - Holland Park

My Pal S came down Friday night and made me aware of this house for sale in Holland Park in Brisbane. It's near my old hunting ground and in a pocket of the suburb which is very lovely.

Graham Bligh is a Brisbane architect who designed the home. Check out his portfolio of other properties here. He said that his design approach for this house was influenced by Richard Neutra who was a prevalent architect in California from the late 20's until his death in 1970. (He designed such houses as the Kaufmann House, I pictured the pool in my post last week)

The exposed beams are magnifique and that rug. I wonder if that comes with the house?? ....


This is a bedroom. A serious bedroom.  Check the floating dresser to the right and the built in to the left.

Have a look at the reflection in the mirror at the detailing on the robe cabinetry. It's the finer detail that makes these properties.

Looking at the stairs in the background, the half wall is extended to break the space. I really love that.

I'm so in love with this property.

Great kitchen. It's in its own space doing its own thing.  The bulk head above the windows is cool.

 Good bathroom. Love the fixtures.

Read more herehttp://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-holland+park-111926939

Floor Fashion



Easton Pearson - Snowdrop

Something I can easily fall for is a good rug and with all the designer collaberations going on these days, there's so much choice out there. If you have the $$'s. Here are a few off the Designer Rugs website that I've been drooling over.

Alex Perry - Psaraki

 I just love this Alex Perry fish rug. Although, i'm a sucker for anything with an animal in it.

Minnie Pwerle - Dance lines

The great indigenous artist Minnie Pwerle has some seriously fabulous designs. Well, if you like the art form. If not, you won't be keen at all.


Wedgewood - Renaissance Gold

Round rugs are my favourite and am so glad to see so many in the designer range. Wedgewood have this cracker above with Easton Pearson and the ID Collection have some pearlers too.


Vixen - Voyage - Vintage Lace

This above it my favourite. I know ... there's so much colour options to be had but this is more my line of things. It's like floor stenciling on a rug.

I still love my trusty honan (seagrass) matting and recently purchased a few more lines for a hall runner. So versatile and durable. I was tempted to bring home their recent 'trial run' of the checkerboard black and natural. It's fabbo. Check it out. Gorg huh. I'll pop it in the bedroom. Too much light on the black will make it throw a purple (the sales guy told me).

Number 3: Warehouse Living

This is Janine & Gary's place.

After spending a bunch of years renovating homes in inner city suburbs here in Brisbane, Janine and Gary decided to opt out and settle into one of Teneriffe's iconic warehouse apartments and their style suits it down to a tee!

Now there are two themes you're going to notice that the couple hold dear. Urn's and Gary's ever growing collection of Versace homewares. (Note almost everything in this picture made out of glass or china is Versace...)

Exposed beams, brick and timber are a stunning combination when paired back with a bit of gilt and crystal. This home is a really great mix of masculine and feminine elements.

The eames chair was an extravagant gift from J to G for a'milestone' birthday and has been put to excellent use ever since. The Piranesi etching dates from 1750-1770, isn't it spectacular!

I love that they've painted the beams black. They tie everything together in the living room. The brickwork is distressed and certain walls painted (BlackWhite by Resin) to capitalise on the light that streams through the oversized windows. The floorboards were original and already polished when they purchased.

Next to the television is a porcelain urn which Gary carefully hand carried all the way back from Rome. In front and on either side of the television are Janine's all time favourite pieces which are two crystal urn's snagged from Discovery, Noosa. Told ya, they like a good urn. The coffee table above is by Kartell from Space here in Brisbane. Glass bowl, Versace (of course)

What a lovely spot to read a good book! I just love the brickwork so much. A magnificent combination of colour and texture with the silk throw.

Gary had this chair recovered in a leopard print. He spends much time catching up on current affairs and new versace collections (i'm joking, but this is the 'reading chair') That sensational canvas was purchased in Rome by the couple a few years ago. It came in a little square that unravelled. They had it mounted here. Modest and whimsical. It's nice how the deeper shade of this brick and the cushion highlights the shading in the ladies hair and their movement.

These apartments always have nil storage. So the office pictured below makes good use of the super high ceilings with full wall storage. The light's very cool, another Kartell piece from Space. Vase. What do you think? it starts with V...

And that's a little sneak peak into one of Brisbane's warehouse apartments. Nestled amongst restaurants, shops and walkways, the couple have the best social life of anyone I know. Why wouldn't you when there's no arguments about driving or travel time!

 Thanks for sharing J & G!

x

Numero 2: Carrie's Place

This is Carrie’s Place.

Carrie and I have very similar likes. Needless to say, shopping together in Antique Centre’s, Vintage Fairs, Markets and anything that sells interesting objects can cause who saw it first ‘oh whatever, you have it then …’  kind of banter. All in good fun (or so we say...)

In the time we’ve known one another Carrie has collected remarkable pieces of furniture all of which she has transformed to fabulousness. Like these black cane chairs. They're actually a set of 8 and are a cracking style. Carrie had them sprayed a nice satin black and has recovered the cushions herself. One side black and white polka dot and the other a cool citrus mix.

The cabinet to the right is a drinks cabinet which services the dining and lounge which is not pictured (but a cracker) you need to leave some things to the imagination.

There’s always a bit of quirk and colour around these parts. Something left field and most things you’ll be hard up getting your hands on again – or you’ll struggle to (and pay through the teeth).

One of two Bitossi bedside lamps (stunning, stunning, stunning). The Magnolia is homegrown.

I love this picture with the whale as a silhouette. It's in lovely blue tones and rocks from side to side. Super cool purchase from a shop in Surry Hills. The lamp base was from Gold Coast Antique Centre.

There are items you just don’t let go of and that mantra is something that will always ensure Carrie’s place is a feast for the eyes. I love this print. An op shop buy for $8! Where was I?

When Carrie renovated the home about 7 years ago I remember her care in choosing tiles, benchtops and the design in the kitchen. Although these pics don’t show it all, this is the most workable kitchen ever. It’s contemporary and everything is in arms reach. Would you think it’s 8 years old? It’s a separate room, but sits between the lounge and outdoor area beautifully allowing both areas to be engaged without being a big open plan space. LOVE that clock.

Being that the home is one level it allows entertaining to work seamlessly. This rear floating deck literally floats out from the kitchen and hovers over a very well maintained garden and very green front yard lined with trees.

Carrie seems to think that the gardens are in terrible shape as it was alot more lush until a racetrack was created through it and destroyed all the ground cover ...

Not bothered by the accusation at all is she? Naughty little cutie. As far as I’m concerned, when you’re a green thumb – anything can happen and it’ll still look fab. And it does.

This black lounge is covered in a gorgeous outdoor fabric by Warwick and is super comfy. The buttons really make it.

These cane chairs brighten my day every time I see them. We were both bidding on them on ebay a few years back. I was outbid and mortified to then hear the good news that Carrie had new chairs. Good friends get over things. I love that I can visit them. This tables about to be sprayed white. Nice mix is black, white and yellow with some natural timber and greenery thrown in.

Another piece that has recently been recovered is this 1950s wire suite. This citrus green is just divine. It overlooks the yard and screams 'cocktails on a Saturday afternoon' doesn’t it? This is Sunbrella outdoor fabric as is the red on the Iron setting. Really lovely with the grey tones.

Carrie’s always been ahead of the trend. She was buying G-Plan mid century furniture before any Antique Centres in Brisbane considered allowing it through the doors. One of the pieces is beautifully displayed here in her daughter’s bedroom. She snagged it on the road at a Garage Sale back in 2002.

Glorious example of fine craftmanship. It has a matching bed head with connected bedsides for when pp grows up and Carrie used the chest of drawers in the main bedroom.

And check out the dolls house. Mid Century Magic! Carrie spruced it up a couple of xmas’s ago. Cool right? I would really like a room with an angled ceiling that high. I really would.

Look at Ken rolling with the homies on the rooftop deck. He's up there with Lucy and her diamonds I think ...

The picture on the wall is part of a 3-part series of small watercolours Carrie (oh, I mean Barbie) purchased in Paris, 1999.

I gave this little Peacock setting to pp for a birthday. She treats it with much care. If only it came in a giant human size!

A great deal of thought has gone into this doll house. Real wallpaper, real lino flooring, astroturf. Here's the other two watercolours below too. Magnifique.

So that’s a snippet of Carries Place. Over the years it's evolved with additions that have been made. Rendering, flooring, converting the garage into an extra room with doors that open onto the garden. That's the magic of lowsets. If you have the space you can make additions easily without disrupting the flow.

She’s got a great eye this gal and a creative mind that places things together eclectically but with enough restraint to keep it fine lined.

Don't you love looking at homes that are all so different? Me too!