Palm Springs

Palm Springs is about 2hours out of LA, or maybe a snippet more. We drove there on the way through to Vegas so it was a short visit.

I did manage to see the Kaufmann House, as mentioned in a previous post, and also drove by this house.

This is the house that Elvis and Priscilla went for their honeymoon. I like Elvis. He was a cool cat.

A couple of interior shots ...

I'd planned to write more about the house, but stumbled across this blog that covers off everything and also where i found the above piccies. Please read it. This house is utterly amazing i so desperately need to stay there.

The following houses were within the same vicinity that the Kaufmann House is in. I snapped them whilst driving and hanging my arm out the window, so they're not great, and not the best Palm Springs has to offer but they're little gem’s all the same.

 The onyl house i saw with grass

Edris House above built 1953/4. Alot of the houses up near the Edris house (they're higher) have hardcore signage about private property and stay out etc etc. Serious security system action.

I really liked this gate above and  the use of besser bricks for the fencing below.

So above they've used the bricking width ways and then on the house walls below, long ways. I love how that looks. It's like tiling but not.

 

On the way out, the clouds were coming in. The mountains looked spectacular.

Cool old car below. In fact, cool vintage cars everywhere over there

 This is the town centre, we went to the diner that you can see with the red awnings over it

This was inside. It was like we were in the scene in Greese where Sandy says ' I need some money' to put a song on the juke box.

Reflecting on my pic's it doesn't make the properties look that good. But they are. All in rows with a glorious mountain backdrop, palm trees that've been in the ground for decades, great angles, glass, brickwork, timber detailing. I wanted desperately to get up to some properties nestled into the hills but they're gated communities i think.

The way out. Can't wait to go back.

Bergdorf Goodman Windows 2011

As mentioned in a previous post, and to bring on a little Christmas cheer (even though most displays have nothing to do with christmas...) please find Bergdorf Goodman's New York Christmas Window displays.

Be warned, there's alot of photo's, but they are very, very creative - so have a flick through and tell me which one's your fave. I like the woman in the red dress where she's sitting down. They're quite overwhelming to try and decipher in a photo. So much going on in each window.

This is one of the boys one's but there were people everywhere and i was on my way to show so had to dash ...

It must take all year just to come up with each window design and source the props. The detail is so amazing.

Rainbows, Cocktails & great coffee!

I ducked down to Melbourne for the weekend to visit a friend who lives in Richmond. After a late lunch we were greeted by this.

A double rainbow.

Isn't it glorious with the afternoon sun on the building? This was in St Kilda. We went to Stokehouse for lunch which was superb (of course). They're opening up in a new development at Southbank in late October this year and they're bringing 'The Bombe' dessert with them. Mmmm, tantalisingly delicious.

For anyone visiting the Richmond area you must pop into  Der Raum. A waiter at a bar in St Kilda gave us the hot tip. It's a cocktail bar. I have never tasted cocktails so magnificent. It's very quirky. This is what they give you to cleanse your pallet.

Everything's served in old medicine bottles or test tubes and the bar is covered in a overhead sea of hanging bottles. Definitely look at the website to get the idea.

Gypsey and Musquito in Richmond is a cafe with a cracker menu. It was kind of Australiana. Crocodile sausage was one thing on the menu. I opted for something non exotic/strange - potato hash with bacon and hollandaise. But the coffee, man oh man was it good and the decor is so cute. I really could live in that city.

on the road again

A and I have been on a road trip.

Since 2 Thursday's ago we’ve been from Brisbane to Dubbo and then Dubbo to Melbourne and then Melbourne alllll the way along the coastline back to Brisbane with stops along the way. Hours upon hours of driving but some spectacular sights to see.

We stayed with friends E and F last weekend in Melbourne. My friend E and I have known each other since we were about 3 maybe even 4. We have the exact same first and middle name. Interesting fact yes? She hooked us up with some fabulous shopping on Saturday where i purchased this antique horn from a shop called Tiger and Peacock.

This is my favourite purchase of the trip. The owner has years experience in Visual Merchandising and has the most beautiful shop and a fantastically wonderful eye. This is the link to her page thing on facebook and website.

Anyone been to Gill's Diner? Used to be an old bakery premise - great choice by E and F for din last Sat - lil bit funky and a lil bit industrial ... all the rage these days ...

My stop off every time i visit Melbourne is The Paris Cat. It's a great little jazz club on Goldie Lane and is super cute and intimate. It has framed portraits of all the greats on the ceiling.

I won't overdo the detail on our itinerary because quite frankly, it's like looking at someone's travel shots - dull. 

BUT i do want to spruke some good feedback. A holiday can be so easily ruined with poor accom and food due to lack of sharing reviews. I research like a maniac prior to going away because i've been too many times bitterly disappointed. I like the whole "experience" from go to woe.

Two of the places we stayed need to be documented - they're both unique and cosy.

The Old Leura Dairy in Leura in the Blue Mountains and The Bank and Tellers at Wingham, just inland from Taree on the NSW coast.

I’ll start with the Leura Dairy. The owners have used all recycled materials to construct these premises which are made up of 6 separate dwellings . Here are some shots of The Buttercup Barn which is the one we stayed in.

They’ve used heshon for the curtains so the minute we walked in it smelt of mountains. Antique furniture all in original form or distressed was used throughout. Old milk urns, wooden boxes, meat safes and much more add interest ..

Pressed recycled metal and various timbers made up all of the fixtures. An old rusted claw foot bath (on the outside, the inside was newly enamelled) sat in the bathroom with beautiful stain glasses windows and organic toiletries.

The fire warmed up the whole barn with the main bed upstairs in an open loft. Perfect setting for the Blue Mountains. These pic's don't do it justice. There's something to be said about the smell and feel of things. Music was softly playing as we arrived. Attention to detail always gets me. 

To dine. Sillks of Leura is divine. I had food envy and wanted everything A had as well as my own  … perfection.

The town of Leura is gorgeous ... and cold, but the stay at the Dairy was so warm and cosy and comfortable and original that i'd love to go back for longer than a measly night. 

The Bank and Tellers Guest House at Wingham is owned by a lady called Bev. The Wingham Bank was built in 1929 for the Bank Manager and his family .. and the bank.

Bev has transformed it into a Guest House. We stayed in the Bank Managers original bedroom.

The original floor tiles still on the bathroom floor.STUNNING and committed to memory.

Bev has various rooms in this beautiful building that all display a piece of the early 1900's.  I love Art Deco architecture and the Bank still has all the style of an era that put time and effort into the finishing touches. The original Safe Door is still there too. This was such a relaxed evening, made this way by the casual nature of the host. There's a communal Living room with a roaring fireplace which we lounged in with a glass of wine and a couple of the other guests before dinner was served. Bev only uses the restaurant for inhouse guests and large groups now which made the stay so comfortable and homely. It's 7.5 hours out of Brisbane. I need more time there too and i definitely need her mushroom soup recipe. A and I had been talking about mushroom soup on the drive there and low and behold it was on the menu. Yess!

So that's it, i could carry on more but i won't. Just be sure to visit these places if ever in the Blue Mountain or Whingham hood. You won't regret.

Oh, and some very exciting news. Last month I WON a Ramsign house sign on Raine and Sage's Blog... it arrived while we were away. Here it is.

I thought about the year of my birth - just to have ... but ended up going with the Shop number at Gabba Antiques. I figure long or short term, i'd like the memory of the venture there and this will be it. It is so well made and it's blue although my camera on my phone hasn't picked it up. Just gorgeous. If you're in the market for a house sign - get onto these guys here. Thanks Sonia!!!!

Pop those toes in some ugg boots and grab a hot water bottle. She's gonna be cold tonight.