I See The Sea

It feels like summer is finally on its way.  There's not a better feeling than a spell of warm, sunny weather after a long winter.  With the change of seasons comes the inspiration to mix things up in terms of interior decoration.  Greet the new season by bringing a burst of summer into your home.  I love the idea of taking inspiration from relaxed seaside villages and beach holidays.  You might live near the beach and want to extend that summery environment to your home, or you may want to recreate that beach feel in the midst of your urban living.

Nothing says beachy like cool ocean hues.  Bring the outdoors inside with an airy, light decorating theme.   Pale blues bring a breezy feel, while darker blues give way to a more subdued, grown-up vibe.  Think light, natural textiles, rough fibre rugs and preppy Cape Cod towels when recreating this look indoors.

I have great memories of painting flowers onto seashells with my grandma when I was a little girl.  My grandparents had a house in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand, where we spent many a weekend.  If you're lucky enough to be able to go for a stroll on a beach, collect some shells to take home with you.   You can frame them, put some in a jar, or even display extra pretty ones in a shadow box.  Fill a jar with sand and burn a pillar candle in it.  Get creative with nature's little treasures.

This summer, utilise any indoor/outdoor flow your home may have, turning porches, decks and patios into part of your living area.  Take inspiration from seaside villages and beachfront porches: rocking chairs, hanging pots overflowing with summer colour, jugs of iced tea and lazy afternoons in the hammock.

Extend the beachy summer vibe to your garden by taking inspiration from cottage-style gardens.  Look for flowers that once mature will be reasonably self-sufficient, giving your garden that overgrown wildflower look of summer. 

Hydrangeas.  Plant these away from direct sunlight to avoid burning the leaves.  The colours they flower in will differ according to the acidity of your soil.

African Daisies.  These exotic daisies go well in a pot or gardenbed.

Foxgloves.  Once mature, these flowers will self-seed and grow like a weed.

Forget-me-not.  The pod of these cute flowers will attach to your clothing if you brush by.  They like partial sun to shade.

Even if you don't live by the beach, you can celebrate the arrival of summer by embracing the feel of the beach, letting it shine through in different areas of your home.  There's nothing better than feeling like you're on a permanant seaside holiday!

Thanks for reading,

Joanna



Big Impressions

The humble bathroom. The smallest room in your home can often make the biggest impression.  It's where your guests will almost certainly visit, and is too often neglected in terms of interior decoration.  Who says you have to follow the masses and have a bland, presonality-free bathroom?  Make the best of what you have; seek out clever storage solutions and points of interest to make this space your own.

Storage is most people's main issue when it comes to the bathroom.  

For those with space at a premium, hang a storage solution from the back of the door, or from a wall, using an original or interesting hook.  This allows you to organise your bits and pieces without cluttering precious bench space.

Organise your cupboards by sorting your lotions and potions into small containers found at the supermarket or at the $2 Shop.  My husband asked me the other day for a bandaid.  'Yes,' I proudly replied, knowing exactly where to find them in the bathroom drawer.  I know I sound like Monica Gellar, but you will feel better with organised cupboards. 

Small trolleys are a great option for smaller bathrooms with not a lot of storage.  You can buy them relatively cheaply from Kmart, The Storage Box, Freedom or Ikea.  Use the trolley to shelve your folded towels and other toiletries.

Have some DIY fun and hunt down an old ladder.  Give it a bit of a scrub up and use it to hang your towels over, bringing an eclectic, shabby chic vibe to the room.

If it doesn't suit your style, why get the standard plain bathroom mirror that it seems everyone installs?  There's no reason why you can't have interesting, original mirrors in your bathroom. 

Don't be afraid to use colour when decorating your bathroom.  Muted and earthy tones will always look classic and be good for resale of the home, however, when used in an intelligent way, other colours can be really effective.  It's best to stick to white for your basin, toilet and bath, however thread any colour you choose through the walls, window dressings and linen.

We love using flowers and candles in the living areas of our homes, however sometimes the bathroom gets forgotten.  You may be like my mother and get fresh flowers every week, or you might prefer to go down the faux flower road. 

Candles bring a wonderful ambience and elegance to your home, and having a few in the bathroom is a great touch.  Fragrant candles keep your bathroom smelling great, and who doesn't like soaking in a candlelit bath?

 

In terms of linen, I can't go past Sheridan.  Their towels come in so many colours that you'll have no problems finding whatever shade you require.  As I said above, use your towels to thread colour through the room.  Fold any extra towels on a trolley or on shelves so that they are kept handy.

There's no reason why your bathroom can't follow the theme of your home, or say something about your own personal style.  Without going over the top, there are a lot of ways to allow this little room to make a big first impression.

Have a good week,

Joanna

Sweet Home of Mine

Interior design is constantly evolving.  Our homes mean different things to us now more than ever.  Entertaining is no longer confined to the dining room, with the lady of the house slaving away all Betty Draper style in the kitchen.  Our homes now say so much about who we are, rather than just being designated formal and informal living spaces.  Our homes are not just places where we live; they're where we work, entertain, create and recharge.  They are a place of refuge and a showcase for our identities.  Interior design isn't just that 'matchy match' look of the fifties, rather it's now an intelligent artform, creating homes that are both beautiful and functional.  This idea is something that is constantly changing, influenced by the seasons, fashion, and, of course, the whims of the lady of the house!  Coming into summer, now is a great time to revamp your home and rid yourself of that winter slump.  You don't need to knock down walls and max out your credit card - there are lots of small things you can do to bring a touch of summer to your home.

Soft furnishings are a great place to start.  Seek out art-inspired and handcrafted furnishings and fabrics that allow your inner style to shine.  Think classic with a twist of colour, adding interest and renewing your home.  Marimekko is a Finnish design company mainly recognisable by their original prints and pops of colour.  They have been around since 1951, making significant contributions to the rise of a new fashion in interior design throughout the 1960s and 70s.  Their designs range from bedding and cushions, curtains and towels, to clothes and other home decor.  These pieces are classics born from culture, people, fashion and art, embracing so many options that you can change the colours in your home with the changes of the seasons, or even your mood.

Pottery Barn has a gorgeous range of rugs that can bring a burst of life to tired old floors. Bring a modern classic twist to your home with a rug that adds interest and elegance.  You'll be surprised how much of a difference a new rug can make to a room. 

Think about your window furnishings in relation to how you use a room.  Natural light is a tool that you should consider when making over a space in your home.  Maybe you want more natural light streaming into your early morning living areas, or perhaps need to be able to block bright light out of your baby's bedroom.  Freedom and Ikea both have affordable options to redress your windows in a smart way that flows with the feel of the room.

I always say this: it's the little things that really bring a home together, rather than big, expensive and ornate decor.  Interior design should be fun, and reflect you, not trends and fads.  Coco Chanel once said that it was not her houses that she loved, but the life she lived in them.   Aim for your home to be a place where you are happy to be; an oasis of your making.

 

Until next time,

Joanna



Anzac Biscuits

Traditionally made on or around Anzac Day, these biscuits are a big favourite in this part of the world. Although it's not April, I woke up the other morning and, a notorious comfort baker, decided to make some Anzac biscuits. They're so easy to make, and I was really happy with the results.  First of all, preheat your oven to about 160, and line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Sift one cup of plain flour into a large mixing bowl, adding one cup of rolled oats, one cup of desiccated coconut and three quarters of a cup of soft brown sugar.

Roll the mixture into small balls and line up on the baking tray about 5cm apart. Press down gently with a fork to flatten slightly. Bake for about ten minutes, or until golden on top. Try not to overcook them as you want them to be soft and chewy inside, rather than crunchy all the way through.

Once out of the oven, let the biscuits cool before you run a knife underneath them and remove from the tray. I like to pile mine up and put a ribbon around them to give as gifts - they will be happily received by your loved ones!

Enjoy,

Joanna

In Full Bloom

Yesterday, Melbourne was cold and pouring with rain.  I rugged up warm and braved the weather to meet a lovely friend of mine for breakfast.  As I walked into the cafe, I saw he was already there, with a beautiful bunch of pink and white tulips waiting for me.  Inside the wrapping paper, he had slipped his RSVP to our wedding.  It was such a lovely touch, and made my day.

Flowers are one of my favourite things.  They come with so many meanings, and can change the feel of a home completely.  My mum will always have fresh flowers in their house; little sprigs of lavender on the bedside tables in the guest room, roses in the kitchen.  Flowers can tie decorating themes together, or add colour to the most neutral of rooms - and best of all, they lift even the heaviest of hearts.

 

Flowers give you a fun way to get creative with your interior decorating, particularly if you're on a small budget.  I save any empty little bottles I come across, and put a few stems in each as a makeshift vase.  You can have one on its own, or line them up along a windowsill or mantlepiece as I have done.

For parties, baby or bridal showers, an easy project is to hollow out eggs and rinse them, putting them in an egg cup and stuffing the top with little flowers.  You can even spray the egg shell as the same colour as your flowers to tie in a colour theme.

Fresh flowers can tie in with a room's floral theme, creating a contemporary country feel.  I love the splashes of light and dark purple in the above room - a lot of the theme coming together is due to the fresh flowers.

Think outside the square with what you put your flowers in.  The container itself can also become part of the theme of the room.

Ikea have a good, inexpensive range of little white pails and pots.  It can be a nice change from a glass vase to display your flowers in one of these. 

If the maintenance of fresh flowers doesn't appeal to you, there are some very realistic looking faux flowers available that are guaranteed to leave your admiring guests none the wiser.  The happiest place on earth, Pottery Barn, is the home of my favourites.

As a child, I always admired my mother's faux hydrangeas in the bathroom. I was ecstatic to pick some up in LA recently for my own home.

 

If you have a green thumb, you can always pick fresh flowers from your own garden to put inside.

My favourite part of planning our wedding (aside from choosing my gorgeous Vera Wang dress!) was picking the flowers.  It was a difficult task as we're having a winter wedding and not a lot of my favourites will be in season.  I've learnt a lot about winter flowers as I have been guided through the process by our clever florist, and am now in love with what I have chosen.  But you'll have to wait a month or so to see pictures of them!

As always, thank you for reading,

Joanna