Ohh ahhhh..........it's back!

OK -  so not officially back, but the Domino archives are back online! What bliss to have all the gorgeous interiors gracing our airwaves again and all thanks to Brides magazine. Hell, it could've been a fishing mag. and I would still have been over the moon. So thank you Brides, you are......lovely, and.. er... umm white and have a wonderful future ahead of you!

Tori Mellot's mini apartment.......my absolute all time, no holes barred, hands down, favourite example of what you can do with a small space. EVER. 

(can you tell how much I love this!)

All images supplied by the Bride  - gotta love her, thank you.

ps - do you think we have people power to thank as well......?

Have you noticed?

We are on school holidays and my time schedule is proving to be a little out! Just had to share these beautiful treasures with you though.............

These are called 'one of a kind budgies' however they look more like cockatoos to me! Whatever their name I would love one and a friend in my bookcase. 

and this......a scented candle with a cute birdy! Can can use the dish later for your trinckets. 

I visted a lovely client on the weekend who had just returned from the US with 3 boxes of these! They are more stunning in real life and are beautifully painted and finished and would certainly be a conversation starter at dinners.

 

Have you guessed where I went surfing last night yet? 

Yes, gloriously drenched in Anthro yet again. 

Have a turn yourself - its a blast!  

Call of the wild.

Not sure how restful I would find this, but boy this combination has a certain appeal to me! Since Rose Cumming's Zebrine wallpaper would have to be one of my all time favourites, I can safely say this is right up there. Just have a closer look at the fabric too...............

Now that brings out all my animal instincts!

A faux bois lampbase and this loving picture is complete. OK, now I have just scared myself - a love of 

fake (we all know that 'faux' is just a much nicer way of saying it....) wood, and happy to have a safari scene in the bedrooom? What can I say - it is what it is!  

Can someone stop me!

.................from collecting these chairs and tables??? Another set just turned up this morning ( I now have 3..... ) I am running out of room! When I was little, I collected shells and pretty glistening stones. How did I move from that to this? I may need to start offloading.

Real Estate - Glamour in the bush.

Now - lets say you were wanting a small, ever so stylish weekender, that was glamorous to boot, you should be look no further than these little gems.

And lets just say you were a fan of designer David Hicks then you would be tickled pink to snap up your very own retreat. A cool combination, don't you think. Sort of bush retreat meets Hollywood glamour. A perfect weekender, either way!

We have a winner.........

You know that I hate having horrible things like a random number generator on my blog so I have sandwiched it between two beautiful pictures via Mary, 

who is always my 'go to' for anything pretty and clever.  

Congratualtions number 29! (he he...........yes, you do have a name, I am just keeping you in suspense!) Hope I have counted correctly 'cos it would be very embarrasing if I hadn't, but by my calculations.......the winner is............Anna. Yes you......... Anna. I hope you love this little beauty of a rug and make sure you let us know where you put it!!! We wants pics, the lot! Very green (kelly green..) with envy but know you will love it! Just to remind you of how lucky you are...........

  Here is your prize! 

A huge thank you to all those who entered and became followers, I promise to have another lot of goodies for you soon. ( thank you for all the advice on the lamps too.....)
And for the record, here's a small sample of why I couldn't multi task this morning.

Today's the day! Zebra Rug Giveaway!

Quick -  you still have time to enter, but not long! I will be back to draw the winner after I have got my children off to school for their dress up day! (couldn't possibly manage to get both done this morning - sorry!) So I have extended the comp. for a few hours. Back very soon! xox

PS What do you think of these chairs? Doesn't that colour make you almost swoon?  

I really, really want to enter the.....

"What's your style in One Picture Challenge 3", but I absolutely can't decide what room best sums up my style. Eeek! 

I really love this room by Elizabeth Martin  because...

not only is it blue, but it just exudes stlye and sophistication yet a family could all be in here and feel completely relaxed. It has a beachy feel without the corny accessories and that sofa is so beautifully tailored. 

But I have always loved this room by the ever so slightly quirky John Loecke. 

In his own words his style is "fun, frisky and fabulous" but is it mine?

Of course then I went to this room, which I often refer back to for its sense of colour and it's a room I think of as being easily adapted to an Australian home. (mainly my own!!) 

(have just noticed there seems to be a striking similarity between those armchairs, maybe that's my style?)

So on and on it went - me loving rooms and then deciding that this wasn't the 'one'. I thought this would be a cinch - I have wasted hours today going round and round trying to work out what is and what isn't me. Seriously, this could do a girl's head in.......

Then, in my old files (Domino, of course) I found myself staring at this.

 

I have been trying to figure out why I love this kitchen by the fantastic Ruthie Sommers

so much. After all, it has no fabric in it, my most beloved interior accessory. It is devoid of wallpaper, another thing I squeeze in at every opportunity. Here are it's merits as I see them......

color - dark walls and a fun pop of aqua in the door, yes! 

an old fridge and cabinetry - all made good with a lick of paint. 

real life stuff exposed - yes and a dog lives here too, plus there are bills, photos etc on said fridge.  

a fruit bowl, more evidence of a 'real' person

treasure such as old prints and china, possibly from family (or ebay)

the light fitting - no words here except for love. 

Real life, old and new, a budget, a personality exposed. 

Now that is my style.

 (can we throw in some fabric and wallpaper, pleeeease?) 

Pure relief on my part, as I was starting to think I didn't have one (style, that is)....after all this time!

Go here to take up the challenge! Good luck! 

Camilla, I hope you like.......

the cake I baked for you......

and these beautiful freshly picked flowers! (he, he...!)

A huge thank you to the talented and creative Camilla from High Heeled Foot in the Door  for telling everyone about her 'blog crush' on Kelly Green! So, there I was wondering where all these lovely comments have come from and imagine my delight to find out that Camilla was at the bottom of it! HHFITD is one of my daily reads and let me tell you, there is nothing this girl can't do. (give her a staple gun and watch her work her magic!) So a big thank you Camilla, not only are you a wonderful blogger but a generous one too. (and for  the record, the feeling is mutual!)

images from here 

Common Inspiration.

Do you see anything in common with these two pictures? A touch of pink, a smattering of yellow maybe?? Nothing you could put your finger on? Well, your'e right! There's absolutely nothing you could  find to link them together, apart from the fact that these pretty images are both snapped through the lens of Mark Burstyn.  Make sure you check out his other pics. - you won't be disappointed!  BTW, I can seriously see myself in that gorgeous dressing room having my daily clothes crisis!   

The Selby on a Sunday.

Have a gander at the wonderful clash of collections and eclectica in the stylish apartment of Herve Pierre, creative director of Carolina Herrera. Paris? Nah........New York City! Feast your eyes......

 

Go here for more goodness. Happy Sunday. 

An introduction.

I had a few queries about this beautiful fabric, so I thought I would give you all the facts. May I present to you Misia by Manuel Canovas. A superlative mix of colour, style and Parisian chic. Often often saught after at parties in the most elegant drawing rooms and dare I say sometimes found in the delightfully floral yet contempory boudoirs of the super savvy. You never know when she will turn up, but you can be sure she always look stunning. She will give you long lasting and loyal friendship and will create envy amongst all your old friends. It's a pleasure to introduce you to what will most certainly be a lifelong association. 

150 Followers and a Giveaway!

So this is big news! When I started this blog it was purely a place to reference all the crazy ideas I had and also to create a pictorial reference for all the images and things I came across on the www. I now have 150 wonderful followers so to celebrate my sesquicentenary (of followers, not years! ) I am going all out with a fabualous giveaway!  Here's a clue.

all zebra images from here 

Do you get the picture? Of course you do! Yes - excitingly (?) I am having a zebra rug giveaway!!! I know  - too thrilling for words.....so don't say anything, just become a follower and leave a comment and you're in the running! (easy peasy...) Just so we're clear, my rug ( well, the one that I am giving away to you) doesn't have any of those arm and legs thingos (extra bits) on it. It is a beautifully uniform shape and looks like this..........

Now, just to console myself (because I am giving this beauty away and not keeping it for myself) I have been looking at lighting for my new entrance. What do you think......this one 

or this ? 

Now, back to the zebra! Just to convince you of its goodness, Louise has one......

 

and The Decorista herself  has just given one away!

So now it's my turn! 

 

  I know I should favour stylish practical lighting over the frivolity of a zebra rug but........

damm it, that zebra rug is still on my mind! You have a week from now to enter so go forth and do so! GOOD LUCK!