“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Celebrations
Home is where….
…..Mum is.
It really doesn’t matter if it’s a house by the beach
click on image for source
or a modern inner city pad
click on image for source
or a family home in the suburbs,
click on image for source
home is where Mum looks after us, and we come together as a family.
This year, for the first time in many, my brother and mum are coming to Sydney for the weekend so we can all celebrate Mother’s Day together. I’m very excited and have booked a table at Sails Restaurant on Sydney Harbour.
click on image for source
I’m looking forward to updating this photo of the three generations that was taken a few years ago when we were last together for Mother’s Day.
Three Generations
I hope all the Mum’s have a lovely day and you all have a great weekend. And if you’ve forgotten to organise some flowers for Mum, ask Jennie to help you out.
Blogiversary
I can’t believe how quickly time passes.
It only seems like yesterday that I dipped my toe into the world of blogging and here we are two years later.
via inmagine.com
It’s been so much fun and I’ve met so many wonderful people. I love reading all about the lives of people all over the world and what intrigues them in the world of art, fashion, food and design.
I hope you’ve enjoyed being with me over the past two years as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing my views with you.
via sizzup.com
Thanks for visiting and here’s to another year of blogging fun.
Royal Wedding Colour Scheme
Did you enjoy watching the Royal Wedding? I did. I loved all the bright colours and thought the neutral bridesmaid and flower girls were such a sensible option with so much colour on the men.
Bridal Party via mirror.co.uk
I’m a bit partial to red and yellow in my decor and have it in my own home. Although I do have a lot of neutral and just splashes of red and yellow.
Photography by Lyn Johnston
Artwork with red and yellow by Karen Benton
Others like a bit of it too.
via palatialliving.blogspot.com
If you would like to add some bold colour to your interiors, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Here comes the bride
Union Jack
Union Jacks were HUGE at the three Sydney trade shows last week.
Trinket Box from CAM
I wonder if the forthcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton are the inspiration of the latest wave of Union Jack decor?
Prince William and Kate Middleton
They are bright and colourful and look very smart with their straight lines and angles.
Boxes and cushions from Universal Enterprises
Would you put a Union Jack in your home?
Union Jack soft furnishings by Lakeland
If you would like assistance in decorating your home, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Federation Style on Australia Day
One of the most popular style of houses around my area, is the Federation House. It was an early style of Australian architecture and consists of a sprawling, assymetrical structure. It often will have a verandah that encircles the house and roofs with gables, turrets and dormer windows.
via Domain
There are often unlikely angles, bay windows and towers at corners. It was developed to meet the demands of the prosperous middle classes who wanted to show off their new-found wealth that coincided with Federation itself in 1901. The Federation House borrowed styles from many countries and eras which is fitting for this melting pot of a nation, we call home.
via Domain
Inside the house, colours were muted but decoration was ornate. Australian motifs abound with flora and fauna both displayed in the plaster ceilings or used in fabrics, wallpaper or tiles.
from "The Federation House" by Hugh Fraser and Ray Joyce
Coloured glass or lead-light was used throughout Federation homes and the top panels of the front door often featured panels of colour in soft pastels with Art Nouveau or Australian motifs. Round bulls-eye windows as well as bay windows were popular. The bay window would often house a window seat which is such a versatile design.
Colour choice by Inside Out Colour and Design
Fortunately today, these houses are being remodelled (rather than bulldozed) to include many of the period details but with an emphasis on more contemporary living. The dark, muted tones of the turn of the century are gone and the window coverings are more streamlined and suited to today’s busy lifestyles.
Modern take on a Federation Living room by Inside Out Colour and Design
The verandahs are sought after and have often been extended to create an outdoor living space adjacent to the modern kitchen.
Wide verandah
The bathrooms have been updated but still include that old world charm.
Bathroom Design by Inside Out Colour and Design
I love working with these houses. Not just because they are iconic Australian houses but they lend so well to being enhanced and modified to suit today’s families. If you require assistance with colour or decor for your Federation Home, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Happy Australia Day
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Just dropping in to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. We are celebrating with our family in Queensland this year, where the rain is tumbling down with much more to come, if you believe the weather bureau. We will then take a short break at the beach to rejuvenate ourselves after an extremely busy but satisfying year.
Christmas Bows via Flickr
I hope you have a colourful Christmas and thank you for calling in from time to time and leaving your comments. I have enjoyed your company over the past 12 months and I look forward to our time together in 2011.
Life's a beach
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christmas Colours
For many years, I used to shove absolutely every decoration I owned on to the Christmas Tree.
Source
Then I started colour combinations and much to my husband’s disgust, had to buy more decorations because we didn’t have enough of the colours I wanted.
It started with some purple decorations I had bought in Hong Kong. Now what goes with purple? Navy blue looked good.
Navy and Purple with a dash of Silver
Then I found some beautiful fuschia decorations in the January sales. Great, a new combination for that year. So I snapped up boxes of turquoise decorations as well.
Fuschia and Turquoise
To keep things interesting I invested in gold AND silver so I could change the look just by changing the tinsel and other little bits.
But this year I have returned to the traditional colours of red and green with gold.
Red and Green with Gold (Note to self - turn the lights on before photographing)
Someone commented the other day that it’s not Christmas without red and green decorations.
I do like my collection of red and green as many of them came from Hong Kong and takes me back to another time and place.
Cloissone Bell from Hong Kong
Red Dragon Bauble from Shanghai Tang
Australian/Asian Fusion Centrepiece which I won at a Christmas Lunch in Hong Kong
Santa carved from a Ngali Nut bought at the Hong Kong Jade Market
What colours have you used to decorate your home with this festive season? Are you like me and use the same colours for everything else from wrapping paper to Bon Bons, tablecloths, teatowels, etc? I blame the Virgo in me!
Boo!
Did you have a happy Halloween?
Our dog Coco getting in on the action
It’s not really celebrated that much here in Australia, but each year there seems to be more and more interest and more and more people out Trick or Treating.
So in honour of Halloween, here are some of my favourite orange images.
Cliveas out in bloom in my garden
Fabulous Foyer via Martha Stewart
Ornage splashback in an all white kitchen via Australian House and Garden
Gum Tree Flowers
I do hope you enjoyed yourself celebrating Halloween and were not left with too many treats.
What a week
Do you know all those colloquial Australian sayings about flies and chickens? Well that’s what I feel like this week.
Blue A@#% Fly by Nutmeg 66 via Flickr
It’s been HUGE and I can’t believe it’s Friday, yet again!
The week started with a full day with my lovely photographer, Lyn Johnston, visiting 5 of my past clients and photographing their homes. I can’t wait to see the shots and put them up on my website.
Lyn Johnston hard at work outdoors
Lyn Johnston Photography
Then I turned another year older. Uugghh!
Photo via picsicio.us
I had a day at the Gift and Homewares fair checking out all the new things. (More on that next week)
Reed Gift and Homewares Fair
And then I had a full day at business seminar, which was wonderful to take the time out of the office but now I have massive paperwork to do.
And then there was the Spring Launch Party at Strand Agencies with all their suppliers and stock.
Strand Agencies Showroom
Hamptons Style Furniture by Xavier Furniture
Today is our 16th wedding anniversary and tomorrow I’m heading to Brisbane for the weekend to help a friend celebrate his 50th birthday.
via en.fotolia.com
I do hope you’ve all had a productive and enjoyable week and I look forward to getting back to regular posts next week.
via Getty Images
I will be sending out my monthly newsletter too. If you would like to receive a copy, full of tips and trends, advice on where to shop and how to use colour in your home, sign up here.
I hope you have a great weekend.
One Oh
My baby turns the big one oh today. Who would’ve thunk it?
12 hours old
You’ve been an absolute delight, gorgeous girl.
Learning to walk in Hong Kong
Whether it’s
Ready for a swim in Cairns
Hanging on the telephone
Going to a Bratz Party
Chillin' with your toys
Being a Malaysian Princess in Kota Kinabalu
I wouldn’t have missed a moment.
Celebrating Mother's Day
Happy 10th birthday, darling.
XXX
