Home Office Makeover Progress

Gus and Lula print  |  Gypsya Kantha quilt |  Vintage enamel cup from Babyshka's Attic |  kikki-K vision board

Over the past few weeks, when I haven't been busy with my little ones, running errands or 'keeping house', my focus has been on our home office/guest bedroom makeover.  What was once one of my least favourite rooms is slowly becoming one I'm really happy with and one where I am content to spend more time.  Since the beginning of the year, our old 'doctor's-waiting-room-style-furniture' has been sold, fresh new white pieces have been purchased and lots of organizing and sorting has been carried out... and finally, I am up to the fun part of decorating.  

The two things holding me back now are lack of time for shopping and my inability to find what I'm after, hence many of Sophie's nap time slots have been used for online browsing.  For once though, there's no procrastinating or deliberating happening on my part and I have a definite vision for this decorating project.  In the spare bedroom half of the room, I would love a white and blue doona cover, similar to the fabric you can see in the photograph on my sponge recipe post or alternatively something like the kantha quilt above.  

On the home office side of the room, I have a literal blank canvas with my vision board waiting to be pinned with snapshots and inspiration and all things lovely.  Paul has been complaining about it still being bare (despite four weeks having passed since he put it up for me)... and so this week, I've been trawling through old photos searching for favourites and pulling together a collection of quotes and words of wisdom to display.  

Hopefully soon I'll have some 'after' photos to share... in the meantime, I'd love to know which quote you find most inspiring...

A Nod To Australiana

Image above by Everingham & Watson

I've been finding myself drawn to homewares with an Australiana twist over the past few weeks. Gum leaves and blossoms, sprigs of wattle and anything in hues drawn from the colour palette found right outside our windows is catching my eye.

In my aim to simplify our living space, it seems I have a desire to bring more of the outdoors in... to add touches of greenery, to make use of more natural materials and textures like wood and pottery and to fill our home with little snippets of our surroundings at every opportunity. Even the scents I've been drawn to are those with undertones of eucalytpus, tea tree and sandalwood.

Image above by Mango Frooty

This print above (the full image can be seen at Mango Frooty) is currently on my wishlist.  I'm just trying to decide on where it will fit best before I make a purchase.  I'm picturing it paired with a lovely timber frame.

What type of homewares or colours have you been drawn to lately?

For a whole plethora of homewares and products with a stylish nod to Australiana, check out the Everingham & Watson website.

I have one of their hurricane lanterns on my wishlist...

Helen Rawlinson Screen Printed Fabric

The fabric I ordered for Grace’s room has arrived so it looks like I’m in for some sewing this weekend. I really happy to stumble across Helen’s Etsy store – she has some great items for sale. All the fabric in her shop is hand screen-printed in her studio (a converted Chocolate Factory in East London) using solvent free water based inks. Check out her store or her blog to see more. Below are some examples of her lovely fabric…

All images from here

Relaxed and Cosy Lounge Room

Image source unknown

When we moved into our house, we were happy to live with half-filled rooms until we tracked down and could afford to buy exactly what we were after. Four and a half years down the track, our place is still looking unfinished. Our lounge room is in desperate need of completion. At the moment, I’m still on the hunt for cushions, throws, artwork, a feature armchair, wine rack/buffet and lots of knick knacks. I really love the lounge room in the photo above. I like how it doesn’t have any one colour which is too dominant and it looks casual and inviting – exactly the look I want to aim for in our house…

Nursery Spruce Up

Been browsing my inspiration folders for ideas on how to spruce up Grace’s room. Here’s what’s taking my eye so far…

Image source unknown (please let me know if you know)

Image from maliburahcel on Flickr

Image from Helen Rawlinson

I’d love to make some sort of fabric bunting similar to the one in the top photo, perhaps to hang along the bottom of the cot. Shelving to display books and toys like the middle photo has would add some more colour to Grace’s room. Love the alphabet flashcards too. The fabric in the frame above is screen printed by Etsy seller Helen Rawlinson. I’ve ordered some to make a cute cushion for the chair in Grace’s room (or perhaps to stretch over a canvas). Can’t wait for it to arrive in the mail soon…

Bare Nursery

Having seen the nurseries of other babies in my Mother’s Group over the past few weeks and having been totally inspired by all of the gorgeous kids’ rooms featured on Amanda’s blog Swish and Swanky, I have decided that poor Grace’s room is in desperate need of completion. Even my husband remarked the other day that her room was looking bare. As we didn’t find out if we were having a boy or a girl when I was pregnant, we went for a fairly neutral coloured room with hits of yellow and green. I also didn’t want to go for anything too baby looking as I am keen for her room to be able to adapt as she gets older. I think I need to sort out some more artwork, add some colour to the cot somehow and perhaps get some shelving. Any more suggestions?

Kitchen Cuteness

Currently on my wish list are these gorgeous Bird Measuring Spoons. I can picture them perched on the tiles above my cooktop. Check out Beehive Kitchenware for more kitchen cuteness.

Image from here