Christmas Wreaths, the front door & beyond

 

 

 

Wreath Fancy

I just love finding new places to put a wreath...the front door may be mandatory but what about the mantlepiece, a sash window or even the bedhead?
This gorgeous home in Berwick, which we shot for H&G provided so many options for wreath tinkering.
My personal favourite is the sash window however  an honourable mention goes to the mantlepiece for blu-tack dexterity and the Spotlight bias binding ribbon.
I love the bias binding at Spotlight..stripes, spots and plains in sweet retro colours. Extend and iron out the binding to the full width, as seen here with the b/w stripe. A more traditional wreath looks great with a black & white stripe and it worked well with the warm coloured room.

For beautiful wreaths in Melbourne try:
www.maplehomewares.com.au
www.mychristmas.com.au
www.candlewickinteriors.com
www.celebratingchristmas.com.au

Decor Clusters

 

 

Sweet Clusters

The Stylesmith file is a little bower that I fill with shiny ideas after 

every house shoot. Its a virtual pinboard of decorating gems collected, like 

the proverbial bowerbird courtesy of stylish home owners.

This pretty home in Surrey Hills, owned & designed by Candlewick Interiors 

mastered the art of The Cluster, the rocky road collection of bite-sized, sweet pieces.

Every room had a unique cluster:

• the translucent candlesticks on the mantle
• the table of porcelain vases
• a cottage garden in whitewashed pots 
• the dachshund litter quietly holding the handbags

  

Even the formal living room beautifully combined signature Candlewick 

pieces, such as the ottoman with iconic IKEA design...everyone loves a little IKEA

Create your own clusters, chocolate or decor just mix it up using colour, 

tone and size variation.

Have fun and keep it uneven!

If you like the house you will love the shop and service at Candlewick. candlewickinteriors.com

DIY vintage napkins

A cute napkin + pretty ribbon 

I have to admit, I have OCD, obessive craft disorder..... 
creating something out of a scrap of fabric and a ball of string is my secret obsession. I made these sweet napkins, for a House & Garden Christmas shoot. In a former life they were Spotlight
t towels, who'd have thought?  I cut them down to napkin size, featuring the beautiful vintage cutlery ink drawings and tied them up in some pretty red & white strip ribbon.
Too cute and too easy

FYI Spotlight has a new fabric collection..I have made some fab chair pad sweeties + tablecloths..will post soon

www.spotlight.com.au

Drop + walk away, the art of towel styling

The tall, tanned and talented (T to the power of 3) Mel Turner has finally started up her design business...and not before time.
Mel creates beautiful living spaces for families- we shot her home in Malvern last April for H&G. Cant wait for the Jan issue 
to see it in all its lush lightness.

Mel had a laugh at a well worn styling trick...

STYLING 101

 23# The Drop and walk Away

To give the bathroom that "who left the room" feel,
the casually draped towel over the bath is a winner, 
just ask Sibella
The step by step slowly I turned...
1. Drop towel over bath hob-then walk away IMMEDIATELY.
2. DO NOT fuss, fluff or try and foof the towel.
3. REPEAT step 1 if result undesirable

Too easy
Enjoy Mel's site and the H&G Jan issue

www.recipesfordesign.com.au

Sassafras Style

 

Timeless Style

Shooting the very likeable Justin Bishop's home soon for House & Garden where American colonial meets 

Rule Britannia and don't skimp on the G'nT

Justin decorates like slow cooking, patiently waiting for 

the right pieces to work. 

His lovely cottage in Sassafras is a warm mix of antique whites, aged leather, vintage fabrics and then there is the Queen's bust..

did I mention the leather?

Not only is he a Ralph Lauren style maestro he also makes the most amazing decorative architectural birdhouses and model period houses AND holds workshops in his home!

Can't wait to to get a few styling tips from 

Mr Timeless & Traditional

Check out his site

www.justinbishop.com.au

Coastal Christmas

Jingle Shells
Im not a shell collecting type of gal however I had a change of heart when we shot this hilltop house in Sorrento...the lovely Pam, owner and creative behind Saltwater trading is a deft hand at combining organic materials and textures. 
Her son, obviously didn't fall far from the driftwood 
xmas tree either..having created his own design with 
a sweet starfish topper!

Trawling through the net I hauled in a little catch of cute coastal decor...the driftwood garland + pink newspaper wreath are from Seaside Inspired...lots more to get inspired about online.

I'm inspired...but where can I get a pink newspaper?

seasideinspired.com
saltwatertrading.com.au

Heavenly Heatherly Gardens

Beautiful beds inside & out
This stunning property in Acheron is home to the industrious Leckey family. According to Georgie, owner, mum and creator of Heatherly Designs (the best online bedheads ever) the gardens are dreamy around mid November. Fortunately that is precisely when we will be shooting for House & Garden.

Cant wait to finally meet Georgie & Co...having purchased the exquisite Fenwick design in Luxemborg Linen in July, I feel intimate already!

The Gardens are open from Nov 12-13 for the Australian Open Garden Scheme..admire the garden, the green tea plantation or Georgies Heatherly bedhead designs.

If you cant go to the open day- have a peek at the website
ww.heatherlydesign.com.au