Finding new purposes

The start to the year has seen me very quiet - but honestly who wants post after post of 'I have decluttered this that and the other'? Suffice to say the house is already feeling lighter - and with every thing I sell, donate or give away I feel more peaceful. There really is something quite liberating about opening the door to an entirely clean and bare cupboard!

Part of this process has also involved the re-purposing of items; finding different ways in which to use them. A good example of this was today. In the cleanup I found a pair of Vera Wang crystal tea light holders which I've honestly never used. And while I love my marble cheese paddle, there's a limit to how often I use that, too. So today when I realised my mint was in desperate need of being cut back, I decided I'd re-purpose that, also, and put together a bit of a display for the end of the kitchen bench.

Nothing fancy, but it does make the house smell amazing and I like knowing I am using things which would otherwise sit in a cupboard or be destined for my compost bin.

 

A good way to use up mint off-cuts

Other than decluttering, the start to the year has seen us cooking. LOTS of cooking. Sean recently attended a Paella cooking course and has since been treating us with various Paella and Spanish creations.

His first Paella (Chorizo and Chicken) was so flavoursome and a hit with the adults of the family. Subsequent seafood versions were also well received!

 

Start of the Chorizo and Chicken Paella

 

Was delicious!

 

Calamari, Prawn, Scallop and Fish Paella

 

Also amazing!

So now Easter is upon us and I am about to start making Hot Cross Buns. Other than that, the Easter long weekend will see us cleaning up outside the house (pressure washing under the eaves, the paths etc.) and lots of get togethers with friends.

Why I can't be trusted at a Market!

We went to the Mornington Craft Markets  yesterday as something to do with the kids. As well as attempting to eat our own body-weights in berries (there is an awesome berry stall there) we also came across these darling prints from Winter Avenue Press. I was chatting to Sally, the artist, while Adelaide was swooning over her many gorgeous animal drawings - and in particular the bunnies.

So I placed an order for two in A3 size. They will be just the thing for Adelaide's 'big school-girl' room mini-update. They'll be arriving sometime early February, so I need to get the rest of the room upgrade sorted by then. I plan to mount them in over-sized white frames with a large matte over her bookcase.

 

Two limited edition bunny prints for my little bunny

Of course, that wasn't my only find. Some time ago we bought a firepit/box for the back paved area. It wasn't really what either of us was 100% after, but we like to have a fire there when we entertain and we figured it was cheap enough to use until we found something we really liked. Which happened yesterday.

A metal worker had the most amazing sculptural firepit on display. It is HUGE but rather than an uninspiring open tray, it looks like a sculpture. I can really see it working on our back paved area.

It is not inexpensive, so some saving will be required, but I can see it looking awesome out there and providing a huge amount of heat in winter. I think it will also add visual interest when inside the house looking out to the paved area.

 

Firepit on display at the market

 

A custom order firepit by the same artist

 

A VERY old photo of the area where I see the
sculpture/firepit going.The garden is established now!

Am currently talking price, timelines etc. with the designer. I am not sure whether to commission a new piece or whether to purchase the display piece (assuming he is willing to sell that one).  He is going to take measurements to see if it will fit through the front door so that might influence my decision!

New Year, New Linen

Been wanting something more summery linen wise for the Master bedroom for a while. Dropped by Chadstone briefly today to check out the post-Christmas sales at Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn and while I was tempted by some stemless wine glasses and a bunt tin left empty handed. Then spun past  Bed, Bath and Table where I picked up new linen. I was in two minds about it, and as soon as I got it home I realised it just wasn't summery enough.

So a quick trip to the local store and exchanged it for this. I am really liking the brighter colours. Usually I'd go for a teal or aqua, but green and blue is a change (and I change linens that frequently that I doubt I'll have a chance to get too bored by it).

 

New bed linen from Bed Bath and Table

  

Now the only challenge is to sneak some matching European pillows, cushions and decorative throw onto the bed ;)  Happy New Years - wishing everyone a happy 2016!

Designer's Guild

Went to a warehouse sale for Designers Guild the other day, which was lots of fun. Heaps of delicious textiles on offer. Didn't buy any as I'm still trying to resolve the rear room/couch issue. However there were some nice homewares there, including this delicious little milkjug which came home with me.

Other than that, the focus has been on putting up (and extending) our Christmas lights collection. Sadly we have been out the last two evenings, so have not yet had a chance to see the street in its lit splendor. Will have to take a tour tonight :) We were disappointed in the brightness of our lights last year, so bought brighter strands this year and it's certainly made a difference.

Infill

My front garden beds are partially shaded by the oak, and it also takes a lot of water from the beds, so it's hard to know what to put there. My New Zealand Rock Lillies thrive there, so I thought I might try a white Saxifraga for a little infill.

My hydrangea, which I had worried might not make it, is now doing wonderfully well beside the path near the side gate and is starting to bloom. Obviously it's in a good spot for it - so I have bought another to put in beside it. I am so excited that it's doing well - it's a plant I just adore and I know that once they're established they're very hardy. It's also something I had no chance of growing when I was in QLD.

 

We're off to the National Rhododendron gardens today. Apparently they are magnificent at this time of year. I must admit I am a little excited at getting a glimpse at some of the 15000+ Azaleas there - they're another favourite of mine!

It's been a while

The last month has been fiendishly busy. With my baby getting ready to start school next year, I've been slowly de-cluttering toys and clothes from her room and replacing them with school uniforms and school supplies. I suppose sometime soon I'll need to think about a desk.

Of course - the real de-cluttering will happen next year when I have the house to myself. I want to do a really thorough room-by-room clean out. I will still be working, of course, but I'm making a list of house things I want to achieve once I have some uninterrupted time to get them done. And a good spring clean is at the top of that list!

My garden needs weeding again - but it's looking glorious. Always does this time of year. In fact we have a morning of gardening planned today. Gypsum, fertilizing, weeding etc. Also have some new plants to put in.

To make me smile

Doing the groceries yesterday and I saw this Azalea for sale. Now when I lived in QLD I never had much luck with my azaleas - but this just looked so bright and pretty I decided it needed to come home with me.

I'm not quite sure where he'll go? Maybe between the driveway and front path where my lilac is now doing so nicely.

 

How gorgeous is this Azalea?

 

Hopefully I have better luck in this climate!

Let there be (sky)light

The light in the kids' toilet has blown (I actually think it's the transformer) and while I am arranging to have a sparky out for that and a few other little jobs, it occurred to us that really for daytime a better thing would be a skylight. The room has no external wall access (hence no window) and had I thought of it I'd have had it put in at time of build.

Anyhow I didn't - and so today had the skylight installed. And what a difference!

 

This is with no light - just the skylight

 

Huge difference

 

No excuse for not keeping it clean now

 

Wine Table

A friend of mine makes the most stunning furniture from decommisioned wine barrels. She's recently opened her new retail shop in Fitzroy, and yesterday I stopped by to say hello.

I must admit it was not a visit without a degree of premeditation. I have had my eye on this lovely little wine table and wanted to see it in person. And I am so glad I did. Sean and I looked at it and decided it needed to come home with us.

I need to do some work on the living room. It really is the least finished part of the house. So this table is the start of that!

 

Love at first sight!

Cafe Lighting and Coco Republic Display Home Sales

Did a bit of a road-trip this morning. First to the Cafe Lighting Melbourne showroom sale. There was a lot there, but not all of it suiting my decor. However I picked up a nice mirrored photo frame, so the trip was not a complete waste.

 

Lots of mirrored decor at Cafe Lighting, but

some nice accessories

After that headed to the Coco Republic Display Home clearance sale in Craigieburn. By the time we got there the large pieces were mostly gone, but there were a lot of accessories and art still available. Nothing right for our place, but good to check out nontheless.

 

Coco Republic Display Home Clearance

I have started looking out for a new couch for the back of the house. It's the final area to really complete. Several times I've thought I've found just the thing but it's not ended up being right. So the hunt continues... 

Wah! Don't look don't look!

So I was looking at lighting for a friend and saw this. What a delicious light! While I am perfectly happy with the one in my entry way, I saw this and drooled a little. NO LOOKING AT LIGHTS, Amy! Even nice quatrefoil ones like these.

 

Why was this not around when I first

looked for a light for my foyer??

Sunburst

So Sean got to spend fathers day putting up the new mirror. I think I am coming around to leaving it its current colour. In any case, I think for $99 it was a steal and looks awesome in the spot.

Can't believe I finally found what that space needed!

Now to get a new lamp for the room (there's a nice one I have my eye on) and then one room will be complete!

 

Liking the look of this lamp

Look what I found!

So I was wandering around online when I spotted this beauty in the back of a photo from a local furniture store. Perfect size and oh what a price! Seriously when does that happen. Ever???

 

Can't believe I found this!

Jury is out on whether to change its colour. Will get it on the wall tomorrow and leave it there for a week or so while I make up my mind. I think I know the answer - but a week on the wall will decide it absolutely one way or the other!

In the meantime, I am wondering if I can find a spot for this mirror that I also loved... It's a bit too large for anywhere I can think of. But I still love it. Trying to think if any of my mates have the right spot for it, so perhaps I can convince them to buy it and I can just visit it.

 

Now can I find a spot for this?

Spring has sprung!!!

So spring is here! Spring is my favourite time of the year - and I plan to celebrate by doing a spring clean. Because it's easy to lose momentum, I am dividing the season into weeks and allocating tasks to each week. And as well as spring cleaning, I'll be doing a few low level decorating tasks too.

I thought I'd start with a neglected area of the house - our ensuite and walk-in-robe. I have baby clothes in the top of the wardrobe I need to sell off, and I also need to organise my clothing by weight/season etc. I also have a tonne of fabrics I need to reacquaint myself with. Adelaide needs some cute spring dresses, and I plan to make them.

So happy spring to all - hope you have lots of plans!

On the hunt...

Yet again I am annoyed by the lack of products available to us in Australia.

Specifically I am after a starburst mirror for above the fireplace in my front room. While I can find several in Australia, they are all fearfully expensive and honestly just not quite what I am after. Of course - I have managed to find the perfect thing, and good alternatives, overseas. And I can even get some of them here. For a cost!

 

The perfect thing.
Sadly it's around $1200 AUD and
in Pennsylvania

A cheaper option, this is still going

to involve overseas shipping

So another item added to my mental 'will buy this when I find one of these' lists. Sadly the chances of finding one locally is pretty slim - so it's likely to be another online order. Would be nice to be able to buy and support local businesses - but everywhere in Australia seems to have same old same old.

Long time between drinks

So it's been a month, but while there is a lot going on not much is worth reporting. I've been getting into my cooking at the moment (which means Sean is getting into the cleaning up afterwards) and have even been to a few cooking classes. Went to the Thermomix Indian one last night which was actually quite good.

New bedhead arrived, and I did get some new linen, however since the latter is leaving tiny bits of glitter on everything probably the less said on that the better! Still looking for the final bits to style up our room before I post a finished pic.

Have also been reorganising my kitchen cupboards and culling LOTS. Amazing the crap one accumulates - so I've decided it's all going. Amazing how I've not missed any of it and suddenly I have space to see the things I do want.

Am just waiting for the seasons to turn so I can get stuck into the largest declutter job - Adelaide's wardrobe. She has had such a huge growth spurt the pretty little summer dresses I thought might see her through to this spring with an undershirt and leggings will now only serve as tops. Big cull going to happen there which is probably just as well given I'm using the current Myer sales as an opportunity to buy her some new things.

Busy week!

So it's been a busy few weeks. A major birthday, and so very lucky to have my very nearest and dearest come in from afar. The kids were thrilled to have all their aunties visit in one shot - and I had a brilliant time.

Also came up with some new ideas and directions for the back room. I found a colour which I just adore and I can see giving the freshness, interest and 'twist' I want in the back of the house. Better still - it's quite 'in' at the minute, so I am hoping it will be easy to find the accessories I need.

And the start? Well I finally replaced that ugly metal utensil holder I didn't like.

 

Brown and teal. Loving it!

A bit of bling

Went to Pottery Barn the other day. Never a cheap visit! Bought a nice bar tray for my sitting room, and a wooden pizza/paddle board for the kitchen. Am thrilled with both of them.

 

New bar tray - just the thing

for my sitting room

 

Loving this for my kitchen.

Saves a LOT of bench wiping!

Am rather excited. Just today I got a message my long awaited bed valance is on its way. Of course, new valance and bed head requires a new quilt set, too. And I'm not happy with the pillows (they really need to be replaced) so I guess that's my next area to focus on.

Location location location

It's an old real estate adage - but that's the one thing you can't change.

Tonight we had the annual progressive dinner. Smaller than previous years due to illness - but still an awesome night :) We hosted mains this year (so the middle stop of three) and it was awesome. Lots of wine and laughs and amazing food.

The longer I spend in our street the happier I am. Love our street. Love our neighbours. Love our neighbourhood!

Bedhead!

Has been a BUSY weekend here. LOTS of gardening, Sean away at a course, and now he is back home the new bedhead installed.

I shan't show it until I find some nice new linen to match (and the matching valance arrives). But I can confirm I am pleased with how it looks :D