When inspiration strikes!

So as we're doing bits and bobs around the house, Sean asks 'what are we going to do with this?' 'This' being a hanging rack he made when we were expecting Oscar.

At the time I just could not find a hanging rack for above the change table. I really wanted one - so eventually Sean said if I found the pegs, he would make one up for me.

Some EBAY shaker style wooden pegs, an offcut of skirting board, a lick of paint and my hanging rack was here. And it loyally served in two nurseries!

 

In Oscar's nursery

 

In Adelaide's nursery

But with a move to the new house, the peg hanger had no obvious place. I considered the WIR and other spots, but nowhere seemed 'right'. Until today, of course, when Sean asked me yet again where it could go. Immediately an idea presented itself... On the back of the door of the 'in and out' cupboard!

The 'in and out' cupboard is so named as it is the place for transitory items. The kids' daycare bags. Library books. Tupperware and DVDs to go back to my mother-in-law. Bags being filled to go to charity / kinder / daycare or items to be given to friends.

It was originally designed to be a coat cupboard in the entryway of our home, but I felt we'd have little need for a dedicated coat cupboard. So as part of the build we had it fitted out with shelves - and being next to the front door it is the perfect spot for things going in or out!

Every time we leave the house I open the door and quickly scan it. Something to return to a shop which I am headed to? Going to be seeing a particular mate? Going to mother-in-laws? Heading past a charity bin? I'll grab whatever I need and keep going. It's also nice when a mate drops over as I have anything I might need to give them right there and handy as they leave.

However the one thing the 'in and out' cupboard DOES lack is a place to hang a guest's coat. Which is where the hanging rack comes in.

The shelves in the cupboard are inset - so there are quite a few inches between the back of the cupboard door and the front of the shelves. The perfect place to hang the occasional coat or two.

Now initially I had thought to just put a coat hook there. But when Sean asked about the hanging rack, it occurred to me that the other thing we could benefit from was a spot to conveniently hang our 'park hats'. Being able to grab a hat, and walk down to the local park, will speed that journey up considerably. It also means there's no excuse for being lazy - there will always be a hat there ready and waiting.

Well! It was meant to be! When we popped the rack on to the back of the door to try out for size it fitted perfectly. And there are enough hooks to hang our park hats as well as leaving a couple of pegs free for coat hangers for guests' coats.

As strange as it sounds, we're finding lots of little things like this - where the old items suddenly find their place in the new home. And it all adds to making our home more livable :)

 

The hanging rack - now in the 'in and out' cupboard

 

Takes a coat perfectly. 

And is the perfect spot for our park hats!

Long weekend antics

It's a long weekend, so we're devoting a few hours to doing things around the house. Today's tasks? Hanging more wall art, installing a fire blanket in the pantry and putting a mat under the study chair in the study nook.

The wall art has been an ongoing project.  We have had so many professional family photo shoots done and it seemed a little silly that none of it has been framed up and hung.  So a quick visit to IKEA for a few RIBBA frames, and a trip to Officeworks to print up the pictures, and we're on our way!

 

In the hallway - they're on the left as you walk

towards the back of the house

Looking from the other perspective

 

Looking back towards the front door

At the same time, we're also hanging the kids' decorative birth certificates and foot/hand castings in the spare room. Grandma likes looking at these - and since this is officially her room for when she might stay, it made sense to put them where she can enjoy them ;)

 

Little guy's decorative birth certificate and

hand/foot castings

 

Little lady's decorative birth certificate and

hand/foot castings

Floral Art

I love nature inside. Shame I have no talent when it comes to gardening!

As such, I suspect indoor gardening is going to be well beyond me. Particularly in lower light situations like bathrooms.

So when I saw these artificial plant creations, I decided I'd give them a go.

I am tentatively planning the low vase for in the master bedroom and the more upright arrangement for the ensuite. However if it doesn't suit then I will move them around until I find the right spot.

 

I still plan to have some indoor plants (real ones I mean). But this should be a nice start for the more troublesome areas.

Cushions

So my Schumacher cushions have arrived. And I LOVE them! Perfect range of tones for the front room :)

Can't wait to get some lovely soft inserts tomorrow and to start looking for complementary fabrics for other soft furnishings for the room.

Am now quite excited about styling the room up! Hardest is going to be finding the right artwork. I know what I want and am hopeful I will know it when I see it. Fingers crossed! In the meantime, I have a coffee table and a set of Edwardian Spadeback chairs to dispose of - and a couple of wingbacks to find.

Drink

So for a while I have been after a glass drink dispenser. I have seen a few online, but none which really spoke to me. Especially for $90+ delivered.

So when I saw this at Costco for $30 it was just the thing. Funny thing is Sean spotted it first and (without knowing I have been after one) pointed it out to me. So it was definitely coming home!

I really like it. Plain enough (I don't like too much tizz) but also a decent size (9 litres).

So now I need to plan a big get together so I can get some use out of it! I think first off I might try home made lemonade. With mint and lemon wedges.

Covet

So I am coveting a tray. For the front room. To go on the sheraton revival cabinet. And this is what I have in mind.

Of course, the chances of it miraculously appearing for mothers' day tomorrow is negligible - but a girl can dream, right??

It's here!

So - after much patient waiting yesterday my new couch arrived! Lucky it was first thing in the morning, as I might not have made it through to the afternoon otherwise.

It is not so wide and slightly taller than I imagined. Both of which please me so that is fine. The taupe has a slight green to it - which is also fine. While it doesn't have the warmth of my curtains, by the time I colour layer the room that won't be an issue.

I have been tossing up which colours to use the in the front room. I want calm, classy, elegant, textured/layered. Was lucky enough to come across a restful scheme which I think will suit the room perfectly. Hope so - as I have just ordered two large cushions in Schumacher's "Hot House Flowers" in mineral (the large floral print at the back).

 

If I can convince long-suffering Sean, I am planning a warm colour (or wallpaper???) on the chimney breast, and will introduce the other textures and patterns via the other chairs and soft furnishings in the room.

So now the hunt for the perfect occasional chairs to match. However I might delay that search until my Schumacher cushions arrive!