Off to London soon!

As my busy year comes to a close rapidly, and following a shoot for Selling Houses Australia next week, I'll be jumping on a jet plane and heading overseas for 3 weeks - back in time for Xmas !

Make sure you follow my blog and tweets as I seek out interesting Interior trends in both the UK and Europe, and share them with you.

Our latest makeovers will be featured in magazines early next year, but here's a teaser of what's to come....

Glamour Bedroom Makeover....

New York Loft-Style Apartment



And our "Fashion meets Interiors" shoot, with beautiful gowns supplied by J'Aton Couture, to bring out the princess in every woman....

Create your own work of art - if you dare!!!

It is amazing what you can find on youtube.com and the things it inspires you to do! Andy Jones, my PA found this video featuring great works of art by Joe Ponciano that he created and thought "it looks pretty easy" and gave it a go. Well it truly became a labour of love - her eyes are now the size of pins as she focused on the minature holes in the chicken wire and she swears she has no feeling in the ends of her fingers from the thousands (she said tens of thousands?) of cable ties she threaded. I think the results are pretty spectacular and she said she will never do it again, till she looked re-looked at the site and thought 'the wall feature looks good'! Stay tuned.

SATURDAY IN DESIGN

What a long day! From 9am till 5pm people from the design industry moved around design precincts of Sydney looking at current and future furniture, fabrics and anything to do with interiors. But it was far from serious business!! Each place you entered had a theme and displays that either inspired your design challenges or put a cheeky smile on your face. One of my favourites was at Living Edge where Chandon created a whimsical competition to 'create a minature chair'. The material? The cork of the champagne bottle of course!

Houses while you travel

I dont know what it is like in your house but it's late night TV for The Ashes in England and Le Tour de France! Alot of armchair travelling has been going on as we wind our way through the Swiss Alps and admiring the lush green mountains and quaint rural houses that look like Monopoly figurines randomly dotted on the country side. This Auto by Ing.M.Voglreiter house looks like a modern day chitty chitty bang bang but it is a renovated 70's house!

What you do have to admire about the Tour is the comeback king Lance Armstrong - to be a winner for all those years, take a break, then a break-up (Sheryl Crow) and a new wife and family and be in the front pack of the tour is nothing but inspiring. I am hoping to be able channel a bit of that inspiration to getting off the couch (who am I kidding) for for the time being I'm pretty happy with the scenery!

Scenery of Le Tour - Arm Chair Travelling

Pictures from a spectators blog keeps you fully informed

Maybe a poster on your wall! for inspiration






Just some pics to get you outdoors!

IDEAS DONT ALWAYS COME EASY

Part of my job is to think of new and intersting ways to do things. Then come the normal obstacles of budget, client preferences, building restrictions etc... But a bigger problem is the mental block. See the list below of ways to build your creative juices and ways to laugh about it.

Yvonne Adele from Ideas Culture has got me out of a few creative slumps and she has an online programme you can do in your sleep!!

NEW INSPIRATION?

When you cant get the creative juices going - put on a piece of music. Strings by Carneval and 'blow-your-mind' vocals by Ben Thomas give me enery to tap into.

A POST-IT AFTER MY HEART

As I work all weekend on projects setting deadlines, being distracted and HATING my post it notes This brings a little joy to my day

INSPIRATION FOR A BIT OF EVERYTHING!

Whether digital designer, home renovator, artist or just need something to get you going have a look at these sites for a bit of fun and inspiration!

Pages on line

Interior Design Magazine

TV make overs

VOYEUR TO THE CELEBRITY HOMES

Nothing better than a well known artist selling their home so you can get a sneak peak. See Flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers' home for sale. Simply Stunning. Make sure you click onto the full presentation to get the true beauty of the home. What I love most is how they have capitalised on the location and the whole interior reflects the essence of the view and lifestyle.