A slice of boudoir heaven...

If I were Samantha the good witch and could wiggle my nose and create the ultimate boudoir for myself this pretty much would be it!

Claudia Strassers The Paris Apartment book was first published 16 years ago, but to me it NEVER gets old. I've mentioned on many occasions this book has been my bed companion for a long time and even travelled with me to Europe as I couldn't bear to part with it. Pages 74 and 75 are almost permanently open on my dressing table and often when passing I find myself wishing I could dive into those glossy pages.

(please click images to enlarge)

I love absolutely everything about this room, from the parquetry floors to the 12 foot high ceilings, The recessed shelving for books and treasures complete with pelmet framing. The sheepskin rugs, the painted Louis furniture, the tufted tub chairs, the silk sumptuous fabrics, the turquoise vases and the grand sparkling chandelier! I know swags and tails in most bedrooms can look completely over the top but in a room this grand how could you have anything less? Ok perhaps I would hide the speakers.

This room is feminine and sexy and romantic but without being sickly girly. I think a man might even enjoy sleeping there ;)

As a studio apartment it triples as a living room, bedroom and office. I adore the use of the three seperate spaces with the sumptuous inviting bed taking centre stage.

Oh I need to find me a tall set of drawers like that!

I thought I'd finish with another one of my favourite images from Claudia's book. Would you feast your eyes on this treasure trove?! You would have to call security to force me to leave such a place. It actually reminds me alot of Vintage Glamour in Enmore, Sydney. I could spend hours rummaging through that store :)

If you haven't already bought this book you are missing out! It truly is a slice of heaven :)

The Paris Apartment book

The Paris Apartment blog

p.s I received an email today from one of my idols that lifted me to new heights......Thank you so very much! :)

Oh Wow!

Kitty and all :)

Caryn Grossman courtesy of Desire To Inspire.

Random loveliness...

(Chris Everard via Desire to Inspire)

Well the auction for our lake house came and went on thursday but didn't sell. A real sign of the times when people expect us to give away a prime piece of real estate. Nvm, more time for us to enjoy it :)

Anyhoo, it's been another mental week and I guess it wont get any slower for a few weeks yet. I had to post some of the absolutely stunning images that are inspiring me this week.

I hope you're having a joyous weekend filled with lots of Chrissy festivities :)

(Traditional Home)

(Latest Sussex)

(Eric Roth via Desire to Inspire)

(Eric Roth via Desire to Inspire)

(Eric Coher via Cote de Texas)

(Betsy Johnson via Taverne-Agency)

(Shabby Chic via Apartment Therapy)

Just when I thought homes couldn't get any more beautiful...

Joni goes and pulls this rabbit out of the hat!

*siiiiiiiiiiiiighs*

It's BIG, BEAUTIFUL and ever so inspiring. If you haven't already don't waste another moment and get over to Cote de Texas for so much more of this grand splendour :)

Happiness is...

Scoring BIG TIME while op shopping on the weekend! I found this incredibly beautiful swan print that will go perfectly in my new bedroom or great room :)

The frame is rather ordinary so I'll either give it a couple of coats of antique white or buy a new one. It is a great size at 70cms by 59cms and as you can see, my favourite colour blue!

Ever since I saw that swan print in the stunning dining room of Mz Elman's apartment I have been on the hunt. Never did I imagine I'd find such a beauty in the most unlikely of places. But then again life is full of surprises :)


P.S - Tomorrow!! Very Excited!! Full day planned!! So much fun and adventure!! Can't wait to show you my pics!! Stay tuned!! ;)

Movie magic...

(image couresy of Vogue Living Australia)

It's heavenly images like this that make want to forget all about my love of French design and embrace the culture from my own backyard.

Whether it be French, English or Australiana, what is it about a feminine boudoir that appeals to my senses? I suppose it's the romance of it all. The fact that although I'm not royalty or a celebrity I can still create this illusion in my own home.

Catherine Martin is the brilliant talent behind this scenic beauty created for the new Baz Luhrmann movie - Australia. It is quite a feast for the eyes with it's intriguing wall of art, fresh plant life (LOVE orchids!) and just the right amount of pink!, including the gorgeous porcelain galah. Finally, aren't those blossom rugs and matching lamps too die for? Mz Martin is driving me crazy! Firstly she tantalizes and dazzles me with her Academy Award winning sumptuous Parisian sets on Moulin Rouge and now I find myself falling love with the interiors of 1940's Australia!

My God I love this room and I CAN'T WAIT to see this movie!

A love dedication to pretty handpainted furniture...

(The Paris Apartment)

My post on friday about the stunning apartment in NYC featured a gorgeous old Italian handpainted side table that made my heart sing.

This led me to scroll through my files and find a bunch of images I had to compile into a love dedications post.

(OK magazine)

I am completely head over heels in love with pretty handpainted furniture old and new and especially of the French/Italian floral variety.

Pammy's bed for example, is just about the most beautiful piece of furniture I've ever seen. I turn green when I think about the lucky lucky bugger who purchased it, probably for a steal, at her recent yard sale ;)

(1stdibs)

Hand painted furniture really began it's origins in Italy around 1283 AD, introduced by Marco Polo who discovered the art whilst travelling through China. Within the next 100 years the Italian Renaissance had its beginnings; the Venetian school of artists, exemplified by Titian, was in full sway by the early 1500's.

(info from Patina)

(Patina)

(1stdibs)

(House to Home)

(Taverne Agency)

(Charles Faudree)

(Candace Olsen)

(TBA)

(narratives photo agency)

^This is the bed I dream for my daughter :)


(The nostalgia fairy @ flickr)


I would dearly love a piece of my own but without the $15, 000 price tag lol. I'd be more likely to afford a nice piece like the one above. Lovely old queen anne style dressing tables sell all the time on Ebay, if only I could find someone to paint some lovely floral details, it'd look just like and just as beautiful as the real deal. Miss Kris why don't you live in Sydney?! hehe ;)

(A cherished painted chest my Dad bought me for my 30th birthday)


Does anyone own a gorgeous piece of furniture similar to the ones I featured? If so I would LOVE to see a pic. Also if anyone know's of a place I could find one for myself I'd be ever so grateful to be pointed in the right direction :)

Pretty Apartment #3...

Finally we have apartment #3 and I think I saved the best for last. This stunning apartment is in New York city and decorated by Margaret Elman, the founder and owner of Chair Couture.

From a feature in the May 07 issue of Home Beautiful - Chair Couture is a business based on the idea of 're-dressing' vintage French and Italian pieces in bold, modern fabrics to "take classic antiques out of the dusty drawing room and shabby chic country house and make them work in contemporary interiors".

While the other two apartment's beauty were soley based on pretty muted pastels, which I adore, I feel they are the kind of interior I would have if I were living alone. This complementary mix of bold cheerful colours and pastels are really more appropriate for my lifestyle at this moment having a family.


There is so much I love about this home. Like I said I love the mix of bold and muted hues aswell as the blend of various patterns and mish mashed chairs. Vintage treasures such as the swan print, floral tidy bin and that hat collection!


Lets not forget the stunning variety of chandeliers! *sighs*


Margaret Elman describes her favourite colour and style - "Everything from the palest robin-egg blue to sky-and-sea aqua to Tiffany box blue to full-on, whipping bright 1950's-dinner turquoise".
"My style right now is kind of Marie Antoinette meets flea market meets a few items from the 21st century".


This is certainly a woman after my own heart! If I were ever asked the same questions my answers would be almost identical.



Look at this fabulous kitchen! Small and intimate. I LOVE the booth at the end. I'm such a booth person lol. Although alot more modern than my usual tastes, I love the idea of the magazine rack on the wall. I also think that lemon painting really sets off the gorgeous aqua fabric on the seating.

(All images were taken by Ngoc Minh Ngo)

What can I say about the bedroom?! INCREDIBLE!!!



That brings me to the end of my little apartment series, Thank you so very much for the lovely comments you wrote. Discovering and touring stunning homes like these just make the days so much brighter :)

The images of all the apartments featured were courtesy of Taverne-Agency.

Pretty Vintage Apartment #2....

Many Aussie's will immediately recognise this heavenly space as it's been featured numerous times in various shelter magazines and television commercials. I am always thrilled when I discover styled variations of her feminine paradise. I've also posted a few times, here and here about this former mattress factory turned amazing warehouse apartment and famous store owned by the Vintage queen herself, Lyn Gardener.

This bed/bath, I would have to say is just about every girly girl's dream! I can only imagine how spectacular it would look at night with a log fire, dim chandelier and candle light.



This is a very non pretentious home with plain white painted brick and exposed plumbing and yet all Lyn's lovely preloved treasures make it fit for a princess.



I've seen a few different shots of this corner but I hadn't seen this one of the armoire doors open exposing Lyn's divine collection of vintage linens.

A very basic but beautiful kitchen. Perfectly functional.

So inexpensive, who says you need to spend an absolute fortune to create a pleasureable workspace? I suppose in a large open warehouse space you could get away with such simplicity however in my 70's red brick perhaps not lol.

That sumptuous daybed looks ever so inviting. A glass of wine, a Jane Austen novel and I'm set!

Again, it's alluring pretty accents such as these that transform an ugly old toilet block.

(All images were taken by Mikkel Vang)

Obviously the key here is to have a completely blank canvas and allow your worldly possession's to come alive.


Thank you Lyn for yet another spectacular tour :)

I hope you enjoyed apartment 2. Apartment 3 will follow tomorrow and it's something a little different ;)