Country style

I eagerly await every month my copy of "Country Style" I loved reading the article on Michelle Fallon and Jason Gibaud's home in Mullumbimby (near Byron Bay) I especially love there verandah with the old claw foot bath, the candelarbra and the ornate mirror and a touch of greenery for privacy, this clever duo are designers of a gorgeous childrens label called (Paper Wings) giving up there careers in Film to raise their daughters in the country, Julie quotes, "Home is where the heart is. That's daggy sounding, but...all the money in the world wouldn't change my philosophy." I kind of like that saying too!

Home Sweet Home

We are back home from our holidays refreshed and still very much in love with Byron Bay especially the hinterland. Staying at Byron Bay gave us the perfect chance to spend time exploring the region .The photo's I have posted were the short drive from Byron to Bangalow a trip we did often to escape the kids and to have a leisure coffee soaking up the atmosphere. I can't tell you how beautiful the region is, it's no wonder many famous Australians live here. we spotted this gorgeous house on top of the hill, painted in White this beauty stood out, that was it the moment of truth as Sarah Jessica from SATC said "I think I have died and gone to Real Estate Heaven" just to add to the ideal the swing (tyre on the rope type of swing) next to the tree house in the most amazing tree over looking the valley we just sat on the side of the road and took one look at each other, they were living our dream!!

Bangalow

My favourite country town is Bangalow the atmosphere is pure heaven and I just love spending time there, of course we especially love looking at the real estate windows (keeping the dream alive!!)

Happy Week-end

Wishing you all a great week-end, my kids are now on school holidays and we are off to Byron Bay for 7 nights, We have rented a beautiful old house and plan to live in track-suits and just lounge around, long walks on the beach and simply relaxing and spending time with my family, actually I even plan to spend some leisure time blogging too xxxxxx

A Guest house....

Just had to post this image of a guest house in Alpilles (I think in Provence, not sure) I know I'm France mad...I just had to re-read "At my French Table" I even have my husband reading it and "My French Life" by Vicki Archer. I know we all have blogged about this amazing book but just reading it again is so inspiring. Vicki commented that more people in Provence were decorating there tables and homes in natural linens and whites rather than the traditional bright colours of Provence and I noticed that too when looking for places to stay in France,I'm just loving this look...and happy to report we have these beautiful pieces at lily-g!

Ritz Paris

This week I have been a Little slack on blogging but I'm still up in the clouds "Paris" I must say one of the most exciting parts of going to Paris is the build up to it....The lovely comments with all the hints of where to go, catching up with friends who are as excited as you are to share idea's on where to stay, where to go, the best antique markets......and sharing there experiences, to discover blogs like "Paris Breakfast" and Le Petit cabinet DE curiosities are my high lights! blogging is like having Lot's of pen-pals and I can't get enough of it!!!

A collection..

A small amoire in my bathroom has my collection of 1910 perfume bottles that I have collected to one day pass to my girls.

The Chateau

The Chateau and the grounds where we will be staying on our second week in France, hard to believe this is a B&B, we are staying for 4 nights and using it as a base to visit other towns in France, the Chateau also has a winery...ummm....perfect for the end of the day!

And the chateau....

This is the window on the Chateau we will be staying at in provence I promise I wont show too many pictures but I'm just busting with excitment!!!!

Our Bedroom in Paris

We leave on September the 4Th for two weeks our first night is in London so I can visit the antique markets in Notting hill then the fast train to Paris. Our first week is in Paris and we decided we wanted to feel like we live in Paris with our own key to open the big wooden doors to our own private apartment overlooking the Eiffel tower (I think I'm in heaven!!!!) after long days I couldn't think of anything nicer than to sit on the balcony with of bottle of french champagne overlooking Paris....It was hard to decide which side of the bank to stay I have been told the left bank and right bank have an entirely different atmosphere, moving from glamour and opulence to casual and creative on the other. Le Marais on the right bank is where we have opted loving the creative side of small home wares stores in particular not that I'm going to pass up dinner at the Ritz! our second week is in Provence in a beautiful old Chateau in the Avignon region we are staying in the blue room, yes each room has a different colour so of course since there was no beige/white room, blue would be my next option!!! to all my blogger Friends out there please point me to the direction of antique markets,beautiful home ware stores etc...
by the way for anyone travelling to Paris I recommended this site http://www.parisperfect.com/

Have a great week

Judy x

The View

This is the view from our dining table and our bedroom of course now my screen saver, Im now counting the days till i go...........

I'm off to Paris!!!

I Can't believe tomorrow is already Friday, I have been in bed sick with the flu so I'm sorry for my lack of posts this week. I had a wonderful surprise from my hubby whilst we were planning to go to Paris in September I kept changing my mind, work is so busy i just wasn't sure if it was a good time to leave...but two tickets to Paris was booked and now I'm busting with excitement this will be my first trip ever we plan on doing one week in Paris (visiting Maison DE Object) and then hopefully to rent a villa for the last week, I cant wait to go market shopping but as we only have only two weeks it may only be one market! so today while in bed i pulled out all my french books, my box of tissues and soaked up Paris...yip-pey it has only taken 41 years to get there!!!!!

Love the lights...

Thanks to Camilla at home's blog for posting these beautiful kitchen images, I just love visiting her blog! the lights above the Island Bench are gorgeous a-m they would be great for your house too.

Another view of the kitchen, what a great design and lay-out very traditional I know but perfect for that country house!

loving the chairs

It's probably my eyesight (I am 41!!!) but these beautiful chairs look like they are painted a very pale blue, what a great country look!

Just loving Blue

I'm about to tackle painting a new french sideboard that is black to duck egg blue for my bedroom giving it an aged effect, this will be my very first piece so wish me luck I'm going to need it!!!!

Thank you Villa Anna

One of my favourite blogs is villa anna I have loved visiting her older posts too and stumbled across this fabulous designer kimberley Seldon, her style is very classic and stylish a look that just keeps looking great as time goes by. Thanks Anna for all the great inspiration.

A past life

I have always loved claw foot baths which over recent times have been taken over by a more sleek modern free standing bath. I just love the vintage table beside the bath I could imagine this filled with candles and beautiful bath salts just what I need!!!!

Two weeks ago at lily-g we had a work-shop on Interior Decorating it was a huge success and lots of inspirational ideas were shared, one topic was how bathrooms have changed to become more part of the bedroom I'm loving at the moment using pieces of furniture as the bathroom cabinet, I know we have done that years gone by, but everything returns always better than before.

A study all in white

I could so imagine working or blogging in my study over looking the fireplace in this serene environment, pure bliss!!!!

A Classic bedroom

Have A wonderful Long Week-end

Yesterday I finished a large project (4 story villa 60Sq) my husband and I had to hire a truck and he drove back and forth several truck loads filled to the brim with furniture,cushions and accessories the villa was very modern and my brief was to give it a softer more coastal feel, touches of blue lots of natural raw oaks, jute rugs and beautiful accessories. Only a few months ago I completed there home in Brisbane which we used lots of colour and beautiful wall papers, sleek lounges and stunning fabrics, large vintage bally prints etc...so the holiday house had to have a completely different feel.....I left the coast at 11pm last night after unpacking heaps of boxes,making beds and setting up home, I must admit I had the best time ever (Interior Heaven) and the clients are ecstatic!!!!yip-pey, that made my drive home with aching feet, a cold sore brewing, total and utter exhaustion but feeling totally elated and relieved that I completed a job and the clients are thrilled (always a relief)! I'm so sorry I haven't been visiting all my favourite blogs but next week i'm back!

Sex and The City

Last night about 300 "Babes In Business" a forum of women in business, got to together for a night of cocktails to preview the movie in the beautiful old Regent Cinema. I won't say to much about it but the movie didn't disappoint, I'm still in heaven...the fashion...Oh! My! God! and when Carrie renovates her apartment!! I just loved the blue and white scheme!

I just cant wait till the images are up on the net!!!! have a great day I'm off to the Gold Coast to fit out a villa...big day! XO

Who say's white is boring....

Featured in this months country style was the oak table which I love with beautiful crockery which we sell at lily-g, the plates handmade looking with beading and a dragonfly perfect for brunch or the french scroll cake plates for desert or morning-tea, either way its like setting a table with mis-matched chairs, using different pattern crockery creates interest and keeping to all white always looks fabulous!

Napkins

I love setting my napkins in different ways, tie a french ribbon around your napkins, or tie them in a knot to create a bow for a more casual look, attaching a flower, or placing a shell on the napkin is perfect for a lunch by the sea. Attaching a beautiful charm as a gift with ribbon or buy natural cord or simply using beautiful linen napkins monogrammed with you family initial, folded elegantly on the plate or beside.

A place setting

My Dearest Friend Rose always told me never to buy crockery unless it's white as it never dates and food always looks great, that advice was given to me after I bought a colourful dinner-set which I gave away a year later. Since then I have always collected white crockery my favourite being Portugal handmade white dinnerware which ten years later I still love. I add my colour in flowers, place mats, tablecloths and napkins but my favourite look is definitely linen, white flowers,and candles.

Beautiful cutlery

collecting vintage, silver cutlery is not an easy task in Australia, I often see my European blogger's showing there beautiful pieces picked up from markets or passed down through the generations. I have a collection of Dutch tea-spoons in sterling silver that my grandmother (Oma) gave me and I love bringing them out for morning-teas and coffee time. At-last I have found a company who will supply lily-g with beautiful old style cutlery,tea-spoons, and serving sets in stainless steel (no polishing) but not the price tag of s/silver!

Set with Style

This week is going to be a full on week with interior work (fit-outs etc..) so this week i'm going to focus on table settings. Winter is now finally upon us and my fireplace has been burning every night and it made me think what a great time to have a dinner party! during the day the weather is perfect for picnics (with out the food melting in the heat) and brunches in the morning sun. Tonight when im back from work i'll start posting my first images, Have a great day xx