The Fashion revamp at lily-g

The inspiration behind our fashion section is blacks, creams and beiges using beautiful fabrics and wall paper from the Ralph Lauren collection. Next week the girls at lily-g will be spending a few days in Sydney buying, we plan on having lots of girl fun too. Have a great week-end x

Going Minty

Fabric from Designers Guild that I'm using for cushions and part of the recovering of the sofa
My Antique chaise arrived today ready to be recovered,  The back of the sofa will have the DG fabric( featured above) in mint green and white flowers with the rest of the sofa covered in a beige velvet, with scatter cushions in fabrics from The DG collection.

The wall-paper from Ralph lauren is absolutely stunning in real life, the back ground is in bronze/gold tones and the actual birds and branches are pearlized white with mint green on the edges of the branches (you can not see it on this photo) It's a very expensive paper but the effect in the end will be well worth it.
I mentioned that I was re-doing my fashion area at lily-g, the section is divided into two areas and is separate from lily-g home. The back area is our change room and is a relatively small space, I have existing white silk curtains that I cant afford to remove so with a natural stone floors and pale pink walls the change is not difficult. We plan on repainting the walls a beige colour and featuring a few of the walls in this stunning Ralph Lauren paper, the room has an antique marble coffee table and gorgeous gold rattan chairs with a chandelier to work back perfectly, I have used a mint green DG rug but it wont be overdone as I'm only using touches of the green. The area off this room is where we have our clothing labels and this winter our fashion is blacks, creams and caramels as the main attraction, so I'm using the same RL paper but in Black and beige but creating an elegant but less formal lounge room setting. The refurb should be completed in 4-6 weeks time ready for our autumn launch of our winter collection.

My Bedroom

I'm always nervous posting photo's of my home but here goes, this is my bedroom the wall paper is actually pale blue with bronze damask but it's not showing up on the camera, my chaise is still to be recovered and my cushions are getting made in blue silk piped and buttoned in a taupe colour to sit on the chaise till I can afford to recover it, I have a long ottoman that sits under the white sideboard that is covered in a stunning fabric but its not ready so i'll post a photo when its completed. My office actually comes off this room and will be painted in the palest of blues but that's still a job in progress!

I bought this mirror from the markets and used it as a tray to show off my collection of antique perfume bottles, I'm a shocking photographer so this was the best attempt!

another view of my bedroom which leads on to the Bathroom. I had the sideboard painted in a pale blue and rubbed back on the decorative parts in gold-bronze paint. 

A few of my collectables, the crystal box is over 100 years old purchased in an old perfumery in Paris, I purchased the perfume bottle but couldn't justify spending the money on the crystal box, I told paul if it was still in the window after lunch I might just buy it, well it was gone and I thought well It was meant to be, that night Paul gave it to me as a surprise and it will always be a special reminder of our trip together. The other pieces I have collected from antique stores and paid very little for the pieces but loved them anyway.

Have a great weekend

I have nearly finished decorating my bedroom just waiting on my ottoman and a few more cushions but regardless I will post some images this week. I repainted an old sideboard in the palest of blues but had it rubbed back on the edges in golds and the combination looks great, now I'm just waiting for my ottoman and its finally finished. The beautiful old books I found at the markets in France, the pharmacie was painted on the wall of an old building in a village in Provence, when I saw it I just couldn't believe how beautiful it was and  hope one day I can get it painted by an artist. The Amoire was my inspiration of my sideboard and the wall-paper is part of our new collection this season. Next week I'm posting my bed-room, new art work I have had framed, and our new season fashion collection, Have a great week-end xx

Revamping the store

I have been busy this week planning the re-vamp of our fashion store which is in desperate need of a renovation, I'm planning to do a feature wall of vintage gold  mirrors and frames with images of our fashion. The walls are going to be lined in wallpaper, Oriental cherry blossom and birds in golds and pinks. Antique furniture pieces I have collected for lily-g will add the finishing touches. The front area of our fashion is completely different in blacks and creams with furniture to match and stunning wall paper in black and cream again with birds and cherry blossoms and a mix of gorgeous cushions in stunning fabrics. I'm madly collecting old books for displays and vintage pieces. Our inspiration is our fashion Labels Moss and Spy, twin-set, Day et Mikkelson and Ginger and Smart. This season black and white, creams, golds and caramel shades are huge so we have designed our furniture displays to work with the fashion of the season but creating a room within our fashion walls.

for the boys

The Ralph lauren boy's collection is featured on the RL site, you can't go past Navy and Red for our boys. How great are the chairs, wall-paper and fabric I love how easy this look can adapt to all ages.

Hampton love

 I'm always drawn to the Hampton style and I just love all of these houses, the grey shingle roof with the all white exterior, the grey painted home with lots of white trim, but what I love most is the large blocks of land, the green grass and trees' it really does make the perfect setting for a Hampton style home. 

Market Day

Last Saturday was Farmers market day and I spent the morning with friends buying flowers for home (got a bit carried away) I loved the beautiful hydrangea's I placed them on my verandah, the pink roses for my desk and lily's room and the others through my home. I thought the flowers were worthy of a snap shot! 

Riverview guesthouse

I have just returned from a few days away with my sister, we stayed in this gorgeous B&B in the heart of Bangalow. I just love staying in B&B's and I would highly recommend this gorgeous place for a night or two. I wanted to show my family what I keep raving about and to my relief  I've been given the nod of approval so much so that my brother is moving to the region as well. We spent some time looking at property and I have definitely come to the conclusion that the ocean view properties are out of my league (need 3-4 million plus) but hey! I just love rolling green hills too. I had the best few days going nuts with excitement at some of the properties in-fact my sister complained I was giving her a headache with all my enthusiasm (I do get a little over excited) my brother was laughing too when I even went crazy excited over a tree, but he just doesn't get how important the old tree with the hanging chandelier is to me!!! We have decided that we are probably going to buy a block and build that way we get what we want as the other home we loved was just a little too far out and we want to stay closer to Bangalow and Byron Bay. 

After spending the previous day looking at houses and lunching in Byron we decided today we would do the scenic drive home via Mullumbimby, then Murwillumbah, and visit the antique shops on the way. I bought vintage cups and saucers for the cafe, crystal dishes for the scones and a beautiful vintage mirror, an old plate and some pretty vases for my girls, all cheap bits and pieces that added to the fun. My sister who now has caught on to my addiction of antique-Bric a Brac shopping went nuts and the lady in the antique store was very happy we stopped by!

New port Beach house

I'm just loving this Newport beach house on real estate.com in NSW, the wall paneling, the windows and the navy window seat and especially the outdoor fireplace. I don't think it will take this home to long before its snapped up!

Country Living

Typical of me, when I get an idea in my head I jump head first without thinking it through, I see the positive in everything and I'm great at solving any negatives, but this decision is one of my biggest! Can City girl become Country girl?? Well it goes like this! If I could I would sell up everything and move to the south of France (I told you Vicki A your a bad influence on me he! he!) but the reality with visa's, money and children its just not going to happen in the near future. I've often mentioned my dream to live around the Byron Hinterland and after a few trips over Xmas we found the property we want to buy (as above). We still have not inspected the property (that's next week) but we did a drive by and took one look at each other and knew we had to have it, so after loads of negotiating and convincing with my kids, our new home in Manly which still is not finished has a deadline of 4 weeks to be finished and its going on the market for sale! There is a good change in the meantime the property may sell but that hasn't deterred our determination and we could always build or find another property. I plan on basing myself in Brisbane through the week for the next year spending the week-ends on the property so I can run my store and perhaps plan another down Byron way, lots of planning to do but fingers crossed x

White Vision

Next week I'm off to Melbourne to visit some of my suppliers to start new season buying. At the moment we are having a massive clearance sale clearing out stock ready for new arrivals. I always hate this time of year because my shop never looks its best with sale stickers and stock everywhere but without it I don't have the exciting part in planning new looks and buying new pieces. I have been thinking of what direction I'll take and with out a doubt I'm still focusing on our signature neutrals but adding lots more white furniture pieces with a definite aged appeal. I'm loving the blend of oaks with paint washes, the mix of raw oak and white even blacks with raw timbers still has appeal. This year we will have more antique one off pieces. I have always favored linen and white loose covers on furniture pieces because the versatility is perfect. The classic look of white I never get bored with most importantly I love the ease of adding colour and changing my look with accessories like cushions, art work, fresh flowers and collectables. This year at lily-g I'm keeping my blues and adding more green, keeping the black but not with white, adding more vintage gold pieces and keeping our aged wicker and rattans but adding new styles. I have posted some images that have inspired me and my love of white.