Interior Design Sense

Today is a great day. My French test is finally done (so please say a little prayer that I got the mark I needed) and I can finally have my life back and hopefully finish my Christmas preparations – well, present shopping and wrapping is all as I won’t have time to bake/decorate or anything else. Before I get my arse in gear for all that I thought I’d take a few minutes and point out that there is a UK digital interiors magazine called Heart Home that you all MUST check out. It’s frankly up there with Rue and Lonny. Seriously. A big thanks to Carole, one of the mag’s 3 editors, for emailing us to let us know. Here are some of my favourite photos from the 2 issues they have launched so far. 

Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don’t know what to do? You’re not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you …. that’s you lot … the readers! Carolina needs some suggestions this week.

I emailed you a few weeks ago telling you how much help your blog has been to us on decorating our new home. Here are a few photos of what we accomplished so far. We are stuck at finding the perfect dining chairs for our custom dinning table. Maybe you can help us get a little inspired. The chairs we had originally picked are not available (the factory closed). We are thinking about chairs in different colors since our walls are all white.

Now here’s the table (and it is a beauty, oh be still my beating heart) …

And here are some other shots of Carolina’s house in progress. There’s still a way to go but what a great start.

Know the perfect chair? Jump right in with your 2 cents worth. Links would be lovely too

As I mentioned earlier today, I had to share with you all a few photos of Priscilla Glover and Ivan Spaller‘s home. This is really quite astonishing, hence right up their alley. I am (on a rare occasion) rendered speechless. It is a High Tudor house that we have named Artamus Hall. Attached are pics of the facade – before – then lifted 5 ft. Then completely reworked. Now this…

wait for it….

…waaiitt for itttt….

Sarah emailed to share her house.

We have just finished (but not completely styled) a renovation of our 1880s workers cottage in Adelaide, South Australia . As a bit of an amateur designer, I drafted a plan and gave it to an architect whose house I’d seen at an open inspection 5 years previously. I tracked her down (Sophie Fielder) and when we met for the first time couldn’t believe our eyes when we discovered we had the same photos in our scrap books! We even had photos from the internet of houses in other states! Due to budget constraints and the love of a challenge, I project managed the job with our builder and we’re thrilled with the result. We wanted to create a home with a slightly industrial/warehouse/barn feel that was practical and didn’t waste space.

The garden is yet to grow but already it is a sanctuary with birds and chooks (over the back fence!) waking us up each morning and we absolutely adore the  50 year old olive tree right outside our bedroom window.

I’ve already informed Sarah to expect me any moment, bags in hand, because I’m moving in. What a wonderful marriage of old and new.

The house before they started and a few demolition shots.

As I mentioned earlier today, I had to share with you all a few photos of Priscilla Glover and Ivan Spaller‘s home. This is really quite astonishing, hence right up their alley. I am (on a rare occasion) rendered speechless. It is a High Tudor house that we have named Artamus Hall. Attached are pics of the facade – before – then lifted 5 ft. Then completely reworked. Now this…

wait for it….

…waaiitt for itttt….

Sarah emailed to share her house.

We have just finished (but not completely styled) a renovation of our 1880s workers cottage in Adelaide, South Australia . As a bit of an amateur designer, I drafted a plan and gave it to an architect whose house I’d seen at an open inspection 5 years previously. I tracked her down (Sophie Fielder) and when we met for the first time couldn’t believe our eyes when we discovered we had the same photos in our scrap books! We even had photos from the internet of houses in other states! Due to budget constraints and the love of a challenge, I project managed the job with our builder and we’re thrilled with the result. We wanted to create a home with a slightly industrial/warehouse/barn feel that was practical and didn’t waste space.

The garden is yet to grow but already it is a sanctuary with birds and chooks (over the back fence!) waking us up each morning and we absolutely adore the  50 year old olive tree right outside our bedroom window.

I’ve already informed Sarah to expect me any moment, bags in hand, because I’m moving in. What a wonderful marriage of old and new.

The house before they started and a few demolition shots.

I’m taking a quick break from french studies (worst. thing. EVER.) to tell you that I don’t really have time to post much today – and my posts will be a bit light for the next week and a half until I get this freaking test done with. I managed to dig up a few favourite photos for your viewing pleasure, but before I get to those I thought I’d remind you all how you can keep in touch with the happenings of the blog and Jo and I.

• subscribe via RSS Feed
• see what’s going on with Jo (mostly updates on her home decor projects) at Jo’s blog page
• see what’s going on with me (for now mostly random stuff and purchases, soon to be more about stuff for my new house/ideas etc.) at Kim’s blog page
• Jo’s Flickr photostream
• Kim’s Flickr photostream
• get blog updates and occassional randomness via Facebook
• get blog updates via Twitter

Homelife

Bolig Magasinet

Nuevo Estilo

Homelife

Lantliv

The Selby

Homelife

The Selby

I’m taking a quick break from french studies (worst. thing. EVER.) to tell you that I don’t really have time to post much today – and my posts will be a bit light for the next week and a half until I get this freaking test done with. I managed to dig up a few favourite photos for your viewing pleasure, but before I get to those I thought I’d remind you all how you can keep in touch with the happenings of the blog and Jo and I.

• subscribe via RSS Feed
• see what’s going on with Jo (mostly updates on her home decor projects) at Jo’s blog page
• see what’s going on with me (for now mostly random stuff and purchases, soon to be more about stuff for my new house/ideas etc.) at Kim’s blog page
• Jo’s Flickr photostream
• Kim’s Flickr photostream
• get blog updates and occassional randomness via Facebook
• get blog updates via Twitter

Homelife

Bolig Magasinet

Nuevo Estilo

Homelife

Lantliv

The Selby

Homelife

The Selby

Last week I received an adorable pet photo from James van der Velden, and his email included a link to his design firm called Bricks Amsterdam. I nearly fell off my chair when I took a peek at his portfolio. His style ROCKS. James calls it “timeless eclecticism”. I love every bit of it – the neutral colour palette of black, brown, white and tan, the overscale furnishings and accessories, the industrial elements and use of linen. That right there is the recipe for great decor (IMHO). James kindly sent me tons of photos from 3 of his projects which I’ll be sharing here today and tomorrow. This one is my favourite, and I believe it is James’ own home – a penthouse apartment on the canals of Amsterdam. *SWOON*

The other day we received the following email from Jennifer: As a long time follower of your blog, I know you do real estate stalkings. This is my home that I just finished restoring last year. It was built in 1917, nothing had been done to it, well I think, ever!!. It was scheduled for demolition when we bought it. Completely dilapidated, falling over….It took us almost 2 years to renovate it. The tears, the joy, the work….ugh…but the end product I am pretty proud of. We have just put it on the market today and I would love it if you would post some photos or the link! Any of your followers up for a move to Texas??? Now, it takes alot for me to be rendered speechless when it comes to interiors. This one did just that. And when I came to I made my husband come over to my laptop and showed him each and every photo while gasping and pointing. I’m not sure what I’m more shocked about – that this house was supposed to be levelled or that Jen is selling it. (Although she says they just finished one across the street and will send photos when they’re moved in and have it all decked out – can’t wait!). Listing link HERE.