Coastal Clients!

I am in the middle of a fabulous design job at the coast with some fabulous clients.  They are so wonderful to work with and have put up with a great deal of waiting to get product transported up here .... but it is starting to come together!  This is what we are calling the "Something's Gotta Give" room.  The rug is from Dash and Albert and it is absolutely stunning and massive.  I wanted to do a real Hamptons feel in here as the position of absolute beachfront demanded that style.  We are yet to put up artwork and I am still sourcing a floor tripod lamp for the corner but we are so happy with the results so far.  I sourced a lot of the product from the lovely Heidi at French and English in Brisbane and also the Dash and Albert rug from the lovely Robyn of Magnolia in Brisbane.  I had been searching everywhere for my Something's Gotta Give rug and Robyn had sourced them from America.  I had the blue paisley cushions custom made to give a real Ralph Lauren feel.

As you can see the stripe rug really anchors the room and pulls it together.  The floors are gorgeous limed wood and give a light airy feel and is balanced by the limed wood ceiling. 

The quirky twist to the interior I achieved by the use of these two gorgeous tufted French style tub chairs.  The aim was a slight French Salon feel with a modern twist to work in with the Hamptons style.   They have lovely chocolate coloured turned legs on castors which reflect back to the kitchen cabinetry which is dark chocolate with white stone benchtops.   

Then just continuing with the blue theme I found these two gorgeous Ralph Lauren chairs from Robertson's on the Gold Coast.  They are absolutely beautiful and I am aiming to use them as they are such statement pieces.

The navy polished linen with the tufting and silver studding is incredible...... now I just have to find a home for it!

best wishes and have a wonderful week-end!

J.K. Capri ~ Italy

I just stumbled across this gorgeous, beyond stunning hotel in Italy on the Isle of Capri .......

              The blue/white palette is so elegant, cool    
                         and sophisticated ......

The attention to detail whilst still maintaining a classic interior but with a contemporary twist ......

Long flowing bed and French door drapes give clean lines and the all white palette is given depth with the architectural panelling and fireplace .... and of course the zebra pattern on the ottomans ..... just beautiful ..

Yes could definitely come and sit on one of these pool chairs .... just such a stunning property and with the Gulf of Naples as its backdrop it is idyllic ..... enjoy

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!  I know I am a little late but there has been quite a lot going on here.  To you, all my beautiful friends, I hope for you a truly beautiful New Year!

I hope all your dreams come true!  Let us sip some bubbles, taste some macarons and cherish how lucky we are!

I have posted some holiday pictures on my new blog http://wwwcoastal.blogspot.com/  as I thought they were perfect for over at the coast .......

Some Christmas Photos!

I just wanted to share with you some

Christmas photos of my family.  Thank-you so much for all of your heartfelt wishes on the floods in Queensland.  It is amazing to me that you, who are so far away, care so much.

I felt I wanted to share these with you ....

                                 Our Christmas Tree ........

Our Nativity Set nestled amongst the presents ..... 

I started with blue and silver and then Georgiana said, "Mummy, we have to have every colour!" .....

Christmas Day ... Georgiana very excited with her Alice in Wonderland Chess Set ......

 Dominic and I enjoying a beautiful Christmas evening .....

Dominic with his cousin, Tom .......Christmas night ..........

Sustenance for the reindeer and of course Santa............

My beautiful boys on Christmas morn ....... there is no greater love .....

                          The little Princess is very excited ..........

My Christmas Turkey .... I think my beautiful American friends would be happy ... 5.2 kgs!!!!!!  I cooked 30 roast potatoes (we are of Irish descent), honey carrots, green beans and I stuffed the turkey with a very old family recipe!  I did pan gravy from the roast pork and I felt happy that traditions had been carried on..........

In the evening we shared plum pudding with my family including my Mum and Dad .... this plum pudding recipe is a very old one from my great grandparents ..... it is a boiled cloth plum pudding which takes four hours to cook ..... served with cream and ice-cream .....

My gorgeous Mum very happy with the plum pudding .....

                                     Happy Christmas!!!!!

Good wishes to you all ..... these are some of our fairy lights ....

"A Flood of Biblical Proportions"

It has been a very sad, difficult time for so many in the city we live in.  The floods that are currently inundating our city are overwhelming and may well make history.  We are lucky enough to be on high ground so we are not directly affected but there have been so many people who have lost their homes and the situation is tragic. 

These floods have resulted from a very unusual season whereby we have had torrential, monsoonal rain for weeks on end and now the rivers that run higher than the Fitzroy are all flooded as well and are converging on the mighty Fitzroy. 

No one really knows where the river will peak but forecasts are that it may go over the 10m mark which will be higher than the 1991, 1954 and 1918 floods.  The airport has been closed and now all roads into the city have been cut off.  It is isolated.  We have been away and cannot return.

Police Officers wading through the water to help residents and above, flood waters over the runway at the airport.  It is very overwhelming and terribly sad for so many people.....

images:  ctv.ca
               abc.net.au

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"

I can't believe we are so close to Christmas.  I am going to do a post tomorrow for a Christmas Eve  post but I just wanted to say hello to everyone and I have been so busy and I am so sorry but I wish everyone a truly beautiful Christmas. 

This picture is from our front verandah when a storm was imminent.  We are currently experiencing extreme weather conditions and have had huge amounts of rain with terrible flooding.  It is expected that we will have a very wet, blustery Christmas Day which is very unusual for Queensland unless a traditional wet season is forecast.  Normally at this time of year we have 36 degree celius days so we can go swimming at night!  I am so sorry I have not posted for so long but I have been so busy.  I have more beautiful pictures to show you and I will but I just wanted to say ..... It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!   Soon the bells will chime....

Gorgeous Christmas tree in Queens Plaza shopping centre in Brisbane ... love the silver and blue!

Louis 15th has Arrived!

These little cupcakes we had to celebrate the arrival of my beautiful Louis 15th style sofa circa 1910 from Karina in New Orleans.  This is quite remarkable .... New Orleans to Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia!

This beautiful lady and her ladies in waiting arrived in timber framed boxes and as the photos show .... we peeled back the layers to reveal the beauty within that had travelled so far to come home to me.  Karina and I have been talking at length about this and I now am the "Keeper of History" of these beautiful pieces and I so cherish that honour.  I do not undertake this lightly .... for me antiques and history are the footprint of life and we need to cherish and nurture that what has come before us.  Karina always knows this and she has entrusted to me these beautiful pieces.  I remember saying to Karina "It is a long journey down under but I believe our beautiful lady will be happy with me because I will look after her and cherish her!"

Please enjoy these pictures and just think for one moment .... this Louis sofa is 100 years old .... who has sat on her before, what secrets has she heard and what style and grace she carries forth!

 Unwrapping the gauze .....  and a special present which lies within .........

Karina sent to me wrapped in the folds of the gorgeous salon chairs a beautiful gift which I will cherish forever...... I know now that we will be eating our Christmas Plum Pudding with these gorgeous silver spoons ..... I will definitely feel like Marie Antoinette!  Thank-you Karina for such a beautiful gift!

Coming out of the Box .....

My beautiful Louis sofa at home finally.....