{currey & company}

Simply adore the way the Grotto Shell Chandelier by Currey & Company looks hanging above a retro-modern desk.

{delia shades}

Adore the old world romance of Delia Shades . . .

{beautiful branches}

Always loved the look of large flowering branches but have never been able to find any as beautiful as these!

(images: Elle Decor)

gilt-y girl

You don't see a lot of gold in regular homes and the ones that are gilt-y belong to over-the-top movie stars or eccentrics, but done right, few things are more glamorous than gold, and the room above is bright and cheery and girly and glamorous, all at once. Think Gwen Steffani in The Sweet Escape video meets the best interior designer you know, meets Carrie Bradshaw.



































Room in one of Dolce & Gabbana's summer homes (this one might fall into the over-the-top category, depending on your taste).


























Gwen Steffani's new perfume.














Luxurious claw-foot by Sicis.

Ritzy lunches by Donna Hay.

(images: living etc., living etc., holt renfrew, Sicis, Donna Hay)

Design History #1: Murano Glass

Murano is usually described as an island in the Venetian Lagoon, although like Venice itself, it is actually an archipelago of islands linked by bridges. It lies about a mile north of Venice and is famous for its glass making, particularly lampworking.

Murano was settled by the Romans, then from the sixth century by people from Altino and Oderzo.

At first, the island prospered as a fishing port and through the production of salt. It was also a centre for trade, through the port it controlled on Sant'Erasmo.

In 1291, all the glassmakers in Venice were forced to move to Murano due to the risk of fires. In the following century, exports began, and the island became famous, initially for glass beads and mirrors.

Aventurine glass was invented on the island, and for a while Murano was the main producer of glass in Europe. The island later became known for chandeliers. Although decline set in during the eighteenth century, glassmaking is still the island's main industry.

(image: Vogue Living; text: wikipedia)

{moody grey}

Have posted about all white interiors and bright bursts of colour, but what if you prefer neither and wanted the calm, moody tones of gray? Sophisticated and sexy when infused with hints of brown, gray can be cold and stark if they are too blue. This Paris apartment is just perfect and reminds me of Joachim Bandeau's watercolours {below}, which are varying shades of graphite to black, and look simultaneously soft and bold.

(images: Vogue Living Australia, Nicholas Metivier Gallery)

fresh flowers

Last summer I stopped by our local market every Wednesday to pick up fresh flowers, and this year has been so busy, I've only managed to stop by twice, and came home not with flowers, but strawberries! There's something so cheerful and refined about having pretty arrangements all around the house, not to mention the bursts of colour they bring.

(images: domino, domino, flickr)