shells, sand & a dinner service

This is going to be me next week. I am heading to the Coast for the Easter school holidays and have plans to do nothing except walk along the beach and collect shells however if a container of this beautiful Hermes dinner service was to wash up on the beach I would be happy to collect it as well...

P.S Just letting you know Trinny & Susannah were a HOOT!!!!I have photos but would be in BIG trouble if I were to post them...to 1 of my girlfriends horror she was chosen by Trinny to go up on stage (not good considering she was wearing her 'normal look' & the makeover was a bit tragic !) I found both Trinny & Susannah to be very Kind, Genuine & Sincere( & FUNNY)...I would love to invite them over for a coffee next time their in town...
oxo Cate

Trinny & Susannah

Its Friday... I love Fridays... I never cook dinner on Fridays.... its the day before Saturday and I love Saturdays.
This Saturday I am going to see Trinny and Susannah with some girlfriends and I am very excited, the dilemma is do you wear your 'unglam' clothes and hope you are picked for a makeover or do you wear your 'normal look' and hope you don't!! Have a great weekend and enjoy whatever you get up too!
oxo Cate

this is love...

As I sit here doing my evening blog my husband is serenading me with his guitar practice. I cannot help but smile as he has lots of enthusiasm and one day will be a fantastic guitarist...just not tonight...don't you just love them !!

oxo Cate

love the blue

I have had this beautiful picture pinned to my inspiration board for so long...one day soon I will be sitting in these chairs enjoying my green tea and remembering the journey I had to get here.
oxo Cate

butlers pantry ideas

the plan (sorry about the mess)

the idea

more ideas


ideas for the doors...circles

or maybe this...squares

I have been playing around with some ideas for a butlers pantry for a very important project, which hopefully begins soon - my own home. I adore wallpaper and would love to use it in my butlers pantry, my plan so far is to create a feature wall and mirror the back walls of the cabinets to catch the reflection of the wallpaper. This room isn't huge so I think it would work and then I would flow these colours into the kitchen, powder room etc...( I am a bit of a duck-egg blue girl so I will have to think about the green! ) Like everything you have to start with a plan. I found the Elizabeth Dinkel paper and some other great ideas on VT INTERIORS LIBRARY.

oxo Cate

reno # 2 Laundry

... this is what I had to work with...

... I love the thought of open cupboards and these colours

... underbench washing machine & dryer for more bench space

... small working/hobby area for mum

...and this is were I would like to end up. The Laundry in the Reno is way to small to fit all my ideas into, so I have double the size(plus a bit) adding a lot more cupboards and storage. I then want each member of the family to have a locker for the clean washing, ironing, school bags etc and perhaps even a place for the dog ( yes... I have seen this done before !)

Since Mums tend to spend a lot for time in the Laundry, I think it should look as beautiful as possible.
oxo Cate

Cheers !

After a very busy and successful week I have decide a bit of Friday morning Retail Therapy is in

order and then I will be continuing my great mood with a glass of Champagne to celebrate the weekend ...cheers

oxo Cate

work...work...work

I feel like I have spent my week either chained to my desk or trudging around a dirty construction site. I do however think we have finally turned the corner of pulling things off this House to putting things back on, which is a really great feeling, going forward is so much better. My plan was to have the House on the market at the end of May however my Wonderful Project Manager laughed today when I mentioned this...
oxo Cate

Landscape Plans

' united liner 2'

'united liner'

'blue crossing football'

'American liner'

While working on the ( have to be finished today !) Landscape plan for the current renovation I am doing... I found these beautiful cushions!!! ...and because I am planning to style some of the bedrooms around this look I feel completely justified on spending time surfing the net and not on the very much more important Landscape plans...

oxo Cate

today I LOVE

'Noosa'

'Geelong'

I have been admiring the art work by Marika Jarv and would one day love a custom made picture for my home...
oxo Cate

Cricket & Grass

I will be spending my Saturday watching my sons play Cricket...

Something to read while a very intensely watch every moment of my sons cricket game!!!

(and I cannot wait to see the Movie) Enjoy your weekend...

oxo Cate

The Great Bed Search

I have been SEARCHING for this bed for a while...Well I finally found it at Laura Ashley for... wait for it $4000.00 and that is the special price, needless to say I will be looking for something else similar and cheaper!
oxo Cate

Kitchen Colour?

...white

...duck egg blue

...darker duck egg blue

...ivory
Deciding on the colour scheme for the new Kitchen!...I love them all

oxo Cate

The Kitchen Renovation

I am very busy at the moment renovating a house. This is the before photo of the kitchen

...and this Kitchen is from the last house I renovated, I am hoping to create the same open feel

I like to design kitchens around an island bench because in Australia everyone always ends up socialising in the kitchen.
oxo Cate

feathers, a mask & a glue gun

We have been invited to a Masquerade Cocktail Party this weekend, so I am off to buy some feathers and a glue gun! Have the best weekend...

oxo Cate

The Country House

...what a clever way to have a summer & winter fireplace

...i adore these chairs

& the Light

& the Lanterns

My Obsession for a Country Property has come down to this, do I do this look for the Country House or save it for the Beach House?...Oh the dilemma !!!...either way you cannot go pass the beautiful mix of colour and texture.

New Taps or this Gorgeous Dress

Kate Perry at the Grammies

Yes...I know I should be working(the little voice inside my head is shouting at me!!) but just look at this dress, it has to be the most beautiful thing I have seen for a long time...O.K how I can go back to taps...

oxo Cate

Eva's Home

I had some great news from a girlfriend last week, letting me know her home is being featured in this months March- House & Garden. Eva is a chic French/Canadian and I have always thought she had a natural flair, I just love her style. Not only is her home beautiful but Eva always dresses with that French Chic and I know she is not even trying. I can remember when they brought this house and how excited Eva was to decorate it but she wanted to wait and live in it first...to see how her young family would use the many rooms. Congratulations Eva on a Beautiful Home !!

oxo Cate