That's All Folks

Well, that's all from me this week. I am taking an early mark and heading away for a few days. I'd just like to thank the Skirted Girls again for having me over at their table this week. I really did have such a wonderful time. Thank you also for all of the beautiful comments you have left me this week too. You are all very, very kind. Looking forward to being back here next Tuesday. Have a great weekend!!

Image via Lolitas blog

Blue & White Lamp Heaven

I am so excited to say that we finally have some beautiful blue and white lamps available at Black & Spiro. As you can see above the girls have just unpacked them this morning and they are about to be put into the shop. We have some white crackle lamps and some really great orange lamps available too. Oh, and we also have some more new blue and white ginger jars which just came in this morning as well...just in case anyone is interested!!

Talking Around The Skirted Round Table

A huge thank you to Linda, Megan & Joni for inviting me to their Skirted Round Table for a chat. I had a fantastic time talking with you all yesterday. If anyone is interested in hearing our discussion click HERE to be directed over to The Skirted Round Table.

Vintage Chairs

Sorry about the terrible photos however, I just had to snap a few shots of these pretty chairs I recently had recovered for one of my clients. They were her mother's chairs which we have worked into her lounge room scheme. We covered them in a black and white ticking and had box pleated skirts put around the base of them. I wanted to keep the timber frame in it's original condition so as to show the age of the chairs.

Friday Flowers

Here are some beautiful tulips which I just arranged in a vintage jug for the shop. I love this little corner in the shop at the moment and these fresh tulips fit right in. I hope you have a great weekend. See you next time!

xx

Anna

Cupboard Makeover

I have an old cupboard at home just like this one however, at the moment mine certainly isn't looking as chic as this one.

At the shop I have lots of bits of left over wallpaper from displays we have done. I'm thinking I might use some of these bits to paper the back of my cupboard door.

My little cupboard is in a hallway near our kitchen and currently it is bursting at the seams with sheets and towels. I think I should move the sheets and towels into my larger laundry cupboard and fill this little one with some of my special pieces of china.

This pretty image has inspired me.

Image - Vogue Living

From the Files

This image {above} is one I've kept on file since mid last year. It's from an article Inside Out magazine did {May/June 2008 issue} on former Vogue Entertaining & Travel & Vogue Living Editor, Sharyn Storrier Lyneham's home.

After spotting this image in my files earlier this week I remembered that Vogue Living had done a story on Sharyn's home too {January/February 2008 issue}. I found a copy of the story and thought I would post the image Vogue Living published of this very same room.

I just adore the look of this sunroom - it's so fresh and pretty, inviting and mismatched and how divine are the fresh Hydrangeas?! Apparently those to die for cushions on the cane chairs are vintage.

These days Sharyn is in partnership with Australian Fashion Queen Belinda Seper in their unique concept store, Edit.

Image 1 - Inside Out Magazine, Image 2 - Vogue Living via Edit

Looking Forward To This...

Michelle Adams is at it again with her business partner, photographer Patrick Cline. Here's what they are about to launch into;

{Excerpt taken from M.A. Belle}

In a time when shelter publications are turning their last pages...

OUR MISSION is to reopen the doors of accessible design. By embracing an online platform we provide inspiration at the click of a finger, directly connecting our readers to their favorite products and resources. Our freedom from page limits means that we can share more content in each issue, delivering an intimate look into the way people really live. At Lonny, we value independent thinking and believe not in following trends but rather in making choices that lead to happiness. We believe that good design and affordable design can coexist and that true inspiration can be found in the teeniest of homes or in the grandest of spaces.

Coming Fall 2009 ;)

I will definitely be checking back for updates on their new venture!

A Fresh New Life

In my work I try as much as possible to encourage my clients to reuse, repurpose, and reinvent their old pieces or pieces which may have been passed down to them from family members. I often get little old stools or chairs or lamps dropped into me from clients wanting me to choose a fabric which would work with the rest of their things. They usually just leave it up to me and then I deliver the piece back to them with a fresh new look.

I was recently asked by one of my lovely clients to make some cushions out of some old embroideries she had. I thought I would post them here today as I have become a little obsessed with them myself. I wish I could take them home and add them to my cushion collection. I think they look great mixed with the black and white geometric cushion. They even have the old pencil markings on the fabric which we kept.

Images - Anna Spiro

Little Bits of Loveliness

Just because I think they are pretty.

Image 1 - Domino Magazine, Image 2 - Tiny Happy

The Hart

The Hart Lodge in Tauranga Bay of Plenty New Zealand looks like it would be a beautiful place to visit and if you were feeling a little extravagant you could fly in on your own helicopter and land at the property's helipad. If only I could flit off over there for a few days. That would be nice!!

Interviewed by Holly Becker

I feel like this week is becoming thank you week here at ABT. Today I would like to thank Holly Becker for the very kind post and interview she has done on me over at Decor 8. I very much admire the way Holly always supports up-and-coming young designers, artists, crafters and shop owners on her blog. Thank you again Holly!

Stepping Outside

I've been collecting a few pictures of some outside areas I like. I thought I would share a few of them here with you. Creating a space outside which feels like it could well be inside is something I love especially living here in sunny Brisbane where we practically live outside....in Summer that is!!

Image 1 - via the libertines, Images 2, 3, 4 - via sweethome style

Mentioned by Phoebe Howard

I have admired US designer, Phoebe Howard's work here at ABT before. Her style is gracious, calm, serene yet interesting and diverse. She expertly mixes furniture styles and objects to create a unique and timeless look for her clients. I adore her tablescapes and her attention to detail is very impressive. To be listed as a site Phoebe Howard likes to visit in her recent interview with Terri Sapienza in the Washington Post is a true honor and to be listed among the company of such other distinguished bloggers is very exciting indeed. Thank you Phoebe Howard. I will continue to be inspired by your beautiful work and your amazing attention to detail.

All images - Phoeobe Howard

{Nanette's} Friday Flowers

And just in case I didn't share enough of Nanette's beautiful work yesterday, I thought I would post these last two pretty flower arrangements she did. After seeing what she does with Banksia and gum nuts she has inspired me to find some Australian native flowers of my own this weekend!! Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!

xx

Anna

It was meant to be...

Well, it goes like this....

Yesterday I posted an image in my 'Muted Coastal Palette' post which unbeknown to me at the time belongs to Nanette over at Rummage blog. I found the image on a tumblr site and didn't have the correct source on the image back to Nanette. Nanette actually left me a lovely note in my comments section of that post letting me know that it was her hallway. I have since fixed this up and all is fine however, I think in this mishap I have found a blog I am very much going to enjoy following.

After obsessively going back through Nanette's archives last night I must say I am very impressed. Her photos of her home, flowers, fruit, children, vignettes are all so very inspiring and in a way I feel they very much represent true Australian style. I was only thinking about Australian style yesterday and then to fall upon Nanette's blog last night was almost serendipitous.

Her images make me feel at home. I feel like I have seen them before. I look at her flowers and I think they look just like the bush natives my mother used to arrange at our family holiday house. I even look at that last image and it reminds me of my grandmother's house. Is this the same for any of my Australian readers? Do these images of Nanette's evoke a sense of Australian style?

I found it very hard to select only a few of Nanette's beautiful images to share here in this post so I have gone a bit wild and posted my favourites from her blog and her flickr.

I asked Nanette to share a little bit about herself and this is what she had to say....

"I am a crafter and keen amateur stylist and photographer living in our nation's capital with an odd frenchman, two Highly Excitable young daughters and an ADD whippet called Kipper. We like to live a slow life with an emphasis on creativity. I'm currently designing a small range of homewares and children's clothes between reading my youngest 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus' twenty times a day and wrestling Kipper for my favourite boots."

I hope you enjoy Nanette's photos as much as I did.

Muted Coastal Palette

I'm enjoying the muted coastal colours in these images. They remind me of being at the beach in Winter.

Image 1 - Delphine Chanet Photographer, Image 2 - Inside Out Magazine, Image 3 - Tim Clarke, Image 4 - Rummage via Sweet Home Style, Image 5 - Inside Out Magazine, Image 6 - Tim Clarke, Image 7 - Flickr

Easy Elegance

I just purchased a copy of Atlanta Bartlett's book, Easy Elegance. It is full of ideas on mixing the old with the new and celebrates something I am passionate about - individuality!! The top image I have posted is my favourite picture in the book. I love the layering of flowers on flowers...so beautiful!

Pretty House

Such a pretty house!

Image - Keith Scott Morton Photographer

Friday Flowers

I wish I had a garden full of fresh flowers so that I could race outside and pick some to arrange in a little vase but I don't. It's Winter, it's cold and I just didn't make it to the flower shop this afternoon. Maybe I could go to the flower shop in the morning or maybe I might be able to get some more fresh Wattle from the tree flowering down in the park. Yes, I think that's a plan for the morning after taking Harry to breakfast...

Have a fantastic weekend. See you next week...

xx

Anna

Image - Abby Sharp

A Perfect Spot

A beautiful bookcase vignette filled with lots of special things, a gorgeous blue and white slip covered sofa and fresh flowers - perfection!!

Images - Melanie Acevedo Photographer