Paris Inspiration

I hope you've had a wonderful Festive Season so far. We had a quiet Christmas with family appreciating all of the little things, as my mother-in-law battles cancer again. At the end of the day, that is what it is all about.
Paris seemed to be the theme of my gifts this year and I have a lot of inspirational reading to do over the holidays with our next adventure in sight. It's been over 10 years since I've been to France and it is calling me again, although the paper variety will have to do just for now. Health, happy times and a little more motivation is the goal for 2013.

Thursday Etsy Finds

With the festive season gearing up I thought I'd have a little Christmas focus with my Thursday Etsy Finds today... and in true Kelly fashion I thought I'd go a little rustic. I adore all things earthy and natural and I couldn't go past these gorgeous Christmas decorations made from hessian and jute (also known as burlap). The wreath of twigs reminded me of my own that I put on our front door every year. I love an understated wreath and I can't wait until December 1st when ours will go up. December 1 is the tradition in our household for putting up the Christmas tree. Do you have any Christmas traditions when it comes to decorating?

Images 1, 2, 3

Glorious Peacock Bed Heads

 The Family Love Tree... what a glorious site. Pages full of colourful homewares from stunning peacock chairs, to beautiful quilts and gorgeous botanical print cushions. My favourites though would have to be these elaborate peacock bed heads in the most vibrant colours that just make you happy.

Images from The Family Love Tree

Old school

Where has November gone?!... I know we still have a few weeks left, but I can't believe that it is the 20th tomorrow, my Dad's birthday. Only a few weeks ago I was gearing up for my birthday. I can't believe how much time and emotion was invested in getting one year older, but now it has passed I realise that it was no big deal, and after all you are only as old as you feel right? 

We have just spent a weekend away on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Stunning! We travelled for a wedding which was just gorgeous, and had a brief stop over in Melbourne which I always love. Back home now and tomorrow is my day off when I'll finally be able to take my new girl for a spin. She's just stunning... don't you agree? Happy days. 

My gorgeous vintage looking bike from The Classic Bicycle Shop. Love Love Love. 

Decorate Workshop ~ Holly Becker

Excited that Holly Becker of Decor8 has released another book, Decorate Workshop. I still find myself sitting down to flick through Decorate which she released in 2011. This book once again photographed by Debi Treloar. Ordering mine online now!

Images from Amazon

Love love love

With Summer fast approaching it is hard to ignore all of the spritely colours in the stores at the moment. And with my birthday fast approaching I made a few quick purchases during the week. Isn't it funny how a colour you never thought in you wildest dreams you'd purchase is actually the one that looked the best?... hmm that's fluro orange for me, and yes I walked away with a brightly coloured tank on Thursday night ready for a birthday night out. It also doubles up as a work top which is a bonus. I hardly go out these days so I need clothes that cross over easily. Anyway, thought I'd share some of my favourite finds. I absolutely love the La Rambla bangle, and who doesn't love a yellow heel! Have a great weekend. I'll be sweating it out on the tennis court. x

Images 1, 2, 3

Weekend

I hope you had a great weekend. What a wonderful start to the week. Do you sometimes get all excited but for no apparent reason? I do, and today was one of those days. All the stars must've been aligning. I hope the rest of the week is like that. 

My first little bunch of roses for the season. Abraham Darby... it would have to be my favourite. The fragrance is stunning!

My bargain buy! Daisy jute rug from Spotlight. My back room/study comes to life. Well... let's just say it's a work in progress. 

Have a great week! x 

Cushions I love

 1. Oasis cushion in ivory

 2. Coral Chevron Cushion

3. Mint Fleur Chinoise

Nice and fresh for spring. I'm loving pinks, blues and greens at the moment with crisp white.

Images 1, 2, 3

Fresh start

With the sunshine finally peaking its head (apart from today which was a flash back to winter with below 10 degrees... madness) I've been feeling like freshening things up a bit here at not the big things. Kind of like going through your wardrobe and putting away the winter woollies and bringing out the summer frocks. Cleaning the windows and filling vases with fresh colourful spring blooms, swapping the flannelettes for the summer nighty... that kind of thing. So today launches a refreshing change with a new look blog. Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from you. I may still be doing a few tweaks here and there but I am loving the fresh vibe, and plan to fill the pages with lots of colour and inspiration. I am doing a similar thing at home too. Trying to freshen things up a bit with what I have. Weekends will be filled with lots of painting walls, furniture and sewing with gorgeous fabrics. Enjoy the rest of your week. Weekend is nearly here. Yay!

Image from Pinterest

Thursday Etsy Finds

1. Colourful bunting cushion

2. Geometric beaded necklace

3. Latticework linen tea towel 

Images 1, 2, 3

J'adore Spring

Glorious spring day in Adelaide today. Wonderful for the soul.

Image from Pinterest

Kitchen love

Love this look. Black kitchen cabinets with white benchtops. We did a renovation once upon a time with the opposite, black benchtops and antique-white cabinets. The white pendant makes it pop over the gorgeous timber dining table. Also, love me a wishbone chair.

Image from Pinterest courtesy of Real Living

J'adore...

Timber dining table with white Eames chairs. So light and fresh. Love it.

Image from Pinterest

Favourite things

I love surrounding myself with things I love and that have meaning... here are a few of them. A ceramic apple, magnolias in flower, Versace Woman and a framed 30th birthday card from my brother and his wife. Hope you are having a great weekend. x

Lovely Day

When life gets a little overwhelming we just need to keep things simple. I think this "Just Saying Lovely Day Art Print" by Printspace could help do the job. So pretty too. Have a wonderful week. It's a tough one for our family with the anniversary of my brother's death this week... I think a dinner by the sea is in order.
On a cheerier note, the sun is shining today and I have a day to spend in the garden with my Dad! Happy times.

Image via Printspace

Spring has sprung...

... on my mantle

Bedroom Inspiration

Loving these at the moment. 1. Rosnay Queen bed head upholstered in a charcoal linen 2. Commode 3. Forsa lamp.

Bathroom Inspiration

To say that I am totally obsessed with bathrooms at the moment is an understatement. Our bathroom reno is so far going to plan and at the same time I am pricing things for our 'one day' extension which seems to be getting closer which is exciting.  I like lots of different bathroom and interior styles, and the hard part is picking which one to invest in. Thank goodness for the inspiration.

I absolutely love white bathrooms with timber mixed in there somewhere, whether it be the vanity or the flooring. This bathroom with parquetry flooring is gorgeous. I am a big fan of parquetry flooring.

Vintage mirrors in a modern bathroom also rock my world. I would love to do this in our bathroom, but then there is the issue of the mirrored cabinet... to have one or not. I am all for storage but I don't think you can do both... well not in the same room anyway. Decisions decisions.

Then there is the featured floor tile thrown in the mix. I do love this look (I adore the pink peonies in this pic), but I also love a modern vanity and bath. Perhaps a modern version of classic might do it.

Have a great night! As you may have gathered I have joined the Pinterest obsession. Feel free to drop by if you want. Kelly x

Images 1, 2, 3

Happy Place

How I love to be at home. It is my happy place (when the housework has been done). Enjoying a few days home this week. Love love love.

Image from Pinterest

Renovation heaven

I have been a little quiet of late for many reasons, one of which is I lost my voice, so quiet quite literally, and I have also been extremely busy at work organising a major event which was held on Sunday. All went well which is what you want, and so I now have more time to be at home with my daughter and to squeeze in blog posts while she is sleeping...YAY! Another thing this past week which has consumed me is that we have had to do an urgent renovation of our bathroom in our investment property which is an unexpected cost, but I have to say that I am having an absolute ball planning it. Hanging out to sink my teeth into another project. We have four weeks to achieve it and I am quietly confident. I have just purchased 50% of the big ticket items online in one hour, can you believe it. The tiles, vanity and almost the toilet and shower screen. So stay tuned for the reveal. Fingers crossed we can stick to the time frame and our budget which we've set at $5000. If I can go under I'll be thrilled. It's like a little challenge. Hope you have had a great start to the week, off to bed for me... until tomorrow.

Image from Pinterest

Adorable Cardboard Oven

How gorgeous is this little cardboard oven by Flat Out Frankie in New Zealand! So sweet. They are available now from State of Green. Adorable gift.

Image from State of Green

Daylesford Cottage

I hope you've had a great weekend. I have been in bed sick since Friday which hasn't been much fun. I did secretly enjoy the time to myself though I have to say, sleeping and flicking through mags in between naps, and being looked after by my husband. Spring is nearly here in the Adelaide Hills and I can't wait for more sunshine. 

I received an email from my mother-in-law this week of this gorgeous cottage in Daylesford that I just had to share. The inside of the building is just stunning, imagine what you could do with a blank space like that... ah the mind wanders. Holiday house maybe?... it is for sale x

Images from realestate.com.au

ixxi magic

If you haven't heard of ixxi yet, let this be your introduction. It is a decorative wall system where you can create a collage of different prints, however big you like, or enlarge your favourite image and bam! make an impact just like little Chester above. My friend Kendall wanted a print to make a collection of three on a blank wall in her kitchen. Inspired by Simply Grove she ordered her very own ixxi. I love it! You can see some other examples on Simply Grove and on the ixxi site.   

Images from KD

Little Girl's Bedroom

I hope you are having a great weekend! In between rushing to sport and work today my husband and I managed to finally take down the cot in our daughter's bedroom and put together an antique bed given to us by my gorgeous friend Lorraine. I saw the bed in her attic a while ago and she said it was "meant for Amelie when she moved from a cot to a bed". I absolutely love the mix of old and new and so I was very excited by Lorraine's generous offer. I bought some beautiful bed linen in the July sales and we had a mattress made to fit the bed, which is an old 3/4. Basically, it is the width of a king single but the length of a single. Perfect size for a growing toddler. 

The transformation has now begun, changing Amelie's room from a baby girl's room to a "big girl's" room. I've got a bit to do yet, including covering her toy box lid with the most divine linen fabric from Thea at Thea & Sami, but I thought I'd share a sneak peak anyway. 

Simple Halloumi Salad

Do you ever freak out when "the vegetarian" comes for lunch or dinner? My family do all the time. They are traditionalists in the kitchen and can't understand how I don't eat red meat. "You'll eat lasagne won't you Kelly?", "No Mum it's got red meat in it". I used to adore my Mum's beef lasagne as a child, but I can't go there now. I think she's a little taken aback by that.
I must admit, I know I confuse them as I have changed my diet a few times over the years from being a complete vegetarian, to eating chicken, to pescatarian, to no dairy, then dairy.
My husband and I have now mastered the art of coming up with quick fresh and tasty vegetarian meals that don't contain pasta. Some amazing ones do, but not this one. A simple fresh and delicious vegetarian halloumi salad. It takes just minutes to make and vegetarians and non vegetarians will love it. Try it next time 'the vegetarian' visits you. They'll be impressed.

GRILLED HALLOUMI SALAD

Ingredients
A couple of handfuls of rocket
A handful of flat leaf parsley
A handful of mint
1/2 cup of frozen (or fresh) peas, steamed
Halloumi
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
About a 1 tspn brown sugar


Place all greens in a bowl. Feel free to tear the mint and chop the parsley a little if preferred. Cut halloumi into fours. I usually cut it in half down the centre to make it a little thinner. Baste with olive oil and grill or fry in pan for a few minutes either side until brown. Add to salad and then dress with olive oil, vinegar and brown sugar.  We had this just the other night, but it'd be great in summer too, cooked on the BBQ. Yuuum!

Before and After... TV Unit

A long while ago I told you about how I was going to paint our television unit. I did it then and there, but it has taken me all this time to put up the before and after shots... mainly because our lounge room is always untidy with toys everywhere and it was never the right time to take them. Well today I have made the time, not that there is actually much of the lounge room in these photos... I zoomed in. I am so happy with the result. The timber before was too yellow and didn't match the other timber pieces in the room. Now it just blends in. We've had friends even compliment us on our 'new' cabinet, and I've then proudly confessed, it's not new, just a paint job. With pretty handles.

BEFORE

AFTER

I bought the door knobs from a gorgeous little French inspired shop in town. I think I am about the only person I know who doesn't have a plasma... still got the trusty Toshiba... I can't justify buying a new television when this one works just fine (man I sound like my mum!). Plus it gets covered in little finger prints at the moment anyway.
Hope you have a great weekend. We are off collecting wood on Sunday. Should be fun. I get to catch up with my Auntie, Uncle and cousins that I haven't seen in a while, so looking forward to it. x

Warm Rocket, Roast Vegetable and Fetta Salad

I felt like something warm and yummy today for lunch, and healthy too. My daughter and I made this Warm Rocket, Roast Vegetable and Fetta Salad and it is absolutely delicious.  I could quite happily eat this for every meal I think. If you enjoy meat you could also add some chicken tenderloins or grilled lamb and serve it as a side dish. I love it on it's own.

Warm Rocket, Roast Vegetable and Fetta Salad

Ingredients
Assortment of root vegetables (or any veggies you love - I also add zucchini and eggplant if I have it)
Rocket
Fetta
Olive Oil
Sticky or aged balsamic

Peel and cut your veggies into medium sized pieces. Place on baking paper in a roasting dish or a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and roast for about 40 minutes in the oven on 180 degrees. Get a large handful of rocket leaves and place in a large salad bowl (I picked mine from the garden). Crumble fetta into the bowl and then add your roast veggies. I had potato, parsnip, carrots, sweet potato and zucchini (courgette) in the house so that's what I went with. Beetroot is also yummy. Drizzle a little balsamic over the top and give it a gentle mix then serve. OMG!

Sweet Daphne

I am loving waking up to the smell of sweet daphnes at the moment. I have a gorgeous little posy sitting next to my bed from a dear friend. Their fragrance reminds me of eating fruit loops as a child. Sweet and floral. Little memories and a great start to the day.