Home Love

It was my birthday this week and my parents kindly gave me some money to buy something I'd like. I chose a book called Home Love by Megan Morton and I can't wait to curl up on the couch to read it!



This week I've also been looking at kitchen designs. We're not intending to renovate the kitchen yet but I want to have the basic layout in mind so that we don't waste any money installing anything nearby that will have to move.

I haven't found exactly what I want yet but I do know that I like kitchens that open up to the outdoors and I love island benches (don't we all)!

Here are a few that are inspiring me. I think the last layout would suit our space the best.

Front door - yellow to black

This week, I'm hoping to hear back about a quote to render the house. It's not something we'll do straight away, but I'm interested to know how much it will cost.

The exterior bricks are quite nice, but since I'm trying to modernise the house, I think it would look fantastic rendered and painted a medium-dark grey. If we get it done, I'd like to strip back the pale yellow paint and stain the trim.

Even though it's probably a project for a long way down the track, I am planning to re-paint the front door. At the moment it's painted pale yellow on one side and stained a light timber on the other. There are a lot of scratches on it and the doorhandle is rusty and a bit loose.

My colour of choice is gloss black and I plan to buy a new handle and deadlock in stainless steel. I can't wait to get started - here is my inspiration.

I think I feel some renovations coming on!

Yes, indeedy! The carpenter left an hour ago with my list, plan and measurements - I'm on my way to renovation heaven (or hell - depending on how you look at it).

My idea is to remove two wardrobes from the main and second bedrooms, knock some holes in walls and put up 3 new ones, resulting in 2 larger bedrooms, a walk-in-robe to the main bedroom, and space for a dishwasher in the kitchen.

My mind is a bit of a whirlwind with what it might mean - new flooring (just about everywhere), organised clothes and shoe space (colour-coordinated of course), new paint throughout the living areas, and a much more sensible flow of living spaces - to name a few.

So I'm going to take myself off to bed with my decorating magazines and ideas.

Goodnight all!
Jane xo

Make a wish...

Ok, I have five minutes till I need to head to bed but I really wanted to share my exciting find with you today. You see, for several months, I've been trying to find a dandelion canvas or print but nothing I have seen has been quite what I'm after.

However...I was flipping through a magazine earlier and saw this gorgeous dandelion light. I nervously checked the price and discovered ikea call it the Maskros pendant lamp and (hoorah!) it has a somewhat reasonable $199 price tag. Forget the print, I'm getting a new pendant light!

Not sure where it will go yet...


I love the pattern it casts on the wall.

Closet inspiration...anyone?

I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I've scoured the web for amazing walk-in-robes and I haven't come up with much at all. I thought this would be one of the easiest rooms to find inspiration for - maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, I don't know.

We don't have a walk-in-robe...yet. But when my renovations are complete, we will have a 2.8 x 2.0 metre closet. There is a large window on the right so it is nice and light.

What I'm after is something light and beautifully organised, maybe a little on the feminine side (I'm thinking it's the one room my husband will allow me to let my girly side shine through!), possibly a bit of wallpaper(?) and clever shoe storage. The only thing I am absolutely certain about is that I want a built in laundry hamper. I haven't seen it anywhere but I had this idea to cut two large circles into a wood panel/built in cabinet and label one lights and the other darks. I'd have two hampers behind the cabinet that could be removed to empty.

Do you know of any good websites, blogs, or have you seen a picture that seems to vaguely describe what I'm talking about? Or if you can think of any clever storage ideas, I'm keen to hear those as well!

Jane xo

Alice in Wonderland

I saw Alice in Wonderland 3D with my husband yesterday. The film was good but the thing that inspired me most was the Queen of Hearts' palace gardens!

I have been trying to think of theme or some kind of inspiration for my back yard and I think this may be it. I'm picturing neat hedges, a secret path and gate, and a concrete and grass checkerboard somewhere.

It certainly doesn't fit in with my plans for a modern garden studio that I posted last week but I'm willing to compromise!

Here are some ideas to get the design wheels turning...

Integrated kitchen/dining

I have been racking my brain over how to reconfigure the kitchen and I haven't come up with a single good solution so far. The house doesn't have a lot of light so I want to remove the kitchen wall that backs onto the front living room and make it a little more open plan. The problem with that is that you would then be able to see the kitchen sink from the front door!

I found a picture today that possibly has some potential. I like how it integrates casual dining space with the kitchen and dresses it up a bit. It doesn't exactly solve my problem but it's got something.