The Diversion Project

Never Fails

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Oh what a gorgeous slice of cool this Sydney pad is. The perfect amount of original mixed with a clean skin of fresh white paint. Never fails.

And as for that swan boat print, I truly truly want one.

Images from citizens of the world

Hand It Over

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 21:30:00 +0000

This place is making me impatient for summer. We actually had a bit of warmth here on the weekend, which made me ridiculously happy.

And then to stumble across this place with its white washed walls and stone terraces around the pool, it all seems so perfect.

I am sorry for you kids up north who are trying to cling on to your last days of summer, but, it's time to hand it over!

Images from elle

Balanced It

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Have always had a soft spot for holiday houses still slightly stuck in the 70's. And this is a gorgeous one.

They've selected just the right details to keep and have balanced it really nicely with a new skin of white and some cool new pieces.

Images from vogue

Our Bathroom - The Before's

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 09:47:00 +0000

I had a reader write to me last week with hearty congratulations on our new bathroom, but they also asked "where are the before's??"

Good point.

There actually aren't too many before's, but I think the images here give you enough of an idea - roman shower/bath thing, brown bubbly glass shower screen {mostly rusted}, massive vanity cupboard that spanned the whole wall where we now have the bath, old green/brown tiles, all topped off with an 80's rag paint finish festooned with stencils. Just brilliant.

Apart from the old shower making the linen cupboard behind it mouldy, there was enough eyesores in this room to make a renovation high on the priority list. When my 15 yr old son was looking for a project for school this seemed like a perfect choice. He's always been pretty keen on projects around the house, and is a very handy sort of chap. This project was meant to span a year {but there was no way I was sharing my ensuite with two boys for that long} and take the student through the creation of something of their own design from inception to finished product. That's how our new bathroom was born.

At first he wasn't 100% sure about my design ideas, but as he searched up a design palette, more and more he came to like the concept. It was a good thing he did, because I was his client after all. So what I wanted was what I was getting!

He worked ridiculously hard, and was so good. We did get in trades people to do the very tricky bits, but whatever he could take on himself, he did. The biggest job was demolishing the old bathroom. That was ridiculously hard as every surface had to be taken back to the base. The concrete glass render finish needed to start on bare brick. It was a hard slog, but now we all love the concrete finish so much, it was worth it.

So there you have it, some of the before's, a fair few of the in the middle's and a couple of the after's {for perspective!}. It's true bathrooms are one of the hardest rooms, right up there with kitchens, but the input equals the satisfaction of the finished room.

Images by the diversion project

Look Is Done

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Who knew that wallpaper ripped off the wall could look so good? If I was this home owner I would've stopped there too. What a rotten job it is pasting all that gloop on and scrapping the wallpaper off like peeling skin.

I love the parchment brown and rough look. Add in crumply linen bedding, and the look is done.

Now I am eyeing off some particularly fine vinyl paper right in front of me! Could be worth a shot.

Images from stadshem

Mood Soft

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Loving the soft palette of this home. It really sits well with the quiet nature of the furnishings.

The spot lighting is perfect for keeping the mood soft. Nothing is too loud, too harsh or too imposing. Just a lovely feel.

Images from coffeeklatch

Envy

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Envy isn't the nicest of words, but it is the only one that can possibly explain my reaction to seeing this amazing home in New Zealand.

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to live by the ocean. And even though I live a 10 minute walk away from it now, it's nothing like this. For one, there's the city traffic which kind of kills the walk. But this place is entirely perched in bushland, and with the most incredible views.

I'm also loving the kitchen. Apart from being able to sit at that table, drink coffee, be warm by the fire and watch the waves rolling in - I really love how it's a collection of free standing units. When the rotten kitchen here at the Splendour gets me down I often have flights of fancies..."I'll just rip it all out and buy a laundry sink, hook it up and make do. Cant be worse than it is now!"

So this great kitchen, looking so cool and inviting, is almost daring me to do it.

Images from freunde von freunden

Soak It All In

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 21:30:00 +0000

I was a little bit surprised that this gorgeous natural, light filled home was not Australian. It just kind of has that feel. But it is a French country home. Does that surprise you too?

Anyway, despite its nationality, there is a lot of great things here. The view is the main consideration obviously, with the large expanses of glass. And the deck that wraps around the building, and literally around the trees, allows even more chance to soak it all in.

Images from maison & deco

Anytime Soon

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:30:00 +0000

OK, so now the bathroom is finished {and I no longer have a valid excuse!!} I'm going to try very hard to get back to regular posting around here. Sorry for the delayed return to normal, but I really needed the break I think.

It's not like I haven't still been wandering around the net searching out diversions - I just haven't been sharing my finds. But business will get now back to normal.

Starting with this gorgeous family home. Quite simply loving the cream, and as a white convert, I didn't think that would be a response anytime soon.

Apart from that, the timber and industrial edge that oozes through this place is a look I can't get enough of.

Images from the socialite family

Happy With That

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 03:38:00 +0000

It's funny isn't it how after a long hard slog to get something done, the last thing you really feel like doing is actually finish it properly.

The kids have been living with a clothes airer for towel rails just because we couldn't bring ourselves to install the real ones. And this gorgeous Ghost mirror has been in its box waiting for some admiration. But yesterday, after much cursing and moaning (that comes from using manufacturer supplied fixings!) we finally have a finished bathroom.

{{Well, except for that little touch up to the cornice, but, you know}}

I love how the Ghost mirror doesn't hide too much concrete. Apart from the clear frame, it bounces back all the lovely concrete from the back wall. Very happy with that.

As for the towel rails, it is Plan B, but I think it has turned out probably better that Plan A. We had designed something to be made out of copper, but thanks to a less than enthusiastic plumber we had to rethink it. Originally we were decided to just construct it ourselves, but then looking at the massive chrome shower and fixings right next door, we decided that it would be better to stick with chrome. And so Plan B was born. Tonnes of room for towels, so the boys have no excuse for leaving them on the floor!

Hope everyone is having a brilliant weekend. Me? I'm going to have yet another bubble bath.

At Long Last

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 08:52:00 +0000

So, at long last, the bathroom is done! My son took on this project for a school project, and although we got in trades to do the serious stuff, he worked really hard. Ripping out the old bathroom was a massive task, along with painting, grouting and general labouring; he did a fantastic job.

Not to mention his mum being a fairly fussy client with a strict design brief! And probably because of my design brief, we're still yet to resolve the mirror and towel rails, but they will come. Along with the shower door - that cant be hung until tomorrow to allow the fixed panel time to cure and strengthen.

But I can report the gorgeous bath tub has been used, more than once. And, that I cannot stop stroking the concrete walls. Love, love, love them.

In the money pit that The Splendour is, it's so nice to walk past a room that is d.o.n.e. Most other rooms are still in that "signs of promise" phase.

Well, onto the next. Slowly but surely. And you can put money on there being more concrete!

All images belong to The Diversion Project

A Bit of Bathroom

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 10:18:00 +0000

I have wondered at times if this bathroom will ever get done, but thankfully we're on the home straight. We're at home all next week and have a team of tradies lined up to finish all the tricky bits and pieces that are left. So hopefully next weekend I'll be sipping some bubbles in a tub full of bubbles!

There's not a great deal to show you yet, but I can tell you there's a bit of the above, and a whole lot of below. Yes, be still my beating heart, at long last my love of concrete is shining through at The Splendour!

A few other things you can expect is a bit of this....

and also a nice slice of this....

And along with a finished bathroom, I'm looking forward to getting back to usual here at The Diversion Project.

Have a great week everyone!

To Call My Own

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 08:03:00 +0000

Apologies for my absence of late, but bathroom reno, son's exams and work are taking their toll. But thankfully in a week I can cross exams off my list and a couple of weeks later the bathroom. Then my excuse will be "sorry, too busy drinking wine in my new bath to blog".

The reno is going quite well, just taking its time due to us doing as much as we can ourselves, and trying to get quotes from tradies who say "you want to do what???" and then having to go in search of someone who will get on board.

But, in the mean time, just thought I'd quickly share this little slice of cool. Apart from the menacing swan on that child's wall, I love, love, love it. Especially that desk. I'd be very happy to find some feminine MCM style like that to call my own.

Images from milk

Texture And Tactile

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:06:00 +0000

We're in the land of hammer drills and dust that falls like powder snow for the third weekend running. But, fingers crossed, this will be the last. Still nothing new in the bathroom to show you guys. So instead, here's a place I spotted that I'm mentally transporting myself to, away from the dirt and dust.

Maybe its because its the cleanest looking home I've ever seen. Or maybe its because of the crisp white that shows off all the lovely texture and tactile treasures. Perhaps a bit of both. But I love it.

Images from alvhem

Favourite Elements

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 01:51:00 +0000

This lovely place caught my eye this morning while trying to eek out as much time as I could with my coffee. It really has so many of my favourite elements - monochrome, mcm cool, vintage timber, and loads of chrome and mirror. Love it.

I also liked the bathroom as its throwing yet another option into the ring. The 200 x 200's in this bathroom is a tile option I hadn't considered yet. Basically our bathroom is going to be white wall tiles, black floor tiles. But the size of both tiles is still up for debate. Only the walk in shower is going to have wall tiles, but it is a reasonable area, so they'll be very much part of the design. Two options so far which are getting most consideration are large format matt white walls and shiny black mosaic floors, or shiny white subway walls and large matt charcoal floors. Decisions, decisions. I need to make my mind up soon. We're on the last weekend of stripping the old room out. Hopefully then the fun will begin.

Sorry for my absence of late, but there's only so much a girl can do in a day!

Images from stadshem

Progress

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 01:21:00 +0000

There's no turning back now! New bathroom here we come.

With A Twist

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Wed, 29 May 2013 11:48:00 +0000

What a pretty home this London pad is. I love the white painted floors and the lovely vintage pieces galore. It just feels warm and lived in.

But the roll top bath really caught my eye. Our bathroom reno is kicking off this weekend and we're installing a roll top bath - but with a twist. All will be revealed down the track. We're starting with the rip out this weekend and slowly getting the new works done over the coming month. But hopefully, come July, I'll have an exciting improvement to the 60's Splendour to show you. Forgive me if posting is a bit casual for a while, fitting in the reno into all my free time <sarcasm verily abounding> is going to be a bit of a challenge!

Images from marie claire

Style Links

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 26 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000

I loved this pad and its functional finishes and big open indoor spaces. The mix of white and timber and clean lines belies what seems to be a fairly budget conscious fit out. The awnings over the windows and doors are not a big ticket item, but they elevate this place and allow open views outdoors, but a degree of privacy from neighbours.

The garden is also a great space with the use of compacted crushed rock and hardy plants. And even though I'm a bit nervous for the pooches of the home and their paws, I luurve the cattle grid style links between indoors and out. But it does seem like the pooches have sussed out how to handle the obstacle easily.

Images from la times

Not Fair

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Wow, got a bit of home wares envy happening here. So many treasures in this one that are on my wish list.

Wall mounted reading lamps, pipe work storage, giant flip clock, marble tray and to top it all off, a leather butterfly!! 'Tis not fair.

Images from alvhem

Paint Them

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000

What brilliant inspiration this renovation is to an owner of a slice of 60's splendour. The miles of painted white brick and the crazy paving floors are superb. I've been toying with crazy paving in the back yard seeing as the lack of precision will suit this house no end, and I won a cool door prize at an industry event last year and need to go collect a big whack of stone/granite/marble - whatever I choose.

But the eye candy I appreciate the most is seeing the timber framed picture windows painted out in white. I'm still doing the leave them natural/paint them white battle in my mind, so any image that reminds me that all will be well, whatever I decide, is appreciated!

Images from arch daily

Warmth And Familiarity

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:11:00 +0000

I really warmed to this little Manhattan home of Rita Koenig.

It is quite formulaic, but nonetheless has some nice original touches and a lovely overall sense of warmth and familiarity. The billowy old school Austrian blinds and ivy growing through the window is my favourite bit.

Images from the selby

The Bold Shot

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000

What a great way to fit out a modern apartment to create a warm family home.

Timber floors + cushy carpets and rugs where needed + big doses of MCM furniture and the bold shot of colour where needed.

Perfect recipe.

Images from the socialite family

Every Angle

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Stunning slice of property here. Gorgeous soft natural tones everywhere, and pale timber floors.

With a clever selection of lighting and a massive dose of marble, I'm loving every angle.

Images from esny

A Few Of My Favourite Things

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Sun, 12 May 2013 06:55:00 +0000

Hope everyone has had a lovely, lovely mother's day. It was a very sweet one here, with breakfast in bed and cards, and jobs around the house etc.

I should get more organised for next year though and teach my sons how to use etsy, because I was taking a look this afternoon through my faves and realised there would have been soooo many great mother's day options!

Here are just a few of my latest favourite things.

Images from 1/2/3/4/5/6

Love And Need

noreply@blogger.com (jules @ The Diversion Project) — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:33:00 +0000

So, I love the smattering of soft sorbet-like shades in this house. I think that because there is also a good base of black/white/timber it saves it from being too frou frou.

And those lamps suspended from the kitchen ceiling.....LOVE and need to have!

Images from bo bedre