Wishful Thinking

Power Down

2015-09-28T18:38:00.001+10:00

The time has finally come for me to pack my bags and head off into the sunset for a few weeks. I’ve been running on fumes for a long time so to say I am looking forward to it would be the understatement of the century. I’ve got a lot to do before then so I am taking a blogging break earlier but I’ll be back in no time with pictures of our trip to Samoa.

Shall We Go Glam for a Sec

2015-09-25T06:00:00.000+10:00

I’m generally a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. Like 99% of the time. Although every now and then, I get the rare occasion to glam up a bit. My idea of glam is something flattering but my main mandate is that my outfit has to be comfortable. That rules out anything too tight, too short, too sharp and scratchy (I’m talking about sequins and stilettos here). Now I’m not saying that I look close to any of the ladies below but it’s definitely something to work towards, right? Donna Karan has absolutely nailed my idea of glam with these outfits.

Source | WWD

Brooklyn We Go Hard

2015-09-23T06:22:00.001+10:00

A friend of mine recently moved to New York and even though I was so sad to see her go, I can’t say that I haven’t entertained the thought of heading over to visit her. I spent a very short week in New York about four years ago and we still reminisce about that epic trip. My internet travels recently revealed a Brooklyn apartment that stopped me dead in my tracks. Mostly because it looked quite spacious – something uncommon in a city where space is at a premium – and if that wasn’t enough, it was so beautifully put together. Soft colour palettes, eclectic pieces of sturdy furniture and strong sense of charm and character. I’ll let you see for yourself.

Source | Inside Out

Validating Stereotypes

2015-09-21T06:15:00.000+10:00

If you thought Australia was some vast faraway land where people say “G’day Mate” and kangaroos lounge around on your front lawn, then you would be absolutely correct. My day is very often made by work colleagues who greet me by saying g’day, and as for the roos? If you drive down to Jervis Bay, there are literally hundreds of them that make themselves at home by grazing in your garden. And turns out these suburban kangaroos are quite tame, although I should point out that some of them are absolutely enormous and there is no way Jord would have gotten so close to one of those larger thugs!

All images via Wishful Thinking

All About The Shoes

2015-09-18T06:00:00.000+10:00

I went a little nuts with my credit card. Let's just say that it is still smoking from a major shopping bender. I'm on a self-imposed shopping drought until further notice but that doesn't mean I can't look/hope/dream. Even though I am counting down the minutes to summer, I'm still hanging on to my autumn looks like this simple one below.

All About The Shoes by meghan174 featuring platform shoes

H M white top
32 AUD - hm.com

Frame Denim black skinny jeans
455 AUD - avenue32.com

Miss Selfridge cami
35 AUD - missselfridge.com

Free People platform shoes
235 AUD - swell.com

GiGi New York hobo handbag
800 AUD - sandspointshop.com

Lanvin crystal jewelry
neimanmarcus.com

Fedora hat
105 AUD - shopdashonline.com

FOSSIL black belt
50 AUD - nordstrom.com

Nail polish
23 AUD - avocadostore.de

My Favourite & My Best

2015-09-16T18:13:00.001+10:00

Nothing makes my day quite like stumbling across a beautiful kitchen. And if I am honest, some of the best ones always seem to pop up on Remodelista. The stunner below belongs to Parisian blogger/stylist Lucille Gauthier-Braud. It’s light, bright and beautifully curated. I love the simplicity of it, the character-inducing wooden beams and the fact that it is lit from two sides. (It also happens to be an IKEA kitchen). Lucille’s kitchen shows exactly what can be achieved with a creative eye and a modest budget.

Source | Remodelista Photography by Lucille Gauthier-Braud

Life Lately

2015-09-13T21:10:00.001+10:00

I’m taking photos, just not with a fancy camera. I’ve been finding it easier to pull out my phone and take a few quick snaps to capture the magic of the moment. It’s a little lazy but there you go. Here’s a few minor details of my current comings and goings.

All images via Wishful Thinking

How They Do

2015-09-09T19:51:00.001+10:00

It was with great horror that I discovered my South African passport, that I eagerly applied for just before I turned 18 has just expired. I won’t bore you with the details of the pain and suffering every South African goes through when dealing with the essential paperwork of their lives but just know this, the actual application took me over 6 months to put together (partly because I lost the will to live half way through). But it’s being processed and we are tentatively planning a trip home when it (and my baby nephew) finally arrive. I am incredibly lucky to be able to live in Australia and I truly love my life down under but every now and then, usually when I see those familiar craggy green mountains of my home province, I get that pang of homesickness. It’s only fitting that I post a Western Cape beauty that encompasses everything I love about South African houses. Enjoy.

Source | Vogue Living

The Tinkling of Ceramics

2015-09-07T20:43:00.001+10:00

I’ve been toiling away again, hence the absence. I’ve been sketching, painting, tracing, writing and brainstorming. All in the name of my design course, which is ticking along [very slowly]! Even though I am finding it hard to juggle both full-time employment and studying in the evenings, I’m learning so much and loving every minute. I am fully immersed in creativity and am itching to try new techniques. Working with clay is top of my list at the moment. I’m taking my inspiration from ceramic artist Justine Lacoste. The milky white ceramic dishes are straight out of a fairytale.

Source | Remodelista Photography | Epure-Justine Lacoste

Go Somewhere, See Something

2015-08-29T13:57:00.001+10:00

Go Somewhere, See Something by meghan174 featuring a leather rucksack

Chicwish white long sleeve shirt
75 AUD - chicwish.com

DVb Victoria Beckham mid rise skinny jeans
225 AUD - net-a-porter.com

Converse leather sneaker
105 AUD - liberty.co.uk

Leather rucksack
210 AUD - makr.com

Leather band watch
165 AUD - needsupply.com

Ray-Ban aviator glasses
225 AUD - sunglasshut.com

Uncommon tech accessory
27 AUD - gilt.com

Opi nail lacquer
26 AUD - harrods.com

Necessity

2015-08-26T06:00:00.000+10:00

I wonder how many times I have said (or have overheard) the phrase: I need a holiday. In all honesty, I don’t think the saying has ever rung truer for me at the moment. I’m hanging on by a thread here. I’m dreaming of sun-kissed shoulders, wide brimmed sun hats, drinks with little cocktail umbrellas, the sounds of the sea lapping at rocks… getting a bit carried away here. My next getaway is not for a while yet so join me while I take a little virtual trip to Mykonos, specifically the San Giorgio Hotel. You can thank me later.

Source | Annabell Kutucu

A Quintessential Aussie Weekend

2015-08-24T06:36:00.001+10:00

I’ve been slowly working through my list of goals for 2015 – admittedly, my success rate has not been great (and it’s already nearly September). But there is still time for them to be realised. In the meantime, I am one step closer by spotting a wombat on a recent trip to the South Coast. We stopped by a spot they are known to frolic, and there he was, a lone wombat munching on the grass in broad daylight. He was very patient and posed for numerous photos.

All images via Wishful Thinking

All the Makings

2015-08-21T06:00:00.000+10:00

Just a little moodboard to kickstart your weekend - a bit of copper,marble, subway tile and the like.

All the Makings by meghan174 featuring painted bar stools

Cage pendant lighting
$490 - urbancouture.com.au

Bulbrite string light
gilt.com

Mauviel copper candy pot
williams-sonoma.com

HAY marble tray
$175 - finnishdesignshop.com

Recipes cookbook
$47 - liberty.co.uk

Crate and Barrel kitchen gadgets tool
crateandbarrel.com

Fruit tree
onekingslane.com

Map wall art
etsy.com

Painted bar stool
$325 - urbancouture.com.au

Merola Tile Metro Subway Matte White 11-3/4 in. x 11-3/4 in. x 5 mm...
homedepot.com

The Great Portrait Debate

2015-08-19T06:00:00.000+10:00

Jordan and I are having a difference of opinion. This is not uncommon, but his view on the matter is quite firm – the matter being that I would like a stately portrait, to hang possibly in the hallway or the living room. Some important so and so from another time, maybe with rosy cheeks and a strong nose will lord over the house and introduce some much needed colour and character. Jordan thinks this is ridiculous and creepy and will not budge on his hatred of the idea, no matter how many images of its successful execution I shove at him.

Personally, I think he is still traumatised by this portrait (scroll all the way to the bottom, she is a creep).

Click on the image to go to the source

Never Far From A View

2015-08-17T06:00:00.000+10:00

Living in Sydney, you are never really far from a spectacular view. A little while back, we travelled north of the city (akin to leaving the state when you live in the south) and stopped in Ku-ring-gai National Park to stretch our legs and introduce ourselves to this view. It was one of those rare days in Sydney where there was not a breath of wind and the water was so calm you could almost imagine yourself skating over it.

All images via Wishful Thinking

All Me Everything

2015-08-14T06:37:00.000+10:00

Some days I am more philosophical than others but today, at the end of a long week, I am all about one-word answers.

All Me Everything by meghan174 featuring long sleeve shirts

Rag bone JEAN long sleeve shirt
105 AUD - intermixonline.com

Rag & bone skinny jeans
180 AUD - montaignemarket.com

Office brown booties
86 AUD - office.co.uk

Seventy Eight Percent satchel handbag
400 AUD - boticca.com

Pieces jewelry
29 AUD - nelly.com

Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses
265 AUD - nordstrom.com

River Island wide brim hat
25 AUD - riverisland.com

Smashbox matte lipstick
27 AUD - beauty.com

Brace Yourself

2015-08-12T06:10:00.000+10:00

Lovers of all things vintage, monochrome and layered, brace yourself because you are about to see a truly special space. What was once a motor mechanics garage, has since been converted into light, bright and airy holiday accommodation (in none other than Melbourne), by the very talented Lynda Gardener. I’ve done some serious mooning over the white floor, vintage photos and crumpled linen bedding. Guess where I am staying on our next trip to Melbourne…

Source | Est Magazine

The Hinterlands

2015-08-10T06:00:00.000+10:00

An aspect of Australia that never fails to surprise me is how very green certain parts of the countryside can be – the eastern coast of New South Wales in particular. If you venture out just west of Byron Bay, you’ll find yourself in the lush green rolling hills of the Hinterlands. Where the grass is so green, you might almost mistake it for Irish countryside. Everybody is relaxed, mellow, friendly. Even the cows.

Images via Wishful Thinking

But Would You Look At That Courtyard

2015-08-05T05:00:00.000+10:00

By now, I’m sure everyone has seen Calvin Klein’s Miami Beach mansion designed by my favourite and my best, Mr Axel Vervoordt. If you loved it as much as I did, I hope you don’t mind seeing it again? Of course the soft natural colours and flowing sinuous white lines were the obvious tractor-beam draw for me, but I also happen to have a thing for houses built around a central courtyard. The layout requires careful planning and often more space than most people have but the consequence is a sense of sprawl, open-ness and sheer luxury.

Source | Vogue Living

Home Away From Home

2015-08-03T18:59:00.001+10:00

A misty morning view from our apartment

At about 5pm yesterday afternoon, Jordan and I popped open a bottle of champagne and sat down to do some serious reminiscing. It’s almost 10 years to the day that two young, foolish teenagers set off from everything they knew and loved to see the world. Armed with just 600 pounds between the two of us, no real life experience, no prospect of employment or housing, we found ourselves beginning our adult life in London. And promptly had the shit kicked right out of us. Those first few years away from home were indescribable – we were constantly homesick, penniless, hungry and totally clueless. But somewhere along the line, we got the hang of life (I will never forget the triumph of our first full grocery shop or the day we bought a tiny television and carried it all the way home, or the first time I was able to give someone else directions on the tube). We grew up, we got married, we saw the world together. And here we are 10 years later, continuing our nomadic adventure. We’ve come a long way since that day at Earls Court station.

Oh and did I tell you that our beloved apartment made it’s way into the IKEA Family Magazine?

Inspired

2015-07-31T06:00:00.000+10:00

I randomly stumbled across the blog Lunchpails and Lipstick and felt instantly inspired by the beautiful outfits on display. If you haven’t come across them yet, do yourself a favour and mosey on by. Here’s what you will find.

Source | Lunchpails & Lipstick

The Importance of Softened Light

2015-07-29T06:00:00.000+10:00

I’ve always dreamed of having an attic hideaway. A bright airy space, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house, where I can shut out the world and just vegetate for a few hours. Not only do they provide urban boltholes but they are also a very clever way of utilising what would normally be “dead space”. Saying that, the awkward slope of the roof and poor ventilation, makes them tricky to create. As usual, those clever Scandinavians have brainstormed and come up with some nifty solutions to combat these common attic problems. One such solution are the famous Danish VELUX windows, which not only provide ample light, but also provide clever ventilation solutions to a normally dark and stuffy roof space, but have you ever wondered how to cover them? If you had asked me 3 months ago whether I would bother with window coverings (if there was no chance of being overlooked) I’d tell you absolutely not, but my stance quickly changed when we put up a pair of thick curtains in our bedroom in the hopes of combating a chilly southerly wind… the decision has been next to life-changing. Our bedroom now feels warm and snug and the added darkness has allowed the odd lie-in on a Sunday morning. The moral of the story? Never underestimate the value of a good window covering, not matter what type of window or door you have.

For those of you lucky enough to have an attic hideaway, check out Itzala – they have some fantastic coverings for VELUX windows.

Click on the image to go to the source

Tallow Beach, Byron Bay

2015-07-27T18:54:00.001+10:00

You’ll have to forgive my incessant posting of beach scenes but ever since I found myself living in Australia, not a week goes by when I don’t find myself in front of yet another breath-taking coastal setting. It’s a hard life, but someone has to do it.

This is Tallow Beach, in Byron Bay. Apart from maybe three other people, we were the only people on the beach every time we went for a walk. It was so quiet that we were lucky enough to stumble across a little echidna, who was doing roly polys down the sand dunes.

All images via Wishful Thinking

Motley Assortment

2015-07-25T06:00:00.000+10:00

Motley Assortment by meghan174 featuring artificial trees

Tube light
340 AUD - etsy.com

Seagrass rug
600 AUD - onekingslane.com

Terracotta pot
68 AUD - surlatable.com

Canvas copper flatware
130 AUD - canvashomestore.com

Mikasa serveware
87 AUD - kohls.com

Nearly Natural artificial tree
125 AUD - kohls.com

Paddywax silver bowl
54 AUD - casa.com

Circle wall art
45 AUD - etsy.com

Grey candle
target.com.au

Wall art
14 AUD - antiquefarmhouse.com

Little Greene Paint - Sage Green
8.43 AUD - fabricsandpapers.com

SCP low stool
230 AUD - amara.com

Beacon House Brickwork Exposed Brick Texture Wallpaper (Brown)
190 AUD - kohls.com

We Want

2015-07-22T06:00:00.000+10:00

Do you feel like ogling at a bit of Scandi cool this Wednesday morning? Yes? Of course you do. Today we are travelling to Sweden to snoop around this chic little Swedish apartment. It’s an apartment filled with contrasting elements – the black staircase against a white canvas, black chairs resting on an all white floor, bold art and happy houseplants, all encased in a cocoon of soothing white. It would take me all of two minutes to splosh coffee and red wine all over the show but we I can dream, right?

Source | Est Magazine