{The James Street Residence, by Romona Sandon Designs, Front facade}

With the kitchen, I wasn't aiming to do anything new or innovative. I wanted timeless and simple. A canvas devoid of colour so it could be injected by way of homewares and appliances and food and family. I guess I never strayed far from what I had always wanted, even showing this colour palette (or lack thereof) in previous posts, such as the Monochrome Kitchen. Cabinetry either flows through to the ceiling or is capped by bulkheads, to reduce surfaces that dust could collect on, reducing potential allergens.

{Monochrome kitchen of the James Street Residence, by Romona Sandon Designs. Image by Dion Robeson.}

Passive solar design principles were utilised where possible within the council and R-codes on a small rear battle-axe block. Large north-facing windows and doors allow winter sun to penetrate and store heat in the thermal mass of the polished concrete floor. The polished concrete floor was high on my list of features that I really wanted in this house - surprisingly, planning for this quite early on in the design process kept the cost quite comparable with alternative floor coverings.

{Open-plan living space of the James Street Residence, by Romona Sandon Designs. Image by Dion Robeson.}

Insulated cavity brick construction helps contain winter heat. Cross-ventilation allows excess heat to be dissipated in summer. A SolarStar solar-powered thermostat-controlled roof cavity ventilation system also rids the building of excess heat when needed. In the two years of occupancy, no active heating or cooling has been necessary except for the Big Ass ceiling fans (their name, as well as description!)

Solatubes with integrated PV (photo-voltaic solar panel) LED day and night lighting is used in conjunction with natural daylight and low-energy lighting elsewhere. Low VOC (Volatile organic compound) paints and carpets are used throughout to reduce sick-building syndrome (off-gassing). PV's sufficiently power the house with a larger inverter for future-proofing. East/west openings were minimised and treated with Low-E glazing where unavoidable, as well as awning shading.

{Kitchen details of the James Street Residence, by Romona Sandon Designs. Image by Dion Robeson.}


{Laundry details of the James Street Residence, by Romona Sandon Designs. Image by Dion Robeson.}

The bathrooms features hobless showers for accessibility. The glass above the half-height wall allows light to penetrate fully into the bathroom to reduce mould build up.

{Master ensuite details of the James Street Residence, by Romona Sandon Designs. Image by Dion Robeson.}

Curtains and blinds are opened and closed to allow optimal light and heat inside, which is also aided by deciduous vine plantings on the north for additional summer shading of openings. While we wait for the grape vine to grow, we use a combination of shade sails and a passionfruit vine that we trim back in winter to allow more sun through. In the mean time, we are drowning in fat juicy passionfruit and the kids adore it!

The garden also considered sustainable design elements in the use of reclaimed breeze blocks for the entry, edible garden courtyard and native or self-sown water-wise planting. Indoor plants are used for improved indoor air quality and visual calm.

{North-facing, rear exterior of the James Street Residence, by Romona Sandon Designs.}


{North-facing, rear exterior of the James Street Residence, by Romona Sandon Designs.}

As a sustainable designer, I see it's discrepancies and the details that could have been improved, with time, money and less council limitations.

As an architect, I see the features that I could have amplified and where I wish our money could have stretched to.

As the client, it is perfect. It is the perfect design for how my family and I live, our budget at this stage of our life, and the place and site that we built it on. It is our home and I'm proud of it.


xo Romona

I love how the home has fun elements scattered throughout, in the form of bright sunny pops of colour or embossed brickwork space-invaders. How could you not be happy in this house?

For more information on the Florence St project visit Klopper & Davis Architects.


xo Romona

{Complementary materiality of off-white render, stone, timber and zinc cladding}



{How beautiful is that pergola?!}



{Classic but contemporary frontage in Nedlands}



{Crossing linear elements continue with steel balustrade and stone stairs}



{Visual and physical connection between outside and in}



{I love a clean monochrome kitchen. It gives a great base to personalise with homely touches later}



{Simple palette and colour scheme continue through into wet areas}



{Overlapping linear elements give aesthetic cohesion}



{That ceiling is amazing! I would not have enjoyed drawing up those details, but what a result!}



{A touch of warmth to the monochromatic palette, with timber floor insert}



{Sculptural Frangipani trees create organic silhouettes against the linear}



{Ceiling and pergola structures linking the pavilion and courtyard spaces}



{Visually striking linear elements, that would be amazing to take in from the pool, day or night}

I feel the need to point out that while passive solar design principles have been applied with siting, material selection and active tech, the 6 star energy rating achieved is the NCC (National Construction Code) minimum, since this rating system goes up to 10 stars. Just keep this in mind, when designing or building your next home - time spent aiming for a higher rating early on will save you time and money later on.

Regardless of this small point, this house is a beautiful example of contemporary residential architecture and looks like it would be a joy to live in.


xo Romona

{A Cutipol Mezzo cutlery set}



{An Elise Raspanti Art Series Kip & Co beanbag!}



{Blue Heaven LED Neon artwork (or any of their ice creams) by Electric Confetti}



{Sierra weave Armadillo & Co rug in Pumice has been on my list since I felt it at a trade fair a few years ago. Sooo soft and luxurious!}



{Love this Sketch Inc for Lucie Kaas Thief Wall Hook by Urbaani, available at Top3. Becky Kemp's Kokeshi Dolls are also fantastic - check out her insta @sketchinc to see some of her amazing work}



{The impressively multi-functional Woodieful chair/table/storage/bucket from new start-up Woodieful in Slovenia. I love adaptable 'slashie' furniture! It is available through their Kickstarter campaign here, although you better hurry - only 9 days to go. And yes, they do ship to Australia!}



{These Dita stools from Grazia & Co, seen here in the stunning Port Phillip Bay penthouse apartment by We Are Huntly. Photo by Brooke Holm}



{A matte black Anthracite finish Smeg fridge, because why not}

What are you lusting after?

xo Romona

{Cor-ten Marimekko-inspired cut screens to the front facade allowing privacy to this open-planned home. Image by Heather Robbins of Red Images Fine Photography via House Nerd (an awesome Perth blog you should also check out!)}



{Brick herringbone floors throughout internal spaces allow seamless blending to exterior zones. Image by Angelita Bonetti}



{That stunningly detailed monochrome kitchen! Image by Red Images}



{Creative use of typically common materials adds interest and worth beyond the actual costs}



{Love that monochrome, tetrus-like joinery patterning. Working closely with cabinet makers and joiners resulting in stunning outcomes}



{Massive front door with handle made from a piece of old bridge timber. Image by Red Images}



{That monochrome Marimekko fabric! Image by Red Images}



{Open facade and spaces blurs the line between inside and out. Image by Bo Wong}



{Landscaped roof terrace with screens from reclaimed roofing timbers}



{Deciduous grape-vine pergolas for summer shade allowing winter sun penetration}



{Roof terrace at a later date, with succulents and vines now fully established and so lush. Image by Red Images}



{Trailing concrete steps through lush succulents. Image by Red Images}



{Blurring the divide between outside and in. Image by Red Images}

It must be amazing to live in such an open and flowing home, although I must admit that my severely-mosquito-attracting skin does shudder just a little. Might just have to plant a little extra Lavender, Spearmint and Lemongrass around.

Hope you enjoyed!


xo Romona

{To the street, Lake House takes the form of a timber box elevated on the bold box of rammed-concrete. LVL fins provided added privacy as well as character}



{Structural rammed concrete walls are left revealed as a raw, textural backdrop for kitchen and living spaces. Ply wrapped cabinetry adds warmth and the appearance of integrated furniture}



{The compact living space extends into the adjacent north-facing courtyard for indoor/outdoor entertaining. Loving all those honest materials and textures! Artwork: Shirley Purdie, Nnideudia, 1994}



{Colour-filled perforations in the plywood screens act as both an artwork and visual privacy, sun-shading and temperature control}



{Sunlight passing through the plywood screens, which feature a pattern created by artist Pamela Gaunt, casts vibrant patterns across the concrete floors and white walls. Screens are CNC routed with pebble-shaped penetrations filled with coloured acrylic}



{Instead of wasting valuable site space with driveways and garage, circulation spaces are edged with lush native and subtropical planting}



{Lake House documentation by Jonathan Lake Architects. Image source}

For more information on this project, visit Jonathan Lake Architects. Images by Robert Frith.

xo Romona

{Loving those brick steps taking their time meandering up to the new level}



{Open-wide. Come inside}



{Who doesn't want a naked room like this, kept simple with a burgundy Persian and two chatting Eames birds}



{Open to reveal the internal glow}



{Closed to weather, allowing privacy and comfort as required}












{Filtered light and screened privacy without feeling boxed in}



{Open room with custom in-built joinery for storage and seating}



{Exploded axonometric of addition}

All images are from Philip Stejskal Architecture with Photography by Bo Wong.

Share your thoughts? Can you picture living in a space like this?

xo Romona

{The dark roof form helps blend the house into the bush landscape}



{Contrasting smooth cool concrete floors and natural grey block walls with warm continuous blackbutt plywood Armourpanel surfaces by Big River}



{Dark picture frame windows are recessed to create deep plywood window seats for soaking up the surrounds}



{Bedroom with Armourpanel plywood storage doubling as deep window seat}



{Open kitchen kept simple with concrete and dark timbers}



{Space furniture in this living space retains the view as the hero}



{Opening to the bush beyond}



{Insitu concrete step doubles as seat and storage}



{Custom plywood joinery doubles as seating and storage, minimising need for additional furniture}



{Smooth concrete floors flow to outdoor spaces}



{Robust form to lower terrain}

Images courtesy of Kerstin Thompson Architects and photographed by Trevor Mein.


xo Romona

{The stunning triangular form juts out with supercool artwork below at street level by Robert Jenkins (@theblackmountains). So recognisable to me now that we have a wall of his around the corner in Bassendean, and you may have seen me go a little insta-happy over}



{This was one of the first images that made me fall for the place. Of course those who know me, know my tendency towards black, white and grey, but it also has all my other loves - big white kitchen, contrasting black frames, deep polished concrete flooring, minimal timber accents, big snuggly Jardan grey wool couch, indoor potted sculptural Dracaena, statement linear ceiling lighting, even the furry throw - my god Simone, you can do no wrong in my eyes! In fact, if I plonked my gorgeous tan fur-baby on that rug, the picture would be complete}



{Brutal black kitchen island wrapped in electric-veined Nero Marquita marble adds drama to the monochromatic space}



{Just a beautiful kitchen in blocked monochrome, and I love that massive projected north-facing window, done in one-way glass boxed out in steel for privacy}



{Extending the black-framed picture window to the heavens with a waterfall skylight}



{Sharp-edged deck space making the most of a difficult site and adding a bit of drama to Vincent Street}



{Clean gallery feel to the downstairs office softened by multiple but complementary textures and material finishes, like the burnished concrete floor, blackened LVL stair treads and black steel}



{Simple but inspiring void spaces and linear movement}



{Clean and minimal bathroom in continuous matt charcoal tile with clever hidden storage. Love the concrete bathroom floor, but I'm unable to convince my husband that I won't snap my other leg if we have that}



{You know it's good when even the dunny makes you go Oooo}



{Detail of the cool mural work at Vincent street level by Robert Jenkins}



{Image by Dion Photography}



{Image by Dion Photography}

All images are from Robeson Architects (big thanks Simone) and Dion Photography. If my house turns out even half as nice, I'll be wanting some shots done by those guys. Simply brilliant!

Doesn't it make you proud to have some lovely architecture in Perth (and Australia)? What are your thoughts on this place?

I'm hoping to showcase a bunch of other local talented architects and their projects soon, so feel free to let me know if there are any that stand out to you.

Hope you enjoyed!


xo Romona

{Barton Marble Rectangular Board by Country Road}



{Square porcelain chopping block by Slab and Slub}



{Slate cheese board by West Elm}



{Cheese Paddle No. 9 by Sands Made in Melbourne}



{Olive Wood Rustic Cutting Board at West Elm}



{Colour Platter by Karimoku New Standard available at Stylecraft}



{Barton Long Board in Oak by Country Road}



{Cheesy Boards Hello - I love their burnt pun-tacular boards from their etsy store}



{Monaco Cheesy Cheese Slate board by Boska at Peter’s of Kensington}



{Coorabel chopping board by Eco Chopping Boards in Byron Bay from local Camphor Laurel timber} 



{Kitchen Board No. 1 by Sands Made}



{Even considering just getting this smooth flat porcelain serving plate in the Life range from Target - only 10 bucks!}

PS. here are my Goa range Cutipols :)

What do you think?

xo Romona

{Constellation Lights 'Southern Cross' by Anaesthetic in beautiful polished brass}



{Constellation Lights by Anaesthetic in luxurious polished brass}



{Bezel pendant lights by Anaesthetic with its spun aluminium powder-coated top with piano-inspired polished brass 'bezel'}



{Bezel pendant light by Anaesthetic with its spun aluminium top powder-coated white with piano-inspired polished aluminium 'bezel'}



{Bala pendant light by Anaesthetic in black}



{Bala pendant light by Anaesthetic in precision machined polished brass}



{Hide pendant lights by Anaesthetic with individually cut leather shades}



{Mariner stools by Anaesthetic made from American White Oak with navy or white braided rope foot rests sourced from sailing yachts, hence the name}



{Jack concrete bluetooth speaker}



{Totem stackable stools from recyclable LPDE}

Anaesthetic will be exhibiting at the Sydney Indesign event from August 13-15, so get along to soak up some of the talent. Wish I could be there!

xo Romona

Window dressings that put you in control

{Chambers Street Residence in South Yarra, Melbourne by MIM Design}

Soft furnishings that exude style and bring added comfort

Bring the outside in

As well as improving the appearance of your home, plants may help to boost your health. According to research conducted by Professor Margaret Burchett and Dr Fraser Torpy from the University of Technology Sydney, indoor greenery can remove pollutants, cleanse stale air and reduce symptoms such as sore eyes and headaches. The scientists also suggest that plants can help to minimise feelings of stress and fatigue. The best thing is, you don’t have to splash much cash to get your hands on these home accessories and, as long as you care for them properly, they’ll give you many years of enjoyment.


I hope you all enjoyed these few tips from our contributor Gail Newland. I personally love seeing plants of all sizes inside. Thanks Gail!
Do you have any tips of your own to share?

xo Romona

{Graham Atkins-Hughes' family home in London, styled by wife Jo Atkins-Hughes. Graham also photographs a lot of Abigail Ahern projects, and I can definitely see a similar taste and influence there. Image from Milk Magazine}



{From the same home as above, this dark panelled lounge exudes a moody confidence. 'Photographed by Graham Atkins-Hughes and styled by Jo Atkins-Hughes}



{Not quite as dark, but still strong, this scheme by Texture Design for Godfrey Hirst flooring campaign shows beautiful combinations of dark block colours and textures}



{This circa-1880s home in Armadale, Melbourne features dark walls with black panelling, taking this extravagant character home to a new level}



{Styling for the 2015 Dulux Colour Forecast 'Wildland' colours. Loving that deep sea blue wall}



{Dark, moody interiors by the ever-impressive queen of dark interiors Abigail Ahern}



{Dark bedroom in shades of grey. Photo by Romain Ricard}



{Dark walls with black window frames allow the natural light and view to green foliage beyond to shine, not to mention the beautiful Lindsey Adelman pendant}

What do you think about dark interiors, especially in the Australian setting?
Would you or have you used dark interiors in your home?


xo Romona

Establish your Design Reasoning

Start with the Kitchen Triangle

Aesthetics

If the Kitchen Triangle is a symbol of an efficient kitchen, your surfaces, cabinetry and appliances will represent the style. Try to maintain streamlined surfaces, cabinets should reach the ceiling or run flush with a bulkhead. This limits wasted space which impairs your design with inefficiency, as well as preventing a recess for catching dust. Consider integrating appliances within the design through the use of integrated front panels. This technique can blend a dishwasher into the overall style of your kitchen seamlessly.

Lighting and Colour

I hope you found these kitchen design tips useful. Let me know what you think :)

xo Romona

* All images from The Kitchen Place.





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{This dining room is composed of the perfect balance of bright white, raw concrete and moody black accents. Although these Serge Mouille lamps seem to be everywhere at the moment, you can't deny that they have a massive impact with their insectoid arms reaching into the space as few other lighting forms can}



{Modern luxe with heritage charm in the bathroom. Marble with burnished brass, shadowed iron and bright white}



{In love with this black-edged panel diving wall - the perfect simple, graphic bedhead. Not to mention that black AJ table lamp, always on the top of my bedside/office table lamp wish-list!}



{Dark and moody ensuite, a perfect retreat}



{Gilded patina underfoot and overhead pick up warm elements in the artwork, acting as a respite from other cool spaces in the home}



{I love the beautiful blank canvas of monochromatic materials and textures, allowing a stunning collection of artwork to stand out, with classic modern furniture and lighting}

Images by Sharrin Rees.


xo Romona

{Clork by Puik Art in collaboration with Ilias Ernst. Simple forms combined with the natural material gives the ‘Clork’ a great look and feel. Its left corner stable in the present, while the circular right side allows time to roll by, Clork comes in natural coloured cork or graphic black}



{The Smed bar stool by Great Dane Furniture and OX DENMARQ, showcases simple design with simple materials. The Smed Bar Stool consists of a blacksmith crafted, powder coated steel frame with cork seat in either fresh mint, brass or white}


{Muuto's sexy little Corky carafe checks me out every time I walk in to a store stocking Muuto. “The shape of the Corky carafe is inspired by the archetypical bottle. It is a straightforward combination of glass and cork that functions equally well as a wine carafe, a water jug or even a milk bottle. Corky has a simple and familiar form but with a characteristic and oversized detail. The Corky drinking glasses are small and light companions for the Corky carafe. With a low-key and light expression, they are suited for both everyday use and special occasions with friends and family.” says creator Andreas Engesvik. Available at Living Edge}



{Cork Family stools/side tables, Vitra by Jasper Morrison available from Space Furniture are a quirky addition to your home or office interior. Nothing like a giant pushpin in the corner}



{Tembo is a stool made of stacked pieces of wood, metal, and cork by La Chance and Note Design Studio, available from Living Edge. This ‘modern totem’ has a playful and bulky aspect recalling children’s toys and African tomtoms (Tembo means elephant foot in Swahili)}

{Corker pendant lights by Max Harper, are inspired by the iconic cork hats that, for better or worse, are linked to Australiana. Corker playfully mocks this cultural iconography in a modern design context. Australian designed and made, each piece is hand turned by local craftsmen in Sydney from agglomerated cork. Cork is a hardy yet renewable, bio-degradable and recyclable resource, designed for disassembly, ensuring parts end up reclaimed, recycled or disposed of appropriately}

Realising that this post has ended up a lot more Scandi than Aussie (except for the last one), but they just do so many great things. All available here in Australia though, so enjoy enjoy.

xo Romona

{Eames® Moulded Plastic Side Chair Eiffel Base (DSR) from Living Edge}

{The coolest Vietnamese Restaurant in Smith St, Collingwood, Phamily Kitchen by Matthew Van Kooy won the Commercial Interior Public Space and Hospitality Award. I'm loving those tiles and I have those pot plants! Photo by Dan Aulsebrook}

Maximise natural light

{Full height sheer curtains provide light, texture and interest to this bedroom space in Bondi by C+M Studio. Photography by Caroline McCredie}

I'm particularly looking forward to attending the 'Felt-tastic' masterclass with a gorgeous friend for a well-deserved stitch-and-bitch sesh. Well, maybe it should be glue-and-boo? Smatter-and-chatter? Cut-and-tut? ;)
Also hoping I win one of the ballot-allocated sessions with Face-o-mat!

{Masterclass: Felt-tastic with Kitiya Palaskas}

{Get your geek on with these supercool Space invaders in the Florence St House by Klopper & Davis Architects, in West Perth, Australia}

{Loved this even before I saw it was Greg Natale’s work - should have guess that from the pattern and mouldings but I always end up loving his style}



{Striking Kitchen in 33 Mackenzie Street Tower Melbourne By Elenberg Fraser}

{Table top-objects featuring re-appropriated industrial waste, more specifically scrap iron found in a Swedish forest, forms the basis for David Taylor's Slag series of candlesticks}

{Up-Down Light from Ben-Tovim Design is a contemporary twist on the classic industrial age height adjustable pendant light. A range of striking natural materials contrast with simple geometric forms to create a light that mixes functionality with a bold design statement}

{Arro Home cushions and linen by Beci Orpin. I ended up getting the bottom Sketchbook floor cushion pictured, which rotates between an accent thrown on the bed, a handy floor cushion and an extra head rest when napping on the couch}

{Beautifully crafted Papier-mâché Christmas ornaments by Mozi. I have a few from last year, so can't wait to get some more to add to the collection}

{Holiday table by Callum Campbell}

{Carla and Ben’s House, 128A Roseberry St, Bedford WA}

{Tables Four Two in the classic grey colour set by Sheree B Product Design. She also does other colour schemes, but this was the best. She is incredibly friendly and helpful too!}



{Treehorn Designs Oh Buoy small lamp in blue. Not sure if I would put this in the boys room or steal it for myself}

{Aerial Chair by Megan Devenish-Krauth, industrial designer at Megmeg. I want this!}

{The Reykjavik Cabinet by Amy Perejuan-Capone of Horse on Toast, just one of the many talented sandgropers on display at D+D}

{Sorrento Beach house Interiors by Shareen Joel of Shareen Joel Design (SJD) and Share Design}



{Design by Sonia Simpfendorfer of Nexus}

{Interiors by architecture studio Edwards Moore}

xo Romona

{The Up Up pendant is a collaboration between Dale Hardiman from Lab De Stu and artist / jewellery designer Emily Green. Emily's signature polymer clay beads combine with Dale's lighting design prowess to present a beautiful collection of pendants. Picking this image from the colour range was quite difficult. I changed my mind several times}

{Cup by Andre Hnatojko of Lab De Stu comes in all manner of luxe finishes, including 24k gold or rose gold, brass, copper as well as classic white and matte black}

{For a little randomness with your relativity, Progetti Rnd Lab Fun Time Random Clock at Top3}

Sustainable Sourcing

{Solid Hardwood Flooring}

{Kari Whitman, Interior Designer to the stars}

So get in there all my lucky, wonderful Melbourne and Sydney readers and snatch them up quick - or if you are feeling generous, feel free to send some of them my way ;).

{ 1. Compass cushion, 2. Côte d'Azur Ice bucket, 3. Ahoy Door Mat, 4. Skull & Crossbones Cushion, 5. Hold Tight wall flag, 6. Pier Rope Table lamp, 7. World Map Sticker }

{Ceramic Diamond Planters on table and Petite hanging Vase on the wall, both by LoveHate and available at Cranmore Home}

{Harbour House by uber-talented Arent&Pyke. How yum is that Christian Liaigre console table?!}

{The human-powered, Gravity-run LED GravityLight by Deciwatt. Image source}

{Prahran Hotel interiors by Techné Architects}

{The Florafelt F12 Greenwall growing panel by Fytogreen Australia as used in Kim & Matt's outdoor space on The Block Sky High 2013. The panels are made from 100% recycled PET plastic felt and are available from The Block Shop}

{ 1. Dot journal kraft, 2. Gold-striped Washi tape, 3. Metallic gold cushion, 4. 2014 Desk Calendar, 5. Uashmama metallic bags, 6. Pano candle, 7. Brass Ruler }

If you have left it until the last minute, you can still pick up a few freakin' fabulous finds, sure to make your last-minute grab go unnoticed. For seriously cool gifts, try the following:

Melbourne - The Super Cool in South Melbourne Markets or Doncaster, Spacecraft in Fitzroy.
Perth - Table Culture in Subiaco (I have my eye on a Jonathan Adler elephant teapot there!), Industriart in Bellevue, Pigeonhole in the city.
Sydney - PAD in Waterloo, Sibella Court's The Society Inc in Paddington.
Brisbane - Black & Spiro in New Farm
Adelaide - Council of Objects and A.Nouk both in Adelaide city

I'm afraid I have spent too much time abroad and not enough in our own wonderful country, so I'll have to explore and get back to you on the other cities, regional centres and towns around Oz. If you know of any hidden gems or must-see stores, please share them with us all in the comments below. Like we need more excuses to go shopping!!

xo Mo

{Yangon, former capital of Myanmar}

xo Mo

{In the master bedroom, all the curtains were removed from the house to bring more light into the spaces and reduce some of the heaviness of the rooms. Both block out blinds and sunshaders are in the bedrooms while just blockouts are in the living spaces. The walls are a pale grey, Nippon Nighthawk 1, and the ceiling light was replaced by a fan and light for much more comfortable summer sleeps. Adding a rug, cushions and throws for softness as well as customising my lamp shades makes it a bit more personal. Spaces can still have personality while being clutter free - just choose a few key pieces like books and photo frames to make the space feel lived in and not like a showroom}

{Cloud coat hangers, Pom Pom garland and furry animals by Down to the Woods. Who wouldn’t want this entire setup for a cute little girls room?}



{Hello sign in limited edition Gold by Down to the Woods for some fun glamour}

{Captain Laramie Lion Print by Mulga The Artist, with a poem composed by Mulga, printed on the reverse. Too cool}



{Leo teacup by Takeawei}

{Paul Townsin’s Me + Me Too Lamps, made of moulded concrete and so, so beautiful in person}

{For a bright statement piece, The Martini side table in Persimmon from West Elm}

When highlighting orange, I couldn’t go past Greg Natale’s stunning Chevron wallpaper in Burnt Mandarin. I know I harp on about his products, but why not when they are just so special. Read on for more beautiful, bright orange delights!

{Greg Natale’s stunning Chevron wallpaper in Burnt Mandarin through Porter’s Paints}

{Suspended Latitude lighting by Flynn Talbot Studio allows you to customise its use and direction}

{Weblight by Design By Them}

Another creation I was looking forward to seeing in person was the precise Hoshigame by Artemide. Developed with Japanese fashion designer, Issey Miyake, the sustainably designed, foldable lampshade explores the intersection of creativity and mathematics.  Made from fabric derived from recycled PET bottles, “Miyake's unique folding technology allows a single piece of fabric in a flat 2D shape to be unfolded into a 3D shade of statuesque form. The structure of the recycled material, together with an additional surface treatment allows 'Hoshigame' to perfectly keep its shape without the need for an internal frame, and to be stored flat when not in use and then re-shaped when needed.” Although smaller than I expected, it was still a thing of beauty.

{Hoshigame by Artemide + Issey Miyake}

Here are a few other highlights from the Hives exhibition and lots more from the show.

{Gatsby’s sleek and stylish 1920’s bedroom from the Baz Luhrmann film. Via Architectural Digest}

I know I have gushed endlessly over Catherine Martin’s work with Mokum, Porter’s Paints and Designer Rugs, but how can I not start with the gorgeous interior decor from the Production and Costume Designer of the movie (not to mention director’s wife).

{Baby Rhino, aqua resin by Fenton & Fenton - it’s taking me back to a bit of bebop and rocksteady TMNT days}

{My own little stack of inspiration-boosting tomes}

Perfect gifts for the budding decorator or interior-style aficionados, or just a private pressie for yourself. They are all available through their individual websites, with sometimes added bonuses of signing, freebies or pretty wrapping, or you could try Booktopia. Here are my recommendations.

{A touch of gilded luxe. Missoni Home Maremma Candle from Spence & Lyda}

“The idea started initially as an outlet for the many and varied things that my husband and I have collected over many years. However, for two hoarders, it is difficult to part with all your treasures at once, so the concept then became a shop of 'Pure Indulgence' selling only things that we like - retro, vintage, new, serious and not-so serious.”

{Vintage glass treasures. Some of these are now in my personal collection}

{Office before and after}

I had a bit of fun with Washi tape (and more since) after deciding against painting a decorative element and not being able to find a decal I liked. The basic tutorial for the washi tape jewel idea on the door was from Objects & Use. I’m waiting for more washi colours and patterns from etsy to go even crazier.

xo Romona

{Mozi’s Woodland Rabbit Melamine plate. Cute and whimsical matching cups, apron and bunting available too!}

Giving in to the ‘spirit’ of the season, here are few of my top finds to get your home into the spirit too.

{Abigail Ahern enjoying her cosy outdoor living space. Love that bold pendant and those chairs - not sure I could leave them outside though!}

Blues range from soft and calming, to bold electric hues. They can be on the cool or warm side of the scale and really be made to suit any personality or mood. Since the range is so vast, for this post I’m going to stick to the sapphire and navy shades (teal deserves its own, don’t you think). Some of these are in my personal collection and some are just on the wish list.

{Greg Natale’s Wallpaper range for Porter’s Paints}

Greg’s seminar took us on a journey starting back with his inspiration as a child and knowing quite early on what he wanted to be and do.

{Abigail’s own lounge. Dark, inky palette brightened with multiple light points. Source}

The queen of eclecticism and dark, moody interiors, Abigail Ahern, was over from the UK in her own whirlwind Sydney sojourn. Her seminar drifted through her style guides and tricks of the trade, complemented by spectacular imagery. These spaces, tips and tricks are all summarising beautifully in her book.

{Popper pendant lights, Designed by Andre Hnatojko}

Unfortunately, I felt like I had seen a lot of the products on display before (the Melbourne D+D 2012 wasn’t actually that long ago), but there were still a few notable pieces to be found. Yellow and bright neons featured heavily again this show. The Popper pendant lights by Andre Hnatojko below were even better in person than the many images I had pinned before.

{Vintage Valentine’s Day cards, Vintage & Nostalgia Co.}

So to get in the spirit of V-day, I am sharing a bunch of my favourite red and pink products-n-pics to get you in the mood, whether you celebrate valentines day or just want a spicy boost to life. Ruby, crimson, cherry, blood, fire engine, imperial, evil-queen apple, fuchsia, magenta, rust, salmon and all the Pantones in between, whatever your shade of choice, hopefully there is something here to tickle your fancy.

{Atelier Abigail Ahern. Image from her seriously cool blog}

Super excited about the seminars by Abigail Ahern and Greg Natale. Here’s a sneak peak at their work…

{Corro Bowl from Design By Them}

Although I am sure I have shown you this before, I still abso love the Corro Bowl from Sydney-based design collective, Design By Them. Distinctly Australian, it is formed from polished corrugated stainless steel, synonymous with both rural and contemporary Australian architectural vernacular. There aren’t many of their products that I don’t lust after.

A venture by the Manningham City Council at the new MC² (Manningham City Square) in Doncaster, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, aims to showcase new independent design and arts featuring Australian made and designed products. Their mission is "to support both emerging and established designers and artists by providing a platform to showcase their quality work and help them to connect with their audience". Good on them and lucky us!

The new Municipal Building hosts the market stalls on its high, monumental back parade. I was surprised to see such stunning local talent (I know, very bad of me to assume that it would be a disappointment).

I’ll highlight a few of my favourites below (so good I purchased them), and you will have to go along to get a look at the other goodies yourself. Yes, mainly because I was so giddy with retail therapy while I was there that I forgot to take any pictures.

{Hello Felton are a graphic design company with quirky and colourful cards, prints and paper artwork. I love the nice little touch of vintage recipes on the back of their business postcards}


{Hand-made ceramics. Colours to lust over}


{Gorgeous hand-made statement necklaces by Serra Studio (left) and Miss Emilie (right)}


{Super cute t-shirts for my boys by Fuji kids by Fujinella}

I think I’ll be going back early next time to check out some Jude fashion and Bird Meets Bliss screen-printings. Oooo, and maybe a print from the gorgeous Minka Svarcs too!

The next one is on Sunday, 10th February 2013, and I strongly suggest you get along. I was informed that half the designers weren’t in attendance, probably still on holiday-mode like myself, and it should be even bigger, brighter and better next time. Get along - you won’t be disappointed!

xo Romona

P.S. Don’t forget, its a members only website, so sign up and expect to get blown away by beautiful designs and sales straight to your inbox.

xo Romona

{Pantone’s limited Edition Mug and iPhone5 cover in Emerald}


{Dulux’s Empower Palette - Image styled by Bree Leech featuring Dulux Liberty, Bahaman Bliss and Misty Blue}


{Florence Broadhurst Peacock Feathers & Shadow Floral wallpapers from Signature Prints}


{Night Bird by Catherine Martin, Bansyu by Akira Isogawa, both at Designer Rugs}


{Emerald vintage Florence Knoll & Charles Eames furniture. Interiors by Doug & Gene Meyer.}


{Jonathan Adler Needlepoint pillows}


{Husque Bowl Macadamia Nut in Green}


{South Beach by Greg Natale, Jewel by Dinosaur Designs, both at Designer Rugs}


{Bianca Malachite Box by Ralph Lauren Home}


{Martinique Beverley Hills wallpaper; Catherine Martin for Mokum Imperial Pheasant in Emerald}


{Emerald accents. Interiors by Charm Home Design}


{Interiors by Diamond Baratta. Image via House of Turquoise}

{Interiors by Greg Natale, featuring his South Beach rug}


{Pont Max Juvenal, Aix en Provence, 2008. Patrick Blanc}

Of course I couldn’t resist throwing a green-walled building in there. You can see a few more on my previous post, Vertical Green. I am hoping to do another post on green walls this year, since the last one didn’t even scratch the surface of the beauty that is out there.

These bright emerald visuals make me giddy. Yes, I’ll admit some of them are straying more into teal and turquoise territory, but that is the beauty of perception - maybe your eyes will see a whole different picture. I hope you enjoyed this quick (and a little lazy) post. Until next time.

xo Romona

We are on break for a bit, so this will be my last post until the new year. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all the other reasons in the world to celebrate with family and loved ones.
Cheers and Go nuts!

xo Romona

{Circus Silhouettes by Catherine Martin. Rug for Designer Rugs. Wallpaper for Porter’s Paints}

The first should be one that I was coveting for years (in preparation of my first baby’s room, while pregnant). Expectedly highly theatrical, the navy Circus Silhouettes would have been a dramatic and stylish addition to my baby boy’s room, encouraging movement and fun. Of course, budget and the fact that I would HATE to get any vomit or other baby-nasties on this beauty ceased the purchase, but its still on the ‘One-Day’ list - I think the energy and whimsy in this is ageless and definitely is not restricted to kids rooms. The walls in the image above also feature her complementing design for Porter’s Paints.

{Night Bird rug by Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs}


{Black Pearl rug by Catherine Martin for Designer Rugs}

Now let’s just say I love the entire Deco collection with Designer Rugs. I can’t wait to see them featured in Baz’s The Great Gatsby in May 2013. If I HAD to pick a favourite, it would probably be the magic, flow and art deco romance of Night Bird, although Black Pearl comes a very close second. Hmm... Maybe tied first. It would certainly upgrade a bedroom into a Boudoir. And how about this custom stair runner adapted from her Lace rug design - to die for!

{Lace stair runner by Catherine Martin}

{Imperial Pheasant wallpaper by Catherine Martin for Mokum Porter’s Paints. Shown here in Lacquer}

{Cockatoo wallpaper by Catherine Martin for Porter’s Paints. Shown here in Black Neutral}

Most of Catherine Martin’s wallpaper range links in with the rug designs, as a complement or feature in its own right. Mokum Imperial Pheasant comes in a range of colourways, my faves being the Ming Blue or Vintage White (seen at Grand Designs here), or for something dark and dramatic but still linking to home and Fauna Australiana, the Cockatoo wallpaper in Black Neutral is divine.

{Cockatoo Bedding available through Anthropologie}


{Cockatoo Bedding Detail, Anthropologie}

To add more products to her arsenal, there is this gorgeous duvet and pillow covers in shades of green, teal, aqua and navy (my absolute favourite combo!) on a neutral grey backdrop with her signature Australiana in the form of giant Art-Deco-meets-Arts&Crafts-Movement Cockatoos. Detailed and divine.

As usual, follow the links to enjoy the rest of her collections, and I’m sure get lost in the other millions of perfect products and design collaborations that are on offer at these companies.

Now after all this exciting designer eye-candy, I’m off to Magnolia Square for some more arty goodness. Will try and lock up my cards and cash, but somehow never seem to succeed. If I can stop the retail therapy long enough to take some pictures, I may do a post about. Alternatively, it’s on all weekend so check it out yourself. Be warned. You will spend. Good luck.

xo Romona

{Cable Jewellery}

Cable Jewellery is a pick-and-mix lighting system. The ability to customise colours, shape and length, through arranging the U or S shaped components, means these lights can become what ever you want them to. Just like every girl, every home needs a funky statement piece of jewellery. The Wall Jewellery, Table Jewellery and Floor Jewellery are also quite stunning.

{Daisy}

Daisies are described best on the website: “Daisies could very well be the children of Star-Trek and Macramé. Electrical cable is hand woven to create these organic yet futuristic daisy-like shades”. As with most of his products, the names are charmingly witty - the smaller is Hello Daisy and the larger is Crazy Daisy.

{WOW pendant range}

Haug’s WOW range was one of the first products of his that I saw. In a multitude of eye catching colours and patterns, the inside surface of these massive pendants (ranging from 520mm to a full metre wide) is the unique point of difference - able to be customised to your preferred colours and patterns.

{OMG! Pendant}

The grand, industrial and aptly named OMG! pendant is created from reclaimed industrial shades and measures an impressive 1.7m wide. The anodised crushed recycled shades can also be customised in a wide range of colours. Talk about a statement piece! It also comes in a freakishly big wall design.

{Fire trees}

Fire trees are sledge-hammered aluminium tubing bent and twisted into fluid shapes, anodised in a bright spectrum of colours and then delicately wrapped with leather pieces. A definite work of art that would make a highly talked about table centrepiece. How yummy would the hot pink one pictured above look slithering down the centre of a long glossy black dining table.

{Joker}

And last but definitely not least, the innovative and just a little bit sexy Joker. Collaboration with a shoe-designer friend lead to this stunning creation, enveloping the good ol’ brass chandelier in zipped up black and white leather. Makes me wish I had kept the god-awful ones in our old house before turfing them, and been a little bit more creative with upcycling.

Of course you can check out all of Volker Haug’s work, lighting and projects, at his uber-cool website here (where all of the above images are sourced from) or visit him at his East Brunswick studios in Melbourne. Happy browsing!

xo Romona

{The Sandon Bathroom - Before and After}

{Bathroom Vanity and Toilet - Before and After}

Here’s a summary of a few of the changes and features we have in the new and improved Sandon House Bathroom.

The vanity was moved closer to the bath to allow for the toilet, but still enough room for the much larger bath (we went from a 600mm to a 820mm wide - much more user-friendly). If we had an OH&S inspector in-house, they would definitely approve. You can read more about the troubles I’ve had with the narrow old bath in the previous post. The bath is not only wider, but taller. It took a few goes to get used to stepping over it, but it’s very handy with keeping small children from toppling over and into it. Plus during one of my habitual, long relaxing soaks, I don’t have to have the water full to the brim to actually be covered and stay warm.

{The finished product}

Our second toilet - hooray! On plan it looked like a bit of a tight squeeze, but we have since found that there is more than enough room and it is quite a comfortable space. It’s still quite precious and we are not used to having the second option, but I’m sure that will end soon. The seat is soft-closing (the slowest we have ever seen actually - almost ridiculously so), which helps prevent slamming noises becoming a child wake-up-call in the middle of the night.

{New Mizu Vanity and Toilet from Reece}

We added a tile shelf high enough to keep expensive shampoos from becoming very expensive bubble bath, as well as far enough away from the shower head to be a pool collector. I find them a great idea when you don’t have the building room to put in alcoves or set-in shelving. As long as you keep it simple, it allows the featured items to stand out without becoming a feature itself. We added an extra towel rail from before and made them double. Not necessarily for two towels, more for the aid in drying. My husband finally gets a towel rail of his own, as opposed to the hook on the back of the door where it never really dries. At the moment the kids towels hang on the back of the door, but we allowed space for another towel rail to be added if and when we need it (big enough to hang bath sheets because once you go up from towels to sheets, you can’t go back!)

{New huge bath and surrounds}

I chose white wall tiles and a white vanity for brightness, simplicity and longevity. Even though we haven’t changed the skylight, the white reflects the light much more and creates a connection with the outside that belies its central location. The concrete-style grey porcelain floor tiles also give the space a neutrality that is much easier to style and change with soft furnishings and accessories. I had chosen a sleek minimal bath spout, but on further thought, we swapped it for a gooseneck swivel style so that we can run the bath and get it out of the way when the kids are in there, avoiding bumped heads. The Shower diverter mixer was placed far enough left that you can easily turn the water on without getting sprayed, and high enough that the kids shouldn’t be able to play with it for a little while longer. You may notice that I haven’t chosen very ‘designer-y’ fixtures. This bathroom for us is a family bathroom, and with two growing boys that will undoubtedly test the strength and endurance of the fixtures, we went to the budget end of the market. Fixtures are items that are easy enough to replace in a few years, so our money was directed more towards the items that are more difficult to change, such as the bath and tiles.

{Bright white large-format tiles allow us to play with colour}

Having said that, after years of low pressure and uncomfortable showers, the selection of the shower head was quite important. My husband wanted a good soaking while I wanted to make sure that it was still water-efficient. We found our compromise in the Halo shower head from Reece and so far soooooo good.

{Halo shower head from Reece}

If you would like me to post the plans, let me know - but photos are more fun, right? If there is anything that you want to ask about the project or specific products please do. I am more than happy to have conversations about it in the comments section below or over email.

FYI - Some of the items pictured and their sources:

• Bath, Vanity, Toilet and fixtures from Reece.
• Wall tiles from National Tiles
• Floor tiles, towel racks and hooks from Vision Bathrooms
• Hand towel by Missoni
• Aesop Resurrection Hand Wash and Balm
• Ecoya Metro Jar soy candle in Wild Frangipani

{Before: The bright blue mottled tiles on the walls and floor, too-narrow bath and far-from-level vanity.}

{Before: The falling apart vanity and flatpack cupboard taking up valuable floor space}

I realise that it doesn’t look that bad from a distance. It was the details and the functionality that really cemented the idea of renovating. Some of you may have noticed, if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, that we have nearly finished the transition from old and shabby to sleek and modern. Although Dad and Hubby did their parts super quick, and the plumber has been very obliging with his time, we still have a few things that we are waiting on (shower screen and a few finishing touches). I’ll pop some pics and deets of the finished results up very soon. Stay tuned…

xo Romona

{BCAA}

The impressive geometric form of Orp reminds me of impossible triangles and technical drawing classes on perspective. The large 1.5m long glowing pendant would create a stunning talking point for any high-ceilinged foyer or warehouse space, or as a low-hung sculpture on display.

{Orp}

The Phasmida is a bronzed and gleaming arm, like a reaching branch or delicate stick insect sitting lightly in the space.

{Phasmida}

Quartz crystal, copper and gold form this stunning piece of architectural jewellery. Promethius III is very decadent and very luxe, without taking over an interior space.

{Promethius III}

Featured in the DQ Collective space at Saturday InDesign, Bucky is a thick, bold and black eye-catcher, like using a fat Artline texta on butter paper.

{Bucky}

{His feature in Inside Out Magazine May/June 2012}

Which is your favourite?

xo Romona

{Lepidoptera chair, using Automotive textile remnants}

The Ricotta floor lamp is evocative of the making process of its namesake. Uniform lines and bright chartreuse powder coated steel make this an elegant and modern statement piece.

{Ricotta Floor Lamp, Simone LeAmon for Rakumba Lighting}

I am a sucker for statement jewellery. Anyone who knows me, knows that. You can never be too fat or skinny, too short or tall, too dark or light, for stunning high-impact jewellery. LeAmon’s Limited Over pieces are sleek and sculptural, crafted from Bronze and 316 Stainless Steel wax castings of her original Bowling Arm jewellery. The originals used leather waste from cricket balls. The two pieces in the collection, Grubber and Popper, are each named after a different bowling style in the game. I would have to defer to my husband to get any more information on that, or maybe consult with our old Test Match game.

{Limited Over, Grubber (left) and Popper (right) special edition jewellery in bronze and stainless steel}


{Limited Over, Grubber special edition jewellery in 316 stainless steel}

Hope you enjoyed the second Spotlight on Australian Designers. I hope to bring you more soon - it’s a long list of lovelies!
Who are some Australian designers that you love or have influenced you in some way?

xo Romona

{Quai Branly Museum, Paris, 2005. Architect Jean Nouvel. Greenwall Patrick Blanc}

{Our own piece of Patrick Blanc at the Shot Tower, Melbourne Central, 2008}

{One Central Park West, Sydney. Architect Jean Nouvel, Patrick Blanc. Due 2013}

I love that green walls have become a prevalent cafe and commercial decoration, and that most will now try and incorporate some functionality into it, with herbs and indoor veggies. Its great to see the new ways people can develop this old idea. I like this alternative to the usual terracotta and unpainted reo mesh of the signature Vertical Garden by Joost Bakker (as seen at Grand Designs). The simple white pots and white mesh offset wonderfully against the uniform dark succulents. Maybe it is just refreshing not to see the terracotta pots again. I think it’s like a popular song on the radio - you hear it so often that you can’t tell anymore if you love it or hate it, but still find yourself singing along.

{Vertical Garden by Joost Bakker for Schiavello}

This smooth sculptural wall with rounded inserts for potted herbs suits the modern bright-white kitchen. Talk about easy access and great smells. I would love this in my house.

{Edible Herb garden wall complements this modern white kitchen. Source}

The simple draped Porthos between nine white pots on wall-mounted floating shelves are used to break up this double-height common wall in a warehouse conversion in Brisbane.

{Minimalist Vertical Garden by Lushe Urban Greening}

I couldn’t leave out the bright entry space to Fujitsu’s 6-star Green Star Docklands office (yes, mainly because it was worked on by yours truly while at Woodhead). The original designs did include using black mondo grass and having a dramatic monotone effect with the black glass walls, emphasising the Fujitsu red. I believe the black mondo didn’t survive too well so the bio-wall is now more in keeping with the bright greens of most green walls, but is still quite effective. The bio-filtration system used was designed by Umow Lai who worked with Woodhead on the project. The ground level foyer of the Gauge in Docklands, Victoria also sports an impressive green wall by The Greenwall Company

{Fujitsu Head Office, The Gauge, Docklands by Woodhead}

{Just a section of the massive foyer green wall, The Gauge, Docklands by The Greenwall Company}

There are more than a few products popping up that can be used for DIY green walls at home, ranging from the cheap and simple to the complex and often quite pricey. A few options are pictured below (or just type green wall or vertical garden into Youtube and go nuts!)

{Gro-Wall Vertical Garden System}


{Greenwall Australia’s Vertigro Home or Pro}


{Wallgarden’s DIY Vertical Garden, also available at Lushe}

Urbio Urban Vertical Garden is another Kickstarter project (like the previously blogged about LIFX globe). I love the simple design and the adaptability of this product. Swap out the plants for some magazines or books if they need a little outside time in the sunshine.

{Urbio Urban Vertical Garden on Kickstarter}

There are so many benefits to using green walls in design, including but not limited to:

▪ Improved air quality and reduction of odours; ▪ Improved well-being with the visual link to nature and the outdoors; ▪ Visual aesthetic of a living decoration; ▪ Supply of fresh, edible produce - herbs, fruit, vegetables, flowers; ▪ Protection from wind, heat and light; ▪ Thermal Insulation and shading; ▪ Noise buffering; and more I am sure.

{Penelope Table and side table/stool - available at Stylecraft}

Her Scoop Egg Cup & Spoon collaboration with Alessi is a stand-out. What can I say - I am sure you have all seen this lovely, sculptural piece before. Beautiful but functional is epitomised in this lustrous and decadent egg cup. What a glamourous Sunday breakfast would be had with this baby. Puts my cheapo wire one to shame! It is now on the Christmas list.

{Scoop Egg cup & Spoon for Alessi - Available at most department stores or online}

The La La Lamp is a floor lamp made of two conic, internally opaline coated fabric shades with a noiseless IGBT technology dimmer. Classic geometry combined with quirky lines create a real feature for any space. Unfortunately, I can’t find exact stockists in Australia, but it was featured at a Schiavello event and since they also stock her La La Stool, I am sure they could help you out.

{La La Lamp for Kundalini Italy}


{La La Stool, Available at Schiavello}

The graceful lines and soft appearance of the Panier stool belies the fact that it is made from 100% recyclable Polyethylene and suitable for indoors or outdoors. Shortlisted for the best 'Object – furniture and lighting' in the IDEA Awards 2012 (to be announced November), this design highlights yet another triumph for Helen.

{Panier Stool, Available at Space}

I hope you enjoyed the first of what I hope will be many posts shining the spotlight on Australian Design.
Who is your favourite Australian Designer?

xo Romona

{Black and Grey Noodle-pile Artizen Rug from Carpet Court, in its new home}

Inspired by the new floor dressing (and big red sale signs), I had to nab a few new cushions to brighten the space and add a pop of colour. Glad I found these two (pictured above) at Adairs, combining the latest trends of geometry and neon, with an architectural twist, in Home Republic’s Sketchbook collection. Love it. Bye for now.

xo Romona

{Image via Kickstarter}

For a full explanation, and some cool demonstrations, watch the clip below or for more info see the LIFX or Kickstarter websites. Enjoy. 

xo Romona

{Kevin McCloud - Grand Designs Superstar!}

While the highlight was obviously seeing the charming and witty Kevin McCloud speak, unfortunately, I don’t have many other great things to say. Maybe it’s design event overload, creative fatigue from the same companies obviously wanting maximum exposure. It feels like I have seen it all before and what is there is often not the cream of the design-world crop. Having said that, I did manage to snap a few interesting pieces, some now key items on my personal wish list.

Firstly, the incomparable Volker Haug. I definitely have a Design-crush on him. Probably since spying his recycled black leather and zipped up chandelier, Joker, a good many years ago at a trade event. I would happily incorporate any of his pieces into any room in my house. I think it would be great fun to start the creative process with one of his major pieces, like the massive OMG! shade, and go from there.

I liked this quirky little primary-coloured, almost diagrammatic, pendant light of his below. Simply called Cable Jewellery, you can pick and choose your components, S- or U-shaped, in a range of colours and lengths. You will have to excuse the pictures. They looked fine on my little iPhone screen but are a tad blurry up close - possibly a result of eyes darting around the room for the next design fix. There are much better pics on his webpage (with cool and quirky navigation and interaction too). He also had little terrarium light globes hanging that were so cute, as well as his aptly named Wow range.

{Cable Jewellery from Volker Haug lighting}

Next, the Mokum stand stood out with Catherine Martin’s divine Art Deco inspired fabrics and wall papers. Fitting in well with husband, Baz Lurhman’s The Great Gatsby, these opulent designs are to die for. Beautiful metallics in hues of silver, champagne and gold. So very luxe and touchable. How great would it be to have a luxurious OTT bedroom in these fabrics and papers, maybe even with one of her divine Designer Rugs Australiana-inspired or Deco Collection rugs on display.

{Catherine Martin for Mokum Antique Lace Wallpaper - On the big, long wish list!}


{Catherine Martin for Mokum Imperial Pheasant wallpaper on left. Apparently that’s her and Baz’s bedroom on the right. Not sure I believe that…}


{Catherine Martin for Mokum fabrics on display. Feathers in powder blue on couch. Cushions from left Feathers in Linen, Blossom in Linen and Coral}


{Relaxed vignette with funky wire lights above}

Mobs of people and tantalising aromas drew us over to the Miele kitchen display. Forgot to actually look at the Miele products, which are always quite spiffy, because I was too engaged by Maggie Beer, laughing and having fun with the audience and fellow chef/cooks. The herb wall that they had set up was quite impressive. Yes, we’ve all seen them before and they seem to pop up everywhere now (I wish someone would do something a little more out of the box than the terracotta pots) but it is a good idea and nice gesture all the same.

{The Scrumptious Maggie Beer cooking up a feast}


{Miele herb wall}

We did rush through quite quickly, being slightly put off by the vacuum cleaner displays and contoured pillows having a greater prominence than textiles or designer furniture. I have since seen on a few instagram and Facebook pics of others that there were a few sculptures in the garden section that might have been nice to catch, but other than that I’m hoping that the next one steps up its game to a level that the Grand Designs brand could be proud of, with a bit more architectural cred.

Let me know if you agree or disagree and what your favourite parts were if you managed to get there. Ciao for now.

xo Romona

{First of the freebies: Turquoise Shag rug and Upcycled Coffee Table}

The next rug in the saga I am still desperately in love with. A competition entry (of which I am sure by now you have realised I am quite fond of) lead to me winning this beautiful rug from Designer Rugs’ Saffron Collection. I went to the showroom in St Kilda to pick her out. The smoky greys and stand-out teal of the Bowral (in cement) spoke to me. Loved the Asian and botanical influence in the pattern, without being too in-your-face florally. Although I am sure, if the budget of the prize had allowed, I would have gone for one of their stunning Akira Isogawa collaborations, but the quality and look of this rug is exceptional.

{Designer Rugs Bowral in Cement - close up of my baby}

Now to my recent win (yes I am a lucky b.arch when I see it summarised like this). Carpet Court’s love the look competition let me pick from their Artizen collection. It looks hardy and family friendly, without sacrificing style. With a two year old and a bub just starting solids, cleanability is a big plus. The below image is from their page, but I’ll post one in situ once I get it.

{Image courtesy of Carpet Court}

In revision, it reads like a brag board, all “look at me, how lucky am I”. But the point I was eventually going to make was that everyone can create style and beauty in their home without spending a lot of money. Sure, not everyone wins their furniture or accessories, but with bountiful resources out there like eBay, Gumtree and even curb-side pickups, there is no excuse not to be creative and have fun with your interiors. The gazillion tutorials on Pinterest and Youtube for DIY of Ikea and other similarly cheap starting blocks, means that anyone can now have a designer home.

The coffee table in the first photo with our since-passed turquoise rug was made from a found and refurbished hall table cut down to size, then re-topped with sanded, buffed, polished and varnished jarrah fence pickets. My eldest has a cool industrial hanger for his jackets (yes plural, at least ten that fit - he is a Melbourne boy!) from another curb-side pickup find, relieved of its rust and sprayed fire engine red. Our outdoor table is someone’s old dining table sanded and oiled, with legs painted a bright Santorini blue. Actually, looking at the photo again, I think its time to stain the top of that outdoor table - or stop ignoring the tired old decking and give them a good oil too.

{Upcycled Coat Rack - Refurbished Road Side treasure}

{Upcycled Outdoor table - Refurbished Road Side treasure}

With a bunch of cool finds, a little inspiration and a bit more perspiration you can create almost anything. Also, when you’ve paid nothing (or next to nothing) for it, you’ll be less precious about mixing it up and changing things around every so often.

And if all else fails, enter a few competitions and see how you go. You can’t complain if you don’t give it a go.

xo Romona

{Indian Government Stamp and painted Wedding Ceremony Artwork, from a market in Jaipur, India}

Another work from the same market is the black and white elephant heads (below right). Until I photographed them for this competition, I had forgotten how much I liked looking at all the scribbly detail in them.

{Indian Government Stamp and painted Elephant head Artwork, from a market in Jaipur, India}

They are totally out of place in my current bedroom. As it stands, it’s a mismatched explosion of objects - and not in a good way (thus the desire to refurb it, stat!) I love mixing vintage with contemporary, but the pieces have to be right and I feel it has to be done with a cautious hand and keen eye.

I had been meaning to reinvent my bedroom into a palace worthy of old Hollywood. Glamourous crystal and blinding chrome. Tufted velvet and mirrored lucite-legged vanities. All look but don’t touch. Now though, I am having to remind myself that yes, although I love the look of these in magazines, could I live there? Especially with two young boys (one who likes to crawl into bed with us after pushing most things off the dresser with his cars, and another that I’m sure will do the same as soon as he is able to get out of the cot).

I’ve decided to go back to basics. Firstly, I have to decide what, if anything, I want to keep from my current room or if there is anything that I already own that I want to introduce into the new room (such as an art work or armchair). I think I will be keeping more than I’d like to (budgetary reasons), but upcycling is under-rated, so I’ll see how I can change the items that I can’t afford to replace, to fit the new style. If you follow me on Pinterest, you may have noticed that my DIY folder is getting more of a work out lately than usual. With two kids, and without the disposable income that we had before them, I can hardly do the complete Jonathan Adler meets Kelly Wearstler that I’d like to.

Secondly, research images that attract and excite me, and define what it is about that image that gets me going. Is it the whole package, a particular furniture item, the colours - warm or cool, the scale, the layout, the fact that its tidy, what? Then see how it can be applied or worked into the canvas that is my room. Again, Pinterest and Houzz are wonderful resources for finding inspiration and products. Of course, its always fun flicking through drool-worthy magazines like Belle, Real Living, Sanctuary and Home Beautiful when you can find the time. I embrace my iDevices, but I am not quite ready to part with my monthly deliveries of hard copies just yet, thank you.

Luckily time is on my side. With a bathroom renovation due in October, it may be a few more months before I have the spare coin to put towards the fabrics or wall paper that will make it really worth doing. There’s nothing wrong with taking time to make sure that you really do love that particular pattern you chose, and not just because its on-trend or was used in that house by that guy in that magazine, you know the one! For now, I am just trying to remind myself to keep the basics somewhat neutral, so I can really go nuts on the replaceable items like headboard fabric or bedding or window dressing.

OK, so I think I have successfully gone completely off topic. Maybe one day I’ll be able to do it with the charm and imperceptible manner of Ross Noble or Billy Connolly. Until then, I will just say that I will revisit the idea of finding hidden treasures in your home when inspiration strikes. I’m hoping to also bring you a little introduction to our planned bathroom reno coming up - I look forward to some peer feedback if you feel like it. Ciao for now.

xo Romona

P.S. (again) Sorry that comments aren’t allowed at the moment. I really want to hear any feedback you have but iWeb is disagreeing with me and I need to find a new program. Excuses, excuses!
Please feel free to email/tweet/FB post me - would love to hear from you!
UPDATE: Hopefully comments should work now….

I also fell for their wonderful Buzzitiles 3d, recycled-content wall panels (below) - Although I’ve only ever specified similar for commercial fit-outs, I’m hoping to form them into a headboard for our bedroom. Love that mid-grey pyramidal form creating depth and texture.

A few quick pop-ins along the way to the next destination, Stylecraft, to catch up with a friend over from Radelaide. Love when events drag people to Melbourne from all over the country! She did a great job simultaneously catching up, pouring us champers, snagging the delectable little soft shell tacos and showing off their new and current products. The styling and quality that they displayed throughout the space was first class. My mum (Artist and Designer from Perth, Melva Babarskas) was about ready to snatch the striking orange chair from the entry, while I was coveting the rich black leather armchair and its surrounds.

The last few locations were all about lighting, lighting, lighting. Euroluce’s display was fantastic as usual. De De Ce also presented a classy exhibition. Again, my impending bedroom refurb was front-of-mind, so the selection of lamps in metallics and gloss were particularly appealing. Copper and Bronze are everywhere at the moment. It’s a nice break from the chrome/silver world - still up there with gold in luxuriousness, but not quite as cocky. Yamagiwa’s Mayuhana pendant by Toyo Ito at Euroluce was a glowing beacon in the corner and would look impressive in almost any space.

A tired and hungry baby put an end to the days festivities, although it must be said that he was exceptionally well behaved for most of it. Had a great day, met wonderful-beautiful people and definitely got my design-fix for the week.
Hope you enjoyed my second post and hopefully enjoy more to come.

xo Romona