Eat Drink Chic

Things are finally starting to come together in our home, which I've been slowly and (sometimes) painfully working on for almost 2 years now. I love surrounding myself with lots of colour, texture, graphic and typographical items and my various collections of treasured objects- things that will constantly stimulate and inspire me.

The above photo is of my current workspace which is actually our dining room! It has become a weird hybrid of both work clutter and entertaining bits n' pieces. However, I have tidied the table specifically for these photos! Usually it is covered in a mass of paper bits, craft tools, props, breakfast leftovers and other random remnants of my project work. I'm currently hunting for some yellow industrial pendant lights to hang above the table. 

The 'Sugar' artwork is something I created in an effort to emulate this gorgeous piece from Dough Pizza in Perth. I ended up using coffee staining to create the textured background. I've used Gelato Script font for the lettering. Because the word was so big I had to print out the lettering over multiple A4 sheets, cut them out and stick them together in order to create a template. I then traced around the template onto the canvas and used hot pink acrylic paint to colour it in. It took some time but was a fun project to do.

We are currently preparing for our annual Australia Day BBQ and, in typical Amy fashion, I am going all out with the details. I'm thrilled to finally get to use my drink dispenser for my homemade lemonade with orange blossom water.

We bought this beautiful outdoor table almost a year ago and have never used it! I'm also looking forward to finally breaking it in this Saturday. Should be a lot of fun dressing it up!

{ photos by Amy Moss }

I have a wee bit of a cushion obsession. I can't stop collecting them. To me they're like small, affordable works of art.

Currently, I'm loving these bright collections...

TOP: Papercraft cushions from Beneath the Sun

BOTTOM: Japanese cushions from OYOY

{ photos from their respective websites)

I'm currently intent on decorating our home and finding some ridiculously awesome stuff in the process. The only problem is, I want it all!

{01} Marigold flower weave rug from Armadillo and Co. So pretty.

{02} Colourful bamboo tableware from Core Bamboo 

{03} Lots of nice goodies in the By Joost store.

{04} Loving the 'Pop' bamboo/lacquer collection from Ekobo Ecology and Design 

{05} Would LOVE some colourful artwork by Arite Kannavos to brighten up our walls!

{06} Currently obsessed with bone wood frames like this one from Husk

{07} How cute is this Samara stool? By Nicoya Furniture

{08} Absolutely stunning green bone inlay chest of drawers with such an intricate design. From My French Interiors

{09} I can't resist a good typographic cushion. From Poulier and Poulier

I picked up a copy of the latest issue of Real Living magazine yesterday and was excited to read about Abigail Ahern and her luscious interior styling! 

As a graphic designer, 2d design is more my specialty, so bring on the caffeine, the sugary donuts and the super-steep learning curve!  I'm voraciously ploughing through magazines and books and soaking up as much information about interior styling as I can.

Abigail has some really great tips for breaking the rules in interiors. I love her mix of quirky and surprising elements, her penchant for spray painting in high gloss colour (that desk is amazing!) and her bold use of oversized objects. She uses dark colours to achieve great dramatic effect- with layers of texture and pattern and these sudden pops of bright colour. Oh my, I'm smitten.

Watch this video where she meets The Selby and check out her gorgeous East London home! You can see the Real Living article here and more pics of her home on The Selby.

And in other news....

Yes, we bought a new couch... and it's awesome. I was in two minds about posting a pic before I had finished styling it up to my satisfaction. This is the work-in-progress version. I generally hate showing people things before I've finished, but I've bitten the bullet. I'm determined to document more of my decorating journey on this blog. As you can see you've caught the couch in a colour-crazy stage in it's evolution!

Although I'm still very much at the start of this journey and have a long way to go to complete our home, I have already learned how essential it is to only buy furniture and objects that you absolutely LOVE. Sometimes it's so tempting to buy a piece because it 'fits' well and you're eager to finish off a space but it's so much more rewarding if you wait it out until you find something that really makes you HAPPY because everytime you look at it, you get to feel that joy all over again. Imagine an entire home filled to the brim with objects that create that effect!

{ 01 } Cushions from left to right- Bonnie and Neil, Ankasa, Niki Jones, Bonnie and Neil, Toast 

{ 02 } Lazy Susan lotus resin taupe container from Zinc Door

{ 03 } Essex Sofa from Crate and Barrel

{ 01 } Zagora rug from Anthropologie

{ 02 } Bell Jar lamp from Old Faithful

{ 03 } Genova side table from Anthropologie

{ 04 } Vintage pink candle holders from Luna Bazaar

{ 05 } Orbit side table from Zinc Door

{ 06 } Lazy Susan gold hammered pillar candle from Zinc Door

I'm slightly obsessed with rattan furniture at the moment. Pretty soon it will take over the entire house. I spotted The Family Love Tree on Design*Sponge and was delighted to find out they're an Australian based company!

I want that bedhead.

I must confess, I've never been a huge fan of all this Instagram madness. I think the spurt of blurry and grainy snaps laden with gloomy toned filters initially put me off....but now, I gotta admit, I'm a little hooked! You can see my instagrams here.

I'm still in the process of decorating our house and it's ever-evolving. I am pretty happy with our little window nook where I occasionally cosy up on the button-tufted armchair with a cup of tea and some magazines. So far, our place definitely evokes an overwhelming rustic vibe, but in the future I intend to inject some different styles into the mix- perhaps some contemporary brights, a bit of glam, and a touch of mid-century. Oh, and I definitely need more fairy lights.

What are some of your favourite decorating styles?

(You can download the patterned tape strips, used in the above image, from Pugly Pixel.)

For Australia Day, Mark and I hosted a bbq for some friends and family. About a year ago we moved into our beautiful house in the 'burbs, so I guess you could say that the occasion was also a housewarming of sorts.  I'm still very much in the process of doing up our place- finding the right bits and pieces to transform it into a warm, cosy home.

For the celebration I decorated our dining table with some brightly coloured flowers in terracotta pots. The cane chairs, I'm proud to say, were picked up at an op shop for a mere $40 (for a set of four). They add some character to our dining setting. Best. Buy. Ever.

We're looking to eventually find a large, elegant, solid wood outdoor table for our deck but couldn't find one that we liked in time for the day so we settled for some cafe style tables and stools which ended up looking quite cute!

The gorgeous glass jugs in the pic above added a touch of Mexico and were found at Market Import (one of my fave homeware shops in Melbourne). I also laid out my ever-expanding collection of colourful bowls which contained the pre-bbq munchies.

Hmm... perhaps I should have made Sangria?

{ photos by Amy Moss }

Congratulations to Vanessa F. You have won a copy of Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney!! I will be contacting you shortly for postal details. A big thanks to Aussie distributors Hardie Grant Books for this amazing giveaway. For those who didn't win- it's out now! Go grab yourselves a copy!

I have a penchant for the eclectic. I think the 'unexpected' is a vital ingredient in a successfully designed interior and I adore homes that are the product of years of lovingly collected and created objects. It is the element of surprise that excites me! The juxtaposition of seemingly unmatching materials; the co-existence of objects from different eras and ethnic origins. Start with a dash of Danish mid-century, a touch of antique Victorian and a sprinkling of Industrial. Throw in a pinch of Indian, Balinese or Moroccan for some added spice and some contemporary typography, Germanic folk art and American Colonial needlepoint for whimsy. Mix in some metal, wood, leather, plastic, cane, fabric, glass, pattern, colour and texture. Stir vigorously.

Unless you've been living under a rock you've probably heard that Grace Bonney of design*sponge has recently brought out a book. Entitled Design*sponge at Home, this 390 page 'bible' of home decor contains 75 sneak peeks into the homes of creatives that are usually the artistic compilation of eclectic flea market finds, their own creative works, the odd coveted designer item and some good, old-fashioned DIY prowess.

This book is not just about the art of collection but of transformation. Some of the artists re-paint, re-upholster and re-purpose their way to domestic perfection. The resulting homes are not just aesthetically interesting, they are stories. Each abode is a narrative that describes the experiences, artistry, vision and hearts of their inhabitants.

A pioneer in the design blogosphere- Grace Bonney would have to be one of the most influential bloggers in her genre. She has been a source of inspiration, and has diligently paved the way, for bloggers (myself included) who dare to enter the now highly inundated niche. She started design*sponge in 2004 and today she has a daily readership in the tens of thousands with addicted readers popping back almost hourly to catch an update! Her 'sneak peek'  and 'DIY' columns have been revolutionary, proving that you don't need to have a giant bank account to create a 'designer' home.

Design*Sponge at Home also contains some DIY projects and flower arranging tutorials to help with your own creative endeavours! To see more pics and get more info- go here. Be sure to check out the cute little video preview!

Now for the great news! Australian distributors Hardie Grant Books have sent me a copy to give away to one lucky Eat Drink Chic reader!!  (And yes, this giveaway is open to International readers also!)

Here's what you have to do to win.

1. Leave a comment at the end of this post.

2. In the 'name' box please include your first name and the first letter of your last name

3. In the 'email' box please include a valid email address.

4. Only one entry per person please!

A winner will be randomly selected from the comments.

Competition closes on Tuesday September 13 at 9pm  (Australian EST). The winner will be announced the following day!

Good luck!

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED! THE WINNER IS Vanessa F. Congratulations!!

Would love to have one of these colourful beauties in my home. From Bokja.

What a frustrating week! First a nasty computer virus then an erratic server- so sorry for the lack of updates thus far! Anyway, better late than never right?

I'm currently tempted to pay a visit to Hare & Grace- a Melbourne eatery and minibar designed by the talented Joost Bakker. Judging from their website gallery both their food and interior look equally delicious!

{ photos from Hare and Grace website }

a  Stamp Rugs officially licenced by The Royal Mail { via Adore Home }

b  Happy Easter gift tags from Kikki K

c  Handmade candy by Selfridges { via hooray }

d  'It's OK' banner from Secret Holiday

e  Lavender Lorne Button Back Chair from Early Settler

f   Sweet collages by Bird in a Bunny Suit

g  Missoni Mare Swimsuit from Net a Porter

h  Custom designed typographic wood puzzles- "Nuzzles" by John Christenson

i  Coral Leather Bow Make-up bag from Topshop

j  Teal confetti from Kristina Marie

k  Pink Suede 'Meow' shoes by Jeffrey Campbell from Solestruck

l  Pintuck Velvet Pillow from Urban Outfitters

With a strong focus on eco-friendly practice and design, Apples and Jam in South Melbourne looks like a wonderful new space that hosts fun, crafty and creative parties for kids. They also provide children's classes and playgroups.

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Love the stylish, 'outdoor picnic' inspired space! Makes me wish I was a kid again...

Love the colours in ... this kitchen by love made me do it ... and "Sun Pattern" artwork for Roxy by Jeff Canham.

My perfect { imaginary } afternoon consists of sitting on this gorgeous springtime button-tufted loveseat (Anthropologie), leaning back against this edith cushion (mimou), enjoying a delicious baked delight topped with strawberries (Bar Jules) whilst daydreaming and doodling creative ideas in this Nathalie Lete journal (Anthropologie) in a house decorated somewhat like this lovely home (belonging to Catherine Hammerton).

What's your perfect afternoon?

{ Catherine Hammerton's home - photography by Brent Darby }

Loving this hanging cluster of globular lanterns and pom poms in this nursery design by photographer Ashley Ann. More in this article here on Oh Dee Doh.

{ via Love. Obsess. Inspire. Photography by Ashley Ann }

Should I ever visit L.A again, I must take a peek at Heath Ceramics. Beautiful homeware in a gorgeous space designed by Commune.

Some sweet finds in the Spring/Summer 2010 House & Home catalogue at Toast. I especially love their bedlinen.

I only just discovered the Ramblings of Dottie Angel. It's a delight to scroll through the beautifully composed images of Tif Fussell's crafty creations, collection of vintage goodies and loveable dachshund Olive.

Which reminds me, I really want to get this book.