i need a hammock

Need i say anything more....?

chessboard pavers return

My life revolves around images I think. I am a very visual person. Thats why I got so excited when I found this picture of the chessboard pavers... I have been thinking about these since I started the blog! See the picture at the bottom for the original that sparked my inspiration!!

(I think you would want to dig the pavers into the ground a little more, though..)

desiretoinspire

thebridescafe

a bird that's tres chic

How great would this be out in the garden, or on the patio?

I love our native Australian birds. It would be lovely to see more of them around the house. This bird house looks so chic.

nestdallas

art is everywhere

This little display is strung up above Church Street in Parramatta. I haven't thought that much of it, until I have been becoming more heavily involved in design, homes and this blog.

I am not sure what it is meant to represent, but I have taken notice of how beautiful it is - simple cones of mesh, strung up high above the street. Perhaps something this simple would make an outdoor entertaining area or garden something special?

served with grey goose vodka?

Who would have thought a patio could be so monotone, but so preddy!

Note to self:

• rustic looking stones = recycled materials = cheap!
• you don't need flowers and colour just because its a garden!
• AND this means - water restrictions won't hurt your garden and our drought stricken country will thank you!

Thought to self...why do we so commonly think of English gardens? I think I need to look into some inspiration for gardens around the world! Just as long as it isn't those over-the-top Thailand gardens with elephants and Buddha! Don't get me wrong - Buddha is great, but I would rather concentrate on texture, light and shadow in a garden! And make it comfortable of course!

I can't build a wall, but I am thinking paving, garden edges - Indian gardens swathed in white fabric, shading you on a hot afternoon...

martha martha martha

Officer, put an ankle bracelet on me and put me under house arrest at Martha Stewart's place - because she is my idol!

My dream would be to work for her - playing with crafts all day, taking pretty pictures and updating the Martha Stewart website. I love her! So...she is going to be on this blog...A LOT!

I have been thinking about outdoor living a lot lately so I thought I would check out what Martha has to offer. She has some fabulous pictures of how to light and decorate entertaining areas in cheap and creative ways.

Love the tiki lamps. They are cheap, look so preddy and are easily stored. On a side point, I love the path in this picture. It is windy enough to appear to blend in with the natural surroundings and it has large stone pavers interspersed between grass. Maybe a way to save money on pavers? Don't pave the whole thing, just a few here and there. It outlines where the path is really well, but doesn't cost a fortune? Also, have a thought about the grass. Even if you are paving, grass is going to grow between the cracks and then you have to physically pull it out yourself. If you leave the path fairly natural, as above, you can just run the lawn mower over it!

You don't need expensive outdoor lighting for your entertainment area. Hang jam jars with tealight candles underneath tabletop umbrellas to save on table space (also keeps them out of the hands of the tiny tots!) The mood would be much improved from that of the glare of a floodlight or starkness of a lightbulb.

Turn a camp cot into an elegent daybed. That would be a lot cheaper than buying some of the day beds out there! Use an old cot frame, sand it back and give it a lick of paint.

If you need a new mattress, you can buy foam by the metre at places in Australia such as Clark Rubber, cover it in a fabric of your choice and whola! I do admit the cushions in complementing fabrics do look fabulous!

Coming into a new home in a new housing area, chances are the only shade you have, is the shade you have created yourself. New home builders rarely have enough money to include a covered verandah or pagola, to enjoy your backyard, so don't wait for the trees to grow - just string a canopy up yourself!

There are ready made styles available in building stores or you can create one yourself with a piece of fabric and some string!

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the hardest ideas to come up with!

Creative and functional is the motto!

let there be light!

I was checking out Jamie Durie's Patio range for Target when I came across garden lighting options. Thinking about it, I realised how much lighting is often overlooked.

When I was looking through the Metricon range of homes, they stood out because of the mood lighting. Thats what grabbed me. They looked warm and inviting. Why can't we make our own homes warm and inviting?

Garden lighting feels like a bit of a luxury and quite a bit of work to set it up, but the Jamie Durie range is solar powered so you push them into the ground, charge them up and away they go! Also the prices are really reasonable - under $30 for certain sets and items.

A directional spotlight could be shone up a tree, at the house or into a dark position in an entertainment area.

Stone finish bollard lights could fit between stones in your garden so they don't stand out too much. Stones would throw the light and shadow in different directions, which would make it interesting.

These floating lights (yes, floating!) are safe in water and could be used in a pool, fountain - anything you like! I love the look of candles floating in water. These would be safer and you wouldn't have to blow them out!


I am not sure what Jamie Durie's lights look like at night. The picture below is just to inspire.

Picture taken by Richard Webb 2007 from website