point + shoot: the pretty house

I have been stalking a pretty house - in real life driving past and on the Facebook page checking out photos of the interior. It is a display called 'The Laila' for Smart Homes Victoria and is literally 200m from my best friend's house in Drouin. So of course I snooped around with iPhone in hand to share some photos with you all. 

See, isn't she pretty? There's Elisha heading inside...

So whilst the boys got building a deck, we got shopping for a new house. Of course we weren't legitimate potential buyers...Elisha and her husband have just built in the same estate and Mr M and I at this rate will never be building our own home as we will most likely always be managing other peoples land and living in other people's homes on farm. Sigh. But it's nice to look at things if we did ever have the chance to build.

The Laila design has a central wide hallway which I loved, with a master bedroom at the front with a walk through wardrobe to ensuite (which I also loved). Across the hall is a little lounge room which we were thinking would either be a great parents retreat sitting room with no TV or a kids playroom to throw all the toys! There's a study with French doors into the hallway, a functional laundry, a family bathroom with white subway tiles and a claw foot slipper bath (yes!), two good sized bedrooms further down the hall and then eventually opens out onto the open plan kitchen/living/dining. 

The main living area is a great space, I was thinking it was going to look much smaller in real life but in reality we decided we could definitely move straight in with no complaints! The big farmhouse kitchen sink had me, as did the big gas stove and traditional surround. I also loved the soft muted dove grey paint colour throughout the house. Not unlike what Josh and Jenna used on The Block.

Of course, there were lots of things we thought we would change - "I would've moved the shower over three inches for easier cleaning" or "I'm not sold on a kitchen sink in the island bench". That sort of thing. But if it were your own home build I'm sure you would figure all those things out. 

The way Laila is designed  I think she would make a beautiful and functional family home. As we were leaving (and checking out the gorgeous wrap around veranda, dry creek bed front garden and cute garage) I looked back and noticed the little windows in the roofline which I liked so much - but where in the house are they? We went back in and realised they weren't windows into the house anywhere, they must just be into the roof space - which had my head filled with ideas of an attic sewing room...one day?

Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella

P.S. Playing along with Lou over at sunny + scout to share photos of your weekend :)

{ Oil Cloth Desk }

Don't get me wrong - my desk has served me well. It was cheap when I was a uni student, handy as I lived across the road from Ikea so could drag it home by myself, easy to transport when I've moved the four times since then, easy to clean, simple and white. 

But then I saw this desk on decor8 covered with oil cloth...

...and thought 'that is my desk, in a whole new light!' How bright and cheerful does it look? And the little work area has my much coveted shelving above desk, which I would love but have a window in front of me. And it has a fabulously neat fabric stash. And a pretty chandelier. And a funky Eames chair. And a granny rug. Oh man. 

So I have been looking at this oil cloth for a possible make-over, what do you think?

{ Lonny Love }

The new edition of online magazine Lonny is fresh off the...press? With the sad decline of printed magazines, online versions are popping up everywhere, but Lonny definitely stands out from the rest. Filling the void of the much mourned Domino, Lonny offers inspiring home tours, innovative design ideas and beautiful imagery. 

  

Some of my favourite features this issue were this beautiful ornate white mirror, used in the unlikely scenario of a nursery and against the clean lines of the cot it looks amazing. As well as the yellow and white splashes in this living area - yum. 

 

Blue and white as a traditional staple never ceases to amaze me. I'd like a lot more blue and white in the cottage, these images had me convinced! Love the white kitchen with industrial touches of worn timber farmhouse table and stainless steel, as well as the beautiful shape of that grey couch...

 

If you haven't discovered Lonny before I suggest you get over there and check out the latest offering. It is beautiful edited, shot and creatively directed - a feast for dabbling designers. 

{ All images from Lonny magazine }

{ Turlee Station Inspiration }

Turlee Station, run by Sophie and Nathen Wakefield, is in outback NSW and has opened it's doors to accommodation in the property's shearers quarters. Sophie contacted me to find some inspiration for the Australian country style she has envisioned and I was only too happy to put together some mood boards for her. 

Sophie wants something quintessentially Australian to give the great sense of the rugged outback environment she calls home, but also needs all the creature comforts of a relaxing getaway home-away-from-home. The accommodation is in a converted corrugated iron shed, with timber laminate floors and the clean lines of a white Ikea kitchen flatpack.  Sophie's main concern was not too be 'too country' - no chickens, no gingham, no hay bales! Sophie and Nathen have Turlee Station Stay blog also and you can see images of the working station and accommodation on flickr. 

Top image sources

Metal locker: ici et la

Freestanding sink: Ikea

Clock: Provincial Home Living

Galvanised chair: Matt Blatt

Cowhide: Ikea

Zinc letter: ici et la

Iron bed: L.L. Bean

Bottom image sources

Throw: Orson & Blake

Sheep print: Sharon Montrose

Initial hook: Anthropologie

Leather armchair: Orson & Blake

Paint: Puddle by Dulux

Screen: Freedom

Cushion: My Sparrow

Farmhouse table: Perfect Pieces

{ Images by Little Miss Emma }

{ Interior and Fashion Inspiration }

Today I would love to be sitting here sipping my morning cup of tea with Tessa. I love a good window seat. I'm finding it fun/interesting lately to either design my home around my wardrobe tastes or dress according to how my home-life is feeling. Today I need to do some serious tidying up so not feeling like wearing a cute dress like this! Although maybe I should - who said I can't scrub the bathroom in heels??!

If you are in Melbourne this weekend Little Miss Emma will be showing at the Sister's Market at the St Kilda Town Hall on Saturday. Pop in to see some beautifully handmade goodies by some seriously talented people - I would love to see you!

{ Interior from here, fashion from here }

{ Interior Styling on flickr }

The blogging genius herself Holly from decor8 has created this great group on flickr. If you're like me and find everything about interior styling and visual merchandising so intriguing and utterly delicious you should go check out some nice eye candy.

New years resolution #1 is to become a better {albeit amateur} stylist in my own home/work. December 15th and the resolutions have begun...

{ Image here by nestdecorating }