Suggestions Please!

This sofa and two chairs belonged to my husbands Grandparents. They were New Zealanders and I believe they were made around the early 1900s. The cane work has been restored about 30 years ago and they were reupholstered. As you can see they are badly in need of a revamp!
I would love some suggestions or information on them-
I am thinking that I may just have one large seat cushion and two back cushions on the sofa???? Also favouring a velvet to reupholster them with.
If you've seen my website you'll know that I work with velvet a lot! unfortunately it's silk velvet and I don't think it will withstand a lot of wear and tear- shame as I would have loved to have used that it has such a vintage look.

so, suggestions please!

What a great idea!

Just a quick post - had to share these photos of the Comme des Garcons shop in Kobe, Japan. The feature was in an old issue of World of Interiors, [Sept 06] and I had bookmarked it as I think it was such an innovative idea. Typical of Rei Kawakubo. Photos of grand palaces from past issues of the magazine were blown up to life size images and papered onto the walls. The rooms are linked by irregular shaped openings through which one can see other images. Love it!

ballroom at the Palazzo Gangi in Palermo, Sicily.

Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul with a views of the Palazzo Gangi in the background.



The entrance is papered with images of the Dolmabahce Palace Schloss Favorite, Germany.



Another view of the Dolmabahce Palace with a view of the hall of mirrors, Palazzo Gangi , Palermo in the background.

My first piece of furniture!

Our local high school in Margaret River has a fantastic woodwork department and teacher! Ian, the teacher, gives up his wednesday night to run a wood work class. No prior knowledge is needed and you can make what ever you like! Ian will help you with the construction plan, setting up with the machinery etc. Nothing is a problem, it's great!
My daughter, Anna & I decided to go and bought a large slab of Marri, which is a native timber, otherwise known as Red Gum from our local salvage yard. We decided to do a couple of console tables as they aren't too tricky. I should have taken photos as we went along, but here are a couple of the finished product. The wood has a black grain running through it and is very knotty, but I love it and am feeling very pleased with them. Now my head is buzzing with what I will make next........

one of the pair

close up of the grain

Joesph Ettedguis Chelsea flat

I've been a fan of Joseph Ettedguis clothes for many years, so it was no surprise that I love what Gilles & Boissier have done to his flat in Chelsea.Although I adore colour, I am always drawn to this look of understated elegance and I especially love the oak panelling. Joseph and his wife , Isabel have taken over Connolly Leather, an old firm known for the interiors of Aston Martins and Rolls Royces.

I particularly like the console table and the bronze sculpture by Demal and the candle holders and well, everything actually!

so simple, but achingly chic.

understated elegance in the master bedroom

two of my favorite things - marble and white orchids

beautiful oak panelling and those fabulous candle holders

beautiful and functional, yet still liveable. The roses everywhere in the house gve it a "homely feel", if you know what I mean!

all photos courtesy of House & Garden June 2008, English edition.

Bali

As I was trawling through the net looking for a villa to rent in Bali, I thought I'd share some of the images with you all, enjoy!

what a view! 

Love this pool

wish I was there right now!

love the infinity pool

I just love open air bathrooms

How wonderful !

Getting Away From It All ………………..

Thought you may enjoy some photos I took recently whilst in Exmouth, a small town which sits on the Ningaloo Reef. This reef is, at 260 kms, the longest fringing reef in the world. The majority of it is in National Park, which means that it is protected. Just walk off the beach into an underwater world teeming with fish, amazing coral gardens and further out, Whale Sharks. I swam with turtles, reef sharks and had a close encounter with a Wobbegong shark that was lazing around on the sea bed! The beaches are full of washed up corals, shells and other treasures from the reef.

Early Morning Visitors!

Osprey Bay

Another deserted beach……….

And another!

The beaches are full of washed up corals

Coral fossilized in rocks on the beach… about 30 million years old.

More washed up inspiration

While I beach combed, my husband Tony surfed

Yardie Creek, the Pilbarra region is full of amazing Gorges

Another amazing sunset

Swedish Inspiration

I thought I'd share some of the photos I took last summer whilst visiting Halsingland in the north of Sweden last year. The trip was organised by Nordiska Museum as part of the International Wallpaper Conference. We visited a number of 18th century farmhouses which all had roomfuls of beautifully preserved wallpaper. This was due to the fact that many of

the farmers became wealthy because of the value of their crops of flax. 

They built separate "summer houses" for parties and family events and this was where they hung the wallpapers. Because these summer houses were only used for special occasions the wallpaper has remained relatively undamaged.

Everything has stayed the same,with nothing thrown away over the years. A rarity these days in our throw away world!

Visiting Halsingland was a highlight as only a few months previously I had been intrigued  by some photos  in the March 07 issue of World of Interiors showcasing fabrics in some of the farmhouses.

I hope you enjoy the following photos,