Style Compromises

Obviously from my previous posts you would have guessed I love a wide variety of design styles. I really love eclectic and interesting design, I love all the creams and beige's and how they mix so well with both vibrant and pastel pops of colour. I love how items like old cricket balls in a glass canister can look amazingly artistic and how old swimsuits or photo's make a house feel like it has a history.

The thing is - in Perth modern minimalism reigns supreme. I will admit there is a small smattering of Asian inspired decor however anything else is very hard to find and I'm not sure if my house would feel like it belonged if mix and mingle all the different styles I love.

How on earth am I going to mix all of these together...

A little bit of this (Modern minimalism)

And a little bit of this (Hampton's - cream fresh decor)

Along with almost a formal Victorian Edge


And lets not forget a really weird eclectic clutter



Finally I style I just don't know where to put - its almost luxury hotel.... I love it even though I cant name it

Its a fine line to walk on - the question is am a strong enough as a non professional designer to make it happen.

Cold Feet

I am writing today (well late Wednesday afternoon) as tomorrow my family is having Christmas. We have quite an interesting family dynamic and there are usually only days at a time throughout the year when everyone is home at once. Tomorrow is the only day between now and late January its possible to get everyone in the same room. (Unfortunately in order for that to happen my darling husband has to fly the entire breadth of Australia on the red eye just to make it happen)

So I thought since I will be opening presents and swilling champers tomorrow I would write today instead.

I wanted to talk about cold feet. I am sure everyone has them, mostly with getting married but at the moment I am having them about the house. We are building a very big expensive house and in doing so will have to put our down south dream on hold for a few years.... the thing is, what if I built a smaller house, what if we took out the pool, what if I could live with a house that didn't have a dressing room and a library and floor to ceiling tiles. What if we had just a normal little house and then we could also have our holiday home down south. I keep going back and fourth, I know I need to build the big house but i really really want the little down south cottage.... please let me win lotto, I want my cake and I want to eat it too.... More lovely images of my down south dream....

My dream land


The cute little cottage - maybe not so little

The white country kitchen

And of course the heavenly New England decor...

Upstairs Built In's

I am struggling at the moment to get my head around my upstairs living area. I have a library and a sitting room - The library is easy - Shelves however the sitting room will include a computer / home office, kitchenette and a small and cosy TV room. I would also love to incorporate a window seat if possible. I love the idea of window seats and am dying to find a place to stick one!

I know I want built in's for the study, kitchenette and the library and I want them all to match beautifully but how the will sit, what layout, colour and finishes I just cant seem to get sorted.

This is sort of what I was thinking - perhaps by putting it down on my blog I will clarify what I am after.

Stairway to Heaven

For some random reason I love the idea of staircases where the treads are wood and the "risers?" are white. It looks so clean and crisp and fresh and I think its such a wonderful way of contrasting the wood but I wonder if perhaps this is too much of a traditional look to be pulled off in my house. The first picture is quite modern but really it doesn't seem to work as well as the second two pictures which just blow me away.... the bottom one is my dream house, how heavenly is that. I can see my tiny little children with dark hair and hopefully neat bright red clothing running up and down them as they play. If only I had been brave enough to go for a traditional New England style house but to be honest, I stick to what I know. Clean crisp modern decor which i am hoping to make just that little bit eclectic. Do these stairs fall under eclectic I wonder?

Latest Lust Have

I am totally completely in lust with Mor Cosmetics. Not only do they smell divine but the packaging almost makes you not want to open them up. I say almost because to be honest once you smell it you cant help but want to use it all up.

This is my current favorite and I think it would look heavenly in my bathroom.

Wallpaper

I lurv wallpaper - it feels rich and old fashioned to me and I adore the way its used these days. Upstairs I have a wall that runs down one side of the sitting room and continues down a hallway into the kids bedrooms. On this wall I want some paper and these are a few of the options I am thinking would be perfect.

Those are some of my options but to be honest - I have 90% settled on this woods wallpaper. Is this heaven or what?

Armchair Heaven

You would all be aware that I adore armchairs. What you possibly don't realise is just how much they give me goosebumps when they are in a room looking lovely all on their lonesome. I love how they bring a different dimension to a room no matter what style, minimalist, french or relaxed Australian they just make you want to sit down and relax.

These are a few of my all time favorites, different styles, different rooms and different chairs and yet they all seem to add to the room somehow...