Home Build | String Styling

If you've been following my Home Build series, you'll know all about my obsession with String, the iconic Scandinavian shelving system. Having first wrote about it in my living room inspiration post, I'm happy to report that the String Shelf arrived safely, thanks to Bob and Friends who I introduced you to here, and is now assembled and ready to go! 

Over the weekend I started to unpack a few things and had fun rearranging them on the shelves, taking a couple of Instagram pics as I went along. My iPhone camera is getting a lot of use lately - I promise I'll take some better photos on my camera soon! 

I bought a few new plants yesterday, one of which is a small palm, perfect for the String. I also have my eye on many more gorgeous things including books, candles, prints and other decorative pieces. All fit in with the monochrome palette, along with touches of grey, blush and gold. As well as plants, I'd like to add more pale wood, ceramic and metallic details for layers of texture. 

Shelves of any kind provide a great way to display treasures and inject personality and soul into a home. Here's a selection of items from my wishlist, that will hopefully inspire you too.   

01 String Shelf Styling by Nordic Leaves
02 Wooden Clint Box by Ferm Living 
03 Tom Dixon Eclectic Candle
04 Kate - The Kate Moss Book
05 The Fashion Book Mini Edition
06 Eames House Bird
07 Kubis 4 by By Lassen
08 Deer Framed Print by Angela McKay for Father Rabbit
09 Vedel Bird by Achitectmade
10 Gold Bag by Uashmama from Girl & Graaf
11 Milk Lamp by &Tradition
12 Tom Dixon Eclectic Cast Mini Jack
13 Styling with Green Plants by Stylizimo

Genesin Studio & Moodboards

A post on Sideboard Styling that I wrote over a year ago immediately sprung to mind when I saw the image below. Two favourite images included the Flos 265 Lamp, and now I can add this one to the list. I've mentioned before how much I'd  love to own this design classic for our living room, preferably near the picture wall, extended over the sofa. But the line of it over a sideboard gets me every time. I also love the grouping of ceramics and books together with the simple circle print. 

This elegant, minimalist style is seen throughout Hazelwood Park Residence in South Australia, designed by Genesin Studio, who recently received the Emerging Practice Award at the 2013 Australian Interior Design Awards. A new build for a family of four, I love the 1950’s style architecture and mid-century modern furniture. 

The stunning use of marble in the kitchen, together with wood panelling gets my heart racing as does the extensive use of marble in the bathrooms. Together with the oversized round mirror, the room below is a real showstopper. 

Another Flos lamp in the living area (imagine owning two!) and I'm positively drooling. 

To see more projects by Genesin, including an incredible retail space, pop over here. 

Photo credit: Jonathan van der Knaap

Here are my latest moodboards, curated as always from my Pinterest boards.  

The one above was in celebration of reaching a milestone - 5000 likes on Facebook! Big, big thanks to those of you who follow along - I love sharing my daily snippets of design goodness with you all! 

We have a long list of house stuff to do this weekend, including getting the String Shelf assembled, and hopefully getting some artwork up. The bathroom mirrors should go in next week (fingers crossed) and building the fence should commence, so we are making progress! Have a lovely break and I'll see you back here Monday x 

Homes to Inspire | Natural Beauty

I stumbled across this unique home late last night and was intrigued by the architecture and interior style. This morning I couldn't wait to look at it again with fresh eyes (after my coffee fix) and I have to say I'm pretty smitten. Located in Cape Town, South Africa, it was designed by Chilean architect Antonio Zaninovic. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape and forest reserve of Table Mountain nearby, natural materials such as concrete, bricks and bamboo have been used in such a way as to mimic the structure of a tree. The resulting family home which is deceptively spacious and easy to live in, resembles that of a contemporary glass-box tree house. 

Turkish designer Yelda Bayraktar took on the interior project, in collaboration with the owner Jo Springthorpe, a fashion editor. Predominantly white with lashings of green and an abundance of wood give the home a fresh yet earthy feel, further connecting with nature and the beautiful outdoors. Vintage textiles, African design pieces and a mix of original mid-century modern furnishings make for some wonderfully vibrant spaces. Gorgeous plants and colourful artworks add the finishing touches. 

Clearly a surfing family, the indoor/outdoor spaces provide an idyllic lifestyle. 

The white Tulip Chairs designed by Eero Saarinen in the kitchen look great against the concrete and wood.

Such superb styling! I love the rug, greenery, vintage touches and photographic art. 

More green in the bedroom, expansive glass, and a lovely outdoor spot.

There's definitely a relaxed, holiday feel to this home which is so appealing. If you'd like to see more, there are some additional images on the architect's site. While you're there check out some more of Antonio Zaninovic's work. It's pretty spectacular! 

Images via casavogue.globo.com

Esé Studio

Esé Studio Architects in Athens, Greece is a partnership that was formed in 2011 between good friends Sotos Mallas and Aaron Ritenour. Aaron is an award winning architect whose work has been published in several top publications while Sotos, an interior architect passionate about architecture, design and fashion is known for his cutting edge work. Their combined talents have resulted in some incredible collaborations so far, one of which is the Musique Cafe in Athens. 

What immediately struck me about the restaurant interior was its cool, industrial style. Black and grey chequered flooring, a mix of classic chairs and rustic wood tables all come together to create a very warm and inviting atmosphere. I especially love the pendant lights and stacked wood pallets.  

Here are a few examples of their residential work. Predominantly modern with clean lines, I love the neutral colour pallets and combination of concrete and wood. Furnished with unique touches and beautiful design pieces, there's a definite sense of luxury. I certainly wouldn't mind living in such surroundings!  

In the Faliro Loft I love both the lamp in the dining area and the minimalist ceiling lights, also seen in the bedroom. The bathroom's dark and moody vibe is given a lift with patterned floor tiles and an adjacent outdoor area that is bathed in light. 

The architectural wood detailing in the Lycabettus Penthouse is remarkable. I love the combination in the living area: beautiful pale floorboards, white boards on the ceiling and very narrow walnut panelling on the wall. Concrete introduced in the dining area adds further intrigue, while the bedroom has a distinctive Japanese style. I'm in awe!



Providing a stunning contrast to the pale wood flooring, the Kolonaki Townhouse features a beautiful concrete fireplace. I just want to reach out and touch that lovely pouffe!



The Thissio Apartment is all white with polished concrete floors. The dining area features a striking round rug, perfect for the Tulip table and Eames chairs. 

All images via http://esestudio.gr

Blog Love | Nordic Leaves

When I came across Nordic Leaves a couple of weeks back I felt like I'd struck gold. The beautiful interior design blog is written by Edina Sæther whose style and design aesthetic immediately struck a chord with me. As with many of the bloggers I write about here, Edina shares her own photography and home along with other inspiring design, art, fashion and foodie finds. I would say that her mission to make her blog "a magical place for dreams and inspiration" has definitely been accomplished!

Edina's signature Nordic style is evident throughout her stunning home and I've picked out some of my favourite areas to show you. In her office she favours black and white, splashes of colour (particularly yellow which she says she never tires of) and copper or brass. Although Edina is a self-confessed minimalist at heart, she likes having her favourite things on display which is why the String Shelving System works so well. Accessories from Hay, a Stendig Calendar and Eames House Bird from Vitra (who she lovingly refers to as Mr Birdie) are just some of the gorgeous homewares I'm coveting right now.

In fact I'm not kidding when I say that looking through Nordic Leaves is like looking at my own personal wishlist! The Etch candle holder by Tom Dixon is incredible. Available in brass, copper and silver, even just one would be lovely! They also make great pencil holders, don't you think?

More Tom Dixon magic with the Beat lights in the kitchen. I like how Edina mixes Ikea basics like the black picture frames with designer pieces like the Kartell Masters Chairs. There's a bit more colour here thanks to the gorgeous Smeg Fridge, fresh flowers, bright recipe books and a set of Pantone Mugs. 

Even Edina's baking and food styling is impeccable! 

The living room is bathed in light. A mustard coloured cushion adds a nice contrast to the grey and white furniture. I love the Gubi Floor Lamp, Eames Rocker and homemade pouffe. If you are thinking of painting your floors white, you'll find some great advice from Edina who is somewhat of an expert after painting hers twice in less than two years! Take a look here. 

The entry way is another gorgeous spot where Edina has added her own personal touch by decorating the front door with Ferm Living wall decals. She also painted four Ikea boxes and mounted them to the wall (with the help of her hubby) providing a great place to display her treasures. 

I feel like de-cluttering, painting my floors white and indulging in some retail therapy now. How about you? So much beautiful inspiration and the good news is Edina plans on taking more photos this year, so make sure you pop over to Nordic Leaves and follow along.  

Images with permission, via www.nordicleaves.com 

Homes to Inspire | Modern Findings

Here we are, Friday again, and what better way to end the week then with a fabulously inspiring home. This was one of those random finds that caused my eyes to pop when I took in all the incredible images. Belonging to the blogger behind Modern Findings, a site dedicated to showcase personal collections and all things mid-century modern, this home is a shining example of how amazing mid-century design can look, when executed well. 

Adding to the impeccable styling, you'll notice that in every room are plants and rugs, providing splashes of greenery and bright colour. 

White walls and concrete floors provide the perfect canvas for an amazing collection of furniture, artworks and homewares. On Modern Findings, you'll find a full House Tour, room by room, including photos showing the house when it was empty. A few minor changes have been made, such as with the staircase. Wooden floorboards have been added to the top of each stair and the handrail painted black. Very clever - I'm certainly taking note!

I love the mix of Scandi and Japanese style homewares, like the black and white cups and teapot. 

Spot the design classics! Eames, Acapulco, Louis Poulsen.. the list goes on. That cactus pop plant is insanely cool and the Tivoli radio is on my wishlist for our new house. 

Simple white shelves in the kitchen showcase an assortment of lovely mid-century homewares, while subway tiles add a bit of texture. 

These images are all taken in the bedroom, one of my favourite rooms. There is a lovely sense of balance and proportion and I really like the ethnic touches. How gorgeous are those hanging plants?  

A bright blue framed poster makes a big impact here.

If you're a fan of mid-century modern, then you can also check out Modern Findings on Tumblir, where you'll find a constant stream of gorgeous images. Fantastic for Pinterest addicts, I'll be joining you for some pinning very soon! 

All images via http://cargocollective.com/modernfindings  

Before I go, I just wanted to say have a lovely long weekend, if you're in Auckland or Northland. Monday is our Anniversary Day and we're very lucky to be heading up to Omaha tomorrow - my favourite beach, north of Auckland - to stay with friends at their beach house. I do however have a post prepared for Monday, so I'll see you then!