Interior Styling | Grey & White

When it comes to interiors, grey and white is a simple colour scheme, but one that evokes a feeling of calm. I I especially love seeing this palette in the bedroom which is why there are several in my moodboard above, curated from my Pinterest boards. I'm on the lookout for some new bedding and I love the idea of mixing these colours, together with black accents or a soft colour like dusky pink. Pale grey with white can create a really dreamy look, while darker greys and charcoal shades add depth. I also love wearing grey and white, especially in Summer. 

I've come across some beautiful grey and white homes recently. Too many to share all at once, I've picked out some of my favourite rooms, starting with this lovely bathroom in the home of Norgwegian blogger Elisabeth Heier.  

Natural details like the rustic wooden stool and storage basket give this light-filled, pared-back space a relaxed, lived in feel. 

I'm in love with the grey and white towels!

What better way to add grey and white to the kitchen than with marble? Together with white subway tiles, industrial pendants and natural wood, the muted kitchen above has a lovely fresh feel. 

A serene living room (also from the home of Elisabeth Heier) and gorgeous picture wall in the bedroom below...

Pale wood herringbone floors and touches of black compliment this grey and white open plan space...

The stylish grey sofa anchors the living room, while gold pendant lights and tapware, together with a marble bench in the kitchen make me swoon!

Images: 1-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6-8 

Here are a few grey and white homewares that have caught my eye recently. 

1 Bobby Blanket by Luckyboysunday

2 Fouta Towel by Anna Backlund from Fine Little Day

3 Knotty Floor Cushion by Kumekodesign

4 Grey & Milk Striped Cotton Floor Rug from LET LIV

5 Fort Standard Marble & Leather Trivet from Everyday Needs

6 Gran Grey Pillow Case by Elisabeth Dunker from Fine Little Day

7 Fog Linen Tray Grey & White Stripe from Father Rabbit

8 Calni Quilt Cover from Country Road Home

9 Coyuchi Diamond Pewter Rug by Coyuchi Father Rabbit

I just had the pleasure of being a guest curator for the brilliant website A Cut Above the Retsy, which includes a daily-updated, curated database of the best shops Etsy has to offer. One of my faves from the list above, the Knotty Cushion (3) was included in my picks. To see what else I chose, take a look here. Big thanks to A Cut Above the Retsy's talented author Mélanie Beauvironnois for having me!  

Moodboard & Home Build

Short and sweet today, as I've been rushing around organising my son's birthday party and doing more house-build-stuff! I also accidentally bumped into Father Rabbit along the way... which inevitably led to a bit of shopping. Oops. More on that soon. 

This moodboard was inspired by the muted chalky tones I'm really into right now. I love soft pastels mixed with a touch of murkiness to add depth and texture. Oh, and YEAH for Friday! All images via my Pinterest boards. 

On the home front, we finally put the Muuto Unfold Pendants from IDH up over the dining table, and they look stunning. New plants which have ended up on the dining table, also look lovely alongside my LET LIV Rug and RK Design Alphabet Print from The Minimalist. When we put up our picture wall (hopefully this weekend) I'll report back on who I used for the framing. 

I finally got the Father Rabbit Tea Towel I've been hankering for since way back here, and I couldn't resist grabbing two more things from my wishlist, the Fog Linen Tray and Cloud Chopping Board. I've also started a moodboard for the office, with the beautiful Leigh Viner Print I featured in this post. 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. Have fun, and I'll see you Monday! 

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 

Monday Mix Up | Design Loves

I couldn't think of a better way to start the week than with a Monday Mix Up, especially one with some of my favourite design finds of late.... 

I discovered these gorgeous pendant lights a couple of months ago over on Nordic Leaves. Beautifully crafted by Dutch furniture and interior design brand JSPR, Diamonds have a geometric design that is industrial yet elegant. Made from steel they come in gold or black. 

I can't resist a black, white and wood combo, so when I came across this styling shot for the Silhouette Knife by Norwegian Petter Skogstad, I liked what I saw. Made for an independent exhibition in Tokyo called Food Work, (which I recently read a great post about here) Silhouette is a modern take on deba bōchō, a traditional Japanese knife which literally means "pointed carving knife".

This little gem is the the Charles Coat Hook by Swiss designer Nikolas Kerl. Made from an irresistible combination of unfinished ash wood and polished marble, it comes in three varieties, with the grain of the marble making each hook one of a kind.  

Nike are my go-to when it comes to running shoes and like many, I've been embracing the neon versions of late. Judging by this recent model, the Womens Free Advantage Sneaker, it would seem that Nike is taking a turn towards a more pared-back minimalist look and I have to say I'm liking the change. Exclusive to Wellington store Good as Gold, you can purchase online, and request to be notified when they get more in, as some sizes are already sold out. Designed to "help female athlete's perform better during workouts" check out the shoe's superior features here.

To finish off, I've included my recent moodboards, all created using images from my Pinterest boards.



I'm not sure what the Queen would think of this moodboard, but I was inspired by the beautiful and uplifting quote by American novelist Jack Kerouac over the recent Queen's Birthday long weekend. Featuring zingy neons, Scandi style interiors, and a little bit of leopard print thrown in for fun. 

Social media plays a big part in world of blogging and reaching 4000 likes on Facebook recently gave me reason to smile and to reflect on the journey so far. Of course it was also a great excuse for a moodboard! Small Steps Every Day is from a lovely blog I've started following recently, A House in the Hills by Wedding photographer Sarah Yates. 

Lastly, some moodboard inspiration from Friday last week with the words Enjoy today and the gorgeous monochrome, pink and grey palette that I love so much. 

One more thing before I go... if you haven't yet done so, you still have time to enter the incredible Giveaway from Abode Living! The feedback so far has been wonderful, reinforcing just how fabulous the company and prize is, so don't miss out! You have until midnight tonight, NZ time (UTC+12). To enter and see details of the special reader offer valid until the end of the comp, pop over here.  

Monday Mix Up | Moodboard & Homestyle

When I saw the Inspire Someone Today image on April and May, I smiled. These words have huge meaning for me, being that this is what I strive to achieve every day through my work. Add to that a cute design featuring a gorgeous shade of turquoise that I'm loving right now and a moodboard was asking to be created! It's even available as a free iPhone background by ONR. Adding dusky pink and a touch of yellow to the mix, I really enjoyed curating this moodboard due to its pretty palette. With Danish brand Muuto and the blog Weekday Carnival being my other main inspirations, my Pinterest boards (as always) served me well! 

Today I want to tell you about one of our local mags, Homestyle New Zealand. The Winter issue has just hit the shops and I was eager to grab myself a copy for several reasons. You may remember when I wrote about the launch of Dunedin based company MintSix Boutique Homewares & Styling I mentioned that one of the owners Talia O'Connor was due to have her home featured? Well here it is, gracing the cover no less and looking absolutely gorgeous!  

Inside you'll find more photographs of Talia's amazing character-filled home, photographed by Emily Hlavac Green and an accompanying feature written by my friend and fellow blogger Vic Bibby of Cush & Nooks.


The gorgeous home of Talia O'Connor of MintSix and her family 

There's also a great lineup of other homes from around NZ, as well as a stunning new build in the Netherlands.


A cool renovated 1960s apartment in Auckland's Freeman's Bay

An impressive architecturally designed home in the Netherlands

Another huge drawcard for me, this issue has an interior styling spread titled Northern Lights, featuring four Scandi-style home makeovers. Styled by Alice Lines, Amber Armitage and Caroline Paynter with photography by the hugely talented Larnie Nicolson, you'll gain loads of ideas for creating a cosy and inviting home this Winter.  

I'm loving this Scandi-style vignette featuring one of the gorgeous prints by Kristina Krogh who I featured here.  

I was also thrilled to see The Design Chaser included in the Fresh Finds section, alongside one of my favourite online stores The Minimalist and the beautiful Mö Photographic Journal. 

Packed with loads more home and living inspiration, make sure you grab yourself a copy! 

To finish off I'm really excited to announce the winner of the Thread Design Giveaway. Congratulations to Emma Kate Dyer who has won herself a gorgeous pair of black & natural triangle pillowcases! Huge thanks to Thread Design for their generosity, and to everyone who entered!  

Sunday Moodboards & Winner Announced

I don't usually write a blog post on Sundays however I have two Sunday moodboards, one from last week and one from today to share with you. If you missed them on my Facebook page here they are... 

We're halfway through the School holidays here in NZ and I must say I've enjoyed taking a break from all the rushing around. Feeling relaxed and enjoying today's sunshine, I'm sending out some chilled vibes by way of this moodboard. I love black and white mixed with walnut, and these images have a luxurious yet earthy feel. Do you have a favourite spot at home where you like to sit and and take time out with a cuppa?

In sharp contrast, this moodboard is vibrant and upbeat. I came across the Funday image by Danish graphic designer Hannes Beer ages ago, and last week I was inspired to use it in a moodboard. It also gave me a chance to indulge in a red them, which I hadn't done before.

All images via my Pinterest boards. 

The other reason I'm posting today is to officially announce the winner of the Girl & Graaf Giveaway from last week. Announced on Facebook, I forgot to do so on the blog, so here it is! Congratulations to Rebekah Whiunui who won, and a huge thanks to Girl & Graaf and to everyone who entered.  

It's shaping up to be a great week ahead, with exciting interviews and another installment of Home Build, so make sure you pop back! Enjoy the rest of your weekend ♥

Happy Easter

Just a quick post today to wish everyone a happy and safe Easter. I'm taking a few days off to recharge the batteries and spend time with family and friends. I'm sure there will also be some chocolate consumption! I hope you're doing the same... I'll be back on Tuesday but first, here's a little bit of Easter moodboard inspiration. Enjoy!

Images via my Pinterest boards

Monday Mix Up | Design Loves

Despite this cheery moodboard, my day hasn't quite gone to plan. This morning I managed to break a mirror, and even though I'm not superstitious, and it was a cheap handheld, having to clean up broken glass is never fun. Somehow I managed to get my son to school on time, early in fact, which for me is quite an achievement on a Monday morning. After dropping my other son off to creche and sweating my way through a Pump class, I dashed off to pick up a sidetable I had on hold, only to find half the store on sale. Oh no!! I then completely lost track of time, got stuck in the undercover car park, and when I finally got to my car I couldn't for the life of me find the exit! Even worse, I somehow managed to break my beloved Dita Sparrow Sunglasses. GRrrr... It was however, the blinding sunlight that saved me, showing me the way out and well, I eventually made it home.. with a new pair of Ray Bans (oops!). Thanks Sunglass Bar. 

Right, sorry to bang on..  let's get back to today's post! When I came across the Happy Monday image, curating a moodboard was a no-brainer, especially when it comes to black, white and touches of green. As always, my Pinterest boards provided the complimentary images.

I had an exciting week last week, lining up interviews and guest posts which I hope will come to fruition this week and next. In between, I've come across lots of design finds and inspiration so rather than choosing just one, which I'm struggling with today, I thought I'd round them up and show you all at once. 

The Death Lamp which I discovered via Trendendser is designed by Ida and Stina, is hand made in Sweden of polished MDF and comes in three sizes. Simple, geometric and bound to make a statement either hung or placed on its side like this, I think I have actually died... and gone to heaven. 

If you'd like a serious dose of design goodness, check out Yatzer's Best of Stockholm Design Week 2013. It was hard to choose just one, but the Collect Cabinet by A2 was a standout due to it's unique leather doors and fish scale pattern. Designed by Sara Larsson, this talented lady is most definitely one to watch. 

More light love, this time with Jennifer Hagler's new light that she posted on her blog A Merry Mishap over the weekend. Classic in white with a touch of brass the Pendant Lamp A110 by one of my design heroes Alvar Aalto, is now also on my wish-list. 

My jaw literally dropped when I saw this incredible outdoor kitchen on La Boheme. Designed by LA firm Commune, the inside of the home is also incredible. Check out the full house tour here. 

This beautiful shoot for fashion brand Hoss Intropia had me captivated with its dreamy, ethereal images. Found via Sarah Klassen's blog Haute Design, it features the intriguing illustrator Quentin Jones who is the new Intropia woman for Spring-Summer 2013. See more here.  

I've been bowled over by the 3D interiors I've seen lately such as those in my recent post Virtual Interiors. This 3D cafe Creative Coffee is another one. Created using 3DSMAX, Vray and Photoshop, you have to see it to believe it!  

Spotted on Plastolux, I can't get this beautifully elegant Sofa by Jorge Zalszupin out of my mind.



Some stunning photos shot by Line Klein, for Alt Interiør, featuring a living room styled in three different ways, with one amazing couch. I clearly have furniture on the brain right now, but you really must see these. Take a look here.