Greece Under The Sun | Citta Design

I'm a Summer girl through and through. Take me to the beach, give me sun, sand and water and I'm in my element. When Winter kicks in it's not long before I'm pining for Summer to return, but even more so when I get a taste of what's around the corner. That's exactly what happened when I attended the recent Citta Design Summer 2013-2014 launch, Greece Under the Sun. Taking inspiration from the country's beautiful surroundings as well as its people, the new collection reflects the sunlit yellows, calm sea blues and easygoing vibes. 

Organic materials and rustic textures of wood, linen, leather, enamel and woven baskets are seen throughout. Vibrant colours, textures and luxe metallics also feature. In fact, as soon as I entered the Citta Design showroom, beautifully decked out with the new products, these gorgeous metallic cowhide rugs gracing the floors immediately grabbed my attention...

The hanging planters were next to catch my eye...

No one does a cushion stack quite like Citta Design! Bright colours, stripes and triangles? Yes please... 

The white dipped baskets are also a favourite...

Look out for the new collection in stores and online late August. I'm not sure I can wait that long. Roll on Summer!

Before I go, I'm thrilled to announce the winner of the Koko Classics Giveaway. Congratulations Jolene Van Wonderen, you have won yourself a stunning reindeer hide. Thanks to all of you who entered, and a huge thanks to Koko Classics for their generosity!

Because we are moving house over the next couple of days and will be without internet access, I'll be back on Wednesday. In the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram where I'll be posting some pics of the move! 

Homes to Inspire | South Yarra House

I felt like a hit of colour today and this home has done the trick! Located in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra, this stately Victorian house has undergone a complete restoration, carried out by Melbourne Architects Nick Travers and Justin Northrop, founders of the Melbourne firm Techne. The family living here are avid art collectors who also own some fabulous pieces of brightly coloured furniture. Nick and Justin's decision to go with a black and white palette, in order to showcase the art and furniture has worked brilliantly. 



I love that the classical features of the home have been retained, including the ceiling fretwork and fireplace which has a beautiful marble surround. I'm not usually a fan of chandeliers, but they work really well here in keeping with the Victorian theme. Seen throughout the home, the bright colours add a modern touch. Punchy citrus colour is also seen in the artwork by Abbey McCulloch resting on the mantel, and pair of gorgeous vases.  

The stained glass entry way immediately caught my eye, as did the dark floors.



The living room's large windows let in plenty of light, while more zesty colour continues here with an incredible orange modular sofa. I also love the contrasting zebra rug. 

Notice how the floorboards upstairs been whitewashed, in direct contrast to the dark flooring downstairs, showing that you can successfully have both in one home! The gallery-like walls allows the residents to easily move their art around when the mood takes them. This eye-catching piece is by Australian artist Darren Wardle. 

The image above is my favourite. I love the black and white art and green door leading to the kid's room. Inside, the polka dot wall and vintage yellow bed frames create a fun and playful atmosphere. 

From this exterior shot you can see how skillfully the architects have preserved the stunning lacework balcony. The monochrome colour scheme is repeated outside, complete with a splash of colour. Love the yellow chairs! 

Here are the standout features that get my heart racing...



Source: knstrct.com | Photo credit: Graeme Boyle

Outdoor Living Inspiration

I think the outdoor living areas will be the last to get some love and attention when we move into our new build, due to lack of time and funds, but I have however started taking notes. I wasn't blessed with green fingers but I do love gardens and greenery, and when it comes to outdoor living I've stumbled across some amazing inspiration around the web lately. 

Despite the fact that Winter is looming, we've had some gorgeous sunny weather in Auckland these last few days which is great being that it's the School holidays. I thought I'd get in quick with this post, before the chill really sets in and we start spending much less time outdoors. Mind you, judging by the fireplaces, lush sofas and cosy textures shown in these images, lounging outside in Winter never looked so good.
   

These outdoor rooms show how interior styling can be carried through to the exterior of your home. Comfy sofas lavished with gorgeous throw cushions and sheepskins are teamed up with stools, ottomans, low level tables and of course lots of lush plants.  

As with interiors, I can't get enough of built-in furniture right now. The home above shows how great design can make the most of the space you have, providing seamless indoor/outdoor flow. 

I have a real thing for yellow outdoor furniture. Paired with black, white and grey furniture and textiles, here are some gorgeous examples...

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 |  07 | 08  

To finish off, here are some outdoor pot plants that have caught my eye recently. Firstly with a unique vertical garden installation offering a range of herbs...

I love white pots in varying shapes and sizes grouped together, especially with lush succulents and bright pink blooms...

Concrete planters are also a fave...

01 | 02 | 03 | 04

I have lots more outdoor finds to show you including alfresco dining inspiration, but that will have to wait for another day because the sun is popping out again and the kids are calling! Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Coast New Zealand

I've been wanting to write about Coast New Zealand for a while, and having had our first glimpse of Summer recently, I figure now's a good time! Established in 2004 by Nicola and Alex Webster, Coast New Zealand is a collection of contemporary outdoor furniture and accessories, all hand-made in New Zealand, from the very best marine-grade materials.

Born out of a desire to sit on something comfortable while watching the America's Cup on a boat, Alex developed the Marine Bean, a luxurious yet durable beanbag. As stylish as it is practical, it doesn't get more comfortable than this. Trust me, I've sat on a few! While still popular on yachts, the Marine Bean provides the perfect place to relax ashore, whether its your patio, deck, poor area, lawn or even at the beach. Tough enough to stay outdoors all year round, this beanbag will compliment even the most stylish interior, and is light enough to throw between the two!

The latest addition to the Marine Bean range is the Isla Collection. I first spotted this in Home NZ last year when Alex was a finalist in the 2011 Design Awards for the Isla Chair and Ottoman. Combining all the comfort of the Marine Bean with the structure and flexibility of modular furniture, this is the creme de la creme of beanbags!

With all the same design goodness as the Marine Bean Collection, the Beach Basics range provides a more affordable option. Perfect for the bach or the lawn, I'd love some for the kids' rooms or mooching in front of the telly! 

Coast also produce an extensive range of Bags, all hand-made in New Zealand from marine-grade fabric. One of my favourites is the Weekender, which is beautifully designed with a timeless quality. True to Coast's signature style, all of the bags are hard-wearing and made to last a lifetime. 

To see the full range of Coast New Zealand products, information on stockists and international shipping take a look at their website. If you're in Auckland you can visit their Britomart showroom.

Roll on Summer! 

All images via www.coastnewzealand.com
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