Little Black Awning!!!

I have a large collection of black awnings in my inspiration files because I think they can make an ordinary building look really beautiful. I have just put together a few of my favourites - what do you think?

via Hotel San Giorgio website

via Flickr

via Flickr

via Better Homes and Gardens

I know I have used this one before but it is worth showing again!

via Garden Web

This last one is my favourite! I need to find a way to incorporate this look
for my pool area! Tracey x

~Take a little Peek~

Have you ever imagined having your own little country home someplace private- maybe out in the woods? Well, take a little peek into what these homeowners did with their country home. It's very pretty! The lights above the kitchen table are so gorgeous. I love it!

Cute and quirky gifts for the home

If you like to give gifts that get lots of giggles, look no further than Fred Flare! I hadn't even heard of the store before, but I used to live in their neck of the woods and might stop by to pick up some Christmas gifts for my sisters. They also have mens' and womens' clothing along with home accessories.


Pinecone candles! - would look super cute lined up in a row

Salt-and-pepper shaker sparrows


Jonathon Adler Christmas ornament set






Cupcake stand! Even comes with a fake cupcake until you bake 'em

Flowers in a can - for the windowsill gardener



Love this photo calendar idea!


Ice cube tray makes your cubes into fun "jewels"



Pretty Jill Bliss mini journal set!



Gorgeous file folders might make organizing the bills not so bad


For the unorganized ones in your life

For the possessive bibliophile


Girly I know, but I love their jewelry collection!

Go to Fred Flare for more.

Thank you Sarah!

Last week, a photo in this post had a painting on the wall of Dorothy. I really wanted to know the artist, and it turns out it's the work of photographer Magnus Hastings. I have Sarah of Spiderbite Boutique to thank for the great cyber-sleuthing. If you're looking for an adorable and unique hand-crafted gift for a little one on your list, or anyone for that matter, you must check out her Nightmare journals!

Private 20% off code for you! Lighting discount from Beach Dwelling

Enter code: LIGHT20, Save 20% on all Lighting through December 4th!
Beach Dwelling offers simply gorgeous accessories, furniture, linens, and vintage items for your home. I've had a long-time love affair with their pillows, but their terrarium lamps are pretty tempting, and affordable.

*love love love* this mirrored console








Go to Beach Dwelling to see more!

More Maggie Magic

Ok, so a couple of days ago I showed you Maggie Tabberer's house from 18 years ago. Well this is her house she lives in today. All pictures are from the Australian Women's Weekly. Maggie's lived in at least one other home since the one I showed you (I wish I had kept photos of that one too - it was equally good). Her latest home is a stunning three storey white timber home, built around a courtyard which is dominated by a 100 year old frangipani tree.

Here's the white galley kitchen, complete with chunky white marble benchtops. I'm loving those dark floors.

Here's that marvellous frangipani tree - can you imagine it in full bloom? You can see Maggie's bedroom opens right on to this courtyard - so you could step from the bed straight into the pool should you wish. And doesn't Maggie look fabulous - I hope I look as good slinking around in my caftan as Maggie at 71!

A view of the living room...

If you look carefully at this other view of Maggie's living room, you might notice some objects from her former home - the trunk, chair and the massive spiked swordfish bill were all in her other home I featured. This proves again the old adage that while fashion might fade, style lasts forever.

The serene bedroom has a tropical feel. The feature wall is glazed grey.

Maggie picked up these cutwork embroidery curtains in a market in Italy.


This picture does this bathroom no justice. I adore the cool, serene white marble, funky cutwork lightfitting and the antique chinese chest fashioned into a bathroom vanity. Maggie I'm moving in, I'll just sleep in here thanks.

Asian touches abound....mixed with other bold, earthy treasures picked up on Maggie's travels around the globe.

So, you might be asking yourself by now what is the connection between Maggie Tabberer and artist Marcella Kaspar who I featured yesterday....it's this house. Maggie's home was built by Marcella and her builder/designer husband Mark Cooper. So not only is Marcella a talented artist, she also has some incredible taste in homes (or at least, incredible taste in men who have incredible taste in homes).

These pictures appeared in Australia's Vogue Living. Unfortunately these pictures aren't complete and don't do the place justice.

Same bathroom...same lightfighting, different mirrors. I think I actually prefer these mother of pearl twin mirrors, which they picked up in India.

If you look verrry carefully, it appears that behind the tree is one of Marcella's magnificent huge paintings.


So there you have it - two equally fabulous and stylish women. I hope Marcella Kaspar's current home pops up in a magazine somewhere.