It's Getting Hot In Here...

It's so hot in here at the moment... ice cream melts, its even too sunny for a pool... a shady spot is called for, slick back the hair, maybe a chic swimsuit as a basic and then accessorise from there.

At the moment for me, it's all about the sarong I'm wearing and sipping on iced tea.  Maybe when the sun moves across the sky it'll be time for another dip?

I'm still here... but only just! - like a delicate hydrangea that wilts in the heat!

Stay cool...

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Hidden

Wow, it's hotting up over here... if only I could find a quiet, secluded, shady spot like this one... a glass of bubbles wouldn't go astray today!

Francis Brodi house, with Henri Matisse ceramic mural - Los Angeles

via Pinterest

A Room With A View... Sardinia

What a gorgeous sunny mid winter's day it was today... perfect for sitting in the backyard under a shady tree to contemplate and make plans ... or just daydream...


And why not do the same in this spot in Sardinia... I can just imagine a hammock nearby can't you?

Via FrenchByDesign

A postcard...

A quick postcard from where I'm holidaying (the second part of the holiday)... desserted beaches, fine sand, blue skies, a family of kangaroos at the front door, homemade strawberry tarts and pumpkin pizza... = relaxation... okay so there is also a little bit of Sauvignon Blanc somewhere in the middle of all that too.

See you next week; I feel like I've been gone for ages - have I missed something?..

Is it hot where you're at?

Ninety Mile Beach, Eastern Victoria

It's getting hot in here...

Hope you've all been able to get back into a normal week after festivities of the Christmas & New Year's season.  It's a scorching hot few days here in Melbourne (today it's expected to reach 41degrees),  and so it's time to pack the car and make our way out of town where the days will be filled with lounging about, splashing around in a pool, walks by the beach and maybe some surfing (no, not me!)...I might even pack some pencils, paints and brushes?...oh, and someone else will be doing the cooking and I won't have a problem deciding which dish to choose...

Have a wonderful weekend/week everyone - I'm outta here...

PS:  don't feel sad for me because I can't surf or that my hair will frizz up defying gravity as soon as it is touched by seaspray...I'll be fine! (wink:))

The beach that goes on and on and on

Yay, it's summer holidays

One last dip...

Surfs up...

Oh how to choose- between the dish doing the cooking and the dish being served?

Images:
 Alexa Chung for Superga /
 via delectable-collectibles /
Chateau Marmont swimming pool / 
via visual impatience /
via all things stylish

Lean, Leggy Cindy

Yep, its Cindy Crawford at 46 and still working it.  

Hard edge, sultry, fashion forward, glamazon that she is.  I don't know about you, but no amount of photo-shopping will get my legs that long or lean - what do you think?

Cindy Crawford photographed for S Moda's June Cover by Alan Gelati - more images via FGR.

I think I'll have another bit of chocolate now...

A Tree Change

Are you a tree change or a sea change type of person?    If you were able to leave your home in the city and pick somewhere to live, create, grow and flourish would it be by the sea or amongst the trees?

Ideally I would pick amongst the trees not far from the sea (or with sea views in the distance)!  I would want it to have so much space and light and quiet so as to revive & nourish me and also a wonderful space to create and work from.  The whole working from home thing is ideal for me.  So when I read this interview with Shannon Fricke (stylist, interior designer, author, tv presenter, homewares designer, blogger) via The Design Files over the weekend, I was instantly struck with envy.

Situated in the Byron Bay hinterland in NSW, Shannon works and lives on this farm which of course has been updated and decorated in a true Australian relaxed style where colour and light dance alongside each other beautifully.

A fabulous studio area filled with bright natural light is where Shannon works on her new homewares range, writes her blog from, meets with her staff, and generally creates from.  Workshops are also run from this studio space, so if you're interested and able to get there, Styling 101 would be my pick - imagine having your creativity inspired in this unique country setting.  I've seriously been coveting the studio space all weekend!

Shannon's website is absolutely gorgeous too - check out the bedlinen and range of ceramics; order the latest book, 'How To Decorate'; check out Shannon's blog; view some of Shannon's Design work and portfolio or book yourself in for a workshop.   (The 'Forever and Ever' Throw is my favourite.)

Shannon in her studio workspace / Image from Shannon's design portfolio / Image of the new bedlinen range

Inspiration comes from everywhere...

Woke up this morning, like every other day..., well no, not exactly... I received a handpainted birthday card from a very talented munchkin ... Yep, another birthday.   Then I read some absolutely lovely comments from blog friends who visited overnight (you know the whole day/night hemisphere thing)... and it just made my day I have to say- totally unsolicited!  My phone beeped all day with birthday greetings from friends near and far (Gracias, Obrigato, Merci, Grazie!) and then I sat down and had a lovely catch up (yadda, yadda, yadda...) over a delicious latte and absolutely divine cupcake with my sister (there are 4 left in the fridge... not for long I say!)  Okay, so the rest of the day was standard stuff, but hey... what's a girl gonna do... look for inspiration I say!

So I flicked through some magazines, searched pinterest and rummaged through a really, really old folio of mine... and this is what I got.  A montage of birthday wishes and inspiration for my year ahead.   

Mwah, mwah to you all... may inspiration abound for you.

As Sir Paul Smith said ... "You can find inspiration in everything; and if you can't look again."  xx

A beautiful meal shared with loved ones (image via Cocktail Chic pinterest) /  A relaxing massage and some down time (image via AuroraSpaRetreat / Some glamour girl jewellery (photograph by Cristina Salas Mendoza via Art.com)/ A family holiday perhaps? (image via Erinn Pittard pinterest/ An unexpected treat to share (image TheStyleSchedule)/ Rediscovering illustrations from way back when (illustration by me)

Home Style, Charm & Modernity, the Hamptons

I just received my April issue of US Harpers Bazaar in the mail, and saw this beautiful, stunning home featured which is located in the Hamptons.

Interior Designer Jenny Dyer and boyfriend Andrew Rosen (founder of label Theory) live in this 1920's house with an expanse of natural light and and a bursting show of greenery from all vantage points.  In 2008, walls were moved to allow the 'inside/outside' living mode and the renovation was overseen by Architect Ana Maria Torres.  Jenny then took to the house to instil her decorating aesthetic which leans to mid-century cool and comfort.  I think there is a unique 'charm' that radiates from this home don't you?

My favourite? ... - well I couldn't decide between the 'zebra enhanced' bedroom opening out onto the porch or that swing hanging from that massive tree in the front yard; it's like a postcard photo.

More images to view at Harpers Bazaar.

Photos by Christopher Sturman / April 2012 issue US Harpers Bazaar

A Room With A View... Sifnos & the Aegean

Who will join me for a quick drink under this shady spot?

via windmillbellavista

A shady past...

Where has the sun gone?  No really, on the weekend I was relaxing the time away under the shade in the back yard while sipping on some iced tea and today - brrrr, out comes the cardi.  Whilst not as chilly as the northern hemisphere I'm sure,  I'm a bit miffed to have been short-changed on a little vitamin D.

Oh well, at least the garden will be growing as fervently as if it were on a tropical island with this rain.  Hope you're having a great hump day!  (Can't you just see yourself under this shady palm tree reclining on a beach chair...?)

Giedre Dukauskaite by Tobias Lundkvist for Fgr

A Room With A View... the Aegean

How I'd love to be taking in this view first hand somewhere in the Aegean - mmmm.

Weekend Wonder...

Hope you're enjoying the sunshine outdoors today; sit down and enjoy a light lunch with a glass of vino?

Range of homewares from Melbourne brand GoldnBrown

via goldnbrown

Balls...

Guess where I'm going later this evening...  watch for me in the crowd.

via 40's 50's 60's love

Blue skies

Just finding something cool and breezy to wear on such a hot day is a bit of a challenge I think... and although we don't all find ourselves waking up on a beautiful secluded island, its nice to manage the heat in style...

Myer promo via Vogueaus

Taking a dip

The weekend was absolutely gorgeous... you know, the typical Australian summer, lots of hot, baking sunshine, a slight breeze, and trying to find a shady tree somewhere.

And if you had a pool you would also look like this.   The beautiful Audrey Hepburn taking a dip in St Tropez in 1967 whilst filming Two For The Road.  Did you know she hated water (aha,.. something we have in common!!)

Another scorcher today, in fact all week - so I'm sending you nice cool water images (perhaps not to my northern hemisphere readers), but in any case, have a fantastic Monday.

photo Terry O'Neill

via fashionfoodfatale, via dailymailuk

This weekend...

If you're thinking about taking a few days off, go for it - you deserve it!

I'll leave you all with some pictures from a few days away earlier this week.

Blue water, Flinders

Anchored in Flinders

Perfect blue sky, Sorrento

Cloudy in Blairgowrie

Dusk, Sorrento

Pics The Style Schedule

Summer Sun

Just enjoying a few days away down by the coast - sunshine, blue skies, a sea breeze, and some downtime.  

Hope you're all having a great start to the week whatever you may be doing.

Photo Richard Bailey

via vogue aus

Interior focus... Courtyard

I too, could spend all day in this gorgeous hidden courtyard... found on Chantal's fabulous interiors blog. (Gosh, the girls' got excellent taste if you ask me).

via metainteriors

Perfect time for a holiday...Bali

Situated on a clifftop plateau with breathtaking views of the blue waters below, Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali, indeed offers outdoor views from every room.

Serene, luxurious, relaxing and also family-friendly (a total bonus to all families out there!) these villas offer stunning designed interiors with open plan living, views in every direction, a gorgeous spa, a 50m infinity pool, delicious looking culinary delights on offer,... what else, oh and a 24-hour personal Host (Butler) will be assigned to you during your stay.

Aside from the obvious beauty and style that this resort oozes, it is commendable to read that the Alila Hotels group have 'embraced' Environmentally Sustainable Design principles such as using local wood and materials, water conservation and grey water recycling on site.

You will find me under the shade of the cubed chill-out zone... bejewelled sandals, a flowing asymmetrical summery dress with a fabulous hat and Prada sunnies.  See you there.

Fancy an afternoon drink under the shade?

The outdoor view from a 1 bedroom villa

Simple elegant interiors

Your own pool

A beautiful mix of dark wood and luxurious textiles

“The setting – a craggy limestone perch battered by surf – may be awesome, but 

Alila’s design is more than a match. Sculptural cubes above the pool and 

the ocean hide sumptuous chill-out zones. Villas combine 

maximum privacy with enviable amounts 

of outdoor space.”

Listed in the 100 Best Hotels in the World by the Sunday Times Travel 2011  

via mrandmrssmith via villasalilauluwatu