Oh no...I think I'm turning green

Gorgeous bags from Envirosax

I have an almost superhuman ability to pigeonhole things in the back of my mind. Convenient, some would say. Others (and I know who you are) would say dysfunctional. However, when spring cleaning recently in that dark recess of my mind I discovered an awful lot of concern/uncertainty about the issues surrounding sustainability. For a long time now I have been filing the stuff that I should be doing away, promising myself I'll get to it soon. I'm not sure why this is. Is it the fear that cleaning with vinegar will have my home smelling like a fish and chip shop? Perhaps the concern that one day I might just need that plastic bag that I refused? Maybe the reluctance to stop spending happy times shopping for new and gorgeous things for my home?
So, after extracting myself from the discomfort of these thoughts, I sat myself down with a cup of tea and started to do some research. Now I realise that I am a latecomer to sustainable living, and don't expect me to go all hippy on you overnight. However, I am aiming to set myself some small-but-achievable goals. The first is to give up plastic bags (is there a patch for that?) The second goal is to know more about the items I buy. The third (and I think I can only cope with three for now) is to reuse more i.e. to find things that have already been produced and reinvent, reframe etc. Doesn't sound so hard, does it?
I'm not sure if three as-yet-unachieved goals allows me to pat myself on the back, but I'm going to anyway. Gotta start somewhere. In the meantime, I have found some lovely places that support some/all of these goals. Pop along and have a look.

All of these gorgeously funky pieces are from Branch. Once you've taken a look at their lovely wares, pop over to the What is Branch? page to read their vision. It is both realistic and inspiring.

Indulge me...my top ten favourite looks

I was thinking recently how my decorating style has changed over the years (or perhaps I should say evolved). My first home, a tiny cottage, was decked out with baltic pine furniture with federation green and white accessories. (I'm not sure if federation green is a uniquely Aussie term - for those of you OS, think very dark green). I'm cringing at the thought of this combination, although in my defence, it was the mid nineties.
So, I'm compiling my current list of favourite home decor looks, and I'm planning on looking back at this in a year's time. This time next year I will update/review my list (hopefully I won't gasp in horror at my 2009 taste). So here goes, in no particular order, here are my favourites...

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Pictures and more pictures - what a great way to record your best moments. Pictures really make a home.

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This image is from the very clever Shannon Fricke's blog. I love the ceiling light, the gorgeous white walls, the window frame and the varied textures.

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I love having things in the home that have their own story to tell.

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Is it just a passing fad? Will we all be madly painting over the chalkboard paint this time next year? I don't care, I love this look - it's fluid, it has texture, it tells the family's story and, for those of us with too many things to remember, it's a great place to keep a list.

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 I've included this pic partly for the bay window. I am a sucker for beautiful, white-framed bay windows. I also love the eclectic combination of old and new, classic and modern.

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Love the Florence Broadhurst wallpaper and the sumptuous chair.

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The ceiling is so high it gives a real sense of space to this bathroom. I'd like to start each day with a bubble bath in here.

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So many interesting things in this room - lots of stories and gorgeous artwork. I particularly love the desk.

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I love everything about this room - the colour, the clever use of space and especially the giraffe on the wall.

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Using books to decorate is pure genius. Wouldn't you love to spend a weekend loitering on this staircase?

By now you have either fallen asleep, or are all a-buzz thinking about your own favourite home decor looks. I'd love to hear about your own favourites. Drop me a line via the comment box, or email me a photo.

A flea market find

If only my local flea markets looked like this! Nevertheless, I love to spend some time rummaging around there on a Sunday morning. We braved the chilly air today and came home with a dirty- looking glass dome and wooden base (which I think was once home to a clock).  We paid the princely sum of $1.50. After washing the glass, sanding and oiling the base, it is now home to some of our ever-increasing shell collection. A very inexpensive ornament, and I rather like the look of it. I'm a happy girl when I have paid so little for something so delightful.

And here are the before and after shots of my lovely new (old) dome.

pics of flea market via Paris Ateliar

Small House Living - a quiet corner...

I really love the challenges presented by small house living. Wanting to make a space for myself to work on some long-neglected art projects, I have reclaimed our old drop-front desk. Sadly disorganised, it had become a repository for all those things that you just don't know where to put.

Nestled snuggly (let's face it, most things are snug in a terrace house) next to my bed, it is now much more inviting, with lots of useable storage. I have used inexpensive boxes from Ikea, old jam jars and some bowls borrowed from the kitchen. This corner gets quite a bit of sunlight, as it is next to two big sash windows.  I'm looking forward to spending many happy hours there.

The most unexpected things (part three - the babies have hatched!)

After two weeks of waiting, I am very excited to let you know that the baby birds have hatched! They are bald and grey, with a beak much too big for their body. We think they are beautiful, and , even though all we have done is watch impatiently, we are very proud. They don't seem to mind at all that their home is in a peg basket. I managed to get these shots while the mother bird was away from the nest (let's face it, we all need a break sometime).

Paris Brocante

All pics via Apartment Therapy

Some beautiful images of the roving flea markets in Paris. As much as I love it here, wouldn't it be lovely to be there.

Have a wonderful Friday. I'm looking forward to some downtime on the weekend. I hope you get some too.

Loving Eames

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Somewhere near the very top of my wish list is an Eames LCW. I like to think that the LCW is to interior decor what the LBD is to fashion - a must have (a must have which I currently don't have).

Perhaps a little less easy to source, I would also love to get my hands (or should that be legs) on at least one of the plywood leg braces made for the military by Charles and Ray Eames prior to their role as iconic furniture designers. These leg braces are now highly sought after works of art. I'd love to hang a couple of these on my wall - what a great ( if slightly macabre) conversation starter that would be.

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If you haven't already seen Brabourne Farm's recent post about other wonderful and unusual items to hang on the wall, take a look - some super ideas and gorgeous pics.

While I'm waiting (not-so-patiently) for my Eames chair, I have a DIY project to keep me busy. I recently came across the drawings of the LCW lodged with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, along with the patent number and the date on which it was filed (March 1st 1947). I will be spending a few happy hours finding a frame and mounting the sketches of the LCW. I know exactly where I'm going to hang it. I'll let you know when it's done.