Gorgeous garlands
Sophie Cuvelier paper garland
Much better than built-ins
I have fallen in love with the home of French stylist Sandrine Place, which was featured in a Design Sponge sneak peek recently… especially these rooms above. J’adore the splashes of colour everywhere, too. I’m now just a touch obsessed with the idea of painting random bits of furniture in Elsa Schiaparelli’s favourite shade, shocking pink, or yellow (as per Porter’s Lemony Goodness). Even a bold, Yves Klein Blue.
Yves Klein Blue = bliss
But I’m waiting until the xmas break to get stuck into the paint tins… for now I’ve settled for a garland instead, as per Sophie Cuvelier’s creations, but with felt. I bought the felt shapes and balls already dyed and cut from Chrissie Jeffrey’s No Chintz the other day, and threaded them onto a long piece of string you can see here below. V happy.
My felt garland
Rainbow brite
Clever stencilled wardrobes
Beautiful stencilled wardrobe
My friend Annette just sent me a link to this image on the Sea Angels site, and I suggested it wouldn’t be too difficult to re-create with a tired piece of wooden furniture and lick of milk paint.
The stencilled images are distributed by Cavallini & Co. on cards, stamps, stickers and wrapping paper. I bought the very same set of stamps from Duck Egg Blue in Balmain some time ago, but you can buy the wrapping paper, enlarge it on a copier and then cut out a stencil with a stanley knife. Adhere with sticky tape to your wardrobe door, then paint over the stencil to get your image. Easy peasy.
Marie Claire Idées wardrobe
And here’s another gorgeous robe, spied in the Easter issue of Marie Claire Idées magazine. Love love.
Top spots to source good furniture
Our treasured club lounge
My friend Edwina is moving house and asked me where to find furniture, similar to what we have in our home. I thought I’d share with you what I told her – this is a very local guide to my favourite places:
Found objects
The Lewisham Auction House on Old Canterbury Rd is quite fab and open most days for viewings. Auctions are held on Sunday mornings. The best thing I ever saw there was a Victorian four poster bed… Another good spot is Lawson’s in Annandale, particularly for the auctions held on the last Friday of every month. The art is also great – have missed out on not one, but two amazing Mirka Mora paintings there (yes, still upset) but have brought home lots of other treasured pieces such as the Mark Ward lino print hanging on our living room wall.
Our 1920s club lounge is from Mitchell Rd in Alexandria, but even though we bought it for a song, it actually cost a small fortune to re-upholster and have it French-polished, so beware buying something that needs new upholstery.
Have a look back at this post. Both wardrobes were quite cheap – $600 for the antique cedar one and $90 for the one I painted grey (plus about $100 extra for each on paint & beeswax from Porter’s Paints). The white one is from Mitchell Rd and the grey from Rozelle markets (also the place we found our outdoor cane sofas). Much of the furniture we own is also from Brady’s Used Furniture on Marrickville Road in Dulwich Hill. Definitely worth a look and I always seem to find something to cart home.
Ellen’s Interiors in Summer Hill is a favourite spot. It is a boutique so costs more than the auction houses, but does very reasonably-priced antique chairs, upholstered beautifully. Same for Monica Trapaga’s gorgeous Reclaim boutique. And if you’re down south, check out The Shed at 120 Main St Mittagong. Another favourite, more upmarket place is Le Forge – divine pieces imported from France you won’t see everywhere. Particularly the bedheads.
And to be honest, all the modern stuff in our home is from IKEA – I’m a philistine when it comes to modern furniture, but it doesn’t look much different to me than the stuff you find in SPACE, much as I always love stopping in for a visit (you can start chucking things at my head now). IKEA really is the best for canny storage items. I love those funny little room set-ups – “we live in 20 square feet!” – which make me feel like I’m in Tokyo.
Good luck.
Tricksy milk painting
I forgot what a complete pain milk painting is. A couple of years ago I had all four wisdom teeth out in one go and spent two weeks at home looking like an unfortunate squirrel. To avoid climbing the walls I renovated this large cedar robe from Mitchell Rd auction house, cursing all the while.
You would think I’d learnt my lesson, but no… I’ve gone and done it again.
This time I opted for an oyster grey paint from Porter’s, pencilling a cameo in the centre piece before filling in with black acrylic. The profile sort-of looks like a young Elizabeth II. I was having a nostalgic moment for ‘ol blighty, having just had our Keep Calm and Carry On poster re-framed for above the bed. Vivienne Westwood’s Union Jack cushion would finish off the look perfectly, don’t you think?
Cedar robe
Elizabeth II
