notes for 'the farm'

here are some images for food for thought re 'the farm'. Not all of them are to be directly interpreted as they are, & are more for inspiration / showcasing a feature.

the facade......

 the arches here are dramatic without trying too hard and perfectly capture a garden / eating area when looking out. this shape could also look fantastic as windows through the front  of the house looking towards the view

classical isn't exactly what springs to mind, especially with the heavy roof line but i love the different use of materials and the lay of the tiered landscape (which may not be extremely practical)

again, contemporary & alot of glass but an amazing way to let light in with a south facing view

i love this circular front - an excellent way to get a 270 degree view vantage

again a great roof line which has a modern take on the tradtional pitch

i like the window lines of the front of the house - it isn't a glass block and it has interesting shape through the front and is both classical and modern (i think this is concrete but could be rammed earth) by eme design

stunning classical feel to it (and a bit of the francois!) and can easily be interpreted into a single story house

a glass box but a lovely roofline

windows.......

i love an arch....

and again with square details

i love this window style with small frames, this one is from a frank lloyd wright house

i thought these have a lovely feel for a study or an area where you may not want full length windows or french doors

lovely shutters - metal

again lovely proportions and style

one of my favourites - small panes in black metal 

could look fantastic for stepping outside into the outside eating area

again arches - looking wonderfully dramatic!

a good staple winow

a twist on the circular feature concept

materials.........

i love rammed earth.......

and again.....rammed earth

concrete used in a slightly different way

and this wood and glass look fantastic 

sandstone is always a beautiful material but there is a lack of images of houses built this (or last) century. However this one from the 1830's is pretty!

colour colour to brighten up our grey days

all those currently stuck (please ash cloud lift) or living in Melbourne are aware that is a miserable grey day outside. i feel as if i have never left london (although less people & bigger skyline) especially as now we have Zara. Nothertheless the grey and winter coats have sent me searching for some vibrancy and look what I have found! equilibrium is restored.

san francisco victorians. always looking happy

i was searching through some of my old haunt- 'world of interiors' magazines from the 1980's. the colours were amazing, and what was even more incredible was that 80% of the editorial was timeless, the only give away was the advertising



loooooooooooove this. the chevre bench

end of a bed, coffee table, side table, bed side table. It's great!

am thinking of a black glazed linen seat........

words of wisdom from Bethany Adams in New York.... When to Hire an Interior Designer

Having a great sense of your likes and dislikes is a great starting point, but there's so much more to a well-designed room than simply filling it with your favorite things. For example, I adore mid-century modern, French industrial, and coastal chic style anything. Individually, these elements are fantastic. Together--yikes! Still, hiring a decorator is a major step. So how do you know when to go it alone and when to call in a professional?

1. You can afford it. This is a big one. Obviously, hiring a decorator involves paying someone so you should count that into your budget on top of what you want to spend on furniture and accessories. But take heart! While top decorators earn about $150-$250 an hour (plus up to a 30% commission on furniture), there are so many fantastic young decorators out there who charge about half of that. In additional, companies like Design in a Box will help you design an entire room for as little as $250! Also, remember that all decorators get the same discounts on furniture no matter how big their companies or how long they've been in the business. Often, the discount they can get you on furniture pays for their services (as though you were paying retail). You get the same furniture you want, plus an expert to help you with paint colors, accessories, and pulling the whole room together!

2. You're too busy to do it all yourself. As someone who does this for a living, I can tell you that pulling together a single room can take months and an entire home, years. It took me 6 years to decorate my own home fully, I've been so busy doing it for other people! If you simply don't have the time, hiring a decorator is a great idea,especially if you know what does and does not appeal to you.

3. You are a design-magazine junkie. Anybody can go to Crate and Barrel and order a sofa, but if you spend your free time scouring design magazines and marking your favorite to-the-trade only wall-coverings, fixtures, and furnishings then--in most cases--you'd be wise to hire a decorator to go out and get them for you. Although it is sometimes possible to gain access to designer-only furniture, it can be difficult and will almost certainly be waaaaay more expensive (up to 40% more) than going through a professional decorator. In contrast, if you've hired a decorator, you'll be able to walk through the designer showrooms and "try out" all of your potential furniture in advance. You'll also have someone to organize and oversee the delivery and installation, which is great if you are too busy to do it yourself.

4. You are open to suggestion. As a professional, I can tell you it is always helpful when a client has a clear idea of what he or she wants--after all, you have to startsomewhere. That said, you've hired a decorator for a reason, and one of those reasons should be that you are interested in having a professional opinion. In the past, I've had clients dictate exactly what they want, while at the same time refusing alternate suggestions. Not surprisingly, their homes do not end up in my portfolio because not only do I feel like I didn't actually design them, they tend not to turn out very well. A professional decorator has years of education and experience under his or her belt--take advantage of this! If you are just looking for someone to validate decisions you've already made, save yourself some money and invite your friends over to oooh and ahhh over your latest purchases.

What do you think? When would you hire a professional decorator?

Image Credit: Bravo TV

Northwest Portland home

I love the dramatic colours that are still very livable used in this Portland home.
I am not 100% on the use of mirrors throughout the hallway, but will happily admit that that is a personal preference rather than a bad design/ use of texture

i love that the family have kept their beautiful old pieces of furniture. So often at the moment renovations seem to also mean a complete out with the old and in with the new. such a shame.

the leopard............

loving leopard print carpet today.................