Lately my husband and I have been discussing (read fantasizing) about buying a house in Tasmania…the apple isle, the southern most tip of Australia. A million miles from anywhere and everywhere. 

Of course the minute we started talking about it I had already mentally decorated this hypothetical space in my head. I instantly started thinking I wanted to use green. Its my favorite colour, and we don’t get a lot of it in Hong Kong, so I would love to be able to surround myself with it.

 

 

As it would be a holiday house, I’m after something unpretentious, comfortable and relaxed. These are a few pics that are taking my breath away at the moment…

Happy mid Autumn festival to my Hong Kong readers! I’m quite looking forward to 3 days of chilling out at home and doing a bit of baking.

I thought I’d leave you with these images as I’m finding them very inspiring at the moment, and they feel a bit autumnal. Sorry for the bad scan quality, they were torn out from a magazine ages ago…

Larsen Fabrics

Dining room of designer Marcelo Lucini

by S. Russell Groves

Romeo Sozzi’s apartment in Romea living room by Martin Brudnizki

a living room by Laura Kirar

one of my all times favorites, by Jacques Grange

from an article on 1st Dibs about on Fort Street Studio

Donghia

bedroom by Candy& Candy 

unknown source

by D’Apostrophe Design

= heavenly!

If I could mix Olivier Gagniere’s Parisian apartment…..with the Ritz Carlton residences in Toronto…I’d move in tomorrow. The colours are divine, and the mix of furniture (albeit polar opposites) are to die for.

It’s been a busier week at work than I anticipated, hence the lack of posts… But before I sign off and wish you all a great weekend, I’ll leave you with some of the images that we are using as inspiration for the renovation of the studio apartment. I’ll post update photos next week!

Stern McCafferty

Thomas O’Brien

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Rees Roberts

Page Goolrick

?? Morris Moreno photography

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Fawn Galli

Elle Decoration (UK)

Deborah Berke

Shelton Mindel

Selldorf Architects

Eileen Katherine Boyd

Andy Goldsborough

Antoine Proulx

Armani Casa

Christophe Delcourt

Xavier Bejot

Stephen Miller Siegal

Paul Fortune

Evan Lobel

Kelly Wearstler

I’m a bit of a fan of bright white mouldings – I think they make a room look fresh and bright – especially those with period details and high ceilings. Adding glossy black doors and a narrow border in the cornice to a room makes all the difference, it adds a modern graphic touch to what could be an otherwise traditional interior. I love how these designers have used borders in the mouldings to literally frame the room.

Two wonderful examples by NY based design firm Marshall Watson – the black border inside the cornice, along with pale coloured walls is such a great look. Photos from House Beautiful.

The technique, used by Steven Gambrel with perfection, looks fantastic in the entrance of this very smart gentleman’s apartment.

A very grand room by Eileen Katherine Boyd in a NY showhouse. She has elaborated on this technique by adding a border to the corners of each wall, and along the skirting – truly framing the walls of the room. A stunning result.

A similar concept – Suzanne Rheinstein frames the entrance to her dining room with red grosgrain ribbon. How fabulous! Photo from the Elle Decor book, “Designing Women”.

Now, if only my ceilings were this high…!

I’m moving apartments in a few months. Our lease is up, and the landlord wants to raise the rent by 20% (as is happening all over Hong Kong at the moment). And, I don’t really want to share my space with cockroaches, rats and termites anymore (I wish I were kidding). Hence, we are looking around. Part of me wished I was moving back to my own house in Melbourne, but we’re not really ready to leave here just yet. So, apartment hunting we go. I’m also thinking its a good excuse to get the pre-loved furniture I bought finally recovered and have my space in a state that is at least partly photographable (is that even a word ?) so I can share some pics with you all. In the meantime, this is what is inspiring me at the moment…

Source unknown – I love this sofa – I can’t get enough of green.

Living room by Shamir Shah – it looks comfortable and chic to me.

A Steven Gambrel living room – nothing else needs to be said…

An interior by Todd Romano – love this colour combination.

Markham Roberts own living area, as featured in Domino

An interior by Madeline Stuart

A crisp classic neutral room by Larry Laslo

Above 3 images of an interior by Joe Nye a great mix of warm toned timber and a neutral colour palette.

Interior by Jean-Louis Deniot – love the mix of styles he creates.

Image from Highland Court fabrics – I love how relaxed this room looks, and how comfortable and chic it is.

Image from Elle Decor Oct ’07 – everyone’s favorite front cover.

Apartment of the owners of Duane Modern/Antiques image from 1st Dibs – a great mix here – but what else would you expect from vintage furniture dealers!

Angela Free interior – again, I love the warm timber and the cool, neutral colours.

Source unknown – but a super cozy looking room. These colours might be too warm for HK, but I’m still a Melbourne girl at heart, and I will always love these warm tones.

The two images from my tear sheets file that won me my free pretty in Maison 21‘s competition. From old Australian Vogue Living magazines.

And last, but far from least, the bedroom from 1st Dibs founder Michael Bruno’s Paris apartment – care of Katiedid. I can’t stop thinking about this room, its just so chic. I love this chest of drawers because its so unique, but I really don’t think I could live with furniture that’s covered in dead elephant.