Wow have I been busy.

I have decisions to make every day on our project. What's the detail on the ensuite cabinetry, the shower mixer can't be reached on that wall, I don't want that ceiling flat...

But my main thought when I lie awake at night is what light fitting will I put there, how many do I need, and where exactly will I put it? I've got a little money to spend each week over and above what we have agreed on for the build, and with that I am selecting the jewellery for the house. Being an Interior Designer it's beyond important to me to include special details. 

Thinking back to the house's original crystal chandeliers, I had been deliberating just WHERE to put them? There are 2, should I keep them together, split them up? I've decided to lend the dining table some bling and hang them both over that. They should brighten up that leg of the room quite well!

Working on from the brass and sparkly idea, I wanted to pull the open plan space that also includes the kitchen and small sitting area into a more casual, tropical, british colonial feel. Doesn't that sound impossible?! Ha!

I wanted to keep pendants off the kitchen island bench so a) they don't compete with the chandeliers, and b) to keep the space feeling open. I've opted for 2 wall lights to sit either side of the rangehood, like this...

 

 This is the one I've chosen, from Restoration Hardware.

And to hang over the small sitting area by the fireplace is something that needs to pack quite a punch. You'll see it as soon as you walk through the front door looking through the foyer. It needs to reflect the overall vibe of the house, and also tie in with the rustic wall lights and sparkly crystal chandeliers.

It's perfect! It's open and airy. It's beachy. It has a touch of brass, and a touch of steel to blend with the other fixtures. Oh, and it's STUNNING. It is called the Palm Beach Chandelier. Right up my alley.

Can you tell I don't like downlights? 

   

Pinterest!

Pinterest has been a life saver for me this past year. I've been a Pinterest zombie once the kids are in bed at night. My poor husband! Thanks to my addiction I've managed to collect thousands of pics which is proving so useful when I'm designing, think all the little details in the kitchen cabinetry. I now have a clear vision of what I want, and I keep finding ways to tweak & improve the plans, much to the dismay of the builder currently quoting for us! 

Here are some of the key images I'm salivating over...(all from my Pinterest here)

One of the main reasons we are renovating is to address the entrance to our house. It was built on a corner with its main facade and front door facing the views, but there's no parking or garage anywhere near there. We're moving the entrance to the side of the house and the skill lies in making the side now look like the front facade. This involves unifying and beautifying all the windows and accenting the front door somehow where it will take the place of a window. This is a simple and sweet way to do it!

This has our family stamped all over it. We are not tidy people, and this room feels to have the right amount of clutter and lived in feel. I love the sofa colour and texture, and the warm colour scheme throughout.

I've just changed our engineering design to allow for a pitched ceiling in the master bed. I keep being drawn to these images so had to do it! Ours will have a collar tie near the top, which means it will have a little flat bit, and then pitch down. We'll clad it in shiplap of course!

We have been holidaying in Port Douglas for the last 3 years and the gardens at the Sheraton Mirage were sublime. Unfortunately most of it wouldn't survive down here in Melbs, but there are tricks! I also figured the tropical feel would gel with the brass accents I'll use.

The British Colonial or 'Glam Beach House' vibe with a touch of brass.

Artwork by Kolene Spicher. Love a bit of whimsy.

Kitchen by Jim Howard. There's such a trend for white shaker kitchens with cararra or calacatta marble at the moment. I love the look, but think it's too cold for our house. I want to use something still pale but warmer on the benchtops. We will have the back wall of our kitchen white, and the island I want to be stained timber like this. A walnut colour so it looks aged and like a piece of furniture. We will mimic the panelling in our hallway and somewhere I want to use shiplap....hmmm.