A great book, a great store, and a great opportunity

Since I have the day off from work I thought I'd use this opportunity to get through some posts I have been wanting to include here lately that I haven't had a chance to what with wedding plans monopolizing what little spare time I have.

To start, even though Jo mentionned this book back in a WINKS post in April, I finally got my hands on a copy (gotta love snail mail from the other side of the world) and wanted to do my own plug, because it is JUST THAT GOOD. The book I speak of is Australian stylist Megan Morton's Home Love. And I have ALOT of love for this book. I have not had a chance to devour every word yet but I have devoured every photo and they are stunning. What I have managed to read of it so far is very useful tips and suggestions for creating different flavours of rooms. Megan has included alot of her own personal experiences which I think brings this book to a certain level of reality. It's definitively one of my new favourites that will sit proud on my coffee table, and I highly suggest that if you don't have a copy already, that you go find one ASAP (or try here). Oh - and Megan happened to mention our little blog on page 92. :) Here is a sneak peak...

  
  

Next order of business is a new advertiser has joined DTI, and I'm totally stoked about this one. It's a shop called Redefine Home, run by David Betz and Linsi Brownson, a home builder and interior designer by trade. They started this online shop last year,  and are proud to work with local artists and small companies, and offer products that are exclusively made for Redefine Home. They offer a bit of everything, from furniture, lighting, textiles, kitchen and bath products, art...they have it all.  I'm stoked because there are so many items they carry that I'd love to get my hands on. (Shipping is free on orders over $50 in the U.S. and I am pleased to tell you that they ship to Canada! And the UK!) Here are just a few of my favourites:

  
  
  
  

And lastly, I received an email from Greg at 2Modern who wanted to put the word out that they are looking for some new guest bloggers on the 2Modern blog. Anyone can inquire. Guest bloggers post once a week on a chosen day...topics range from modern design, architecture, furniture, lighting, etc. The bloggers are from all over the world (but posts are in English only) and from all walks of life (architects, modern connoisseurs, designers, etc.). A link to contact them if you're interested is here.

Down at the end of the garden ...

... is a very special place. Where fantasy and folly meet greenery and stone. Old sits with new made old and cool breezes ruffle scented foliage. In the heat of the day blue water beckons and secret garden rooms are filled with forgotten treasures. Michael Trapp travels the world to find antiques and architectural fragments to weave his magic at the bottom of a very special garden.

  

Click to read more ...

Right royal oak

It's not often that I am excited by a supplier's website. Lots of close-ups of tile or timber but no juicy photos. That is until I stumbled across Royal Oak Floors by Harper & Sandilands. Swoon! Not only a stunning product but a gallery of work that leaves you breathless. Is there anything more beautiful than natural finishes like oak masterly installed? Harper & Sandilands, an Australian company determined to lead their niche market have worked with the best of the best Australian designers and architects. Think Carr Design,  Ellenberg Fraser, Atticus & Milo, BARstudio, B.E Architecture, Hecker Phelan & Guthrie, Leeton Pointon Architects and Woods Bagot to name a few. Head to the website to see more projects. I'm still lusting after a room just like these.

  

  

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Muskelil

Muskelil is Cassandra Karinsky and Valentina Pilia. It's a meeting of an Australian via the States and an Italian via Paris at a crossroads in Marrakech. Through Muskelil Valentina and Cassandra  share their special objects, interior styling and decor. Purveyors of the most beautiful Moroccan rugs. Their look is fresh but lived in, simple but sophisticated, so Moroccan but at home on a world stage. It's like they peeked inside my mind and stole my dreams of my perfect home.

  

  

  

  

  

Coffee anyone?

Newly opened Kaffeverket (Swedish for The Coffee Works) takes traditional Swedish design and gives it a couple of modern twists. Mikael Abbhagen from design and retail concept agency A-B-D sent us these pictures. “It’s a play with contrasts of materials. From the roughness of Swedish limestone on the counter and tables, to the softness of the velvet drapes and the more modern feeling of bronzed glass and brass walls.” Inspired by the building that dates back to 1905 and wanting to play with classical Swedish colours and materials in order to create a modern design, fellow designer Fredrik Bengtsson added that they wanted to create a modern design with a clear heritage. Certainly gives the big franchises something to aim for. Mine's a Ristretto thanks!