Stalking subtle

Sometimes one can just have too much boulle and ormolu. Sometimes there is such a thing as too much fun. Today's second house is a more subtle take on luxury. Starting with an equally impressive historic building the owners in this case have chosen an understated elegance. Greys and whites play against dark floors and modern, clean lined furniture and an open plan design play against the period features. Favourite here? The office. I would gladly home invade, er sorry, move in just for that office and of course the location. Gore St, Fitzroy, Melbourne. Sigh. Link here while it lasts.

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Stalking OTT

Spring has sprung in Australia and what does that mean? Blossom and hay fever, spring cleaning and auctions. After a long barren winter with scant few properties to real estate stalk suddenly I am spoilt for choice as I trawl the listings. A double offering today. A rollicking overdose of kitsch and boulle and ormolu wrapped up in luxury and tempered (just slightly) with white. A confection of a house at the best of times, the owner has claimed it as their own and ramped up the volume. Blackamoors and Chinese dragons, marble, large art and coffered ceilings. The interiors make me smile. This is certainly the perfect party house. My favourite part, though, must be the gardens and the creeper clad exterior. Talk about kerb appeal. St Kilda West near the beach in Melbourne. Link here while it lasts.

I cannot take credit for finding today's houses. Fellow stalker Andrea beat me to them. Happily she sends me links.

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Stalking little cottages in the city

The beginning of the week saw me stalking small country cottages. Today I'm wandering the streets of inner city Melbourne. Two worker's cottages caught me eye. The first is in South Yarra, Melbourne. (Link here.) The second in Fitzroy, Melbourne. (Link here.) Two homes small in footprint but big on style. When you are surrounded by all the temptations of inner city living a home is more of a base for exploring and experiencing what is on offer around you than a mega McMansion in the 'burbs where the house itself is more the destination. (Dare I say to almost theme park dimensions in some cases ... then again I always was an inner city girl ;)

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More from Dinesen

Beautiful wide planks of wood sent a frisson of lust through DTI readers. Oak and Douglas fir made readers pin and like and share and save to inspiration folders. Easy to see why the flooring from Dinesen caused such a fuss. In an age of man made and faux and plastic and "that will have to do", it is a joy to behold the beauty of the natural wood celebrated. Wide and mighty. A statement. OK. OK. Just so darn sexy in a roll around and stroke the floor kind of way. To feed our addiction for these perfect planks Dinesen has sent us more images from an apartment designed by Anouska Hempel. Enjoy!

Stalking little country cottages

Stalking today in the little country town of Woodend, Victoria. A sweet cottage overflowing with period features. So cute you want to pinch its cheeks and tell it how pretty it is. Pressed metal, tongue and groove walls, honey coloured pine floors marry with a relaxed and shabby modern country look. Perfect for a weekender away from the madding crowd of Melbourne and a short drive to the mountains or perhaps a picnic at Hanging Rock. Rose Cottage (built in 1905) has just one more feature you'll need for when I come to visit. A separate studio. I promise I won't bother you except at meal times. Link here while it lasts.

P.S. Blog friend Tricia Rose of Rough Linen is a finalist in the Martha Stewart American Made Awards. Her beautiful, handmade linen sheets and duvets are one little luxury everyone should have in their life. You can vote for her here. What does this have to do with the cute Woodend cottage? Nothing ... except I would want to re-zhush the bedrooms if they were mine and Tricia's Rough Linen would be perfect.

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