Inspiration - Yellow Kitchen

I found this photograph of a yellow kitchen from Living Etc and stored it away for safe keeping. You never know when you need to convince a client that a yellow kitchen would look rather cool...
Photograph from Living Etc.

Blog Inspiration - Inside out

The Australian magazine Inside Out is one magazine that I recommed my clients to source if they're looking for ideas.

What is great is that the staff of Inside Out have a blog where they "happily reveal a few of their favourite things". It is very informative about Australian and International interiors, designers, artists, stores, products, art and anything else they desire. Check the blog out here.

Photographs via Inside Out.

Product - Ilias Wallpaper

Photo from ArchiExpo

(click on the image to get a closer look)

Vogue Living May/June via The Design Files

A client of mine has sourced this beautiful wallpaper called Growing/Falling from an Australian brand called Ilias. The red spots that you see at the top are flocked (raised pattern produced by dusting powdered wool over the partially sized surface) and gradually disperse down the wallpaper.
'Ilias' is the work of Ilias Fotopoulous - a designer or 'artist maker' who has created a textile and wallpaper range. He came to designing after a stint as a lawyer. His work is intriguing and he explains that his products are usually results of experimental and creative processes, in which he finishes with a product different from what he first imagined. Learn more about him here.

292 - Concrete

Making sure that the posts are straight.

The concrete truck arrived today to put the retaining wall posts in place. It is a bit of a juggle - making sure the posts are all straight as the concrete gets poured in. We should see a wall soon with all the earth packed in behind.
Following this, Euan can start on the foundation for the new addition.
Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Blog Inspiration - Small Acorns

Flowers by Amanda

Designers Guild

All photographs via Small Acorns

I think it is safe to say that most of us Wellingtonians know about Small Acorns - the great boutique store that sells homewares and design products, including Orla Kiely, Designers Guild, Kartell, Minti and Trelise Cooper Kids.

What you may not know is that Amanda, the force behind Small Acorns has a great blog. She talks about the inspirations in her daily life - including flowers, the beautiful stock in her shop, interiors, food, finding treasures in second hand stores, her family and other observations. She was the whistleblower on the Orla Kiely copycat bedlinen at The Warehouse which, as a result, were removed from the shelves. That shows you the power a blog can reign. She also takes most of the blog photographs herself. Clever lady.

Check out her blog here.

New portrait photo

I was getting a bit of grief from my family about my 'blog author' photo that I had on this blog. They said that it didn't look like me and  wanted to see a better professional looking photo. So I called my brother-in-law, Neil Pardington to help me out. Here is the result. Thanks Neil for taking a decent photo and making me much more presentable to the world!
Photo by Neil Pardington.

292 - Demolition finished and digging holes

Demolition completed (photos of the upstairs apartment)

We completed the demolition yesterday. At the end of the day, Dad and I were feeling rather buggered but happy with all the work that we've done.
Next, we'll be attending to the windows - cleaning them and prepping them for painting or (good weather permitting) start painting the exterior weatherboards.
You can see that Euan (our builder) has been working on the outside - digging the holes for the retaining wall and the ditch for the new drain.
Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Apartment Kitchen

Here is a modern kitchen that I designed with my brother a couple of years ago. It is in his apartment and he has a change-over of tenants this week so I quickly popped in today to take some photographs for my records.
Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Store - Zinc+

Welcome to Zinc+

Zinc top tables are a Zinc+ specialty. This one has narrow turned legs.

A chunkier turned leg with zinc top

Vintage Tolix chairs from France.



Powdercoated Hi-Bay industrial light.

There is a great shop here in Wellington called Zinc+. It is an industrial and vintage furniture specialty store located in Thorndon. Owners Trish and Dave have created a unique mix of products sourced from their trips to Europe, especially France, combined with their own designed and NZ made furniture. Their specialty is Zinc topped tables - inspired by the French peasant tables. They can be made to any size and have a variety of leg options. For the rest of their cool stock, have a look at their website here.
Photographs via Zinc+.

292 - Builder on board

The balcony has been dismantled with the joists left behind and note the excavation on the left of the building.

This graffiti actually means something - getting ready for the retaining wall and new foundation.

The latest on 292 - our Builder has started!
We had an early morning meeting on Monday morning to hand over the keys, go over the plans and generally get the party started. I have to say that when Euan, the builder, pulled up in his car, I had a big grin on my face. It's exciting to finally arrive at this point. Can't back out now...
Photos by Charlotte Minty.

Blog Inspiration - Atelier Abigail Ahern

Atelier Abigail Ahern is the blog of British Interior designer, stylist and shop owner, Abigail Ahern. Her style is interesting and quirky. I enjoy her blog as she has adventurous taste and challenges her work as well as being very chatty. She has released a book called 'A Girls Guide to Decorating' and has styled for the likes of Elle Decoration. (She also has the coolest looking dog, Maud. I'm sold on that alone).
At present, she loves sludgy dark walls and has added many images of these to her blog. Enjoy.
Photographs via Abigail Ahern.

Happy Friday

Here's a cool interior shot from photographer Melanie Acevedo. It is a good one for Friday afternoon after a busy week (read the throw on the sofa). Enjoy.
Photograph by Melanie Acevedo.

292 - Trees

At the Beginning

Crane in place and getting ready

One heck of a Mulcher

The end result - 'a reverse mohawk'

The trees at 292 came down today. The tree team and their crane arrived in early fashion this morning and took down the three large Macrocarpa trees located right behind the building. We thought it was ideal to take them down before we started any building work. And what an operation it was.

I was upstairs working and watching the action through the windows - the crane moving up and down, swinging branches/guys from one window to another. It was entertaining.

So happy to have it done. It makes a huge difference as we have more light. The neighbouring building behind us now get better morning sun, thanks to us!

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.