A Van Gogh

This Van Gogh, The Cafe Terrace is currently sitting in my bedroom in a temporary spot on the wall at the end of my bed (obviously a print not an original).

A print I bought 15 years ago at the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne and still all these years later it makes me feel happy and gets me to dreaming.

Maybe it's the colours or maybe the cafe scene that reminds me so much of the various cafes hubby and I sat at the last time we were in Europe.

Main Piazza in Capri Italy

I do love Van Gogh's paintings in general and have visited the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam twice. I can't wait to get back and go again.

Hubby enjoying a coffee at cafe in Amsterdam

With all this in mind I think this print needs to go somewhere in the new living space, just have to work out where and whether to keep it in its wooden frame or maybe change to a black one.

As for the new living space, nearly there - painting, painting, painting and I am sure will be for another few weekends.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

I have been tagged - 4 things about me

I have been tagged by wonderful Trish at A Dream House for Trish to share 4 x 4 things about me. This is the first time I have done one of these so a little exciting and lots of fun for me. Thanks Trish.

4 things that..... are usually in my handbag

Besides the usual purse, money, keys

1. Small tube of Paw Paw Cream
2. Aseop hand cream
3. Mentos
4. oh and things for the kids - tissues, wipes, museli bars, and a spare pair of undies for my daughter!

4 things that..... are in my bedroom

Hubby and I on our honeymoon

My usual bedroom has currently got a lot of dust, builders tools and boxes filled with bathroom fittings but ignoring this, normally though:

1. My antique dressing table which was the first piece of furniture I bought.
2. Turquoise vase filled with leaves or flowers from our garden.
3. Various pretty boxes containing costume jewellery.
4. Last but not least my gorgeous brown eyed hubby (he has the longest eyelashes which everyone comments on and luckily my daughter inherited).

4 things that ..... I would like to do but never did

The main piazza on the island of Capri, Italy

Like Trish, I too think never say never and don't really have any regrets...but things I haven't done or haven't done enough of yet:

1. Travel - have seen the East Coast of Australia, Japan, UK and parts of Western and Central Europe but want to see Eastern. Also love to see New York and Canada, South America, more of Asia, South Africa and of course more of Australia. On this I do wish I had lived in London when my friends and brother and sister did but maybe something I will just have to do down the track.
2. Learn Italian past the basic beginners Italian I do know.
3. I often wish I studied Architecture or design at University, but renovating the house and this blog lets me dabble in the area and who knows maybe one day.
4. Do all the piano grades.
   

4 things that .... you don't know about me

Hmmm this is a hard one as trying to think what would be most interesting....

1. I have worked as a DJ in a night club and ran a music street mag for a short time.
2. I suffered postnatal depression after my second child, my little boy was born and even though I was 'better' by the time he was six months probably didn't really feel myself until he was about 18 months (he is now nearly two and a half).
3. I love music and dancing and love to sing and dance madly around the house with my kids to pop music, even Britney.
4. A little accident prone, as a child fell down stairs in the Eiffel tower and a week later fell off a swing in Switzerland. Now continually stubbing my toe or hitting fingers - mind you have never broken a bone (touch wood).

Now I know I have technically given more than four things to some of the questions but that is another thing to add as my Mum says I started talking really young and haven't stopped since! Probably why I now work in communications.

Now the deal is I have to tag 4 people. This is really difficult because I read so many great blogs and have met wonderful people. So I have chosen 4 I enjoy and women who often leave lovely comments on mine. Enjoy!

Laura at My Summerhouse
Bec at Memory Garden
Sonia at Rain and Sage
Nessa at NessaKnit

Inspiration - a step back

As those of you who have redecorated and or renovated your home would know, when you are starting out, or come to think of it in the middle of it and at the end you can get a little obsessed with detail, I am no exception to this.

It is all about the tiles at the moment and other bathroom fittings. Luckily in my case hubby and I have similar tastes but that doesn't keep us free of heated discussions as we have very different ways of going about things.

So after a tense Sunday morning last weekend with a bathroom discussion that was going nowhere we decided we needed to take a step back and get out of the house with the kids, heading into Melbourne on the train. We had a great time especially considering it was a cold Wintry day and was impressed with the new Federation Wharf, loved the old stone work backdrop to the cafe /bar there. A wander up Collins Street with it's French feel, also got me thinking and reminded me of what my inspirations are for how I want our home to be and feel.

Following this over the past week and lots of discussions over coffee with friends, I have been thinking more about the overall picture and what we want to achieve with the renovation / extension. For us it is all about lifestyle, we love Europe especially all things French, Italian's love for life, family, food and wine oh and the wonderful architecture and gardens in both places.

With this in mind I was reminded for me it is all about creating a place that is warm and welcoming, a wonderful home to hang out with friends and family in.