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.

Italy - my colour inspiration

Packing up bookcases has meant a trip down memory lane as we pull out photo albums and the photos of Italy are certainly among my favourites.


My colour inspiration - Mediterranean blue, blooming bougainvillea, pots of red geraniums, white wash buildings, natural stone and the list goes on......

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.