Friday inspiration - Chinese stools

Often when I am out and about I see things that inspire design ideas or concepts for my home. Do you find this as well?

Melbourne is full of cosy well designed cafes that make you want to take a seat and over coffee take it all in, interesting architecture and beautiful street-scapes.

For me there is so much inspiration for my home and so now have decided to make a regular Friday post of what I have loved when out and about during the week.

Earlier this week I took the kids to Melbourne Zoo and along the Elephant trail there are these gorgeous stools, love the look and colour, plus glazed pots and the pendant light pictured below.

And in case you are wondering I haven't been able to keep up the photo a day challenge or post much recently as have had shoulder and back problems which is aggravated by sitting at a computer, so have had to save my computer time for work only.

Hope you all have had a great week.

G

A trip on water - good for stress release

Yesterday we decided to enjoy a Sunny 29 degree day and catch a ferry from Melbourne's South Bank to the Bay town of Williamstown.

For those that don't know Melbourne, the ferry travels along the Yarra River that runs through the City of Melbourne, out the mouth of the Yarra into Port Phillip Bay and across the Bay to Williamstown.

I find being near water and on boats a great stress release and was so relaxed by the time we got back home.
Then this morning when a plumber arrived at 7.30am to fix up a few issues from the reno it reminded me how frustrating it was to have trades rock up at this time when we are getting ready for work and school. Thankfully builders being around all the time is behind us which I am now very glad of.

Sea (or tree) change

Ever thought about or actually had a sea (or tree) change?

Every Friday night Hubby and I watch the English show Move to the Country. We love it and often think, wouldn't that be a nice thing to do, especially if you could get an old character filled home with land. Also just recently a good friend of mine announced that she is moving from an inner City suburb of busy Melbourne to the beautiful, somewhat more peaceful surrounds of the Adelaide Hills. This got me to thinking could I do the same?

The Grampians, Victoria - cottage we stayed in last Christmas

Funnily enough I already have but the other way around. As a young child I lived just outside a small English village and walked down a country lane surrounded by green fields to school. I had a beautiful forest just down the road that we would go for walks in every weekend. Then at the age of 10 I moved with my family to the Adelaide Hills where I could see a hill with sheep and horses out of my bedroom window.

Melbourne laneway - http://www.sydney-australia.biz/victoria/melbourne/

But then in my late 20s (10 years ago) decided to move to a inner City suburb of Melbourne with my then fiancé, now husband. So the question I suppose is more, could I go back? Part of me would like to, especially as my parents still live in the Adelaide Hills and my oldest close friends are there, but a lot harder now with children and I do love the buzz of Melbourne.

Brighton beach and Melbourne skyline

I also wonder how easy it would be to sell our home, one we have now lived in for nearly seven years, are currently renovating and last but by no means least brought our children home to just after they were born. We have planted trees in the garden and watched them grow, we measure our children against them.

I know from reading others blogs that some of you have renovated then sold or made big changes. Love to hear your thoughts.

Colour, sun and bare feet

The sun is out and the temperature is starting to creep higher after a very long Winter. And so yesterday we were out and about near the water, checking out the new area in the Docklands of Melbourne.

The blue sky, colourful lanterns and watching the kids enjoy the day made me smile. Then realising it is warm enough this morning to walk around the house in bare feet and feel the smoothness of the floorboards just added to this, I love spring and summer.

Now time to bring more colour into the house I think.

Happy day four of Blogtoberfest!