Always be a Unicorn

I have so much to update.  So much.  But it's late and I'm short on time (a recurring theme these days), so I'm just going to post this image of a cardboard unicorn (!) head, that I saw while trawling the internet tonight, when I should have been doing paperwork.  Cardboard trophy heads have been around for yonks.  But a cardboard unicorn is on another level.  You can buy them here, but I have no idea if they ship outside of the USA.

Given the choice, who wouldn't be a unicorn?

Cloud Art

I had forgotten how much I loved cloud art, until just before Easter when there were some pretty magical clouds happening around Broome. I literally pulled over to snap these couple on my phone last week as I was driving.

A collection of framed clouds on a wall always looks amazing.
It's simple, low-cost DIY art but it is so effective.

Here's some other examples from around the internet:

Gallery-style, from thenest.com.  The over-sized mats make this so effective

In a bedroom at tart-house.blogspot.com. Surely the perfect place for clouds?

This large blown up version from Amber Interior Design works so well, and is echoed in the sheepskin chair slips

and this, from 6th Street Design School, in a small boy's room.  Magical!

Moody Blues

Dark, moody walls contrasted with fresh white and pops of colour are capturing my attention lately.  Love this recent Greg Natale project below, and also loving the emergence of lots of black for 2013.

Greg Natale

(pic stolen from lifeingraceblog.com)

I'm Back! (sort of).

How do you get motivated to go back to work after the holidays? It always seems so hard slipping back into reality, after a few weeks thinking of nothing but sun, sand, boating and catching up with family and friends.

We are lucky enough to be back in New Zealand for the summer and after a very hectic Xmas and New Year period, we are finally settling into a semi-routine.

But now work is calling, the emails are piling up, and the ideas are rolling round in my head begging to be let out.  One of the things I love most about New Zealand is it's fresh approach to design, and the classic Kiwi bach is one of it's best examples.

The decor is almost always basic, classic kiwiana: panelled walls, bare floors, cedar cladding and simple, rustic and re-purposed accessories - old family blankets used to reupholster chairs or turned into cushions, vintage posters on the walls and grandma's furniture with a new coat of paint.

Life in the Kiwi bach is simple, uncluttered and involves memories rather than money. I've been scurrying around open homes lately bothering real estate agents and getting my fix.

Wanaka, NZ

Somewhere in the North island, NZ

Timms Bach, NZ (www.herbstarchitects.co.nz/timms-bach)

It's going to be a big year!  If I can ever get my brain to co-operate...

New stools and other stuff

If you follow me on Instagram (sdinteriors), you would have seen the SD Interiors stools are now in barstool height and also in durable oilcloth.  They are only prototypes at this stage, but will hopefully be available for sale in the New Year, and will come with dipped legs just like the footstools.

They come in a couple of options at this stage and are also available in the footstools:

Doesn't this one remind you of a fairy toadstool?

The pastel polka-dot looks great with legs dipped in white, blue, pink, yellow or green! 

My latest round of stools hit the floor at Spice Furniture Broome last week, and I also made this little outdoor table to display them around. I know I really shouldn't blow my own horn, but I do think it is bucketloads of cuteness.

Tea party, anyone?

I have so much to update on the house, and I promise it is coming soon (so is Christmas - literally!) The kitchen splashback is finally finished, I've been working on (what seems like) 7000 DIY projects to share, and removing paint, repainting and re-designing has begun outside.  The design business is going gangbusters with some very big commercial projects on board, and then there's the whole move-across-the-tasman-for-summer thing to organise.  But instead of tackling my mountainous to-do list, tonight I sat down, drank wine, and watched Million Dollar Decorators.  Seriously, that show is awesome.

Beauty

Spotted over at veronicalovesarchie.com.  So good. (original source http://arturomata.tumblr.com)
I've been designing a lot of glamorous bathrooms for clients lately.  But my heart will always belong to raw and rustic.