Tulle desk skirt

I have been toying with the idea of a tulle skirt for the desk in the study ever since I came across the photos of the Faire Frou Frou store I posted about a little while back.

Inspiration: Tulle curtains

In my mind the desk is covered in a layer of ivory fabric with tulle sewn around the bottom in ivory and pale pink layers and the desk topped with mirrored glass with beveled edges.

And then I saw Anna's office desk of Absolutely Beautiful Things and was blown away.




Black would ordinarily seem like a heavy colour to choose but in her light and airy office surrounded in white, the desk appears to be floating.

P.S. I am really enjoying the eye candy now that Anna has opened up shop again. Check it out.

(Images Absolutely Beautiful Things)

How to hang wallpaper

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on the wallpaper in my study! A few people wanted to see a step-by-step of the process so here it is. Please excuse the quality of the photos. My camera doesn't take very nice photos at night and I did work on this until quite late in the evening.

First I should start by saying that wallpaper hanging is not difficult but it is fiddly and it takes some practise and patience to do a good job of it so I suggest starting with small projects to get the hang of it before tackling larger jobs.

What you will need
Wallpaper
Tape measure
Level
Wallpaper paste
Pencil
Squeegie
Paint roller and tray
Small paint brush (to brush on extra glue if you didn't put enough or need to touch up areas)
Cutting knife
Bucket for paste
Wet sponge
Seam roller to smooth down the seams of the wallpaper (I didn't have one)
Ruler with a guard


Step 1: Prepare the wallpaper paste

I did this step first because the wallpaper paste I purchased came in a powder form that you mix with cold water and leave to set for 30 minutes. I believe you can purchase preprepared wallpaper paste.


Step 2: Check your walls

Fill in any holes, remove power point covers or other things on the wall and clean with warm water.

Step 3: Mark the wall for the first strip

Measure the width of your wallpaper and subtract approximately 2 inches. Take this measurement and use your level and pencil to mark a line where your first strip will be hung on the wall from ceiling to floor. You want to have about 2 inches of extra paper on all sides of the wall to make hanging easier. You will cut these extra bits when you finish hanging.


Step 4: Measure your paper

Measure the height of your wall. Lay down your first strip of paper and cut the length adding 2 inches to the top and bottom. Line up the pattern of your next strip and cut it as well adding 2 inches top and bottom. Repeat for all strips. I measured all strips first and numbered the back of the paper so that I could quickly tell which order they had to be hung in.



Step 5: Paste your paper

Lay your paper pattern side down and use a roller to paste the entire back of it with a thin layer of paste. There are some papers on the market that allow you to paste directly onto the wall so please check what kind of paper you have.


Step 6: Hang your paper

Line up your first strip with the pencil mark on the wall. Start from the top (leaving 2 inches extra from the top and side for the first strip) and smooth with your hand. As you work down from the top, check it still lines with the pencil mark and keep smoothing. Use a squeegie to remove any air bubbles as you work down. Keep working down to the bottom of the wall smoothing with your hand, then squeegie and so on to make sure you have removed all air bubbles.

Don't worry if glue seeps out the sides of the paper. You can wipe it off with a wet sponge (for most papers).


TIP: If there is a power point on the wall, switch the power off, remove the cover, lay the paper over it and cut out a hole to thread the power through. Then replace the cover again to hide the hole.

Step 7: Repeat Steps 5 & 6 for all strips

The trickiest part of this process I think is making sure the seam and patten lines up as close to each other as possible. It does take some practise so don't be afraid to lift part of the paper before it dries to re-do if it doesn't work the first time. Use your hand to slide the paper across, up, down to get it to line up as best as possible.

Step 8: Cut the edges

Wait until the paste dries a little otherwise you may rip the paper. Use a ruler with a guard and a utility knife and cut off the excess paper from all sides of the wall - top, bottom, left and right.

Step 9: You're done!


So that's what I did in a nutshell. I am not a professional hanger so if you have any suggestions for doing any of these steps better please feel free to leave it in the comments. There are lots of great videos around that I found helpful too.

Hanging wallpaper

I can cross one project off the list - hang wallpaper in the study. I worked on it over the weekend. I started at 8pm after Robert had gone to sleep and finished it at 1am. 5 hours.

Although I think I could have finished it earlier if I hadn't been distracted by the contents of the refrigerator.


This room also stores a lot of Robert's toys and there is this bookcase on the other side of the room. I have a few ideas for this space which I will keep you updated on as it is by no means finished.


What do you think of the pattern? I was a little nervous at first but I'm really happy it and in the mornings, the sun catches the gold outlines of the flowers and really brings it to life. I wish I could capture it in photos to show you.

Would you be interested in a little step-by-step of the hanging process?

P.S. If you would like to see a before photo of the room please see here.

Fashion Friday: Contrast

These shots were taken last weekend and if you are a Flickr friend of mine you might have already seen them. I also managed to take a photo of my son and I and it a new favourite of mine even though it is blurry.

The timer was set and in the last few seconds he quickly sat beside me, smiled, "click" and then he was off running about the house again. It is hard to get a good photo of us because he is always on the move and I will treasure this one.

I wore the outfit with flats because let's face it heels + toddlers = high probability of sprained ankles. Especially ones as high as these! I liked the velvet ribbon in my hair and might wear it more often just for something different. The white dress is the full version of the skirt I have worn in this photo and this one.

Thank you for your lovely comments and emails this week and have a fabulous weekend. Enjoy!

5 ideas for decorating a rental

A lovely reader wrote to me looking for some tips to decorate a rental and I promised to share some of my ideas here. Some of the ideas work equally well for owner-occupied homes if you aren't after a permanent change.


1. Wallpapered panels

Just because you live in a rental, doesn't mean you can't enjoy wallpaper on a large scale. My suggestion is to use large pieces of plywood/MDF, paper it with your favourite pattern and then frame with a thin border. The panels would look great on any bare walls or as a bed head.

See an example here of the wallpapered and then framed panel in my studio. Mine is fixed to the wall but yours doesn't need to be. Try leaning against a wall or table or hang as a piece of art (please check you can do so first).

If you prefer not to display wallpaper in this way and on a large scale, perhaps you might like to add a hint of pattern to your home by lining drawers with any type of decorative paper that will make you smile when you open them.


2. Large leaning mirrors

Lean large ornate mirrors against walls for extra glam and to open up spaces. Perfectly suited for a bedroom or bathroom. Just be sure it is safe and won't topple, especially if you have curious kids. You can fix the mirror to the wall and still have it leaning but please check if you can make holes in the wall before attempting this.


3. Swap out the pendant lights or shades

Make sure you keep the old ones to replace again when you leave. Do check that this too won't cause issues.


4. Window covering for privacy

If your kitchen window stares straight into another person's home try covering with decorative film for a little extra privacy. Just be sure the film doesn't leave behind a sticky residue.


5. Storage solutions

Storage can sometimes be an issue in rentals. A bookcase filled with pretty boxes can be used as storage. Try kikki-k for a nice selection of cloth storage boxes.

A study desk can also double as storage and hide computer wires by covering with a bold fabric to hide away the contents underneath.

Do you have any decorating tips for rentals? Perhaps you live in a rental yourself and have found a clever storage solution? I would love to hear your thoughts on decorating rentals.

(1. Apartment Therapy, ish and chi; 2. Real Living, avante garde design; 3. Shade of Light; 4. The Happy Home Blog {it is a painted stencil but gives an idea of what decorative film can look like with the right pattern}, Brume; 5. ish and chi, Absolutely Beautiful Things
)

DIY Cupcake Stand

Do you have an event coming up? Perhaps you might like to try this idea found via Apartment Therapy. It is a cupcake stand made of vintage plates and glass candlestick holders held together with epoxy. I think it is adorable. I only wish I had come across this idea earlier to suggest for my friends kitchen tea party (although the stands we used were great too).

(Image bubbo-tubbo via Apartment Therapy)

Black wall love

My love affair with black walls is not yet over. Oh no, far from it. It can add drama and elegance to a room but can also make it feel cosy as though you have been cocooned in a warm blanket.




I think they look especially great as a feature wall behind a bed as shown in these photos of Belinda's bedroom makeover (top) and Jules's makeover (bottom).




Simple changes are sometimes the most effective I think. Please head over to Belinda's and Jules's blogs for more photos.

(Images The Happy Home and The Diversion Project)

Fashion Friday: What I Wore to the Circus

The circus was fun! It was a great day out and Robert loved it. I was totally overdressed but didn't care although mental note - soggy grass and new suede shoes do not mix.

I wore this outfit with a striped jacket that has a hint of red thread through it. My friend said I looked a little like a ringmaster. Just the look I was going for. The circus really does bring out my silly side!

Can I show you something I have become addicted to? Looklet. I never thought I would but I have spent many hours putting together outfits and browsing through other looks. These are my outfits if you would like to see. I hope you will play along too. I would love to see the looks you come up with.

See you next week and have an amazing weekend.

A quick swap

I swapped out the frosted glass panels in the TV unit for mirrors. The glass became loose and it was an opportunity to update it a little.

I have been thinking of having wood or perspex cut out in a decorative pattern, fixed on top of the mirrors and painted to match the silver border. I think it would look lovely but for now I am enjoying this little update (and my new red shoes).

Jason Grant's Home

What a nice surprise! Jason Grant, super stylist, has opened the doors to his home in the July issue of Real Living. I was happily flipping through the magazine as I do before settling down to read it thoroughly and stopped when I saw the wood bed head. I remember having seen a snapshot of it posted on Jason's blog a few months back. It is great isn't it?

Things I am craving from his home - the Union Jack cushion and the Smeg fridge. Oh how I love that fridge!

(Images of Real Living magazine July 2010 issue)

Fashion Friday: Apricot

Apricot is not a colour I usually wear and I was unsure if the jacket would suit my olive skin but I think it does (I hope it does). I like the fullness of it, the way it gathers at the back and the bell sleeves. The fabric is soft too.

The colour reminds me of this hallway I saw a while back. The small text refers to the colour of the curtains as coral. Regardless, they are very elegant and look wonderful repeated through to the far room.

Another week is gone. I am catching up with friends this weekend and taking Robbie to the circus! I don't know who is going to enjoy it more to be honest. I will take photos if I can to show you.

Have a beautiful weekend. Enjoy!

Coat: ModCloth
Dress/Tunic: ASOS
Pants: ASOS
Boots: A local shoe store

(Images: By me except the last image via Coco + Kelley)

David Bromley

David Bromley. He has become one of Australia's most collectible artists.

In his Female Nude series he has painted Megan Gale, Cheyenne Tozzi, Kristy Hinze, Collette Dinnigan to name a few. He's even painted Lily Allen for the subscriber's cover of May '10 Bazaar magazine (does anyone have this copy and no longer want it? I would happily buy it from you!). His work is easily recognisable and he captures the beauty of the female form with bold brushstrokes and metallic leaf/paint.

I was floored the other day when walking past a home with the lights on, curtains open and there, standing centre of attention was a large red Bromley nude hanging on the wall. I promise I don't usually make a habit of looking inside people's homes but I couldn't not look. It was amazing.



His other work is the Boys Own series where he paints childhood images full of innocence. Images of children flying kits, playing pirates or reading stories. I would very much like to buy one for my son's room. One day I hope.

PS: If you would like to read an interview with David, visit Daily Imprint.

(Images David Bromley)

Patterned floorboards

I like the look of floorboards raw, polished, painted and now I think I like them patterned too.

(Images Living Etc, source unknown, via ada & darcy)