tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37689920333069891222024-03-06T12:17:59.079+11:00ish and chiINTERIOR DESIGN + DECORATING + STYLE IDEAS by Sydney interior designer, student & professional blogger Vivian Mansour Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comBlogger858125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-46753624545919865132017-11-27T08:56:00.000+11:002017-11-27T10:28:59.326+11:00The Bathroom Reno<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE BATHROOM RENO</span><br />
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INTERIOR DESIGN BY VIVIAN PANAGOS<br />
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We've been planning a renovation of our bathroom for years (since 2009!) and I finally have the finished project that I can share with you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/2009/12/">The original bathroom</a> was falling to pieces. The vanity was broken, the walls and ceiling were peeling and the shower screen could not be opened without a struggle. Bathing the kids in this space was just not practical. I couldn't reach the shower and mixers without contorting my body into an unnatural position. The colour scheme was an uninteresting shade of beige and browns and I hated being in the space.<br />
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<b>The New Bathroom Design</b><br />
The new design needed to make use of the original plumbing as much as possible so as to save costs and all the walls and ceiling needed to come down. <br />
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I wanted to push my boundaries and use a black <a href="https://vandabaths.com/aus/australasia/">Victoria + Albert</a> bath and basin in this tiny bathroom. Some might veer away from dark colours in a small space but combined with the white penny tiles and grout from <a href="https://www.ambertiles.com.au/">Amber Tiles</a>, and the light blue terrazzo stone floor from <a href="http://www.fibonaccistone.com.au/">Fibonacci Stone</a> they offset the darkness. And the matt gold taps from <a href="https://sussextaps.com.au/">Sussex Taps</a> shine brightly!</div>
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<b>The Renovation</b><br />
When my builder pulled down the walls
and ceiling he discovered that the bathroom had been renovated three times prior by previous owners. The old plumbing was still in place so we could see where the shower
was originally positioned and previously there wasn't a bathtub.<br />
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</td><td valign="top" width="50%">The new bathroom had to incorporate a shower above the bath as there
wasn't enough room to have a separate bath tub and shower. To
accommodate, the entire room was waterproofed to become a wet room with a
linear drain behind the bath where it can't be seen. The rain shower
head is one of my favourite features and I can't explain how relaxing
this space now is!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Heated towel rail</span><br />
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To bring in more light to this small space, we had installed large louvre windows from <a href="https://www.stegbar.com.au/">Stegbar</a> and a <a href="http://www.velux.com.au/">Velux</a> skylight. This small room is now one of the brightest in our home.<br />
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The vanity is actually a white lacquered bedside that was customised to fit the basin and it is offers plenty of storage for us. Additionally we added a niche into the wall for added storage.<br />
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Feel free to ask any questions regarding our new bathroom in the comments below and if you are looking at renovating your bathroom in the new year, <a href="http://vivianpanagos.com.au/contact/">feel free to get in touch</a> to discuss your project.</td></tr>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-32766818627563289772017-08-05T23:08:00.000+10:002017-08-05T23:08:05.589+10:00Modern Learning Space<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/s6kes0geu1dam1a/modern14.jpg?raw=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="532" src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/s6kes0geu1dam1a/modern14.jpg?raw=1" /></a><br />
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><span style="font-size: x-large;">MODERN LEARNING SPACE </span><br />
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INTERIOR DESIGN BY VIVIAN PANAGOS<br />
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Last year I shared with you <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/2016/09/modern-learning-space-before.html">the before photos</a> of the classroom that I had the opportunity of designing.<br />
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To recap, this was a special project for me because it was the primary school that I attended as a child. I never could have dreamed that years later I would be back with a measuring tape and ready to take it into the 21st century.<br />
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<b>The New Classroom </b><br />
The students would use the classroom to learn how to program lego robots and so, I centered the design around a carpet 'runway' that would allow the kids a place to have a bit of fun and race their built robots.<br />
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The colours had to be fresh and bright to make what was a dull classroom into a vibrant place for the students to work in collaboratively.<br /></p>
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<b>Volunteers</b><br />
It took an army of volunteers to prep, sand,
paint, buff, polish - whatever it took to make this room new again. I
can't thank our volunteers enough for their time and dedication!</div>
</td><td valign="top" width="50%"><b>Technology</b><br />
Since the classroom space launched, the school has been fortunate to have now partnered with HP Australia and Code Camp to give the students access to the latest developments in technology, student learning and educational programming. They use iPads, lego robotics, a 3D printer and scanner and the latest in computer technology to bring learning to life. <br />
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Today - a year later - I visited the classroom once more. It was open to the public and it was amazing to see kids and adults interacting with the space and the technology, marveling at the coding that the students do at such a young age.<br />
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I couldn't be prouder to have been involved in such an exciting project. <br />
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-86810784089962155772016-11-04T12:00:00.000+11:002016-11-04T12:00:07.381+11:00Review: The Fisher & Paykel Double DishDrawer™ Dishwasher<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><span style="font-size: x-large;">REVIEW: <br />THE FISHER & PAYKEL DOUBLE DISHDRAWER™ DISHWASHER</span><br />
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH<br />
<a href="https://www.fisherpaykel.com/au.html">FISHER & PAYKEL</a><br />
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Less than a year ago we found ourselves walking the shopping aisles searching for a new dishwasher. At the time I remember looking at the Fisher & Paykel range and staring longingly at their DishDrawer™ dishwashers.
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I kicked myself for not investing in one at the time because not long afterwards the dishwasher we ended up purchasing started to play up. We had difficulty turning it on at times, the wash cycle didn’t always work and it just became unreliable. So unreliable, I preferred to just wash most items by hand. Ugh.<br />
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We were at the point of returning it when I received an email asking me if I would like to test out the new <a href="https://www.fisherpaykel.com/au/kitchen/dishwashing/new-dishdrawer.html">Fisher & Paykel Double DishDrawer™ Dishwasher</a>.
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Yes! Yes!
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And now here I am today, stacking dishes like a pro – long stemmed glasses in their spot, small glasses on top, neatly stacked plates and I’m even using the cutlery basket properly - stacking each piece in the individual holes as opposed to chucking them all in the one compartment and finding they don’t clean properly.
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I barely recognise myself anymore. <i>This is a transformation.</i>
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<b>Ergonomic</b>
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My favourite feature of the DishDrawer™ Dishwasher is the two drawers that slide out effortlessly and require less movement to load and unload – which is great if you have a small child on one hip as I often do!<br />
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<b>Quality and Design</b>
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Dishwashers are a considered purchase for the homeowners I work with and the DishDrawer™ Dishwasher is a good choice for its sleek contemporary design that integrates well in many different styles of kitchens, including ours.<br />
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The stainless steel finish is easy to wipe clean and it comes with recessed handles for a clean, modern look. The control panel for both the top and bottom drawers is positioned in the top right corner and it doesn’t detract from the aesthetics of the dishwasher. The overall design will work well in many different styles of kitchens.<br />
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><b>Flexibility</b><br />
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Each drawer is designed to wash independently which means that you can do smaller loads without feeling guilty, and you can for example, wash delicate items in one drawer and heavily soiled items like pots and pans in the other drawer. The flexibility comes in handy for us.<br />
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<b>Quiet</b><br />
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I was surprised at how quiet the dishwasher was when it was operating. We usually switch ours on just after dinner and we head into the adjoining room to wind down before the bedtime routine starts. The last thing our family would want at this time is the sound of a dishwasher buzzing loudly away and the quietness of the DishDrawer™ Dishwasher is a blessing for us during these precious minutes.<br />
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<b>Safety</b>
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I couldn’t work out how to switch on the child lock feature with our old dishwasher, but the DishDrawer™ Dishwasher makes it easy with the simultaneous push of two buttons, locking the drawers and disabling the buttons. My youngest loves to open cupboards and drawers lately so this feature is a really important one for us to have in our kitchen to keep little fingers safe.<br />
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Our family is very happy with the <a href="https://www.fisherpaykel.com/au/kitchen/dishwashing/new-dishdrawer.html">Fisher & Paykel Double DishDrawer™ Dishwasher.</a></td></tr>
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Photography: <a href="http://www.tinaandjarrod.com/">Tina & Jarrod Photography</a><br />
Video: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.lisazhu.com">Lisa Zhu</a>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-55183262047114365122016-09-07T08:02:00.000+10:002016-09-07T08:02:01.999+10:00Modern Learning Space - Before<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><span style="font-size: x-large;">MODERN LEARNING SPACE - BEFORE</span><br />
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INTERIOR DESIGN BY VIVIAN PANAGOS<br />
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Often I work on projects that give me a real buzz, but this year I worked on a very special one - the design of a Modern Learning Space for a primary school.<br />
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Earlier this year the Principal of the school wrote to me asking if I would be able to and willing to design the space. She wanted it to look funky and an exciting learning space for the students. I think it took restraint to not write back 'YES!!!!!' in all caps. The reason for my excitement is twofold:<br />
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1. This was a wonderful opportunity to use my skills to be able to give back to the local community by creating a fun 21st century learning environment for students, and<br />
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2. This was my primary school as a child!<br />
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<b>The Existing Room</b><br />
I have a hazy recollection of sitting in this very classroom all those (ahem) years ago and it hadn't changed a bit since I attended - right down to the heaters (for some reason I still remembered those) and even some of the posters I saw had an 80's vibe to them.<br />
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The carpet was in need of a refresh, and the paintwork was yellowing. This room needed help!<br />
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The main updates to the room before the project started were to fit an electronic whiteboard that was no longer used and install Wi-Fi. The school had purchased bright new modular furniture to use in the new space but it looked flat in the existing room. They also purchased a large touch screen, a 3D printer and were introducing a Lego Robotics program to the school. But the room didn't have that exciting feel they wanted for the students to use all this fabulous equipment to learn.<br />
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<b>The Initial Plan</b><br />
I visited one day to check out the space to see what we could do on a limited budget. We agreed to:<br />
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<ul>
<li>replace the carpet</li>
<li>paint the walls and ceiling</li>
<li>take down the whiteboards from the front wall</li>
<li>remove the heaters because they weren't being used and yet the school was still required to have them regularly serviced</li>
<li>replace the whiteboards on the left side wall</li>
<li>replace the blinds that were old and yellowed</li>
<li>remove any furniture that wasn't required i.e. the teachers desk and an old cabinet</li>
<li>the back wall has a storage room behind it and to hide the contents behind, paper was used to cover the glass. I suggested painting the entire wall, including the glass to hide the contents of this room.</li>
<li>the tall storage cabinets at the back of the room were used to store the equipment as part of the Lego Robotics program and they were to stay but painted in white</li>
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</td><td valign="top" width="50%"><b>My Design</b><br />
I mocked up a 3D render of the new space to share with the school and the parent / carer community for their approval. This was a large space and I knew that the room could handle bold stripes made up of carpet tiles so they can be replaced if damaged over time, and laid across the full length of the room. While discussing this idea with a teach she became excited at the possibility of using the stripes as 'runway' that the students can use to raise their built robots - and at that moment I realised I was working with teaching staff that are always looking for ways to integrate learning even through the design of space and the idea was locked in!<br />
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The stripes would also be taken up the front wall using paint for continuity and it allowed us to create a feature of the front wall which would now be bare with all the existing whiteboards taken down. There was no need for the school to mount anything here so it was a great opportunity to do something fun with that wall. The original design shown here had multiple stripes up and over the ceiling, but I felt it was overkill once we started painting and pared this back in the final space.<br />
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The back wall was also an opportunity to have some fun. I had the idea to mimic the squares and rectangle shapes of Lego to create an interesting wall that tied in with how the space would be used. We used paint suitable for glass to paint over the glass panels and hide the contents behind the wall.<br />
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I chose citrus-y colours to balance the primary colours of the furniture and selected a darker shade of carpet tiles to hide dirt a bit better and lighter shade of wall colours to keep the room looking bright and fresh.<br />
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We had <b>so many volunteers</b> to help us over a couple weekends to get the room ready including the school principal, teachers, parents and carers and people who hadn't painted before but were willing to give it a try and I left each day feeling SO INSPIRED by how very lucky we are to have such a wonderful community. I have so many people to thank - you know who you are!<br />
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<u>Next up, I will share with you the final space.</u><br />
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<i style="color: #555555; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;">If you would like assistance with an interior project, feel free to <a href="mailto:viv@ishandchi.com" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">contact me</a> about my design services.</i></td></tr>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-34222521330800524522016-02-23T07:00:00.000+11:002016-02-23T07:00:25.343+11:00TEN OF THE BEST FLOOR, TABLE AND PENDANT LIGHTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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SPONSORED POST<br />
<a href="http://www.beaconlighting.com.au/">BEACON LIGHTING</a><br />
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They say the right lighting can make or break a room. I couldn’t agree more.
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When I renovated our home I will admit I knew very little about the impact lighting could have on a space. My electrician asked me what I had in mind and aside from wanting to hang a few pendant lights I really didn’t have much more of an idea. In our rush to move in we settled on a blanket of downlights for the main living spaces and looking back now, I wish the decision had been more considered. There is nothing I love more than a careful selection of different types of lighting to change the feel of a space to suit your mood. <br />
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Lighting design is an understated art form and a well-considered design, combining ambient, task and accent lighting can add so much drama to a space and help with performing specific tasks.
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Beacon Lighting have a great selection of contemporary floor, table and pendant lights to work with in your space and I’ve teamed up with them to style my top favourite products and to share with you some other lovely selections.
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From left to right (top image):
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<b>Misura Floor Lamp</b><br />
The delicate lines of this floor lamp are unassuming, which helps to integrate this floor lamp easily into many different spaces – a dream lamp for an interior stylist or designer. It doesn’t scream, “look at me I’m over here taking attention away from everything else in the room!” but rather it speaks more quietly, hanging out in the space as one of the cool kids without competing. Sometimes you need that piece in the room that works seamlessly rather than filling a space with too many showpieces.
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Some other floor lamp favourites include the Citta Floor Lamp for its modernist aesthetic and the LEDlux Blakely Floor Lamp, which is also a very delicate in design.
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<b>Alrik 1 Light Coolie Pendant</b></div>
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Who would have known plywood timber could look so fancy? The strong cylindrical lines cast such a beautiful shadow and I couldn’t resist playing up this feature in this photoshoot. This pendant light would look wonderful clustered as a group of three and varying the size adds interest.</div>
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><b>Gaston 1 Light Table Lamp</b><br />
A perfect combination of two materials that work so well together – copper and concrete. Designed by Josh & Jenna of The Block and Reno Rumble fame, the simple shape of this lamp and the way in which the light casts upwards makes this table lamp a sculptural showpiece to add to your home.<br />
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Other table lamp gems include the Gustavo Table Lamp with its marble base and metal shade and the Raika 1 Light Table Lamp combining amber glass and cork to create an interesting overall design that looks more like a lantern than a table light.<br />
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<b>Lunar 1 Light Small Cylinder Pendant</b><br />
I was really looking forward to seeing this light in person as I have been considering it for a project. Amber is my preferred coloured-glass to work with at the moment and when lit, it casts a beautiful warm glow. It’s a real winner!<br />
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Other beautiful pendant light alternatives include the Harvey 1 Light Pendant - concrete lights are on trend right now and the clay colour gives the concrete unexpected warmth – and the Monlue Tread Pendant in copper with black accents. Copper is still hugely popular at the moment and combined with the matt black finish of the shade, this pendant light looks elegant and refined.<br />
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To see a huge collection of floor, table and <a href="http://www.beaconlighting.com.au/lighting/pendant-lights.html">pendant lighting</a>, visit Beacon Lighting.
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-50235750874445423152015-11-30T07:26:00.003+11:002015-11-30T07:32:32.829+11:00BEHIND THE SCENES: STYLING WITH FREEDOM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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DECORATING<br />
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A couple of months ago I was invited by <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/">Freedom</a> to style a living space using pieces from their new Spring / Summer collection. I brought my team with me - David (photographer) and Christopher (junior stylist) and the Freedom team were amazing help. </div>
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<td valign="top" width="50%">Starting with the <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/furniture/sofas/leather-sofas-modulars/23528031/bonnie-25-seat-sofa-union-tan/">Bonnie sofa</a> in tan leather, we added and subtracted cushions and other pieces until we achieved the final space which reflects my take on the Spring / Summer look. I would love to know what you think!<br />
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See more here including full product list: <a href="http://blog.freedom.com.au/2015/09/05/behind-the-scenes-at-our-spring-summer-2015-instameet/">http://blog.freedom.com.au/2015/09/05/behind-the-scenes-at-our-spring-summer-2015-instameet/</a><i> </i></div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-8149864201609395802015-08-24T17:18:00.000+10:002015-08-24T17:18:48.448+10:00SHOPPING AT SUPA CENTA MOORE PARK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was recently invited to shop at <a href="http://www.supacentamoorepark.com.au/">Supa Centa Moore Park</a>. I have visited SCMP regularly over the years, sometimes just for a browse and a coffee and other times with a particular item in mind and it is always a nice time out. </div>
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<td valign="top" width="50%">I have shared details of my shopping trip over at the SCMP blog if you would like to have a read and see some of the cool items I found during my visit, including the Cuban lady print (below) - isn't she great? Thanks for having me SCMP!<br />
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Read here: <a href="http://www.supacentamoorepark.com.au/news-events/inspiration/VIVIAN%20FROM%20ISH%20&%20CHI%20SHOPS%20SCMP">Vivian from Ish & Chi shops SCMP</a><i> </i></div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-41719798828690989152015-07-07T09:02:00.003+10:002015-07-07T09:07:30.846+10:00WATERVIEW HOUSE KITCHEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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VIVIAN PANAGOS - INTERIOR DESIGN <br />
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Hello there! I am still in cyberspace - mainly checking in from time to time but mostly I am working on design projects away from the screen. Life is jam-packed at the moment but I wanted to pop by and share with you the 'final' photos of a project I worked on a while ago (four years ago now!).<br />
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You will have already seen the progress photos but just to re-cap: The Waterview House is a magnificent architecturally designed property overlooking the water and surrounded by bush. I worked with the family to select furnishings for the new home. This particular part of the project was to specify materials for a newly designed kitchen. I presented options for everything from the benchtop, cabinet and island materials, backsplash, wall paint, lighting and stools.</div>
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The inspiration for the colour palette were the architectural columns in the open living and dining spaces. You can see it in the photo below in the foreground - it has lovely red-brown and grey veining.</div>
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We selected white as the base colour for the kitchen. This included the base cabinets, benchtop, island stools and lighting. To soften the all-white look, we added a metallic backsplash which gives a lovely grey finish. The walls were painted a light grey and a beautiful antique oak wood veneer was selected for the kitchen island and bar. The veneer was laid horizontally in one continuous strip and has lovely veining throughout. We even added a playful touch to the kitchen with bright red bar stools.<br />
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<i>If you would like assistance with your new kitchen project or home, feel free to <a href="mailto:viv@ishandchi.com">contact me</a> about my design services.</i> </div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-70643722363668285282015-04-24T06:00:00.000+10:002015-04-24T06:00:05.623+10:00Mother's Day Gift Ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been a while since I have put together a mini gift guide for you and today I'm joining a few other lovely bloggers to share with you our gift suggestions for Mother's Day.<br />
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Pulling together my selections for gift ideas that can be purchased locally, was enjoyable for me. As I hunted around, I discovered a few new (to me) stores and I have gathered a rather long wishlist now. Here are my top picks:</div>
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<b><a href="http://shop.harklo.com/collections/the-boutique/products/harklo-brass-hanging-planter">Brass Hanging Planter | Harklo</a> (RRP $240)</b><br />
Harklo is an Australian online store run by two long-time friends, Liss Gardiner and Sally Klopper. I was attracted to their brass and copper products, in particular this planter which would make a stunning feature in her home.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.countryroad.com.au/lookbook/15-apr-style-guide/woman/casual#prod_44796">Knit, Vest and Boots | Country Road</a></b><br />
I am pretty much sold on everything at Country Road at the moment and I personally would love anything from their fashion or homewares range. I selected this look from their latest collection because the pieces are very versatile and comfortable.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.constanceroe.co/collections/frontpage/products/connie-clutch-polka-dot-tan">Connie Clutch | Constance Roe</a> (RRP $65)</b><br />
Hello, new (to me) store with the cutest clutches around! Constance Roe is Melbourne-based and their circle bags are adorable. For this gift selection, I chose the Connie Clutch in confetti print to help celebrate how wonderful our mums are.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.dinosaurdesigns.com.au/classic-resin-wishbone-bangle-polished-emerald-swirl-small-medium-fit/">Wishbone Bangle | Dinosaur Designs</a> (RRP $75)</b><br />
Dinosaur Designs is a long time favourite store of mine and I am often in here looking for gifts. The wishbone bangle made of resin comes in various colours so you could, perhaps, start a little collection for your mum?<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.kanuka.co/collections/whats-new/products/plantain-cushion">Plantain Cushion | Kanuka</a> (RRP $129)</b><br />
This gift guide was meant to be Australian based but I could not resist sharing this New Zealand store that I came across. The banana print is a personal favourite and there are a few other tropical inspired cushion options in their online store to choose from.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.theminimalist.com.au/products/pov-candleholder-in-black-buy-menu-design-australia">POV Candle Holder | The Minimalist</a> (RRP $79.90)</b><br />
The clean lines of this simple but also bold candle holder will look amazing clustered together on a wall or as a single piece. There are a couple of table variations of this candle holder that are also available at The Minimalist website.<br />
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If you are looking for more gift inspiration, feel free to hop over and visit some of my favourite bloggers who have also shared their ideas for Mother's Day gifts:<br />
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<li>Natalie, <a href="http://www.eatreadlove.com/">eat read love</a></li>
<li>Lexi, <a href="http://pottymouthmama.blogspot.com.au/">PottyMouthMama</a></li>
<li>Steph, <a href="http://blog.stephbond.com/">Bondville</a></li>
(thank you for organising, Steph!)
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-27663424144100038082015-03-18T07:00:00.000+11:002015-03-18T07:00:00.530+11:00INTERVIEW WITH CHARLIE ALBONE OF SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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IF YOU ARE like me you may be hooked on lifestyle television. Are you? One of the shows I watch often is <i>Selling Houses Australia</i> and I always admire Charlie Albone's calm when dealing with small budgets and a large project. I recently had the opportunity to interview Charlie and to share with you one of his recent projects outside of the show.<br />
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Charlie and his stylist wife Juliet Love have teamed up with Mirvac create their ultimate outdoor space this autumn and the images here are of the space they created. I asked Charlie to share some of his tips for creating an inviting outdoor space:</div>
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<b>What elements do you think are essential to creating an outdoor space for this season and what are some considerations when dealing with a small space or garden? </b><br />
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It is really important to zone your areas so the space can be multi-functional. Balcony living can support a dining and lounge area. Just ensure you tie the areas together with some complementary furniture to make it look designed as one rather than a mismatch of styles.<br />
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<b>In 'Selling Houses Australia', you often create great outdoor spaces with a limited budget. Can you suggest some tips for cost-conscious home owners trying to spruce up their outdoor space?
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The best way to make your dollar go further is to do as much DIY as possible, for example a Greenwall costs $1200 a square meter installed by a professional and a DIY kit costs only half of that. Pick one piece of furniture that can be a hero piece that you spend a bit more on, looking for the best quality and then make up the rest of your pieces with the budget in mind.
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<b>What outdoor trends do you think are currently strong? </b><br />
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Vibrant colours and textures are great in small spaces and across the board. Spaces that are personal and intimate are growing and moving away from simply practical gardens.<br />
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<b>What is your proudest project or most memorable project to date? </b><br />
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The Mirvac Live Outside the Box project has been a great experience that I had the opportunity to be a part of alongside my wife Juliet and up next I will be exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show 2015 with a large show garden.
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-85826309560277988052015-03-09T08:00:00.000+11:002015-03-09T13:00:09.970+11:00Living Room<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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OUR LIVING ROOM has changed significantly since I last shared it with you. It has been re-decorated based on mine and David's style and even the location is different having swapped places with the dining area. The new space feels more 'us' with a deep soft velvet sofa that we can all share, a couple of items purchased on our trip to Palm Springs, and lots of indoor plants. We have worked out that we don't have a black thumb after all.</div>
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I was able to get a sneak peak into the new <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/">Freedom</a> Autumn / Winter collection which is hitting the stores this week. Using some of their beautiful pieces I have styled our living room for autumn.<br />
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Autumn in Australia can still be very warm with the nights becoming quite cool. Rather that restyle the whole space with borrowed pieces from the new collection (which was tempting!), I wanted to share how I would realistically change my space for the cooler months by adding a few more cushions to snuggle into and thick knitted throws to wrap ourselves with.<br />
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I traditionally think of moodier colours for the cooler months but this time I wanted to still keep things light and fresh and add various texture to the space with chunky knit throws, leather and fabric upholstered ottomans, as well as cushions that look as though they have been hand knitted. Together with freshly painted white walls and the natural grain of our old floorboards the living space feels warm.</div>
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Even our fiddle leaf plant hasn't escaped being rugged up with a new weaved plant holder. The armchairs have also been painted and I am very happy with the way the Christopher Farr fabric looks in the space.<br />
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So this is our new living area all dressed up for the new season. The details for each of the items which you can purchase from <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/">Freedom</a> can be found below.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">ALL THE DETAILS</span></b></div>
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Cushions (second from left to second from right): <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/soft-furnishings/scatter-cushions/23466364/pivot-cushion-45x45cm-lagoon/">PIVOT CUSHION IN LAGOON</a> ($34.95) <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/soft-furnishings/scatter-cushions/23477681/stanford-cushion-40x60cm-grey/">STANFORD CUSION IN GREY</a> ($39.95), <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/soft-furnishings/scatter-cushions/23479364/peake-cushion-50x50cm-iced-lemon/">PEAKE CUSHION IN ICED LEMON</a> ($34.95)</div>
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Fabric ottoman: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/furniture/sofas/ottomans/23490437/handle-ottoman-dovetan/">HANDLE OTTOMAN IN DOVE / TAN</a> ($149)</div>
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Throws above fabric ottoman: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/soft-furnishings/blankets-throws/23465992/tali-throw-130x170cm-spearmint/">TALI THROW IN SPEARMINT</a> ($79.95), <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/soft-furnishings/blankets-throws/23477643/stanford-throw-130x150cm-grey/">STANFORD THROW IN GREY</a> ($89)</div>
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Leather ottoman: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/furniture/sofas/ottomans/23490758/tucker-square-ottoman-union-tan/">TUCKER SQUARE OTTOMAN IN UNION TAN</a> ($449)</div>
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Throw on armchair: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/soft-furnishings/blankets-throws/23466173/fringe-throw-130x150cm-dijon/">FRINGE THROW IN DIJON</a> ($79.95)</div>
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Striped vase: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/decorator-accents/vessels/23476080/french-stripe-vessel-30cm-navy/">FRENCH STRIPE VESSEL IN NAVY</a> ($39.95)</div>
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Marble cross: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/decorator-accents/bowls-accessories/23482357/cross-deco-statue-18cm-marble/">CROSS DECO STATUE IN MARBLE</a> ($39.95)</div>
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Lamp: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/lighting/table-lights/23477230/metro-table-lamp-55cm-black/">METRO TABLE LAMP</a> ($149)</div>
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Coffee table: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/furniture/living/coffee-tables/23442337/lovett-coffee-table-white/">LOVETT COFFEE TABLE IN WHITE</a> (Previous season and now on sale $129)</div>
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Please let me know if you are interested in any names of plants in the comments below. Also please note: Some plants are toxic especially to children. I suggest researching plants for their toxicity before introducing into your home. Christopher isn't mobile yet but once he is some of these plants will need to be moved out of reach.</div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-29561544383484892172015-02-27T14:36:00.001+11:002015-03-08T21:47:29.388+11:00IKEA BENCH SEAT<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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GOOD OL' IKEA came to the rescue for us when we created a seating area for <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/2014/12/roberts-bedroom-update-sleepmaker.html">Robert's bedroom</a>. The idea started of with needing more storage to keep his toys and also all the homework and activities he completes at school. Rather than add a whole lot of storage cabinets to his bedroom I thought it might be nice to double it as a seating area and a place where he can play his instruments, read a book, throw his clothes (!!). Custom joinery looks beautiful but we didn't have the budget for it this time and so I headed off to IKEA with a sketch to find the pieces we needed.</div>
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The cabinets consist of two <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/80192825/">Alex drawer units</a> flanking a <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/S29012842/">double</a> and <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/S59012586/">single</a> BESTA shelf unit with Vassbo door panels. After building all the pieces, David fixed the bottom cabinets together with screws so that they stay in place. The cabinets are not as deep as the drawer units and I wanted all units to be flush, so he had a piece of thick MDF cut to similar depth to the drawer units and fixed it to the top of the base cabinets with screws.<br />
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We chose not to fit skirting boards because it would have made the entire configuration higher and the current height is perfect for a child. It also lines up nicely with the chair rail we have installed on the walls of his room.<br />
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I sourced some lovely fabric and gave it to my upholsterer, along with my dimensions, for him to work his magic. So, that's it really! Pretty simple.</div>
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Eventually, I would like to swap out the doors and drawer fronts for something that gives it a more pulled together look but it works just fine for us now.<br />
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If you would like to try something similar I have noted all the dimensions and details at the bottom of this post. A few people asked me to post the details and I hope you find this useful.</div>
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Left and right side drawer units: <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/80192825/">Alex drawer units</a> from IKEA</div>
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Dimensions: H69cm x W39cm x D58cm</div>
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Double base cabinet: <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/S29012842/">BESTA shelf unit</a> with <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/30210817/">Vassbo door</a> from IKEA</div>
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Dimensions: H38cm x W120cm x D41.5cm</div>
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Single base cabinet: <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/S59012586/">BESTA shelf unit</a> with <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/30210817/">Vassbo door</a> from IKEA</div>
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Dimensions: H38cm x W60cm x D41.5cm</div>
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MDF cut to size</div>
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Dimensions: Ours is L180cm x W60.5cm because we have a chair rail but if the seating area was to sit against a flat wall it would be L180cm x W58cm.</div>
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Fabric: Barmer French Grey and Barmer Bleached from <a href="http://www.nochintz.com.au/">No Chintz</a></div>
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Bottom cushion: 180cm x 60.5cm x 8cm</div>
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Back cushion: 180cm x 24cm x 8cm</div>
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Side cushions (x 2): 24cm x 53cm x 8cm</div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-66406996998713040992015-01-16T09:26:00.001+11:002015-01-16T09:52:40.553+11:00Grid Patterns and 3D Printing<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><span style="font-size: x-large;">GRID PATTERNS AND 3D PRINTING</span><br />
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STYLE<br />
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GRID PATTERNS INSPIRED my final year exhibition project and I am not sure I ever shared it with you - so here it is, in the inset picture (right). I have also written about grids <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/2013/06/seeing-squares.html">here</a>, they inspired my <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/2014/12/make-your-own-gift-wrap.html">gift wrapping</a> this Christmas and I have also been <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ishandchi/the-grid-project/">pinning</a> these squares obsessively. It seems I can't get away from them! It is my computer science background and time spent playing with 3D modelling software that led me to enjoying these shapes and lately, I see them everywhere. So, naturally, when I came across this collection by Israeli fashion designer <a href="http://www.noaraviv.com/">Noa Raviv</a> I had to share with you.</div>
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Noa's garments feature 3D printed elements which are warped and distorted to create beautiful patterns and texture. Tulle and organza fabrics are used in white and black with a hit of orange lines to tie the designs together. The shapes are full of volume and it almost looks as though the models are wearing drawings instead of fabrics which I find interesting.<br />
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Noa says of the collection (<a href="http://www.dezeen.com/2014/08/21/noa-raviv-hard-copy-fashion-collection-grid-patterns-3d-printing/">Dezeen</a>, 21 August 2014):<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"While working on a 3D software I was fascinated by the grid shown on the 2D screen and by the way black repetitive lines defines voluminous objects. I've translated those lines into textiles that creates this sort of optical illusion."</span></div>
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Noa also explains that the thin orange line represents the marker within the 3D software that is used to outline shapes and assists in spotting errors.</div>
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The results are graphic and sculptural and there is a piece or two from this collection that I would love to wear myself.<br />
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Are you obsessed with the grid too?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photography: <a href="http://www.ronkedmi.com/">Ron Kedmi</a></i></span></div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-2537313054770224532015-01-15T08:22:00.001+11:002015-01-15T08:25:20.383+11:002015<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><span style="text-align: justify;">THE START OF a new year is always a strange time for me. It is natural to feel as though you need to reflect on the year that has passed - Are there lessons learnt? Can I be a better person? So much pressure! Sometimes I just want to be - to just chug along in life doing what I do in the way that I do it.</span><br />
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So, no resolution lists here although I do still have the <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/p/the-life-is-beautiful-list.html">life list</a> in the back of my mind. I have been able to cross more off the list which is great!<br />
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I took the boys to the beach for a little photo shoot the other week and out of 200 photos, this one was my favourite and we also entered it into a competition. We are well into summer here and I don't want it to end!</div>
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I will be back with more soon. I have photographed a couple of my projects to share with you. If you would like to tell me what you would like to see more of on ish & chi, or if you just want to say hello I would love to hear from you. Please send me an email to <a href="mailto:viv@ishandchi.com">viv@ishandchi.com.</a><br />
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PS. I promised I would announce the winner of the Sleepmaker giveaway this month. The winner is <a data-action="profile" data-role="username" data-user="115172692" data-username="lndeang" href="https://disqus.com/by/lndeang/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Lndeang</a>. Please contact me and we will arrange to get your prize to you. Congratulations! x</div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-76273684748164037112014-12-25T12:34:00.000+11:002014-12-26T11:08:59.736+11:00Merry Christmas!<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><span style="font-size: x-large;">MERRY CHRISTMAS</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">CHRISTMAS IS HERE and we are about to head out for lunch. I wanted to pop my head in and say a huge THANK YOU for all of your lovely words and for supporting this little corner of the internet even though I have been a little silent this year.</span><br />
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This Christmas is a special one of us as we are celebrating Christopher's first and it is so fun to see the excitement in his and Robert's eyes. Even though Christopher doesn't understand much he is thrilled to get to play with wrapping paper!</div>
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Wishing you a beautiful Christmas with your friends and family and hoping Santa was good to you!<br />
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We had a little fun setting up this over-styled photo shoot this morning. I think we have too much time on our hands!<br />
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Enjoy, enjoy today and I will see you back here soon xx</div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-6655118363519523402014-12-21T07:38:00.000+11:002014-12-21T07:59:32.995+11:00Make your own gift wrap<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">MAKE YOUR OWN GIFT WRAP</span><br />
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PROJECTS<br />
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CHRISTMAS IS MY favourite time of the year. My family gathers at at our home in the morning and we exchange gifts. We then laze about for a while, drinking coffee and chatting about the meaning of life, before getting ready to visit our relatives for lunch. Lunch then becomes dinner, which then becomes playing board games until we can no longer keep our eyes open. I don't usually play board games the rest of the year but on Christmas day - I play all the games!</div>
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This year I have only needed to buy and wrap a handful of gifts. Our family has tried to make it easier for everyone by drawing a name out of a hat and only buying for that one person, as well as for the kids. Knowing that I only had a few gifts to wrap, I wanted to put a little more effort into the wrapping using items that I already had at home.</div>
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To start with, I drew a grid design onto A3 paper and wrapped the gift. Next, I searched high and low for leftover confetti bags that we bought for our wedding and I couldn't find any, so I punched holes into gold paper to make my own. This took forever to do!<br />
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I sprinkled some of the confetti onto the top of the box, covered tightly with clear plastic, turned the box over and wrapped it again. Then I just decorated with ribbon and a leafy branch which picked from the garden.</div>
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If you want to try this yourself, maybe next year because nobody has time for anything next week (4 days to go!), you can mix it up a little by drawing various designs for each gift, or use coloured paper or magazine pages for the confetti (or just buy some and save yourself a heap of time!).</div>
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Are you being creative with your gift wrapping this year?</div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-91107574584583791342014-12-18T07:07:00.000+11:002015-01-15T08:31:13.971+11:00Robert's Bedroom Update<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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SPONSORED GIVEAWAY<br />
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AFTER MANY WEEKS working on Robert’s new bedroom, I’m happy to show you the end result. He wanted to be involved in the whole process and it was fun to work on a project with him. I showed him fabric samples, we went shopping together for table lamps and other items and because he has been so involved he loves showing visitors his new room and giving them a rundown of all changes.<br />
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.sleepmaker.com.au/">Sleepmaker</a> we were able to give Robert a new larger bed to sleep in and his other bed has been passed onto Christopher for when he is ready to transition into it. We painted the walls in his bedroom the same colours as the rest of the house - very light and bright whites was really important for this room as it doesn’t have much sun for a large part of the day.<br />
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I ordered a bedhead using this very beautiful cockatoo fabric. The green colour was picked from wallpaper in the same design and colour matched to use on fabric. I also asked for piping to finish off the bedhead and I think this gives it a clean, finished look.<br />
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The bedside tables were very much a splurge. After never having had bedside tables in his bedroom I wanted to give him something special. As soon as they arrived he filled them with books and his favourite toys.<br />
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We wanted to add very subtle white wallpaper to the area above the chair rails but we haven’t settled on a design yet so for now I painted some very subtle triangles in the corner of his room which can only be seen when the sunlight hits it from certain angles. It’s our little ‘surprise’ touch, if you will, and best viewed in person.
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There is also lots more storage added and a bench seat to read books and relax.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">SLEEPMAKER GIVEAWAY </span><br />
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Sleepmaker are offering a sleep set valued at $750 to one ish & chi reader.<br />
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The sleep pack includes:<br />
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<li>2 x pillows</li>
<li>2 x pillow protectors</li>
<li>1 x waterproof mattress protector</li>
<li>1 x quilt </li>
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To enter, simply leave a comment on this post describing “Your Dream Bedroom”. I’ll announce the winner in January. Good luck!
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Congratulations <b>Lndeang</b>, you are the lucky winner! Please send me an email to <a href="mailto:viv@ishandchi.com">viv@ishandchi.com</a> and we will arrange to send you your prize.<b style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.719999313354492px; text-align: start;"></b></div>
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<td colspan="2"><span style="font-size: large;">ALL THE DETAILS</span><br />
<br />
Bedhead: <a href="http://bednest.com.au/">BedNest</a> with Cockatoo fabric from <a href="http://www.signatureprints.com.au/">Signature Prints</a><br />
Bedside tables: Imported - contact me if you are interested in purchasing<br />
Table lamps: <a href="http://www.freedom.com.au/">Freedom</a><br />
Bedlinen and blanket: <a href="http://www.sheridan.com.au/">Sheridan</a><br />
Picture frames: <a href="http://www.countryroad.com.au/">Country Road</a><br />
Boy + Girl artwork: <a href="http://davidbromley.com.au/">David Bromley</a><br />
Giraffe artwork: Watercolour painted by me <br />
Elephant artwork: Wallpaper sample by <a href="http://abnormalsanonymous.com/">Abnormals Anonymous</a><br />
Macaw artwork: <a href="http://www.theanimalprintshop.com/">Sharon Montrose</a><br />
Bow tie: <a href="http://seedheritage.com/">Seed Heritage</a> - part of pageboy outfit worn at <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/2014/11/our-wedding.html">our wedding</a><br />
Cabinets for bench seat: <a href="http://www.ikea.com.au/">IKEA</a><br />
Cushions: Custom upholstery, fabric from <a href="http://www.nochintz.com.au/">No Chintz</a><br />
Animal figures: <a href="http://www.schleichstore.com.au/">Schleich </a><br />
Scatter cushions on bench: <a href="http://www.fermliving.com.au/">Ferm Living</a><br />
Wooden pig: A holiday souvenir painted by Robert <br />
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<i>If you would like assistance putting together a room for your home, feel free to <a href="mailto:viv@ishandchi.com">contact me</a> about my design services.</i></td>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-60125475570538458552014-12-14T18:59:00.000+11:002014-12-15T07:52:19.694+11:00Rouse Hill House & Farm<table cellpadding="10px" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 700px;">
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<td valign="top" width="50%"><span style="font-size: x-large;">ROUSE HILL HOUSE & FARM</span><br />
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RESIDENTIAL TOUR
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Sydney / Australia<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">THERE IS NOTHING QUITE like a Sunday drive. Piling the family into the Mini, we headed to Rouse Hill House & Farm. </span> Robbie joined the kids tour through the farm and we ended the afternoon with a historical tour of Australia's oldest property owned by generations of a single family.</div>
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Built in the early 1800's the colonial house was occupied by six generations of the Rouse and Terry families up until the late 1990's. The property covers many acres and is now open to the public as a museum with tours run by volunteers.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">EARN YOUR TUCKER</span><br />
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<a href="http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/">Sydney Living Museums</a> hold various family events at their historical properties throughout the year. We joined the <i>Earn Your Tucker</i> tour at Rouse Hill House. The tour involved grinding corn and wheat to feed the chickens, collecting eggs and churning butter.</div>
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There was also an opportunity to feed the horses and for kids to ask questions from people who look after the livestock on the property and have spent much of their lives working on a farm. It was very hands-on with the kids enjoying taking turns carrying milk pails across the farm in the traditional way - chained to a carrying pole balanced across the back of the shoulders.</div>
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After we had completed our "chores" (the adults joined in too), we were all able to enjoy our tucker on the verandah, soaking in the beautiful view.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">TOUR OF THE HOUSE & BARNS </span><br />
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Following lunch we booked a tour to visit the main house on the property and the barns. Our tour guide gave us a detailed explanation of the history of the family who owned the property and the changes to the property through the years. </div>
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I personally enjoyed seeing the layers of additions to the property with each generation adding their own mark without erasing what had been created by those that lived there before them. There are visible extensions to the house, a roof added over the kitchen and laundry areas and even a random placement of a 1960's television set in one of the formal rooms.</div>
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To preserve the house today, the rooms are kept in the dark so that the sunlight does not further deteriorate the wallpaper and fabrics. The rooms look dull and brown in colour having faded over time. Interestingly, there was a glass display of wallpaper remnants, curtain tiebacks, tassels and fabrics recovered from inside books, in cupboards and behind furniture which were hidden from the light and showcased the true vibrant colours - turquoise blues, lime greens, purple, orange and gold.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"The range and
intensity of colours available to the decorator increased dramatically
in the second half of the 19th century as chemical aniline dyes were
developed."</span></div>
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- <i>Text extract of sign inside Rouse Hill House</i> </div>
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There are layers of fabric on chairs dating back to 1860 which have been reupholstered a number of times preserving the original fabrics underneath the new layers. There are also original 1850's curtain rods with curtains made of fabrics from the 1950's. It is fascinating to see such an eclectic mix of eras in the one house.</div>
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The barns also have a history to tell with the stables housing the family's prized racehorses. Over the generations, the family's wealth decreased and there was discussion about selling the property in the 1950's. Luckily for us, the property was never sold and now remains a public museum.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Rouse Hill House & Farm</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">356 Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill, NSW 2155</span> </div>
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-11408451862877413842014-12-11T23:52:00.000+11:002014-12-14T09:05:50.896+11:00Hotel Tour: Empress Zoe<i><a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/p/tours.html#hotel"></a></i> <a href="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8561/15809722090_2db81e63ec_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8561/15809722090_2db81e63ec_o.jpg" /></a><a href="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8655/15374754454_6cdbc07d95_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8655/15374754454_6cdbc07d95_o.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Living Area with stone day beds, an antique Cappadocian fireplace and local Turkish textiles</span></span></div>
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<i>I have so much to tell you, I could really bore you with it all -
about how the tree was removed but left behind was so much damage it
took days and a lot of effort to fix, and that I'm still piecing
together Robert's new bedroom which I will share with you next week, and
that I'm spending my days helping my sister with her new place and
researching ideas and... never mind. I'm here today to share with
you another hotel tour. It's been a while since I have posted a tour and
if you like feel free to <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/p/tours.html#hotel">check out the archives too.</a></i><br />
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Located right in the heart of the tourist district in Istanbul is <a href="http://www.emzoe.com/">Empress Zoe</a>, consisting of a number of townhouses that surround a peaceful courtyard. We arrived exhausted and carrying too much luggage with us so it was
wonderful to check in and offered to have our luggage carried for us to our room up a tight winding staircase. Our townhouse was located just past the central courtyard and walking through the gardens it was easy to forget that we were located in the city.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> The entrance area with the winding staircase</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise: Villa Zoe courtyard suite bedroom // Entrance to private courtyard // Hamam style bathroom // Painting of Empress Zoe</span></span></div>
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The hotel is named after Empress Zoe (b 978 - d 1050) herself who was reputed to be a beautiful and well loved woman by the people of Constantinople. She ruled for many years with her husbands becoming emperors through marriage (there were three of them) and for a time she also jointly ruled with her sister. Her life story is documented in each hotel room which provides an interesting historical read. The hotel has been restored with care to preserve its past and there is an abundant use of local Turkish textiles and artwork throughout the spaces.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;">Rooftop terrace</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clockwise: The streets of Sultanahmet // Buffet breakfast // Blue Mosque // Resident cat at Empress Zoe</span></span></div>
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We stayed in the Villa Zoe courtyard suite which has a private courtyard, a living area with an antique Cappadocian fireplace and a hamam style bathroom made of marble! What worked really well for us is the separate kitchenette which we used to clean baby equipment and the private courtyard gave Robbie plenty of space to run around. The hotel is charming with resident cats accompanying you for breakfast and a small rooftop terrace with beautiful views over the river. I was most inspired by the textiles used in the hotel including hand-embroidered suzanis which were draped by the doorways and used as curtains.<br />
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<u><b>Location</b></u><br />
In the centre of Sultanahmet and all the major sites including the Blue Mosque and Topkaki palace which are only a short walk away. The hotel is near my personal favourite markets, the <a href="http://www.arastabazaar.com/">Arasta Bazaar</a>. You will need to catch a taxi to visit the Grand Bazaar. There is a long street full of shops and restaurants right at the doorstep of the hotel which is handy as there is no room service available.<br />
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<u><b>Who can stay here</b></u><br />
The hotel caters for singles, couples and families. I don't recommend the hotel if mobility is an issue due to the winding staircase that you will need to walk up to access the rooms and courtyard.<br />
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<u><b>Best bits</b></u><br />
The service by the staff who were always happy to help us navigate the neighbourhood. And the breakfast! The buffet breakfast in the courtyard was an absolute
favourite and to this day I still crave the large figs on offer.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Please note: I was not sponsored to write this review. Photographs taken by me and used with permission by the hotel. Photograph 1 & 3 credit: Empress Zoe.</i></span> Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-74209256858975484492014-11-25T09:32:00.000+11:002014-11-26T19:09:24.964+11:00Goodbye, tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last winter, the largest tree in our backyard dropped its leaves. We thought it was a seasonal change and the leaves would return when the weather warmed up but it never did. Turns out our beloved native has died and has become a bit of a hazard with large branches falling off almost daily. We have had to keep Robbie from playing in the garden until we have it removed.<br />
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An arborist checked it out and he thinks it may have been hit by lightning. Trees usually die very slowly and a quick death could mean it has been burnt. Our council has approved its removal and it will be cut down tomorrow. Sad to see this beautiful tree gone!<br />
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<i>The council conditions for tree removal is that we plant two Australian
native plants in our garden. Do you have any recommendations for what we should plant in this shady part of the garden? </i></div>
Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-75804947372595237542014-11-24T15:52:00.003+11:002014-11-24T16:04:18.482+11:00Picked from the garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I like decorating the house with flowers but it can get expensive to buy fresh bunches often. Instead I have been looking in our own garden for flowers and greenery to decorate with.<br />
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One of the previous owners of our house was a very passionate gardener. A neighbour told me she used to provide advice to the council for trees to line the streets and she loved natives the most. Because of this, our home is surrounded with banksias, wattles and eucalyptus trees.<br />
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So I took <a href="http://www.westelm.com.au/cube-terrarium-d2033">this planter</a> and instead of building a terrarium for now I thought it would be nice to use to make my own arrangement using a combination of her natives and flowers that I haven't killed yet. The cubes are oriented in different directions which gives the arrangement some interest and it is quite large which I like. Disclaimer: It doesn't hold water well though which is annoying so I will need to grab some foam bricks later today. Most of the greenery should survive okay without water. The hydrangeas are doomed though.<br />
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-46598844334861570082014-11-21T13:19:00.002+11:002014-11-21T16:16:20.246+11:00Shuk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last night I was invited to the first birthday celebration for <a href="http://www.shukbondi.com/">Shuk</a> - a North Bondi cafe / bakery / deli which is inspired by the central marketplace in Israel known as The Shuk. David joined me and it was one of our first date nights back home and nice to relax outdoors with a cocktail and some nibbles in the warmth of the Sydney sun. The cafe commands a corner position with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a lovely selection of fresh breads and bagels for sale.<br />
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There aren't many opportunities these days to wear a clutch which I picked up in Rome earlier this year. It isn't practical to use when out and about with young children and it felt different to only have to slip my mobile phone and keys into it and off we went. I kept thinking I had forgotten something but no I really didn't need to carry anything else.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: xx-small;">+ Dress: Sheike | Clutch: From Rome | Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana | Shoes: KK</span></span>
Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-40510526202822590322014-11-20T15:12:00.000+11:002014-11-23T14:08:51.606+11:00Balos Bay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Time for just the two of us is a rare occasion these days and this special trip to Balos Bay was one of them. David and I didn't realise at the time what we would be in for. The trip involved a long car ride through some of the tightest heart-stopping cliff side roads and then an hour or so trek on a rocky path to reach one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. Of course I was dressed completely wrong and my feet ached from stepping on all the little rocks - if there is ever a next time I will definitely wear more comfortable walking shoes!<br />
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The magnificent view through the hillside though speaks for itself. The sun set halfway down and we wanted to save some daylight for the trip home so although we did not make it to the beach we are so glad we took the journey to here. A memory we will never forget.<br />
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Balos Bay, you are beautiful.<br />
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<br /> Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-10590364834443084822014-11-17T13:34:00.001+11:002014-12-27T12:41:28.000+11:00Robert's New Bedroom: Selecting a Mattress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This post is sponsored by Sleepmaker.</span></i><br />
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When I last <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/2013/10/in-progress-robbies-bedroom.html">wrote</a> about Robert’s bedroom we were not sure if he would swap rooms with the study / spare room or if it was to remain his bedroom. I did not know at the time of writing the post that I was pregnant with Christopher and all our plans would change. We set to work preparing the spare room to be a nursery for the new baby and fixing the house overall so that it looked less like a demolition zone and more like a house that we could raise two children in.<br />
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So while Christopher has a nice newly decorated <a href="http://www.ishandchi.com/2014/08/nursery-progress.html">bedroom</a>, Roberts’ bedroom was freshened up but not completed. We simply ran out of time. Below is what his bedroom looks like now.<br />
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Some of the changes to his room you may have seen previously and these include:<br />
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<li>Fit new tall timber skirting boards (in his bedroom and throughout the house so it all matches)</li>
<li>Install chair rail (in all bedrooms)</li>
<li>Rip out the old 1970’s wardrobe and design a new built-in wardrobe. The wardrobe was installed on an adjacent wall which makes more sense for the configuration of the room.</li>
<li>Strip the circus wallpaper. The new wardrobe was installed on the wall that featured this wallpaper and so it regrettably needed to go. We did leave a large piece of the wallpaper on the wall behind the wardrobe to keep it as a piece of the houses’ history - I’m sentimental like that.</li>
<li>Swap the weird privacy window glass with clear glass panels</li>
<li>The new glass now lets more natural light into the room so we also needed to order and install window blinds. While we were at it, we ordered block out blinds for all bedrooms.
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Yep – the work snowballed and we still weren’t done! The house does feel fresher than it ever did and these seemingly small changes have made a difference but Robert’s bedroom walls remain unpainted and he has a mismatch of furniture. Basically, no real thought has gone into the decorating of his new bedroom.<br />
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When <a href="http://www.sleepmaker.com.au/">Sleepmaker</a> approached us offering a budget to decorate a bedroom and to select a new mattress from their range, it was the push that we needed to complete his bedroom. Robert loves decorating and rearranging his room (not sure where he gets that from?) so when I told him the news he was excited and even drew me a picture of the style of room he wanted.<br />
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His brief to me: “Jungle theme with dinosaurs and really tall trees in each corner of the room, grass on the floor and a large T-Rex dinosaur, please.”<br />
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Now I don’t like to disappoint my clients so I knew that we needed to negotiate here. Keeping in mind the timeline to complete this project (next month), I didn’t think I could source a real T-Rex in time. So we discussed the plans and the revised brief is to display his collection of dinosaur toys, a potted plant that he will take care of and animal print fabrics that he approves of.<br />
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The more detailed plan, which has his seal of approval, is as follows:<br />
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<li>A new ensemble and mattress, with thanks to Sleepmaker, in a Double size. His bedroom can accommodate a larger bed and we will keep his current bed for Christopher for when he is ready to move into it.</li>
<li>A custom bedhead in bright fabric to act as the centerpiece of the bedroom.</li>
<li>Robert and I read books before bedtime but the lighting in his bedroom isn’t the best for this. He has a floor lamp and a pendant light but he really needs table lamps by his bed and these ones from Freedom have adjustable heads. </li>
<li>Robert doesn’t currently have bedside tables and I wanted to splurge here and import two beautiful bone inlay bedside tables from India.</li>
<li>New soft white bed linen</li>
<li>We will also finish painting his bedroom walls and the new built-in wardrobe</li>
<li>Hang new artwork incorporating some of his own drawings (of dinosaurs most likely)</li>
<li>Add a soft rug for the floor</li>
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We selected his new mattress ensemble using the <a href="http://sleepmaker.com.au/mattressselector/step1.asp">Sleepmaker Mattress Selector Tool</a>. Our requirements were for a good quality mattress that supports a growing spine and is suitable for a child that suffers from allergies. The selector tool is a simple questionnaire and based on our selections we were presented with a list of recommended mattresses to try in-store. So off we went to try the recommended mattresses out in person. This involved me lying on them while trying to stop Robert from jumping up and down on them.<br />
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The winner was the Vega Cushion Firm mattress from the Together Alone collection and we selected it because it met our criteria. It also supports optimal spinal alignment, regulates heat (which is great because Robert is often complaining about being too hot when he sleeps) and is good for controlling allergies, as it will not harbour mould or bacteria. I also liked the pocket spring technology in which the system consists of individual coils, so if there is movement on one side of the mattress, the disturbance is minimised on the rest of the mattress. This is because each coil acts independently and is not connected – perfect for those nights I might find myself sleeping next to my little wriggler.<br />
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The mattress and ensemble were delivered last week and Robert didn’t waste any time jumping on it. I am in the process of completing the decorating of his room and will share with you the ‘after’ photographs in the next few weeks along with a special giveaway!<br />
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Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3768992033306989122.post-25551851111868489882014-11-13T22:42:00.000+11:002014-11-23T16:29:06.774+11:00Our WeddingLast year David proposed in a most romantic way in front of a crowd of people in Times Square. Pretty spectacular - it blew me away! Although there were many eyes on us at the time all I could see was David and my little guy - two of my favourite people. It was the day after I lost my best friend so it was a very emotional time and reminded me of how important it is to live life to its fullest with those we love. Below is a photo captured of this moment and I just love that Robbie was there to witness it.<br />
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David and I talked about having a small and intimate destination wedding but we didn't have the time to plan it ourselves. We contacted <a href="http://www.stellaandmoscha.com/">Stella & Moscha</a> to work their magic for us and we are so grateful for their help both in the planning and on the day of the wedding. When we travelled to Santorini for the wedding I had given birth to Christopher only 7 weeks prior (I know, crazy right?!) and it felt like a luxury to be able to relax and enjoy the day knowing the details were taken care of. </div>
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A couple of months have since passed and it still seems so surreal that it all happened and that we could share this day with our families and friends who travelled from around the world to be there with us. We had also organised a cruise for our guests and a christening for
Christopher the day before the wedding so it was a jam-packed trip but
the memories are priceless. I am also proud of us for somehow mustering up the energy to travel overseas and plan these events with two children including a newborn. I think we were running on adrenalin!</div>
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I hope you enjoy these photos below taken by Nikos Gogas.<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photography: <a href="http://www.nikosgogas.com/">Nikos Gogas</a> | Wedding planners: <a href="http://www.stellaandmoscha.com/">Stella & Moscha</a> | Flowers: Handmade by myself and my family | Ceremony: <a href="http://www.pantelia.gr/">Pantelia Suites</a> | Reception: <a href="http://www.sphinx.gr/">Sphinx Restaurant</a> | Favours: Olive oil bottles imported from <a href="http://www.sifnostravel.com/">Sifnos</a> | Stationery: <a href="http://smittenonpaper.com/">Smitten on Paper</a> | Music: Kraximo guitarists and <a href="http://www.pro-support.gr/">Pro-Support DJ</a> | Makeup: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EleniIlioMakeUp">Eleni Ilio</a></span></span> Vivhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12592230048043163319noreply@blogger.com