Showing posts with label gardens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardens. Show all posts

Saturday, 15 October 2016

A Shed for All Seasons

A GARDEN STUDIO FOR FOUR SEASONS

The perfect garden shed/studio is as much about the outside and how you integrate it into your garden as it is the inside and how you decorate it. This characterful garden shed belongs to Mar Jennings and features in his book, "Life on Mar's".

Friday, 23 October 2015

Spaces to Love - Week 8, Curb Appeal

Above: A pergola can make a huge impact on an entrance way - Landscape Designers AHBL Above - Designers AHBL

I'm sorry I have been absent this week, the next few weeks I am under a little pressure with one of my sons getting married as I have been asked to act as the florist and decorator. I also have another exciting piece of news, I have just purchased a new house, in fact, it is so new it was literally a concrete pad when I first viewed it a couple of weeks ago. Now the framing is up and the roof is due on shortly I have had to make a few quick decisions about colours. While searching for ideas I came across some pretty homes with plenty of curb appeal, in fact, one belongs to Gwyneth Paltrow.

Monday, 23 March 2015

Tips From 8 Inspiring Courtyard Patios


The secret to creating a magical outdoor space is to look at it as an extension of your indoors. Think about your style, the area you have to work with, whether you want low maintenance or you are more than happy spending hours, clipping all that boxed hedging. Lets take a few tips from these beautiful courtyard patios.

Monday, 24 February 2014

Mediterranean Garden Inspiration & Give-a-way Reminder


Auckland this weekend was absolutely magical. I spent time walking Poppy, visiting La Cigale market and catching up with friends from overseas...oh and even dabbling in a little chalk paint. Sunday I was given a huge bag of fresh figs plucked straight from a friends Mediterranean style garden. I hope to be able to put them to good use in a blog recipe, although I have to admit they are disappearing fast. 

Monday, 6 January 2014

A Mediterranean Style Interior In An Auckland Home & Garden

It was after midnight on New Years eve, dare I say nearly 2am, when I began drafting this post. So obsessed with my new camera and editing today's shoot, I had absolutely no idea time had escaped me! New Years Eve has been and gone, however I can definitely say I am still buzzing from the excitement of the results of my first interior shoot. All of images below, bar one, were taken on auto, my lack of knowledge of manual is currently holding me back, so I am keen to attend a course in the near future.

My first interior of 2014 belongs to Kaye, who owns a soft furnishing business, Curtainalia, based in the pretty suburb of Epsom, in Auckland. It was a glorious sunny day when Kaye invited me over for afternoon tea at her home overlooking Orakei Basin, little did she know I had an ulterior motive when I turned up armed with camera and tripod. We had a wonderful afternoon chatting, eating and drinking and at one point, looking at the laden olive tree above and feeling the warmth of the summer sun, I was completely lost and convinced I was in Italy.

A typical 1940's NZ bungalow, Kaye has honoured her homes architecture by retaining the original design of its exterior, however with Kaye's clever design skills and antique French furniture, the interior of this warm and inviting home, has very much a European feel. Blending antique, French and Italian furnishing Kaye has created a relaxed interior with moments of opulence. 


Kaye's love of Europe extends to the garden beyond, where she has planted olive, fig and espaliered fruit trees. A converted garage adjoins the house, its cleverly renovated interior has exposed beams and the feel of an old stone house. With a small kitchen at one end and French doors to a courtyard, it is the perfect place for entertaining. The concrete floor in this area has been cleverly 'faux' painted to appear as old stone tiles and the ceiling beams and walls have been lime washed. My favourite part of this area is the wonderful beamed ceilings where two gorgeous 5 arm chandeliers have been hung in the rafters. I don't have a great deal of photos to share as I thought it a little rude to spend the whole afternoon taking photographs when the invitation was for afternoon tea. However, Kaye has said I am welcome to go back and shoot some more images next week and when I do I will make sure I have some shots of the detail I have described above, meanwhile I hope you enjoy these few below...






Of course I couldn't miss out Dolph, the German Short Haired Pointer

The pretty floral linen and beautifully trimmed velvet cushions are the work of Kaye's company Curtainalia and Bel Cuscino. Kaye's lovely little shop, Bel Cuscino stocks gifts and unique pieces of furniture. These images are just a snippet of Kaye's house, however as mentioned I will be returning next week to photograph more rooms and capture more of the detail I mentioned above.

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If you love French style, you may also enjoy the following posts;

A pretty villa in Antibes

A Gracious Villa in St Marys Bay - Part one
A Gracious Villa in St Marys Bay - Part Two
If Your Minimalist, Look Away - Tour a French Style Home


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Wednesday, 18 December 2013

A French Style Dream Home

If you are a regular reader, you will know by my constant repetition, my dream is to build a French style house and as I am inching closer to this dream, I have been collecting images to inspire me. I thought the easiest way I could portray my ideas was to create some idea books to share with you. Please use the small arrows at the lower right hand side to move through the slide show.

This first home 'Villanova', designed by Peter Zimmerman Architects, reflects a French colonial country house with many ideas to draw inspiration from.


Use arrows to move through slide show


My second slideshow is a collation of architecture and design ideas conjuring up some French style.


Lots of inspiration for my French Style dream home
Lee oxo

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