5 ways with vintage style

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The trend toward minimalist interiors is I hope on the wane, with the pendulum swinging back to that of warmth and comfort … rooms that are inviting, lived in and have real character. Let your possessions provide the detail.

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1.  Display and use on a daily basis inherited pieces such as pretty porcelain or silver.  Don’t just store it in the attic or at the back of a cupboard.

2.  Visit antique shops and markets to keep your eye out for vintage finds … baskets, picture frames or collections of glass bottles to use as vases.

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3.  Collections of new or old books add character to any interior …  either in bookshelves or piles on coffee tables.  You can go a step further by displaying them by colour.

4.  Antique timber furniture of any period will always add warmth and texture. Often only one or two pieces are needed to make the difference in a very modern interior.

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5.  Choose a classic piece of antique furniture and recover it in a modern fabric.

It is the combination of old and new that gives character … and it should be constantly evolving not created in a few weeks.

The country trader, sydney … not just furniture

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Recently I was faced with the task/fun of finding gorgeous bits and pieces to turn a recently refurbished country cottage into a ‘home’.  As pleased as I was with the initial result … it still lacked something.

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I had a flash and remembered the Country Trader … normally known for stylish furniture both old and new.  They now have lots and lots of interesting glassware, silver, tortoiseshell, baskets and candles … affordable accessories for the home and table.

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Just as you walk in it resembles a fabulous bazaar.   I was thrilled to find decorative jugs, platters and baskets for the kitchen … in particular, I loved the vintage linen napkins.  For the coffee table and bookshelves I fell upon lovely old sets of books, rustic tins and candlesticks.

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With everything now in place, I must say the cottage is looking much less like a house and more a home … full of character and interest.  It was a lot of fun searching for and eventually finding just the right pieces !!

Paper passion …. perfume for booklovers

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Another find in Wallpaper magazine … source book for the very best in design. A collaboration between German publisher Gerhard Steidl and perfumer Geza Schoen, with packaging and name chosen by Karl Lagerfield .. the scent of a freshly printed book, Paper Passion.  I have to admit I can’t really imagine wearing this scent as a perfume !!!

Schoen …. iconoclastic perfumer specialising in conceptual scents

Steidl … the publisher of high end art and photography books

Lagerield …. with a passion for fashion, art and music. His vision, a real book with pages and cut out for the perfume bottle.

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The book does include essays on the subject of paper by each of those involved including Wallpaper Editor-in-Chief, Tony Chambers.

Available online, in selected concept stores, bookshops and perfumeries across the world.  I look forward to tracking this down, it has me intrigued … how appealing is the scent of a freshly printed book and would you actually wear it as a perfume.

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The latest design hunt by habitus living magazine

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As I glanced at my Habitus Living magazine March edition (online) I was particularly interested in the interview with interior stylist and author Sibella Court.

Sibella’s design favourites included the Sydney artist Anna-Wili Highfield, making wonderful paper sculptures of all manner of animals but predominantly birds and horses. Her impressive client list includes no other than Hermes who commissioned a series of majestic horse masks.

It is worth also looking at her sculptures made with copper piping….quite amazing the movement she captures.

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Without doubt my favourite of her paper birds is the owl in flight.  This may have something to do with the fact that we have a beautiful large white owl that visits our Southern Highlands garden at a certain time of the year …..sadly not every year.

For those of you that don’t know Sibella Court….she has a very interesting shop in Paddington and can be best described as being all about collecting and styling…..positively everything in sight.

  Her books Etcetera and Nomad showcase her talent beautifully….showing how to display your very own possessions and collections with style.  In the case of Nomad she works with the treasures and memories you have acquired while travelling…..so much better than poking them into a cupboard somewhere….the memories gone with them.

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Vintage 21 modern classics look good on any bookshelf

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In my hunt for weekend reading I discovered the most beautiful collection of books…..21 books in a rainbow of colours by Random House for the 21st birthday of Vintage.  Each book is not only a divine shade (with sprayed edges which look so good on a bookshelf) but they have a wonderful tactile quality with a supermatt finish.

The design of these books is quite stunning and titles include….Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Atonement and A Week in December.

The bookstore had done an eye catching window display showing how spectacular these books look when put together.  It made me want to go home and re-arrange my bookshelves.

I know there are people who arrange their bookshelves/bookcases by colour……I have to say I have always been quite dismissive of this idea, however having seen the divine shades in this collection of books I am very tempted to either start a display of these alone…. or even use these shades as a start to a whole re-arrange by colour of the bookcase !!!

We all love a good bookshop and can just lose ourselves for hours browsing ….. the glossy and exquisite covers, the smell of the new books and the joy of discovery.  Who would have thought that a paperback with no pictures could excite to such an extent.

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Displaying your collections in style

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image: coty farquhar

Displaying collections of what ever takes your fancy is a satisfying and pleasurable project.  It is giving a little glimpse of you and your favourite bits and pieces, old or new, precious or not to those who might admire them.

It may be more personal…..a collection on a dressing table ….. or it may be hung on a wall in a living room for all to see!!!

Either way it is a very individual and stylish way to make a statement….bringing together beautiful colours, texture, like with like.

Create attractive groupings within your spaces…. that you have put together…..your favourite things for a myriad of different reasons !!!!!!

.  shells collected on your holiday on a white platter or in beautiful glass bowl (see Coty Farquhar’s image above)

.  pretty china plates hanging on a wall or porcelain teas cups grouped on a sideboard…..take them out of the cupboard and display them !!!

.  silver tea set or silver bowls, platters or candlesticks and of course your silver picture frames……silver always lights up a room but polishing it all can be punishing !!!

.  cut glass or crystal is always so pretty… particularly if you do groupings of vases with a selection of freshly cut flowers from your garden …..just a sprig is all it takes.  These look gorgeous if spaced down the centre of a dining table. A collection of crystal wine and spirit decanters always looks warm and inviting with lamp light.

.  pewter has a special hue that seems to work with grey and white….it can be rustic or minimalist.

.  stacked wood in or beside a fireplace has a warmth and texture that can be a design element in itself.

. bookshelves are fabulous anywhere…the more the better…..whole walls of them !!!!  Books can be arranged randomly…..by subject or by colour !!!

.  folded linen sheets and pillowcases in an armoire or linen press….possibly my favourite thing !!!!

Parisian chic by ines de la fressange

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I have loved every little bit of this cute book…..packed with invaluable advice and information.

Advice like ‘split your budget in two’…. use half for quality basics and half for impulse buys that will brighten your wardrobe. After reading Dress like a Parisian I found myself rushing out to buy white jeans …. somewhat relieved to find my wardrobe did include some of the other basics.

What To Wear When is invaluable but the shopping in Paris section …. which is extensive ….is brilliant because it is all,  in the main …. online !!!

Still haven’t got to the sections on beauty, beauty tips, home or how to organize your closet.  However, one quote leapt off the page …. “Frivolity is the key to youth !” …. I will most definitely be embracing this.

Am really looking forward to …..”Secret Paris” !!

The Dressing Table launches in style at Potts Point Bookshop

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This was a very stylish book launch indeed. The room filled with stylish people  sipping lovely Gigi sparkling and listening to Clare Press impart her Top Ten Unfashionable Things she would like to bring back….like….A proper cup of tea brewed in a pot or Writing and posting thank you letters.  This was followed by some of the assembled sharing their own experiences….where a little bit of style went a very long way!!!

It was just as well that it was such a rainy weekend as I settled in to actually read this gorgeous book, not just flick through as I had expected.  It is beautifully written, and the photography is exqisite. Some of the gems inside include –

Seven Ways to Work Out What Suits You and Shop Accordingly

Adorable Presents to Give

How to Give the Perfect Tea Party at Home

Nine More Ways to Get the Holiday Feeling Without Leaving Town

I think this is really one of my most favourite books ever however I do have a confession…I actually bought it for my daughter to celebrate her completing her first year of university.  She hasn’t had more than a fleeting glance at it yet but I am giving it back I promise.

http://www.pottspointbookshop.com.au/pages/429-Aboutus

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