PARIS APARTMENT

 The French do apartments so well and this Paris apartment is no exception. Nothing overdone, just great floors, high ceilings and french doors and windows that let in lots of natural light. I also like how they have kept the furnishings to a minimum to let the apartments great features take priority.

Just Beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

See more of the apartment and read about the owners here.

PAPER SHADES

One of my all time favorite decorating items would have the humble old rice paper shade. They have been around for as long as I can remember,  I find them really festive and fun and they can instantly transform a room ....  they come in a multitude of colours and sizes and the best part is they are really quite inexpensive.

This amazing cluster would have to be my all time favorite use of paper shades  ..... it looks like a wonderful art installation .... so divine !!!!!

I really like the look of this garland of shades, so great in this space.

I've shown this room before here, but it suits this post so well, the shade just brings the whole room together.

  

These shades give just the right impact to this otherwise very minimalist room .....

 .... and I really like this extra large version.

 They look great outdoors ..... 

 .... and as decoration, my friend used these ones for her daughters birthday party, I think they look so festive (clever girl) !!!

 

 I showed this clay version in this post .... I love when an artist takes something so simple and makes it into something special,  such a beautiful work of art .... 

 ..... and lastly I had to add this one, not exactly a paper shade (more of a variation on the theme) but pretty amazing non the less.

via here

Photographs 1,3,5,8,9,10 via 2 via 4 via 6 via 7 via 12,13 via

THE SURREALIST

I wish I could have been on Bondi Beach on Sunday morning to see this. Artist Andrew Baines was inviting people to join in and be part of a human installation as part of his "Surreal Human Sculptures" series. All you needed to do was turn up in a suit and black umbrella, no shoes and socks needed (suitcase was optional). 

I love it !!!

See more of Andrews "Human Sculptures" here.

WEEKEND

Hope you had a nice weekend.

It has been a quite one here, which is exactly what I felt like. It had been a bit of one of "those" weeks so it was good to have a weekend with no set plans .... its so nice to not have an agenda. The weekend consisted of a bit of pottering around the house, weekend papers, a few dog walks, takeaway Thai and visiting friends and family .....

My husband went to visit his parents on Friday and on his way home today he stopped at the"Berry Sourdough Bakery" one of my favorite bakeries, remember this trip? He bought home all these goodies, custard tarts, rye bread, fruit loaf .... and fresh spinach, tomatoes and passion fruits from a roadside stall, all picked fresh this morning .... he knows the way to a girls heart !!!

I picked these beautiful pink camelias (one of my favorite flowers) from our tree,  they look so great around the house and they always remind me of my Grandmother .....

Had a nice sleep-in and read the papers in bed this morning ....

   got great cuddles from this little guy ......

also got a bit of winter sunshine .... so nice !!!

A lovely friend bought me this beautiful book (no occasion, she just thought I would like it) ... and I did. It has some great photographs but also some beautiful writing and thoughts about what makes a house a home.

 I've only had time to flick through it but I really look forward to reading it properly.

I did buy some new towels for the bathroom (well overdue) I mostly go for white , but I thought I would do the opposite and go with black this time, I really like them.

 

I also visited my mum today, she was having a bit of a clear out ..... lucky for me, I scored this great cabinet, it doesn't have a home yet, but I'm sure I can find a nice spot for it.

It was a bit of a sad day on Friday, my best friends dog passed away. He was the most beautiful Golden Retriever, such a great dog. Whenever I visited he would sit on my lap (I think he thought he was a little dog) and he would always be snuggling up and smiling at you. I can't believe how upset we all are about it, pets are such a special part of the family, so dependable and so easily pleased,  I know how much I adore my two, it's hard to imagine not having them.

My dad also had a major hip operation on Friday, he is fine, but it is going to be a while until he is up and around.

So really a reflective quite weekend was nice, I think myself lucky that my dad is OK, my own body is in good working order and my doggies are healthy, amongst other things of course, oh, and that my husband brings yummy food back from his travels !!! 

Sometimes you can get so caught up in everyday life that you forget to be thankful for the smaller things.

Hope you have a great week.

XXX

FRIDAY FAVORITES

This looks like a nice place to get some weekend food supplies (pity it's in Soho London)

found via here

 Love this photograph of Karen Elson and Jack White.
via here

I would love to get my hands on these amazing antique map drawers , so beautiful .....

via here

and one of these garlands, I adore Sophie Cuvelier's work, see more here.

My favorite French actor Guillaume Canet looking very good on the set of "Last Night" with Keira Knightly, looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 This great ceramic version of the old rice paper shade by this designer.

found via here

This book and magazine, they both look great .... see what I'm mean here.

This beautiful empty space, what a great blank canvas to decorate !!!

via here

These pics from this newish street style blog.

The great photographs from this blog, plus I have a real thing for old tiles, love these ones !!!

 How beautiful are this little pair !!!!!

via here

Friday again .... is it just me or is this year going a little too fast ?

Have a great weekend.

XXX