Beautiful Book

Sibella Court's Stylist's Guide to NYC

I have been waiting for my copy of this book to arrive and I was so excited to finally receive it this morning.  I have read a lot about this book and how beautiful it was and when I went to the book store to buy it, they had sold out so I ordered it online.  I love buying books online as it saves so much money (leaves more for other shopping), but the only disadvantage is that you don't get to thumb through the book so when this book arrived this morning, it was a total new discovery.

This book is just simply beautiful.  Sibella Court is a Sydney based stylist and she has created a masterpiece here.  The images, the page quality (I got the hardcover version), the layout and the design - it's all perfect.  Even if you are not planning a trip to the States, next time you are in a book store, take a look at this divine book.

New York Luxury

Smyth Tribeca

Smyth Tribeca

The London

The London

The London Penthouse

There are those of the opinion that money spent on luxury accommodation whilst on holiday is a waste of money as you don't spend much time in your room.  Whilst I agree that a good holiday is one where you do spend little time in your room, I do think that money spent on the best accommodation you can afford is well worth it.   For me, part of the whole holiday is the delight and escape of luxury accommodation.  I want to completely flee my normal life while I am on holiday and staying at a beautiful hotel makes me feel special.  At the end of an exhausting day of shopping and site seeing, I want to look forward to my beautiful hotel welcoming me with soft, ridiculously high thread count sheets, amazing views and glittering surfaces.  I want to have a quick lie down, recharge, and then head to the bathroom to glam up for the evening.

I am lucky enough to be staying at The London and the Smyth Tribeca when I go to New York soon.  The penthouse at The London looks spectacular, however the funds could only stretch so far so we will be staying in a regular room!

From a design point of view, I can't wait to see these hotels (and a few others I plan on visiting).  The London's rooms were designed by one of my favourite designers, David Collins.  He also designed Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, Maze, which is located inside The London.

David Collins Delight

David Collins' Connaught Apartment

I'm feeling a little drained with all the homework I have to finish before I head off to New York next week, so I've indulged in a little David Collins eye candy.  Devouring images of his designs always makes me feel a little brighter and happier.  So if you also need a little pick me up - enjoy!

Lotus Flower Lights



Missi Missi



Pomegranate

Rovan

Rovan

Rovan

I first caught sight of these lotus flower lamp shades at Rovan at the Melbourne Gift Fair a couple of years ago.  They are a product that I keep finding myself getting drawn back to.  This year, I also saw a few of the hanging chandeliers like the one you can find at Pomegranate in South Melbourne.  This chandelier has a more sophisticated look whilst still incorporating the whimsical nature of the lotus flower.  If you are looking to inject some femininity into your interior scheme and create interest, lotus flower lights might just be the thing you are looking for.  The hanging lotus light from Missi Missi could be perfect for a little girls' room.  I like that it is still subtle, being white, yet creates interest with shape and form.

What's news at school

This is the latest mood board that I have completed for school.  I am loving this subject as we are learning about the design elements and principles at the moment and I am finding the work very interesting and useful.  For the above mood board, we had to select an image that we liked and then create a board based on this image.  My image was the central image of the tea cups and I have created a board with a modern sophisticated feeling, such as you would find in an luxury hotel or home.  Whilst the colours and many of the accent shapes are feminine, the straight lines of the chair are masculine and suggest formality.  We have another assignment due next week so more pictures to follow.

New York Plans

all images are courtesy of Trump Soho Spa

I'm off to New York in two weeks for a girls trip with my mother and little sister.  While we are away it will be my mum's birthday so I have booked her in for a surprise spa day at Trump Soho Spa.  It looks amazing in the photos - wish I could get a treatment done too!  I hope she likes it as she thoroughly deserves to be spoiled for a day.  I have also made reservations at Buddukan for dinner so it should be a great day.  It's definitely something I'm looking forward to.  I can't wait to see some gorgeous interiors, artwork and architecture and to share it with you.

Lisa Dalla Rosa

All images are courtesy of Lisa Dalla Rosa

I think that artwork is a critical element of interior design and decoration.  We have been studying a lot of images in class and analysing them in term of the design principles.  This has prompted me to share with you one of my favourite artists, Lisa Dalla Rosa.  She is a wonderful Australian artist who is based in South Australia.  I love her dreamy masterpieces which, I think, perfectly capture the feeling of her landscape subjects.  I saw her work at Art Melbourne this year and I will be saving my pennies so that I can buy a piece.  Her work has been exhibited all around the world including Melbourne, Dubai, Toronto and most recently, in New York.  You can view her artwork at www.lisadallarosa.com

New Finds at Magnolia Square

Paula Mills

Paula Mills

Paula Mills

I spent a lazy, thoroughly enjoyable hour at Magnolia Square on the weekend.  I purchased these amazing Paula Mills prints of her illustrations.  I absolutely loved all her work.  She is one very talented lady.  Check out her blog at www.lovelysweetwilliam.blogspot.com or www.paulamills.blogspot.com. 

White Never Looked So Good

All images are courtesy of Scott Francis

This amazing home showcases just how fabulous white can be.  Interior designer Victoria Hagan has combined  layers of texture and subtle colours with warming wood accents to create a sophisticated interior.  This is a perfect example of contemporary design that will stand the test of time.  I wish this was my home, especially with that backyard!  I seriously can not resist a rectangular pool.  This home is perfection, inside and out.

Coffee, Friends and Interiors

Nacional in Port Melbourne

The Lobby Lounge at The Westin

Laurent Pastissiere - the inside is just as divine

Le Jardin at Palazzo Versace Gold Coast

Brunetti at Myer Melbourne



I love to catch up with friends over a coffee.  It's important for me to visit a cafe that not only makes great coffee but has an interesting and inviting atmosphere.  Interior styling for cafes is crucial as it can mark the difference between success and failure.  A cafe can produce the best coffee and food in Melbourne, but if it lacks style and ambiance, it will not last long in a competitive market.  These are a few examples of cafes that have got it right.

Wall Sconce Obsession

O Lighting

Lamps Plus



Lamps Plus



O Lighting

O Lighting

You will soon find out that I have a wall sconce obsession!  I just have a thing for them.  They are a practical part of interior decorating and can be just the right thing to make a room special.  These are a few of my favourites this week.

Celebrity Style

Candace Bushnell's amazing home

 I love the colours and sophistication of this room

 Gwyneth Paltrow's stylish kitchen (in one of her many homes)

and here is another one...both are fabulous

Gwyneth's lounge is chic, modern and feminine

Here are two of some of my favourite celebrity homes.  One day I would love to be working for clients such as these.  These rooms are effortlessly chic and stylish and they are traditional whilst still being modern.  They epitomise my design style.

Welcome to Celebrated Style

Event decorating - Marina's baby shower at Crown Towers

This is the exciting beginning of the documentation of my online design journey.  There are two parts to Celebrated Style, the event decoration side and the interior design and decoration side.  I hope you enjoy exploring both with me.  A huge thanks to Kylie from Gold Chalk who spent the afternoon with me today helping me establish this blog.  Kylie is a dear friend who also studies interior design and decoration with me at NMIT.  She is incredibly talented and you should do yourself a favour and take a look at her blog at www.goldchalk.blogspot.com