A few random thoughts...before jetting off...

Image via London 24

Firstly, I can't let this week go by without a tribute to the simply fabulous weather that London has received over the last 4-5 days. Beautiful blue skies, perfect sunshine and temperatures around 20 degrees...just perfect. In fact the whole of the UK has been basking in the warm March weather - Scotland has recorded its highest ever March temperatures in the past two days. In Aberdeen it was even warmer than down here in the South....

...and yes, I am gushing about the weather. But given how much of a non-event the past few summers have been here, you would understand why we are all so excited about this event!

Image via

On the weekend I watched Picnic at Hanging Rock. I have loved this film (and the novel upon which it is based by Joan Lindsay) for years. I recently treated myself to a new dvd copy - and I wasn't disappointed...it is still as beautiful and unsettling as ever...

Image via

The film chronicles events surrounding a group of school girls and their teachers during an outing for a picnic at Hanging Rock on Valentine's Day in 1900 - if you've never seen it, I can highly recommend it. To read more about the film, and the equally interesting but also obscure backstory behind the writing of the novel you should have a read of this post by Janelle McCulloch at Library of Design.

 

Image via Maryland Pink & Green

Finally, the taxi is arriving in 45 minutes to whisk me to Heathrow for my next trip to Australia (for my university graduation in Adelaide, and then onto Sydney for Easter with my family). And unfortunately, I don't look nearly as glamorous as this when I stroll into Heathrow...and though I did make a concerted effort to only pack a capsule wardrobe this time, the bag seems as full and as heavy as ever. So, 23 hours of tedium here I come...actually it is even longer on this trip as I have a three-hour layover in Singapore...

... and all I can say is that given how fab the weather is here in London at the moment, Australia's weather had better be planning on putting together a much better effort with its performance on this trip compared to the last (I'd even take 50/50 between days of rain or sunshine...last time it was at least 90% rain)!

Wainscoting...

Image via Design Sponge

You may remember this lovely picture from my post two weeks ago, where I had been browsing blogs and pinterest to help with my savings motivation. Well, this image has stayed in my thoughts...or more particularly, the lovely wainscoting has firmly planted itself in my thoughts as something I would definitely like to try in a future bathroom renovation (actually, probably in more rooms than just the bathroom, but that is what I am focusing on in this post). 


After some searching, I found that the image above is from a design project by Jessica Helgerson. The full home can be seen on design sponge if you follow the link above. But, it also inspired me to start looking for some other pictures for future inspiration...

 

Image via Decor Pad

 

Image via Decor Pad

 

Image via Natasha in Oz

 

Image via Living Beautifully DIY - You must visit Melissa's blog to see the before photographs of this bathroom...the transformation is stunning

 

Image via A Country Farmhouse

Image via Just a Touch of Gray

As you can see, they all have some common design elements...pale or neutral colours, period touches (sash windows, claw-foot baths, sconce wall lights) and beautiful attention to the little details. Hmmm, I think I can see an older (renovation project) property in my future....

Magnolia inspiration...

And by magnolia, I am referring to the tree, not the paint colour. Anyone who has ever rented a property in the UK would attest to the seemingly undying fixation that landlords have with painting their rental properties 'magnolia' - which is actually a really bland shade of cream...what is wrong with any one of a multitude of white shades I keep asking myself...


Anyway, as I was walking home from the station this evening after work, I was a) excited by the fact that it is still light now when I get home, and therefore b) able to notice that in the lovely curved street that I walk down (which is full of lovely Edwardian terraced houses), is also home to quite a number of magnolia trees - which are all coming into flower...

 

Image via

So given that I am currently stalking the internet as part of my ongoing savings plan, I decided to see what some of my favourite retailers, sites and pinterest currently had on offer that matched the pink/spring theme...

 

A lovely pale pink hyacinth in such pretty bottles from pale and interesting

 

And some spring like hues in their provencal soap - also from pale and interesting

 

Donna Hay never disappoints me - pale pink bowls and strawberrries

 

Some lovely fabric from one of my new favourite finds - peony and sage

 

More peony and sage beauty - look at those gorgeous pink tulips in the background...I treated my self to some pale pink tulips at the supermarket last week - they were supposedly guaranteed for 7 days, but have been looking decidedly sad since about day 3. I guess I shouldn't have really expected any more for £3.

 

And one final peony and sage beauty - I really could buy myself virtually everything on their website...if money was no object of course...

 

These little gems were a lovely birthday gift from my mother in January

 

delicious.co.uk - the website name says it all...

And whilst I'm not sure if pink will ever be a major colour in my decorating palate, it is a lovely addition to an overall scheme...

 

Image via bhg.com

 

Image via pinterest

Are you enjoying the spring blooms where you are?

Keeping to a savings schedule...

Image via pinterest

Saving for a deposit for a home can feel very tedious at times....there are days when the temptation to spend frivolously rather than saving sensibly can overtake me. I have to confess that a new dress and pair of shoes found their way into my pared-down wardrobe recently - but at least they were purchased on sale!

So, I've been resorting this week to the blog world and pinterest to restore my savings motivation. Given London property prices being what they are, I will in all likelihood end up in a tiny (err...bijou) abode that isn't technically in London at all. So these 'inspiration' images potentially won't come to fruition (at the very least in terms of space), but it is nice to dream....

Image via A Country Farmhouse

Image via pinterest

Image via Margot Austin

Image via pinterest

Image via pinterest

And of course, in an ideal world, some outside space...

Image via A Country Farmhouse

And at least exploring design blogs is keeping me away from online shopping sites...

A Saturday morning in Richmond...

What a difference a week can make....This morning I had to pop into Richmond to collect a parcel from the post-office and I detoured around the green on my way back to the car. In direct contrast to last week's beautiful blue skies, this morning dawned with low clouds and a soft mist. It was still quite early when I was out and about, so there were few people around, and the mist seemed to deaden sound even further leaving a quiet stillness. 


Richmond Green can be absolutely heaving in the summer between people, picnics and cricket matches. But on a day like today I was able to appreciate some of it's other attractions...

Lovely old street lamps and rows of Georgian buildings facing the green...

The beautiful symmetry of the architecture...

A quaint pub...

Iconic red phone-boxes...

And there were still a few signs of spring here and there...

Enjoy the weekend!