New Year, New Room.....

thinking of making over a room or two at your place in the New Year??? - with so many options available, it sometimes makes it so hard to choose. That's where gOLd ChaLK can help, for $150 per room, we put together a moodboard that reflects your personality and shows you how to ACHIEVE it.

a natural living room with loads of texture - not color

a relaxation room for a client who has a massage business

a kitchen plan for a home renovation - all hard surfaces are chosen in the plan even the paint colors

a concept board for a Primary School reception area

a color plan for a clients Holiday House

a bathroom plan for a complete renovation

whatever you need GOLd ChaLK can help - $150 per room - it really is worth the investment.

Let's Talk - 0438 134 167

It's Friday again - time for Chalk Talk!

welcome to my last Chalk Talk for 2011 - I think I may have said that last week, old habits die hard. I thought today I would leave you with some of my personal highlights for 2011 - it's been a great year - so much has happened and I can't wait for 2012. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and Gold Chalk this year, I look forward to sharing my journey with you all in 2012. x k

here's the list in no particular order:

getting my property styling business up and running

Starting my own business and getting myself out there and designing these postcards for Gold Chalk

Getting to meet Jane Hall through Heather Nette King and seeing just what it takes to get your business up and running, and to truly stop talking about it and just do it!

being interviewed and photographed in my own home, doing what I love - finally, part of the dream coming true.

being asked to makeover a School Reception area and them falling in love with my concept!

Styling this house for sale and hopefully getting some work with the agent in 2012.

receiving High Distinctions for my subjects at school this year - can't wait for 2012.

working on this shoot with Heather Nette King and getting an insight into the world of Magazine styling.

Finally making over this room and it appearing in Table Tonic!!

Styling this house and receiving a job offer from the Agent!!!!! YAY!

Working on this Shoot with Heather Nette King - again, for The Age M Magazine

Getting these shots taken by the very talented Leonie - me in my house - share more of this story in 2012.

it's been a huge year - I feel very lucky, I really do hope 2012 is even better - thank you all xxxxx

Merry Christmas to all and thank you.

this is what Christmas looks like at my place this year!

last but not least, cause PINK rules!

i want this in this color!!!!!! yeah true - it will brighten my day everyday - I think I may just pop it under the tree just for me! xxx

the perfect pressie for the special couple in your life....

Hand embroidered by Rachel Castle from her on line store Castle and Things

$89.00 each - ooohh I want these for my boudoir.....

available at Safari Living online store $74.00 plus postage

number 2 on my wish list

Rob Ryan | please smell us vase

my last minute Christmas wish list...

gorman and castle tea towel pack $59 - limited edition

between now and Christmas I'm posting all the things on my wish list - Merry Christmas all xx

just received a Liebster Award - thank you!

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up-and-coming bloggers. Liebster is a German word meaning "dear, or valued, from the verb -lieber- (to love)".
the very lovely Leah author of Celebrated Style has nominated me today - she's the best! I feel fortunate to have met her and know she will be great at whatever she decides to do with interiors (hopefully something with me one day??!) - I love her blog - she is seriously glamorous and her mood boards are very inspirational and well thought out- she has a great eye for Lux - check out her blog! - thank you Leah!

To keep this award going, each recipient must recognize five deserving blogs who have less than two-hundred followers.here are the rules . .
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog.
2. Choose five new blogs to nominate and let them know by leaving a comment.
3. Request that the chosen blogs pass the Award on to their favorite five.

4. Copy and paste the award on your blog post.

I'm excited to share my list of five great blogs. . .

1. Heather Nette King

Heather is one amazingly talented lady who was kind enough to meet me and discuss her life as a stylist ( yes me, a total stranger!) - She also let me into her world which was just so amazing and life changing for me - I feel so privileged to have met her and have worked with her on some shoots - she writes and styles the most amazing interiors and I hope to be just like her one day! check out her blog, its full of behind the scenes shots of a real life stylist!

2. Oeke Design blog

Linda is tops! she is a very busy mother who runs her own business selling the most amazing outdoor umbrella's and also manages to write some really interesting and always original posts. I love seeing what she is doing with her own home and seeing what inspires her along the way - she has amazing taste this shines through on her blog.

3. Salvation Jane

I was lucky enough to meet Jane Hall author of this super blog whilst doing some work experience with Heather Nette King. This lady is super focused and stylish - she has just released a fabulous homewares range that is super colourful and ultra chic. Her blog is very down to earth and I love the way she gets in and just does it!!!!! She juggles many balls and seems to do it with such ease.

4. Flip and Bells

Lisa is one talented crafter, she can put her hand to anything and makes it work - I have learnt so much from her, she inspires me with every post. Her blog is a must to follow - the way she hand quilts is to die for - she chooses fabrics with the greatest of ease and really puts a personal touch to all the things she makes - check out her great blog for yourself.

5. Interiors Addict

Jen from Interiors Addict is one serious interiors blogger/tweeter - she has her nose to the ground, if its worth knowing, Jen knows it. I almost feel like I personally know her!!!! I rely on her for up to the minute interiors news and she usually almost always knows whats happening. She has recently celebrated her six month anniversary with her blog - I am not sure of her followers, but she manages to interview some of the hottest names and still have time for the not so big people - I really love her blog content and find her news/interviews really interesting - you must follow her!

on the Holidays......

photo of Emily Chalmers - source

already a new post, go figure..........on the holidays I plan to get organised and finish off my workspace!!!!no jokes, I am not kidding, but in the meantime I am looking for inspiration EVERYWHERE! x

Friday's Chalk Talk

what a busy time of year, I have been going to concert after concert and break up after break up. The last week of school/kinder is bedlam - the kids are exhausted and feral and so am I for that matter. I think it's time for a little rest until the new year.

Pictured above is the house I styled this week - it was listed today - have I mentioned how much I love this work - I get so much satisfaction from actually doing "it" (the moving, lifting and prettying things up) that it doesn't even feel like work at all, although there is quite a bit of manual labour involved.......I got high praises from the agents for this house and I actually will start working for them in the new year - hooray - finally!!!!!! This is something I have been working towards for sometime now - finally a break!!!!!

This week I also started working on the school project - tradespeople arrived, panelling was removed and after all the planning there is a light shining brightly - this project should be complete by mid February fingers crossed. Will post some before photos soon.

Not planning on doing much next week, its time to slow down and get ready for Christmas here, at our place!!!!!!! I have put so many decor books on my Christmas wish list that I hope to be reading them all very very soon.

Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas - take care and see you all in 2012, it's going to be an exciting year - might post between now and then - who knows!!!!! xxxxxxx

Property Styling

I styled a house today that will go on the market this week - loved every moment of it - owners were very impressed - pics to come soon...so stay tuned.... and the great part was, we didn't add any new pieces we just moved and subtracted until the balance and look was just right.

Chalk Talk

Gorman and Rachel Castle

hello peeps, not much posting this week, but still lots going on behind the scenes.

I took a visit to the Jardan showroom this week - checked out their superb furniture in the flesh - it is heaven, and I could have taken soooo many things home. I did manage to stay focused and decided on a chair for a client - the fabric I have chosen is really striking and after many weeks searching, I think, just maybe I have found the right chair - I hope they are going to like it too. I will reveal more about this job later, once all the details have been put to bed and the client is happy.

You may also remember this earlier post about indoor greenery - well this week I went in search for some loveliness for another job I am working on. And although I did not find the exact plant I was after I did manage to find something that would work. Still on the look out for a Fiddle Fig if anyone can help.

I also stumbled across a new retail concept called the Happy Lab - loved the color blocking of all their treats which are all preservative and additive free - I bought two test tubes for Xmas pressies......check them out, they wont disappoint!

and if this doesn't make you smile, well I don't know what will - Rachel Castle has teamed up with Gorman for some limited edition pieces - saw them at Gorman Doncaster and they are to die for......so as the punch line goes ......put the love in the coconut, I will for the sheer love of color!

and lastly this week I worked on some E decorating concepts for my business - this is an exciting opportunity for the future and I hope to be explaining more about this soon.

happy weekend all, if you get time take a look at this e mag that I only discovered today, its a little gem....

see not much, but lots.....

Adore E magazine

No need to rush to the News Stands - just click on the link........My favorite E Magazine - Adore, has just released its latest issue and it features one of my favorite Interior Designers - Anna Spiro - she is so inspirational, I love her use of color and when I get to Brisbane next - my first stop will be her shop. Read all about her in the latest issue - it has some amazing color and lots of beautiful moodboards - right up my alley really. xx

Friday's Chalk Talk

five of my favorite things from The Design Files Open House (details below)

collage moodboard - Global influence

where has that week gone.......on Monday night I handed in my last assignment for school for 2011 - I must say that my collage moodboard (above) is my favorite to date and I received a High Distinction for it - wooo hooo!!!! Leah and I headed to the NMIT awards night on Thursday - no recognition for part time students - not very happy Jan!!!!, but there was food and wine there thank god! It was nice to finish the year - I will miss our car trips into school on a Monday night and all the natter we get upto along the way, I love the way we bounce ideas off each other and I am sure we will work together in some capacity in the future!

This week I also ordered some stock for a job I am doing for a school reception area. Some of it arrived today and some is still to come - the project will not be complete until Feb/March next year - but organising the trades and product has been great fun - not to mention seeing it all starting to come together.

Today Leah and I also head to Fitzroy to see the AMAZING Design Files Open House - The House in Little Napier Street Fitzroy is a POP up House - it has been fully decked out in beautiful locally made furniture and artwork by Australian artists/designers. Its all under one roof and everything is for sale!!!!! So many beautiful things, I bought a couple of things, but my favorites are the items numbered above in the first image. I even walked out with a beautiful Emily Green necklace - I have been wanting one of those for sooo long - now it is hanging around my neck. If you think you might like to see it( the house, that is!) - you really should - Lucy Feagins is truly amazing - I saw her today in the flesh today........yeah really!!!!!

The Design Files Open House

40 Little Napier Street, Fitzroy

1 - 4 Dec 2011

details of picture above:

1. Penelope Durston Heart Cushion

2. Lucas Grogan Prints

3. Emma Davis vessels

4. Kirra Jamison Painting

5. Emily Green necklace ( I had to take one of these home!)

This week I also fell in love with a new swatch from Caesarstone, called Creme Brule, I have ordered a sample and plan to put together a kitchen plan using it - will post details soon. ooh, one last thing, today at the Design Files Open House I had serious bathroom envy - I fell in love with this cabinet from Rogerseller- I am going to use this in my very own bathroom reno.......maybe! xxoo enjoy your weekend!