Portfolio Update

 Last week I got to transform another house for sale - there was a little bit of stress involved with this job (hire truck arrived 4 hours late!), but as you can see by the pictures - the house came up really well - I loved the use of colour in the main bedroom and the casual alfresco feel in the kitchen/lounge/dining area which flowed out onto the courtyard. 
On the day of set up I get a real buzz as I transform the home usually in front of the current owners eyes - I  love my job and the trust my clients place in  me to take their homes for everyday to WOW!!!!

 to see more of this house click here

Abigail Ahern - watch out here I come

I have all of her books, I follow her blog like a mad stalker and I LOVE the way she uses Colour and Scale - she has the real WOW factor when it comes to styling. I have longed to do one of her master classes in the UK and I think that one day I will get there - but for now I am spending the day with Abigail when she comes to Australia - the full day class will be filled with insider tips from the Pro and I am sooooo there!!!
It is being held at The Melbourne Supper Club in the City - SQUEAL!!!!!! this is a dream come true for me!!!!!

all images Abigail Ahern

cHALK tALK - Letterboxes

over sized letterbox available at Lump  - right here in Melbourne

With all the houses I am lucky enough to work on, it does amaze me that the humble letterbox/entry often gets forgotten in the mix.  First impressions really do count and as for so many of our homes our letterbox is often the first introduction to our house!   Neglected letter boxes are a big no no and no letterbox at all is even worse!  Your street number should be clearly visible and offer a hint of what is to come. Don't forget about the detail - A beautiful home deserves a well thought of letter box. 

Here are some of my favorites 

shop these boxes from here, here and here

Luxury Retreat - House of the Week!

This is Bills Track - a luxury four bedroom home that happens to be owned by one of my close friends.  This place ooozes style. I remember walking into this house for the first time and saying - who needs to go away on a girls weekend, when we can come here and send the boys and kids away! - it has the most fantastic pool and deck area and although I did very little to get this house looking like this - all credit goes to the owner, I am sure you will agree she has a great eye for colour and detail.  I love the light fittings over the dinning table - shopped from here. You can check it out fully here, while it lasts!

Offspring - cHaLk tALk

OK, so it appears that we are ALL just slightly obsessed with Offspring and Nina, and whilst most of you are looking at what Nina is wearing, I am looking at her apartment, and dissecting every part of it! I love the Industrial/farmhouse vibe of her new abode, but I must say that I do prefer her previous apartment. The new place is actually a converted warehouse in Collingwood. It's very rustic and far more casual than her previous place which I featured here.

love the weathered front door and olive trees

 Nina's bedroom, linen from Nancy Bird 

love the cute side lamps and she has the same

artwork from her last apartment.

farm house kitchen - really different from apartment one

kitchen dining from mezzanine above

the living room off the kitchen

this is one of my favorite rooms - the real owners and this house were featured here, by The Design Files - that is the owners original artwork behind Nina! - this room has not really been changed for the show - wonder where they go whilst they are filming???? who cares really they are probably receiving loads of cash!

Sneak Peek Sass & Bide

This is the house of  Heidi Middleton from Sass and Bide - she is one half of the dynamic duo, who quite literally makes fashion seem so effortless. The duo sprung to success after a fortunate meeting with Sarah Jessica Parker whilst filming Sex in the City in New York. Parker loved their style and commissioned them to make some one of pieces for the show.

I personally love her use of colour, and the way in which she wears statement accessory pieces with such confidence. Her home is on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and just like her range of clothing, the house is filled with statement pieces - lots of colour on a neutral base - perfect really!

Built in the 1940s and at one point occupied by a flamboyant gay fashion designer and a celebrated Australian painter, the house resembles an Italian terraced villa. I love the walls which are covered in smooth white stucco and the windows which have been kept in their original floor to ceiling frames.

Heidi Middleton

beautiful chandelier and tassel towel

details! details!

is that a Rachel Castle piece of Art?

her girls bedroom

 love the full length mirror, coffee table and juju hat above fire place

source similar mirror from here, coffee table from here and juju hat from here!

 bench seating in the kitchen = casual elegance

beautiful flooring!

beautiful coloured accessories!

all pictures from here

style me happy

style me happy - some of my favorite colours, oooh I do wish I had a better camera - love this shot of my place

Before and After - Property Styling

last week I mentioned working with a lovely couple to get their house Sale ready - well after an intense week - yep that's about how long it took to make the transformation the house has been listed, here are some of the before and after shots. You be the judge - do you think property styling works???? 

 main bedroom before

 main bedroom after

 Dining room before

 Dining room after

living area before

living room after

lounge room before 

lounge room after

 check out the rest of the house here, while it lasts!

Chalk Talk!!!!!! TGIF

gOLd ChaLK has been busy preparing another house for sale this week - the transformation to this place was really amazing - low spend, big difference - I will post some before and after photos once they come through - it really does go to show that a little TLC and attention to detail goes a long way! This week got me thinking, I get to see lots of houses in my job and it amazes me how no two houses are ever the same - I love going into a home and tapping into it's potential - it's part of the job I love, often highlighting to owners features they may have missed or just plain overlooked, every house I see has potential - that's where the fun begins! The other thing I love is seeing in homes are the things people collect from their travels - I love highlighting them and bringing them to life - this week I have serious house envy! - check out this great house and all its pieces - it may inspire you to show off your wares!!!! This beautiful Victorian Terrace belongs to Alex Zabotto-Bently of AZB Creative, it is situated in Surry Hill, NSW. All pictures from Design Sponge.

and just quietly, I have this thing for art lately - or really forever! here is what I am loving right now - Elephant Art! 

Penny Farthing Design House

happy weekend peeps - more chalk talk next week! x