this house ooozes style

Last week I got to help put some finishing touches on this little gem - It was an old Customs Office built in Port Melbourne in the 1850's, that was later transported by horse and carriage to it current location in Eltham - a house full of character and tastefully restored and and extended - my favorite place in this home was the kitchen/dining area (look at those original bentwood chairs!!!) and the magnificent light filled studio - I dream of an office space like this one!!! -  see more of this dream home here whilst it lasts...

gOLd cHALk's house of the week - take a look

This house ticks a lot of my boxes and today I am going to tell you why I think it works.  I got to spend some time in this house getting it ready and here's what I loved about this house!!!

 beautiful cared for entrance - love the doors, and that piece of interesting furniture - makes you want to stop and feel excited about whats to come..........

 an open fire place, huge windows which let in loads of natural light ( key!!) and a mixture of down lights and pendant lights - really important for filling space especially when you have high ceilings and big rooms.  Would work equally well in a house with standard height ceilings.  

 more natural light and artwork that is not hung too high!!! at eye level and slightly off centre - winning combination and pendant light over dining table - this pendant is available here at a very affordable price - buy a couple for huge impact! Rugs help define spaces in large rooms - use them wisely and you will reap the rewards.  

lastly huge windows sing - so let them - don't cover them up with drapes/blinds - let the view be your artwork and if you do need to cover them up, keep the window treatment minimal! - This house used white Roman's - they worked nicely. You can see more of this home here.

(all photo are sourced from here)

cHALk TalK...........yes, finally

yes, true, I have been missing in action lately - not that there hasn't been anything going on - it's just that I have not had the energy to write/blog - but, hopefully it's a short lapse and I am back - although, finding the time is getting a little harder these days!!!!!! but I do love my blog!
Sometimes its nice to just work with colour, and since my main job these days is getting houses ready for sale, I sometimes do not have the time to work on colour plans, but every now and then, I make the time because it's fun and the end result is always so rewarding! So, with that in mind here's what I have been working on in no particular order:

I have just sourced this artwork for a client whose bedroom I am making over, we finally settled on this poster and will have it mounted and framed for the wall - I love this ! sourced from the US, made popular by Domino Magazine.

 I have also been choosing some paint colours for walls - here is my choice for a great dark wall - Dulux Otto's Boy - the most perfect colour to make a wall recede and your artwork POP! Doesn't it look fabulous here, this is the home of artist Emma Cleine, her house was recently featured in Home Beautiful Magazine, and that is one of her famous Mandela Prints.  

My top 3 Melbourne 
stores to visit this week!!!!

Moss in St Kilda (pictured above) this is a great homewares stores full of great buys. It has a great range of Armadillo rugs and cushions and some one off colourful pieces!

• Crate Expectations in Malvern - fabulous stores with loads of colour - I could spend hours in this store, actually I did!!!

• Issa homewares and gifts in Ivanhoe - this shop is FABO!!!! - you must visit - It is full of beautiful pieces, its a lovely stores to browse and feel inspired. Its owned and ran by a local lady who knows her stuff - well worth a visit.

do yourself a favour and visit one of these stores for a real feel good sensation, promise you will not be disappointed!!! (stay tuned for more of my favorite Melbourne stores next week!)

WHAT'S ON MY RADAR

at the moment!

if you're like me and a little scared to try Wallpaper full on, then this is for you..... gOLd cHALk loves The Wall Sticker Company‘s designer collaborations – especially when the latest pair-up is with Curio & Curio, a homewares business run by Real Living stylist Clair Wayman. Her wall sticker designs are quirky and cool, with a playfulness that would fit beautifully in either a kiddie space or a funky adult retreat. 

I am also in love with Anna Spiro's range of wall papers that she has designed for Porters Paints, they are simple, but when mixed with colour something magical happens - I really want to be brave enough to try one of these!

lots of houses to share with you soon - just waiting on the pictures to come through - stay tuned!!!!

hopefully the break wont be as long next time around.......

new work for Carter Real Estate .......

all pictures owned by Carter Real Estate

Even with the school holidays in full swing I managed to squeeze in this little gem, I started working on it last week and just finished it yesterday - The house had a great feel and the owner had some truly beautiful pieces to work with - she loved colour - like somebody else I know!!!!! - she had collected some real treasures over the years and I fell in love with some of them. I love the feel of her family room - neutral base with some colour injected - I sourced the rug and cushions for this room and they match perfectly with the prints and lounge suite - I love the mix of old and the contrast of new - this room felt like I was in an Old Queenslander - it was filled with loads of natural light.

Check it out in full here while it lasts!!!!

Chalk Talk - what I am loving right now

Hi everyone - what a crazy time its been for me lately, but during my madness I did manage to get out into the marketplace and see the wonderful colours that are hitting the shops at the moment - Although it is winter, the shops are full with new season spring merchandise and how lovely does it all look - I love the flouro/pastel palette that is hitting the stores in everything from housewares to fashion - it really brings a smile to my face.  I loved seeing the new collection from Country Road - its a real winner I reckon - here are some of my favorite buys for the season!!!! That throw would look fabulous on a white doona - it has a hit of fluro orange in it - hard to see from this picture but an instant style updater without spending big bucks! The trick here is to tone the orange down with some black and white - it looks fresh and RIGHT NOW!!!!

all products shown avaialble at Country Road

more Sass and Bide

look at this fabulous mood board by talented duo - Sass and Bide, enough to get your creative juices flowing!!?

Whenever I feel a creative slump coming on I flick through my tear sheet mood boards, they are very powerful and remind me why I love this type of work - do you have a tear sheet book?? do you collect images that make you smile - or ignite a fire inside - if not, try it - you wont be sorry!