Merry Christmas from gOLd ChaLK

my last job for 2012!

I have been working on this moodboard for a client wanting to accessorise her apartment - she has her big ticket items (all neutral) and now she wants to finish off the room and tie it all in together and add the magic of colour!  The artwork is an original poster from Galarie Montmarte - it is big and dynamic and sets the tone for the rest of the room - I love the copper pendant lights which I am proposing for above the island bench in the kitchen, the cow hide is a favorite of mine, I love the  irregular shape it brings to a room. And a room just wouldn't be complete without some greenery! This is one of my favorite plants to use inside. What do you think??????? The moodboard comes with links on where to purchase all the items - you can do it yourself or I can do it for you - great value for $150 which included an in-home consultation!

moodboard by gOLd ChaLK

Last minute Christmas shopping - ISSA Ivanhoe

OK, today I am sharing with you all a very special place that I love to visit - I can, and literally do, spend hours in this store - it is on the main drag of Ivanhoe and it is well worth a visit. 
Visit ISSA to feel inspired, to get your creative juices flowing and/or to buy that special gift for someone who appreciates beautiful things.  There is nothing in this store not to love - here are a few images from my visit there this week - oh, by the way the owner is lovely and the way she wraps your gift is a real treat! I bought a little something to put under the Christmas tree for ME!

a photo a day until Christmas catch up!

here's a little snippet of what Christmas looks like at my place,

Merry Christmas all!

my week in pictures plus a little ChaLK tALk

here is a sneak peek at one of my latest projects, whilst Real Estate takes a little break until next year (due to the silly season almost upon us), I now have some time to do some of the things I truly love - Moodboards - this is a little peek at the house I am working on - the house is a blank canvas and I am very excited to have been asked to help furnish and accessorise it - more about this house later.........

where would I be without my glue stick????

 this week I have also been packing up lots of my houses which have sold, so I thought I would share with you all a little bit about the whole process - I get to meet some lovely people along the way in my job and so this week I photographed some of them in action!! they were all a little camera shy!!!!!
Once the truck arrives on location, every item of stock is accounted for - every piece of furniture has a 6 digit number and once they are all checked off the shrink wrap and bubble wrap come out!!
The guys pack up the furniture and I usually gather all the accessories and prints and start packing them in bubble wrap. The whole process can take about three hours - it's usually a time to chat and get to know everyone a little bit better - sometimes we even have the owners pitching in to help!!!

truck arrives - 9 am pronto!

all stock is counted and marked off a master list

we group all the accessories together for ease of packing

the lovely owner helping us pack up - so many cushions on this job!

stock gets turned on its side and shrink wrapped ready for the warehouse, where the whole process starts all over again.

James(above) and Matthew(below) from the warehouse - always smiling and nothing is ever too much trouble for these guys!!!!

no two days are ever the same in this job, in fact no two houses are ever the same - I work with some wonderful people and helping them in the whole process is a real privilege - selling one of their largest assets is quite stressful and it is sometimes a little sad saying goodbye, but thankfully, the houses sell and we all get to move onto our next project!

 and lastly I went to visit this wonderful place yesterday, Galerie Montmartre in Fitzroy - so much choice for vibrant wall art - really striking orginal posters of all sizes - I could have taken home soooo many!

until next time..........keep smiling.

2013 - Pantone Colour of the Year - 

Emerald Green

After seeing so much Tangerine this year - it's nice to mix it up a bit and relax a  little - Green is the colour of nature and has a calming influence on interiors - it goes with lots of colours - Orange, Purple, but my twist on it is with electric blue - love these two colours together - Instant updater for 2013!

Day 2 - a photo a day until Christmas

 the fireplace at my place - love the wire "T" and the wooden cross - looks a bit of industrial cool! Don't forget to bring the outside in, to soften your space!

a photo a day until christmas

I'm posting a photo a day until Christmas, all of the things I love at my place.

today its this chair and cushions - I am into Black, Blue and White at the moment - layered on a neutral base - it's the colours in my living room - I've got a feeling we are going to see more of these colours in 2013 after all the colour and neon this year.

Just looking........

thinking about the beach, dreaming of owning something like this, decked out just like this too! - one day, maybe! very simple, yet very chic!

all pics realestate.com.au

Sorrento Melbourne

My Favorite

Rachel Castle from Castle and Things is my favorite designer ( at the moment!) - I love her artwork and the colours are truly inspiring to me - she has just released a limited edition range for Christmas - be quick, because they will not last - believe me.

here are my two favorites:

visit the range here, if you still need to do some Christmas shopping for U !!!!

The Design Files Open House

 

more cushion love - I had to sneak one in!

 even the caffeine hit was thought of!!! - I love the mondo grass in a little patch to break up the pavers!

Main bedroom - Lucas Grogan Artwork and Bonnie and Neil cushion - and guess what - the same table I used in one of my bedroom makeovers at the foot of the bed!!!!!

 

the kids room - more cushion love!

all photos above - Brooke Holm

You really had to see this place to believe it!!!! On Friday Flip and Belles and I had a date to meet an address in Windsor right here in Melbourne. It was down a one way street, surround by lots of single fronted houses that we came across The Design Files Open House - I was SUPA excited to see what Lucy Feagins had whipped up, and as usual nothing was left to chance - it was amazing. We got there right on opening and the crowds were building - It looked like a converted warehouse, beautifully decked out and chockers with stock from local artists - all available to buy!! I was on a mission, I have been lusting over some art and thought this just might be the place to find that special piece.  The I fell in love with this - A framed Vintage poster - It was hanging so beautifully in bedroom 2 - the kids room - the colours got me straight away - I was in LOVE, but then I saw the red sticker next to the price - the dreaded red sticker - it was SOLD!!
Well some things are not meant to be - but the key to this is - I know where to source these from, right here in Melbourne and how amazing would this be in a kids bedroom - It was huge, striking and really quite affordable!!!!

So many people, so much great stuff and I got to bump into Lucy herself, I felt like I already knew her, I just had to say hi, of course she didn't know who I was, we had chatted before but only through email and of course I madly follow her blog - she was so so lovely - very humble and just is amazement at what she had achieved - she thanked everyone for coming- very approachable and so easy going!

here are some of my favorite pics from the day:

the cash registers were a buzz - people everywhere buying!!!!!!

more lovely colour hanging in the kids room

Marrimekko decorations hanging outside in the paved area

Flip and Bells looking at those decorations in ore!

more beautiful artwork - loved the framing!

gorgeous Mark Tuckey Christmas tree with groovy heart decorations

Jardan chair and stool

congratulations Lucy and Team, what an inspiring day!