New Beginnings 2013

I ended the last day of the New Year swimming in the ocean, which had me thinking I really need to swim in the ocean a whole lot more in 2013 I am totally at peace in the sea, still in holiday mode it gave me a chance to think of all that happened both personally and professionally, some with regret and plenty of frustration, reflecting and sole searching and plans for new beginnings. Personally I said goodbye to some friendships that was long overdue and in the process found new life long friendships.I have wanted to make some serious life changes and now in 2013 Im ready to put them in to action, the timing is right! Fitness and health was my priority and once again it took a back seat to family pressures and work, so this year I'm making it more about me and putting my health and well being as my top priority, setting small achievable goals, more pampering, a new look wardrobe, lets call it a life -work-me balance. One of the big changes in my life is that all my children all five of them have fled or plan to set up there own homes, leaving only the three musketeers, now that is a lifestyle change!

Professionally this year I returned back to decorating after a two year restriction of trade due to selling my business, I knew it would not be easy but with a lot of hard work and determination, to lay low and focus, my year turned out to be busier than my wildest expectations, to be able to give creatively every day is a true blessing and I cant imagine ever doing anything else! I love what I do! This year I made friends with some amazing Brisbane decorators who I admire greatly, I cant wait to spend more time with you next year.

So whats install for 2013! well my most exciting news is that my beautiful, talented daughter Jess will be joining the team at Verandah House as a qualified Interior Designer, it was a hard year of commitment and determination, lots of tears, late nights but now its over we get to embark on an exciting new chapter of our lives. I am keeping my business goals under wraps for now but what I can say is that its going to be a great year for Verandah House that is for sure and I cant wait to get started.

My New years Resolutions for 2013

1.To feel amazing both inside and out!

2. To make my move and follow my dream

3. A road trip to America followed by a stop over in Hawaii

4. More time outdoors, riding my vintage bike, swimming in the ocean, tennis and yoga.

5. To cook more and to try lots of new recipes

6. Bali for a holiday and to meet Balinese spiritual guru Ketut Liyer ( Eat, Pray, Love)

7. Several years ago my husband bought me in Paris my LV diary and every year I buy my refills only to never really use it, so this year I'm going to get super organised or get Jess to organise me :) she is good at that anyway whatever works I plan to use it!

8. Learn to meditate from a monk, I did try that last year and when the lovely monk told me to relax my mind and humm some lingo, I got so confused that I sat there for ten minutes trying to work out the correct sequence only to feel like my brain was going to explode, it was the longest ten min of my life, this lovely monk just giggled non stop, and smiled to herself like she had this secret formula for happiness or perhaps she was looking at me thinking "Oh dear she really needs to calm that brain"

9. More date nights or days with my hubby, we are really good at that!

10. I love working hard and I believe success is a result of hard work, but I hope I always remain humble and kind to others.

11. Take a Chance! two years ago I took a chance and leap of faith and manufactured and designed a range of rattan furniture, not long after the launch we lost our son in a tragic car accident, with that it took away my self belief so I walked away, my collection featured on the cover of magazines and is featured regularly in magazines and retail stores, it made me realise we never fail at anything, its merely a stepping stone to greater success and dreams, to learn from your mistakes and to be a better person both in business and personally, that year I learnt a lot about people and myself, I realised that whilst there are critics passing judgement, I took a chance and whilst I may not have made all the right choices, I have learnt from them and to be honest I can do no more than that, I dont think I ever will stop taking a chance!

12. Well this is one of those half hearted resolutions, to cut back on the amount of wine I drink, I need to stop at one glass and to have wine free days, so its not to cut it out because I WONT stick to that, but one glass a few nights through the week, a few nights no wine and the weekends I cant promise but I'm mindful.

13. Set realistic achievable goals and revisit them monthly to stay on track. I plan to do that by putting my goals on my desk top, ipad and diary. If I can achieve half my goals I'm happy :)

14. Travel, travel, travel nothing more to say!

15. Last but not least to have fun, to follow my dreams, to believe in myself and to live life in the best way I can!

Holiday Time

Its hard to believe another year is about to pass us again, Christmas is over but the holidays are just beginning! As much as I love Christmas day my favourite day is also Boxing day, I resist the temptations to go to the sales, instead my husband and I have already watched two movies before 11am, had breakfast twice and now contemplating what book to read, a day in bed reading with my cup of tea is my idea of heaven and its definitely a day to stay in my pj's all day and be totally and utterly lazy!

Wishing you all happy and safe holidays xx

Image sources: refer my pinterest page

Creamy Whites

A casual Sunday for me is the prefect time to relax, its often my day that I spend the morning with my family and then allow some creative time for myself, to blog, pin away or just to read the latest magazines. Lately I have been drawn to simplicity, warmth, texture and whites, aged metals and woods, brick, sea grass matting, greys and earthy tones, I dont see dull or boring I see the complete opposite, it gives me total clarity! 

All images via my pinterest page with the direct source

Indigo Blue

It has been quiet a while since my last blog post, I think every post I have made lately has been about my busy work load, well nothing has changed its just stepped up with the pre xmas rush, I cant believe it only 6 weeks away, normally I would have present shopping already happening, my colour scheme planned and I would be eager to blog about Christmas but worried I might be to premature to mention it so soon, well this year its not planned at all so i'm going blog hunting for some much needed inspiration!

One of my projects next year is another beach house, it comes as no surprise that i'm thinking lots of white, worn timbers, natural coloured rattan, rustic oak floors, linens, denims, batik fabrics and touches of vintage china blues, I will never get bored with blue!

All the images above are from the new Ralph Lauren collection, you can imagine my excitement, eye candy thats for sure!

Caribbean Style

Its been months since my last blog post so I was thrilled to notice the new improved blog layout, how much easier to load and size photos!

In this months House Beautiful I feel in absolute love with the home of Amanda Lindoth. Her Caribbean home is located in Florida but you would never guess, its perfect coastal living!

Have a great weekend x

House Renovation

Today our home went on the market for sale, ready for the next chapter in our life, its hard to believe this yellow house with a green roof was only a two bedroom home on one level, we raised her to seek amazing, panoramic city views, more bedrooms and living spaces for our family. It has taken two years and most our weekends but it has been worth the hard work, now we finally can start enjoying our home for awhile anyway x

Family Spaces

My last post was weeks ago and I mentioned that our house renovation was nearly complete. Well I finally get to say after today it really is complete, isn't it amazing how long all those little tasks seem to take, like painting the fence, gardens you name it! with a very old house I don't think you are ever finished, little things just seem to appear especially with an all white house!

Next week our home is going up for sale, I have mixed emotions, our plan was to down size but instead our renovation grew to become a very large home, with six children we now only have two living with us and one planning to leave home next year, so our family of eight is now three, so it has made us re think our plans. Several of my friends are in the same position all planning to live the apartment lifestyle, in the heart of the city, I'm sure if I said to my husband yes lets do it he would in a heartbeat. The idea of living in the city, the beautiful walks I could do daily, the cafes and restaurants we could just walk too, a pool, gym all in our complex, the little or no maintenance, my apartment would take nothing to keep clean the list goes on BUT in my heart I'm not sure if its me. I'm also imagining a cottage style Californian bungalow with a beautiful back yard not too big but enough for a pool and terrace, I'm happy with one large living area rather than three that we have now, basically a smaller home but with loads of character. So the verdict is I'm not sure yet, we are keeping our options open, but one thing is for sure our next life plan is for living life to its fullest, I want a healthy life work balance, I want to see so many countries of the world both for pleasure and for my work and I have some exciting plans for Verandah House!

Enough of my ramblings...I have posted some photo's of my children's TV room/library, I have continued the blue and white but in a more casual way, as you can see our family dog Milko has his favourite spot here too! tomorrow I will post the exterior shots for you.

All images: Verandah House