Surprise Surprise

I was surprised by Boardmans this weekend - and in a good way! M and I hit the shops on Saturday in search of the prefect couch. Well, perfect within budget that is.

For weeks now I have frequented the same shops, hoping they have new stock or a sale. You see, the comfy couches I liked were way out of my budget, and the ones that were in my budget were just down right ugly. Or too small.

Then, on another mission to find dining chairs, I said "Let's just go and look at Boardmans". Not thinking for a minute I have any better luck. Ha! They had a bit of a revamp, wouldn't you know?

M and I fell in love with a certain grey couch the minute I lay on it, and even more so after I heard the price. Tada! I was sold! Or, the couch was. ;) It's being delivered today (so excited!) and finally it feels like my little flat is coming together. I've lived there for over 3 years, but never really put in any effort.

I've decided not to post any pics until the transformation is complete, I'm hoping to have it all done and dusted in the next month or so.

As the couch was quite a bit less than what I had expected to pay, I indulged and grabbed the Arco lamp. Designed by Achille Castiglioni (that's him in the pic with the Arco lamp) in 1962, I love how this piece has survived just about 50 years and is still used in stylish homes all over the world.

Now mine is obviously a knock off, and I know that's a huge debate amongst designers and architects; one which I'm not going to enter right now.

Castiglioni drew inspiration from street lamps when designing the Arco: a ceiling lamp that needed no connection to the ceiling. The lamp casts it's light about 2 meters from where the base is, making it ideal to illuminate dining tables without having to have a pendant hanging right over it.

I say: "Sia la luce!"

Hang your hat

I'm an absolute sucker for Design Classics. Eames, Jacobsen, Le Corbusier: I want to own it all.

This coat / hat rack is from the design duo of Charles and Ray Eames. Who said coat racks need to be boring!

And at a little over R1000 for the original, this is everyone's opportunity to own a piece of design history.

Available from All Office.

I love...

..Peonies in plain, simple glass containers. Vases, milk bottles, empty jars....anything really.

It might have to do with the fact that I have never ever seen Peonies for sale in South Africa, or am I just shopping at the wrong places?

I love the softer than candy floss quality these blooms have. And the light pink ones are my favourite.

This is how I feel right now

I can't remember where I found this, but today, of all days, this is how I feel. It's been a little crazy here in the office (and at home) so I've been more absent from here than I would have liked, but I'm hoping after today things settle down a little more.

I have so many pretty things to share with you!

112,640...

That's the number of Post-It notes that were used to create this temporary installation at Grand Central station in New York.

The installation forms part of the Post-It notes celebration of it's 30th birthday.

I somehow don't think the random Post-It's I have stuck up on my computer screen at the office qualify as art...

Have a blooming good weekend!

This utterly gorgeous chair, from Weylandts nogal, is sure to make anyone wish Spring was here already!

This was the winner of the "Coup de Coeur" award in Maison et Objet Paris last year, and I can see why. Designed by Kenneth Cobonpue, who is responsible for most of the better Weylandts pieces. (Also love his Voyage bed for little babies)

Hope you have a blooming good weekend everyone!

I love...

...pretty paperweights.

Like these from Pezula. I've developed a penchant for all things that look like they've been torn out of a science book - not that I ever really liked science at school.

I heard my Haldane Martin pieces are being delivered tomorrow morning - can't wait!

x a

Happy Happy day!

I am now the *super* proud owner of not one, but two lovely pieces by wickedly wonderful Cape Town designer Haldane Martin. I'm quite giddy with happiness! (Remember I blogged about his home here)

I won't be going out much this month, nor will I eat out, buy flowers, indulge in Woolies goodness, see a movie, have the car washed or do anything that is not within my budget (the same budget that now needs to be revised in order to accommodate this purchase). Hey, good design never came cheap...

As soon as the lovely pieces of furniture are delivered to moi, I will post a pic.

So, going to buy the 2 pieces also made it my first visit to Haldane's impressive studio in Woodstock. It's a converted church (can't you see?). It made me want to live in such a building, with high ceilings, big windows, lovely arches and stuff. With a long, old table with some of his pink Riempie chairs (also by Mr Martin) around it. Perfect for candle lit dinners and entertaining friends.

All in good time....all in good time...

Cool, Not so Cool

Cool: having a soul-reviving long weekend up the West Coast.

Not So Cool: having to come back to work this Tuesday morning.

Enough said..

Happy Women's Day for Monday everyone!

The fiance and I are off to Paternoster for the weekend. Even though I see the weather is going to be pretty bad (awful actually), I'm happy. It gives me the opportunity to catch up on some reading and more importantly: sleep.

Have a happy, wonderful, fun filled long weekend!

x a

If you have not seen this ad, where have you been?

I want to eat Chicken Lickin JUST because of their ads!

Colour me pretty

I love colour charts. I like walking into Builder's Warehouse and staring at the wall of colour charts.

I especially love new colour charts. And Plascon's colour forecast for 2011 is out, and it's made me a very happy person.

Don't know if you remember the Plascon Colour magazine? Well, is had a reincarnation into the new Spaces magazine. This is second issue, and it's filled with inspirational pages, easy decor ideas and loads of colour options.











The 2011 forecast is inspired by Love. Gotta *love* that.

"In this year's palette, the romance of the past, coloured in soft nostalgic pastels, is a grounding element but at the same time we experiment with colours and textures, creating something new and sophisticated. We look to our environment for inspiration, drawing its rich verdant and earthy tones into our homes and lives, but we also embrace the bright colours and dynamic culture of our cities. This is a love of the past and the future, nature and city."

There are 4 pallets, with my favourites being Future Passion and Romance Rekindled (pictured above). Then there is also Vibrant Possibility and Eco-sustenance.

If you are at all thinking of painting, decorating or simply need some inspiration (who doesn't) then you really should spend the 15 ront on this one.

Be inspired people!

x a

Interesting Print

This print from The Brick Lane's shop en Etsy features a beautiful little bird (love the colours) printed on an original 1878 Bible Dictionary page. I love the idea of using old (in that case, very old) items and creating something new and useful.  I also like this butterfly...

                                          

Maybe I should grab my old,  fat, green HAT (Handwoordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal)  and see what I can conjure up...

 x a

Easy decor

I posted not too long ago about the art of Origami and folding paper cranes here.  I have made about a dozen paper cranes so far, and love having them on mass! I use scrap booking paper, which is quite a bit thicker than normal paper. So it does take a little longer, is a little more tricky, but so worth it!

These pictures just go to show that with a little imagination and patience, interiors can look glam on a budget!

Happy folding!

x a

Images via Apartment Therapy

Best thing since...

...the last sale. Whenever the Exclusive Books sales comes around, I tend to place restrictions on myself. Something like this:

1. I will buy only 2 books

2. I will go only once

3. I will go to only one branch

I'm kind of following the mentality of  "it's meant to be" if I'm there, in that one store, on that once occasion, and I find the book that I love. I shouldn't go hunting for things.

Yeah right. 

I was in my home town of Port Elizabeth on the weekend, and just stumbled onto the sale. I left with 4 books, and I'm already planning my route home to include Cavendish which will enable me to pop downstairs and see what's on offer. (Never mind that Cavendish that is about another 6km's in the opposite direction of where I live)

I might just have my car washed at the Waterfront too...

Happy book shopping and happy reading!

x a

Tweet Tweet

Nope, it's not a Twitter update (I must say I enjoy John Cleese's tweets the most. They are few and far between, but always get met giggling).

I am in love with Genevieve Motley's whimsical jewellery designs. She creates the most amazing pendants, rings and absolutely to-die-for earrings. (BTW: why are pretty earrings so hard to come by?)

These are some of my favourites from her Etsy shop.

Being Brazen is giving away a heart ring and necklace from Genevieve's collection, but hurry, the competition closes tomorrow. Go here now.

Good luck!

x a

*sigh*....double *sigh*

How utterly gorgeous are these?

Each and every piece hand made, using either goose or rooster feathers.

I am speechless.

(You see, this is why I love design - that feeling I get when I see something so original and creative. It's like nothing I've ever seen.)

Pluma Cubic by Heike Buchfelder. Available in South Africa from Pure Light.

Do I take a trip to Europe or buy one of these lovelies? Seriously, I'm leaning towards the standing lamp....

;) x a

Flashback

I'm sitting at my desk eating a large, sweet orange. (I realised I need the Vitamin C during winter, so have been eating at least one orange a day for the last 2 weeks)

As I bruised the skin and the citrus sprayed, the smell of this orange skin took me back to when I was probably around 6 or 7.
My dad knew a guy (no, not that kind of gangster guy) that had, amongst other things, an orange orchard in the Langkloof. Now if you've ever driven to PE via the Langkloof, you will know just how picturesque this area of our country is.

Every year, around June when the oranges were ripe and orange (colour) and round on the trees, we would take a day trip to the Langkloof and be able to pick oranges - as many as we liked. Actually, as many as fitted in the boot of the car! We would pick oranges, eat them as we go, fill up the boot and then head home with a very heavy car!

Mother dear would make marmalade - which I never tasted, I just didn't like the smell. And for the rest of the year we would have a gazillion bottles in all shapes and sizes of marmalade.

Good times. :)

x a

Thought for today

"We're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy"

image via Michael Hitoshi

My kind of lounge seating

We all love swings, so why not have one in your home? I can imagine it's perfect for daydreaming and relaxing.

I also love the all white palette - soft pinks, creams, weathered timber: whimsical and beautiful!

x a
image via Anita Kaushal

My rediscovery of books

Yes, it had to be rediscovered. Something I'm sure must horrify some of you.

I used to read. Don't know why I stopped, but I did. I tried reading again a couple of years ago, but people would come to me with "Oh, this is the best book ever, it's so funny" and I wouldn't find it funny. Or I would not be able to get past the first chapter.

The whole experience taught me that I do not like being disappointed, more than most. I get really upset. And so I stopped reading books, because I could not bare to start reading a crap book.

Well, I got over that. I realised I just had to grab a book and start reading it. If it's bad, I don't need to finish it.

But then I realised I have one more problem: I don't like second hand books. And I particularly don't like Library books, they are all kinda sad? Borrowing books from friends is OK, because you know where they've been and they normally have been well maintained. But a Library book, ag, the stuff gets dropped in water, people with issues draw lines over swear words, stuff like that.

I'm happy to say that I've found the solution: I buy at least 1 new book every month. I'm much happier in Exclusive Books than I've ever been in a library.

Oh, and although I don't see myself as a superficial person (I'm not), I've realised I do judge a book by it's cover. Maybe it's the interior designer in me that always sees the potential of a book as a piece of the puzzle: it's going to lie on the coffee table or next to my bed or sit in the bookcase, so it needs to look like it belongs. You know?

Now that I'm reading again, I've had the *absolute* pleasure of reading 3 really good books recently. I'll share some more info with you soon, and hope to share many book reviews with you. I just finished my latest read last night, and can not wait to start Marita van der Vyver's new release.

What are you reading right now?

x a

Yes, Waka Waka people

It actually means " Do It".

But translations aside, last night's performance by Shakira and Freshly Ground at the closing ceremony of the World Cup was energetic and fun. The song has received major air play here in South Africa and has become the biggest selling single in the history of the event.

(I'll admit - I always sing along and every now try the dance moves)

Anyway, what I actually want to show you is Shakira's outfit, designed by Roberto Cavalli (who also designed her opening concert getup). Don't you love it? I think Roberto has captured a little essence of Africa in both outfits - with the latest one being extremely colourful and vibrant.

And just in case you missed it.... here's the video from last night.

Have fun! And let's keep the flag waving!

x a

We knew this day would come..

..but we chose not to think about it.

Now that the World Cup is over, everyone is asking "What now?". Hell, I don't know. For the past month all M and I have done in the evenings is plonk ourselves down in front of the TV (with heater and a bowl of popcorn) and watch the games. Even last week was like a bit of withdrawal with very few games being played and everyone waiting for the weekend's big match.

I've gotta say I'm still basking in the glow of a fantastic event - where South Africans quite rightly was able to say "Up yours" to all the pessimists and foreign media who didn't give us half a chance of hosting this event. Now investors are looking at the country in a new light, and it's about time I say.

Last night's closing ceremony was sure to give every South African goosebumps. (Um, I was not impressed with the opening ceremony and was a little apprehensive before last nights show kicked off - but I was stunned by everything that was going on in Soccer City last night)

The elephants (or 'Elafants' as Paris says) going to the watering hole was cute, the musical instruments being played by performers on the ground very clever, Shakira and Freshly Ground simply riveting (hell, that woman is built!) and everything was smoooooooth. Enough lighting and fireworks to show that we can, without being tacky. (I think the Beijing Olympics overdid the fireworks)

Oh, funny by the way - M calls it the "Burger Patty". I see the resemblance....

My Weekend project

This weekend it seems that Cape Town will be having some bad weather, which to me is a good thing. I am desperate for a weekend of cocoa, DVD's, duvets and sleep. But amongst all this nothing, I do have one little project: folding paper cranes. I started on Tuesday and have done a few. The more I fold, the better I become and the more I love the mass of paper cranes all over my apartment!

I'll share more of my little project next week, but in the mean time here is a 'how to', just in case :)

Have a happy happy weekend everyone!

Oh, and I am supporting the Netherlands in the final on Sunday, who are you supporting?

x a

Cool, not so cool

Cool: wearing high heels to work for a change

Not so cool: wearing stockings with my high heels and they get a run. (expensive) black stockings ruined.

Hope everyone is going to have a fabulous weekend, and support Ghana in the quarter finals! Go Africa!

(I have a feeling it's going to be a soccer weekend - not altogether a bad thing. We've only got 1 week left of Ayoba-ness, then the foreigners go home and we'll all be broke from too much partying with them. Enjoy it!)

x a

image vir flickr