Mad love for colour combo

Hertex Fabrics had an open day this week - actually to launch some new local and (to die for) import fabrics - but what really caught my eye was their window display. The colour combo of acid yellow and navy is exactly the right mix of classic and contemporary.

Beautiful! And so perfect for adding punch to your interiors, especially during winter. (I'm probably one of the few people who don't go for browns and typical winter colours - I need a pick-me-up!)

Green fingers

... is something I don't have. The rosemary and thyme on my balcony have all died, and I mean, those are supposed to be the 'hardy' herbs!

So imagine my surprise when my orchid, that I bought 12 months ago, sprouted a new branch and bloomed! I am so chuffed - I didn't feed it, forgot to water it for more than a month, and even now the mandatory 'half-a-cup-once-a-week' is more like 'half-a-cup-when-I-remember-and-don't-get-sidetracked-on-my-way-to-fetch-water'.

OK so it's not quite the Garden of Eden, but it at least it's a step in the right direction for me! Who knows, I might just attempt basil next... ;)

Xx Amanda

- blogged from my iPhone

Pretty pretty paper art

I've just realised it's been over 6 weeks since my last post! Ouch. Gotta work on that.... ;0)

I'm working on a very exciting campaign for Ava - and I've taken inspiration from paper art. I love the fact that something so every day and ordinary as a piece of A4 paper can be transformed into a world of pretty things.

I'm also madly in love with the white-on-white look!

Image 1-3: Nataniel

Image 4: Unknown

Design Indaba Feedback Part 3: Tin Town

I know, I'm taking forever to post about the Indaba! It's been weeks now and I've not even begun to share all the magnificent stalls! (I blame my phone - not playing along in downloading images to my computer...naughty) But here is the next installment: Tin Town. I love their work for so many reasons: whimsical, fantastical designs, all items can be flat packed (great for retailers and consumers alike), innovative designs - these pieces are cute AND practical.... Here are just some of my favourites:

I wish I had a garden - these would go in first!

How great is this? I wonder if they do a double bed size?

Super adorable! (hehe...I think I have that place mat!)

Little Angel for Christmas.

This would be a perfect night light for a nursery.

I want this. Met 'n seer hart!

For more lovely creations, visit Tin Town. (I also love their website intro!)

Colour coding

Colour coding the books in your shelf is not something to be afraid of. And don't you dare think it's silly! Putting books in order of colour seems completely irrational, especially if you know the Dewey System. But I'm a very visual person, and tend to remember the picture on the cover of the book or the typography on the spine before the author or title jumps to mind. But maybe that's just me.

Plus, it looks great! Especially if your bookshelf is in the lounge or family room of your home, where you see it all the time, you need to spend a little extra time in 'dressing' your bookshelf. Now not everyone has the skill, insight, patience or time to place memorabilia, books, flowers or trinkets in clever configurations to make the bookshelf look good. But as long as you are not colour blind, this is a neat trick that will make your shelves look instantly 'arty'.

I've done it a couple of times, and love it. You won't be disappointed!

Eight at Spier

I've lived in Cape Town now just short of 4 years. And - shockingly yes - I have never been to Spier Estate outside Stellenbosch. I've heard great things about Moyo, with the face painting and African drums and pots full of food. I've been told about the rolling hills and impeccable lawns and deli food and picnics and pond and ducks.

But, still I had not been. I've always had this feeling that Spier was a very commercial estate. tour buses and African crafts. No thanks.

Until a few weeks ago that is.

I am part of a monthly wine club, a very informal affair. We visit a different wine farm every month, and some time ago it was Mr M's chance to organise. And so we ended up at Spier.

Very briefly: the Barrel Thief wine tasting is worth it. Our host, Jacqui, taught as many new things about the tasting and preserving of wine, and was a hoot to boot.

Then on to the new restaurant of the estate: Eight. A purely organic, recycled restaurant with the concept of "from the farm to the table". But there is nothing 'platvloers' about this place!


We started with *heart* shaped boards filled with freshly baked bread, salted butter, olive oil and Balsamic vinegar. Then, even before really taking in the menu, espresso cups filled with butternut, honey and ginger soup for everyone. And it was a chilly morning, so it was perfect!


The glasses at Eight are made from recycled glass (that's my ice tea there - so delicious!). So are the light fittings, made from plastic bottles by the incredible Heath Nash.

Ladies and Gentleman, above you see the piece de resistance: Hot chocolate. A steaming cup of full cream milk, with a whole heap of Lindt chocolate shavings for you to stir in and make the perfect cup of heaven.

Sorry - the food was so good I forgot to take a pic. I had roasted pork belly on braised veggies and roast potatoes. Yum. There is no menu - only a travelling black board. See, depending on what they can source from the farm, it all dictates the menu. Everyone at the table raved about their options (from fish cakes to pork belly to chicken pie and more) and everything was reasonably priced. The average lunch was about R65 each.

I *loved loved loved* the interiors. Open, welcoming, innovative and damn beautiful. The interiors are a great blend of rustic and sleek, recycled and new.

Well worth a visit. Even 2.

Latest, and best to date, Visi issue

The latest issue of Visi is out, and you really should get your hands on it. Really.
The cover alone is simply amazing, with gloss detail and bumpy stuff over the statue. You'll have to see and feel it to see what the hell I'm talking about.

The last couple of issues were disappointing. I know I shouldn't say this out loud, but it was. I think there was a new editor, and they tried new things. Which didn't work. The collector's edition (50th issue) was trying to hard to be something special, it fell flat on it's face.

But now with number 51 Visi have redeemed themselves. Fully! Every single page is beautiful, filled with relevant info, pretty pics and GREAT locations.

The cover shot is by the utterly brilliant Dook, and can you believe is in Johannesburg? I won't say anymore, just that the building is filled with fantastic art, the structure itself is gorgeous and on my next visit to Johannesburg I most certainly want to get in there!

Get hold of your own Visi number 51 and enjoy. Promise you will not be disappointed.

Best of the Catalogues

New Season = new catalogues! With Spring officially here (although I'm not sure if Mother Nature got the memo - Cape Town is a little chilly this morning), I for one love to add a bit of colour in my apartment and accesorise with fun things. Perfect to chase away the winter blues.

I'm sad to say that the various catalogues are not all the exciting, except for @home. Woolies and Mr Price have loads of lovely glasses, plates, linen and that sort of thing. For vases I always head to Woolies first though.

Here are just a few of my favourites from the @home catalogue...

Maybe because my big brother is a pilot, but I love these bookends for R250.

This screen is perfect for hiding my desk inthe lounge, which is always overflowing with bits of paper and ribbon and odds and ends. At R1100, not badly priced either.

The yellow coat rack would look perfect in my entrance against the grey blue walls!

The sun is coming up earlier, setting later. The days are warmer and the birds are singing. Summer is on it's way darlings!

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.

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...

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