Couture chairs

These chairs are the work of Aiveen Daly. If you browse through the media coverage on her website hers is an inspiring story. Unable to find the furniture she wanted in London she decided to learn upholstery and eventually set up her own business and make it herself. She is now a successful designer with an impressive client list. Some of her designs are very glam but my favourites are the more understated ones below. Classic with a twist.

Images: Large Puff and Moneypenny chairs by Aiveen Daly www.aiveendaly.com

Vertical garden by Joost Bakker

Over a year ago on the ABC gardening programme I saw these vertical gardens used for a fabulous wall of herbs in a chefs garden. The herb garden was made from steel reinforcing mesh (see earlier post on wine racks using the same concept here).

And so I have kept an eye out for them ever since without any luck until .... Joost Bakkers house was featured in the latest copy of Vogue Living. As you can see from the photos below Joost - an in demand floral designer - has taken the vertical garden to the max, cladding his whole house in racking and terracotta pots. How you would maintain them I'm not sure !!

I think this a great idea for a feature in any garden but especially for small gardens and balconies. I like the effect of the corrugated silver behind the pots in the shot above - but as I'm not the worlds best gardener can't advise if a herb garden could take the reflected heat.

Joost Bakker has designed vertical garden systems for Schiavello and there are more images there. No details on pricing but I am going to find out.

Images: Schiavello, Vogue Living

Trade only

It seems lots of people have been to trade shows this week in Paris and Sydney - not me sadly - but I have enjoyed browsing through the commentary, interviews and 'finds' on my favourite blogs. Lorna at Garrendenny Lane Interiors has a number of great posts about the Maison & Objet fair in Paris which is where I spotted this wallpaper Siam Trellis by Sanderson. Like it.

Image: Sanderson via www.gdlaneinteriors.ie

Coast

I am a bit stress-rich and time-poor this week so not much time to write. So I am turning to another beautiful Rachel Whiting photograph for todays post. Who wouldn't feel calm at this desk ?

Image: Rachel Whiting

Getting organised

We are all back to school now in Sydney and thoughts turn to where to hang school hats and all the paraphenalia that comes with the start of new schools and activities. I already have two long rows of the Leksvik hooks from IKEA in my back hallway but looking at this lovely image by Rachel Whiting I am tempted to squeeze in a third . . .

Images: Rachel Whiting via www.thedecodetective.blogspot.com and IKEA

Books etc

Thanks to A-M at www.thehousethata-mbuilt.blogspot.com for sending me the details for this library from Town & Country Style. As our study has not had much attention since we moved in to our house it is looking pretty unloved and messy. Proper messy - not like the stylish mess below - with lots more phone bills and bank statements in piles cluttering it up. I'd love something like this as the ceilings are high and I definitely want to make the most of that height for storage.

Image: www.townandcountrystyle.com.au

Birdsong

I don't normally feature a lot of homewares here but I couldn't go past these tea towels without capturing a picture - love the colours and don't they look great together. From http://www.nofixedabode.ie/ they are by Lush Designs

Birdsong teatowel, Image: www.nofixedabode.ie

No fixed abode also stock one of my favourite designers - Thorsten van Elten. I am coveting an 'Is that plastic?' butter dish below but will have to wait until my next trip to Dublin as shipping ceramics to Sydney usually costs more than the item itself.

Image: www.nofixedabode.ie