Vintage Girl

White Christmas

2011-12-20T21:03:00.000+11:00

Some people have imaginary friends: I have imaginary houses.

2011-11-22T22:05:00.001+11:00

Happy Camper

2011-10-10T10:46:00.002+11:00

Grown-ups like numbers

2011-09-25T14:15:00.001+10:00

When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask questions about what really matters. They never ask:”What does his voice sound like?” “What games does he like best?” “Does he collect butterflies?” They ask:”How old is he?” “How many brothers does he have?” “How much does he weigh?” “How much does his father make?” Only then do they think they know him. If you tell grown-ups, “I saw a beautiful red brick house, with geraniums at the windows and doves on the roof…,” They won’t be able to imagine such a house. You have to tell them “I saw a house worth a hundred thousand francs.” Then they exclaim, “What a pretty house!”…That’s the way they are. You must not hold it against them. Children should be very understanding of grown-ups.

— The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Dining Alfresco

2011-09-09T23:00:00.004+10:00

I Love Dutch Doors

2011-08-24T18:49:00.003+10:00

I will have one from the kitchen leading into the garden in the house I am building in my imagination.

Collette Dinnigan's house

2011-06-05T16:24:00.004+10:00

I went to have a look inside fashion designer, Collette Dinnigan's house in Paddington, Sydney. It was even more beautiful than the photos.

Fit for a Princess

2011-04-29T14:08:00.002+10:00

Tiffany Blue

2011-02-26T23:08:00.005+11:00

I have found my new home!

2011-02-16T18:56:00.001+11:00

It's perfect...I'll take It

Originally constructed 1930, two-story Georgian home transformed by interior designer Shannon Bowers into a haven of European elegance.

the front entry

another view of front entry

living room

living room detail

the other side of living room

dining room with blue antique doors leading into kitchen

dining room detail

kitchen detail

kitchen

informal sitting room

children's playroom

bedroom

child's bedroom

main bedroom

guest house

guest house interior

detail

love the adorable sofa

4325 Glenwood AVE DALLAS FOR SALE $1,199,000

My Sweet Valentine

2011-02-14T14:06:00.001+11:00

The Year of the Rabbit

2011-01-31T14:05:00.007+11:00

New Year 2011

2011-01-04T15:30:00.001+11:00

It's been a year full of ups and downs for me.

I've learned that life is full of surprises good and bad.

I've learned that life can be wonderful but it can also be very unkind.

I've learned the importance of holding your head high no matter what comes your way.

I've learned that life is a journey and a positive outlook is absolutely better than a negative one.

I've learned good friends and family should be cherished.

I've learned that negative people are to be avoided.

I've learned it's better to take the high road.

I've learned I despise dishonesty and disloyalty.

I've learned with each passing year we grow a bit wiser

I've learned to believe in "fresh starts and new beginnings"!

Farewell 2010, hello 2011.

My house at the beach

2010-11-18T17:28:00.006+11:00

Can you believe this is an Ikea kitchen?

2010-10-31T19:56:00.000+11:00

The Non - Kitchen

2010-09-05T23:40:00.005+10:00

More and more I am liking the look of a non - kitchen kitchen. In my next house that is exactly what I am going to do.

The non - kitchen uses elements from the rest of the house, sofas, table lamps, mirrors, chandeliers, uphostered chairs and antiques.

overhead cupboards are usually removed I look I love.

grand mirrors

armories instead of built ins cupboards

upholstered chairs and bench

I am loving sofas in kitchens, the stove is just to the right.

chandelier

peacock green fridge,chandelier & antiques

I love an open fire in the kitchen

The Magical Garden

2010-08-29T10:25:00.000+10:00

The Country House That Lives In My Imagination

2010-08-02T22:09:00.008+10:00

I have wanted a house in the country for such a long time. I think it would look something like this...

Drive through the gates

please come in

the living room

my cosy reading room

the kitchen

up the stairs

my bedroom

bathroom

guest bedroom

and bath

there would be a screened porch

and verandah

where I could look at the view

India's white pony

the stables

I would grow lots of roses

and herbs

and have an orchard of cherry trees

a cute gardener to do all the hard work

a glass of ice tea amongst the lavender

I would have a wisteria walk

and a secret garden just for the girls

with whimsical pieces

a swing

and a nest in the treetops

there would be a tranquil pool

an outdoor fireplace

a special spot for lunch in the garden

chickens

and here is the chicken house

and a flock of pet sheep

bliss!

Before and After

2010-07-17T13:32:00.007+10:00

I love a good make over:

Before

After

the room is transformed just by removing the carpets to exposed the wooden floor (which was then stained dark)removing the hideous curtains and painting the honey coloured wooden staircase white (reflected in the mirror).

Before

boring wall to wall carpet

After

Rip up the carpet, paint risers white and stain the treads dark, add a new striped runner

Before

After

hard to believe it is the same room

Before

a garage sale find

After

with a coat of white paint

Before

plain mirror nothing special

After

framing the mirror makes all the difference

Before

After

A Victorian cottage in the woods

2010-07-03T09:18:00.002+10:00

Sandra Foster's magical one room cottage in The Catskills New York.

Sandra renovated, extended and decorated this tiny former hunting cabin on a budget of $3,000. Using salvaged goods, vintage finds and shopping at flea markets and garage sales she has created a tranquil retreat for herself

The chandelier was a $15 flea market find

the loft bedroom is reached via a ladder

the chandelier over the bed and the bed linen is from Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic for Target

The lace fabric used throughout was $2 a metre at Wal Mart

the beautiful wooden mirror was a garage sale find at $22

Sandra built this cupboard herself with arched doors she found for $15

Vintage finds

Sandra's pink boots were on sale for $30 at a tractor supply store

to reach to the cabin you have to cross this stream

just like a gingerbread house in the woods

Sandra in a handmade linen dress she found for $2

the verandah was added to the original cabin using salvaged columns

An American in Paris

2010-06-26T13:33:00.001+10:00

The new Ralph Lauren store in Paris has the prettiest courtyard restaurant - Ralphs.

The Ralph Lauren Store
173 Boulevarde Saint-Germain Paris

Dreamy Bedrooms

2010-06-19T10:25:00.001+10:00

I Married Adventure

2010-06-14T10:20:00.001+10:00

First I was intrigued by the title

then I fell in love with the unusual zebra stripe cover

and finally the story by Osa Johnson about her travels throughout the world with her dashing husband.

I kept seeing the book everywhere in interior design magazines .

As it was printed over 70 years ago in 1940 I had no idea how to get a copy.

let alone one in good condition

Then I saw it in the June 2010 issue of Oprah and thought I would now never be able to find one for myself

Happily, my search is over.

I have just bought this beautiful in perfect condition 1940 first edition.

Celeste and India Hicks

2010-05-31T18:30:00.008+10:00

My beautiful daughter Celeste is holidaying at India Hicks' gorgeous house on Harbour Island in the Bahamas

India Hicks and her sons

I want a treehouse!

2010-05-29T11:04:00.006+10:00

Ever since I was a little girl I had a fantasy of having my very own treehouse. It is never too late to indulge ones fantasies....

this one is my favourite

treehouse bed

CODE RED

2010-04-28T09:42:00.002+10:00

With winter just around the corner, I like to redo the interior of my home to match the season. All the blue and white accessories are packed away until spring and I replace them with a touch of red to warm up the look.

Oh, Baby.....

2010-04-15T12:09:00.001+10:00

Beautiful Bathrooms

2010-03-28T18:43:00.002+11:00

Grey Matter

2010-03-09T21:51:00.004+11:00

My latest love is the colour grey.

Before and After

2010-03-01T18:02:00.000+11:00

Before

After

Remove overhead cupboards

Add shelves

Paint lower cupboards and dishwasher front.

and makeover the refrigerator with chalkboard paint

2010. My year to be green.

2010-01-20T12:35:00.002+11:00

Vintage Girl is away on holiday.

2009-12-30T13:48:00.004+11:00

I'll be back in the new year with lots of vintage style ideas!

Dive right in

2009-12-22T08:26:00.008+11:00

A few gorgeous pools to spend the summer holidays by

Feeling blue...

2009-08-27T11:01:00.003+10:00

2009-08-22T22:26:00.000+10:00

My little shop

2009-08-10T17:24:00.015+10:00

One day, when my babies have grown up, I would like to have my own little shop where I would sell my vintage and flea market finds and beautiful homewares and hand made childrens toys.

It would look something like this and I would call it Vintage Girl of course!

I would have a little hanging sign out the front

and a black and white stripe awning too

There would be a bell at the door that would make a delightful jingly sound when you pushed it open.

There would be flower boxes on the windows and my dogs Charlie and Bella would come to work with me everyday.

Pretty

2009-07-14T09:34:00.024+10:00

A few images from my pretty file

Collage using vintage fabrics, buttons, postcard and photograph

Handmade toys by Florence Forrest

available here:

http://www.flyingstartoys.com/shop/shop.htm

soft lovely colours

A pretty spot to have lunch

Painting by Carol Gillet

Metal tins from Cath Kidston

A lovely spot for a cup of tea by the fire

A gorgeous attic bedroom

A vintage kitchen

I love the old dresser used in a bathroom

Vintage, my blue and white stripe jug and somewhere for Charlie to lie... perfect

I want to paint my front door an unexpected colour

Delicate tissue paper pom pom kit from Martha Stewart

Garden inspiration

2009-07-05T14:08:00.010+10:00

and they lived happily ever after....

2009-06-24T13:12:00.005+10:00

click on photo to enlarge all the detail

Photo by Dina Goldstein from the Fallen Princesses project.

My dark side

2009-06-14T16:05:00.014+10:00

I also like dark, dramatic interiors but only in black and dark grey. Here are a few of my favourites!

window display at Berdorf Goodman NYC

I want black skull towels like this

Having a little rest.

2009-06-04T16:16:00.002+10:00

I am taking a break from my blog but will be back very soon with lots of inspiring ideas and interiors

Beautiful Houses

2009-05-18T16:14:00.007+10:00

I have collected a few images of houses that I would love to live in, maybe, one day, I will have a lovely house to live in.....

Wardrobe Crush

2009-05-01T20:22:00.027+10:00

I have always wanted a beautiful dressing room or wardrobe where all my clothes were neatly and beautifully stored, with a place for everything and everthing in its place.

Here are a few I love.

I love the mirrored dressing table and a pretty salon chair to sit on while I put on my shoes

I love this one because I could see myself making a room just like this this in a terrace I am looking at.

even a small wardrobe can be made beautiful by wallpapering the back and doors

or painting the interior a lovely colour

and the wardrobe that started it all...

Carrie Bradshaw's from Sex and the City!

Rooms that make me go Mmmmm...!

2009-04-24T16:35:00.010+10:00

I love black kitchens and black and white tiles

beautiful tall windows

high ceilings

another black kitchen

gorgeous powder room

I would have to paint the beams white

like this room

How dreamy is this baby room

I just want to climb into this heavenly bed with a good book and a cup of tea

I love the high ceilings in this very glamorous kitchen

here is my dream kitchen

I love chandeliers, mirrors and fireplaces

white shabby chic loveliness

more chandeliers, mirrors and subdued colours

I adore venetian mirrors

I love the expansiveness of this room

and the cosy feeling of this one

beautiful old armoire and soft grey sofas

Love the dramatic use of a single strong colour with white

enchanting

a beautiful kitchen

another view of this beautiful room

love the french doors and the black and white floor

this is where I would like to do my blogging!

The Enigmatic Art of Ingrid Dee Magidson

2009-04-17T11:02:00.032+10:00

It was love at first sight when I discovered the exquisite work of American Artist Ingrid Dee Magidson.

SELF-PORTRAIT

I am completely enchanted by every single painting of hers. My particular favourites seem to be images of the Renaissance women she paints.

ALWAYS CALM BENEATH

I have not seen paintings that have thrilled me, inspired me and captivated me as much as Ingrid Dee Magidson's intriguing paintings.

VISIONARY

I love this one

MEMORY OF A TIME FORGOTTEN

MASQUERADE

but I think this one is my favourite!

PRINCESS BLUE

EARTHLY DELIGHT

QUEEN OF THE HOUSE 2

I have listed just a small selection of my absolute favourite images and you can find much more of her magnificent work here:

http://www.ingridmagidson.com/index.html

Stairway to heaven

2009-04-14T06:25:00.002+10:00

I simply love a beautiful staircase, here are a few of my favourites.

2009-03-29T17:55:00.000+11:00

today when I woke up...

I wished I could pack my bags

and fly away

to somewhere new

where I would rent a beautiful studio

in a lovely old building

and write the novel I know I have in me.

I girl can dream can’t she.....

Duck Egg Blue

2009-03-16T19:26:00.003+11:00

One of my favourite colours is duck egg blue. Strangely, I have nothing in my house that colour. I just may have to change that!

Anglomania

2009-02-28T15:21:00.002+11:00

I am truely, madly, deeply in love with London and all things British

Alexander McQueen clutch

Alexander McQueen Boots

Jacket designed by Alexander McQueen in collaboration with David Bowie.

Alexander McQueen Union Jack T-shirt £182

Vivienne Westwood distressed Union Jack rug

Chanel - Union Jack handbag £980

The Sex Pistols

Buckingham Palace lit up on Christmas Eve

A bit of all white

2009-02-25T18:07:00.001+11:00

Just a few images of white interiors I like