Inspired By

I save so many images in my picture files to keep as inspiration for co-ordinating different colour schemes. It's often the combination of different colours in a picture or different products or different textures which can inspire me to put together a scheme for a client's home. I love the colours in these two product images above. The first image is from Jean Brown, a Brisbane fashion mecca, advertising some of their latest offerings {I adore the bangles by Paula Bianco} and the second image is a product editorial from House Beautiful. I just love all the wonderful colour and patterns and textures in these images. I find them very inspiring.

Tidbits

Here are a few little tidbits I am inspired by this week. I think it's the colours and the patterns and the wonderful mix of things I am loving!! The multi coloured floral fabric is one which we will be using in our windows soon at the shop....I love the little pops of orange in this fabric!! We will also be hanging the pink peony fabric in the bottom image in our front windows at Black & Spiro in coming weeks {this fabric is so me!!}. Oh and also in the bottom image you can see my absolute favourite Nina Campbell candles which we also sell at Black & Spiro!!


image 1 - amy homey's photostream @ flickr, image 2 - bella foster artist, 3 & 4 - marie claire maison, image 5 - fabric from black & spiro, image 6 via that chair has buttons, image 7 via that chair has buttons

Past Inspiration

Look at this seriously beautiful sofa Grace Kelly is lounging on...

All you would need to recreate this look is a vintage sofa, a roll of black and white ticking, some black fringing and a good upholsterer...I am inspired are you??

More Flowers

Following on from Tuesday's post here are some more flower images we have been using to inspire us at Black & Spiro lately.

Image 1 - book source, Image 2 - Vogue Living

I Love...

The bow detail on the sleeve of this dress.

Image - via Mary Ruffle

Breakfast Inspiration

If you haven't already seen this blog, Simply Breakfast written by photographer Jennifer Causey, then you must right now. I adore her recent Paris Breakfast. Such a simple yet beautiful pleasure to enjoy and yet if you're anything like me in the mornings I just don't spend the time. Jennifer has inspired me. Maybe I should prepare a special breakfast for my boys this Sunday morning.

Today I Love...

These very pretty images by Lobster & Swan.

A Little Bit of Aqua

It seems I am inspired by touches of aqua. Scrolling through my picture files I notice I have lately saved quite a few aqua interiors as inspiration. I thought I would share a few with you.

Image 1 - via Interior Divine Blog, Image 2 - via Mrs Blandings Blog, Image 3 - via Patricia Gray Blog

Inspiration for 2009

We've all talked about Inspiration Boards before...they definitely aren't a new topic in Blogland! Probably like most creative people, I usually like to start each year with a new board to get myself inspired and excited about the year ahead. However, I have to be completely honest I haven't started my new 2009 board yet. My Black & Spiro Girls keep trying to nudge me to just put one picture on my humongous linen covered board in my office but I just haven't been able to do it.

Last night however, when I was looking at Diane Bergeron's awe-inspiring board I started to get in the mood. So, tomorrow I have some time free in which I plan to get started on my latest board and today's purchase {for Black & Spiro's new stock} of a very beautiful old circa 1900's Chesterfield sofa in original floral linen with box pleated skirting, will be just the thing to get me going.

I'd love to pose some questions to you, my readers...

What have you added to your inspiration board lately? What and who are you inspired by at the moment? What colours are you loving for 2009?

A Soft Palette

Last week I predicted a softer colour palette for this year over at Coco & Kelley's Crowning the Colour of The Year week. Here are some softly spoken rooms I'm loving and am inspired by.

Image 1, 2, 4 - House Beautiful

Image 3 - Shoot Factory

Bathroom Furniture

James Michael Howard

I am very fond of placing small pieces of Antique furniture in bathrooms. I think it adds an element of coziness. It also adds interest and personality to a room which we usually don't think about furnishing.

Whether it's a small table {like above} to place some towels on & a beautiful tray with lots of perfume and lotion on for your guests or a lovely old chair upholstered in a pretty fabric, I think it's a great look.

In the Gumdale house I have been working on I suggested this concept to the client and she went with it. We painted the old pieces we found for her bathrooms white and they look fantastic.

So, if you have room for a lovely little old table or chair or even an old mirror in your bathroom my advice is...go for it!

Oh and while we're on the subject of furnishing bathrooms - I also love little paintings in bathrooms too!!

Happy Weekend!!

These beautiful images, taken by photographer Hugh Stewart, of Collette Dinnigan's Sydney home were featured in Vogue Living a while ago. I absolutely adored her home. Her beautiful pieces of Antique furniture against an all-white background with books and flowers...perfection! I hope you have a lovely weekend.

More Paul Costello Loveliness

I think I may have saved every single image from photographer Paul Costello's website in my 'I Love Files'. His work is so beautiful, fresh, pretty, colourful and youthful. Last week I posted a few of his photos and I couldn't help sharing some more here today. How dreamy is that beautiful white house in the top image?! Love the cane furniture on the grass! My mum puts her cane furniture out on the grass under the shade of the trees at her house at Straddie in the Summer. It's just so lovely to sit with your bare feet in the cool grass on a hot Summer's day!!

All images - Paul Costello

Outdoor Showers

After a long morning at the beach there's nothing quite like getting back to the house and having a cold shower to wash off all the salt and sand. I have these gorgeous outdoor showers saved in my files as inspiration for when we build our little outdoor shower over at Straddie one day...I'll just continue to dream and to collect more inspiration images for now as this little project certainly isn't on the priority list at the moment!! As my mum always says, good things come to those who wait...so wait I will.

Images 1,3,4 - Cottage Living Magazine

Image 2 - via Elements of Style

Pretty Pink

Oh, that lamp, that mirror frame, that wall colour - love it all!! But then again it is Ruthie Sommers...my favourite designer of all time!!

I have the perfect spot for this gorgeous Made By Girl Poster!! Loving the red and pink combo!! Wouldn't it look gorgeous in that beautiful white mirror frame in the top picture {mirror removed of course}!!


Tuile frills get me everytime!!

Here are a few pretty pink pictures I'm mad about!


Top - Ruthie Sommers via Stylecourt, Middle - Deeply Madly In Love Poster from Made By Girl, Bottom - Rachel Popo Photography via Oh Happy Day Blog.

Rita's Gorgeous Apartment

This image is an older one of a vignette in Rita's apartment which I continue to love

I really love these new pictures of Rita Konig's chic apartment which is featured in this month's Domino. I particularly love the all-white walls with the pops of colour in the furnishings! It's just so pretty, lived-in and GORGEOUS!! I could move straight into this apartment without changing a thing!!

Pretty Tins

I am inspired by these pretty floral tins via Icklemissus @ Flickr...

See You In The Spring...

Image - Jen Gotch

Earlier this week I posted a beautiful image by Jen Gotch which so many of you loved so to end this week I thought I would post another one I am totally in love with. I absolutely adore the collection of things in this photo and in particular I love the white background with the pops of colour. This photo pretty much sums up my own personal style. As most of you know I love to create rooms with an all white backdrop with lots of colour in the accessories and a few quirky pieces and vintage pieces thrown in. I think I need to put this picture on my inspiration board. I do hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I look forward to sharing lots of absolutely beautiful things with you next week - the first week of Spring here in Australia!!

New Gambrel Images?!

Am I a little bit behind or has Steven Gambrel just added lots of new images of his work to his website?? Either way I just love his work and here are a few images above which I am mad about!

5, 4, 3 Days & Counting...

And now there's only 3 more days to go. Here are a few images displaying some special souvenirs/momentos from France...so gorgeous! Can you spot the Eiffel Tower in each picture??


Image 1 - Martha Stewart via This is Glamorous

Image 2 - via Elle Decor

Image 3 - Jenifer Altman Photographer