Old Swap

Very old news now, but at Easter I participated in an Easter swap. My partner was Shannon from Paint Mine Pink and she sent me some gorgeous things she made. Here is what I sent her.

Her first piece of Villeroy & Boch, a cute Easter bunny with roses! And all the other stuff you see in the photos (taken by Shannon.) Even the box is part of the gift. It is one of those clear shoes boxes.

I was browsing the Myer catalogue and look what I came across - Marie Antoinette mugs and plates!
How divine will these look in my Marie inspired room?









Our new family member, Lily, hanging out with Tom and being dressed up as a fairy by my daughter!

Paris Swap

I recently participated in a swap run by Sweet Goodness Swaps. I don't really do these anymore but this one caught my eye. Mainly because the girls that run Sweet Goodness were some of my first blog buddies, and it seemed to follow a similar inspiration to my Marie Antoinette living room (see post "Living Room inspired by Marie Antoinette.")

Here were the rules.
Colors: Pale blue/teal/aqua, white and black

Theme: Must include at least one item that is French-inspired. Examples, something must say France or Paris, or include an Eiffel tower or the fleur de lis. Be creative! If you are signing up for this swap you most likely have some French-inspired ideas already rolling around in your head!


Here is the gorgeous parcel I got from Linda.
The gingham box, rose decorations and vintage cards are just divine. You can imagine how excited I was to open it!


Shriek! A plaque featuring my girl crush, Marie Antoinette! With silk and bling, drool!

Gorgeous diamonte "Paris" brooch TO DIE FOR!!!

Look at the rest of the lovelies! Cath Kidston handcream and bath bombs,vintage ribbons and lace, jade milk glass bottle and basin, roses, gorgeous box, tags, victorian images on CD, and the delicious chocolates that were dived on by the kids and I!
Thanks so much Linda, you have the most amazing taste and crafting talent!

Parlour-Office-Studio Inspired by Mamie Eisenhower

Yes, I am still busy decorating in my mind! We are still looking for out next home but that hasn't stopped me from planning how every room is going to look! This room, my office-parlour-studio, is inspired by the the fabulous wife of President Eisenhower, Mamie. Mamie Eisenhower was the first lady from 1953 to 1961 and pink was Mamie’s favorite color. She wore a pink gown with 2,000 pink rhinestones to Ike’s inauguration (she is pictured in this dress above.) Ike sent her pink flowers every morning (very well trained hubby.) Her bathroom in Gettysburg was pink down to the cotton balls. She re-decorated the private quarters in the White House in pink. So much so that reporters called it the “Pink Palace.” I have been unable to find any pictures of Mamie's decorating. Pink down to the cotton balls would be fabulous to see! Seeing as this room will be for me, I am going to town with the colour pink!

Pretty shade of pink paint by Dulux called "Fairy Wings." Feature wall in Cath Kidston Antique Rose wallpaper.

Gorgeous chandelier from An Enchanted Cottage


Must have pretty craft supplies! The ones below are by Martha Stewart. Fabulous vintage pink typewriter. I would love to have a collection of these. I have seen an aqua one which is just as cool as this.


LCD screen pink tv. I am yet to see these in Australia. The only pink tv's I have seen are your old 34cm type by Hello Kitty or Bratz. Now I can be quite immature some times but a Bratz TV is a little too much.


Pink sateen sofa to snuggle up with boyfriend Ryan, see picture below for your viewing pleasure.


Choices, choices...which rug to roll around with Ryan on? The pretty pink or gorgeous green? Might have to give them both a whirl.


Here is my annoyance at the moment. You can't get an attractive, stylish office chair here in Australia which will suit a vintage style home.
The ones below would be perfect, but of course they are from the US.
I am thinking of trying to make one. You can buy computer chair bases seperately from ikea. Then finding a nice chair, cutting the legs off and attaching the base.

My Dining Area

This post also appears on my group blog, "Pretty Chic Rooms." This month we are showing our dining rooms. Click here to go to the blog.
I would LOVE to have a proper dining room but alas, we have a dining AREA.

These Meakin plates are on the wall right above the table.

Cafe sign with cookie cutters.


Pretty vintage table cloth.

Ashwell tablecloth, this one is my fave.

Please excuse the mess! Kids schoolbags and un-coordinated handbags on coat rail. Pedantic moi usually has bags on that rack that match the room!

Cupcake display on servery window.

Cake stand and cupid candle holder also on servery window.


Various centerpiece displays. The above and below are for Christmas.

Valentines Day.

Valentines Day.

Easter.

Room Inspired By Marie Antoinette

We haven't even found the house yet, but I have already started decorating it!
I am going for a more grown up look for the living room this time. I figure if I go for a more masculine look with this room, it will appease Himself and I can have free rein with the other rooms!
This room was inspired by the misunderstood Marie Antoinette.


Pink china and shoes, a girl after my own heart!

One of her fainting rooms to get away from the intrigues of court life. This is in the main palace of Versailles. Here is where I started to get my inspiration for a colour combination that would not strike a man as too feminine but would appease my french provencial loving heart!


Brown is one of only a few colours I dislike. With the softening affect of the light blue it becomes more of a neutral.




The coffee table and tv bench will be mahogany, Edwardian styled pieces. They are from work as are the two french looking pieces. I plan to slip in at least the sofa table or a smaller, half moon table. These are a pale blue grey and styled on MA's own furniture in the Petit Triannon.



MA wall decoration from the Petit Triannon. I love the shade of blue paint. I plan to do the walls a blue like this with a lighter blue ceiling to give height to the room.

Where would a Versailles room be without an Aubusson rug?


You can't get much more masculine than a brown leather lounge suite. The one I want is a little lighter than this. Much easier to wipe up spills and hide marks! Our cream suite has been a nightmare. It is gorgeous but impossible to keep clean with two children.

Salon in the Petit Triannon. You can see the console or sofa table at the front is very much like the one from my work.



What better to put the jewel on the crown of a room than a magnificent tole chandelier?


Fabric samples for cushions, maybe. A brocade wallpaper feature wall would also be fabulous. C'est tout!