Croatia

Have you noticed how things never stay the same? Like personal taste? I have seen my likes and dislikes change and coalesce, firm and falter over these past few years. I have always admired the work of New York based interiors and landscape firm Rees Roberts + Partners. I think I had a crush on their work way way back (so did Kim even further back). Then I was drawn to their cool, sophisticated urban interiors. All elegance and class. I was revisiting their site the other day and was drawn immediately to this Croatian house. A new work? Must be. I hadn't noticed it a couple of years ago otherwise I would have remembered. It is so fabulously rugged yet stylish with just the right touches of casual elegance and midcentury classic pieces. But maybe it's not new. Maybe it was there all along. Maybe I'm just looking at it with new eyes, a new awareness. All I know is I love it!

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Monday's pets on furniture - part 2

If you'd like to send us photos to include in next week's "pets on furniture" post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off...and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it's dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com and PLEASE don't send me closeups of your pet!)

This is Simba our abyssinian kitty, he's very adventurous and loves to climb this 8 foot ladder we have in our house. This picture always makes us laugh, imagine him singing, fa la la la la!

- Leah (Kailua, Hawaii)

This is Ringo our Manchester Terrier sitting on HIS chair in the kitchen, where he watches us cook dinner. I bought it from Vinnies for $15, re-upholsted it and painted it white.
- Gemma (Sydney, NSW)

Brothers Toby and Nicholas in Sydney. Toby is on the Chair.
- Thomas

Ella is a Mini Foxy, just 12 months old now! She loves to cuddle up on my favourite vintage cane chair in my office while I work! The chair was originally cane coloured but I sprayed it white to suit my office! It was once my Mum's! I know it's something I'll have forever!
- Louise

This picture shows my cats Maya and Peeps. Maya is sitting on my Room and Board sofa and Peeps is sitting on my CB2 rug. The coffee table was made by my boyfriend who makes custom furniture. The top pillow is Tugboat for Urban Outfitters and the carpet square on the table is from Galbraith & Paul.

- Michelle (Philadelphia)

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Monday's pets on furniture - part 1

If you'd like to send us photos to include in next week's "pets on furniture" post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off...and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it's dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com and PLEASE don't send me closeups of your pet!)

Here's a photo I took of of my cat Muji on a Saarinen tulip chair.

-Bruce (Austin, TX)

Here is a photo of my two model dogs - Lily (brown and white) and Molly (black and white) both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They both love this chair and if there is a cushion in the way, Molly will just lie on top of Lily to ensure she doesn't miss out!
- Kellie (Sydney, Australia)

Eva on grandfather's chair.

- Erin & Shannon (Seattle)

Please find attached a photo of our French Bulldog Mack who has been sprung on my heritage silk bedcover(check out the guilty look) playing with his ball.
- Vicki (Auckland, New Zealand)

I've attached a photo of my little lady, Oney, enjoying my Ikea slipper chair.
- Mia (Austin, TX)

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Return of the stalker

 

Stalking! Oh how I have missed stalking. Truth be told I have actually been trawling through page after page, suburb after suburb of Australian homes but no rewards. Christmas leading into January is the quiet time for real estate in Australia. Coupled with a stagnant market and banks that are so tight with their money I haven't found a home that took my fancy. Until today. How about this St Kilda, Melbourne home? Clean, contemporary lines, interesting art (wish I could see into the room downstairs with the baby grand and the gallery wall) and privacy ... definitely needed with a bathroom like that one. I know all the lights have to be on for the real estate photos but wouldn't you like to see this place with a little less overhead light and a lot more table and floor light. Once again the price will make you shake your head. Link here while it lasts.

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Sunday quickie

Jo mentioned in her post yesterday that this weekend is our last blog-free weekend, and while she kind of broke that rule by blogging, I am doing the same. I thought I'd get some blogging out of the way that I was supposed to do last week. Before I get to that, we've had people leave comments here and there asking about whether we're on Facebook and Twitter. Some members of my family have also been driving me nuts about this so over the holidays my husband got us up and running on both, and has been maintaining them ever since. Although Jo and I already have our hands full, hopefully we'll be able to start getting more involved. So in the meantime check us out on Facebook here, and Twitter here.

Alrighty, so last week we had 2 new advertisers join us that I wanted to mention. The first being J.Covington Home, a shop based in Portsmouth, NH that now has an online store of beautiful furniture, lighting, pillows, art, antiques and home accents. Unfortunately they do not ship internationally so I will have to love their pieces from afar, but folks in the States can take advantage. I devoured their website and below are some of my favourite finds.

  
  
  
  

After the jump is an introduction to another new advertiser....

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