Photo stylist and story producer. Great job title isn't it. Donna Talley is just that. Her look is classically tailored and yet relaxed, feminine, natural with just a hint of European, hopsack and linen, scrubbed timber and Biedermeier. It's ironstone and baskets, fresh flowers and glass bottles, antique silverware and sun bleached colours. It's easy and elegant and soft. And it's lovely.

With a degree in fine arts it's easy to see where the sculptural influences in interior designer Gary Hutton's work come from. It's about volume and form, about material and finish. It's also about the art and the art of living. Clean lines with minimalism tempered by luxury. Think contemporary interiors complimented by contemporary art. It's his trademark. Had to include the toilet roll wall. Clever but I'd be a little too obessive about keeping it full.

And it's all about the outside. A simple, minimalist interior in a house that throws open its walls and plays second fiddle to the great outdoors. What a pool. Those palm trees ... swoon. Gently sloping green green grass and the star of the show, rainforest hemming in on all sides. All this anchored by stone walls and gravel courtyards. I'd quibble that the house needs a few more personal touches, some spectacular art but then how can you argue with that view. And all of this is in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Byron Bay, Australia. Sometimes real estate stalking takes my breath away. Here while the link lasts.

This town was an hour bus ride from PV, and was worth the trip. We spent the day there and had a great time hanging out on the beach watching the surfers, shopping of course, and eating the best freaking burritos I've ever had. I uploaded a photo a couple days ago on Flickr of the floor in this shop (whose name I cannot remember) and it's been such a hit that I thought I'd put it and some others here. I love painted floors and this floor has to be my new favourite, hands down. Frankly, everything about this shop was hip and funky which is relatively uncommon. (Pardon the quality of some of these photos - it was often easier to sneak them instead of trying to explain why I was taking them).

When Julie from my favourite blog Remodelista emailed to let me know about a great photographer she worked with in Mill Valley recently I rushed to click on the link. John Merkl takes a clean shot, a beautiful light filled shot, a story telling shot. The images may be well edited, telling just what is necessary to draw you in but that's just what is needed with these contemporary interiors. A focus. (Hah! So he has spot on focus! Couldn't resist the bad pun sorry.)

Design firm workshop/apd is based in New York City and Nantucket, Massachusetts specializing in high-end residential renovations, new home construction and commercial development with an emphasis on sustainability. "Our approach to design looks beyond the singularity found within current architectural trends and takes advantage of the multiple perspectives that make up our society. This allows for a more intriguing and less predictable relationship between design and its context. Conventional boundaries between adjacent spaces are often transgressed, allowing activities to transition naturally across fluid thresholds. This results in performative spaces that collapse the form of function into the function of form." Their portfolio includes modern, contemporary and downright funky, ecelctic spaces. I had a hard time picking out my favourites, but this about sums it up:

The early 70s what a wonderful time for interior design! I'd love to say that that's a photo of me above but my room back then was nowhere near as groovy. I must be getting old though because I need to turn the volume down on the colours on most of these. Thoughts please on the built in tiled toilet and Mr Super Smooth. Today's scans from Golden Homemakers 100 Ideas to Beautify Your Home, Gudenian Rockail & Mayer, Marshall Cavendish, London, 1972.