Displaying posts from October, 2012

Interior designer Sera Hersham-Loftus is the queen of romantic, seductive interiors. We love her work so much we’ve blogged her work several times over the years (here, here, here and here). I was so excited when her goddaughter emailed us with the news that Sera has come out with a book! It’s aptly names Seductive Interiors (CICO Books) and it looks fabulous! From the press release: Seductive Interiors displays homes which Sera has decorated as well as those that have simply ‘seduced’ her – each epitomizing the spirit of Sera – which could be described as ‘a heady mix of romanticism, passion, and playfulness.’  Sera likes to live in a loose, informal style that is reflected in her interiors.  Most of her furnishings come from antique markets or vintage shops. Her look is essentially ‘a concoction of enchanting soft lighting, charming antique and bohemian furnishings, oriental bric-a-brac, and more than a teaspoon of The Blues and Rock-‘n’-Roll.’ Essentially, it’s HOT STUFF. (Love the photography by Gisela Torres). I need a copy. Find it @ Amazon, Indigo and check out this Sunday Times story about it.

If you’d like to send me photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow my 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 then it may not make the cut. Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.comand PLEASE don’t send closeups of your pet! Thanks!

*** Please check out my story after the jump. It’s a plea for help on behalf of an organization trying to do their part to provide sick and elderly cats a home.

This is our baby Glico, she is a three month old Dalmatian sitting on one of our Calligaris ‘Basil’ chair.
– Natsuki (Brisbane, Australia)

Anthropologie’s Cotswold Sofa, Clifford & Winston approved.
– Courtney

My Miniature Boston Terrier Rufus spends his days luxuriating on my bed, watching the boats go down the Hudson River from our NYC apartment. 
– Kiel

Sweet Pea the cat on an antique cow horn chair in Glen Arbor, MI.
– Sara

This is Henry, he’s a 9 year old Havanese, hanging out in his favorite spot in the living room.
– Krista (Chicago, IL)

This is Bonbon de Chocolate, resting in her favorite sink on the powder room. Whenever she is thirsty, she stays next to the sink, ready for me to open the faucet.
– Alicia (California)

Here is our ferret Angus on the “crapaud” chair in the living room and our Cavalier King Charles, Byron, in his favorite place: the sofa.
– Sonia & Tristan (Normandy, France)

Yoshi is more known around Bondi then me! We just seem to be the people chaperoning him around town!!  He’d definitely be a local fave up at north Bondi with the kids and cafe owners who cant resist his hungry eyes. Guy the Chef up at Jo and Willlys saves a piece of his organic bacon for him every Saturday morning! It’s quite ridiculous! Not even we get treated that well!
– Dave (from last week’s reader’s home post) 

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And now that plea for help. I received an email from Graham who works for a wonderful organization in the UK for cats who would typically be euthanized if brought to a shelter. I blogged about them a while back, here. 

Hi,
I am Graham, a trustee of St Francis Hospice for Cats. I would like to say a big thank you to everybody who read our story and then made a donation and/or started to follow us on our social media sites after our charity was last featured here back in February.

St Francis Hospice for Cats is based in the UK in Derby and we care for elderly and ill cats. We have 20 residents at present, 10 of whom are FIV+ but are otherwise in generally good health. Most of our residents come to us as it is their last chance, either because of their age or because of an illness which they may have. We are currently looking to find a loving home for one of our residents. If you would like to know more about adopting a cat from us please visit our website or email us at cathospice@sky.com

We are currently finding it difficult to get enough committed volunteers who are able to help every week to ensure that we cover all the daily needs of our adorable residents. So if you live in the UK in the Midlands and think that you may be able to give us a few hours a week then please do get in touch.

If you aren’t local to us but would still like to help you could make a donation or you could take a look at our Amazon wish list which we have recently set up.

Many thanks
Graham 

I told Graham how shocked I was that they don’t have enough volunteers to cover the shifts to care for these poor cats (their main volunteer left with no warning!!). It’s one thing to not have enough money to donate, but everyone has a bit of time to spare. If I didn’t live so far away, I’d be there in a second. (On a side note, I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes because I lived right down the road from the Ottawa Humane Society until it recently moved to a larger location, and I kept telling myself I should volunteeer to walk the dogs, but I could never bring myself to do it. The shelter here does not have a no kill policy and I could not bear the thought of getting to know a dog who could possibly never leave that horrible place. Pretty selfish of me.) So if any of you have a few dollars to spare, please make a donation. And if you live near the Hospice and you have a few hours a week to spend time with these cats, please contact them. They’re a great organization and I’d love to be able to help them out again. 

Before I end this post I’ve got to show you some photos Graham sent me of some of the resident cats. I follow them on Facebook and their photos of these cats always warm my heart. 

Artist David Bromley’s Byron Bay lair no less. Art and soul, living large and outrageously. A series of charcoal coloured cottages and sheds complete with outdoor baths, airstream and rusty truck. And you can buy it. It’s a “steal” at just over $1.5 million AUD. He will be taking his impressive art collection when he goes… except for those daubs on the walls. Imagine having David Bromley originals on your walls… literally on your walls. Fun, quirky and not to everyone’s taste it screams art as a way of life, not a trapping of success. I have been real estate stalking in Byron Bay, New South Wales as part of a week that will be heavy on beach shack beauties. Link here while it lasts.

Oasis (plural: oases) – an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source. Oasis – a retreat from the desert of the city, a place to relax, unwind, take a deep breath and live. Oases (singular: oasis) – these inspiring inner city courtyards and gardens by Sydney based landscape designers Good Manors.

I absolutely love this house. Every bit of it. This completely renovated home, located in Barcelona, was designed by Egue y Seta. Original wooden beams were restored, and the kitchen (LOVE!) now expands 1/3 of the ground floor. I am totally enamoured with the tumbling block patterned tile that is used throughout the majority of the home – and don’t get me started on the tiny hexagon tiles. L O V E !!!!!! (via Micasa)