Over the past few months I’ve gotten my hands on some gifted books that I wanted to share with you. This first one was special and I had to share because I was honoured to be a part of this book in a unique way.

Interiors journalist Kate Watson-Smyth recently launched her third book – Mad About The House: 101 Interior Design Answers and in it is a photo based on one of the photos I had posted on Instagram of my foyer looking into my dining room. It is such a beautiful drawing and I was so stoked with how it turned out and to be a part of this best-selling book. Thank you Kate!

I was sent a book that is one of the best sources of eye candy I have seen in a while and I am dying to devour it a 3rd and 4th time. It is THAT GOOD. I have been a fan of New Orleans interior designer and antiques dealer Tara Shaw for several years and her ability to mix styles and create really unique and elegant spaces is  really incredible.

Soul of the Home: Designing with Antiques showcases several of Tara’s projects as well and helps readers understand how to select the best antiques, including details about Tara’s favourite antique-hunting spots and negotiating tips, and how to use them to create dynamic and unexpected spaces. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Tuttle Publishing kindly sent over a few of their new gardening titles and given the season they have got me wanting to get some new plants and get my yard landscaping going. The first book I’ll share had me soooo excited because I have an odd obsession with moss. Moss Ball Bonsai by Satoshi Sunamori is all about creating kokedama – koke (moss) dama (ball).

I really didn’t know much about this but WOW they can be so beautiful!!! This book shows you how to grow moss, how to make moss balls, where to find moss and 100 different moss ball creations you can make yourself. I am in love!

Next up is The Ultimate Bonsai Handbook by Yukio Hirose. I have always been intrigued by bonsai plants and this book is a perfect guide for beginners.

It has over 1000 photos and features 70 (!!!) different types of bonsai, and for each type it takes you through basic management tips, transplanting, pruning, arranging and wiring and sprout plucking.

And last but not least, for all you succulent lovers out there (like me but OMG I can’t keep them alive!!!) is The Gardener’s Guide to Succulents by Misa Matsuyama.

A handbook identifying over 125 plants from 40 different genera of succulent and cacti, this book is a great reference to have on hand. It goes through basic information on what each genus needs and where it thrives, descriptions and ratings on ease of growth and maintenance, ideas on plantings, and lots of photos.

Since it is Sunday and none of us have been able to enjoy a meal at a restaurant in weeks, I thought I would share this quirky Bangkok restaurant called Sundays, where their motto is “Making your everyday a Sunday”. It is filled with colour and art and random vintage bits and bobs, and is overflowing with personality and creativity. I would absolutely love to be hanging out here right now enjoying a meal. Via Yatzer, photos by Chaovalith Poonphol.

Today I’m sharing another prime example of how incredible original details can look whilst modernizing through furnishings and art etc. Designer Claire Larritt-Evans turned this 1880s former dance school in Melbourne into a drop-dead gorgeous family home. Elegant yet chic and current, it may be a bit minimal but it is brought to another level with the beautiful stained glass windows, fireplace and tile floor. (Aside from, well, everything here I’m head over heels for the ball/chain detail in the kitchen and the bedding)

Photos: Eve Wilson

I love a home with lots of layers – patterns and textures and colours and plants bringing it all together. In this Locust Valley, NY home designer Brittany Bromley added in leopard print in almost every room. I cannot think of a better way to add cohesion and a little wildness to a home. RAWR!!!

Photos: Jane Beiles

The drama continues thanks to the creative folks of PROjECT and this fantastic small apartment with a distinctive global feel. This is our girl Aimee’s Ukrainian village respite. A 650-square-foot studio filled with treasures from amazing places with all the divine sensations — Tanzania, Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico, Bali, India — it’s the ultimate nod to her nomadic flow, and the living room where PROjECT was born. Our resident hunter + gather pairs a tribal vibe with her signature rip-tear-shred aesthetic; literally, ripped drapes + shredded pillows, and a few space-saving hacks. The bedroom was transformed into a walk-in closet and the sofa doubles as a headboard from the backside. It’s an all-white space enveloped in a cloud of copal incense, where there’s a memory, story or person behind each treasure.