Hi! Just dropping in quickly to pop up a reading guide. I’m running around like a crazy thing this weekend having fun. There are friends to see, thrifting to do, the painter has started (!!!), new business plans are hatching, my design mojo is back and I’m prepping for a dinner party tonight. Standing rib roast for the carnivores and a pumpkin, sage and caramelised onion bread and butter pudding for the lone vegetarian (we’ll fight her for it though). Hope your weekend is as fabulous as mine. Enjoy the reading guide!

End of the week real estate stalking. Today I’m lurking around this whole floor apartment in the old Maples Warehouse in South Yarra. Lots of white tempered with rich neutrals, almost as many living areas as days of the week, sunny balconies and killer suburb in Melbourne, Australia. I’m already figuring out what furniture to give away and more importantly what I would bring in. If only the bank manager would say yes. At least I have a lottery ticket for tomorrow night. Link here while it lasts.

Sigh! The garden House by Melbourne based architect Allan Powell. A white confection rising from the lush green jungle of a garden. (OK perhaps a little too manicured to be a jungle.) A stunning marriage of Deco and minimalist modern. It’s spare but it certainly makes a statement. A limited and well curated palette of luxury. What makes just as much of a statement is the photography by Dianna Snape. We’ve often said on DTI that a good photographer takes a designer’s work to the next level. If you click over to the architect’s website you’ll see what I mean.

If there is one book I’ve been dying to get my hands on it’s Grace Bonney’s Design*Sponge at Home. Well the wait is over! It’s finally here. This step-by-step guide will help you hone the skills to create your dream home. This is no “let”s admire the pretty pictures” book (although from these sneak peeks Grace has sent Desire to Inspire there is certainly lots of luscious room porn on offer. Just the way we like it).

Sneak peeks to DIY projects and basics, flower workshop to before & afters. It’s all here and I’m so excited. You can find it on Booktopia (AUS),  Amazon.ca and Chapters/Indigo (Canada), Amazon.com (US), Amazon.co.uk (UK) or pop over to Design*Sponge. Congratulations to Grace and her team!

Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don’t know what to do? You’re not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you …. that’s you lot… the readers! A few weeks back Chase emailed me.

Chase – I have a new home I’m purchasing and its needs some help! Could you post this house to see what the readers think about ideas!?

Jo – If I put it up as a Design Crew post is there anything in particular you want them to “discuss”? Anything that really has you stumped? Warning though. Some of our readers are starting to play tough and may hurt your feelings 🙂 If you are fine with that then I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

Chase – The front of the house is what I would really like some help with. The inside is pretty much a blank canvas so any ideas for design would be great. Overall, just what readers have in mind. I would like to come back once I’ve finished to show the final product. As far as getting my feelings hurt goes, it’s the Internet… Peoples opinions are all over the place! I appreciate it 🙂

OK you heard Chase. Go for it.