A mood, a vibe, a certain something. Like a mumur, a ripple in the calm that builds and grows and reverberates. It’s a flag, a marker, a passage that doesn’t state the bleeding obvious but uses passion to tell the story. It’s a photographer that takes light and bends it, traps it, caresses it to capture the mood, the meaning, the beauty. Images with an artist’s eye. Photography by Siren Lauvdal. Gorgeous.

Stalking today in the little country town of Woodend, Victoria. A sweet cottage overflowing with period features. So cute you want to pinch its cheeks and tell it how pretty it is. Pressed metal, tongue and groove walls, honey coloured pine floors marry with a relaxed and shabby modern country look. Perfect for a weekender away from the madding crowd of Melbourne and a short drive to the mountains or perhaps a picnic at Hanging Rock. Rose Cottage (built in 1905) has just one more feature you’ll need for when I come to visit. A separate studio. I promise I won’t bother you except at meal times. Link here while it lasts.

P.S. Blog friend Tricia Rose of Rough Linen is a finalist in the Martha Stewart American Made Awards. Her beautiful, handmade linen sheets and duvets are one little luxury everyone should have in their life. You can vote for her here. What does this have to do with the cute Woodend cottage? Nothing… except I would want to re-zhush the bedrooms if they were mine and Tricia’s Rough Linen would be perfect.

A muted and almost monotone palette with pops of fluoro or grounded with black. Rustic and decayed juxtaposed with shiny and new. Organic with manmade minimalism. Over exposed and high contrast. It’s a look we have come to associate with Scandinavian photographers and Danish photographic studio Yellows is a pin up for achieving the look. Editorial work for RUM magazine and commercial work for Light Years, Fredericia Furniture, Louis Poulsen and Bo Concept just to name a few. Gorgeous, edgy photos full of inspiration.

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! This week’s problem is from Cherie.

It’ll be really great if u guys from the Design Crew can help me with my woes! We are giving the house a make over but don’t know what to do with it/don’t know how or where to start. The walls are white and we don’t intend to change the color. But as you can see, the curtains are ugly and the furniture looks so awkward!  We are thinking along the lines of alot of white with white/black furniture – we would like to keep it modern yet a little quirky/fun. We don’t mind paintings on the wall but we have no idea what colors or what kind of paintings will go well! The floor was tiled with marble and likewise we don’t intend to change it because that will cause a lot of hassle! Thank You so much for reading thus far… Have a blessed week ahead!

Pretty and bright, fresh and light. Simple beauty in a casual living space. Layers of neutrals are warmed by the honey glow of the floors and a limited array of colourful accessories. Tying it all together is the wonderful natural light flooding into the rooms. The perfect little urban apartment with a modern country feel by interior designer C-J Abbey.