I find myself drawn to the familiar, the homes that I knew and loved as a child but never had. When I was growing up the traditional Queenslander house was enclosed and clad, old timber windows wrenched out and replaced by aluminium sliders. Their weatherboard exteriors were clad in faux brick or worse and verandahs encased in coffins of asbestos sheeting. Kitchens were kitted out in the latest 70’s mustard and brown while bathrooms were painfully bright blur of blue or green laminates. History was rewritten and lost. Slowly these old girls are being restored and if they are really lucky they are returned to their easy, breezy elegance, not modernised and streamlined with historical facades but impossibly futuristic interiors. Hopefully they are restored to casual beauties like this home currently for sale in Kangaroo Point in inner city Brisbane. A lovely old lady ready for her next 100 years. Link here while it lasts.

Telling a story, conveying a dream, aspiration, inspiration and creating rooms we all covet. A stylist weaves their magic with material objects in spaces real or not but once the photographer snaps the image then the make believe, the would be, the zhushed or preened is real, just what we wanted but never really knew we did. Welcome to the portfolio of stylist Camilla Krishnaswamy.

A tiny rundown 550 sqft shoebox flat in Singapore has undergone a remarkable transformation. The owner and her mother needed a stylish and modern home. It was time for a complete rejuvenation by Stanley Tham and Kusnin Tan from KNQ Associates. “While she is not exactly living alone, we wanted to create a chic and functional ‘semi-bachelorette pad’ which would reflect her personal style as much as possible. We wanted to transform the once ho-hum dwelling into a serene and cozy retreat that she could escape to at the end of a busy day. One which will also not be too feminine.” The transformation from before to after is amazing. I particularly like the conversion of a utility room at the back of the kitchen into a private play-and-work room for the owner with built-in seating for lounging and watching TV as well as guest sleep overs. You can read more about the renovation on Home Rejuvenation.

Like a bower bird, a cabinet of curiosities, dark light and light and bright. Layers and meanings, beauty and quirkiness, memories and stories. Rough and luxe, ordinary and natural and found but always inspirational. The work of stylist Hans Blomquist.

my latest finds… Indian wood blocks

Time to settle in. Time to surf the net. Time to share “new to me” blogs. Yes it’s time for a DTI reading guide. There is so much to explore. I hope you have the time 🙂