Don’t you love photographer’s portfolios when every photo screams “Yes! I can do that!” Look at these fabulous spaces captured by snapper Emily Johnston Anderson. I love the light, I love the casual vibe she manages to embue in every photo. These are real homes made even more real by the way Emily captures them. Like stepping into your stylish BFF’s place. It’s effortless and it’s what a home and not just a house is all about 😉

Welcome to the new week and what a great way to start.  Alena Smith of Smith Design Studio emailed us this Sydney apartment renovation. The “before” was a tired 80s apartment that had lost its way. Sad and frumpy. Now it’s a sleek and modern home with rich, moody colours, a respite from the hustle of the city. What a change from it’s previous incarnation!

… yet!

Settlement on my new old house was 3pm yesterday. At 9 in the morning the bank called to say they needed more paperwork. I’ll keep the story short. Running around, visits to our solicitor (more money), running to the bank and our end was finished by lunch for paperwork the bank had accepted 2 weeks earlier and had raised no concerns until 5 hours before crunch time. Wonderful said the bank as we dropped in said vital paperwork. Keys were to be dropped at my husband’s office in our new city after settlement. We would pick them up this morning. I sent an email to Kim whinging but happy it was all finished and settled in with a stiff drink. Then the voicemail on our mobile phone. After end of business trading. No keys until Monday because settlement was late! The bank was late! And we didn’t find out until after everyone had gone home for the weekend. Buying a house, don’t you love it! Thank goodness we hadn’t booked the removalists until next weekend. So here is my “missed it by that much” reading list. Enjoy! Oh and Kim, you can see what I got up to here… or should that be hear 😉

Space and proportion, spirit and architectural roots. Things are not always bigger in Texas. Sometimes they are better. Houston-based Dillon Kyle and his architectural team respect the design heritage of their home state but don’t get bogged down in the twee, in clichéd nostalgia. I love the scope of the work. I love that the firm can’t be boxed in a certain style. And if it’s possible to love a carport then I think I’m smitten.

Dear Dominique Vorillon,

You don’t know me but I have devoured every image in your portfolio and I’m sorry but it leaves me wanting… wanting more and more and more. I have a little reputation in the blogosphere of being a photographer tramp. I find ’em, I love ’em and I leave ’em. Not you Dominique. I’m smitten. You’re a master of your work. No wonder interiors and architecture are your forte. Holy cow! The breadth of your portfolio. Is there a style you haven’t captured? I’ll go now. I know I can get a little insistent, a little embarrassing. I’ll just be lurking in the background, just loving your work.

Jo