Australia’s Gold Coast is a tourist glitter strip with showy apartment blocks that grow ever higher and ostentatious McMansions devouring two, three or even more original holiday homes. How refreshing to see a mid century gem returned to its laid back 50’s hipster glory with a mix of classic, contemporary and custom designed pieces by Brisbane-based Anju Designs. (Original architectural design by Bill Conrad, renovation by Paul Uhlmann Architects.)

Photography by Toby Scott.

If my last post had you averting your eyes in horror perhaps something more monochromatic, more soothing is in order. If you prefer your colour limited to discrete pops and not as a rollicking riot then this home on the Rue St Sauveur, Paris may be more to your liking. Sensual sophistication tempered by rustic chic and artisan industrial by Patricia Miyamoto Architecture.

Photos by Bernard Touillon

I’m on a mission, a colour mission and the interwebs have taken me to La Minervetta Maison, a boutique hotel in Sorrento, Italy. With a decorating style not for the faint hearted it draws its inspiration from fishing villages and all things nautical, the Memphis movement and the whole 80s vibe. Fun and in your face it’s the perfect spot for one piece swim suits, floaty kaftans, incredibly large floppy straw hats, platform espadrilles and enough gold jewellery to drown you in the crystal blue Mediterranean Sea. Part theatre and movie set, part Italian maximalism. But sadly my quest continues for the ultimate colour overload. As much as the hotel makes me want to whistle Neapolitan love songs there are still all those white walls.

Still on my mission to show that not every Swedish styled real estate listing is white on white Scandinavian boho. How about a touch of Granny chic? Not crocheted rugs and silk boho lampshades Granny chic. More traditional wallpaper, shaker style green kitchen and of course those fabulous kakelugnar. Yes there are still bare floors, rustic bleached furniture, mid century classics, an Ay Illuminate clone and a bedroom that doesn’t conform to my anti-white scandi code but it’s not cookie cutter. Unfortunately for us this lovely Stockholm 2 bed apartment is sold. Link here while it lasts.

Yes it’s true. The only way I can kickstart the working week is with a very (very) large cup of coffee. I find it works even better if there is a cool, slightly industrial looking coffee house/cafe involved. I’m such a tragic that I’m known to get to a cafe very early then take the time to sit and drink it all in for the hour before work. Now if I lived in Melbourne, in the suburb of Prahran, I think I would just have perch myself on a stool in Tall Timber with its design by architectural and interior design studio Therefore, coffee on one side real newspaper on the other.