Brace yourselves. I have some shocking news. It is only 4 weeks until Christmas. Yes. Truly shocking. If you are anything like I am you have done nothing. Zip. Zilch. Zero. But never fear, Freedom is here – the perfect gifting and decorating hub with fresh new inspiration to be help you be the ultimate host this summer… and alleviate the stress of gift giving.

“Australians love to entertain in Summer – and the holiday season is no exception. This year Freedom has really focused on those months of long lunches with family and friends gathered around the table to celebrate the season. We’ve made it easier than ever to decorate your table and make it really stand out,” says Vanessa Rothery, Homewares Buyer – Freedom.

I love Freedom‘s bright summery take on Christmas entertaining this year. Sunny yellows and coastal blues, whites and natural woods with just a hint of silver and sparkling glass. A relaxed but stylish take on the Aussie Christmas and pieces that you can use over and over long after the the Christmas table is cleared. My favs? Anything from the Entertain range but especially the table runner in indigo and the custard jug, oh and the cake stand for the pud. Custard and plum pudding yummo! I’ll take the Wish champagne flutes and the Host chip & dip set. Got to have a chip & dip, it’s summer remember. You can see more of the Freedom Christmas tabletop and decoration range here. Lots of fabulous ideas!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Freedom.

Second helping, that is, of Parisian architectural firm Septembre. Black and white minimalist chic. A small family apartment in an old industrial workshop is big on style. Multipurpose storage lines the perimeter of the main room opening up to central space while light floods in through the wall of windows. Sparse but stylish.

A dark green lacquered entry opens to light and bright living space in this little jewel box of an apartment in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. (It’s only only 75m².) Rooms are entered in a circular, almost wandering fashion with each space defined by texture and colour, white marble, green lacquer, blue tiles and oak.  By Septembre Architecture.

I’ve been stalking houses in Sydney and Melbourne lately. Perhaps I’ve been a bit of a snob. I’ve ignored my own backyard here in Brisbane. So when I finally started stalking the local streets again on the weekend I found this amazing shipping container house in the riverside suburb of Graceville. We’ve featured shipping container conversions on Desire to Inspire before (like this guest house and a commercial space in Brazil) but this takes the use of containers to another level. Three levels in fact. Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, extensive open plan living area and a level of finish that belies the industrial origin of the building blocks. The link to the real estate listing is here and you’ll find an interview with the builder/designer Todd Miller from Ziegler Build here.

Hello little floor. You are so intriguing. Are you pieces of old wood? Are you tile? Tell me you’re not vinyl. Bet you’re laminate flooring. Sssshhh don’t tell anyone but I know you are because of the photo file name. Doesn’t change anything though. This fabulous shot by photographer Thomas Popinger definitely has me floored.