Christmas! Really? Christmas already? Wasn’t it only New Year’s Eve a couple of months ago? I was shocked into action when the crew at Inside Out sent me a sneak peek at the cover story of the November issue, “Comfort & Joy” with words by Clare Patience, styling by Julia Green and photography by Armelle Habib. Love the casually stylish, beach meets scandi meets handmade vibe of both the decorations and the house. Can’t wait to to devour the rest of the magazine.

Aussie readers can pick up their copy Thursday. Don’t fret if you aren’t in Australia though because you can read along on Zinio, Google Play and the Apple Newsstand. I’ve been reading for a couple of months on Zinio and I love it. Still think I’ll be picking up a real copy though. Can’t break the habit.

Kim and I flit all over the web looking for inspiration. Sometimes we land on a site that the other has already visited. What a bummer! Already posted. Ssssshhhh don’t tell anyone but sometimes, very rarely, we post something the other has already featured. Oooops! I loved Isabelle Juy’s portfolio when I found L’Atelier d’Archi except Kim had beat me to it (here). Then I saw the staircase. Love at first sight and not in the original post. Hello lover! You’re going up on the blog. Inspiration for the stairs in my now not quite so new old house. Mine is nowhere near as grand as this but oh how I lust after the Deborah Bowness wallpaper. The drama, the whimsy, the fun.

Dear owners of this pool pavilion guest house by Arquitectura in Canberra, Australia’s capital, please do not invite me to stay in your beautiful modern retreat in your lovely shady backyard. I do believe I’d never move out!

A riot of colour and pattern. In your face fun by Designers in the City. If you like your black and white spiced up with just about every other colour and OTT is never enough this might just be for you!

A beach shack renovation by architectural studio Auhaus. The original humble cottage was remodelled adding texture and warmth to the casual living within and out. Cathedral ceilings increase the sense of space. A second sister cottage or guest pavilion is connected not only by a deck but by repeating the cladding and the childlike house shape. Native tea trees incorporated into the space provide a dramatic connection to the site. A wonderful compound for the family and friends that are a given with a beach home. Why live in a wonderful part of the world (Barwon Heads, Victoria) if you can’t share the seachange?