Thursday night in Brisbane saw several hundred people join me at the opening of Matt Blatt‘s new store in Doggett St, New Farm. What a great night! I turned up a little early to take some snaps. I knew once the crowds poured in it would be difficult  to do anything except talk furniture and blogs, champagne in hand. I’m really excited about the new pieces that Matt Blatt are introducing to their already extensive range. Lots of ethnic and colour brights, quirky boho and beautiful contemporary timber pieces. Loved the rugs too but that’s no surprise because we all know I have a rug fetish. Thank you to the Matt Blatt crew for inviting me to be part of their special night. If you are in the south east Queensland area you really should drop in to the New Farm store and say hi to Aleks and his team.

P.S. Don’t forget our Matt Blatt giveaway for Australian readers. It is open for another week and I can tell you that having seen the chairs in person they are fab! Talk about a summer tonic. Head over here to enter.

Look at that view! Scrambled eggs and coffee with a newspaper on a Saturday morning and that view of Sydney. Twilight drinks and salty olives and that view. Life has been breathed back into the 1845 sandstone warder’s terrace, part of the original Darlinghurst gaol. A sophisticated, world traveller type of interior marrying antiques and art work, precious mementos and creature comforts, a little faded around the edges but all the better for it. A wonderful location and a wonderful view. I’m beginning to imagine moving my things or perhaps I’ll just live on the terrace and drink in that view. The last real estate stalking for the week. Link here while it lasts.

Sophisticated, contemporary interiors by Dina Broadhurst. First an apartment renovation that mixes the functional with the funky. The use of large scale photography in the open plan kitchen/dining provides punctuation points in the sleek modern design. Clean lines and functionality meet Dina’s take on individuality and luxury. The second kitchen is ultra sleek taking advantage of a bank of beautiful old windows that let in the light to play off its bright white surfaces.

Many apologies dear readers. I am still real estate stalking. I am trapped in a virtual world pacing back and forth outside houses for sale, peeking through their virtual net curtains. It is the Spring auction season, a time when owners spruce and zhush and real estate agents preen and strut. There is money to make, properties to move off the books. Today I’m in Bowral in New South Wales. A country cottage with lots of stylish vignettes. See for yourself. Here are lots of pictures of them. Methinks the house has had a magazine spread and the agent and owners like them a lot better than the photos the agent took. I have included only two of those, the outside and the master bedroom. Speaking of the master bedroom that is an interesting way of using an old unused fireplace to separate the ensuite from the main room. This pretty country cottage with its pretty vignettes can be found here while it lasts.

Pull up a chair. I’ll put the kettle on. Nixon Tulloch Fortley Architecture.