A Charmed Life & A New Book

Australian born Author and fellow blogger Vicki Archer seems to live a charmed life in the South of France, the place she has found and now calls home. Like many, I adored her first book "My French Life" and her new book "French Essence", continues to drag me into her dreamy world. The photography by Carla Coulson is divine and Vicki's styling is second-to-none. I have posted my absolute favourite page in her new book above. I decided on this one page as I don't want to spoil it for you. This book is definitely one to add to the Christmas wish list! Congratulations Vicki on another huge success!!

Nb. French Essence is available now in Australia & New Zealand and will be sold on Amazon later this year.

Easy Elegance

I just purchased a copy of Atlanta Bartlett's book, Easy Elegance. It is full of ideas on mixing the old with the new and celebrates something I am passionate about - individuality!! The top image I have posted is my favourite picture in the book. I love the layering of flowers on flowers...so beautiful!

Pia's New Book

I have been meaning to congratulate Pia Jane Bijkerk on her new book, Paris: Made by Hand. I enjoyed seeing a little sneak peek of it over at Desire to Inspire last week. I must say I absolutely adore the cover!! Congrats Pia. I can't wait to get a copy!!

Please click HERE for more details on Pia's new book...

Stumbling Across Kim Parker

On Saturday night after dinner at our local Thai restaurant, Harry and I walked into Riverbend Bookshop on the way back to the car.

Whilst Harry headed for his section I plonked myself in front of my favourite section. I was scouring through the interiors books when I stumbled across a book by US artist Kim Parker.

I actually ended up purchasing a different book. However, it didn't stop me googling Kim Parker when we got home.

I must be a little behind the times as I didn't realize she was the artist behind one of my favourite rugs at The Rug Company!

She has also created some beautiful floral embroidered cushions which I think would be a beautiful addition to any cushion collection.

I think I might head back to Riverbend Books to pick myself up a copy of her book this week to flick through over Easter.

Gage d'amour

Image - Anna Spiro

Here's a little Valentines tablescape I created today. Gage d'amour {meaning pledge of love}.

Today

Today I scurried around picking up a few last minute bits and pieces for Harry's Birthday and who should I run into in one of my favourite little gift stores just down the road from where I live???.....Hayley from Porchlight Interiors. She too was running around picking up some Christmas presents for her children. It was so lovely to see her and because of our Blogs be able to say hi. I think it is so fantastic that Blogland has brought a few of us Brisbane Decorating girls closer and who knows maybe sometime in the future we might even organise a Bloggers morning tea. What do you think Brisbane girls...should we organise a morning tea in the New Year?? Here's another little snippet of my house above {my new Domino book taking pride of place} and yes I promise I will post lots more pictures of the house at the end of this week for you all to see!!

Passionate About Blue & White?

Well then you must get your hands on a copy of Carolyne Roehm's new book - A Passion for Blue & White. Look at this dreamy image from the book! I think my mother will flip out when she sees this post! I think this book would make for a wonderful Christmas gift! Jennifer over at The Peak of Chic has done a great post on the book today and Lily-G also posted about the book earlier this week too! Can't wait to get my copy!!

For The Library...

Just in at Black & Spiro are these two gorgeous books - Bazaar Style by Selina Lake & Joanna Simmons & Chinoiseries by Bernd H. Dams & Andrew Zega. I absolutely love the bohemian styling in Bazaar Style - so pretty. Chinoiseries is also wonderful on a completely different level - the illustrations are beautiful and the information it provides is fantastic! Two more great books to add to the design library wish list!!

Individual Sense of Style

Australian stylist Shannon Fricke's new book, 'Sense of Style Colour & Space' is gorgeous. I have photographed some of my favourite pages above. Some of the topics Shannon talks about in the book which I really enjoyed reading are style evolving over time, how to personalise the spaces we inhabit and the use of colour in our homes. Shannon says "My interpretation of a sense of style is that it's simply a confidence; the casual ability to bring what seem to be disparate objects together in a room and make them look cohesive, as if they are just made to be united." The beautiful photographs are by photographer Prue Ruscoe. This book, in my opinion is a definite for your design book library!

Coastal Style

Another wonderful book to add to the wish list which we now have in at Black & Spiro is Coastal Style. The book features lots of beautiful beach house pictures and also a few pictures of India Hicks' Harbour Island house.

Portraits - A Book To Covet!

A special edition (hard cover) book to add to my wish list - Portraits de la Renaissance by Nathalie Mandel (an Assouline book).

New Charlotte Moss Book

I'm looking forward to the May release of the new Charlotte Moss Book "A Flair For Living". To pre-order your copy visit the Charlotte Moss website here...I'll definately be pre-ordering a copy for my library.