Merry Christmas, Thoughts, Thank you's & Wallpaper

Here we are again at the end of another busy year. As I tidy my desk and prepare for some much anticipated time away from the office, my mind reflects on the year that was.

It has been a year of setbacks, struggle, sickness and sadness for so many people I know and so many people I don’t know and to them I would like to say sorry. Sorry you had to go through so much heartache and sorrow. I hope, as the year crosses over to the next, things will improve for you all. xx

For me, I feel like I have been chasing my tail all year with to do lists the size of Mount Everest. No matter how easy it may look, nothing and I repeat, nothing comes easy.

With lots of hard work, commitment, stress, worry, exhaustion and tears comes achievement and 2011 saw the successful launch of our online store which I am looking forward to growing and developing further in 2012.

The year also brought some exciting jobs my way along with some wonderful new clients as well as old clients who are very supportive and encouraging and for that I am very thankful. I am also very thankful for the wonderful, hard-working and creative people I've had the fortune of working with this year both in-house at B&S and externally. They have all helped me more than you could ever imagine and I am truly grateful for everything they have brought to the table.

Throughout the year I was presented with some extremely exciting, yet humbling offers. One such offer is something I have been secretly working on for the most part of the second half of this year and it is something I have been dying to tell you about.

Do you want to know what it is?

Well, I am thrilled and excited to announce that earlier this year renowned Australian paint and wallpaper company, Porter’s Paints asked me to design a range of wallpaper with them and in the early part of 2012 we will be launching Anna Spiro for Porter’s Paints – a collection of wallpapers which will certainly spell my signature style . This is something I have always dreamt of doing and I would like to extend a huge thank you to Porter's Paints for this wonderful opportunity.

In the photo above and below of my inspiration board, if you look closely, you might be able to identify some of the drawings of the proposed designs. A special little sneak peek for you my loyal readers.

There will be 3 designs to start with and the collection will hopefully grow to 12 designs and maybe, just maybe, some of the designs might eventually be available in fabric too. The colour ways will be fresh and uplifting and perfect for all of you who love colour just as much as I do.

So, there are some big things in the pipeline and lots of hard work ahead in 2012. But for now, it’s off to the beach with my boys to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and just between you and me I can’t wait to spend endless days with them swimming, walking, reading, sleeping, laughing, talking, kissing and cuddling.

Thank you so much for following my blog and my journey. It’s been 5 years now since I started this blog and I can’t believe that you continue to read it. I really can’t.

I hope I can continue to fill your world with colour and inspiration in 2012.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!!

Love,
Anna
xx

PS.  I'll be back sometime in January.  Not sure when. xx

Black & Spiro Today

Our new look in our back rooms at Black & Spiro is almost ready to reveal {again!!}.  The new wallpaper went in late last week and the curtains and a few other finishing off bits and pieces should be in within the next couple of weeks.  I thought I would give you a sneak peek of how it's looking...

xx

Anna

Wallpaper by Otto

I adore this wallpaper created by 8 year old Otto. What a clever boy! Click HERE for details.

KW in Australian Vogue Living

Loved the KW spread in this month's Australian Vogue Living. I am particularly taken by the amazing wallpaper she designed {middle image & bottom image} and the joyous use of colour she has employed throughout the house!!

Bright & Colourful

I love these two bright and colourful vignettes....perfect inspiration for Spring!

Top image from British Homes & Gardens and bottom image from Notebook magazine.

Also, I would like to send a huge thanks to Vera Klein for her mention of Absolutely Beautiful Things in this month's Notebook Magazine!! xx Anna

Looking Through the Windows

Some of you asked to see some more images of our new display at Black & Spiro. Well here they are. If you look closely you can see that we wallpapered the ceiling of the entry to the shop in a contrasting paper to our front wall. Sorry about the terrible photos...I haven't mastered the art of taking photos through glass yet even though some of my lovely readers have tried to offer me advice on how to do it!!

Cupboard Makeover

I have an old cupboard at home just like this one however, at the moment mine certainly isn't looking as chic as this one.

At the shop I have lots of bits of left over wallpaper from displays we have done. I'm thinking I might use some of these bits to paper the back of my cupboard door.

My little cupboard is in a hallway near our kitchen and currently it is bursting at the seams with sheets and towels. I think I should move the sheets and towels into my larger laundry cupboard and fill this little one with some of my special pieces of china.

This pretty image has inspired me.

Image - Vogue Living

Geraniums

My mother has always had lots of large pots of geraniums growing on her verandah. No family dinner or lunch is complete without some sort of flower arrangement on my mothers dining table and geraniums have often filled the void when other options aren't flowering in her garden. I thought I'd post a couple of her little geranium arrangements. You won't believe it when I tell you the last image is actually in her old bedroom at my grandmother's house. The black and white ticking wallpaper which you can see in the background has been on those walls for around 40 years! Mum chose the wallpaper for her room when she was a teenager. Now doesn't that spell timeless....

Paper The Walls

I am particularly fond of using wallpaper in small rooms or in awkward spaces. I love wallpaper in entry foyers, hallways, powder rooms, pantries, walk-in wardrobes and installed into the backs of cupboards and bookcasing/shelving. I also think wallpaper can make a wonderful statement in a kitchen as per the examples above.

If you are a person who does tire of pattern quickly, by installing wallpaper in these smaller, less visited areas of your home you will most likely enjoy the pattern for a longer period of time.

There certainly are many papers to choose from these days and it can be overwhelming trying to make a decision on which paper to use. I often advise clients to first decide on a colour palette and then decide on a pattern.

As another note, I also tend to prefer entire rooms papered instead of feature walls.

What are your preferences when it comes to wallpaper?

Image 1 - Vogue Living, Image 2 - Domino Magazine, Image 3 - Melissa Ruffy via Style Court, Image 4 - Domino Magazine, Image 5 - via Desire to Inspire, Image 6 - Thibaut via Style Court, Image 7 - Chloe Sevigny's hallway via House & Garden, Image 8 - via Peak of Chic

Still Loving...

It seems I still adore Kelly Wearstler's trellis wallpaper. My heart skipped a beat when I stumbled across this gorgeous, understated stairwell {belonging to Beautiful Living}covered in KW's well known paper.

Gumdale House Update

It's been another busy week in my little world. Apologies for my lack of posting. This week we started installing the wallpaper and window coverings at the Gumdale house which I have been working on for over a year now. Next week we are installing all the furniture which is very exciting. I thought I'd post a few little snippets to get you excited. This certainly is one of the most beautiful houses I have ever had the pleasure of working on. I'll hopefully have more photos for you next week. Until then I hope you have a great weekend!

Pretty

I love this beautiful image styled by Australian Stylist Sibella Court which I found over at Wisteria. I'm particularly taken with that gorgeous vintage {??} {correct me if I'm wrong} wallpaper!! BTW - The Design Files has done a wonderful interview with Sibella Court HERE...

Charlotte Street Hotel

Loving the pretty blue and white colour scheme chosen for this guest room at Charlotte Street Hotel in London!!

My Office Sneak Peek

A little while ago, well no ages ago I told you all that I was re-decorating my office at Black & Spiro. Well of course it has taken longer than I had anticipated. Client work has had to take priority of course and that meant my office project was put on the back burner!! Well, I am thrilled to say that my little project is almost complete with the last piece (being my desk) due in by the end of this week. I am so happy with the way it's looking and I just couldn't wait to show you some pics of my artwork cluster wall as above. I will of course post pictures of the entire room hopefully by next week but here is a sneak peak. Hope you like it!!

NB. I would like to give credit to artists/crafters Anne Harwell, Samantha Hahn, Variegated Inc. as some of their pieces are included in this wall.

Absolutely Loving...

I've been obsessing over Pippa Holt's London apartment since it appeared in the March/April 2008 issue of Australian Vogue Living. I know you've all probably seen it but I just love how she has mixed modern with old and thrown in collections of treasured things including some Australiana to remind her of home. This image above is currently on my inspiration board for my new kitchen as I am going to have a wall in the new kitchen wallpapered in this paper. If you haven't already seen this article click HERE as there are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure!!

Pretty Children's Rooms

Cath Kidston Boat Wallpaper

Two pretty children's rooms via Living Etc. Love the wallpaper in the top room! It actually looks very Cath Kidston to me.

A Fresh New Look

We've just started redecorating at Black & Spiro which is very exciting as the shop, back offices and meeting rooms are in desperate need of a fresh new look. Today the new wallpaper was hung in our kitchen and my office wallpaper just arrived today ready to be hung within the next week or so. I'll be sure to post lots of pictures as we go along. The above picture, which I took this afternoon, is a little corner of the kitchen with it's new wallpaper and chair painting by Daily Painters artist Kimberley Applegate.