Seeking solace

Still extremely tired, what with glandular fever (mono) and now nursing a sore throat. It's been non-stop with work and business and family, so right now I feel so drained.

Would love to be in one of the below hide-aways. With a few good books, good sweet wine, carrots (yes I love raw carrots) and jazz music. Left alone, no husband, no in laws, no child, no pets, no duties, no phone calls, no emails...

Images from desire to inspire

Images from Travelet

Image from Even Heat

Images from Zecc, a Netherlands architecture company.

Image from Zecc, a Netherlands architecture company.

Then again, all I need is:

Image via Daron Chatz

Lighthouse homes

The storm sent the waves rolling and the rain pelting down... She banged and banged on the solid door, hoping for some respite from the high winds and slashing rains...

The door swung open to reveal a gruff man...

I remember the setting. I don't remember the name of the book or the author... but I remember the setting. It's probably been 10 years since I read that book (which I no longer have!).

The gruff man lived in a renovated/restored lighthouse.

What would my lighthouse be like?

Via kopishke

(Normally I eschew homes with stairs, preferring the single storied kind. But as we all know, lighthouses are/were built extra-solidly to weather storms, gales, winds... so I think I could live there!)

The ground floor would be a mudroom... entry way.

Via the winding, white and bright staircase...



The first floor would be my dining and kitchen:





Imagine eating there, no courtyard but the ocean!?

With plenty of lights, shelves, china and super uber stove:



The second floor would be a spacious living room:

Via Kelly Harmon

With beautiful painted vintage furniture:

Via Country Home

With a small, wrought iron, winding staircase leading to a mezzanine level study/library:



The third floor would be two bedrooms:

Via Coastal Living

Fourth: a luxurious bathroom (I'm actually not one for baths... as yet)



Fifth: master bedroom, a cozy affair:



Can you picture it? Wouldn't you like to live in a space just as bright, as spacious... as uncluttered?

What would your lighthouse be like?

Interiors by Yvonne Evans

Fellow DIY and interior design afficionado Yvonne Evans contacted me with pics of her very grown up and gorgeous living room re-do.



Yvonne's style is casual but always simply elegant: check out the French style sofa that she recovered herself using painters' drop cloths and nailheads!

Yvonne lives in Houston with her family and chihuahua Toby. She is also a whiz at painting faux finishes on vintage and garage-sale found furniture!

A client requested that Yvonne redo this secretaire in a similar style to the Ethan Allen one below, she did so well, huh?!

Want to see more of Yvonne's work? Hope on to www.interiorsbyyvonne.com

So so few...

Hi guys, I thought I'd pop in to say hi.. I know my posts have been rather few lately and I do apologise.

I have been feeling very oh-so tired, long term dry cough...

I wondered why... maybe it was rather normal to be tired since we recently relocated our lives from a rambling house to a shoebox, from one state to another, from one financial situation to another... or maybe it was rather normal since our last holiday was early 2007... maybe it was because since we landed in the Blue Mountains Feb 2010, we have not stopped, every week seems to be a rush!

But now it's clearer: after some blood tests and jaunts to the doctor, I learnt I have glandular fever and suffering from the whooping cough's 100 day period.

And I do need some rest.

My daughter's first day at ballet this week

I'll be back soon! Meanwhile, I hope you are doing way way way better than I am and enjoying the last vestiges of summer/winter!

xoxx
drey