BOHO CHIC // KITCHEN

It seems I am on a bit of a kitchen buzz lately! This beautiful new kitchen via one of my favourite interior designers Amber Interiors, is a goodie. It shows how using timeless materials in neutral colours can  last a lifetime, with smaller bits & bobs easily updated as new trends come & go. 

I really like the use of the black drawer pulls & handles, a nice change from the typical use of stainless steel. 

Those pendant lights, whilst not something I would normally consider, totally make the space & give off a rustic industrial vibe. 

Whilst open shelving is a very current trend, the positioning to the side means that these shelves might not necessarily be used for ceramics & dinnerware only...

I love a cute turkish rug in the kitchen, don't you?

The cutest wee dinning nook & window seat I ever did see!

Pillows, pillows & more pillows! This wee bench seat is absolute pillow heaven. I love love love the combination of patterns, colour & texture.

(Images via Amber Interiors)

Bravo Amber, you truly are an interiors genius.

-AXX

P E A C E // INTERIORS

Today I am letting the pictures do all of the talking, mainly cos it's Friday & partly cos they are just so darn peaceful.  

(Images via here)

The home boasts many pieces of beautiful iconic furniture, but it feels lived in & unpretentious and in                                  my humble opinion, this is exactly how a home should be.

Have a safe & happy weekend!

-AXX

CRANBERRY PORRIDGE // YUM

I am the biggest breakfast lover. I love breakfast foods & am more than happy to have breakfast for lunch & breakfast for dinner, breakfast for any other meal of the day is a-okay with me! 

Porridge is certainly one of my favourites, as it is delicious & fills you up. Lately, I have been playing around with adding different fruits & nuts to my porridge, but I had never thought to actually change the porridge recipe. When I saw this recipe for Whipped Cranberry Porridge, I knew it was time to up the porridge game once again. 

Recipe: Whipped Cranberry Porridge
Serves 4
What you'll need:
3 ¼ cups water
2 cups frozen (or fresh) cranberries
pinch of fine sea salt½ to ¾ cup granulated sugar, depending on your taste
⅔ cup farina (cream of wheat) milk of your choice, 
for serving optional toppings of your choice

In a medium pot, combine the water and cranberries. Bring to a boil, and boil for 10 to 15 minutes.
Add the salt and sugar. Gradually whisk in the farina. Depending on how long your farina needs to be cooked, let simmer for 5 to 10 minutes stirring constantly. Taste and add more sugar if desired. 

Remove the pot from the heat and let the porridge cool to room temperature.When the porridge has cooled to room temperature, whisk until light and fluffy. The color will turn from magenta to light pink.

Serve either at room temperature or cold, with milk and toppings of your choice.The porridge can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days. For the perfect texture, whisk it again before serving.

(Images & recipe via A Cup of Jo)

Whilst I am dying to try the deliciousness of this brekkie, I also have to admire just how pretty it is! What better way to start the day!?

-AXX

A LOVELY LARK // KITCHEN

When it comes to kitchen design, I am a firm fan of the all white kitchen. There is just something just so timelessly chic about a white kitchen that I adore. But when I came across this mint kitchen with wooden countertops I was immediately smitten, which could not have surprised me more!

Flowers are so pretty, these ones have especially great colourings. The best pick me up of them all. 

Trays are the best. They allow decorativeness to occur, but keeps it all within one portion of the bench. Should the space be needed, the whole tray can be picked up & moved elsewhere. How handy is that!?

What initially drew me in, was that rug. SWOON. Cliche, I know but the word could not be more appropriate for the beauty of that rug. The pattern & combination of colours could not be more perfect, I swear. The mint brings out the saturation of these colours even more & I love that the orange & pink have been brought out & used for the surrounding accessories. 

A pulldown sink mixer is the handiest mixer of them all. Makes washing up a breeze- I work in tapware, trust me, this is the mixer du jour. The brushed bronze finish wouldn't be my first pick, but would be so much easier to keep clean than chrome. I also like the contrast of the darker mixer against all the surrounding lightness. 

(Images via Apartment Therapy)

I love it when designs can surprise me, using elements I wouldn't normally consider. It just goes to show that you shouldn't ever entirely rule out a certain material or style!

Here's to having your eyes opened to new & wonderful things!

-AXX

B L I S S // THE WEEKENDER

(Instagram)

Another blissful weekend for me. A weekend spent swimming in the sea & beach walks with cocktails & plenty of reading thrown in the mix for good measure. 

I hope yours was as good to you as mine!

-AXX

SERENE // INTERIORS

Something you must know about me. I am addicted to flowers. Most flowers will do, but one type of flower that there is in extreme abundance at the moment is hydrangeas. And that is what first attracted me to the above image. 

Those hydrangeas are the most gorgeous shade of pale pink & are really set off against the textures of the surrounding neutrals. 

The use of wood & hot pink are repeated throughout the rest of the home (found in the idyllic Portugal).

Every element of this home home has been designed for comfort & relaxation- from the easy-on-your-eyes colour palette, to the plush carpets & cushy couches. 

I really love that bedside table. By itself, it has a very minimal appeal. But layered with a pile of books, a pot plant & lamp, the clear space beneath becomes perfectly balanced. 

I love Barcelona Chairs- & honestly the stools are just as good. I have always dreamed of the day I can bring home a Barelona chair of my own... Of course the real deal will forever be out of my price range, but a good replica will still do the trick. 

White towels = luxury. 

(Images via Domaine Home)

And this pool? It is insane. I can't possibly imagine how heavenly it would be to lounge by this beauty, day after day.

-AXX

LOTS TO LOVE // LOVESTAR

If there is one thing I know all about, its the difficult decision of what to study at university. Throughout high school I was drawn to the creative & free-thinking subjects such as graphics, photography, french, design & english. I have always loved beautiful imagery & bringing my ideas to life. However I had it in my mind that I wanted to study law. Looking back, it almost seems as if I was trying to prove something with this stubbornness to be a lawyer.

 I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to study both law & design, but only on the condition that I decide which path I wanted to continue on by the end of that initial year. It may come as no surprise to you that the creative side of me was unable to be suppressed, to make room for law. When put in a creative environment with a bunch of other people who were as passionate & inspired as I was, law really had no chance.

So when I came across the story of Lovestar owner Helen Bayley, I could immediately relate to her. It's never easy make such a drastic change to your life, but this decision is certainly a success & one we can now all enjoy! These beautifully happy vases are handmade by Helen & her husband out of perspex & are designed to be hung on the wall or sit on its side on a flat surface.

(Images via The Design Files)

I have had my eye on the fluro pink one for a wee while, but this one has also caught my attention. The sparkly one is also pretty darn awesome too, don't you agree?

-AXX

LOOOONG // THE WEEKENDER

This past long weekend was a goodie. From shopping in Auckland to a long hot summers day on an island all to ourselves, I could not have asked for a better one! Plus it was my dear daddio's birthday which was really just the cherry on top.

If yours was even 1/10 of what mine was I'll know it was just as awesome!

-AXX

FEATHERHORSE // MAGAZINE

Adore Home Magazine is my favourite online magazine by far. I discovered it when I was at University & I used to look forward to its release every couple of months- I was yet to find any other site or magazine online that encapsulated my style or taste as much as Adore.

To this day I look forward to flipping through it's virtual pages- however finding the time to can be a bit more difficult! The first edition of the year was just as fabulous as I have come to expect & I wanted to share with you the home of stylist & artist Lisa Quinn-Schofield of FEATHERHORSE. I follow her on instagram where she constantly posts amazing photos of her home, so I was excited to learn a bit more about her & to see some full, proper photos of her home. 

I just adore the beachy, care-free vibe to her home & the huge emphasis on the outdoors.From the plants & woody finishes to the neutral hues & pops of yellow alongside the black & white, the home is consistent & purposeful, not to mention personal.

(Images via Adore & Featherhorse)

I can just imagine curling up here on a warm summer's day with a cool cocktail, couldn't you?

-AXX

CALM ME // INTERIOR

This interior space is Wiesbaden, Germany (beautiful city!) is so serene & calming. It is sparsely furnished, but lacks the cool feeling often associated with these kind of interiors. The richness of the mid-century pieces, coupled with bright whites & blonde wood create a truly warm & calming interior. Each piece is so well thought out & appears to be chosen with the utmost care, creating a cohesive flow between rooms. 

(Images via Sfgirlbybay)

That bathroom is really something isn't it? Bathroom of my dreams.

This whole apartment gives such a calming feel, I can just imagine coming home here at the end of a long hard day & feeling instantly relaxed. It is truly sublime.

-AXX