Anna Spiro's Holiday Home

As the sun beats down, and the Mr & kids continue to holiday, I'm trying to balance family time and my interior work. This gorgeous holiday home seemed like the perfect post today, as it combines a holiday vibe with the divine interior styling of one of my idols, Anna Spiro. Anna's family holiday home is on Queensland's idyllic Stradbroke Island.

What a view!

Anna's famous for her ability to mix patterns, and her love of blue & white. Throughout this home she uses blue and white for a relaxed beachy feel with accents of red.

I have this exact piece of furniture in our bedroom, and it always makes me smile.

A beautifully rustic hand painted bench makes a nice reading spot.

Simple but beautiful styling with shells from the beach and a sprig from the garden.

Beautiful furniture and Anna's beloved ginger jars make a great display.

The pattern mix works here because the colour palette has been kept simple.

Love this vignette - the lamp adds height and texture, but because it's all white it doesn't detract from the painting, which is the hero.

pics via here

Clair Wayman and Curio & Curio

I love discovering creative and inspirational people, especially when some of that creativity produces amazing homewares. Clair Wayman is a perfect example. After working for 15 years in the magazine industry as an interior stylist, she decided it was time to try something new, so she and her partner Nick set up a little print making studio. They now run a boutique in Melbourne called Curio & Curio selling their own hand printed homewares and clothing, as well as other gorgeous pieces.

Clair's first love is styling, which she still finds time to do. She also offers a decorating service from the shop, visiting people's homes and giving them ideas on re-designing their space. These are just a few examples of her work, you can see more on her website and Facebook page.

New Year Inspiration

Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2013 is off to a great start. With Mark and the kids still at home with me, and gorgeous sunny weather, I'm still very much in holiday mode. But I am currently reading my Christmas present, Holly Becker's Decorate, and I am so inspired I wanted to share some of it with you.

There is so much fantastic advice and drool-worthy photography in the book, but something that stopped me in my tracks were the huge doors in Christine d'Ornano's London home, padded with sapphire blue velvet and brass studs - a-ma-zing!

Beyond the doors a gorgeous painting repeats the sapphire colour, and the yellow of the reproduction Louis XVI leather chairs.

via

Christine is the International Vice President of cosmetic company Sisley, and she and her husband, Marzouk Al-Bader, converted their family home from a series of neglected, rundown apartments. Although elegant and luxurious, the home still has a warm, welcoming feel. And their use of colour is quite simply divine. To see more pop over to Elle Decor.