A few of you requested my all-australian birthday bash playlist, and as it is rather large instead of writing each artist out I have captured the whole playlist for you below. It is pretty intense, so if you don’t have the patience to scroll the whole list I will just mention here that I highly recommend you add the likes of Sarah Aubrey, Angus and Julia Stone, Karma County, The Waifs and Sia as your beginning aperitif list of songs, and then continue with the likes of Blue King Brown and Sneaky Sound System to get your guest’s feet tappin’.

To add to this authentic collection it is essential to include a few old faves like Midnight Oil, The Bee Gee’s Jive Talkin’ (let’s not get into a debate about whether they are really aussie or not), and even throw in a Paul Kelly. Include a dash of early nullities one-hit wonders with Lino’s Auger Well.

My added splash of didgeridoo with the likes of Xavier Rudd and Ash Dargan really bring the house down.

Enjoy this selection – even for those of you non-australians, I think you will find some artists in here that you will completely fall in love with: for modern-day jazz and blues lovers there is the very awesome DIG and The Badloves, and for alternative rock there is good ol’ Josh Pyke, Alex Lloyd and Pete Murray – I prefer these guys earlier stuff to be honest, I do feel they lost a bit if their individual style in their later work.

And then, the very number one must have song in your collection? YOTHU YINDI, Treaty! You thought I was going to say Men At Work’s Down Under didn’t you?! That is in there too, they’re all gooooood…

Note: most songs mentioned above are available on the fabo itunes and if not, head straight to the artist’s website for purchasing.

Get 27 on the rocks, image courtesy of moi!

Not only is it a glorious sunny day in Amsterdam, but I am being treated like a princess on this special day. So far it has started with a cup of tea in bed (oh, Alfred), and there is the softest warm breeze coming through the windows. Pre-celebrations last night were a hit, my guests loved my all-Australian playlist and I even had requests for a copy of the compilation! It was an international mix of cultures with French, Australian and Dutchies all mingling, and champagne a-flowing. Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes leading up to this wonderful day. I have had a fabulous birthday week here in the (blog)house and I hope you’ve enjoyed it too! I will leave you for a day or so, just to catch my breath. No doubt I will miss you all for the next 48 hours though. If you haven’t had a chance to catch all this week’s posts, please scroll down to view them, they are full of the good stuff of life!

Before I sign off on this post, HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY to all you fellow-aussies! Hope you have a fabulous weekend, I’ll be thinking of all of you celebrating while I indulge in my own birthday celebrations here on the other side of the world. Lots o’ love, pxx

Are you prepared to be dazzled, frazzled and knocked right off your office chair? And are you prepared to have an unyielding urge to purchase a one-way ticket to Africa pronto? You think I kid and exaggerate BUT I MOCK YOU NOT! We are about to hit interior inspiration overload mes cher amis, and here is a little peak…

There are two words that I like to use when describing my chosen style and decor: raw + sophisticated. And rarely do I get to use these two words together. But this is one of those rare occasions. So pack your suitcases, slap on some sunscreen and come with me while I take you on an epic visual journey through this African retreat. This is one place you will never forget…

(Click here to read more…)

Scrolling back on Debi’s email, I just spotted that I missed a whole bunch of images at the bottom! As you can see I keep myself well-entertained with my own idiocy. And if I wasn’t so damn honest I would have just told you this was part deux. So here we are, part deux of Debi’s gloriously humble abode, how generous is this gal…

While I pack my bags to move in (out you go Debi, you can leave me your family and dog Bingo too!), I will just say that we may all be packing our bags momentarily, and be on the first plane to Africa. Robinson Crusoe, eat your heart out…

We’ve all had a good drool over South African photographer Debi Treloar’s online portfolio, and we lapped up her photographs when we reviewed the book ‘Recycled Home’, but can we get enough of Debi? No we can’t. Because she also just happens to be a lovely person and we love those types at the (blog)house! While chatting with Debi recently I couldn’t resist asking her if we could have a sneak peak into her own London home. And I’m glad I asked!

Debi’s Victorian home in London is bursting with colour and energy. It is a gorgeous collection of vintage, found and rescued, and is splashed with beautiful African artefacts. Loose, real, and sophisticated is how I would describe her home. The stylist in me wants to review this home for you in full detail but I won’t subject you to my ramblings (hmm, unless you ask). But I will say this – have a good gaze at these shots and look at her clever use of colour. Even though it looks like a happy accident, there is actually a rhythm, an order to her use of colour. She has not been frightened by using bold key colours throughout, and it is this confident use of colour that makes this home a knock out. Enjoy your visit to Debi’s place and be sure to pick up the free inspiration from these beautiful photographs along the way…

Larger images of Debi’s home can be seen in the book Flea Market Style written by Emily Chalmers and Ali Hanan, as well as a back issue of Living Etc. Thanks again Debi!

Up next: another stunning interior inspiration thanks to Debi, but this one has a twist and I’ll give only one clue: it is somewhere in Africa!