Love those kitchen floorboards.

It’s Monday morning for me here in Amsterdam, I’ve just finished writing another chapter/wander for Amsterdam: Made by Hand and now I’m ready for a tea break. So I thought I’d come and visit the (blog)house, do a little posting, a little commenting, a little sprucing. Today I want to share with you a beautiful country house photographed by new-to-amsterdam-and-aussie-like-me Alan Jensen. I met Al and his partner Cath Conroy the other day – both Al and Cath are photographers too.  I asked Al and Cath if they’d share some of their fabulous work here in the (blog)house and Al – who specialises in lifestyle and interior photography  – sent me these photographs that he took of a home in the stunning hinterland of northern NSW (Cath will be sending some of her work soon). The hinterland is one of my favourite places in the world (I’m hoping to take French Boy there early next year), and Al’s images of this house are gorgeous, highlighting the relaxed, livable, stylish and full of character nature of this style of home…

Beautiful non? Oui. Thanks Al for the Monday morning hit of inspiration, I’ll be daydreaming about this white wooden walled country home nestled in a little village surrounded by rainforest…

Photography by Alan Jensen, styling by Sam Moiler

Last week on my etsy favourites post I mentioned there was something in  sadie olive that I really really wanted. Today reader Judith reminded me in a comment that I had not yet revealed what it was, and that although she wasn’t losing sleep over it still, she was curious. So, Judith, this post is for you! And for anyone else out there who was curious about my ‘must have’ item. It was in fact these sweet little antique s&p shakers – are they not the most darling things you have ever seen?

I just bought them. Because well, I think I will sleep a little better now that I know they will soon be mine.

theme party, styled by glen proebstel and photographed by sam mcadam for inside out

Can you believe it’s only 7 weeks until Christmas? I cannot. This year I’ll be spending it back home with  my family, soaking up the sun and enjoying the festivities, beach side. I am keen to do another holiday decorating ideas and gifts bonanza like last year, with my ‘enhance the everyday’ styling philosophy, I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am. I’ve been collecting all sorts of goodies and ideas to share with you and I’ll start them in a few weeks (must finish book first!) but for today, I wanted to get you into the spirit and excitement of the holiday season with a sneak peek at the inside out Christmas issue. The Christmas issue is one issue I never miss – full of beautifully decorated homes, holiday decorating essentials that are often handmade, and a fabulous menu that is always a visual feast (I’ve heard on the grapevine that this issue features a wonderful maggie beer’s turkey story).   This year looks to be just as fabulous and I can’t wait to see it in person. Lee Tran Lam, deputy chief sub editor of inside out has kindly obliged and offered us (that’s you and me) a rather exclusive peek at some of the pages inside, would you like to see?

styling by vanessa colyer tay and photography by sam mcadam .

I love those paper and wood trees. The one on the wall reminds me of my cardboard tower, remember? Oh that was fun. Here’s another little sneak peek inside the magazine…

The story above is featuring some of the paper work of Jo Neville. Jo has a fabulous all-things-papery boutique in Sydney called Paper Couture.  It’s a destination for stylists and lovers of paper but not only for the incredible stock (and location) but also for inspiration.

You can find out a bit more about the Christmas issue of inside out by clicking here and here. Thank you very much for the  sneak peek Lee Tran!

How incredibly inspiring is this home of basket maker Harriet Goodall? Set in a small town near the beautiful Southern Highlands in New South Wales (Australia), Harriet and her husband Mat have set up home in this rented cottage and have filled it with all sort of found and handmade objects.

I’m not going to go into it further because Sohi magazine has the whole scoop here – I suggest you make a cuppa, and read every word.

Not to mention this new magazine Sohi looks completely wonderful and I really really want to get my hands on a copy – it has my ethos aaaaall over it. If anyone out there has copies, and you live in or near Sydney, could you save/collect them for me? I want to devour every page when I get back there. Perhaps I need to move to the Southern Highlands to get a copy. I will if I have to.

xx

PS seriously thinking about basket making. Not that I need another project but wow, don’t you think it would be a fabulous hobby?

PPS if anyone knows more about Harriet Goodall (I can’t find her in the web), please tell me more, I’m very interested in her work.

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images by Todd Sutherland, found on the ever-lovely Concrete & Honey.