Many years ago as I was perusing the impressively crammed shelf dedicated to interior decorating at my favourite local bookstore (which is Bookoccino’s in Avalon, Sydney, Australia), I came across India Hicks Island Life. And i felt ‘the buzz’. You know the feeling, as you open a book for the first time at a random page and are immediately struck by the structure and style and composition of an interior setting. Then you slowly lift to the next page, and the next and the next and your belly flips and you simply must have this book. Back then the book had just arrived on bookshelves around the world, so it was at top dollar. But I could not walk out without it…

images courtesy of india hicks, island living

Sure it’s fantastical, after all it is a book about a home (or rather a series of houses) dotted along the shoreline of a Caribbean island, nestled amongst coconut palms and pineapple trees, with ocean views from every window (dream on!!). BUT India’s style is so relaxed and natural that her settings can be translated into the simplest and most ordinary of abodes. So how does she do this? Well, let me tell you! It’s because her focus is on the found, collected, and loved (as opposed to new, flashy, and trendy). None of her spaces reflect the ostentatious inclination that you’d expect, and I have no doubt this is why her book has become so popular over the years.

One of my favourite pieces among her incredible collection of homewares is this desk which sits inconspicuously at the top of a staircase between doorways…

photography by David Loftus

Glorious, non? Writing away the hours at this desk would be rather marvelous. Certainly after having taken a wander along the shoreline, sand between the toes and lungs full of fresh sea air.

I’ve always been inspired by nature as you know, so it’s only natural that my interior impulses lean toward island living. As a result I thought I’d moodboard my interior inspiration, island style, in the next post. But first, here is a song that will surely get you in the mood… mojito, anyone?

I just had to start this special nesting series by taking you straight to baileys newly renovated website, complete with an illustrated layout of the store, information and beautiful photographs of their art cafe, and of course, the book. Which I reviewed way back when. and which I still love flicking through for inspiration. I love Mark and Sally’s rustic yet utterly sophisticated style. It’s recycled living, at it’s best.

I hope to be able to visit their incredible store in Whitecross Farm in the UK one day. If you’ve been, do let me know what it’s like in a comment below!

For me Spring is all about nesting – this is the time of year that I naturally dedicate my spare time to working on my home, and it seems I’m not the only one – the canal birds are at it again, working feverishly on their elaborate nest outside my kitchen window. While they are busy bringing leaves and all sorts of goodies into their nest, I’m pottering around the houseboat, planning, designing, and re-interpreting the space.

On the weekend I whipped up some fresh new cushion covers from a vintage blue striped piece of fabric I found at the markets a little while back (it was only 3 euro!). It was lots of fun, and I have plenty more to do. Ideas are circling around my mind, inspiration abounds, and I find myself obsessed with making this space just right for the coming months.

So for the next few weeks, the (blog)house will be dedicated to nesting. Yay I hear you say! I know, even though I work as an interior stylist I tend not to overload this space with interiors. So I know many of you will be thrilled that I have a truckload of interior-related posts up my sleeve, just for you!

So sit back, relax and enjoy the coming posts. I even have one on it’s way in a few hours…

xx

PS Do you like these photos? I had fun shooting them especially for this post.

PPS Thank you for all your comments and emails about my new blog design! I am so so glad you like it. I can’t wait to play around in all the rooms!

I’m a sucker for real fashion – you know, the type that you can wear any day, everyday, and look über stylish and sophisticated without being OTT (over-the-top. also referred to in camera angle lingo, in case you need to know that). I like clothes that feel good on my skin, and move when I move, and that don’t feel restrictive. And you all know how much I LOVE natural fibres, and ‘conscious’ clothing. So I bet you are not surprised that I am totally in love with Jackson, Johnston & Roe’s Spring collection. Take a look…

I have my first Jackson, Johnston & Roe pieces in my wardrobe right now, just in time for Spring! They include the april travel coat you see above (gorgeous!! and I can’t WAIT to travel in april with it!), the v-neck shirt which is so soft and incredibly comfortable, and the study jacket (top photo) in grey and white.

For this season, the designers behind the label created their own print as you see above. They were inspired by the early 20th century surrealist practice and created an “exquisite corpse print” where they each drew a section. I love this idea! I’ve held this fabric in my hands and it is indeed, exquisite.

Jackson, Johnston & Roe use sustainable and organic fabric, wood and recycled paper buttons,as well as hand dyed peace silk which is a process that does not kill the worm.

left: perrine v-neck shirt and right: jules shirt with museum date skirt

Their inspiration for the collection is such a beautiful story – one of their muses and dear friends recently shared the history of her mother’s boarding school. She attended La Legion d’ Honneur L’ecole au chateau D’ecouen from October 1952 to July 1955. The April travel coat is fashioned after a coat in her “trousseau”. The designers were inspired this season by the idea of a modern day trousseau; the clothes you take with you… to school. On an adventure. Or to start a new life.

So who are the designers behind this fabulous collection? They are Sara Moffat, Teo Griscom and Riley Salyards, who assumed their grandfathers’ names (being Jackson, Johnston & Roe) for their womenswear line. The childhood friends draw from each of their distinctive artistic disciplines to create these small collections which are made in New York City. The collection is sold at selected stores across America, but you can also contact the sales department direct to find out more.

above and below is a sneak peek of their fall ’09 collection…

Oh I would love to get into the minds of these designers – how much fun would it be to find out how they come up with their designs, and what inspires them?

Well guess what? I am thrilled to reveal that our mystery guest in the new (blog)house is none other than one of Jackson, Johnston & Roe’s very own designers, Riley Salyards! Yes, I’ve kept her a bit of a secret from you all (although I’ve casually mentioned her here, here and here you may recall). Riley is a dear friend of mine here in Amsterdam. She is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met, and I was so thrilled when she said ‘yes’ to being my first guest here in the new guest quarters. Spending time with Riley is one of my favourite things to do here in Amsterdam. She has such a unique vision – she makes incredible things, she sings! and every time I leave her company I am filled with inspiration. Thank you dear Riley, for agreeing to share some of your life and own inspirations here in my (blog)house over the next month. Please enjoy your stay.

Oh, and shall we meet up this afternoon for some champagne in the kitchen with yvette? I hear she’s got a delicious bouillabaisse cooking for us!

(check out Riley’s first post here, there will be another one coming this afternoon).

All images courtesy of Jackson, Johnston & Roe. Photographed by Bill Phelps.

One morning over breakfast late last year, I suggested to French Boy that I’d like to renovate the (blog)house. With his usual enthusiasm for my inevitably painstaking & arduous projects, he raised an eyebrow, smiled and shouted in his beautiful accent, “let’s do it!!!”

Many weekends, late nights and long days later (is it normal for a couple to spend ridiculous amounts of hours on a computer rather than do like, other stuff?!), here we are, standing at the freshly painted front door, ready to cut the ribbon and cross the threshold. I’m so excited!

Today’s post is a little impromptu housewarming invitation for each of you.

Please take a glass of bubbly or your favourite celebratory beverage, and enjoy a stroll through the newly improved (blog)house at your leisure. Click on things and see where they take you. Stay as long as you like and visit as often as you like, I adore your company and wanted to give you even more reasons to stop by.

And I really wanted to keep. it. simple. as I know many of you have expressed to me that you like the (blog)house for it’s simplicity and calmness. So you’ll notice it’s really not that different to before, just easier to navigate to your favourite categories, with a few personal touches added because well, you know I can’t help but doodle all over a nice clean white page!

Shall I give you a little tour?

Okay, well first up you’ll notice the tabs at the top of the page. Each room in the (blog)house is easy to access from there. You can also access these rooms by clicking on the little home in the right side bar.

The sound studio, library, kitchen and the guest quarters will now be active blogs! I will be quietly reviewing the books I read in the library, while the sound studio will be filled with my new musical compositions, music inspirations and soundscapes. And each month or so I will feature new guests in both the kitchen and guest quarters – each week they will post something special just for you. My kitchen guest is already cooking up a storm – I am so happy to welcome my dear friend & food stylist Yvette van Boven! Go and see what she is up to in there if you can’t already smell the delicious aromas. My new guest in the guest quarters will be arriving first thing in the morning. I can’t wait!

my mystery guest is on her way! this is your only clue.

I have created a separate page for my very special blogroll so that I can add more and more of my favourite blogs to the list. And here on the main page you’ll notice an ‘in the spotlight’ section in the right side bar where I will feature blogs each week that I just can’t get enough of. Take a look at who is in the spotlight this week!

Now what else can I tell you. Oh yes, I’ve been gathering some stella post subjects over the past months, saving them for this new improved backdrop, and I’m so pleased to be able to share them all with you now. So watch this space in coming weeks, you will not want to miss a thing! Or better still, subscribe. And please tell ALL your friends to come by too, everyone and anyone is welcome here at the (blog)house, the more the merrier.

Thank you everyone, for your enthusiasm and support in my creative endeavours. I do hope you are happy here and please let me know if you notice any flaws or if there are things you find don’t work – there will no doubt be a few creases to iron out and I would absolutely love your feedback.

And I’d just like to take this opportunity to shout out a very special thank you to French Boy. He has been an integral part in helping to create what I envisioned for the (blog)house, having the incredible talent to be able to talk to computers in their own language. So merci beaucoup mon amour, for all your hard work and dedication.

Okay that’s it, I’ll let you wander around, and i’ll be back here in the morning to introduce you to our new guest.

xx