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My top 5 tips for the ultimate wardrobe detox…

A change in seasons is a great time to detox & rethink your wardrobe… I know! It’s one of those daunting, dreaded jobs but once done you feel so much lighter & often a clear out & reorganise will provide new love & excitement about the pieces you own & help you avoid those ‘frantic, clothes tossing dance around the room because you cant find anything to wear’ moments!

• 1st step is the big clear out - time to get rid of everything you have lost the love for, last summer I did a huge wardrobe clear out - the good stuff I sold on Ebay, the rest I sold at my local swap-meet and anything left went to the Salvos - I was left with a wardrobe full of things I loved & made enough pocket money to invest in a few key pieces for the new season!
• If you are tight on space as soon as the weather warms enough, pack away heavy winter coats, woolly jumpers & knee high boots - I have summer dresses, shorts & sandals packed away during winter and swap all of this for the winter gear. These fabric cases from Ikea are perfect to neatly stack away on a high shelf, under the bed or in the spare room.
• When you don’t have a place for everything it is much harder to stay tidy - think outside the box if you struggle with limited wardrobe space - a vintage cabinet or armoire to display shoes, wall hooks for bags, a rail to hang jewellery or belts, I have my eye on this piece from the lovely new Nordli range from Ikea to act as a bedroom dressing table & extra clothes storage - for more clever storage ideas check out Nina’s dressing room makeover.
• If you are guilty of hanging clothes on wire hangers it is time to banish them for good, the standard ‘Woolies’ black tubular plastic hangers with the indent for straps are what I use and they won’t damage delicates or stretch T-shirt sleeves out of shape. It is also well worth investing in padded hangers for jackets, cardigans & delicate pieces - for the sake of a few dollars you will keep that beloved silk kimono or leather jacket looking its best for many years to come.
• To keep pesky moths away from your woolen knits & jackets make a few sachets of cedar flakes (usually found near pop-purri in your local craft or $2.00 shop) add cloves, bay leaves & lavender to deter silverfish and all other flying insects - pop on shelves/in drawers and replace every 6 months. Below a few drool worthy closets to inspire you…

Above Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Live bright,

Natalie x

10 spring inspired spaces…

Today I am simply sharing a selection of gasp worthy moments inspired by the new Spring season, wonderful light filled spaces celebrating those 1st joyful days that allow you to turn off that heating and open up the doors & windows to the crisp spring air…

Above Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Live bright,

Natalie x

How to mix old with new to create a gorgeous, liveable home…

If, like me you have been sucked into another season of ‘The Block’ you might have noticed that the most successful spaces are those that embrace & enhance the building’s historic features without sacrificing modern luxuries, clean lines & liveable space.

In older homes, furniture with modern, clean lines give the home space to breathe, allows the architectural features to stand out & makes the space feel liveable. In a new home, vintage & antique pieces bring a space to life, they add character, warmth & a story.

It can be a challenge to meld new with old but there are tricks to help you create a balanced, eclectic space…

Keeping walls white/neutral creates a blank backdrop to make an eclectic space feel less busy. Running a consistent colour or material can help to link pieces from different eras. An antique piece might have gorgeous lines & shape, but the wood might be tired or dated, a lick of black or white paint could help enhance its gorgeous form and allow it to tie in seamlessly with a modern interior. Tricks like these can help you mix old with new in your home but the key is to follow your heart - be patient and add to your collection when you come across pieces that you really love. Old or new - if you love it, throw rules out the window and you will end up with a space you love that represents you.

Who says you can’t install reclaimed vintage shelving in a modern white kitchen, or hang a modern pendant from an original 1920’s ceiling rose in a character home. The contrast of slick, modern chairs sitting around an antique farmhouse table can be stunning as can a new glass topped table surrounded by classic mid-century chairs. See below for some gorgeous era mixed spaces and this Pinterest board for even more eclectic eye candy...

Above Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Live Bright,

Natalie x

This is bohemian glamour ‘done right’...

Well, my life has officially been taken over by the world of wedding planning, even this newsletter has not escaped the reach of all things romantic, bohemian & glamourous!

Bohemian spaces can sometimes look a little ‘overdone’ which can make them feel overwhelming & claustrophobic, but they do have all the ingredients to perfect style…

Warm, rich colours Layers of texture Natural materials like rattan, wood, cotton & leather Global influence & antique/vintage pieces to add character. By adding touches of these elements to a space without going ‘too far’, perhaps by using white walls as a clean backdrop you can create a unique and comfortable space…. bohemian luxe done right is rich, warm & relaxed while still feeling grown up, sophisticated and liveable….

Above Images; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

For more gorgeous bohemian inspiration check out yesterday’s featured home on The Design Files or features on the homes of Sass & Bide creators & original bohemian queens Heidi Middleton & Sarah Jane Clark.

Our winter vintage kantha quilt collection has been running out the door but we still have some gorgeous pieces left, each piece one-of-a-kind and a perfect layer of cosy bohemian glamour to your home…

Above quilts; Malti, Shakti, Chandra shown on queen size bed, Vimala shown on double size bed.

Live bright, Natalie x

Falling in love with painted brick walls…

The raw beauty of a rough, imperfectly painted brick wall can be such an interesting surface in a home and can work as a gorgeous backdrop to traditional or contemporary style décor & furniture.

If you live in an older home & have brick walls that feel dark or dated, painting them can be a great option and much more budget friendly than plastering. I have put together a collection of images that I hope inspires you to reconsider the painted brick wall…

Above Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Live Bright,

Natalie x

The perfect winter pick-me-up for you & your home…

Coffee nooks have been on my radar lately… so many gorgeous little tea & coffee stations keep popping up in blog land & Pinterest and are not at all helpful to my one coffee per day rule!

Above images; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Do you like the idea of dedicating a little corner of the home or office to your love of tea or coffee? It could be as simple as a tray in your kitchen or a more elaborate shrine to all things caffeine with overhead open shelves for easy access to cups, saucers & pots. I thought Terrance would make a lovely tea & coffee station, perfect for the cold winter months so that a warming pick-me-up is always readily at hand… Is it just me or can you hear the caffeine calling?

Above image: Bowerhouse Terrance bar cart.

Live bright,

Natalie x

9 spaces that prove the beauty of simplicity…

I am officially back from holidays and busy working on some fun mini travel guides to share my tips & must dos for the amazing cities we visited, in the meantime I thought I might share my most treasured souvenir of all… on a magical warm July night in NYC, under the Brooklyn Bridge with city lights twinkling in the background, this happened….!

After all the excitement I am craving some simplicity at home… ‘Keep it simple’, if I could choose one mantra when it comes to decorating this would be it, I have to quickly follow that up by explaining when I say simple I don’t mean boring & I don’t mean cold, clinical or even minimal.

To me, a perfectly simple space is carefully edited - each piece is chosen for a reason - you love it, it looks beautiful, it serves a purpose. It means choosing beautiful, quality pieces that will bring something special to the space & stand the test of time. (No matter what budget I believe this is possible) Living more simply could just be having a clear out of everything you dont need or want to give you & your family more space to just breathe and be.

When building or renovating it means choosing a limited pallet of finishes & colours that run all the way through a space so it feels cohesive, rather than lots of different elements fighting with each other - this means you have a lovely base to work with when you layer on decorative items & furniture.

Above Images; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Of course simple also needs to be liveable, and the reality of our busy, time poor lives is that simplicity can be tough to achieve. Personally we have pockets of our home that are borderline chaotic (i.e my desk), and others that come close to this simple ideal & it’s amazing how restorative and calming the simple spaces can be, if you can dedicate one room in your house to this simple ideal..a master bedroom perhaps? I guarantee it will be the one you long to spend more time in.

Above images: Cutwork Bed Throw, Ikat Kantha Quilt, Asha Kantha Quilt, Rashida Kantha Quilt

Live Bright,

Natalie x

Half painted for a whole new look…

For a while now I have been lusting after beautiful half painted walls (and I’m not talking about the kind you might be left when painting with hubby on a Saturday afternoon once the footy starts ;)

No, these ones are much more pleasing to the eye… They add a dynamic layer of colour & interest to a space, a great way to introduce colour to a room without going for a feature wall or painting all 4 walls from ceiling to floor.

Above Images; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

By keeping the top half of your room white or a very light neutral, the space will still feel light & open, even if a bold colour is used, it won’t feel overbearing.

There is no rule when it comes to where this ‘halfway mark’ should sit - it could sit lower or higher depending on the ceiling height, size of the space, any furniture pieces sitting against the walls and the general look you want to create.

Live bright, Natalie

10 inspiring indigo spaces & new indigo kantha quilts just in!

I am dedicating this week’s newsletter to the beauty of indigo, it is surely one of the most versatile colours for the home.

A hit of indigo blue in an all white space is a relaxed, classic combo that always feels fresh, indigo also loves to be paired with orange and will contrast beautifully with copper accents, or layer indigo with other inky blue tones for a moody, luxe & restful space…

Above Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

New Indigo kantha quilts…Just landed!

After our last lot of indigo kantha quilts literally ran out the door so I am excited to share with you a new version that has just landed!

This one features gorgeous blockprinted patterns, patchworked together & hand stitched all over. A beautiful weight bed throw that adds a lush, cosy layer over the doona in winter, or a breathable layer over sheets in summer.

Size - 230 x 270cm - will fully cover a queen or king size bed. Price - $207.00 ***Note this quilt is new NOT vintage

Click here to view & buy

Live Bright,

Natalie x

A peek at my home and a yellow obsession…

Its no secret that I am a big fan of the yellow pop in interiors, it is just such a happy burst of heart warming colour to dot around your home…

Above Images: Nat’s house via Instagram
Featuring: Barrel side table, Painted cushion cover in chalky aqua, Cutwork bed throw, Ikat kantha quilt in inky black with red & white stitch.

Gorgeous against a white backdrop or light wood tones but equally as stunning against dark charcoal/black walls and dark wood floors. Yellow contrasts really well with grey tones or play it off against fuchsia pink, aqua or teal blue colour pops…

Above images; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Get your yellow fix with Bowerhouse…

Above Images: Arun, Malti, Smita, Daevi kantha quilts shown on queen size bed.

Live bright,

Natalie x