Paris, je t'aime

One of my very special friends is off to beautiful Paris on Thursday and I am unbelievably excited for her. I love hearing of people's travel to this amazing city as it takes me back to my own travels there.

You just can't help but sigh at the thought......
Everytime I think of my trip to Paris I can't help but smile and get an excited feeling in my tummy. It is the city to just walk and explore and walk and explore. The buildings are beautiful, the people are beautiful, the food is beautiful, the shopping is beautiful oh I could go on............

Val, I know you will have an amazing time, enjoy every single second, take everything in and I can't wait to hear all about it when you return.

Bon voyage xx

Balcony Inspiration

One thing I love about my first little place, is the balcony that is off my bedroom. At the moment I can't use it - a) because it looks super ugly and b) it is unsafe and basically needs to ripped down and built again. So I have started to get my inspiration together for the look and feel of it.

As it looks before any renovations started - revolting



As it leads off from my bedroom where the colour scheme is simple grey and white I want to extend this out onto the balcony and give it a real Hamptons feel. As I live in a complex the trellis must stay, but if it is painted fresh, crisp white it should look fine. I want to replace the "pink" decking with beautiful silvery grey boards and find a way to cover the airconditioning unit.

I want to use the space to sit out on a late morning where I can put my feet up with my laptop or reading a magazine or book.

My inspiration board.


{images via my first little place}

Sixx Design

I haven't had much time to spend on the blogs this week as work has been crazy (and I mean that in the literal sense!)

But I was super excited on Friday when my new book arrived - Downtown Chic. In blogland recently I had been hearing alot about this new tv show 9 by Design. It's about Robert and Cortney Novogratz and to sum it up very quickly they are a couple who are self taught in the world of renovations and design in none other than New York, of course! They named their business Sixx Design because at the time they had 6 children (they now have 7) all with very non traditional names - Wolfgang, Bellamy, Tallulah, Breaker, Five, Holleder and Major.
I grew up with parents who were serial renovators, we moved maybe every couple of years and I don't know how my parents did it with us 3 kids, let alone 7! Some would say crazy, some would say impressive.

Their style is somewhat different to what I am normally drawn too but I am really loving it. I love their mix of modern materials with old flea market finds and use of colour. Their book has flooded me with insipration. Here's some images of their work.

You know what I found really interesting by reading this book? I swore when I was younger that when I was all grown up I would buy one house and live there forever because we were always moving. But now I am grown up and have that one place, I can't wait to get my second place to start a renovation and then another and so on. See education doesn't always come from university!

Thanks mum and dad for being my inspiration xx

{images sixx design}

Happy Mother's Day

To all the beautiful mother's out there, today is your day. I'm not a mother myself but I truly believe being a mother is hardest job of all yet the best job of all

I hope you all have a wonderful day

Happy Mother's Day xxx

Love long weekends

It's a long weekend in Queensland today and I love I just don't have to get out of bed. I've got my laptop, my coffee, TV and magazines galore.
Love it..................

{image via chris colls}

Product Board - Living Area

{image via my first little place}

I've been going through my inspiration boards and bits and pieces for my house and thought I would share with you my product board that I created for the living area when I first bought my house. I think it's still coming together this way.
I'm thinking of covering the ottoman in the Florence Broadhurst black and white print and that will sit as my coffee table.

Happy weekend....

Enjoy whatever this weekend brings you xx

{images via dress, design & decor}

Byron Bay

For those who have never been, Byron Bay is one of the most beautiful places to visit within Australia. It is known for it's stunning beaches for both relaxing and surfing, great music festivals, nice places to eat and drink and you can meet all types of people.

My beautiful friend Lisa and I are planning a little get away to Byron Bay in early August. See my birthday is late July and Lisa's is early August so we thought what a better way to celebrate than a girls getaway to Byron. And since we decided to go, we have friends wanting to join us which is great.
So I have been looking through accommodation and I came across this really cute place, Atlantic Guesthouses. I like it's simple design with a little beach cottage feel but not too over the top. I don't know how much it would cost but I'm thinking it will cost a bit, but you never know! It's fun to dream for now....

Oh did I mention that there are lots of cute surfer boys that live in Byron???? ;)

Colour Theory : Purple

Ok, I like purple and I have a couple of purple pieces of clothing but don't love it.
I think it has to be the right shade though (smokey, grey purple) and used in just the right amounts in a space, otherwise I think it start to look a little bit tacky or remind me of my old great aunties house in the late 70's!

Purple embodies the balance of red simulation and blue calm. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its undertone. A sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls.

How the color purple affects us mentally and physically
* Uplifting
* Calming to mind and nerves
* Offers a sense of spirituality
* Encourages creativity

- sensational colour

I like the way it is used here with the yellow and grey - my 2 favourite colours

I love this Versace dress and I love the colour, stunning

Even just the smallest touch of purple seen here in the cushion and flowers adds just the right amount to make it look lovely

If it's good enough for Jessica Stams living room.......

Louis Vuitton - need I say more??

Alot of purple and I actually really like it but I don't think I could live with it

{images via living etc, vt interiors, style.com, 6th st design school, elle decor, secrets of domestic bliss}

Beautiful Home - Jenna Lyons

I love this home, it's the home of Jenna Lyons Creative Director for J.Crew. I like how it's a little bit rough around the edges but looks so comfy too.

Her 3 year old son, Beckett's (love this name) bedroom

Imagine sitting in one of these chairs on a rainy day watching the rain through those beautiful tall windows, with a cup of coffee and reading your favourite magazine - love!

Of course I'm loving the yellow sofa and how it pops in the room

Imagine having a whole room as your dressing room, yes please

{images via Fashionista, Domino, Living Etc}

Home office spaces

I have dreamt of my own home office for years now.
I am obsessed with stationery - obsessed! And I love being organised and organising things. Put these things together with my love of interior design and how could you not dream of a home office. So my little 2nd bedroom will become a home office/guest room. I'm still not ready to buy the pieces for the room but hopefully soon because I can't wait to set up my desk and do some drawing and drafting again....aahhhh.....

But for now I will continue to admire and get inspiration from these home offices.

{images via Cococozy, Sarah Richardson, Lonny, Material Girls, Elle Decor, Apartment Therapy}

Oh what a day

Yep people, that's what I am feeling as I arrive home from my day at work!

I would hate to be a celebrity! I had an unfortunate today with some media. Not making any comment on it except it is not a nice feeling when the media or people use the media to create negative situations and situations that can really effect the people involved.
Don't worry, my situation was not that dramatic but still......it sucks!!
Doesn't have anything to do with my house but I just felt like sharing.

I'm off for my drink now...cheers x

Cushion Love

During this sad week, I did get a little bit of sunshine. My cushion arrived from Amanda over at Oliveaux.

I love it! But I now think once I've put it on my favourite chair it is a little bit too big, I might get another one in half the height and put this one on my sofa.

It is the Mary Yellow cushion from Rubie Green which are made of 100% certified organic cotton.

Amanda at Oliveaux also sufferred a very sad loss on the same day my grandpa passed away. My thoughts and condolences are with you Amanda xx

Thank you

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their kind messages, some via here, some emailed/facebooked and some text. It's times like these you see who true friends really are xx

I would also like to thank Nicole from Sketch42 for passing on the Sunshine Award to My First Little Place, I am surprised and very thankful that you get joy out of reading my blog. Your blog is also one of my daily stops.
It's a perfect time for me to get a little bit of sunshine. Thank you x



So with this award I now pass it on to 10 blogs that I love. Here goes, my fav design blogs:

1. A Paddington Perspective

2. Oliveaux

3. This Is Glamorous

4. Daily Imprint

5. Secrets Of Domestic Bliss

6. Bottom Of The Ironing Basket

7. My Favourite and My Best

8. Ish and Chi

9. Pink Wallpaper

10. Birdy & Me

Hope you all enjoy

Love Sarah xx

It's a sad day today

Today is a very sad day for me and my family.
Sadly my grandpa passed away early this morning.

Today I've been thinking about all the wonderful memories I have as a child. My grandparents used to have a farm, "The Ranch" (yes, they lived in Texas for awhile hence the name) and we would go and stay there often. We had a huge farm that we could just run crazy around, we would be out running around all day. We had a cubby house that was really cool, we had chickens to feed and collect the eggs, endless fruit trees to pick at, a mini bike to ride (or be injured on thanks to my lovely big sister!!), it was just amazing.

My nana passed away 10 years ago but I am comforted knowing that they will now reunite and be together again.

R.I.P Grandpa xx