Decorating a green couch!

Cushion colour combination from The Works

Today I went to a shop that is totally amazing and well known to many Melbourians! Of course it is The Works in Hawthorn. I spent a good 2 hours just pottering, touching and rearranging displays like the one above, working out my colour scheme and the look I am after for my home. I bought the gorgeous grey/blue flower cushion in the picture but desperately wanted to buy the yellow and blue geometric cushions as well. This will be my new colour scheme for upstairs. I have this fantastic green couch that needs equally colour that will make the whole room 'sing'.

My green couch upstairs

Sadly, at the moment, my new purchase is hidden in the car as Mr B said 'you don't need any more cushions' Little does he know I will need many new cushions haha! Just waiting for the right time to casually flung it on the lounge as if it has been there always.

Mrs B xx

Interview with Katrina... The Block 2011

Week 1... Amie and Katrina Guest Bedroom

I have been a fan of The Block since the very first episode was shown almost 9 years ago. katrina has very generously allowed me to ask a few questions about her experience so far on The Block.

1. When you found out you were going to be on the Block, how much design preparation did you do? Did you have all your paint schemes in order, tradies to ring, pictures of furniture, shops etc

Katrina We didn’t have a great deal organized. There was no time. We won the eliminationchallenge and had 3 days to return home and pack. With 3 kids, the last thing on my mind was the design! We had some friends give us phone numbers of tradies, but it was really hard to ring them and ask them to drop all of their jobs and come and help us for 8 weeks. It wasn’t easy and the tradies we thought we would use didn’t end up as our final tradies!

2. Did you change your mind in how you were going to decorate once you found out they were Victorian Cottages?

Katrina No, not really… I didn’t decorate necessarily for the style of the house from the front. I decorated for the potential buyer. Who was buying the house and what age/demographic/style are they?

3. During filming, did you look at other properties in Richmond/Melbourne to work out the best layout and function of a terrace home?

Katrina We did have a scout around. But as you saw in last week’s show we were given a floor plan of the home and we had to stick to this plan. These were the council approved plans. This made life so much easier!

Amie and Katrina

4. In the first week of moving in, what was your single biggest challenge that you and Amie had to face? And what was the single biggest highlight of the first week?

Katrina The first night in the house was a massive challenge. Just finding somewhere to sleep was difficult! It was freezing and the toilets were outside! Argh!! The biggest highlight was finishing 1 room! This meant that I realized the house was ‘doable’. It really could be renovated!

5. In regards to Room 1 (which was just beautiful by the way) how did you feel about the judge’s comments? Did you take their suggestions on board for Room 2? Did you decorate to what they would like?

Katrina We only ever heard 2 sentences of comments from the judges when we were at Scotty’s Workshop. We never spoke to the judges so their feedback was limited. We did listen, but it didn’t mean we always agreed with them!

Best of luck girls for Week 2! I think your office idea is fabulous...lets hope the judges do as well. A big thankyou to Katrina in taking the time to answer my questions.

Mrs B xxo

To Market!

Every now and then, there are moments in your life that may either inspire, motivate or just give you immense pleasure...this morning was one of them. Today I went to the Boutique Market at Hawthorn Town Hall. I was actually between two minds as to should I go, but I really wanted to meet a blogger friend of mine who I have followed her build and life every step of the way for the last 3 years...A-M ( The House that A-M built) I casually mentioned on her blog that I will be there and so I thought to myself I will just say a quick hello, introduce myself then go for a wander around the stalls. Little did I know, A-M had actually told the girls at the entrance to keep a look out for me so as soon as I came in, I was introduced to the person who singularly inspired me to blog about my own house build. To try and describe how gorgeous A-M is in every possible way would do her a great injustice. I have never met such a lively, warm, vivacious and generous lady as I met today. We chatted for at least 30 mins and to say I both think we didn't take a breath between all our topics would be an understatement! We spoke about our blogs, staircases, other bloggers, our boys and of the course The Block!!!

A-M introduced me to some other stall owners whose blogs I also read. I met the girls from Mondocherry and their shop is simply divine. In the picture above is actually a material picture, stitched and beaded all by hand that I bought from their shop. They also have these stunning butterfly pictures, all hand sewn. I only wish I had more time to linger, touch and feel everything!

I also bought this lovely yellow print from Sweet William. I told the girls I was chatting to that 'Yellow was in" and although I bought it more for my boys area, it just looks perfect next to my green bedroom cushions that I bought from Etsy. I can feel my style coming through slowly...its taking a while but well worth the wait. Sweet William have also these gorgeous prints that you will not find in shops. Once again, I could have bought so many pictures but you have got to frame them all!

At the Boutique Market, I caught up with my other special blogger friend Stormy from Stormy's Castle. She is also a very talented creative girl and creates the most amazing artwork (you can see on her blog) It was just one of the mornings that was very inspiring and I feel the decorating bug is coming back after a year of not really doing anything.
On a final note, The Block was also a topic of conversation and we are all cheering on Katrina and Amie! These two girls are amazing and I know their house will be stunning at the end...Go Girls!

Mrs B xxxooo

Having a break ...almost over!

Bedroom

It has been ages since I posted....6 months ago? Nothing is really happening with the house as normal life just continues on. My bedroom is still work in progress, managed to buy the butler style tables for the bedroom and lamps to complete the look. I have also been busy looking at the goodies on Etsy as the Aussie dollar is so high at the moment. The cushion you see was an Etsy buy and just perfect for the style I was after for my bed.

I have been buying the most amazing little paintings from another etsy store but still have to find the perfect frames...always work in progress. Anyhoo, just wanted to let you know I am still here in blogland.

Mrs B

Merry Christmas and New Year resolutions.

I have loved looking at all the most stunning Christmas pictures this year on blogs so here are just some of mine. Each picture has taken me 5 mins to load very frustrating and several times I have just gave trying to post. Never mind, I will work it out why blogger is so slow but at least I now have a few precious pictures to show you.

At the moment, like most people I know, we are busy spring cleaning and decluttering the house. There is nothing like the start of a new year to get you all inspired and finish off those projects that have lingered for too long! I have set 3 new year resolutions that I truly want to succeed in....

1. To be more organised
I have gone back to work full time this year so its important I still have a beautiful clean house, washing done folded away each night (I have 2 full loads a day hence why its an important chore), kids forms for their school activities signed and homework completed. They are my priorities for the home front. If that can be achieved then the rest will follow .

2. To be a nicer person.
Still working from the inside out...always! Not to get caught up in conversations that drag you down. I have been reading The 7 habits of Highly Effective People. I find this helps me more in my professional life but a classic book and interesting read.

3. To get my act together financially.
I love shopping and buying things but I need to take a step back and look at the real value of money. Yesterday, I spent half a day organising the study and getting all my son's old text books to sell at a second hand textbook shop. Then, I sat down for a good hour with a rubber and rubbed all the answers in pencils out of the books so the next child who bought it could enjoy it. I managed to sell the 6 language books for a total of $25 which in return I bought 2 more 2nd hand books for this year. The satisfaction I had from just a small amount was immeasurable...sometimes, just going back to basics is a lesson in itself.

Hope you enjoy my Christmas Pictures....

Mrs B