Floor Lamp Round-up

You may notice a theme occurring here with some of my favorite furniture selections, I'm looking to 'baby-proof' our apartment so really it's just a thinly veiled excuse to get some new stuff!  So I want to get a floor lamp that has a small footprint, which one is your favorite and did you pick the Ikea ones here?

Grand and Grander

This house if off the chain!  This interior is a little different to the types of interiors I usually post here on the blog, but beauty is beauty, and this one is amazing!  During my time in London I worked on some pretty impressive interiors which gave me a real appreciation for historical buildings.  In Melbourne we have some outstanding examples of Victorian architecture however not quite like this.  I was fortunate to work on a building of this era in Belgravia and it was amazing to experience the scale of these rooms, and see the original decorative mouldings up close.  I really love the way the originality of these spaces has been respected and how they are filled with antique furniture but in a contemporary way.

This is the amazing home of interior designer Rose Uniacke whose signature style is raw, minimal. luxurious and with a genuine appreciation of antique furniture.

"If the space is properly balanced, then the rooms can be simply furnished and allowed to breathe," Rose says, "I like to know where I am, and in that context you can be very minimal."

Found on NY Times
Photographs by Henry Bourne

Spaced Out!

I think this loft really appeals to me at the moment because I am longing for some space.  I love the minimal and well selected furnishings which is a world away from my little apartment here in Melbourne.  I am just trying again to work out how to best use the space which also involves making our apartment baby-friendly without putting those ugly plastic corner things on everything.  So an apartment like this with it's wide open spaces and cool furniture would be blissful!  This is by ese studio which are based in Athens.  Found on Trendland

Armchair Dilemma!

Selecting an armchair for an interior can be the most fun, but also the most time-consuming and tricky, would you agree?  An armchair can really determine the style of the whole interior so it's important to select 'the right' chair.  Armchairs become a feature of the space, whereas we can play it a bit more safe and neutral with the sofa.  I like the armchairs to be in a feature colour or patterned fabric, or even leather whilst the sofa is in a neutral fabric (double leather is way worse than double denim!).  So it can be tricky to select that perfect armchair that is unique, comfortable, the right size and makes a statement.  Also in budget, now that is a challenge!

But for my own place it's even more difficult because I see so many great pieces that it's impossible to decide.  I'm the most indecisive client!  I want something I can curl up on which is not too enormous and looks cute and super comfy.  So here are a few options I'm looking at.  Would love to hear from you which one is your favourite!

Oh my gosh, there are heaps more I could have included, where does it end!!!

Instagram Me!

Hi there friends,
Is anyone still there?  It seems that I have been neglecting this space these days.  Very bad I know.  I've been busy with client work and juggling a whole new job of motherhood.  It's been a wonderful time.  Of course I still love getting out and about into the design and art community.  Baby Indigo and I have already visited MONA in Hobart, Heide MOMA and ACCA amongst many furniture showrooms. She is getting very familiar with art gallery etiquette!  So if you're around, I'd love to see you on instagram.  If you'e not on instagram well it's a great way to follow some pretty inspiring people out there by viewing their photos all day, every day!  My photos are not nearly as cool as many out there but I still have fun.  You can find me @LAUREN_MACER.  Hope to see you there!

 Materials and finishes for bedroom concept

 Materials and finishes for living area

Artwall

Some delicious HAY my friend Andy bought back direct from the HAY House in Copenhagen - Thank you!

Emerald City

 

Did you know that Emerald is the Pantone colour of 2013?  I thought it was quite an unexpected colour but then I started noticing it around.  Funny how that happens!  Sometimes green can be a tricky colour to use in interiors; pale minty greens literally make me feel ill and sage green is so 80s country style.  But Emerald is so fresh!  

"Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony."

I love this home of stylist Muriel Verbist.  The green here looks totally fresh and I'm loving it mixed with blue too.  Whoever said that 'blue and green should never be seen' were complete liars, obviously!  My latest interiors project features accents of green, turquoise and blue inspired by the clients amazing artwork - it has been a pleasure to work with these colours!

Fibreglass rocker by Charles and Ray Eames. 'Mountain Spot Rug' by Donna Wilson. From Elle Decoration June 2011, styling Suzanne Stankus - photography Paul Raeside 

'Fjord' armchair by Patricia Urquiola by Moroso

LC in Colour by Cassina

Anglepoise mini desk lamp in Forest Green by Kenneth Grange

Minakani Wallpaper 

Bertoia Diamond Lounge Chair 

Found on Pintrest, sorry I don't have the credits for this image but I love it.

 

Did you see Beyonce singing the American national anthem during the Obama inauguration ceremony? How amazing are those earrings - just stunning!

So this year I'll be keeping an eye out for Emerald!

The Silent Room

Just looking at this space makes me feel relaxed, the lighting is soothing and the limited materials are subtle and restrained.  This is The Silent Room at Selfridges London, it's designed as a retreat from the sensory overload of the shopping experience all around.  Customers are encouraged to sit or lie on the benches and apparently people have been seen meditating and even praying.  It's amazing how interior design can really affect your mood.

This is not the first Silent Room for Selfridges however.  The founder Gordon Selfridge included a Silent Room when the store opened in 1909.  It's interesting that even back then when department stores were quite a new concept, that a space like this was conceived to entice customers to stay longer in the store.  With my experience with retail interior design, I can attest that every inch of the floor plan is precious, and expensive.  So bravo for Selfridges to invest in such a beautiful and thoughtful space for customers to enjoy.

I've recently become a Mum and have spent some time at Chadstone shopping centre recently to escape the hot hot days (along with the other Mums and old people!). So I am proof that with the lovely parents rooms and facilities, I spent more time there and a few hundred dollars on things I didn't really need.  Don't panic - they were on sale!

The Silent Room is built by London studio Alex Cochrane Architects with the idea to take your shoes off, follow the dark passage around with a single globe showing the way and just relax.  It's not intended to be totally silent but I could imagine the space would encourage you to speak softly and unwind.  A good place to just take a breather and then when you enter back into the chaos of the store you'll feel so good that you'll think those gold hi-tops are a great idea.  That's where they get you!

Found on dezeen

Shipping Container Living

To those of you out there who have studied interior design or architecture, you are probably familiar with shipping container projects, but I just had to share this one with you.  It's the Port-a-Bach holiday home by atelierworkshop - I love it!

At uni we researched shipping containers that were adapted for emergency situations, high density living options like student accommodation and the holiday house. Of course the most 'famous' of them all is the Sean Godsell 'Future Shack' a shipping container adapted for emergency housing, it is such a clever design. But most of the examples I've seen I just wasn't convinced that a converted shipping container is a space I would like to live in.  They were often dark, pokey and I imagine would get quite hot.  Not this one though!

The side folds down to create a porch which is like another outdoor room and a wall of glass louvred doors keep the interior light and airy.  Timber is used throughout the interior which gives continuity with fabric partitions used to divide up smaller spaces.  To me it is actually an interior I would want to spend time in on a holiday, could you imagine all of the beautiful places you could plant this baby? Sand dunes on the beach, a forest, by a lake or heck- why not fly your helicopter and land it on a city rooftop!

atelierworkshop are based in New Zealand, the Port-a-Bach is a prototype was built in Hangzhou, China and shipped to New Zealand.

Found on designboom

My Top 5 Albums of 2012

Gosh, it's been a while since I visited my little blog here...  I've been kind of busy having a baby and my mind has been a bit preoccupied...

Anyhow, since I've posted my Top 5 Albums for the last 2 years I thought I'd keep it up.  So here goes!

1. MUTEMATH: Odd Soul.  Obsessed with this AMAZING album all through 2012. 



Did you hear me - OBSESSED!!!  They are brilliant.

ALPINE: A is for Alpine.  This album is totally chilled and full of sweet sounds, it totally suits my mood these days.

COSMO JARVIS: Think Bigger.  As well as having the coolest name in the biz, this crazy Englishman sings a bit like a pirate - sounds weird and it is a little.  I like it! 
Check out this totally cute video:


FRANK OCEAN: Channel Orange:  If you were wondering what all the fuss is about this guy - get on board.  It's kind of RnB, there are moments of Price, Stevie Wonder and even Lenny Kravitz.  It's still on repeat at my place.

LANA DEL REY: What can I say about this lady?  Reminds me of summer early 2012, volume up and imagining the people, scenes and atmosphere she creates.

What have I missed?  Do you have a top 5 from 2012?

Jardan at Rokeby

Thought I'd share a little round-up of what I saw at the Jardan temporary showroom during Saturday Indesign last week.  So much gorgeousness to drool over.  The space itself is the amazing Rokeby Studios in Collingwood which my fabulous friend Andy of Studio Moore designed the interior.  It was filled with beautiful furniture by Jardan and accessorised by Safari Living - the styling was perfect!  In fact I think the styling was what really made it.  I am loving those coral pinks and pastel shades of those delicious fabrics and floor rugs.  So on trend.  Gorgeous!

Stunning artwork featured by Rowena Martinich.  Seriously beautiful.

There's that Scrapwood wallpaper again by Piet Hien Eek from Safari Living.
Photos by Lauren Macer