The Blue Mood Continued...

My blue obsession continues, with me moving onto blue fabrics, particularly something I can use as an art piece for our bedroom, which has a massive white wall at the end of the bed with only a walkspace beside it. When only a wall hanging will do...!

So many beautiful arty fabrics out there, here are some faves...

Rigi in colour Ink from Kravet

Siirtolapuutarha Fabric in Blue-Green by Maija Louekari for Marimekko

Fanfare in Kingfisher from Warwick Fabrics

Simboli in Blue & White by Fortuny from Ascraft

Pondicherry Ikat in Blue by Travers from Unique Fabrics

Not completely blue I know! but cool all the same
Geometric by Christian Fischbacher, available from Zepel Fabrics

Salaria in Blue by Travers from Unique Fabrics

Pop Art in Dazzling Blue by Aldeco from Ascraft

Akira in Cobalt from Warwick Fabrics 

362436 in Indigo by Studioilse for Christopher Farr, from Ascraft

Blue

Ahh writing. I love to do it, but lately have not been inspired to do so (have you seen how long ago my last post was...?). So, here I am back again. And this is about the colour blue.

It is one of my favourites, ESPECIALLY in interiors. Blue and browns feature predominantly in our own space, so here is an homage to blue, and also a way to get inspired during our ongoing renos.

Hydrangea Blue. Image Wikimedia Commons

The blue that speaks to me most is definitely in the muted shades, darker and more grey blues. Petrol and stormy blues are what I like to be surrounded by. The blue of the season though would have to be royal blue. I am seeing it everywhere atm, I like it, but too loud for my taste. (Although I do love that dress).

Nikes in Royal Blue. Image Blue & Cream

Matthew Eager Bodice Gown. Image Eve Boutique

Blue Butterfly. Image Green Buzz

So it is back to duller blues for my house anyways. Years ago I saved dining chairs from the council cleanup, they were a mess and I had to go to a vinyl factory to find the correct tone of blue (apparently mostly used for marine applications) but I'm very glad I did, 10 years later they still look great, even if I only did get to finish 4 of the 6 chairs I have, much to husband's chagrin.

Beloved dining chair. OK so it looks black but is actually dark navy blue, excuse the crap phone pic.

Now winter is setting in and I am on the lookout for a door blanket as a temporary heat trap measure, these Mexican Blankets on eBay look the ticket:

Blue Mexican Blanket. Image eBay

And don't worry babe, I will finish the last two chairs; eventually.

sonoma alexandria

So here it is. My first café post for Sydney. I did a few here and there in Melbourne, mainly focusing on kid & pram friendly cafes, but Sonoma is my first in Sydney and I am here without a kid or pram!

Sonoma Cafe. Love the picture collage

Nevermind though, there is plenty of room for the odd stroller or two. The space itself is roomy with high ceilings and a concrete floor, so kids, I daresay would be too loud to be accommodated comfortably here (and I always speak for my own kids, I am often envious of parents who have café trained kids. I inevitably end up wearing babycino when I try). There are a couple of tables outside (presumably for smokers) but the area is too open to the street to be used with kids who like to roam.

High ceilings, concrete floor - not a good mix for young kids, perfect for prams.

Teencie outdoor area

The interior is a classy mix of industrial and elegant. Black walls with timber accents, oversize bare bulbs and bentwood chairs make for a cosy atmosphere, while the concrete floor and sloping factory roof keep the industrial history of the building intact. The café is adjoining their main factory bakery in Sydney so keeping the interior grounded is a smart move.

The servery continues the classic mood with a carrara marble wrapped benchtop around a dark timber base. The marble adds welcome texture and elevates the design from its industrial core. Opposite this three white cutouts punch out from the exposed brick wall, two filled in with subtle related photography, and the third acting as a window into the bakery itself.

Exposed brick with dramatic lighting

The café/factory is located in an industrial area of Alexandria, but would still attract a large clientele based on the fact that many workers in the area would be starved of a good local caf. The sandwiches are interesting and made with Sonoma’s artisan bread, itself worth the $10 asking price, gotta try the chicken tarragon one - too good. There's also a selection of biscuits and cakes, a daily hot food menu and this morning I treated myself to some Spiced Rhubarb and Yogurt which was topped with toasty muesli. Yum.

Morning tea. (Note trendy toddler scrawl on laptop...)

Lucky me I get to have lunch here as well and today I go for the curried lentil soup. Alas I am on a carb free diet at the mo (and yes torturing myself at an artisan bakery!) but I am sure the soup will more than satisfy. OK maybe ONE BITE of the bread. Just to taste. And only for this post, yes I am doing this for you!

All in all, Sonoma is a lovely place to eat; very friendly service, elegant interior and great coffee. With or without the pram.

kitchen musings

We are still awaiting a big move into a house in Sydney, hence we are in limbo land which kind of means everything around me is as well. But the good news is the house is in dire need of a new kitchen so my first personal reno will soon be afoot!

We are on a super shoestring budget so I am heading over to my favourite place in the whole world for ours - Ikea! You have heard me sing their praises before so I'll hold back (but they do have some fab designs!, OK stop now) but I have also been seeking inspiration online, here is a list of fave kitchen design elements... (Alright so it's a wish list but you might add some I haven't thought of too)

Kitchen Art: get those frames in there!

Loving the yellow... Image: Freshome

Window Splashback: love these, who wants to stare at tiles when you're cooking when you can see the garden, a view to water, a mosaic wall, or even a couple of pot plants?

View to the garden. Image: Freshome

wouldn't mind this oven too! Image: homeone.com.au

Bold colour scheme: check out this fab kitchen...

Punchy. Image: Freshome

Pot rack: quite like them in front of the window...

Pots preferable to blinds. Image: Houzz

Image: Houzz

Cool Stools: even if they are completely impractical

You would have to try them for boing factor surely? Image: Houzz

Love these! Image: Houzz

Other things on the wish list, double oven (don't have $$ or space for that one), servery into the backyard, fridge with ice machine, matching cutlery and unchipped plates!

global vintage

So from my last post, you know I have just returned from a trip in Europe with my sister. We had an amazing time everywhere we went, and sis being a keen shopper, especially for vintage goods, we did try and seek out vintage stores during our jaunt.

The most we came across were in Stockholm. Being a designy city, you know the second hand wares are gonna be good. We both picked up some great bargains and oh how I wish I could have bought some furniture; one day I will return with a shipping container!

But more than this, the thing I most enjoy about second hand shopping is the history you can gain from rifling through old stuff. I have enjoyed vintage shopping ever since it was just opp shopping, and would get excited about going to an opp shop in another suburb or town to pick up cool coloured glass or some polyester flares. And so much of this was about getting a glimpse of times gone by, whether it was the local Vinnies or a church opp shop in a small town that you stopped for a pie in.

Fab tea set from store in Gamla Stan, Stockholm

So it was with opp shopping in another country. My fave parts were looking through the books and their subjects, even though in Swedish it was still cool to see what was around. And the homewares were great, one tiny store in the old town was run by a sweet old couple, and had kitchenware! Awesome copper cake tins and massive pieces of silver cutlery. I did so well not to buy up big, it may have had something to do with the fact I would have ended up with a 30 kilo backpack, but still.

Next time you want to see a more accessible slice of history from a place you're visiting, whether it's the next town or the next continent, head to the opp shops BEFORE the museum, you can even take a little piece home with you...