Wednesday Words

Collage from V&A Pattern series William Morris

"If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

William Morris

English writer & artist, 1834-1896

Sandy K

[above image collaged by Sandy K]

Monday Magic

Vogue Living (AUS) May/Jun 2004

Sandy K

[above image impatiently scanned by Sandy K]

Friday Fashion

Harper's Bazaar (UK) Jan 2009

Sandy K

[above image impatiently scanned by Sandy K]

Wednesday Words

BBC 1995 production of Persuasion

"All the privilege I claim for my own sex (it is not a very enviable one; you need not covet it), is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone."

Anne Elliot in conversation with Captain Harville

(Persuasion by Jane Austen)

"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years & a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you."

Captain Frederick Wentworth in a letter to Anne Elliot

(Persuasion by Jane Austen)

One of the best lines ever in a novel or film, "You pierce my soul."

If you are a Jane Austen fan, BBC production fan, Period Drama fan or in fact just a good film fan, do yourself a favour & get a copy of the BBC's 1995 production of Persuasion starring Amanda Root as Anne Elliot & Ciaran Hinds as Captain Frederick Wentworth. In my opinion it is the best adaptation of a Jane Austen work by far as it does not "pretty" up the actors nor the costumes. It is a grounded & more realistic portrayal of the people and times of Jane Austen. One of my all time favourite films.

"You pierce my soul." I swoon!

Sandy K
[above image via Amazon]

House & Garden (AUS) October 2010 Issue

House & Garden (AUS) October 2010

This month's issue is on news stands now. It's a great issue, chock full of beautiful pics. The two pics below are from the "An Invitation to Dine" story styled by Marie Nichols who also has a wonderful blog called Whole Lotta Lovely. The story is full of gorgeous ideas but I've only given you a sneak peek at two pictures.

The above pic I had to include as the lovely "With Love" tag is from Bespoke Press who are based in Brisbane & have the most divine items for sale. They too have their own blog entitled Bespoke Press.

The below pic is from a story "Suite Success". It features eight different hotels & resorts & describes how to achieve the same look in your own home. The places featured include: The Greenwich Hotel in New York, The Four Seasons in Seychelles (see my related article on Seychelles artist Michael Adams here) , Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in Lithgow, NSW, Australia & Hotel Daniel in Paris.

Hotel Daniel, Paris, France

Beautiful gelati colours in the feature above have got me ready to celebrate the long awaited Spring weather we are having (thought I'd rub it in for those of you located in the Northern Hemisphere).

Another fabulous designer & fellow blogger rates a mention in the pic above. Anna Spiro of Black & Spiro Interior Design is now stocking the sumptuous furniture range from Stuart Membrey. Anna's blog is world renowned & is aptly called Absolutely Beautiful Things.

The below pics are of a Sydney terrace house that has undergone an interesting modernisation. I particularly love the water feature in the last pic of this home.

The pic below is only one from a Melbourne house featured. It's a cottage with a modern extension. I liked the height of the vaulted ceiling which would be a distinct change from the original low ceilings of the cottage.

The last story I have featured is a garden makeover designed by Richard Kelly of the wonderful Urban Exotic landscape design studio. Urban Exotic is a Newcastle (go the Novocastrians, and no I'm not showing any home town bias at all) based firm who take pride in "creating authentic, poetic spaces that inspire the human spirit".

Just as an aside, here are some pics of a project that Richard undertook at my parents' house about 8 years ago.

Sandy K

[all above images impatiently scanned by me except the last four which are courtesy of Urban Exotic]