Real Living -Leah's Inside Story

Are you enjoying your break? I hope you are. I'm spending some time with family and friends and hoping the phone doesn't ring ...

I love to do stories in my local area to share what I love about it with the rest of the world.

In this month's cracker issue of Real Living there is a story we did on Leah Atkins (check out her wonderful blog Leah-The Inside Story). I met Leah about five years ago when she and her mother started "Home At Last" in Milton, one of the best homewares stores on the South Coast.

Leah is an incurable creative with a well-honed stylist's vision. Every corner of her house is a beautiful still life. I first did a story on Leah and partner Dave about three years ago. Since then they moved away to a new house they were building and moved back in again and it was interesting to see how her style had evolved and what she changed now she had a chance to revisit.

The biggest change was the colour palette. She has taken most of the colour out and gone for a more neutral grey theme mixed with natural textures. The other big difference was that she has painted the floorboards all white to create a lighter backdrop. It has definitely worked a treat and gives the house a fresher, more unified look.

Leah is always working on a new project and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Luckily for Leah, Dave is a builder and talented cabinet maker so he can make just about anything she dreams up. His current project is Leah's garden "shed" but something tells me its going to be more than a colourbond lock-up!

Check out her blog - her recent posts showing her christmas decorations and "practice" christmas table are fabulous.

Real Living Stories

One last post before knocking off for Christmas celebrations...

I had almost forgot to post that I have 2 stories in this month's Real Living magazine! I was up in Sydney in a mad frenzy and bumped into it at the newsagent. It's a cracker issue and a great holiday flick, so grab a copy to take to the beach.

First up is the colourful home of Melanie Parker who works with the fabulous Anna Spiro (Absolutely Beautiful Things) at Black & Spiro in Brisbane. Mel is an adorable girl who has done a great job decorating her first home (with hubby Stuart) with lots of vintage finds and confident colours.

I don't know how she finds the time, but Mel also runs homewares business Ivy and Piper with good friend Elizabeth Raptis and they have a great new online magazine.

Here are some shots from the story as well as a few that didn't make the final cut. We narrowly missed out on getting the cover with the top shot - oh well...

I'd also like to thank you for dropping by my blog this year. I have really enjoyed your comments and feedback and getting to know all of you out there in this online world of all things stylish!

Please take care and enjoy the festive season wherever you are in the world.

The Gardenia Hedge

One of my favourite things about summer is the smell of gardenias. When I was a little girl, I planted a gardenia tree outside my bedroom window so I could smell the perfume when the window was open on warm summer nights.

I now have a gardenia hedge which, despite being neglected this year, has nevertheless produced beautiful blooms. This would be thanks to the weeks of wet weather, most likely.

I keep a bunch on my desk so I have the fragrance with me all day and park my car near the hedge so I can smell the flowers every time I go out!

Funky Christmas D.I.Y.

A simple silver paper chain - even I can do that!

Baubles hanging from a lamp shade? Dead easy.

Pinecones, spray-painted and wired onto a frame? Tricky but do-able.

Paint an old tree branch and hang the stockings...

Make a more chic stocking for oneself out of a glam fabric like fake fur.

A bit of pink ribbon on a bare wall - too easy.

Little kids (and big kids) like a bit of Christmas craft. I think this is part of the fun and build up to the big day. Problem is I am always looking for ideas that aren't too "twee". Here are some funky - and pretty simple - inspirations from Living Etc magazine. They get my award for the "coolest" christmas ideas for the second year in a row.

Best Xmas Decor ideas

Tim Rundle's still life with baubles, above and modern Christmas below.

Fabric tree at Black & Spiro, above, and Martha's golden-toned tree at Bedford, New York.

Silver on silver - keeping it monochrome at Martha Stewart's New York State home.

Black & Spiro tree of rainbow colours!

A table decoration at Martha's East Hampton home.

It has been fun getting into the Christmas spirit and here are some of my picks for best festive styling. this year.

1. The team at Martha Stewart (or is it just Martha?) who decorate her houses. Most of us can only dream about having so many gorgeous houses and the time to decorate so many trees! I love the fact she has christmas trees in the hall, in the kitchen as well as the living room.

2. Tim Rundle is a natty stylist who has glammed up his seventies bungalow for Christmas for Living Etc. So many decorations... love the ideas for decorating a modern home for the season.

3. Loved Anna Spiro's colourful Christmas tree made from fabric strips. She posted it a while ago but here it is to enjoy again!

That's The Spirit

Thanks for all the comments. I am doing a quick post because I am running from one house to the next getting them ready for the Christmas holidays. Needless to say I am writing long "to do" lists, working on those festive wreaths and Chrissy trees for the beach houses and will photograph the results.

As I go I'm also having to do all the mundane stuff like replace wine glasses, soak cushion covers and rush out to buy new dish racks... what fun.

Note to self: remember to take the camera and the hot glue gun!!

Christmas Decoration

Martha Stewart tree from a few Xmases ago.
Loving the silver birch hand made tree.

Martha's seaside themed tree.
Love red and white decorations this year!


This past weekend has been all about putting up Christmas trees, wrapping presents and getting ready for the silly season.. The best tree I have found this year is the silver birch branch tree I found at Shady Fig, a great south coast florist and gift shop.

I always have a look at Martha Stewart for tree inspiration as well. This year I have 5 more trees to put up in the holiday houses, so I'll need some inspiration! At the beach I usually do something twiggy with shells but this year I might try something different...

Here are some great looking trees and a great wreath made by blogger Belinda Graham at thehappyhomeblog.