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.

Watermelon Pink

Both Anna Spiro and I share a crippling addiction to pink (she has just done a post).

I am just itching to paint a room in flamingo pink. I have the sample pot, now all I have to do is find a room!

What is new about pink is the way you mix it. I love it clashing with red, a la Yves St Laurent, or have it as a bold accent in an all-white or grey room. It looks modern with other pinks in bold pop art prints.

Gazebos

My outdoor gazebo finally fell down in a strong wind recently. It is the middle of winter here but I figure now is the time to start planning for its replacement. Here are some lovely examples of what is possible. Should I go all white and light or rustic and floral?

A Step Up

Have seen some great stair treatments lately and had to post these two quirky stand-outs.

Not So Mellow Yellow

Have just returned from 2 days of the walking marathon that is the biannual trade fair. Buyers flock to 3 venues to see hundreds of wholesalers' wares set out in countless aisles. Sorry if I sound exhausted.

One colour that made the whole process bearable was the odd splash of cheery yellow. I am loving yellow as an accent or teamed with deep grey for a more up-to-date look.

The best use of yellow and grey I've seen lately is in the home of J. Crew's Jenna Lyons. She is not a fan of pastels in kids rooms so painted her son's walls a deep grey and the ceiling in yellow and white stripes.

The kitchen shot shows how you can update a room with coloured accessories.

Graffitti Chic

We have the Design & Decoration trade fair coming up in Sydney this week and it's got me to thinking about what we'll be loving next.

I found this interesting story on Jimmie Karlson from interior design duo Jimme Martin in Living Etc. They rework classic and often ornate furniture and give it a very British, punk edge.

I think its a bit much for a whole house but fabulous in small doses.

Painted Floors

A few months back recall seeing a hot pink painted floor in a London kitchen which looked amazing (but I can't find the tear-sheet). Ever since I have been dreaming of painted floors and here are a couple of bright ones.
Painting knotty cypress pine floors is a great way to avoid that 80s sauna look as varnished pine tends to yellow with age. They also look great in a beach house - even better when they get a bit scuffed.
In My House tip: Use paving paint as it gives good coverage and is designed for heavy foot traffic.

Buying Frenzy

I have just returned from the Melbourne Home and Giving/Life In Style trade fairs where buyers and store owners go to get inspiration and to order their wares for the lead up to Christmas.
I am intrigued to see how the trends change. Two years ago there was lots of faded pastels of shabby chic. Now the same suppliers' ranges have morphed into French provincial and its all beige linens, french typography and Louis legs. Not that this is a bad thing - I am guilty of going weak at the knees over anything beige with a red stripe - but I am glad to see that there are more eclectic ranges gaining in popularity.
A few companies with a more directional edge spruiked the industrial look and the eclectic "India meets the middle east" riot of pattern and colour.
I am interested to hear what others think are the next big looks for interiors?