From Paris with love

The Notebook and Casablanca aside, it's hard to think of many notions more romantic than that of a Paris apartment... French doors opening onto a balcony with views of the Eiffel Tower and beyond, a window box brimming with flowers, sweet aromas wafting from the patisserie below... While this vision of living in a maisonette -  complete with bicycle and French bulldog - will remain a dream for most of us, in honour of Bastille Day tomorrow, we've compiled a guide to decorating like a Parisian. Note: it was tempting to fill this post with Parisian (interiors) porn, but we've eschewed that for achievable style and ideas that you can re-create at your place.

Image via weheartit.com.

Lesson number one - a statement chair offers instant French polish. We like a classic Louis seat or plush button-back in a look-at-me hue.

Image via hold-my-hand-0.blogspot.com.

Image via plumprettysugar.tumblr.com.

Lesson number two - don't be weighed down by tradition. The new brand of Parisian glamour is about more than gold gilt and luxe chandeliers. For a modern aesthetic, team classic pieces - think a grand mirror or mantelpiece - with contemporary lines, retro shapes and eclectic accents.

Image via domainehome.com

Image via Pure Provenance

Lesson number three - artwork is your friend. You've heard us sing the praises of gallery walls before and this one is no expection to our love - it somehow manages to make a statement without competing with the striped loveseat. Tres chic!

Image via thisisglamorous.com.

{SHOP THE LOOK}

'Framont' mirror, La Maison.

French Provincial Louis chair, Ebay (a great source for affordable antique and reproduction furniture).

'Parisian Spot' table, Max Sparrow.

'Chesterfield' and 'Chandeliers' cushions, Edit.

'Essex' upholstered ottoman, West Elm.

Friday find: the $49.95 lamp

You know the feeling: you're about to buy something you've fallen in love with and are prepared to pay full price for, when the sales assistant tells you it's 30% off. Hoorah!!

That's just how we felt when, after months of searching, we found the perfect desk lamp. At Ikea. For $49.95. And that's not even the sale price. The 'Ranarp' work lamp is just the right height and shape, with touches of matte gold and a body of classic white making it a fresh take on the current all-metal trend. After searching high and low for a beautiful brass desk lamp and baulking at the usual $300+ price tag, this was the moment we had been waiting for. 

Our Friday Find prettying up this chic gold-toned work space. Image via this is glamorous.

'Ranarp' work lamp, $49.95, Ikea.

Although technically a 'work lamp', it's lovely enough to illuminate a bedside table or inject some contemporary edge to a side table setup in your living room. 

Which is lucky because we got so excited, we bought three.

Get the look: Gossip Girl #2

Blair may have taught us how to wear headbands, but it's Serena who showed us how to style our bedrooms. Following on from our post on the flighty (yet fabulous) socialite's home-away-from-home, this week we step inside her original bedroom - the one that we think kicked off the decorating world's love affair with gold.

Image via casasugar.com.

Image via pinterest.

Image via Christina Tonkin Interiors.

If Serena's styling teaches us one thing, it's that a glamorous boudoir is only a smattering of sparkle away. Inconspicuous neutral bedding tones down the room's other look-at-me elements - some of which we love, some we don't. Here's our take on her Upper East Side style - string of unsuitable boyfriends optional.

{SHOP THE LOOK}

We were lusting over Serena's gold polka dot bedhead from episode one. Less expensive than an upholstered bedhead, and a lot more fun, are these removable metallic wall stickers from Etsy. We love them dotted across just one wall for a quirky statement.

Like your sparkle in small doses? This gilt Aura cushion does the trick nicely.

A design icon, the Kartell 'Bourgie' lamps illuminating Serena's space probably set her back as much as her enviable collection of Nina Ricci ball gowns. Until we can afford to splurge on the real deal, we're happy with the near-identical replica at Matt Blatt for just $175 a pop.

What's a Gossip Girls interior (or episode, really) without shiny pretty things - we love this Rachel Castle cushion (above) and Aura silver-striped design (below).

A scarlet throw adds drama to a scheme. 

Confession: The glitter-dusted eye artwork adorning Serena's wall is a little creepy for our liking (no wonder she was so troubled with that staring her down at night) but we'd have sweet dreams indeed with this shimmering beauty by photographer Amelia Kay adding a touch of luxe to our walls.

Friday find: Jessica Durrant watercolours

It's the day of the year when our Instagram feeds are flooded with pics of Hamptons pool parties and hot dogs - happy 4th of July! We thought we'd celebrate from across the globe with our own take on American style - no stars and stripes here. These prints by illustrator Jessica Durrant depict the USA's iconic cities and skylines in dreamy watercolours, and will bring a slice of The Big Apple - or a shot of sunny California - to your apartment every day of the year.

'New York Loves You' print, $27/21cm x 28cm.

'Chrysler Building NYC' print, $27/21cm x 28cm.

 

 'Brooklyn Bridge - Brooklyn Blues' print, $27/21cm x 28cm. 

'Seattle Blues' print, $27/21cm x 28cm.

 'SF' print, $27/21cm x 28cm.

 'California Dreaming' print, $27/21cm x 28cm.

All we need now is a Manhattan cocktail and piece of apple pie - American dream sorted. Also visit Jessica Durrant's Etsy store for prints of other worldly cities, plus simply divine fashion illustrations.

Shop profile: Girl & Graaf

If you've ever been to Bondi, chances are you were lured there by sun, surf and/or sand. And while you were there - showing off your new Triangl bikini, topping up your tan and watching the Bondi Rescue boys do their thing - chances are you missed out on one of the seaside suburb's little-known gems - Girl & Graaf (well, it's hard to compete with a world famous beach). We're regulars at this travel-inspired lifestyle boutique, and dropped by yesterday to check out its latest offerings.



Nestled discreetly amongst take-away joints on Bondi Rd, the petite store is unassuming at first glance, but step inside its whitewashed interiors and you're instantly whisked away to far-flung worlds. The brainchild of travel lovers Lauren Davidson (that's the girl) and her man Simon De Graaf (that's the Graaf), it's infused with the spirit of wanderlust and stocked with pieces from all corners of the globe. Find crisp linens, charming ceramics and enamelware, scented candles, sea salt soaps and dreamy travel tomes - the kind that make you want to jump on a plane and unleash your inner explorer.

 Divine styling and ever-changing displays - courtesy of Lauren - ensure the store is always filled with surprises. And thanks to the eclectic blend of tribal treasures and coastal finds, it feels like, well, a holiday. The only thing bringing us back to reality is perhaps the corner dedicated to cleaning products, but even these are all natural and oh-so stylish that we can't wait to try them out at home (leather fly swat, anyone?)

Particular noteworthy to us is the fact that the store's awash with small accent pieces - perfect for decorating small spaces. We're loving these whimsical fabric tassels for a subtle nautical vibe. 

Coveting the global nomad look but don't live locally? Don't fret - you can shop online here. And remember - next time you're sunning yourself on Bondi Beach: put on a kaftan, take a stroll up the road and visit this delightful boutique - then contemplate your next adventure.

Visit Girl & Graaf at 189 Bondi Rd, Bondi, (02) 8065 8528

Friday find: Kip & Co

Your bedroom is one room in the home that you can really have some fun with, especially if you're flatting with friends who might not appreciate that silver tasselled throw slung over the communal couch. But in your bedroom? You set the rules. We're loving the vibrant look-at-me designs from Australian bedlinen brand Kip & Co - think quirky patterns (pizza-print bedspread, anyone?) and cosy velvet quilts in punchy brights. For a more subdued affair, they also do on-trend chambray quilt covers in pale blue or soft peach and moody charcoal velvet pillowcases. Our tip? Work back high-voltage patterns with sumptuous solid colour velvets. Here's a peek of just a few of their dreamy designs...

 Burnt orange velvet quilt cover.

 100% merino wool pom pom blanket.

 Velvet pillowcases (top left) and Dessert Designs quilt cover (bottom right).

 Checkerboard/Ash Chambray quilt cover.

 Teal velvet cushion cover, $89.

Burnt orange velvet cushion cover, $89.

 Dark grey velvet pillowcase, $79/pair.

Fuchsia velvet pillowcase, $79/pair.

If anyone wants us this weekend, too bad - staying in bed has never looked this good.

An ode to magazines

"Print media is dead!" we hear you cry, but while this may be an odd place to say it (being a blog and all...) we're firmly in defence of magazines. Perhaps our backgrounds make us biased, but we like nothing better than a beachside read in summer, or snuggling up with the latest issue of a favourite fashion mag and steaming cup of tea on a Sunday afternoon. Trouble is, we both now have more magazines than shelving space. Cue some savvy stacking and a little bit of styling, and voila! Your beloved glossies are transformed into veritable (not to mention affordable) pieces of furniture, as per Anna's towering mag-stack-turned-side-table below:

There's yet more magazines taking pride of place on the chest of drawers that conceals all manner of cables and TV-related gizmos (we don't know what they do, but apparently they have a purpose). Stacks of mags keep your reading material close at hand and work to cover up the cords that can dangle from the TV. An Ecoya candle, Kate Spade silver decoration, Bethany Linz embossed print and a stem of blushing orchids pretty up what could easily have become a playstation-dominated tech zone, if left to the other occupant of this apartment... 

 We're not the only ones tapping into this trend - pinterest abounds with examples of magazines moonlighting as bedside tables, coffee tables and styling tools. Take this ladder-turned-library to display the week's reading material - head to Domayne for similar.

Image via theglitterguide.com.

 Image via Love Maegan

Create a blissful reading nook with chic under-window storage as per the above. Renters need not fear, Freedom stocks simple white storage units just like the built-in beauty in this pic, for a fraction of the cost. 

Image vía espacio vital.

 We love the idea of securing our latest issues with buttery soft vintage leather belts, and Melbourne company Lightly has designed just the thing - called the Assemblages Book Girth Belt, it keeps towers of tomes neat and tidy, which is especially reassuring if you're planning on topping them with vases of flowers!