Opening Tomorrow...

The time has come! Tomorrow we open the cyber doors to the Cush & Nooks online store. To celebrate our opening, the first person to purchase something from Cush & Nooks will receive this gorgeous A5 Sweet William print "Celebrate in Bird Song" as a free gift.

Because we want everyone to share in the love, if you 'like' us on Facebook you will go in to the draw to win one of our fabulous Two Black Cats tea towels. Become a 'google follower' on this blog to get another entry. Don't worry all my loyal friends who are already fans and followers, you will automatically go in to the draw, which will be announced next Thursday. xxx

Crush Cul De Sac

Uh-oh, I'm in trouble! I have discovered another tumblr site that I'm crushing on...
Crush Cul De Sac. Tumblr sites have proven to be dangerous for me - if I find one I love as much as this one, time just seems to disappear! I'm such a visual person and I can't get enough of beautiful images. Here are just a few of my favourites.

Light and Colour

It's a big week for me, as I will be opening the doors to the Cush & Nooks online store on Thursday - eeek, terrified & excited all at once! To calm myself down I've gone to my happy place, and that is inside another beautiful Scandinavian home...


This Copenhagen apartment belongs to Stella magazine founder Laura Terp Hansen, and her architect boyfriend, Jesper Roth. With bright white walls, gorgeous wallpaper accents, and colourful accessories, it would be a pleasure to come home to each day.

The roof terrace provides a wonderful spot for a little alfresco dining

The gorgeous Kartell pendant lamp echos the pink in the wallpaper behind

Oh how I want those turquoise lamps! Kitchen designed by Jesper.

Love the rug - I featured it once before here

Cute Kartell bedside unit and pink flamingos on the wall by Cole & Son

Amazingly tidy record and CD storage

A glorious array of colours against the white wall

Such a cool living area, I love the wallpaper from Timorous Beasties

Thanks again to Design Sponge - you rock!

Sunday at Clifton Cafe

We have had the most beautiful weekend. After some really cold winter days, we welcomed the gorgeous sunny days - almost Spring... it felt like Spring today. We headed out with friends to one of our favourite sunny day spots, Clifton Cafe. Nestled between farmland and the beach, it has lots of outdoor seating, a massive adjoining field for the kids to run around in, and dogs are allowed if they're well behaved (of course our Sam is!). The kids all had yummy Rush Munro ice creams while the adults had coffee and huge scones with jam & cream - deelish!

source: 1, 2, 3, 4a and 4b, 5

Just Hanging Out

Some of you who have been following my blog for a while will remember my favourite chair, a hanging chair that hubby got for my last birthday (clever boy!). There are so many fantastic versions of the hanging chair, some of them I've already featured in previous articles, often turning up in the amazing houses I fall for. Check them out...

sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8

Save the Date

We have a date! Thursday 1st September - not only the first day of Spring here in the Southern Hemisphere, but also the opening of the CUSH & NOOKS online store.
Put a bookmark on this website - www.cushandnooks.co.nz.

source

Chiang Mai Dragon Wallpaper

I have wanted to wallpaper the wall in our entranceway for a while now, but have been procrastinating because I can't make up my mind on which design. I've always loved Woods by Cole & Son featured here. Then I started veering towards a more simple geometric pattern like here. But now I'm thinking that I love this gorgeous Chiang Mai Dragon wallpaper. Terrible indecision (I'm a Libran!), but spoilt for choice!

Pics via: here and here

Dusty Deco

I found some of these images in my 'inspiration' folder and decided to revisit the home and share it with you. It belongs to the Swedish couple who own the Dusty Deco boutique - I love homes that reflect the personality of it's owners. If you like the deliciously quirky and industrial goodies that fill their home, you have to check out their online shop. And see more from the talented photographer who shot their home.

Tablescapes

"Tablescapes" - this is a term I've learnt from Anna Spiro over at Absolutely Beautiful Things. It's all to do with placing objects on tables, shelves and mantels, and there is a real art to it. Anna is an expert at it and I am learning from her. Here are just a few examples of hers.

Stacks of beautiful books are really useful, as Jen of Made by Girl will tell you.

These are some of my favourite 'tablescapes' that I have featured in various Cush & Nooks blog articles. As my friend Bec and I were discussing recently, it's all about layering and having varying heights for interest. The fun part is shopping for the interesting pieces to create the looks.