Affordable Style

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas. This is the first chance I've had to spend any length of time at my computer, so I thought I'd post about one of my favourite things - a beautiful home with lots of gorgeous, eye-catching goodness. I will be a bit sporadic on the blog over the next couple of weeks, as this is quality family time for us (not often we have the hubby/dad home with us 24/7). Enjoy your holidays. xxx


The Danish home of Nina Brinch is constantly changing with all her new discoveries. Nina is proof that you don't need to spend a lot of money to have a stylish home. She frames beautiful magazine cut-outs, makes her own sculptural art by tying birch trunks together, and loves her collection of coloured vases that she found for $5 each.

picture source

Merry Christmas Beautiful People

I'm sorry I've been M.I.A. for a couple of days, and especially since my last post was very short & sweet (or not so sweet, as the case may be). Thank you so much for everyone who sent lovely, positive messages, both through the blog, by text & phone. Please be assured I am absolutely fine, and rearing to go for a lovely Christmas day tomorrow. In fact, the reason for my absence is the arrival of family, long lunches that led into evening bbqs, & general merriment.


2011 has been a huge year for me - the start of my blog, which then led to the opening of the Cush & Nooks store. I have enjoyed it immensely, and am humbled every day by the number of you wonderful people who grace me with your presence, and take an interest in my love of interior design and beautiful things. In between the Christmas celebrations I have also been unpacking a shipment of very exciting new product for Cush & Nooks. I will be letting you know more very soon. I hope you all have an amazing Christmas, and a well deserved break. I will be be taking a wee break myself, but will be back before you know it. Much Love, Vic xxx

the presents are wrapped

the house is ready

and the celebrations have begun

picture source: 1, 2 & 3

Polly Anna

I had some disappointing news yesterday, but ever the optimist, I think everything happens for a reason. So, chin up, and where's that glass of bubbles!

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Christmas at Camel & Yak

I came across a lovely website today - Camel & Yak. They are a UK homes and lifestyle company offering tempting treats from Scandinavian companies - definitely my kind of shop! Look at some of their gorgeous Christmas trinkets...

The Brides Cafe

I came across The Brides Cafe, when I noticed they had posted one of my images on their Tumblr site. When I find a Tumblr site I love, it just has one after another gorgeous image, and I can get stuck there for quite some time. These are some of the 'home' pics that move me for one reason or another...

I want stairs so I can do this

Looks like Scandinavia meets Morocco - two of my fav styles

Love everything in this pic - sign, rug, lovely bits & pieces on shelves

Come to my place please - do you think you could ever get out once you sat in this?

Great shelves - it looks like a giant stack of books instead of individual shelves

The contrast between chairs & table is awesome, and what orderly book shelves!

Black & white love - and beautiful dog!

Gorgeous mix of patterns and colours

The Week Before Christmas

The countdown is on now, my three little girls are getting very excited. How is your shopping going? I'm feeling a bit more organised, only a couple of presents to go. Then it will be focusing on the food, and praying for sunshine (we've had way too much rain and cool weather for the start of Summer here in Hawke's Bay). Just in case you need any more ideas, have a look at some of the gorgeous products we have over at our Cush & Nooks online store...

Ivy & Piper

Have you had a chance to flick through the latest Ivy & Piper online mag yet? As to be expected, there are some gorgeous things in there. I love the elegant bathroom featured in the article on page 28. It's amazing what a difference that one single pink flower makes to the room! What catches your eye?

Danish Christmas

Do you love this beautiful home in Denmark as much as me? There are little Christmasy arrangements for a lovely festive feel without being overwhelming. My favourite is the little tree on the shelf with the deer underneath.

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Another lovely blogger award made it's way to me today from the talented Abbey at Gild & Grace - how special I feel, thanks Abbey. The Liebster award is given to bloggers with fewer than 200 followers, and then handed on to 5 more inspirational blogs of my choice. It just so happens that I have come across some brilliant new blogs over the last few days, so it's perfect timing.

My Fab Five are: Amy @ Five Kinds of Happy • Kirsty @ Coral and Coast • Claudia @ wish you were here • Sasha @ one white apron • Crispin @ facing the sun and heading into the wind xxx

Room Crush

I have a crush on both these rooms, although the first is more of a space than room (a nook)!

I love the vastness of the 'Z' in comparison to the tiny chairs & table - very cool!

Awesome kitchen & dining - great lights, barstools, funky 10 seater table, and it looks like the poster can slide over the chalkboard - wohoo!

images via interiors porn

Home Sweet, Close to my Heart, Home

I'd like to take you on a little tour through a groovy home that belongs to Canadian couple, Nerissa and Peter, and their wee girl, Luna. I love this home with it's Scandinavian feel, and bold graphics. But I also love the story, as it is similar to my own... Nerissa is a graphic designer and she started her blog, The New Domestic, to document her and Peter's adventures as first time parents and home owners. She has since launched an online shop of the same name with a homewares line of products that bring joy to life & home - hers and ours.
Thanks for the sneak peek Design Sponge.

Cushions & rug fulfilling my love of black & white stripes, and fab picture wall

Nerissa's studio where she works, blogs and gets crafty

Chair and wallpaper that were made for each other

A lovely room for gatherings - the bunting was made by Nerissa for Luna's birthday party, but they loved it so much it has become a permanent fixture

TV and hangout room - love the Marimekko fabric hanging and the balloons in the fireplace

Instead of one piece of art in the master bedroom, a shelf displays random pieces that can be changed whenever they feel like it

Studio come family activity room - a place for everyone

I adore Luna's room which is filled with pieces her parents have collected throughout the years

Nerissa's dream kitchen

I couldn't agree more!

Etsy Christmas Love

I came across these cute wee wooden hand painted dolls on Etsy. As well as gorgeous wedding cake toppers that you can get custom made, there are some little Christmas dolls. I think they would look perfect at our place, now which ones should I choose...?

Mini Christmas Nativity

Joseph, Mary & Baby Jesus

The Tree Family

New Rice Products

I've been a big fan of RICE since I discovered them about a year ago, so I'm really excited to add some of their products to our Cush & Nooks store. RICE is a Danish homewares and accessories company. They are known for their colourful melamine, handmade baskets and storage, and hand glazed Italian tableware. Their aim (and now mine) is to surround you with homely objects which are down to earth but still funky, fun and functional.

RICE is a business with heart - another great reason to buy their products. They work against poverty and unfair trade, and support as many charity projects in developing countries as possible. All RICE products are designed and developed in Denmark, and manufactured in developing countries. Their policy is based on: no child labour, fair wages for everyone and better working conditions. Nobody can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody!

Pop over and have a look at all the new goodies we have in the Cush & Nooks store. And, because I know how our wallets take a bit of a hammering at this time of year, for the rest of December we are offering FREE SHIPPING within New Zealand.