Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Treasured trash lights up

As I have an Orange themed house warming party coming up at my place this Saturday night, my eyes have been trained to pick out anything orange and my brain is automatically converting it to how it could be used for the party (eg. orange squeegee-mop: a mohawk for a monster costume). When driving home from Bunnings a flash of orange caught my eye in a pile of unwanted bulk-rubbish, I slammed on my breaks to investigate.
Attached to a very worn and broken wooden lamp stand was a slightly bruised but ultimately awesome large 1970's lamp shade. What a find!
I ripped it away from the lamp stand (which I probably should have grabbed too and attempted to repair) and made a detour to Ikea where I bought this Januari Floor Lamp Base. It's shiny stainless steal (not the terrible matte silver that Ikea do so much of) and I think the combination modern base and retro lamp shade look great.
Now all I need is a couple of orange bean-bags... Hmm...

Labels: furniture, green, ikea, interior, Januari, lamp, my new apartment, orange, red, retro

posted by topia7  # 11:26 PM 2 Comments

Sunday, 31 August 2008

Old made new: Telephone table as side table

Well, the big move is over and I have been loving organising and arranging my stuff in my new apartment. I have about twice as much space to work with and the original 1969 layout, kitchen and embellishments work so well with my modern/retro furnishings and collections.
As an intro to my new place I thought I would bring you one of my favourite pieces which I am using in a new way in my new place. It's a teak and leather telephone table that I picked up from a garage sale for the bargain price of $5. I have had it for a while and it's previous incarnation took the form of a bedside table. The little chair was perfect for sitting on while putting on shoes. But I don't have the space on that side of my bed here so I have used it as a side table next to my leather couch.
The red phone I also picked up from a garage sale, also for about $5 and the lamp, which glows a wonderful rich, warm orange, was made by my step-dad before it was retro. To complete the picture, the cushions I had custom-made by Jamric from Etsy. They cost way more than I had planned on spending but since everything else in the picture was such a bargain, I guess it all balances out in the end.
More snaps of my new place to come!

Labels: black, cushion, decor, Etsy, grey, interior, Jamric, lamp, leather, my new apartment, orange, red, retro, telephone, wood

posted by topia7  # 10:15 AM 3 Comments

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

Delight in the details: The Hundley's magnificent mess

On my daily scroll through Apartment Therapy I saw the wonderful post about a blog called The Selby.
The latest addition there is a post about Ian and Marc Hundley's magnificent mess. They are artists in Brooklyn and somehow their living space falls together seemingly by accident. I think the neutral base of white, pale blue and rich browns work, as well as all the natural light.
What I really enjoy though, are the little details like this old rusty razor and tin (?) cut out birds and tree balanced on the frame. It is the sort of interior I would love to poke around in.
Thanks for sharing The Selby, check out Marc and Ian Hundley - Artists at home.

Labels: Apartment Therapy, birds, brown, interior, The Selby, tree, white

posted by topia7  # 11:33 PM 1 Comments

Monday, 14 July 2008

Miss Jones' delightful snowy swallow

Happily perched on a votive sits a snowy white bone china swallow, all set to take a joyful flight around the room. I love the way she cocks her head, listening in.
Have You Met Mrs Jones have some wonderful and whimsical items of beauty from angel wings and antlers to chandeliers, cushions and organic pottery.
Check out more of what Mrs Jones has to offer. You'll be delighted.

Labels: birds, decor, interior, sculpture, white

posted by topia7  # 11:56 PM 1 Comments

Thursday, 10 July 2008

Sleeping with the fishes: Stylish and perfectly orange

I went through a phase about 10 or so years ago of loving images of fish. I drew them, collected them, sculpted them and generally surrounded myself with them. I'm not sure what it was, part was the details: scales, fins, gills etc and also their other-worldly familiarity.
I got over the fish-phase but this cushion, Pescado Pillow by Z Gallerie, could very nearly plunge me back into it. It's true, I am going through more of the-colour-orange thing now, so, in a way, this cushion combines my past and present. Besides, it would look so great with my other cushions (here and here).
Check out Pescado Pillow for yourself.

Labels: cushion, decor, fish, interior, orange, white, Z Gallerie

posted by topia7  # 12:52 AM 0 Comments

Sunday, 6 July 2008

Walnut's whimsical wallpaper: Garden birds

I have been looking for a touch of whimsy for my new apartment (40 days until settlement!) and I came across the wallpaper at Walnut. New and vintage designs arranged by colour or a gallery of rooms, I think there is something for everyone.
I am particularly fond of the garden birds with their muted colouring and the way they perch on simple sticks. They would look great on the hall wall that can be seen from the living room. Whales is also worth checking out, I think my little nephews would love that one in their bathroom.
Go check out Walnut Wallpaper.

Labels: birds, decor, interior, wallpaper, Walnut, whale

posted by topia7  # 1:33 AM 0 Comments

Wednesday, 2 July 2008

Design for dogs: Hepper knows how to please

Yesterday I accompanied my friend while buying accessories for his new puppy. Amongst them was the most hideous bright pink blanket/mat thing that I would never allow through my front door so I was determined to find something better.
I stumbled across Hepper, designers of 'modern pet furniture that'll make you jealous'. Their dog, cat and bird homes are simple and modern while still maintaining a sense of warmth and look fantastic. The photography on the site is also worth taking a look at.
Hepper makes me want to get a pet, just for these great accessories! If only they were available in Australia...

Labels: birds, decor, furniture, Hepper, interior, modern, pet, photography

posted by topia7  # 10:22 PM 0 Comments

Saturday, 28 June 2008

Mid-century modernism at it's best

Elsa & Darren have picked out some of the best mid-century pieces and put them together in a stunning way. I am envious of the space and light in their house, always helps to start with such a great setting.
Apartment Therapy have included an interview and inventory, as well as a tour through the house. Thanks again AT! Check it out.

Labels: Apartment Therapy, chair, decor, eames, furniture, interior, retro

posted by topia7  # 4:43 PM 0 Comments

Thursday, 26 June 2008

Bubbles of whimsy in the New Majestic

I decided to be out of the country for my 30th birthday so on the final night after a tour through Indochina my best friend treated me to a stay in Singapore's New Majestic Hotel.
One (of many) of the decor delights there were these hand-blown, sculptural, glass bubbles in the foyer of the hotel. The way the sun picked up the colours and dispersed them throughout was magical.
It would be great to do this in a home too, adding a spark of vibrancy to a room. Now I just need to look out for a hundred glass bubbles...

Labels: decor, Glass, Hotel, interior, sculpture, Singapore

posted by topia7  # 1:30 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

A glossy red kitchen to fall in love in... *cough* with

I've been looking at a lot of apartments with the intention of buying my first one in the past few months. I have mainly been looking at places built in the 60s and 70s in 'original condition'. Of course this usually means terrible kitchens that have suffered from neglect or been replaced in the early 90s with cheap peach and floral tiles. No thanks.
So, consequentially, even though I have not found the prefect original condition apartment to make my mark on, I have been looking for kitchen inspiration where ever I can find it.
And I think I have found the hottest dream kitchen ever. I stumbled onto it through Contemporist, it's a kitchen by an Austrian (sadly not Australian) company called Ewe who are a little too far away to be useful... But it's a start and certainly inspirational. It's the deep, rich, glossy red with clean white and dark wood floors, what a great combination.
Check out more kitchen Ewe.

Labels: decor, interior, kitchen, modern, red

posted by topia7  # 1:36 AM 1 Comments

Monday, 16 June 2008

Ikea hack: TV shelf with door stoppers

Inspired by Ikea Hacker, I have a hack of my own to share.
I made this so my DVD recorder and sound system could sit neatly under my plasma, which sits on top of an expedit 2x4 bookcase. I bought four modern, aluminium rubber-tipped door stoppers and fixed them to the bottom of a lack wall shelf using the screws provided. The door stoppers just happen to be the perfect height for the DVD recorder and sound system and the width and finish of the lack shelf matches the expedit bookcase. Perfect!

Labels: expedit, ikea, interior, lack wall shelf

posted by topia7  # 11:39 AM 4 Comments

Friday, 6 June 2008

Eames style hat stand

Inspired by Apartment Therapy's coat rack story I thought I would share my hat stand, which is one of my favourite pieces. I had wanted one for ages but just couldn't find something suitably mid-century. I found plenty of antique ones and many contemporary ones but I just didn't think they would work.
Eventually I stumbled on this Eames style hat stand for only $30 at an antique stall at the Scarborough markets. It holds all my favourite hats, coat, umbrella and satchel perfectly positioned and ready to go on the way out the door.

Labels: Apartment Therapy, decor, eames, hat stand, interior, perth, retro

posted by topia7  # 11:49 AM 0 Comments

Wednesday, 28 May 2008

What do you Expedit? Yvestown: Retro patterned backing

I came across Yvestown's expedit shelf on Ikea Hacker.
What an elegant solution for the back of the shelves! I have my TV and dvd player etc sitting on my (4x8) expedit shelf and am always shuffling cords behind bigger things so I don't have to see them.

What do you Expedit?
Topia7: Orange retro vases on red tiles

Thanks to Damian Hopper for including a link to my blog on his!

Labels: decor, expedit, ikea, interior

posted by topia7  # 12:33 PM 0 Comments

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

What do you Expedit? Topia7: Orange retro vases on red tiles

I just received the orange jug with little cup (front) from ebay and it was enough to put the rest of my orange vases, of this shade, together, separate from the other retro amber, red and yellow orange ones to make a little collection of their own. They are sitting on some red Bendigo pottery tiles that my Grandma bought in the 70's and I rescued from her old shed (with her permission).
Expedit shelves from Ikea are great for making space for little collections.

What do you Expedit?

Labels: decor, ebay, expedit, ikea, interior, retro, vase

posted by topia7  # 11:52 AM 1 Comments

Sunday, 18 May 2008

Flickr find: Joel Pirela retro modern interior - with awesome chairs!

I love the idea of having a set of classic mid-century chairs all lined up as interactive art sculpture pieces and Joel Pirela has done exactly that. Check out the rest of his inspirational modern retro interior design on his flickr page. Great stuff!

Labels: art, decor, flickr, interior, sculpture

posted by topia7  # 1:04 AM 0 Comments

Friday, 16 May 2008

WonderThunder Cusion and MP3 Pocket

After discovering and writing about WonderThunder's Clouds and Ghosts Pillow Cover I had to get one. I also bought this quirky little Thumbprint Face Ipod Pocket, which I really love. The thumbprint texture is really great and kinda' makes me think of exposed brains as much as hair, there is also quite subtle lines radiating from behind which can't be seen mush here, but it's really nice detail.
Thanks WonderThunder!

Labels: decor, Etsy, illustration, interior, ipod, print, screen printing, wonderthunder

posted by topia7  # 1:40 PM 0 Comments

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Apartment Therapy: My 'Small Cool 2008' Favourite

A website that I visit every day, Apartment Therapy, have been running a competition for the best apartment over the last few months or so. All the entries are in and they have given me so many ideas, really great stuff. My favourite though, is Bryan and Stefs green loft in San Francisco.
The green, black and white colour scheme is so refreshing and modern and mixes modern with retro. It really has a lot of personality, not to mention space and natural light.
Thanks for sharing it Brian and Steph!

Labels: Apartment Therapy, decor, interior

posted by topia7  # 1:19 AM 0 Comments