A friend was dropping off magazines in Master 6′s class for cutting out and…well, ruining – when I discovered a fantastic design and decor magazine among them.  Home it came and I fell head over heels for this rug just a few pages in.  Now, you know I have a love affair with Dinosaur Designs jewellery, but what’s better than having all that colour beneath your feet all year round!  And there are a few other variations to choose from in the Dinosaur Designs collection.

Designer Rugs in Australia has done a series with Australian artists and designers – with so many more I adore it’s hard to choose just one.   And because they ship anywhere in the world, it’s worth taking a look at their collection right here.

A wooden floor with organic curves…wide beautiful planks that seamlessly join to give your new home a soft but still modern edge. The product is called Waldilla by the company Holztec in Germany and is made to order, a computer does the shaping and assembling of the planks.  No idea on the price, but it’s made to order…so ahh, probably alot.  These are on the ‘wish’ list should I ever need flooring.

If I could have a rug in my dream yoga studio – this would be it.  Right in the reception area, just spreading the joy to all those who walk through the door.  Liora Manne is the lady who designed it using a process called Lamontage – it is antimicrobial and 100% acrylic plus it can be used indoors or out.  Take a look at her range of gorgeous rugs here and gallery here.  Swoon!

Update:  if you would like one shipped directly from their factory in China to Australia or NZ, you can get a 2-metre version for about US$1000 plus only US$100 shipping – that’s instead of it going back to the US and having it shipped from there.

We have been looking at buying a home for a while since our return from Australia, and so the hunting continues.  While clicking my way through quite a few pics, I saw this beauty in Devonport on the North Shore in Auckland.  It is sooo me.  The colour, the furniture, the kitchen, all of it.  It’s for sale if you like it and to view more images click here.  The current owner and renovater is an interior designer, so it’s no wonder the place rocks! It’s also been in a couple of home magazines, so enjoy.

Next time you are thinking about re-doing the carpet, or just because the kids running up and down the wooden stairs is such a dreadful noise…..then think about a bright colour.  These green carpeted stairs are awesome. This is totally going in my ‘when I get to reno again’ folder.

image [Richard Birch Photography]

The colours of this house caught my eye today.  I really like the modern charcoal panels with a rich coloured wood.  I think it softens a hard, modern design.  And who wouldn’t love a bright orange door!  To see more of this place, take a look at Shed’s website.

via [Inhabitat]

I have always liked a rug in my childrens rooms, even though we have always had carpet – Master 6 builds around or on his, and it is comfy when he spends a while playing.  But they are nothing on these cool designs; my favourite would have to be the farm, as Master 6 has played farms since about 2 and a half years old.

The best bit is they cost only AU$190 plus shipping, from Bubba Bling.  I think the price is excellent, considering the clever designs.  They also ship internationally, you just have to email them for a price.

via [Ohdeedoh]

As I try to find clever ways to store ‘stuff’, I had to go through my library for these images to inspire you in your home reno. Clever systems that utilise space that we often don’t think of.  The top left image shows how the top of the steps open up to use the deep cavity underneath.  It’s not often I wish we had stairs, but these would be cool.

second images via [AT]

If you think you’ve chosen the tiles for the kitchen or bathroom, think again!  Moving Color is the company behind these temperature sensitive tiles.  The base colour can match almost any colour you desire;  they change colour based on body or water temperature or whatever they are touching!   The temperature change point can be requested by you, so the dynamic colour change begins at the selected temperature and changes over three phases, each one is a 6 – 10° rise in temperature. Once the temperature peak is passed, the base colour returns and remains the same until the temperature drops.

The tiles can be used on floors, walls and counters and they are a green product, because they use glass that is 20 – 80% recycled. Also they come in eleven different glass textures.  How much you ask?….about US$15 for a tile 4 x 4 inches, so US$180 a square foot and they also do larger 18 x 18 inch tiles.  Nice and expensive way to make sure the shower isn’t too hot for the kids!

Yes, I have an addiction – it is the store Anthropologie, and although we don’t have it down-under, I still swoon over the seasonal ranges online.  They do ship across Europe and North America, but sadly, down here in Oz and NZ we are forgotten once again; which is actually a good thing or I would really give the credit card a beating!  If you aren’t familiar with their store (everything from clothes and shoes to kitchen and bedroom) go take a look and fall in love with….well…..everything!

This Remuera, Auckland house recently sold around the NZ$5.5m mark.  Whoever ‘snapped’ it up must be pretty chuffed, and have a load of wine!  I have cellar envy.  We don’t even have wine in the house right now, so could not imagine what this would look like full.  I love that you can see part of the cellar from the dining area as well (image second row left).  This mighty home has 5 double bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 4 living areas, a home theatre, a games room, a gymnasium, a 1000 bottle wine cellar, a state of the art kitchen with huge butler’s pantry, 3 car garaging, a pool house, an 18 metre gas heated pool, a spa and dedicated utility rooms covering about 800m2.  The house is fully automated to control everything from lighting to irrigation.  Oh, and last – beautiful views through beautiful native trees.  To view more images go here.

images [Open2view.com]

I love a good gallery site, one that’s easy to use, has large photos and you can quickly update and add your own pics of anything architectural, housey, outdoorsey, etc.  At Houzz.com it’s a collection of the interior and exterior of places……have a browse over it – the site is clever, in that my thousands of inspirational home photos clogging my hard-drive can now be stored here, so I can access them when I am without my notebook. Others can add them to their gallery and we can all share the eye candy of all those lovely places in the world. Free to join, you can tag and make notes, and you can even subscribe to their RSS feed.

I am always a sucker for rugs, any rugs really, just as long as they are in pretty colours. The flower rug would be great in our new nursery.  Momeni has a new range that will be available from April called ‘Lil Mo and come in a large range of sizes 2×3, 3×5, 4×6, 5×7 and 8×10 feet. They are really reasonably priced but alas they don’t ship overseas….yet another thing your poor relative/friend will have to lug through the airport with them if it’s a must buy for someone down-under.  Prices will start at about NZ$283 (for acrylic) to NZ$320 (for cotton).   It would be worth paying the small amount of duty on it and still be much cheaper than the designer rugs we have to pay exorbitant prices for here!

via [Apartment Therapy]

Ahh, this is lovely spacious and light, and if I were to be moving in – just waiting for a bit more colour and cosiness to be thrown about. I love the concrete floors (hope they’re heated) and the bathroom basins. Take a look here at more images (there are loads) and plans as well. 

If you are renovating or building right now, perhaps this image might help inspire the process.  I would love some stairs to tile the risers in similar patterns and colour.  If this is a little to pricey, then perhaps you could use wallpaper or contact adhesive to get the same look.  

via [Apartment Therapy]

What I would give to happily cover my sons bedroom in the cars version of Tarkett vinyl flooring.  Every few days I am on my knees clearing one car set, and building another, or putting that away to pull out the train set so Master Four can play again with something that he’s not bored of – and all of it is extremely painful to stand on in the middle of the night.  It’s available from Tarkett but I can’t find this particular vinyl pattern anywhere down-under, otherwise most flooring retailers sell Tarkett, so perhaps they could order it. 

via [Ohdeedoh]

I came across these great rugs today and thought they looked stunning.  I am always on the lookout for rugs as we have wooden floors and these large prints are beautiful.  Bayliss has stockists in most states of Australia, so go take a look at their range right here.

Three of her handbags happen to be in my closet, no wait…two – my sister coveted one so that’s now on her shoulder.  They are a splendid mix of colour and practicality, and now Melbourne based Nicola Cerini also designs rugs.  Her range is warm, modern and richly coloured and she ships overseas so we can all enjoy her creations in the home or out and about.  

images via [Nicola Cerini]

I can’t tell you how much I have wanted to own a ring, bangle and necklace from Dinosaur Designs.  The creations are to die for…..but everything about their lovely organic shape, feel and colour make it hard to choose just one item.  Their new Bamboo range is in gorgeous greens – among them are my favourite shades at present, turquoise and duck egg blue.  All the designs are hand made at their Sydney studio, and if you aren’t after a piece of jewellery, they also have stunning homeware, fabrics and rugs.  Take a look at all their beauty right here, shop online or find a stockist near you.