Brisbane: Is your house ready for a Magazine story?

A beautiful house we photographed last year in Brisbane's south by designer Anna Spiro.

Beach Vintage's Simone shared her story with us for the Aust. Womens Weekly.

Anna Spiro's own home which we did for Vogue Living. Below Ivy and Piper's Melanie Parker in her Brisbane home for Real Living Magazine.

A Brisbane house by Lily G we shot last year which made the front cover of H and G! Left, another Lily G house.

I'm heading up to Brisbane to photograph some gorgeous houses (with one of Australia's top photographers) for the glossies this week... and I have space for one more!

If you think your house, or a friend's, is worthy of a magazine story, send me some photos as quick as you can.
What  we are looking for:
A house with style that has lots of decorating ideas with a high level of finish. It can be modern, traditional, funky or glam.
We also look for at least 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, living area, dining plus an outdoor area if appropriate.
It has to be in the Brisbane area.
Send your pics to me at:
catherine.robin@bigpond.com

Colours for Christmas

Corn husk wreath from Martha Stewart

Every year I look forward to creating a new decorating theme for Christmas. Last year I did a simple but chic grey, red and white scheme. My mother and I really get into this and whoever hosts Christmas lunch gets to choose a colour scheme for the big family gathering.

This year its my turn. I am having all my family to lunch in my not-quite-finished church hall so getting the kitchen cupboards and walls painted will probably come right down to the wire. Nothing like a deadline to get your renovation done...

Living in the country, as I do, there is not a lot of tasteful festive stuff available in stores so one is forced to fall back on ones own craft skills and what is available at local chain stores. This year it is looking like I will be going with a more bold and un-traditional colour scheme of hot pink and red, with a dash of gold.

This rag wreath is really easy to make and looks fun and festive. Start with a polystyrene form available from most craft shops and experiment with fabric strips.

What decorating ideas are you going with this festive season?

Hot Decor Item: Peacock chairs

 Doesn't Bridget Bardot look cool sitting in this peacock chair?

Bridget Bardot's bohemian glamour, sixties-style.

About a year ago I found the most fabulous 60s peacock chair in my favourite second hand store. It is more like a flower than a peacock and looks right at home in one of my retro beach cottages (which are holiday rentals BTW). It was a little scruffy but it was transformed with a coat of coral pink/orange and just love the way it adds a touch of bohemian style to the room.

Melanie Parker at home in a Peacock chair from Black and Spiro

This month there is a new version featured on the cover of Home Beautiful, available through Equator Homewares. It reminded me that I have been planning to post about these for a while now.

A modern take from Equator Homewares, Sydney.

My own op-shop find is awaiting a new cushion.

Another cool example is in the former home of Ivy and Piper's Melanie Parker, who we did a story on for Real Living Magazine last year. Her fab yellow chair was an old one, revamped by Brisbane's Black and Spiro.

I have two more smaller peacock armchairs rescued from the "tip" pile in my mother's garage. They are destined for my new screened porch but need a coat of paint and new fabric on the cushions to modernise them.