October In Seven Snapshots...

Time for the second monthly round up of best posts, and it's October's turn!

So here's my 'snapshot' of the seven best posts for the month... just click on the title to read/see more about them!

Snapshot 1:

The A, B, C's Of A Nurturing Home. A lovely collection of words and pictures to take us to the heartland of what a home is really all about. Featuring what had to be one of my favourite images for the month, the 'super-star' (as one commenter labelled him) cat in the photo above. How cute and mischievious is he?

Snapshot 2:

13 Questions To Reveal Your Own Design 'Must Haves'... Part Four. This post continues a series about the things we need (or don't need) around us to help our homes truly resonate with who we are. Creating a home that connects with our soul is easy if we know what to look for. Design is about much more than copying the latest trend or turning your home into a showpiece.

Snapshot 3:

How NOT To Decorate A Beautiful Space. A slightly comical post on what NOT to do if you want your home to look beautiful. Unlike the gorgeous bedroom above (one of two images in the post to re-adjust your eyes after some not so nice viewing) which is decidely beautiful! The first comment made me nearly spit my mouthful of tea out with laughter.... and I'm sure Julie's home is utterly gorgeous!

Snapshot 4:

The Trick To Making A Room Easy On The Eye. How to make your rooms create a pleasureable journey for the eye so that everything flows and emerges naturally. The art of the 'focal point'!

Snapshot 5:

Coming Out Of The Shadows. A beautiful post with some atmospheric pics all about the importance of light, shadows, and how they effect ourselves and our interiors.

Snapshot 6:

Think Pink And Do Your Cheeky Checkups. In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a post with nearly 30 gorgeous images heralding pink! Plus some great links to useful breast cancer information. My favourite post this month.

Snapshot 7:

The Soothing Sight Of The Curve.This post discusses one important way to balance our interiors, produce 'room harmony', and create that 'just right' feeling for every room.

I hope you've enjoyed this month's snapshots!

Cheers,

Linda.

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So You're Passionate About Purple - What Does That Mean?

Image from Gaita Interiors.

Are you passionate about purple? Is this spiritual, luxurious, and royal colour the one you love the most? Does it find its way into your interiors or your wardrobe almost without thinking?

Image from We Heart It via Tumblr.

Image from We Heart It via Tumblr.

Let's see what my favourite book about colour (Colors For Your Every Mood - Discover Your True Decorating Colors by Leatrice Eiseman) tells us about people and the colour Purple.

To summarize...

If Purple Is Your Favourite Colour: This hue has an aura of mystery and intrigue. The purple person is enigmatic and highly creative, with a quick perception of spiritual ideas. Purple is often preferred by artists. People who like to think of themselves as 'different' or unconventional often prefer purple.

Purple people are generous and can be charming. Purple is also associated with wit, keen observation, sensitivity, vanity and moodiness.

Because purple is a combination of red and blue, which are opposites in many ways, you often have conflicting traits. You are constantly trying to balance those opposites - the excitement of red with the tranquility of blue.

It has been said that purple people are easy to live with but hard to know. You can be secretive, so that even when you seem to be confiding freely, you may still not reveal your innermost feelings, even to your closest friends.

Image from We Heart It via Live Journal.

Image from We Heart It.

If Purple Is Your Least Favourite Colour: When people are anti purple, they need a lack of pretense in their lives. You do not like getting involved in any activity unless you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. You usually exercise good judgement, and frankness is a quality you look for in friends and colleagues.

Purple may seem a bit 'puffed up' to you because of its association to royalty, or perhaps you come from a culture where its association to mourning is deeply ingrained.

Image from The City Sage.

What do you know?: Do you love purple?

What do you think?: Do you fit the purple profile?

Cheers,

Linda.

******

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Hello..... Gorgeous Red Cabinet and Fab Furniture!

This room really 'had me at hello'!

Image from Coco and Kelly via Desire To Inspire.

Those who know me well know I can't survive without at least a little 'pop' of red somewhere in every room in my home.

Truly.... I've tried, and it just won't fly.

So this room made me intake a lovely big gulp of air! See that gorgeous red chinese cabinet reflected in the mirror (itself a stunning piece of design) - wow!

The red on the bed, the red cushions - perfect.

Not to mention the stunning wooden bed and the smaller black inlaid cabinet.

Hmmmm, if I could fit that bed into this little hideaway from earlier today, all would be right with the world!

Cheers,

Linda.

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A Little Hideaway In The Forest...

I can just imagine myself wandering down a forest path, finding this delightful little red house, and cocooning myself inside with a good book, some mellow lamplight, soft cushions, and yummy provisions for a day.

Image from Tumblr

Bliss!

Cheers,

Linda.

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The Soothing Sight Of 'The Curve'...

A beautifully curved back!

Image from Small Place Style.

I find furniture with curves very pleasing to the eye... it somehow seems more soothing and calming than angular furniture with pointy bits and sharp corners everywhere.

Not to say I like all my furniture to be voluptuous, rounded, or bulging at the seams, but a few luscious, ripe curves 'take the edge off' and add that sinuous, soft, flowing element to a room.

In Sensual Home Ilse Crawford says:

'The curve is an elemental shape; straight lines came along with machines. The horizon of oceans and deserts is definitely curved, so too is the human form... A world designed along straight lines would be an unnatural and icy place.

We think of curves as being warm and sensual.

Curves welcome us.

Angles reject us.

Curves invite us to touch and explore....

Curves soften the blow of the technological world...

Most of all they please the eye and are lovely to touch.

Every time we create a straight line we need a curve for balance. Our homes are neither chessboards nor Mondrian paintings... the curve of a vase, the sinuous line of a chair, the sweep of an oval table, the plump upholstery of a sofa.

These things take the edges off modernity, making it sensual and appealing.'

Here's some rooms with gorgeous curvy or rounded furniture in them, each piece providing balance and respite for the eye.

Art deco dresser found on Desire To Inspire.

Beautiful curved desk legs against the more angular,

modern furniture in the background.

Image from Small Place Style.

A ripe, voluptuous dresser, with a beautifully curved orchid!

Image from Small Place Style.

Curves on the bedhead, the chair, the beside table...

...even the teapot!

Image from Flickr.

This room would not have the same balance without the

curved shape of the chairs. The bedside tables have

lovely curved legs too.

Image from Small Place Style.

The rounded chair arms, the curvy stool, and the

woven firewood basket set this room off beautifully!

Image from Small Place Style.

Curves abound in the furniture, the objects, the

fabric patterns. Lovely.

Image via Flickr.

Ask yourself: 'Are my rooms balanced with some curves, or are they all sharp angles and geometric patterns?'

Which leads to: 'How can I bring some soothing curves into my rooms...... furniture? Objects? Patterns on wallpaper or fabric?'

Because: Too many sharp, geometric, and pointy items in a room can make you feel a bit, well....... sharp and pointy! Curves will de-stress, soothe, and calm whilst adding balance and harmony to any room.

Cheers,

Linda.

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The Beach...

I'm off to the beach for a couple of stress free days with my partner!

We'll be lounging around, taking walks, having lovely meals at some little beach-side restaurants, and probably going out for a bit of a fish!

Sitting in the boat drifting across the water on a beautiful spring day with a warm, soft breeze lightly brushing by; water gently lapping at the sides of the boat; and glorious sunshine all around has to be one of the most simple, refreshing, and joyful experiences there is!

Image from We Heart It via Flickr.

Have a great weekend. :)

Cheers,

Linda.

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An Amazing Manor House With Unusual Visitors!

I couldn't quite believe it when I came across this amazing tourist destination!

I love the word 'manor'...... for me it conjures up images of beautiful old ivy covered tudor homes with lots of interior woodwork, diamond paned glass in the windows, gorgeous staircases, stunning garden surrounds, gentile tea parties, character filled antique furniture, and grandfather clocks ticking loudly next to a roaring fireplace.

But, then there's Giraffe Manor.

It's not just a beautiful building inside and out....

.... the visitors aren't all human!

From the Giraffe Manor website:

'The Giraffe Manor is an elegant, personally hosted, small and exclusive hotel, famous for its resident herd of giraffe. The Giraffe Manor offers a rich blend of welcoming accommodation, highly trained and friendly staff, as well as one of Nairobi's finest kitchens'.

Wow! What an unsual, stunning, and memorable place to spend part of your holiday!

All images from Giraffe Manor.

Cheers,

Linda.

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Think Pink And Do Your Cheeky Checkups!

In honour of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and all those who've been touched by breast cancer in some way.... here's some lovely pink interiors and photos plus ideas for 'Cheeky Check-ups'!

Image from We Heart It via Deviant Art.

Image from We Heart It via Tumblr.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via House Beautiful.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Bijou Kaleidoscope.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Alkemie.

Image from We Heart It via I Am Fashion.

Image from We Heart It via Vi.sualize.us

Image from We Heart It via Tumblr.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Apartment Therapy.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Alkemie.

Image from We Heart It via Tumblr.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Brown Button.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Claire Maison.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via House Beautiful.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Domino.

Image from We Heart It via Atlanta Bartlett.

Image from We Heart It via Tumblr.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via House Beautiful.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Material Girls.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Patricia Gray Design.

Image from We Heart It via Flickr.

Image from We Heart It via Tumblr.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via House Beautiful.

Image from Iffer's Little Nest via Alkemie.

Image from We Heart It via Tumblr.

Image from We Heart It via Flickr.

Image from We Heart It via Hello Tiger.

Cheeky Check Ups: Here in Australia we have a great advertising campaign all about 'cheeky check ups'. A cheeky check up is a quick and easy way to give yourself a breast check at a time when you've got a few spare seconds to fill.

Here's one of the examples from You Tube...

The Hair Dryer Technique - 30 seconds (NB: there is cartoon nudity in this one):



And another...

Jam Toast - 30 seconds:



You can find out more at the Cheeky Check Up website. This site has great, simple, matter of fact info about Breast Cancer and its causes.

To take a Breast Cancer Screening Test and see how your chances of getting breast cancer rate, use this 'risk calculator tool' on the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre website.

Ask yourself: 'When was the last time I did a 'Cheeky Check Up' or any type of breast check up?'

Which leads to: 'Do I do these check ups on a regular basis, or just every now and then?'

Because: Detecting anything amiss with your breasts is the first line of defence. You can't treat it if you don't know it's there. I'm very guilty of not checking myself.... time to create the habit.

Cheers,

Linda.

P.S. Here's a brilliant post about pink and pink colour schemes over at Sensational Color.

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