Santa Berries

OMG these are too cute!!! I think I am going to have to make these for Christmas. Santa Berries from leannebakes blog - not only are they adorable they are too easy! Check out the recipe here! 

David Bromley - Auction of the century

I felt incredibly privileged to visit David Bromley's South Yarra Studio (along with a high proportion of Melbourne) last week for a preview of the works he had for sale through Leonard Joel. After viewing online and selecting everything I aspired to own I went along to have a look in person, only to work out that most things where 3 times the size that I thought. I could not have imagined how large, let alone amazing, the space could be!

The balcony overlooking Chapel St, if only I had looked up one of those times I drove down Chapel St! Below Baby Grand Piano anyone? I would rather like one of these for Ellis House.....

After coming to terms with the fact that I was not going to be the new owner of any original David Bromleys this week I turned my thoughts to the lighting. I loved the way he had put together Chandeliers mixed with industrial lighting mixed with Dutch and Moroccan lanterns, all joined with looped flex across the beautiful ceilings.

And below my exciting purchases, I now have four beautiful glass Dutch lanterns which will be pride of place at the country abode! 

And one very special "Portrait of an academic" I have already began trying to work out the story of this amazing mans past and his life story!

Country Style Christmas Issue

The Country Style Christmas 2012 Issue has hit the shelves and inside is the most gorgeous story on "Seasonal flower arranging"styled by our friends of AURA, Caris and Vanessa from Prunella, the masters of floral art in Kyneton, Victoria and photographed by the legend herself Sharyn Cairns. The photography & styling is just stunning!

Woohoo! Get yourself a copy of Real Living's new November issue!

The much anticipated November issue of Real Living has hit the shelves! It just happens to feature our very own AURA Marketing & PR Manager, Jaine's house! And what a fabulous house it is! Jaine and her wonderful family dedicated months of hard work to transform their home into an inner Melbourne urban oasis - check out the fantastic results below. I am not ashamed to say that I am v jealous of that pool and the gorgeous Kitchen Aid mixer I can spy on the kitchen bench!

Well done guys it looks great we can't wait for the weather to warm up and get into that gorgeous pool!  And of course Jaine's house just happens to be an ode to AURA we are very happy about that too! :) 

Today I love Blue

Could these be any more amazing if they tried? I think not - today I am totally obsessed with Blue, these utterly divine shots by Hans Blomquist, see more of my Blue inspiration here. 

Ellis House inspiration for the day.

Its official I am addicted to Pinterest! I could look at it for hours for wonderful inspiration for AURA and for Ellis House, our soon to be country retreat in Kyneton! I love this shot above, it's sophisticated, classically modern and well slightly European. Will this be my country look? Mixed shades of wood, beautiful mottled greys and stunning chandeliers - hmm I could think of worse looks :)
And below I found this great idea for a bathroom window treatment of using a linen table runner as a curtain - from a cool 50s house for sale.

I have found such gorgeous shots of bathroom renovations, but I am instantly relaxed looking at this shot above, I love the soft sage walls with vintage white trim, the wooden furniture and the rust curtains. Oh how I dream of lying in a Bath with a view! 

Ellis House

So not long now and we will be spending our weekends relaxing in the Country (well hardly relaxing, more like painting, gardening and decorating) and I can't wait! So over the past few weeks as well as trying to nut out the perfect paint colours, I have been busy out and about sourcing wonderful finds for the house. It is amazing what you can find when you start looking! As well as many other things I have been looking for the perfect dining table which will seat 8 for the last couple of months. We really wanted a simply styled French Farmhouse table, with character and history. I found a fantastic 19th Century English table 3 weeks ago, and wasn't sure so let it go - but it was passed in at auction so I tried my hand at auction bidding this week and I am now the very proud owner of a wonderful table with loads of history, which as it happens matches my gorgeous antique Japanese stool.