Feeling Blessed

Hi all!

I know it's been a while but my life has seriously been on overdrive! 

Warning: This is a happy post - like a really happy one. So if your one those people who are all...

...just walk away now.....

Firstly, Can you believe I have hit nearly 900 views on my blog?! AMAZING - Thanks all!

Ok so here is a recap of the past 2 months. I'm going to number them...

1. I have finally finished studying Interior Design! This has literally been a build up of the last 4 years from something I dreamed of to something I can actually do. Just goes to show that your limited only by yourself. If that doesn't inspire you do follow your dreams then I'm not sure what will.

I have also started to send out my resume! I found this to be a really difficult task. I'm not exactly sure why but I just keep wondering what a resume is supposed to look like?

On the one hand...I want it to stand out...but on the other hand...I don't want it to be this massive file to download and all my future boss's are like "stuff this...I'm not even downloading it...". But I do need to fit in a small summary of all  my projects...so the cycle in my head continues - anyone out there have any good resume/portfolio tips?

2. The other thing in my life that has started to take up so much time (and lessened my blogging attention) is a company called Train Like Hell - www.trainlikehell.com.au.

It is a site that anyone (Australia Wide) can go on, locate and book a Personal Trainer in their area! How convenient is that?!

It is a company that was set up in 2008 by a man I know with a brilliant mind. However he has been lead to other business opportunities and this project became neglected. 

As a 23 year old with no annual income, still studying, blogger, socialiser...we'll your getting the idea I had no stable income coming in and lots of motivation behind me - I needed a job and a challenge.

So I took the reins of the company! I hire trainers all over Australia and find them clients. It has been one of the most amazing business experiences I have undertaken so far and I cannot even write down the amount of experience I have gained! I am literally running a business, from my computer - and its working! 

3. My friends are amazing. Somehow, I have (unintentionally) surrounded myself with some amazing people. I'm actually going to name them...(just pretend I've just won a grammy and here is my speech)

Jenna - Jenna has and will always be my go-to-girl. She always listens, we have made some pretty unique memories and she's probably the coolest person I know!  I can tell her anything and know she will give me the best advice for me. Plus she is like a freekin mother bear when it comes to me and boys, always looking out for me and always trying to protect me. Watch out any boys who have to get her approval!!

Jess - Jessica is new to my inner circle and she is freekin one in a billion. We can talk until the sun comes up, we can (mainly she) can turn any simple social outing into a networking experience and we just have so much fun together! looking forward to her in my future - yep.

Ashley - Ashley is an old friend but we seem to be each other's therapist. If only we could claim medicare on our conversations...We speak about everything; relationships, emotions, studying, boys - everything. Not sure what I would do without her...I probably would have driven myself insane by now!

And

Pnina - Although she no longer lives in Australia. I miss her terribly and she is a huge part of who I am today!! She visits in January - yayay!!

But these girls together have made my life fun, exciting, thrilling, entertaining but also make me feel so secure, calm and confident - so thanks!

Don't even get me started on my family. My sisters are just everything anyone could ask for, my parents are so supportive, loving and generous! AND my nephews are so adorable!!!!

                      

Top: Rafael (the oldest). Bottom: Elichai and I

FINALLY

I have started networking in the design world. Now I'm not saying it's a done deal but Michael McCann has asked for my resume.... 

I sent him an email saying how much of a fan I am of his work and he replied! 

check out his website...he did the Victor Churchill butcher in Woollahra....just saying...

http://www.dreamtimeaustraliadesign.com/ 

Again, he might not like my style or think I have what it takes to be on his team (even though I think I would do an amazing job and grow so much with him) it just gives me the confidence and hope that it's all happening right now and anything is possible and attainable if I truly want it. And I do...so...it's all happening.

Thats about it for now. Wish me luck...we'll more luck :)

xx

For the love of great food and greater gal's

After the Paris trip Julz and I met up with 2 of Jul'z friends from Melbourne Rach and Becca - a pair of great gal's! We spent the weekend together and would later meet up with them in Scotland for T in the Park music festival - but thats another post!

About 3 or 4 posts ago I showed you 2 table tombs I bought; Rachel Zoe's A-Z guide to style and the al time wonderful Jerusalem cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi. Well, as luck would have it one Becca had booked, wait for it, a reservation - at - Yotam Ottolenghi's - restaurant!!!!!!

where to start?? well seeing as this is more of an interior blog than a food blog lets start with the design - Wow!

As soon as you walk in your hit with the Mediterranean theme. One of the key colours with this theme is white but what made this restaurant more royal was its soft boarders of gold - see below

I love the rough texture on the walls on the left somehow mix so well with the shiny tiles on the right. The lights, lighting, wooden chairs and copper lights all blend together so well! and the atmosphere made it so simple and easy to have a great dinner. I honestly dont remember the last time I had such an enjoyable dinner with no cares, lots of wine and great conversations. We sat there for over 2 hours! just talking, drinking and eating

The signature 'o' carried through ever detail of the restaurant, on the waiters collars was embedded a small golden plated 'O', the napkin rings were the same thing but bigger - even the toilet seats were shaped in an 'O'!!! that is attention to detail, and dont even get me started on the bathrooms. I felt like I was Willy Wonka's elevator when I went inside.

The Bathroom

The 'O' toilet

Note: not sure who the child is in the picture so I have blurred the face. But Julz so kindly took the pictures for me. When I went the first time I didn't think I needed my camera :p so i send Julz on a mission! 

Not to mention the food which we completely devoured!

If you are ever in London this place cannot be missed! so much for backpacking on a budget hey??

We made it!

After a very turbulent passport related non-existant planed journey Julz and my spontaneity overtook our logic! (thats when the best experiences happen - right!?)

We ended up in Paris..well for only 2 days...but thats better than nothing right??

After not getting onto our train on the Monday and trying to reorganise our Paris trip on Tuesday - with no luck - we decided to give up as you would have read in my last post.
As fate would have it on Wednesday of that week we were sitting on the London Tube on our way back from 'Book of Mormon' (sidenote: ITS UNFRIEKEN BELIEVABLE!!!! and a must see if it comes to your town!) and well we decided that our return tickets were still valid. Long story short, we were on the next Train to Paris early Thursday morning for a 48hour trip to Paris.

Codos to Julia who is the most unbelievable itinerary planner ever! We saw almost everything; the Eiffel  Tower, the Opera district, the Louvre and the famous Pita restaurant in the Jewish district - which was amazing by the way, definitely a must in your ever there! I reminded me of the episode of Seinfeld with the Soup Nazi...their efficiency is like no other!

After that Julz and I split up to do our own thing. She saw the Arc de' Triumph and I went shopping! Some would say that was a ridiculous thing to do but I don't feel like a trip is complete without a souvenir, don't you? I love that with my 2 new dresses I can say in response to my future compliments "ohh, ha ha, darling its from Paris"...although probably with less poise :p
Julz and I met at the train station and off we were back to London with a whirlwind of Parisian memories food and sites swirling in our heads.

The picture below is one of the cafe's we sat at for lunch. whilst al the locals were surviving on coffee and cigarets we both tucked into a great cafe signature salad.... But the reason I chose this picture to include in my Paris post was more to do with my Interior passions. The two men you see (who slightly resemble the mario brothers) were our waiters. Although they seem as if they are taking a break they are actually on the clock. But it resinates a small lesson with design. Every element needs to be thought through, in this case, custom designed outfits for these waiters instead of the usual black apron. Everything about screamed the theme of the cafe, their hats, their low grade overalls. It looks as if they are performing a private street show for our cafe and yet they seem to blend in so well with the surrounding atmosphere.

When designing a house, every room should have its distinct 'private show' it can be from something as small as curtain, chair, rug or table. Window design, vase or artwork. These small features will ad so much character to your rooms. The same way these walking characters added so much to Julz and my trip.

Storage? yes please!!

Hi guys, 


Who doesn't love storage? I know i do. This advice is more for when your building or renovating a bathroom otherwise its pretty hard.
Lately ive been thinking of ways to maximise space. Living in Sydney seems like to place to be right now resulting in more people, properties continuously being halved and space is sadly becoming something of a luxury. So if you dont have the courage to uproot yourself and bolt to the country think - walls.


Yes, walls :)


ever thought of whats in them??......SPACE!
So i've finally found a picture to support this idea. Although the look of concrete is totally rustic fabulosity it is extremely expensive!

Other alternatives is board. Its much cheaper and easier to cut out a section. You's be surprised with the range of materials out  there so go ask and see what best fits your budget.  

Plus this 'open wall space' can be doubled up as a dividing wall between the shower (re. picture) or the toilet and the rest of the bathroom.

For the bathroom I'm currently designing i have used this idea. There is no door to the bathroom because its joined to the en-suit wardrobe of the main bedroom of the house, which has a door. I have made the doorway to the bathroom a metre long so its more of a walkway than just a door frame into the bathroom, and in those walls on either side of the doorway into the bathroom i have created these spaces for towels on one side and candles in the other (hope that makes sense, ill upload a photo of the finished look)

I am definitely a fan...let me know what you guys think

xxox