Amtico

I am quite liking these vinyl floor tiles by Amtico. I've looked around at many types of flooring, but keep coming back to vinyl for it's warmth, resilience and ease of maintenance. What I don't like however, is a vinyl tile pretending to be something it's not. So no timber or stone effects - it just seems a bit cheesy somehow. I am yet to find an Amtico distributor for my area, but have my fingers crossed there is one. These are pretty much the only vinyl tiles I have found that I like.

Linea Vanilla by Amtico

Splash back

Ventaglio Fan by Academy Tiles

I'm still stuck on my splash back. I seem to be going round and round in circles. Originally, I wanted plain white subway tiles....however it is becoming rather clear to me that Canberra is a complete backwater when it comes to anything remotely stylish tile-wise. I traipse around the tile shops (with a two year old in tow, remember) and all I see is plain, boring and UGLY.

I haven't given up, however. Although there is a rather large restriction at play here. Budget. What a dirty little word.

After much investigation, wallpaper behind glass is not going to cut it.
A) Due to safety standards, there would have to be a gap between the wallpaper and the actual glass behind the gas cook top. This just won't work.
B) Even if I could place them directly in contact, there is potential for a mould/mildew issue as the wallpaper can't breathe and it can get a little steamy behind that glass. So to cut a long story short. NO GO. So disappointed!

There is another avenue available to me. Many people have plain old colour-backed glass as their splash back, and I am investigating a variation on that. I could have the back of the glass painted in a stencil like fashion. I don't think this will work with the Osborne & Little wallpaper I had originally chosen as the pattern may be too intricate. However, I am considering this Florence Broadhurst classic - Circles & Squares, painted in similar colours to the warm honey tones of the O&L I like. Keeping in mind I haven't had this costed by the glass company yet. That's next week's hurdle.

Circles & Squares by Florence Broadhurst
Signature Prints

In the meantime, I am despo for more splash back inspiration. As you may be able to see from these images I've collected, I seem to have a thing for the retro mosaic tiling look.....

Heath Ceramics

Heath Ceramics

Heath Ceramics

Extra Light by Di Lorenzo

Circles by Di Lorenzo

Desire to Inspire

80.4 by Di Lorenzo

Dilemma!

O&L Trifid wallpaper.
Pretty full on when used in this volume and colourway, but still completely divine.

Excitement! I found the wallpaper used in my favourite kitchen pic! It's an Osborne & Little Vintage pattern called Trifid. I am seriously considering it for our kitchen splash back. Is it going too far out on a limb? I want my kitchen to be different and to have a real talking point - so maybe this is it? I guess people with either love it or hate it. I LOVE IT.

I haven't worked out the costings as yet, but it would be around $350 a roll for the paper, plus the cost of the actual glass splash back itself. It would have to be starfire glass (ie. glass with no green tinge). This equals more expensive. But it's worth investigating.

I have a meeting with Jen, my wonderful friend who is managing the build on Monday morning. To finalise details. Eeek. That means I have to make final decisions! We have the renovation booked in for 21 September. Yikes - only a month away. We purchased all our appliances today. Am SO EXCITED this is all becoming a reality, it feels like it's been in the planning forever.

This is the actual colourway. Gorgeous.


Just had to include it, one more time for good luck.

More kitchens...

Yes, it's the kitchen I'm obsessed with, but from a different angle!
Purple Area

Still getting the final figures together on our kitchen. I've been visiting tiling and flooring showrooms trying to make my final decision on the floors and the splashback. It's overwhelming, the amount of choice. I find I have an idea in my head, and then go to a showroom and get all confused. I think I need to stick to my original vision and not get sidetracked by all the other pretty things!

Blue Ant Studio

Our island bench will look similar to this, with a timber base and thick stone benchtop in white. A whitened oak timber however.
Desire to Inspire

Inspiration Bubble

White handle-free cupboards and drawers will look similar to this
Inspiration Bubble

There is a small amount of open shelving in the new plan. I'm thinking of expanding it as I just love the look.

Remodelista

Splashback will be white subway tiles similar to this look
Purple Area

Remodelista

Remodelista

Copper Shade

I have become slightly obsessed with the kitchen I posted about here. The more I look at it, the more I love it. That brings me back to considering a pendant light for the kitchen I admired early on but haven't thought much about since. The Tom Dixon Copper Shade, available through De De Ce. I have emailed them for pricing, and have absolutely no idea what they will come back with. Although it looks like copper, it's actually manufactured in clear polycarbonate plastic with a copper lining inside, so I have all my fingers and toes crossed that brings the price in at something budget-friendly, as of course I would be needing two.

EDIT: Pricing for the Copper Shade pendants: $605 each, with a lead time of 14-18 weeks as they are not stocked in Australia. Hell that's a long time to wait! Me thinks I'd better check them out in person next time I'm in Sydney or Melbourne, imagine them arriving and not being as beautiful as you thought.....

We had a visit from my kitchen designer friend Jen last night. She should have the first quote back to me by the end of the week, and hubby and I will be off selecting and pricing appliances this weekend. Then we can see what we are really looking at and get our timeline together. Exciting!

To wallpaper or not to wallpaper?

Whilst flicking through some old mags this afternoon, I came across the image of this kitchen that I had dog eared and forgotten about. Not only is it in a similar style to how I envisage ours, but it's nearly exactly the same layout. Window and all. This makes it really easy to visualise our space.

I love the thick bench tops and white cabinetry. Love love love the open shelving next to the window - this is something I was planning on incorporating into ours if I can. And I adore the wallpaper/glass splash back. But is this something you would tire of quickly? How easy is it to change and/or replace? Great feature or a thorn in your side?

Oh, and dying over the David Trubridge pendant.

From Home Beautiful, March 2009

Dickebusch - Koskela

Another piece of accommodation, right near the top of my wish list. This time, Dickebusch, a gorgeous little weatherboard beach house, restored and finished by Koskela, who have the most divine little showroom in Sydney's Surry Hills. Situated in a tiny fishing village called Patonga on the Central Coast of NSW - just over an hour from Sydney - this little beach house looks completely divine. So simple and casual, perfect for a summer getaway with the family. Pricing starts at $890 for a weekend.

I can feel myself relaxing, just looking at these beautiful images.

all images Koskela

Nelson Bay

We had such a lovely weekend away in Nelson Bay. The weather was warm, the sun was out and it felt like an early Spring was in the air.

Back to Canberra with a thud today. 12 degrees! Yikes. I am SO OVER winter. Roll on spring! In the meantime, these happy snaps taken at Dutchie's Beach will have to do me.