Grooming.

Off to get a manicure, in my signature shade of course - OPI Got the Blues for Red.

Manicures & pedicures are one of the best treats to give yourself, I like to indulge monthly. Of course it's way too cold for a pedicure and to keep the toes uncovered for the polish to dry, so I'm skipping it tonight. (Image from Amazon)

Nailed it.

Mr Schuman got it so right.

"What a great way to look this summer: so simple and yet so refined.

I love that her shorts aren't too short and that her top isn't too tight. Nothing screams in this look and yet the presentation is very strong.

This is a great example of elegance successfully achieved through understatement and flawless execution."

(Source: The Sartorialist)

My place (in my dreams).

So just for something different, one of the reasons that I started this blog is because I’m renovating my home. I know, no one’s ever done that before! Anyway... I moved out of my place for the new bathroom construction ... into my parents place. They were away, but then they came home. After a few weeks together, tonight I have my solitude again ... taking over my late grandfather’s house. It’s kinda weird to be here, but nice in a way too.

Seeing as I’m in the middle of renovating I have a pile of inspiration pics from printed magazines, other blogs, online designer portfolios, and of course online mags – with the ubiquitous Lonny shots. Like I’ve said, I suffer from having too many options and the constant fear of going with something that is going to look tragic in a month’s time or worse ... right from the start! Ugh! The pressure.

So in a bid to minimise regret, and to be realistic about the bones of my home, I’ve decided that I need to go with a simple, classic, layered look. So I’m taking my inspiration from Laura Day's home as shown in the Lonny April/May 2010 issue cover story. I like that it's elegant, and that it's a little fun as well. Who wants to live in a museum? Not me, but I also need to start accumulating beautiful pieces to build upon. This inspiration could set me on the right path.

Things I love about this room:

• The fucking insane sideboard – two of my faves (not overdone metallic, black zig zag)
• The neutral layered colour
• The metallic cocktail tables – the organic shapes, the colour, the low shine, the treatment of a functional piece of furniture as sculpture, the fact that they’re “cocktail tables” and not boring “coffee tables”
• The multiple light sources – mostly the chandelier, not too olde world but still glass/crystal, not to modern and cold
• The James Nares artwork – always liked his work, and here they are perfect injections of colour
• The non-white walls that are just a perfect shade

The whole home is lovely, and I want one of those Kartell stools too - but of course I can't decide which colour.

I want to live here. Simple as that.

(All images via Lonny.)

But why?

This blog is going to be more about me than you. I just want to put that out there right from the start. If I’m in a funk then my posts may be more pissy than others. I’m keeping this thing honest so not listing my identity – cowardly you say, maybe it is. But like I said, this is for me.

I’m a fan of other decor bloggers, so there may be some repeated content – deal with it.

From the outset I envisage this mostly being an outlet for my decor porn addiction (RIP Decorno – dearly missed), but I may stray into fashion, general design, and everyday musings on life. I can promise to never get political on you. That’s just not me.

Important to note is that I am not deluded. I know that people other than myself will only read this by mistake. I’m not sending it to friends (mine would just laugh) so I don’t see how I will build a network of followers – that’s not what this is about.