mooi rooi

I still have some work to do tonight, but I am ignoring it and instead looking at pretty prints with red as a focal colour. They would lovely above one's bed, don't you think?

Images: Hello Polly

the spot

This looks like the ultimate spot for contemplation, relaxation, and reading. Adore everything about it.

Image: The Selby

bathroom buy

I want to buy a few of the towels (they were traditionally used at Turkish baths) from Woolies for our new flat. So much prettier than the normal ol' ones. They come in a variety of colours - think I will get blue and yellow ones.

Image: Woolworths

a grand entrance

We have a little entrance hall in our new flat. I'm sure it would appreciate these pretties on its walls.

Images: Dokter and Misses

perfect pink

I would love to paint a room in our new place this vibrant pink. What do you think, husband?

Image: Emmas Designblogg

yah or nay?

Ok, I'm still feeling like an elephant sat on me, but I promised to get back to blogging today, so here I am.

I saw this retro extendable table on Gumtree over the weekend. Yes, it's not in the best condition. It needs to be sanded and stuff. But, it's R450, which I don't think is a bad price. And we'll have space for a dining table in the new flat. What do you think? I do love the legs...

signed and sealed

So we signed the flat lease yesterday and are moving in the beginning of December. I can't wait! The husband can. But whatever. I have big plans (and little ones) for our new place, so roll on December!

You might have seen some of the images before, but bear with me cause they are the inspiration for our new place.

I want my chairs, coffee table, and sofa close together to make the lounge space look cosy and intimate.

I want to use white, sheer curtains in the lounge. So not a fan of lined, heavy curtains.

I'm also thinking of painting the window frames black. Right now they are a beige colour, which just looks dirty against the white walls.

Want to put in rubber flooring in the kitchen, which currently has fugly orange and brown linoleum flooring.

The bathroom also a hideous marbled grey floor, so I'm thinking black and white rubber or vinyl checkered tiles.

The bathroom has one of those horrible bathroom cabinets with a mirror, but I wanna take it put and replace it with a large round mirror.

Images: Le Maison d'Anna G, Hilda Granat, Emmas Designblogg

soft and snuggly

I've always had a soft spot for velvet. We had two blue velvet armchairs when I was growing up, which is probably where my love for the plush fabric comes from. I want to cover my two retro dining chairs in velvet. I'm just not sure what colour would work best...

Images: Vamp, Sweet Fine Day

we're becoming glenwooders

See that flat on the top floor? That's the one we are almost for certain moving into beginning December. It is cat-friendly, has wooden floors, two bedrooms, a bath, a balcony, plus the complex has a pool! All the things I wanted and more. Oh, and did I mention we are allowed to paint the walls? Woop woop! Can you tell I'm super amped to move in?

ag no man

So we may or may not be moving into a new place come November 1. The thought both excites and terrifies me. The last time the husband and I moved was traumatic to say the least. He is not good a good mover. I've moved numerous times in the past 10 years (from my parent's old home to their new home to university hostel in hometown to student house in different town then back to parent's home then to a garden flat before moving back home again for a while then to flat in current city then moving in with husband and finally to this flat I'm sitting in now. Whew.), so I think I know how to do it. I''ll just have to make the husband down a bottle of Rescue Remedy before the moving van gets here.

Anyway, we saw a flat on Saturday and totally loved, but it seems someone else can occupy it before us, so they're going to sign today. Sigh. But, we are going to look at another flat sometime this week...if the estate agent can get hold of the keys. It looks pretty good in the photos, but I need to see if it's sunny. And maybe I could ask to paint those beige/brown walls? What is it with South Africans and their love for drab, blah colours?

Ok, enough ranting. Check out this insanely awesome deck. The light! The white! The everything!

Image: Sorry, don't know the source. If you do, please comment.

my love for artificial lighting

Eight. That's the number of lamps I have in my flat at the moment. This is excluding ceiling lights, which I'm not allowed to change as we rent. I know eight is already too many, but I don't feel too bad, as  I paid between R20 and R280 for them.

How creative and beautifully designed are these designer ones? Wow.

Images: Atelier Areti, Matter

spring colours

I've spotted so many images of pastel and brighter colours used in homes lately. Just looking at these make me feel happy!

Images: A Merry Mishap, Castle, Tolix, Real Living, Living etc

back

So I flew back home yesterday morning. Was sad to leave Cape Town, but since I am the ultimate homebody , it is always nice to be back in my own little space, surrounded by my own things.

I bought all kinds of pretty things, which I will photograph and post here later the week, but for now, take a look at these adorable matryoshka measuring cups a friend got me from the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Thanks Willemien!

 Image: Fred

additions to my wishlist

Hay mega dot quilt

Just Wipe Miranda vinyl coated tablecloth

Chair Crazy steel cafe chair

ivy envy

The photo below gives me butterflies in my tummy when I look at it. I have always loved buildings covered in ivy.

Image: A well travelled woman

an update and end to Flat Search 2011

So I've called off the flat search. What! you say? How difficult can it be to find a flat with 2 bedrooms, wooden floors, and a cat-friendly policy? Darn (please insert a stronger word here for your personal use) difficult dear readers. It seems everyone in this city hates cats for some unknown reason. Anyway, I have decided that the husband and I will be staying in our flat for the indefinite future (AKA until we can move to Cape Town). I am going to rent a storage unit for all our stuff (insert expletive here too). This will hopefully lead to more space (AKA I can shop for more retro furniture).

the mountain is calling me

Only been to look at one flat (this morning) and I'm already so over this new home search thing. It doesn't help that I wish we were moving to Cape Town instead...

Image: Bruce Mackay

the boat that rocked

If I wasn't the most motion sick person ever, I think I would like living in a houseboat. This one, to be precise.

Image: Backyard Bill

future home must-have

This may just be the perfect kitchen nook. The large windows, the sun filtering in, the view... Very nice.

Images: Hilda Grahnat

once you've had wood, you can't go back

So I am kinda looking for a new apartment for the husband and I. And our two cats. And hopefully a new addition sometime in 2012. It must have the following: two bedrooms, a bathroom (always handy), a large lounge/dining room, and a largish kitchen. A balcony with a view of the ocean would be awesome, but I can live without it. Non-negotiable is wooden floors. So many of the ads I've seen say "Tiled throughout!" Why the exclamation mark, I ask you? Are tiles something to get excited about? They're cold, usually white or beige (ugh), and show dirt five seconds after you were on your knees washing them. Other exclamation words include granite, carpets, open plan living, and modern. Woop woop.

Anyway, I've seen a few nice apartments (with wooden floors), but I am yet to find one that allows cats. Seems people have a problem with felines. Cause they're so dirty, noisy, and violent, ya know.

Our current lease expires end of November, so my vague search will become a frantic, fullblown one in October.

Image: Closet Visit