Halcyon House

As a big fan of Australian interior designer Anna Spiro's work, I watched with interest, and huge respect, the development of one of her most recent projects, Halcyon House. Situated in one of Australia's most idyllic beachfront towns, Cabarita Beach in Northern New South Wales, the luxury boutique hotel is a breath of fresh air.

Anna's love of pattern, beautiful fabrics, picture walls and gorgeous vignettes has translated into stunning accommodation with an inviting, homely feel.

Each room features different fabric on the walls (yes, not wallpaper!) and headboards, and although there are common threads that unite the rooms, each has it's own personality.

"I love to stay in a place that wraps me up and is beautifully decorated. When you go home you dream about visiting that place again. I wanted each room to be different so that guests can find their favourite room and then choose to stay in that room each time they visit." Anna Spiro

I have been quite underwhelmed by the accommodation that I've stayed in over the last few years, and I always look forward to getting home. But to stay at Halcyon House would be an absolute joy. It's so refreshing to find a hotel that is so stylish and unique, I love absolutely everything!

photos via Halcyon House, their instagram, and Anna Spiro's instagram

One Fine Stay

Have you seen the movie "The Holiday" where Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslett swap homes - one luxurious pad in California, and one quaint little cottage in Surrey, England? The two women not only swap homes, they swap lifestyles and leave their own behind for a few weeks. Well, I stumbled across this great website, One Fine Stay, where you can have a similar experience (although I can't guarantee that Jude Law will knock on your door!).

It's not a house swap, but you do get the opportunity to stay in someone else's place while they're out of town. Rather than visit the same landmarks and attraction as every other tourist, you get to experience the 'real' city, with recommendations of shops, restaurants and more from the home owners themselves. I love that! When we were on holiday last we asked some locals where to eat out, and we had the most fantastic meals in places we would never have found otherwise.

The website is based in London but it features homes in London, Los Angeles, New York, and Paris. All incredible cities, who wouldn't want to get off the beaten track and experience them in this way?!

The photos I've featured in this post are from a young family's home in Cobble Hill, New York. I picked it because it's the only city out of the four that I haven't been to, and would dearly love to. And when I do I would be more than happy to stay here with it's beautiful parquet floorboards and backyard oasis.

Isn't it a wonderful concept?! To find out more about One Fine Stay visit their website, and check out all the fabulous homes on offer. All are quite different so there's sure to be one that you'll fall in love with.

Meadowood House

I have a special, rather large and exciting post today about a Bibby + Brady project that Dael & I have been working on for quite some time. Meadowood House is a labour of love undertaken by Mark and Shelly Witchalls. Shelly discovered, and fell in love with a once-loved Art Deco country home in Fernhill, Hawke's Bay, surrounded by beautiful native bush and an abundance of birds. She then convinced Mark to relocate with her from the South Island to begin this new chapter in their lives.

The house is only a short distance from Napier, which is the Art Deco capital of New Zealand. After the 1931 Napier earthquake, much of the city was rebuilt in the Art Deco style and we now get visitors from all over the country, and the world, who come to enjoy the architecture, and celebrate the history. 

Shelly and Mark wanted to restore the house, return it to it's former Art Deco glory, and open it up to the public as a tourist lodge. They hired Dael and I to help them fulfil that dream. We created an initial mood board and then worked with Shelly and Mark over the months while it was transformed. The couple worked tirelessly alongside the builders and tradesmen, and sourced most of the furniture and accessories themselves. It was our job to source and advise on wallpaper, fabric, paint colours, as well as provide lots and lots of design ideas, inspiration and solutions where necessary.

Simple features like the curved bench top and cupboard give the kitchen a deco feel, and we love the fresh mint and white colour scheme.

The main living area, which you see when you enter the house, is stunning with it's gold wallpaper, peacock blue velvet sofa, and a window seat specially made to fit the curve of the wall.

A bordered carpet and a series of Art Deco lights leads you down the hallway to the bedrooms.

Each room has a beautiful Art Deco inspired wallpaper. The Aeroplane Room with it's own ensuite is one of my favourites.

The Flappers Room is light and bright with a gorgeous teal and gold colour scheme.

The Peacock Room, and master bedroom is bold and sophisticated, and also has a wheelchair access bathroom.

The Champagne Room is sunny and inviting, and beautifully feminine.

The lovely and talented Florence Charvin took all of the 'after' photographs for Mark and Shelly who are getting ready to welcome their first guests. The website is under way, so I will let you know once it's up and running, and hopefully also have some photos of the outside to show you. In the meantime, you can email Mark and Shelly if you're interested in booking or more info on Meadowood House.