Musings + Moodboards

I created this moodboard at the end of last week in anticipation of a quiet weekend, but ran out of days to post it. Probably just as well because as it turned out, the weekend was far from quiet. After endless summer days I had forgotten what it was like to wake to the sound of rain, but it was actually a welcome change and much needed. The kids were full of energy so we kept them busy with indoor activities like rock climbing and a trip to the wave pool. Somewhere along the way I got stuck into some work on one of my current projects. All too quickly Monday arrived and this morning was spent frantically getting everyone ready and out the door on time for the kids first day back. Talk about a shock to the system! 

Returning to a quiet home, reality has now set in. I have time to myself again. Time to breathe, and be still. Now I know, the moodboard was really meant for today.

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I want to elaborate on a couple of the images above because they are so beautiful. The modular sofa, Vibieffe Evosuite by Innocenti Arredamenti looks so inviting don't you think? And that house... what an exquisite setting. 

I love these images by Kowtow Clothing whose art direction for every shoot is always spot on. These have a soft, unique feel to them, and a sense of mystery. Nowadays we are literally bombarded with more beautiful imagery than ever before, not just via fashion mags and ad campaigns but also via the web and social media. In the age of the #selfie and questionable #nofilter, these to me are a breath of fresh air. 

Images via Kowtow Clothing

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Musings + Moodboards

I'm working on a few fun projects right now, one of which is the next series of BNZ GoodHome. Contributing content centred around interior tips and advice for homeowners, part of the focus this time is on summer and Christmas. A fun time of year, I'm revelling in putting together my ideas and inspo. Also an incredibly busy time of year, I'm looking at my diary for November and wondering how it has filled up so quickly! 

I'm not sure if it's that I'm getting older (and perhaps wiser) or whether it's a coping mechanism, but during these stressful times I try to focus on taking it one day at a time. I've learnt that worrying is pointless, and I trust myself to know that I will always get things done. I also gain a lot of positive energy and motivation from the words I pin. When I'm looking for a quote to reflect my feeling or thoughts to finish off my moodboards I find myself reading through this board with much enjoyment. And I know from seeing the number of repins and reading people's comments (which can be fascinating) that I'm not alone. The imagery is undoubtedly beautiful, but these simple words are also powerful. 

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Some great news for my NZ readers before I go. The beautiful Australian design house Aura Home has just launched a new $9.95 flat-shipping rate to NZ, and to kick things off they are offering FREE Shipping to NZ, for four days only! 

I also have some great giveaways lined up over the next couple of weeks, so make sure you tune in tomorrow for the first one. It's a beauty! 

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Musings + Moodboards

The best thing about September, besides it being my birthday month is that it marks the arrival of Spring. The change has been most welcome, especially after a few miserable wet days, one very sick child and a cabin-fever style weekend with two very late nights working away at my computer. The aftermath being a severe case of Mondayitis! So when the sun came out yesterday along with a distinct rise in temperature, things were looking up. I rarely escape my office during the precious school hours, but I had the perfect excuse (and a reminder of why I love my work so much), an invitation to attend a private viewing of the stunning Saben Winter 2015 range. I was literally in handbag heaven! Available in stores early next year, I will be sure to show you a sneak peek in due course.

I've also been working with lovely clients who have chosen a monochrome Scandi theme with yellow accents for their home renovations. Such a bright and happy colour, I love working with yellow. Perfectly suited to Spring, I'm still loving dusky pinks, and chalky blues. Today's moodboard was inspired by the gorgeous GoodNorm bedding by Menu which comes in a range of scrumptious muted colours.

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Another big project I've been working on is for the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) who have put together a blog called GoodHome. A collection of inspiration and tips, the site is designed to help BNZ home loan customers with everything from interiors and DIY to home finances and the property market. Along with two other industry experts  - the well-loved TV personality John "Cocksy" Cocks and author/TV presenter Stephen Hart - I am providing the design-related content. I've written three blog posts so far, one of which is the start of  a Room Series where in each issue I'll be focusing on a different room in the house, showing simple ways to enhance and improve the space. The other posts include an Affordable Art Step by Step Guide and One Tip Styling Tricks, Room by Room. Whether you're a home owner or looking to buy, you'll find a wealth of information, so make sure you pop over for a read! 

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Musings + Moodboards

Today’s post was triggered by something that Megan Morton mentioned in her styling masterclass I attended last year. She said that it’s often when there’s chaos at home (kids, mess everywhere etc) that you produce really beautiful work. This rang true for me, as I thought back to when I started the blog. At the time we were about to embark on our build, while living in an old rental which of course had its limitations when it came to decorating. I had a pre-schooler and a baby and just keeping up with the washing and housework was a challenge. I worked on my blog from my laptop, often on the couch, at the dining table, in bed or the cramped office slash storage room. While the clean, orderly and stylish home I dreamt about was a long way off, I was able to channel those dreams I had into the blog. It became a visual diary of everything that was inspiring me at the time, namely beautiful Scandinavian interiors. I loved (and still do) curating moodboards and found it almost cathartic creating gorgeous collages to look at and share, while things around me were anything but gorgeous! 

It’s coming up to a year since we moved into our new home, and every day since I have felt blessed to be working from a lovely office. I still spend my days sourcing inspiring design finds and interiors to share, but my focus has shifted to include my own styling at home. I still love Pinterest and curating moodboards, but now I love being hands-on with my styling, and taking photos to share on the blog and Instagram.

Every school holiday I feel like life gets turned a little bit upside down. I love having the kids around and getting a break from the drop off and pick ups but the noise and chaos can take its toll. I fall behind with washing and housework and crave some alone time, preferably in my office browsing Pinterest! My husband usually takes a couple of days off so that I can keep on top of things with the blog, but for the first time in ages I’ve booked the kids into a holiday programme for just two days this week. So today I’m enjoying the quiet, catching up on emails and writing this post, which I dedicate to all the parents out there who like me, are craving an escape. For a few moments I hope you get lost in this dreamy imagery. 

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Musings + Moodboards

It may be Friday the 13th but it's still the day before the weekend, and that can only be a good thing!

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Just a little dose of moodboard inspo today, as I have lots on the go. I'm really excited to be taking over the Instragram account of FPmag (@its_fpmag) for the next few days, sharing some of my personal interior inspo! Founded by LA-based Amy Cherie, FPmag (aka Furniture Porn) is an online site with a worldwide following, dedicated to showcasing incredible designers, specifically in the worlds of furniture design and home objects. What I love is that each has a story, they own their craft and genuinely care about where the materials come from. FPmag is a space that "values the stories, processes, and ideas of the designers, builders and artisans." Make sure you check them out!

They also have  a rocking Insta feed with a cool 37K+ following so pop over with me and join in the fun! 

Lastly, be sure to enter this week's amazing WORLDWIDE giveaway. Thanks to the newly launched collaboration between Forestry & Milo and Mitzy, I have one of their gorgeous 100% NZ wool Circle | Grid blankets (valued at $199 NZD) to give away. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday. Have a great weekend! 

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Musings + Moodboards

I hope you're having a great start to the month of June. We've kicked ours off with a long weekend here in NZ for Queen's birthday so I can't complain. I've been working on a couple of styling projects so it's nice to have an extra day to catch my breath!

As the chill sets in I'm finding inspiration from warm layers and cosy textures, for both the home and wardrobe. Whether you're enjoying a day off or heading to work, ease into the day with these lovely images, and for further inspiration follow the links below.

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The 'June' image is from a 2014 Calendar designed by Jasmine Dowling, whose typography work I love. A free, printable download, I've printed it off for my boys' desk area which I've been working on over the weekend. My eldest son Roman loves crossing off the days! I'm looking forward to sharing some photos of their cute space with you on the blog soon.

Today is the last day to enter the Homestyle Magazine subscription giveaway, so if you haven't already, make sure you pop over here and enter. I'll be announcing the winner on the blog tomorrow! 

Lastly, there's one more fab giveaway you don't want to miss. While I've been guesting on Homestyle's Instagram, they've been running a comp to win my gorgeous Playtype G Poster from Pop Motif. Also open to both NZ and Australian residents, see how to enter here. Huge thanks to the team at Homestyle for having me - I've had a blast! 

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Musings + Moodboards

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Today's musings come in the form of some links I'd like to share with you, as I thought it would be a nice way of providing you with some weekend reading, inspiration and online shopping!

A new discovery, I can see that FIGTNY is going to become a regular go-to for fashion inspo.

These unique wooden spouts provide a beautifully natural alternative to traditional tapware.

My visual addiction aside, the words of this beautiful heart-felt post touched me, and for anyone else who has watched a parent lose their life to cancer I'm sure it will have the same effect.

A favourite of mine when it comes to art prints, I was excited to see these new designs. 

Something to calm the mind after a busy week, white, soft pink and copper never looked so good.

I'm lusting after the gorgeous jewellery on offer at my clever cousin Zoe's new online store Aden. 

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Musings + Moodboards

I've hit a bit of a wall this week. Not so much exhaustion or burnout (which I experience from time to time) but more a feeling of being overwhelmed with everything. The blog is coming up to its second birthday, and while I cannot be happier with the rate at which it has grown (largely thanks to all of you for being here), the growth has meant a much bigger workload. Now don't get me wrong - I do thrive on this, but I'm sure as many bloggers will agree, it's a lot to manage for one person. Of course bigger blogs have contributors and content managers etc, but some of us are not yet at that level! 

First and foremost I want to focus on the blog and move forward with the enthusiasm and passion that drove me to start in the first place. In order to do this, I've decided to limit the number of styling jobs I take on. I'm loving the PR work that I'm doing and will continue to post everyday here on the blog, give or take the odd day when the wheels fall of completely! I also mentioned last week that I have a couple of exciting projects coming up. One is the blog redesign, but I also want to look at my blog content and create a bit more structure. This includes my blog layouts, starting with my moodboards which I decided could really do with a re-fresh!

Today I've taken inspiration from the Zara Spring/Summer Campaign, which I've been lusting over lately. While the bare midriffs are looking a bit chilly as we move towards winter here in NZ, I love seeing what's in store for us next year, and many of the clothes are trans-seasonal. Overall, there's a gorgeous minimalist vibe that really appeals. I've picked out some of my favourite looks including everyday basics in neutral palettes, and mixed them up with some beautiful images from my Pinterest boards. 

See below each moodboard for links to the original sources, as well as the items from Zara.  

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Take a look at the beautiful big world of Zara here. 

I've decided to make Musings + Moodboards a regular occasional post. So far they've been sporadic, but you will be seeing more from now on. I'd love to hear what you think, so do leave a comment and let me know.

Have a fun, inspiring and restful weekend. x 

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Musings + Moodboards

Well here we are, at the end of another week. This year is flying by and I've had a couple of particularly busy months. Now that the dust is starting to settle, I'm looking forward to focusing on two new blog-related projects that I can't wait to share with you. One is an exciting collaboration, and the other is a re-design of my blog. Today however, I'm just happy it's Friday, and I'm thinking ahead to the weekend and having a bit of down time.

With that in mind, I thought some moodboard inspiration was in order. 

All images via my Pinterest

Enjoy your Friday, and have a fun and relaxing weekend. x

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Musings + Moodboards

Is it just me, or does everyone feel a bit jaded, and in need of a holiday at this time of year? Schools break up on Friday here in NZ, and I'm looking forward to a rest from all the rushing around. Like the rest of the country, I'm hoping by then we'll have won the America's Cup race! Currently being sailed in San Francisco, Emirates Team New Zealand are racing Oracle Team USA, and with one race left to win, we are so close. Fingers crossed our boys bring the cup home! 

I'm actually thinking about taking a bit of time off over the school holidays, so that I can spend more time with my boys. You'll still see me online everyday, on either Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest (that's a given) but the blog posts may cut down to three a week. I'll let you know what I decide by the end of this week, so you know what to expect!

Once back from the holidays, I'll be coming at you with lots of exciting new content that I'm working on, including giveaways and interviews. I'm also doing some public relations work for a beautiful new store, and in the early stages of setting up a little interior-related side venture. Lastly, I'm thrilled to have locked in a magazine shoot early next year to have our new home featured. 

Because of all this busy-ness, I just have a couple of moodboards to share with you today. The first features that exquisite combo of black, white and neutrals together with a few things I'm loving right now such as DIY bookshelves and black interior walls. It also includes some of my fashion must-haves like hats, sunnies and leopard print!

This next one was inspired by the arrival of spring and features blush tones, bright airy interiors and beautiful flowers. Enjoy!

All images via my Pinterest Boards. 

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