Cabbages and Roses on SRT

The Girls at The Skirted Roundtable have impressed me again. Most guests have interesting and inspiring stories to tell. This week Christina Strutt of UK's Cabbages and Roses and author of her latest book At Home With Country: Bringing the Comforts of Country Home.

Go HERE to listen.

I really like the dark timber and white contrast.

Although I would have to tidy up that sideboard.

Timber! 'Fodder' for the fireplace. Yes!

Yes. Must have a sofa like this. With some different cushions though.

I like that the sides are not too high so I could prop up a little pillow to lay down and read.

The New Book - Off to order at American Book Store tonight.

Bedroom Love

This week I met briefly with a designer to talk about elevations. I am going to start there and work my way to the inside. When building modern residential project homes, mostly you choose your floor plan, then the elevation. That is not what I am looking for.

How exciting to see how it will evolve from the outside in!

I have previously posted of a couple of elevations I am very fond of and we are working with those to come up with something which will suit. I really want to work with sun angles to make the most of warmth and cool.

I will also spend this weekend stalking some recently purchased Australian magazines. There are currently LOADS of country styled places making their way to the front covers of the glossy mags this month. Yay for me.

Also, a HUGE welcome to my newest follower Sandy Foster of the most beautiful blog My Shabby Streamside Studio which I posted last week. I am so honoured and excited for her and her project. Sandy, you are my hero!

Onto a smaller and pretty project.  I am working on getting this bedhead made. I am even thinking of attempting it myself! I love it. And have loved this fabric for a few years now. I will use it now and then it will be sent to Heaven at the Lake.

The Bella Cottage

Could be the smallest lived in cottage in the world! Love to have this as a little guest house.

Over at Daisy Pink Cupcake is where I found My Shabby Streamside Studio .

I will leave you with just the photos of this cottage and a note that I love this woman's gusto with a drill and her little under step home for it. Would the name of a drill which lives under the stairs be called Harry Potter!? Boom Boom!

The drill under the stairs - Cute

Aga

For as long as I can remember I have wanted an Aga. Why? I just like the look of them. I am not sure about performance and all of that important stuff. I just love them. Why wouldn't I!!??

This weeks Brisbane News refreshed my memory by featuring an Aga on their "Loves" page. So I will go and check out Aussie BBQ's and Fireplaces at Murrarie

From an article in The Age in 2007 titled Gaga for Aga

"THE question has intrigued me for some time. Why do so many middle-aged women get steamed up over a big hot box that squats in their kitchen and has as much steel as a small Korean car, but costs twice as much?"

Makes me laugh. I'm not middle age!

If anyone has strong feelings about Aga, please note them below.

I would love to have either of these:

Maybe the second one is too big.

What my budget would probably only allow:

The Sunday Roast Aga Teapot

No, this one is probably more my style and takes me back to my heritage:

The Italian Aga Teapot

Yet they do say about the Aga:

"When you have one, you have this wonderful relationship with the kitchen. There's some dishes you put in the simmering oven when you go to bed and they are ready by breakfast-time. It is always there and always ready."

Is $17,000 too much to pay for an oven?
Probably.

Maybe at a tenth of the price ($1,700) and about a tenth of the style too I should get a Thermomix instead.

Homes in the UK

The only hard copy magazines I consume now are the following:

Home Beautiful (because it was a free subscription for signing up with Origin Electricity)
BBC Homes and Antiques (UK)
Country Style

Sometimes another one might grab my attention and beg me to take it home or a wonderful agent from Belle Property may drop me off the current issue of Belle. Or a good friend may bring me one as a treat. But otherwise, I find so many beautiful images, ideas and inspiration through the blog world that I have no reason to buy anything more.

So, back to homes in the UK.

Check out this beautiful place which I have scanned out of my current issue of Homes and Antiques.

I like the contrast of the outside to the inside. I kind of 'don't judge a book by the cover' feel. You may expect a dark, musty place filled with old books and chipped china. But its anything but all of that!
 

I like the bed net idea for a guest room / office.

I love the bath... I miss my claw foot bath. MUST HAVE

I like the exposed beams to create more space / light.

I like the use in two rooms of bench seats against the tables which in one has created a kitchen nook without it being built in (renters take note there!)

I do love the white slip cover look however I know I am a more structured person and I would forever be fiddling with them to straighten them up. So not sure about that one.

What you may have missed (because the photos are quite small)

The kitchen is nice. (peeling veggies in my high heels is not my thing though and I would probably trip on that mat and smash my face against something - I am a clutz)

I want this tea pot!

A question. Would you believe this is a kit home?  Oh yes-sir-ree!

Oh I wish some of these companies were in Australia.

Oakwrigths - oak framed houses with a traditional feel.

Potton - Classic (barns) or contemporary looks and a bespoke service.

There are so many more places too, if you would like my bevy of kit home websites contact me. But trust me, there is nothing as good in Australia. Please advise if you do find one.  Otherwise, Australia should be ashamed of itself.

THIS is the only half decent place I have found yet, if you want a cubby!