Why thank you!

I'm feeling absolutely chuffed this week - I am the lucky recipient of two blog awards! Thanks so much to my sweet blog buddy Kerry at A Tranquil Townhouse, and the lovely Judy at Verandah House for their kind awards - you've made my week! Add these to my award from the gorgeous Amanda at Homely One last week, and I'm one happy little camper!

 

Now, these would have to be some of the most generous and supportive and people ever, and they've made my foray into the blogosphere so much fun. Amanda was one of the very first people to leave a comment for me, and she's been such a sweetheart with her kind words and encouragement. Kerry's beautiful blog is like a breath of fresh air, her wit and personality shine through and she is just so lovely to boot. And I've been a long-time reader of Judy's for quite some time now, initially over at Lily-G and now at Verandah House. Her posts are so stylish and fabulous, and add to that her new adventure with a move to the Byron Bay hinterland, and you have blog heaven! All I can say is make sure you put aside some time to read these fantastic blogs, you'll be so glad you did!

See you soon,

The Perfect Queenslander...Part II

So...remember my recent post on the perfect Queenslander? Well I have a little update I think you might like.

Last year, I was enjoying my usual weekend real estate stalking browsing, when I came across this cottage. As soon as I saw the interior shots, I thought it looked familiar, and sure enough, the same owners had worked their makeover magic on another gem in just the next suburb:

this was an original workers' cottage with a new extension added to the rear 

the new side entrance, linking the original cottage and the new addition

if you look closely you can see some of the owners' amazing art collection

love the dark floorboards and the glass louvre splashback  - what a great idea!

love this!

the outdoor area was one of the home's best features

as soon as I saw this pic, I recognised the bedhead and lampshades straight away - remember this from my previous post?

all images from here

So, now the big question - which do like the best? The original homes are quite different, but the common theme with both renovations is the addition of large modern extension to what was originally a small Queensland colonial. Do you like the idea of combining old and new, with the extension visible from the street? Or would you rather a more subtle approach, with no clue to what's in store? I'd love to hear what you think so leave a comment and we can debate the pros and cons!

Have a great day everyone, 

Well look who we have here!

We had a little bit of excitement at our house on Saturday night. At around 1.30 in the morning, we woke to hear our side gate being almost shaken off its hinges. The dog was barking, we flew out of bed, half asleep and wondering what we'd find outside, but it wasn't quite what we expected at all:

Now it's nothing unusual to have koalas in our backyard. We have over two acres of gum trees, and more often than not there are koalas here most of the time. What was unusual was that this little one decided to squeeze under the gate, probably to get away from the amorous male in the next tree to hers, and managed to get stuck in the process.

After finally wriggling under the gate, she found herself stuck in the fenced section of our backyard. So, in the middle of the night, hubby had to remove one of the fence panels to let her out.

all images driftwood interiors

The next morning she was there, snoozing happily and oblivious to the ruckus she'd caused the night before!

 I do love the fact that we have koalas in our backyard, and never take it for granted. Sadly, in the years we've lived here we've noticed their numbers have been dwindling, so while ever they're still around I'm happy.

Just a run of the mill way to start the week hey?

But make sure you pop in tomorrow, I'll be back with a little update on my 'Perfect Queenslander' post, so stay tuned!

Happy Monday,

Kerri xx

A big thankyou..

 

 

    image from here

..to everyone who's been so welcoming and supportive of my new blog. I've only been blogging for a few weeks now but I've been blown away by the generosity I've been shown and the lovely people I've met. So,  I'm passing the 'Sunshine Award' on to everyone who's taken the time to send a comment, you've made this little adventure so enjoyable.

Now, I had far more than twelve on my list, so if you'd like to visit the beautiful blogs on my blog list, you'll find some of the most creative and generous people imaginable. Thanks ladies, you're amazing!

My first award!

I came home late last night after a mid-week rugby game, tired and worn-out (no I didn't play, it's hard work being a spectator you know!) to find this waiting for me:

The lovely Amanda from Homely One gave this to me and I'm thrilled with my first ever award! Amanda has been incredibly supportive since I started my blog, always taking the time to leave a lovely comment and generally just being a great big sweetheart! So thanks Amanda, and for those of you who haven't checked out her blog, you're missing out! I'm about to race out the door now but I'll be back later today to pass this on to some of my favourites.

Have a happy Friday,

Kerri xx

They're finished...

...but not without a few hiccups! Here's the artwork I mentioned in my post on Tuesday.

I did have a huge small problem with these. When they were almost finished, I hung them together to check how they looked. That was when I saw it....

Aargh!! The canvases, in spite of being the same size, were in fact out by around 1cm. Now this does happen occasionally, and I'm usually really particular in checking this. But for some reason I didn't notice until it was far too late. After much teeth gnashing and a few choice words, I spent the next day painting another pink canvas.

all images Driftwood Interiors

Oh well, it's all done now and my client is thrilled, so I'm happy. And hey, now I have a canvas ready, I'll design another to go with it so it won't go to waste. 

Have a great day,

Kerri x

The Perfect Queenslander

A few years ago, a lovely old Queenslander in one of Brisbane's older suburbs came on the market. Although it was beautiful from the outside, it was the renovation of the interior spaces that made this home so special.

 

original facade (if this looks familiar it was also in my first post )

.

 

 all images from here

The owners retained much of the original colonial, then used the sloping block to build in underneath, adding a second level with teenage retreat, rumpus, decks, and a great outdoor area. It was really well-considered and the presentation was flawless. For me, this is a perfect example of how to blend old and new without compromising style or space.

Ah, to dream!

Kerri x

p.s. I'm still working on my paintings (more on that story later!) so I'll post that update tomorrow. Sorry!

Black + White = just right

Hi all,

I'm madly trying to finish some artwork for a client, so today I thought I'd take a few more snaps of my studio. Of course, as I'm in the middle of working the majority of the room looks as though it's been ransacked, but I managed to find a few corners that were still photo-worthy!

One of the things I enjoy most about what I do is being able to paint and decorate with colours I may not otherwise choose for myself. Some of my favourite jobs have been commissions where I've had set colours to work with and I've had to then design works to suit the space.

These black and white paintings were done for a styling job I worked on last year. I like to keep a stockpile so that when the need arises I can quickly pull a scheme together, without searching high and low for just the right piece.

this old linen press holds all of my art materials

a small part of my collection of vases and jugs

and some cushions to match

As much as I'd like to stay here and chat, I'm off to do some work. I'll be back tomorrow to show you what I've been up to. 

Enjoy the rest of your day,

Kerri xx

all images by Driftwood Interiors

Studio style

 

 sadly not my studio but the beautful work of steve gianetti via velvet & linen

My art studio is housed in a small building separate to our main house. And that's a very good thing. Because I would have to be the messiest person alive when I'm in the middle of a painting. I've tried many times to keep the chaos under control, but it's just not in my nature.

To start with, the room was dark and depressing, boasting exposed brick walls that sucked all the available light out of the room. And before I claimed it for myself, it had become a general dumping ground for all our excess stuff.

I'm always amazed at the difference a few litres of white paint makes. Actually make that ten litres. Those brick walls were thirsty and so porous, it took three coats before it even looked like covering. But it was definitely worth it and the amount of light in the room is quite amazing. We pulled up the musty old carpet, and gave the floors a makeover too - a soft french grey.

I'll be back with some pics of the finished room soon, as soon as I finish my latest painting  (and give it a bit of a tidy up!)  Until then, here are some stunning examples to whet your appetite.

from here

tricia foleys's studio via here

here

... oh if only!   from here

Happy Monday,

Kerri x

When is a kitchen not a kitchen...

...when it looks like this! This kitchen is almost completely disguised with the clever use of elegant cabinetry and luxe materials. Kelly Giesen is the designer, and she's blended a mix of not-so-shabby chic with crisp modern furniture to create some beautiful spaces. And how can you go wrong with a clean white canvas to start with?

check out the beautiful fire screen

all images fron here

Enjoy the rest of your weekend

Kerri x