May Lust List
I thought I'd do a small post on a couple of designs and products that I am totally lusting after right now. I've been on a self-imposed homewares embargo (mainly so I can have some fun once we are in the new house, and also, like I said, no paid work = no spare mula!) so here are a few things that would be added-to-cart asap in any other circumstance… well, maybe with a lotto win, but one can dream. Or I can just live vicariously through any of you lucky people who happen to purchase up after seeing this.
{A Cutipol Mezzo cutlery set}
{An Elise Raspanti Art Series Kip & Co beanbag!}
{Blue Heaven LED Neon artwork (or any of their ice creams) by Electric Confetti}
{Sierra weave Armadillo & Co rug in Pumice has been on my list since I felt it at a trade fair a few years ago. Sooo soft and luxurious!}
{Love this Sketch Inc for Lucie Kaas Thief Wall Hook by Urbaani, available at Top3. Becky Kemp's Kokeshi Dolls are also fantastic - check out her insta @sketchinc to see some of her amazing work}
{The impressively multi-functional Woodieful chair/table/storage/bucket from new start-up Woodieful in Slovenia. I love adaptable 'slashie' furniture! It is available through their Kickstarter campaign here, although you better hurry - only 9 days to go. And yes, they do ship to Australia!}
{These Dita stools from Grazia & Co, seen here in the stunning Port Phillip Bay penthouse apartment by We Are Huntly. Photo by Brooke Holm}
{A matte black Anthracite finish Smeg fridge, because why not}
What are you lusting after?
xo Romona
Local Heroes: Gallery House by Craig Steere Architects
{Complementary materiality of off-white render, stone, timber and zinc cladding}
{How beautiful is that pergola?!}
{Classic but contemporary frontage in Nedlands}
{Crossing linear elements continue with steel balustrade and stone stairs}
{Visual and physical connection between outside and in}
{I love a clean monochrome kitchen. It gives a great base to personalise with homely touches later}
{Simple palette and colour scheme continue through into wet areas}
{Overlapping linear elements give aesthetic cohesion}
{That ceiling is amazing! I would not have enjoyed drawing up those details, but what a result!}
{A touch of warmth to the monochromatic palette, with timber floor insert}
{Sculptural Frangipani trees create organic silhouettes against the linear}
{Ceiling and pergola structures linking the pavilion and courtyard spaces}
{Visually striking linear elements, that would be amazing to take in from the pool, day or night}
I feel the need to point out that while passive solar design principles have been applied with siting, material selection and active tech, the 6 star energy rating achieved is the NCC (National Construction Code) minimum, since this rating system goes up to 10 stars. Just keep this in mind, when designing or building your next home - time spent aiming for a higher rating early on will save you time and money later on.
Regardless of this small point, this house is a beautiful example of contemporary residential architecture and looks like it would be a joy to live in.
xo Romona
Local Heroes: Triangle House by Robeson Architects
But I digress, this isn't a lecture on residential sustainability, rather the exploration of something beautiful born out of perceived limitations. Triangle House on a tight 180m2 triangular block in Mt Lawley, Perth showcases the ingenuity of Robeson Architects and to me is one example of Perth architecture at an international standard. What better way to start this series than with a project that initially grabbed me on Pinterest, but really had me hooked when I found out it was not only Australian, but super-local (Mt Lawley!) and a fellow female architect. Enjoy!
{The stunning triangular form juts out with supercool artwork below at street level by Robert Jenkins (@theblackmountains). So recognisable to me now that we have a wall of his around the corner in Bassendean, and you may have seen me go a little insta-happy over}
{This was one of the first images that made me fall for the place. Of course those who know me, know my tendency towards black, white and grey, but it also has all my other loves - big white kitchen, contrasting black frames, deep polished concrete flooring, minimal timber accents, big snuggly Jardan grey wool couch, indoor potted sculptural Dracaena, statement linear ceiling lighting, even the furry throw - my god Simone, you can do no wrong in my eyes! In fact, if I plonked my gorgeous tan fur-baby on that rug, the picture would be complete}
{Brutal black kitchen island wrapped in electric-veined Nero Marquita marble adds drama to the monochromatic space}
{Just a beautiful kitchen in blocked monochrome, and I love that massive projected north-facing window, done in one-way glass boxed out in steel for privacy}
{Extending the black-framed picture window to the heavens with a waterfall skylight}
{Sharp-edged deck space making the most of a difficult site and adding a bit of drama to Vincent Street}
{Clean gallery feel to the downstairs office softened by multiple but complementary textures and material finishes, like the burnished concrete floor, blackened LVL stair treads and black steel}
{Simple but inspiring void spaces and linear movement}
{Clean and minimal bathroom in continuous matt charcoal tile with clever hidden storage. Love the concrete bathroom floor, but I'm unable to convince my husband that I won't snap my other leg if we have that}
{You know it's good when even the dunny makes you go Oooo}
{Detail of the cool mural work at Vincent street level by Robert Jenkins}
{Image by Dion Photography}
{Image by Dion Photography}
All images are from Robeson Architects (big thanks Simone) and Dion Photography. If my house turns out even half as nice, I'll be wanting some shots done by those guys. Simply brilliant!
Doesn't it make you proud to have some lovely architecture in Perth (and Australia)? What are your thoughts on this place?
I'm hoping to showcase a bunch of other local talented architects and their projects soon, so feel free to let me know if there are any that stand out to you.
Hope you enjoyed!
xo Romona
The Dark Side
Here are a few interiors that are exploring and expressing their dark side.
{Graham Atkins-Hughes' family home in London, styled by wife Jo Atkins-Hughes. Graham also photographs a lot of Abigail Ahern projects, and I can definitely see a similar taste and influence there. Image from Milk Magazine}
{From the same home as above, this dark panelled lounge exudes a moody confidence. 'Photographed by Graham Atkins-Hughes and styled by Jo Atkins-Hughes}
{Not quite as dark, but still strong, this scheme by Texture Design for Godfrey Hirst flooring campaign shows beautiful combinations of dark block colours and textures}
{This circa-1880s home in Armadale, Melbourne features dark walls with black panelling, taking this extravagant character home to a new level}
{Styling for the 2015 Dulux Colour Forecast 'Wildland' colours. Loving that deep sea blue wall}
{Dark, moody interiors by the ever-impressive queen of dark interiors Abigail Ahern}
{Dark bedroom in shades of grey. Photo by Romain Ricard}
{Dark walls with black window frames allow the natural light and view to green foliage beyond to shine, not to mention the beautiful Lindsey Adelman pendant}
What do you think about dark interiors, especially in the Australian setting?
Would you or have you used dark interiors in your home?
xo Romona
The Monochrome Kitchen
My obsession at the moment is designing the perfect kitchen for my family - it needs to be robust enough to handle the two boys, clean and simple enough for my ‘minimalist’ husband and eclectic enough to suit my many varies tastes. Easy, right!
I have always loved a black and white kitchen, the bar constantly moving on the proportional scale between the two. A few years ago, I would have been happy with almost all crisp, glossy white, but I have been swinging towards textured black with glossy white accents lately, as it seems so many of you are as well. Here are a few (and by that I mean heaps!) of black and white kitchens to get you inspired.
{Loved this even before I saw it was Greg Natale’s work - should have guess that from the pattern and mouldings but I always end up loving his style}
{Striking Kitchen in 33 Mackenzie Street Tower Melbourne By Elenberg Fraser}
Black and White
{Harbour House by uber-talented Arent&Pyke. How yum is that Christian Liaigre console table?!}