Stylish Blogger Award

I was lying low for a while gathering my thoughts on how to proceed with this year when both Michelle from Paper Tree Studio and another fellow interior designer Kristie from Elements at Home awarded me a Stylish Blogger Award. Thank you so much for your awards and for motivating me back on track...

The rules of the award are:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

• I am a "Possie" (which is short for Pommie Aussie)... I was born in England and lived mostly in or around London. I met my husband (also English) on one of my project's construction sites in London and a few years later we decided to migrate to Australia. We have been here 6 years and love our lifestyle here in Brisbane.
• I turned 40 last year and I used to be much fitter in my thirties! So this year is all about increasing my fitness level :)
• I love good quality chocolate... in restricted quantities this year :(
• I love spas and massages (especially in rainforest or beach settings).
• I love trekking... and some weekends I can be found at the top of a mountain or climbing a rainforest creek around SE Queensland or Northern NSW.
• I am a keen traveller and really excited as I am currently planning my next overseas trip :) Watch this space later on in the year.
• I love interior design but after many years of designing consumer driven spaces I am now focused on educating, inspiring and designing with a healthier, low impact and sustainable interior design approach.

3. Then you are supposed to pass on this award to other stylish bloggers that you have discovered and inspire you. It's entirely up to you but please do not feel under any obligation to do this.

Here is my list (and please do not be offended if I did not include you). For those of you on my list please do not feel under any obligation to pass on this award.

• the design traveller
• Sonia from Raine & Sage
• Sandy at Paint Me White
• Jo from Desire to Inspire
• Linda from Oeke

Have a great week.

Helping to rebuild :: Flood discounts

My last post was during the floods. We lost power, the contents of our fridge freezer and had to clean up all the stuff we had stored under our house which had been attacked by mould build up from damp caused by the constant rain. We have been lucky compared to many and with so much loss elsewhere it did not feel right talking about interior design and decoration.

As a way of moving forward I would like to ask that if you know of anyone that has been affected by the floods please forward this website to them: www.flooddiscounts.com.au

via Niche Studio

Flood discounts is a site started by a friend of mine from Niche Studio. It shows where flood affected families can go to get access to heaps of discounts from all types of trades and services. There are discounts from tile suppliers, building trades, building designers, kitchen manufacturers, furniture suppliers and much more.

Flood Discounts

Please pass this info onto anyone you know who may need assistance during this time to rebuild their lives and homes.

Brisbane floods 2011

Apologies for being off line for a while. We have only recently got power back on at our home.

I am speechless.... It feels quite surreal that this has happened to my home town of Brisbane and my friends home town of Toowoomba (which is high up on a mountain range). For anyone who is still on holiday and unaware of the severity of the flood disaster here in Brisbane and Queensland please feel free to click here for the latest update of the flooded areas.

A shoe floats out of the front door of a flooded residence in New Farm (Photo from Brisbane Times)

A couple of flooded houses in West End (Photo from Brisbane Times)

I have been through something similar before with the Boxing Day Tsunami but was able to escape the sea and return to Australia for emotional support. This time we have also been very lucky. 

We are close to the Brisbane River but our home is high up on a hill and safe from the flood level. Our neighboring suburbs however have not been so lucky. We used to live in Fig Tree Pocket right on the river's edge and only hope that there has not been too much damage to the houses of our FTP neighbours.

In times like these everyone is pulling together, mucking in and supporting friends, neighbours and strangers.

Our deepest thoughts go out to all who have lost so much in this tragic event.

Christmas & New Years in NSW :: Coast, city & country

What a great end to the year! We drove down to Sydney from Brisbane popping into Byron Bay, Yamba (staying at the riverside Moby Dick Motel) and Dorrigo National Park before finally basing ourselves for Christmas in a lovely cottage called Japara Lodge in Coomba Park overlooking Forster-Tuncurry. We were also ever so lucky in that we managed to escape all the rain.

The Moby Dick, Yamba

Fishing in Yamba & Forster, walking in the Dorrigo NP and the view from our accommodation in Coomba Park.

Our New Years Eve was a few days in Sydney followed by a drive back via the New England Highway and a spot of wine tasting in Stanthorpe. It was nice to see much more of the NSW country side. 

New Years in Sydney 2010

Recycled country mailboxes and windmills

I still have some traveling to do as I will still be on holiday for a few more weeks but will keep an eye on all your posts. 

Hope you are having a great start to 2011. Have fun. Lisa