Classic Ralph

On a recent trip to Paris I returned to one of the most beautiful stores, in my opinion, in the world.

From the divine Ralph's courtyard  restaurant filled with plump down filled blue and white cushions and ivy and buxus potted urns to the magnificent oak parquet floors, one is treated to classic American elegance at it's best.

Each floor just gets better,  not to mention the magnificent luxury of the clothing in subtle colors, superb fabrics and timelessly  elegant designs.

The menswear is displayed against oak cabinetry and leather and each room is like walking through a stunning home. If I could move in, I would.

Be sure to drop in if you happen to be visiting  Paris at 173 Boulevard St Germain. 

Winter lunch

Last weekend  I visited The Wild Brumby near Thredbo with a couple of friends. We started the day with a schnapps tasting, then moved on to the Austrian inspired menu.  The service,  food and atmosphere were superb and well worth a visit if you are on your way to the snow. Brad and Monica Spalding, the owners,  ran the ski school in Thredbo for many years and are certainly well known by the locals and  visitors. The atmosphere is warm, relaxed and busy. Just the place to spend a cold winters day in comfort. 

The Menu

Homemade pate – duck liver or local smoked trout with toast

Distiller’s plate - a selection of smallgoods and King Island cheese

Farmer’s Pfandl – german sausage, kassler, kipfler potatoes & sauerkraut

Vego soup – vegetable soup served with baked sour dough

Ruben - pastrami, mustard and sauerkraut on German rye 

Aussie ham sandwich - leg ham, lettuce, cheese, tomato and mustard 

Lamb ragout - slow cooked Monaro lamb with vegetables, served with rice 

German sausages - on sauerkraut with bread and mustard

Spinach & ricotta dumplings – with roasted tomato, garlic and thyme sauce & parmesan 

Schnitzel burger – veal schnitzel, lettuce, cheese, tomato served with wedges

Beef gulasch – high country beef, Austrian gulasch with bread dumplings 

Veal schnitzel – lean, crumbed schnitzel with potato and a green salad

Kassler – pan-fried smoked pork with a rustic mash, sauerkraut and veg 

Sweets

Austrian Apple Strudel - served with ice-cream and cream 

Sticky-date pudding – served with ice-cream and butterscotch sauce 

Flourless chocolate torte – hazelnut, almond and chocolate 

Lemon gugglhupf – Austrian lemon and almond cake

Cupcakes – vanilla and almond 

Scrolls – hazelnut and cinnamon scrolls

Stained glasshouse cake – mixed fruit and nuts 

Schnappy ice cream – vanilla ice cream served with wildbrumby butterscotch schnapps 

Visual order

As a decorator having spent many years pondering colors, fabrics, furnishings

and interiors, I am completely obsessed with creating visual order and peace in my home. My conclusion has been that mere decorating and design are not enough and it must go further if we are to find that deeper sense of rest and calm.

When I told my mother I had just colour cordininated my husbands polo shirts and  jumpers her response was  " you really need to get a life". Despite this, I am convinced I am onto something intrinsically important.

To condense one's belongings, or edit them in such a way and then display them beautifully is an art form in itself. Whether it be the pleasure of selecting a particular cashmere jumper from your drawer beautifully folded or the right cooking implements I believe it is a much overlooked area of design. Paying attention to the items we choose to wear or use can either be a pleasure or a chore. 

You be the judge. Am I going mad or am I onto something important?

Monet's garden

“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” Claude Monet
This weekend I visited Melbourne, a favourite city of mine. While there I visited the Monet exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. I would highly recommend it to anyone who can go. I was transfixed by the beautiful images filled with light,magnificent colours and images. Any one who has been involved in creating a garden can I'm sure relate to Monet's quote.

"Monet’s Garden is a stunning exhibition devoted to Claude Monet’s iconic garden at Giverny. Renowned as the ‘father of French Impressionism’, Monet was inspired by his direct experiences of nature, culminating in the ravishing depictions of his lily and flower gardens in the rural property at Giverny, northern France, that became his lifelong obsession. Step into the extraordinary this winter for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these masterpieces in Australia, exclusive to Melbourne" an excerpt from the Nationql Gallery of Victoria's website who does a far better job describing it.

Magazine feature

 This month our home and garden is featured in Australian Country magazine. The photography by Stephanie Lees, a local photographer is very beautiful.The photo shoot took place ten days before my daughters wedding and thankfully the Jane McGrath floribunda roses from Treloar roses were in full bloom.

Roses are pink

The pretty, pink, old English style, floribunda roses in our parterre garden are the Jane McGrath rose from Treloar roses. They were chosen for their hardiness in drought conditions and apparently have total resistance to black spot. The colour is a soft pink and they have a soft fragrance. They have flowered prolifically all summer and autumn and are surprisingly still covered in blooms in winter.

$1 from each rose is made to the McGrath foundation from the sale of each plant. The proceeds go towards helping the Foundation's work including placing breast care nurses in rural Australia. We couldn't be happier with our choice.

Inspiring gardens

One of my favourite landscape designers is Jacques Wirtz, a Belgian designer who combines structure and formality in a unique way.

In the days before Pinterest, when I used to rip out my favourite  ideas from magazines, I saved a garden which included the top picture at least 10 years ago. I am still fan today.

A beautiful space turns three

It's been three years since I hesitantly started my blog and I am so pleased I did. I have connected with so many people and been inspired by so many ideas over those years and am so thankful to have this form of communication in my life. Thank you to all who have visited. x Sally-Ann

All images Pinterest

Embracing the spirit of winter

Instead of mourning the end of long sunny days spent outside, I turn my attention to best this season has to offer.

Some furry fashion never goes astray

Snug throw rugs, hand knitted hot water bottle covers, candles and hot chocolate.

Finding that perfect spot to snuggle up with a good book

Or venturing outdoors in comfort.

When all else fails, Audrey is always there to inspire.

Enjoy your first day of winter!

A country cottage to rent

Our renovations are now complete and our station hand's cottage is ready for guests.

The perfect place to escape from life and relax in a tranquil country setting.

There are wonderful views of the garden, paddocks and lake to be seen while dining, relaxing or even from the comfort of your bed,

The finest cotton sheets, goose down duvets and luxurious mattresses will treat you to a relaxing nights sleep.

The kitchen is equipped for even the most discerning chef.

The bathroom with its heated floors and deep bath will have you feeling relaxed in no time.

Our website will be ready soon, stay posted.

Ten item wardrobe

Jennifer L. Scott in her book Lessons from Madame Chic, 20 stylish secrets I learned while living in Paris, takes the capsule wardrobe to another extreme and says we should limit our wardrobe to 10 items. These do not include t shirts or outerwear.ie coats etc. Looks like I have further culling to do. Her advice is to try it for one month and experience how much easier it is to get dressed each day.

I have nothing to wear!

We've all been through the tired dilemma of "I have nothing to wear".  After years of fairly scrupulous seasonal wardrobe cullings I decided a more drastic approach was needed to my wardrobe. To have a wardrobe of key pieces, all in good condition, I can mix and match with ease and speed was my aim. 

I had been inspired by the idea of a capsule wardrobe which would include all the key pieces I need in an average week to reduce the clutter and make my choices simpler. To create a uniform which is uniquely me. 

Here's a guide to how I set about creating my own capsule wardrobe.

10 Steps to a capsule wardrobe

 1. Remove everything from your wardrobe and put it on your bed, I mean, everything!

 2. Separate sessional clothing and deal only with what is suitable for the current season.

 3. Separate into formal, work and casual . You may want to add an exercise pile.

 4. Ask the following questions;

• Which  items do I wear all the time?  
• Do these items flatter me  both in colour and shape?
• Do they suit my personality and age?

You may want to ask a friend or daughter for help with these decisions.

 5. If you have answered yes, hang them up. Then ask yourself;

•  Are these items in good condition? 
• If yes, leave them there, if no, leave them until you have found a suitable replacement

 6. Look at everything on the bed which is good quality and  suits you in style and colour yet you may never wear. Perhaps you consider them too good to wear and are saving them for a special occasion. 

 Hang them up and start using them.  If you still can't use them over the next season, get rid of them.

 7. Are there items you could now remove which you wear all the time yet should have been ditched some time ago due to their condition? Remove them now.

 8. Group like with like: i.e. all your trousers together, skirts together etc. Also group by colour.

 9. Hang formal clothes at one end and also coats and outerwear.

10. You should now have a condensed wardrobe which makes your life easier. Be sure to pack  all your off season clothes away safely. Take all discarded items to a charity store or give away to a friend who they may suit better

Your new capsule wardrobe should consist of all your essentials. It will make buying new clothes so much easier as you will have a greater sense of your own style and know exactly what is needed to fill in the gaps.

You will be able to walk confidently out the door each day knowing you are wearing the best you have for the appropriate occasions.

Once we define our own style we shouldn't be afraid to stick with it, experiment with accessories and refine it. Let's try to wear the best things we own and enjoy them rather than saving them for later.

Garden history tour

Australian Garden
History Society 2013 Autumn Tour

On Friday we had 40 guests visit our garden with The Australian Garden History Society. The tour , guided by Trisha Dixon, was a great success and we couldn't have had  more perfect weather.The tour included private gardens, historic architecture and discussions on artists and poets who have resided in our district.

Autumn morning

We have the most perfect autumn day here today. A few shots from my camera to enjoy the season.
Enjoy your weekend!

A country wedding / A new life

I am not quite sure how to explain the major life changes I have undergone over the past 12 months.
My husband and I took 10 weeks off to travel to Europe to make some big decisions about our future and returned to Australia to proceed with closing our retail interior/furniture store. It was a huge decision and really quite scary and yet I am happy to say it has been the best decision

I then spent the past 5 months planning a wedding at home for my daughter. Against all warnings from a few experienced local ladies who tried to suggest we go else where we decided to have a marquee in our garden at home. It was a mammoth task and I am now incredibly relieved to have it all behind us.

A few kind readers have asked if I would return to blogging and on a wet and very early wintery day I decided it was just the day to begin.

I would love to know if you are still following, so please leave a comment.

Sally-Ann x