A Charming Miner's Cottage Amongst An Acre of Roses!

Do you ever feel like dropping what you're doing and following your dreams? If so, perhaps today's home tour will inspire you to take that step! New Zealand born Sandy McKinley left her career in marketing to pursue her childhood passion for flowers when she moved next door to a renowned and newly retired florist. Soon after she opened a floral studio where she created a successful business growing peonies and crafting events and weddings. When the opportunity arose to purchase 1000 mature heritage rose bushes, Sandy and partner Rob Roy jumped at it! Originally from Melbourne, Rob is not a stranger to flowers and had previous experience in restoring historic homes. He set about renovating their cosy Miner's cottage with the same tenacity he applied to breaking horses: "Hard work but incredibly rewarding to see raw beauty release its potential."  An Acre of Roses - a micro flower farm and luxury wellness accommodation in Trentham, Victoria, Australia - was born. 

The charming Miner's cottage was built in 1860 and has been renovated to maintain the original charm and decorated with the help of interior designer Belle Hemming-Bright. Think earthy tones, natural materials and modern creature comforts such as a cedar hot tub, smoothie bar and state of the art coffee machine. Sounds like my kind of place! Maybe it's important to mention at this stage that it's also available to rent on Airbnb?! Yep, I know!

The cottage is packed with lovely vintage finds, portraits and of course, fresh flowers! The blend gives the living space a wonderful relaxed feel and must smell divine! 

Love the earthy colours in this corner - so pretty! Green is one of my favourite accents - it works especially well in a countryside location, don't you think?

Imagine getting toasty under a blanket by this fire? 

FYI We could use a roaring fire like this in Malmö today - it's 12 degrees Celsius (53 F!) BRRRR! 

 

How beautiful!

Earlier in the summer I was dreaming of an escape to the Californian desert, on Monday I was dreaming of a stay at a cabin in Whispering Pines, and now I feel a trip to Trentham is in order. I can't think of a more beautiful place to relax, rejuvenate - and literally, stop and smell the roses! 

So many places, such little time! 

Could you imagine hanging out at Acre of Roses too?! 

Sandy and Rob take bookings for the Miner's Cottage and the Potting Shed here - just sayin'! Keep an eye out for forthcoming events too! 

Wednesday already, and I feel like I have a week's worth of work left to do. Anyone else feel the same? I could use a calming walk through that rose garden! 

Happy humpday friends!

Niki

Acre of Roses is owned by Sandy McKinley and Rob Roy. The interior was decorated and styled by  Belle Hemming-Bright. Photography by Marnie Hawson. 

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Stylist and Author Natalie Walton's Understated Yet Incredibly Charming Home

FREDAG! Oh, am I happy to see you, it feels like it's been a long ole week. Do you feel the same?  Any fun plans for the weekend? Lots of rest in store for me I think (with any luck!). Before we all start mixing that Friday night sundowner, I have one more home tour to share with you. This charming and relaxed home belongs to Natalie Walton, an Australian designer, creative director and author of the best-selling book This is Home: The Art of Simple Living. Natalie prides herself on creating "genuine and atmospheric interiors" with meaningful products. When she's not working with her design studio and online emporium Imprint House, she's relaxing right here in her understated yet incredibly beautiful home in Byron Bay with her husband Daniel and four children. Ready to take a look around? Let's have a nose! 

Z1 cotton lamp, leather pouf*, safari daybed, Beni Ourain rug*

Natalie was considering painting the posts white but was so pleased she didn't. They add a lovely raw contrast to the space.  

Bemz loose fit urban cover* for IKEA sofas is similar to this

Linen table cloth in grey stripes*

Oh wow. I love this look. Raw, understated yet staggeringly beautiful! Natalie certainly practices what she preaches in her popular workshops (I see there's one coming up soon..... hmmm, interesting!). 

Is this your kind of style too?!

You can see more of Natalie's lovely home over on her blog and instagram. I have to say, her book This Is Home (a back-to-basics guide on how to create authentic wholehearted interiors) is so inspiring too - it's packed with drool worthy spaces! It's available in a load of different places including Amazon and Natalie's own website where she offers signed copies. 

I can't resist sharing a few more places from Byron Bay for you to enjoy over the weekend. It seems to be one of those creative hubs packed with incredible homes and places to stay. Here are a few of my favourites:

Dream stay: The Bower, Byron Bay

How about lolling about at this chalet?! 

A beautiful boho cottage - and it's available to rent!

Right, that's it from me this week. Time to start mixing (make mine a G&T!). 

Have a FABULOUS weekend and thanks for joining me on the blog this week!

Niki

Photography credits: 1, 4, 5, 6 , 7  Natalie Walton 2 & 3. Jessie Prince 

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A Beautiful, Relaxed Home in Shades of Moss Green, White and Brown - Designed by Christine of @_forthehome

Long before they were married, Christine (AKA @_forthehome) and Shawn would find themselves spending their weekends decorating Shawn's teeny tiny starter home in Old Brooklyn, Cleveland, Ohio. It wasn't a planned thing, they would simply suddenly find they had paint brushes in their hands or were roaming a flea market or spending the day renovating an entire room! Fast forward several years and the duo have several renovations under their belt as well as a wonderful home full of treasured finds and an entire nursery of plants. Did I mention that they also have seven pets?! Welcome to the wonderful moss green, white, beige and brown world of Christine and Shawn! 

Christine spent a day painting the fireplace (AKA known as 'Mama'!) in a blend of greenblack and urbane bronze paint from Sherwin Williams. Love the results - and love the idea of putting my mind to a project and just getting it done - I've got SO many projects I keep putting off at home, how about you?! 

The Abstract 835* print is similar. 

Smeg fridge freezer, kitchen cabinets from Nostalgic Warehouse

We have the same rubber tree plant in our house - it was originally Per's grandfathers. I tell you - that thing can survive anything, and it grows so fast! It looks really pretty in the corner of this room!

Tiles from Daltile, cabinet from Arhaus

I'm currently working on a project with Velux and it's taught me so much about skylights and how they can completely transform a space. Look how they flood the bedroom with light! Do you have any in your home? 

There's a chance this picture is from Shawn and Christine's previous home, but I couldn't resist including it anyway as that mirror is absolutely beautiful! Little wonder it went completely viral on instagram! I've just seen it's on sale right now too - will someone snap it up on my behalf?! 

Such a cosy home! And it's really inspired me to get going on my own home. Hmmm. Where to start?!

See more pictures from Shawn and Christine's wonderful home and follow their latest styling projects on instagram (@_forthehome) and their blog www.forthehome.blog. 

While in Ohio - how about also checking out:

Off the grid: 'The Hut' in The Woods of Ohio

Step inside Jennifer Harrison's Bohemian Style Home 

I'm at home with Allie today as she's not feeling very well, poor thing! We're under a big blanket and it's raining outside  - I'm typing  - and she's watching her favourite YouTubers (do your kids only watch YouTube these days too?). Not very high brow, but kind of cosy for a Tuesday in sick bay!

Ha det fint! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @_forthehome and www.forthehome.blog - shared with kind permission.

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A Bargain Hunter's Fabulous Antwerp Home

Feeling super excited about today's home tour, it's a real beauty! Allow me to introduce you to Paulien Riemis. Paulien describes herself as "a 27-year-old full time internet adventurer, part time model and eternal literature graduate based in Antwerp, Belgium." Looking at her home, I would add interior decorator extraordinaire and bargain hunter to the list too. Paulien's Antwerp apartment (which she shares with her boyfriend Dan and their very cute and very fluffy cat) has the most fabulous bones. But extraordinarily high 3.5 metre ceilings can present challenges too and mean you need to work extra hard to create a cosy vibe. Paulien has played with the vertical space to turn the loftiness into her advantage and sourced furniture with rounded edges to balance the look. Her love of rugs, vases, ceramics, plants, polaroids and books has also helped to add a relaxed feel. Welcome to Pualien's cosy and truly personal world! 

After a long search, Paulien picked up the Travertine dining table for a song online. The chairs were also a bargain  - €2 each from a second hand shop! The perspex chairs are from IKEA. 

Paulien describes her fridge as 'a badass, American-style design object'! 

The sustainable IKEA Kungsbacka kitchen cabinets in anthracite make full use of the height. I am guessing there's a ladder lurking somewhere to reach some of the higher cabinets too.  

In the living room, a second hand marble coffee table rests on a white kilim rug*. I'm thinking a big round mirror would look lovely over that fireplace - but since Paulien describes her home as a permanent work in progress, I've little doubt there's already something fabulous in place. 

The brass Faye floor lamp looks great next to the blue velvet Harper sofa.

The bedroom floor has been painted in Levis white floor paint which makes the room feel even bigger and brighter. The bed was salvaged from Dan's old house and spray painted in gold paint. 

Pick up a set of Binga baskets here*. 

Step inside Paulien's dressing room and you're quickly reminded that she works as a model - imagine playing dress-up in here?! All those colours and patterns! 

What a fabulous home! 

Is the your kind of vibe too?  Is there anything that stood out to you in particular?

In case you're curious, you can see before pictures from her home over on her blog - Polienne. I also love her outfits and travel tips. Oh, and don't miss Paulien's instagram feed here. 

Only just getting started with the interior inspiration today? You might also love: 

The relaxed Antwerp home of a creative duo

An Antwerp home with a beautiful flow of light

I'm starting to think a trip to Belgium might be in order, how about you?! 

Kram!

Niki

Photography courtesy of www.polienne.com and shared with kind permission

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Before & After: A Dated LA House Becomes A Light & Airy Family Home

Why, hello there! I'm in Landskrona today filming and its BAKING (by Sweden standards at least) - but since the film is about natural light, it's all good! I can't wait to share the result with you soon. In the meantime, I thought I'd stop by to share the beautiful home of Molly Madfis. A perfect blend of amber, caramel, cream and white, Molly's style appears completely effortless. But just one glance at the before pictures and you'll see how much effort has gone into making this beautiful home.  Originally from Massachusetts, Molly is a work-at-home Mum and lives in LA with her husband Gideon, son Arlo and their three cats Bodhi, Lucy and Rocky. Molly frequently shares pictures of their home on instagram and her blog Almost Makes Perfect, so called because she feels she's never been able to do anything perfectly. When you see her home though, I'm sure you'll beg to differ! Enjoy the tour!

Sitting Room BEFORE

I couldn't find all the 'before' pictures for this house, but the ones I did find are proof that this home has been given one major refresh! Here's what the sitting room and entrance looked like before the renovation: 

Sitting room AFTER

Check out how deep that sofa from Interior Define is! I'd climb on, curl up and stay there all week if I could, fancy joining me?! 

Also seen: round cushion*, coffee table from cb2

Molly created the artwork over the dining table, and sells a similar print in her shop. 

Playroom BEFORE

This before picture shows how much they had to strip back in order to turn the house into the lovely family home it is today.

Playroom AFTER

Look at Arlo's cheeky grin - *heart melts*.

Someone's very proud of his room (and for good reason, too!).

Ikea cot,  mobile by electric sun creatives.

There are so many lovely things in Molly and Gideon's bedroom - but that Moroccan flatweave rug by Sarah Sherman Samuel (there's also a cushion* to match) and Odara throw have to be my favourites! 

I also spot a Sunset Vibes* print by Loulou Avenue. 

Bathroom BEFORE

Kind of dated, right?! 

Bathroom AFTER

Look closely and you'll see the new waaaay fresher bathroom has the same bones / layout as the original bathroom, but boy does it look different. And so pretty too with the lighter wood and hints of pink, don't you think?

Wall sconce from Triple Seven Home, handmade taps from Watermark Designs, sinks from Nood

I couldn't resist sharing a few pictures of the garden too, mainly because of the children's playhouse. I've never seen one like this before, have you? DIY idea perhaps? 

It's unbelievable how much inspiration can be taken from one home!

I hope you've got some ideas for your own home from this tour. 

Right, better get on with the filming (I need to concentrate, it's in Swedish - gulp!). 

Ha det fint! 

Niki

Photography: Molly Madfis / Almost Makes Perfect shared with kind permission

*affiliate links

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