A Dreamy Holiday Rental in Daylesford With a Mini Warehouse Feel

Every single time a fabulous new holiday rental pops up in Australia it resurrects my desire to travel Down Under! Today is one of those days. Stylist extraordinaire Lynda Gardener recently added Room + Board to her wonderful repertoire of holiday rentals. The dreamy space has a mini warehouse feel which is part glass and part conservatory. Beautiful recycled schoolhouse windows flood the living space with light and help to highlight curated pieces, furniture, art and plants which have been individually sourced from personal collections and sustainable suppliers. Located in the heart of Daylesford - a town in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range of Victoria (also home to Lynda's fabulous The White Room and The Barn and The Estate Trentham holiday rentals) - the one bedroom property is waiting for its first guests. Form and orderly queue, please! 

This hand sewn burlap lamp* is similar. I have a cinnamon coloured cushion in my sitting room like this - you can pick it up here*.

Raffia net bag*, organic cotton net bag*, artisan brush

The beams! The pools of light! 

When you go for an entirely white washed space, the furnishings need to work harder to create a cosy feel (this comes from personal experience from the days when my bedroom was white!). Look closely at the above picture and you'll see a load of natural textures at play, all of which help to create a relaxed vibe. 

Rattan poof*, vintage pitcher*

Bemz sells similar linen headboard covers* like this, three legged wooden stool*

I'd love to know where the over-sized brown lamp is from - any tips? 

Could you imagine hanging out here for a few days? 

I'm totally in! 

Read more about the space and book your stay at Room + Board here. 

If you're visiting Melbourne, Lynda also has a property to rent in St Kilda (also on my radar!). 

Australia has been on the world's radar for other reasons lately - catastrophic bushfires. Rescue teams have been working tirelessly to help all those affected, including people who have lost their homes and livelihoods and all the beautiful animals. If you would like to offer your support, here are a few charities that welcome donations:

Koala crisis - bushfire recovery - a GoFundMe page created by photographer Kara Rosenlund (who's home I featured here) which set out to accrue $8000 of funding and current donations exceed $210,000 and counting! Incredible! 

WWF Bushfire emergency fund 

Australian Red cross

Please feel free to add charity suggestions in the comment section below - I know there are many, all of whom are doing what they can. 

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography: Marnie Hawson

Styling Lynda Gardner / @lynda.gardener

* This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a tiny amount of money if you click on the link and make a purchase. 

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Charming Seabird Cottage, on Lamb Island, Australia

For anyone who needs to hear this today: Anna Swain is selling beautiful 'Seabird' on Lamb Island just off Brisbane, Queensland Australia. 

Not familiar with Anna Swain? A glance at her instagram and you'll quickly establish that everything she touches turns to gold, in a beautiful, rustic and relaxed kind of way. And Seabird is no different. 

With panoramic views of Moreton Bay, Anna and her husband Andrew moved the property to the island by barge, before turning their hand to the decor. 

The house is filled with an eclectic mix of treasures including 120 year-old Egyptian bathroom tiles, solid timber fans and claw-foot tubs as well one-off vintage and antique pieces - all of which come with the house! Everything has been carefully handpicked to ensure life is all about kicking back and soaking up the golden light while watching boats drift by. 

While it may sound like an ideal holiday home, good transport links (it's 25 minutes by ferry to Brisbain and an inter-island ferry can whisk you to neighbouring Russell island with its shops and primary school) mean you could also turn it into your year-round dwelling! What a dream for anyone looking for a change of pace!

 Ready to take the tour? 

Be still, beating heart! So beautiful! 

Could you imagine kicking back here? If so, any potential buyers can reach out directly to Anna via her instagram (where you can also see plenty more pictures!) - just saying! 

Would you like to view more dreamy island homes today? After all, what are Monday's for, if they're not for dreaming? Take a look at: 

Riika's idyllic cabin in the Eastern Gulf of Finland

Stonecutter's farm on the Swedish island of Öland (available as a holiday let!)

Elsa's charming cottage on the island of Gotland

Here's to a relaxing start to the week! 

Kram! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of @annaswain, with thanks 

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A dreamy home-from-home in Australia

Third gloomy day in a row here and I have to admit I'm not feeling the 'hygge'. And no amount of candles, sheepskins and kanelbullar are going to help. Instead, I'm dreaming about a visit to The Estate Trentham, and it seems to be lifting my spirits no end! Located an hour from Melbourne and inspired by Scandinavian interiors (cue white washed walls and a pared-back look) The Estate Trentham is an original early twentieth century three bedroom federation house surrounded by beautiful gardens. And if that's not enough, it's also been artfully decorated with lovely muted autumn colours, soft natural textiles and a wonderful mix of old and new. In other words my ideal get-away and the perfect antidote to gloomy days! Excuse me while I search for flights....

Photography: Lisa Cohen (shared with kind permission). Book a stay at The Estate Trentham here.

See you there?!

I wanted to be able to use this little space to pick out a small detail but I have to say, the whole house is positively dreamy!


Is there anything that stands out to you in particular?

Get the look (if my home looked even a little like this I'd be thrilled): pick up an industrial pendant here, I like this jute rug. The sofa looks like a Gervasoni ghost (beautiful!). This online shop sells cushions in autumn colours.  Vintage scissor lamps. I like Kara Rosenlund's horse and nature inspired prints.

Loving the neutral colour scheme with touches of brown it reminds me a lot of Kara Rosenlund's home which I featured a few weeks back. Maybe I can do this Autumn thing after all!

More holiday rentals in my archive  here (you so knew that was coming right?!).

Have a lovely day!

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Exotic meets boho in a Bali pool villa

Dreaming of a touch of paradise after a long week?  I love the relaxed vibe of this pool villa near the surfers paradise of Batu Bolong beach, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia. Set among palms and lush tropical surroundings, it's been designed so the indoors and out merge into one - with a covered terrace encompassing a sitting room, dining area and an amazing outdoor bathroom. The decor is inspired by 'Mexico and the exotic east' giving the villa a distinct bohemian touch. Aaaaannnd? It's available for rent through Australian swimwear brand Fella - race you to it?

 

Fella Villa

Guh! I'd swap my indoor shower for this beautiful outdoor shower any day of the week.  I once dedicated a post to showering al freso - so wonderful! I also love this outdoor bath and for something more modern, this shower!

Not quite warm enough or not got the outdoor space for bathing al fresco? This, this and this bathroom will make you feel you're bathing outdoors even in the heart of the city - heaven!

A few items I love from this Bali villa: wooden bar stools, pick up a selection of vintage handmade kilim cushions/ pillows here (for brighter colours try this shop), rugs (this one is especially lovely!) and poufs (this one!). I love this mid-century credenza. Rustic ladder. 

A few other lovely holiday home rentals to be browsed- with some of my favourites including a Brazilian escape, an ethereal beach house in St Barths and a vintage inspired home in Australia.  Who needs work anyway?!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Incidentally I'm working on an intensive photo shoot early next week (exciting!). I'm going to do my best to blog but the posts might be a little erratic so bear with me!

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Dream Airbnb Stay: A Swedish Weatherboard Cottage In South Australia

"She who comes here, finds what's lost." This is the opening line on the 'about' page of My Sister & the Sea'. And looking at the pictures of this beautiful white weatherboard cottage and its surroundings, I can well imagine it's true! The little cottage is owned by sisters Sarah and Emma who have enjoyed endless family holidays here with 'sandy feet, long meals, naps on daybeds, swimming.... dreaming, laughing and loving." Nestled in the small town of Marion Bay on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, the cottage was actually moved from Sweden by the Australian government many years ago. The sisters visited Sweden together to draw as much inspiration as possible for the interior. Today, Airbnb guests are invited to come enjoy the white interior, indoor and outdoor bathing under the stars and a fireplace." Sound like heaven? Step this way!   

True to its Swedish heritage, the sisters have dotted the living space with remnants collected from their coastal walks. A plant has been trained to climb the window - just like you see in many Scandinavian homes (see this and this home as an example!). 

Rattan fans* make beautiful wall art.

A simple wall lamp from IKEA serves as a reading lamp over the day bed which has been covered in striped linen* and a mix of grey and olive green cushions. 

In the dining area, a basket hangs from a hook on the side of a vintage cabinet for extra storage and a classic Scandinavian brass candlestick holder* awaits dusk on the table. 

A glass cabinet is ideal for keeping books and other treasures dust free, while s simple tree trunk serves as a side table beside a canvas safari chair. 

A simple wall-hanging made from shells and striped bed linen* add a beachy vibe to the bedroom. 

In the back yard, various vintage chairs have been arranged around a farmhouse table, while a simple striped deck chair allows for a little alone time with a book! 

Could you imagine spending your summer here? In my mind, I'm already there! 

I'm sure it would be equally magical in the winter, watching the waves crash against the rugged coast and reading by the fire. 

One to add to the travel list for the days when we can move freely again! 

Check it out on Airbnb, visit their website My Sister And The Sea and feel inspired by their instagram @readandhall. 

Curious to see other Airbnb stays I've added to my (dream) itinerary when I travel down under? 

Australia:

Dreamy holiday let: a cosy waterside eco cabin

A charming miner's cottage amongst an acre of roses

A beautiful boho cottage in Byron Bay

The White House Daylesford

Tasmania:

The Shack: A super cosy cabin on Bruny Island

Captains cottage: A cosy bolthole in Hobart

A Dreamy little cottage by the sea

Have I got you dreaming too?

Niki

Photography: Marnie Hawson

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