Merry Christmas...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

I love Christmas and the time we get to spend with family. We are going to my Mum & Dad's and my brothers and sisters at the beach for the next week. Included in our 'Clan' are five beautiful energetic little ones all under 4 years old, who will be eagerly waiting to open Aunty Amanda's wonderful presents (I am sure their parents will be equally as delighted with my selection!).

It has been such a pleasure getting to know so many of you this year and all the great friendships made. Thank you all so much and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Wishing you and your loved ones many blessings this Christmas....Axx

Black + White...

Another fabulous kitchen....I could spend the day cooking for Christmas in this space! I love the addition of the sitting area which was added by reconfiguring the laundry space and the little built-in desk. Knocking out the laundry also provided the space to accommodate an island bench.

The black and white statement continues with the striped fabric on the breakfast banquette and I love the aluminium custom made table. My dream kitchen would have a butlers pantry and this one tucked around the corner would do me just fine!

{via traditional home}

One week to go....

A magical entryway lined with candles welcomes guests....I love the simplicity of it! With only one week to go until Christmas I have to admit that I am not completely organised. Can you believe its only a week away? Am I the only one not organised?

I love decorations hanging from a chandelier.

Have a happy Friday!!

{Images via Homes & Gardens}

Thank you....

I was so excited to find that OLIVEAUX was named as one of "50 of the world's best design blogs" by the UK Times Online yesterday. To be included amongst some of my favourite blogs was such an honour.

You can see the full list here.

Summer veranda...

This week I have been working on outdoor spaces for two different clients so I thought I would share this beautiful porch with you. Hope you are having a lovely day!

{image via country living}

Bloggers Unite for Pencils of Promise Day

Several bloggers are coming together in a collaborative effort spearheaded by Paloma Contreras of La Dolce Vita, in order to make a difference for a very deserving charity. Pencils of Promise is a wonderful 501(c)(3) organization based in New York, that partners with local communities and organizations to build schools of early-stage education in developing nations for some of the world’s most impoverished and undereducated children. Sadly, there are more than 75 million children in this terrible situation worldwide.

Last December, the Pencils of Promise team visited a small village in Laos and by July 2009, they had built a new school for the village children who started attending classes on September 1st. This month, Pencils of Promise will be opening their third school and they hope to open the doors to education for more children in 2010.

In the spirit of the holiday season, we are asking for your help today on behalf of these children. Just think of the enormous impact we could have if each person who reads this post donates just $1.00. If you are willing and able to give more (35.00 buys shelves for a classroom, $50 provides pencils for one year, $100 provides a teacher’s salary for three months and so on), it would be greatly appreciated. We are in the midst of the giving season and hope that you will find it in your heart to make a donation to this worthy cause today just click here.

Inner courtyard....

I am doing a happy dance that it is now Friday evening and I can put my feet up and relax! It has been hot here in Brisbane this week so just looking at these images makes me feel cooler. Isn't this a lovely courtyard? I have always wanted an inner courtyard, like on many of the old French or Italian houses.

I would enjoy setting this table and spending the summer afternoon over a long lunch with family or friends.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Ax

{Images via Elle Deco}

Love this...

I do not think I could be any busier at the moment - trying to get so much done at work for clients before Christmas arrives and everyone shuts down for the Holiday Season {and I am going on holidays...hooray!!} A bit of glamour today in these rooms by Kerry Joyce. I LOVE the tufted chair and what is not to like about this beautiful mirrored armoire?

I also love the collection of botanical prints on this living room wall - the vintage fern frond specimens are my favourite.

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas....

Can you believe it is December? I always love Christmas and what this time of year means. I was looking through my Christmas images and there are so many lovely pictures that I had to share some of them with you now that the festive season is upon us. Don't they make you feel warm & fuzzy inside?

{images via elle deco}