Saturday Morning Vintage

I think you all know how much I love my vintage decorating books.  I just love to flick through and caress the pages of these wonderful finds. 
 I get truly inspired by these books and marvel at how much the styling has been rehashed and revitalised over the years by some of the world's leading taste makers.  
And it goes to show that good decorating, design, 
and styling does not have a 'use-by' date.

It is hard to believe that some of these pages are in fact,
 getting to be around 60 years old.

Thank goodness there are people who truly look after their books.  It is wonderful to think that these same books have somehow made their way into my life, across the seas and through the air, all the way to my library shelves.

 I really love the 'look' of some of the photography from this period.  Is it because they were all shot on 'film'? 
 Indeed I was interested to recently read in one of my favourite shelter magazines, London's seminal 'The World of Interiors',
 that they still to this day shoot their work on film.

However, with time does come progress. This morning after taking some photos on my digital Canon G11 and uploading them,
 I found myself fiddling with the special effects editing.

This photo of my sunny sitting room which is where I enjoy my morning espresso each day with my husband, and often find myself flicking through one of my aforementioned tomes, has had the treatment!

This started out to be a 'sunny Saturday morning snap' and has morphed into something which looks like it belongs in one of my old books.

What do you think?

Before

Before

After

After

These pics also fit into the 'Yellow Makes Me So Happy' category. 

 I must thank my lovely friend Julianne for sending me the very 'sunny' bunch of gerberas which really were the impetus for this little story today.

images by J Watson-Evans

The Decorator

Yellow & Blue Make Me So Happy!

You know how I really do rate the Series 7 chair by Arne Jacobsen, as the most iconic chair of the 20th Century?

Floral throw by Olivier Desforges

  Well here it is in my daughter's room in white against the dark navy blue walls. I have a number of these chairs used for dining and occasional chairs all over my home.

 I have dark brown stained ones from the early 1970's, white ones from the 1980's and cherry red gloss examples from this decade. 

 They are unbeatable for their comfort and practicality.  In my view the Series 7 will compliment any interior, and can be stacked for easy storage.

  I am also obsessed with yellow and the yellow ceramic piece on the bedhead is one of a pair of wonderful 

Italian 1970's pendant lights which have since been installed as hanging bedside lights.

Australian stylist Marcus Hay obviously feels the same way about the chair and the colours....yellow and blue. 

 Below are a few pics from his Manhattan apartment as featured in Elle Decoration.

Salon hang of 1950's & '60's  pieces including Italian calendar and metal fish sculpture.
The empty frame is also an interesting addition.

Interesting salon hang of found objects

Vignette with found objects and pieces of Italian Bitossi Pottery

Love the way the old doors have been used as a way of delineating a dining area by providing a back drop in a very small space

images via Elle Decoration

&
J Watson-Evans for WWID

Salon Y Melbourne

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Melbourne
 and during the stay spent a lovely afternoon
 at Salon Y.

A relaxing restorative visit was had.
 Cut, colour and a few glasses of champagne with my hair stylist, good friend, and pop culture confidante Timothy Millar formerly of the Gold Coast's Gilston 4 salon,
 who has recently joined the team.

Salon Y has a wonderful ambiance.  
It's owner Ray Barry has created an opulent hideaway in the three floored terrace.  The busy hustle and bustle of nearby
 Chapel Street, Windsor just metres away.

The lovely Paul Allen cutter/stylist and also co-owner
 of Record Paradise, together with
 colour director Margaret Box
insured our time at Salon Y was well worth it!

Here are a few snaps of the interior and secluded courtyard.

Makeup counter by Becca

words and images by J Watson-Evans