Vintage poster colour pop

I love the look of vintage advertising posters! They’re a great way to add a pop of colour or pattern to your walls and make a statement in their size. The posters can date anywhere from the late 19th century, when new printing techniques allowed for mass production of the coloured posters, through to the 1980s. Their original use was as a street poster, like the paste-up advertisements we have today, however they were often designed by known artists (ie Toulouse-Lautrec) which lends towards a more “high-art” status.

Due to the fact that they’re essentially a mini-billboard, the designs are often very graphic in composition; simple designs with areas of bright, eye-catching colour. With so many subjects being depicted in a range of styles, it’s easy to find one to suit any room of the house: food or drinks in the kitchen, or fashion in the bedroom etc… Or go for an unexpected subject placement, which can add a bit of quirkiness to any room.

Today there are lots of replicas available at a variety of different price points, however if you can get your hands on an original you know you’re onto a good thing; they can become a great investment due to rarity and collectability. As well as specialist stores, there are several sellers offering originals on eBay… The biggest problem is choosing which one to buy!

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Doggy style

Apologies for my absence, things have been busy and a lack of home internet has not helped my blogging at all…

One of the biggest changes to my life is that we got a puppy! Meet Maybe, she’s a labrador-retriever cross (although we do suspect there’s a bit of something else mixed in there as she is quite small for her breed and age).These pics were from when we first brought her home around three months ago, so she’s at least four times bigger now.

Adapting to life with a dog got me thinking about keeping your home, and pet, looking sharp. There are an abundance of designer collars and leads available these days, but nice dog beds are surprisingly hard to come by. I’ve rounded up a few of my favourites below. (I can’t wait to upgrade the ugly fleece bed we bought out of necessity!) Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Black and Yellow

I love the juxtaposition of the sleek inky black walls with bright pops of yellow, and the old-world Brooklyn Tins wallpaper from Safari Living with the shiny pressed metal bathroom walls at the new GB Espresso cafe in St Kilda. Contrasting elements at their best!

Images: 1, 2

Pineapple Punch

Pineapples seemed to be appearing in decor everywhere I looked, but did you know that they have been seen as a symbol of hospitality in America since the colonial times? Apparently back then, giving someone a pineapple as a gift showed them your intention to promote your friendship. These days people may think you’re a bit strange if you gifted them a piece of fruit, but with the motif making its way into so many decorative pieces it’s easy to keep this tradition alive, albeit with a modern twist.

With its unique, spiky shape and texture just begging to be explored in different forms, it’s easy to see why pineapples look great in home decor. While you need to balance out the look with other less exotic pieces (or risk your room looking like a Hawaiian luau!) they are a fun way to bring a bit of tropical, summery vibe to your home – try adding a lamp, a print, or just an ornamental version.

Ceramic pineapple from Alfresco Emporium.

This print is part of the Welcome to the Tropics collection from Wallstudio.

Pineapple wallpaper at Garden Court restaurant, Sofitel, Sydney.

Graham and Green’s beautiful silver table lamp.

A brighter version of a pineapple lamp via Pinterest.

A monochromatic pineapple print via Tumblr.

Below are a roundup of pieces which would be perfect to achieve this look:

1 – Zazzle Retro Pineapple print 2 – 1stdibs Brass Pineapple 3 – Emporium Botanica lamp 4 – Oliver Bonas forks 5 – Pineapple ice mould 6 – Zazzle Pineapple Hawaiian clock 7 – Kristy Lee Interiors pineapple print cushion 8 – Lazy Susan white porcelain pineapple 9 – Frederick Cooper Bermuda wall sconce 10 – Vintage Godinger silver bowl 11 – Wallstudio print 12 – SunnyLIFE candle 13 – Restoration Hardware curtain tiebacks 14 – Silver glass pineapple jar 15 – 1stdibs Vintage Italian Tole Pineapple shelf 16 – Megan fabric from Rubie Green 17 – Arty Pineapples fabric from demigoutte