My camera isn't broken...

IMG credit Studio Bomba instagram

After having a DSLR camera for a few years, I am completely embarrassed to admit I have NO IDEA how to use it. So finally after so many feeble attempts to use it in manual mode armed with online info graphics and cheat sheets galore and still just not getting it I gave up.

Then a few months back one of my gorgeous friends suggested we enrol in a workshop Studio Bomba in Perth was running on getting out of auto mode and into manual  run by the very talented Angela Higgins and I jumped at the chance to learn what the hell I was doing wrong.

This is not a joke, but an actual attempt I made to use my camera in manual mode... so very very bad.

Turns out it was a lot! 

No big surprise there but it's taught me that I am very much a hands on learner. As I read a text on how to do something, no matter how interested I am in the subject my eyes start to glaze over and my mind starts wandering.... I wonder what I'll cook for dinner.... 

The best bit about our class was that Angela is not some hardcore classical photographer we could never aspire to be, she is actually self taught so I instantly felt at ease. Everything was approached in an easy to understand way that made so much sense to me. 

There is actually a point here aside from telling you how hipster I am participating in Studio Bomba workshops... Just bear with me here

After years of not knowing how to do something, something I actually really wanted to know how to do. I put myself out there and took a class on it. Now I know. 

It was so simple I'm not sure what was holding me back for so long. So now I'm not an expert, my photos are a bit s**t still BUT they are already better and I know they will get even better the more I practice.

Like I said NOT perfect but oh so much better.

So that's it, that's my point.

If there is something you want to learn go and find a class and learn it! Wishing you knew more really doesn't do a whole lot.

-Dani

Xo

P.s if you are in Perth and a bit if a crafty type Studio Bomba has some great day workshops you might be interested in their schedule is HERE and if you can't see any give them a call!

Friday finds

I won't try and deny it, I am unashamedly a shopping junkie in store, online wherever it's all good. I have however been TRYING to curb my habit to save a bit of the moolah for our house. So in the meantime there is no harm in just looking and maybe sharing my favorite fines

with my readers... right ???

Hidden in among the fever that is replica furniture these days, there are some incredible furniture designers out there bringing us new, creative and irresistible designs. My latest loves are for Redfoxandwilcox  two kiwi chicks over east making beautiful furniture like this...

There are options of steel frame colours, dimensions and top material (wood, marble or glass) and that's not even the best bit...

They also can make custom made dining and hall table tops in some really exciting and beautiful custom designs.

You can pick your choice of legs...

Or if you already have your own table top, you can purchase these cool hairpin legs on their own.

I strongly suspect that once we have recovered from this home renovation one of these might be sneaking its way into our home.

Before you start feeling all sad and think that these are insanely expensive they are not (the freight over to WA isn't obscene either) Did I mention they are also made from recycled wood to??

To see some more of their custom work not on their webpage you should definitely go and visit their Facebook page.

Cool affordable design AND green friendly for the win!


Dani
x

P.S I was not PAID for this post, nor did I receive any goods to do so, my opinions are purely my own - I just think hooray for lady furniture makers doing cool stuff you should know about. 

Bathroom tile selection

Clearly I must be mad, in the past few weeks I have gone not once but twice to tile shops with the small fries in tow. Not to say my madness wasn't without method as I have finally picked our tiles!

I have been to so many tile shops over the past 6 months I am a walking encyclopedia of where to find what in Perth and although I had a rough idea of what I wanted, it was harder than I thought to find it.

We really wanted to create a more grown up bathroom that still flowed nicely with the rest if the house so I wanted something that will look good against the polished concrete and wood veneer.

These images have been in my inspiration file for some time.

IMG source - The Interiors addict (from previous seasons of the Block)

For the longest time I was set on having dark tiles on the walls and floor. The en-suite has only one small high window so I had assumed it would be a dark room and felt that we should go with it and go for that dark moody feel. 

It turns out our building designer knew what she was doing and that smallish north facing window actually lets in a lot more light than I had ever imagined. Still set on my original design plan for our dark moody bathroom I found some beautiful charcoal hexagons  that so happened to be insanely expensive at over 250$ a square metre. We are tiling up to 2.2mtrs so it was just not going to happen.

I was so certain that I still didn't want white tiles on the walls because it would be boring but then I came across this beautiful bathroom on Instagram. It is from a Perth designer Susie Q


You can find SusieQ design on Instagram right here and I highly recommend you do for more photos of her 
lovely and stylish home. (thanks for letting me share your photos!)

I really like the visual interest of the penny rounds with the round mirror its far from boring and looks so clean crisp and fresh. She also made mention of Myaree tiles and I am so glad she did. If you are in Perth and looking for the kind of tiles you find in magazines, this is the place you won't be disappointed by their selection. So after a few trips back and forth I finally made the decision to go with these tiles

Matte rectified charcoal tiles for the floor, matte white rectified tiles for the main walls and matte white hexagons as a feature for the main shower wall and vanity wall. The wood sample hanging out right there will be our vanity top.** I would also like to make a public statement that I have been looking at the matte type tiles long before the judges on the block said that Matte is what is "in" I'm just completely stylish and in the know (haha) Rectified tiles are more expensive to lay than traditional tiles as it is more complex but they just look so damn good I couldn't didn't want too compromise (sorry hubs)This week we have had some tilers come round to quote on the job so we should have someone to start in the next few weeks. We had planned on tiling ourselves to save some money but that went right out the window when I insisted on rectified tiles. Ultimately we would both rather bite the bullet and pay the pros to do the skilled jobs and get a perfect end result than DIY and be disappointed in the end.Just so I am not keeping you in the dark, here is a bit of an ugly photo of our new en-suite looking from the powder room back into the room. To the left under the bulk-head we will install a floating vanity and directly below the window is our shower which will be tiled with the hexagons.

Tiles and bathrooms aside, things are moving along really well and I can't wait to share some more progress photos with you folks later this week. It is looking much more like a home these days not a lump on blue board and steel.I also found out that my building designer Cherie has finally launched her website. If you are in Perth and you like what we are doing you can find her here www.designpitch.com.au So what do you think? Would you ever have a bathroom tiled in all dark tiles or are you a white and bright fan? Did you get to pick your bathroom tiles or did you inherit someone else's good (or terrible) taste?Dani xo

Project owner build- almost lock-up

In my last blog post I talked about our window and door choices. Being owner builders and having this project stretch on for as long as it has, there were times I thought this might never happen but guess what?? They are 99% in! I also happen to think they look kind of amazing.

The house now has all the wiring, plumbing and wall insulation installed ready for internal gyprock. 

The pressure was on a bit with the hubs my little bro and brother in law (who all happen to to be sparkies) as due to the skillion roof there will be no crawl space between the ceiling and roof which means there is no room for error. If we need a PowerPoint moved or an additional light it is wall tearing off business. That means we sorta need to get it right first time round.. Fingers crossed 

Now back to the real point of my post, the progress shots so you have have a snoop.

Looking back to our alfresco area, the original ceiling line on the driveway side has been modified to hide some ugly steel work but also to incorporate some down lighting and extractor rangehood for an outdoor kitchen (we will one day be able to afford). We are planning to replace the rustic concrete pavers and black plastic with recycled brick in the near future.

Doors to the left enter into our dining area and are waiting on some security/fly screens to be fitted hopefully next week.

Looking into our dining area which has a really great view of the yard

You may have seen this if you follow my instagram account (only in an artists impression version) this is so exciting for us to see our vision coming into reality. This is the view looking from the new lounge area onto our kitchen and dining.

Standing at the threshold of our old house and looking through to the main living space. Too my left is our new laundry (see below) and to the right is a walk-through powder room into our en-suite bathroom. 

Sorry about the ugly picture to finish off but I thought it deserved a mention. I am standing at the new laundry/shoppers entrance looking through to our powder room and ensuite (behind the far back wall is our new walk in wardrobe). This is where our old ugly sleep out once stood with the creepy old laundry. I can scarcely believe it is the same place! You have see how it once looked right here...

So that't it for now! I'm quite happy with the progress and how things are moving along. This month we will see our gyprock internal walls go up, the doorway for our walk in robe knocked through, our kitchen get installed and if we keep to schedule those concrete floors may just get polished (no pressure Mr DD).

What do you think? As always if you have any questions for me in regards to trades, processes or recommendations you are welcome to drop me a line via the comments below or if your shy an email!

Dani x