In living colour.

Morning everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend? In Sydney it was truly Autumn, with four seasons packed into every day - or every hour! We also had an election here, so people were definitely looking for distracting pursuits to hid from the news, and the weather.

And me?

Well it was quiet. In a good way though, with a highlight being a special trip to drop off an artwork to person who has been waiting patiently for it! And then it was off to Manly to watch surfers play in the small waves, and the rain, as it quickly moved through with each dark cloud that passed over head! Found a great coffee too, and that always a treat.

But for toady I have an even better treat! I have a beautiful creative space to introduce to you...

Last week I finally made a long overdue visit to my friend Alenka's beautiful home to meet her lovely 7-month old baby Jona and play - or help - with her next window installation for The Cheese Shop in Mosman. {Look out for it in a few weeks time if you are in the area, as it will be a beautiful Easter display to ring in the holidays!} Alenka and I worked together at Object before she went off to study Visual Merchandising...oh ... and be a mum!

So it was nice to finally catch up...

Alenka and her husband Justi, an art director for advertising company host, own this lovely two bedroom 1960s unit in a quiet, leafy street in Sydney. Recently Alenka gave birth to lovely Jona and the three of them share this colourful space, that was just 'asking' me to be photographed!! I had to! So kindly Alenka let me pull out my tiny camera and take a few shots for as all to share...

I hope you enjoy this tiny visit to Alenka, Justi and Jona's home...

So we begin in Jona's gorgeous white room that is filled with colour from an array of sources... toys, drawings, books, artworks, pom-poms! At the very top of this post is a great look at his little collection of objects + books on floating shelves. Above is an image of an embroidery in a lovely old frame which represents most of the colours in the space! Love this image as there are so so many textures! Pom-poms in mint green, wooden squirrel book ends, and a brilliant Astro Boy toy pointing to the heavens!

The artwork and the cloud mobile that goes around the crib...

It really is a beautifully serene spot in the room... and the unit!

You know... I had to give you a tiny look at the little tiger!

This is Jona, in the play area while mum and I play with felt, paint and twigs!

It was all happening...

This is such a lovely way to honour the family... in beautiful black+white photos grouped together on the wall outside the bedrooms. The wooden frames add colour and unity, making you want to look closely at all their faces...

This is main bedroom... and I love the floating shelf that is exactly the same size as the width of the bed! Order and uniformity! Love it...

And I love what is represented on that shelf...

Woven bowls, yellow cups, fabric owls, baby sandals and a lovely image of Alenka + Justi on their wedding day...

Don't they look so cute?

From bedroom to balcony. And I just wanted to show you my contribution... A grey painted twig for The Cheese shop display!

Out here it's as if you are away from the world as they are three flights up from the main street and surrounded by trees! Alenka has also a collection of beautiful succulents and a set of brilliant crystal clear stools that make a small space feel airy and big! Clever lady...

The vintage find! There is always a great one and this orange seat is the one!!

I want one!

A view of said chair, with coo coo clock above your head {a wedding gift}, and a display of three decaled plates on the wall behind a brilliant light fixture... Love the silver!

This is the best! I noticed a love of flamingos around the place and Alenka said 'oh - would you like me to turn it on?' I had no idea what she meant until she literally turned it on! The flamingo in the kitchen is a fluro light!! Where on earth do you find such a think? The auctions apparently! Now that is a first for me... a flamingo in the kitchen! Love it! So quirky...

Great idea for more greenery in a small space... put leaves in a fish tank!

I'm keeping track of all these great ideas...

And now we come to the living space. And the main event! The wall of colour!

This is the blue and green + black section and on the wall above the 60s dining table is a painting they bought together by Yong-Joo Marbot , a South Korean born painter that is represented by Rex Livingston gallery in Sydney. Both Alenka + Justi love Paul Klee, colour, outer space and 60s design... so when they saw Yong-Joo's solo show they fell in love with her work!

Awww...love a good art buying story!

Love the mobile!!! Reminds me of Alexander Calder's work... a fav sculptor of mine!

Oh and the blue toy guitar... brilliant!

And in the red corner....

Too many things to mention!

So so many great textures and fun objects...

There is even a great tea cossie and crochet rug over the sofa...

So I'll just leave it there I think and let you have a good look at everything else Ive yet to mention!

Also.... I just had to throw in a tiny side view of Alenka on the floor, with Jona... and yellow felt!

It was that kind of afternoon!

Thank you again Alenka, Justi and Jona for letting us come and visit...

Hope you enjoyed it too!

x

Oh and if you would like to have a look at more of Alenka's creative inspirations and pursuits she has a great blog that you can visit called Yellow Paper Kite! Great name!