I love my house. Anyone following me on social media knows that I’ve been tweaking bits and pieces (well the interior) of my house over the past couple of years. There’s a lot I’d like to do outside (the garden and verandahs and patios need work) but I’m happy to focus on what I see.
One of the things I wanted to do on my return from my Italian holiday was attempt to infuse a bit of that ‘holiday’ feeling into my ACTUAL life. I realise the aesthetics of my surrounds are a really superficial thing but… while I continue to navel-gaze about the rest of it it’s a good place to start.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, I love the Tuscan decor but it can look a bit naff when translated and dumped into the Australian environment. (Though of course one man’s naff is another person’s fantasy!)
But, the living space and outdoor area at the villa in Tuscany have inspired me, as well as the Venetian palazzo… the lighting of the shared space in particular and eclectic mix of artwork. Not to mention the coastal vibes of Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast – which I can surely replicate given my ocean view and seaside locale.
So… I’ve been doing some thinking…
Decor and artwork
I fell in love with some fabrics from a shop in the street of my Rome apartment and bought a Lisa Corte tablecloth (below: 52 Euro for the smallest 110cm sqr size) as well as some placemats. I would have bought something for my outdoor table but it’s massive and I was worrying about my post holiday unemployment by then!
I’ve never been a ‘tablecloth’ or fabric placemat kind of person but I’m rethinking that and also pondering replacing my outdoor chairs (I ditched the old ones several months ago) with an eclectic group of comfortable and semi-comfortable but quaint / pretty (!) chairs.
I’m also keen to find some old (tragic) artwork to grace my walls. I have a painting of a ship in my lounge room which I bought for $20 a few years ago and love it!
My brother painted some of my walls just before I went away and I’d love to mix up my floor mats / rugs a little more as mine are all very modern, but that’s not in the budget at the moment, though perhaps I could manage some cheap lamps or lighting changes?
Plants
It looks small here but the plant is about 1.5m high.
I went to a nursery a few weeks ago and bought some small outdoor flowering plants for pots for my little bedroom balconies. My only outdoor pot plants are hardy yucca type things and I’m reminded why… as I left the new flowering plants in my garage for a couple of days before working out what I’d repot them into and the little fuckers died. *Sigh*
I’m thinking of buying lots of cheap fake flowering shrubbery from a discount store (so I can replace them regularly when they fade). From my bedroom/s (and the street) they may well look real!
I also (just today) bought a big pot and (on the suggestion of a friend) a ‘dwarf’ lemon tree for my deck. (I’m yet to attempt to re-pot it, so it may not end well….)
And there you have it. My pitiful attempts to make my living space even more loveable. Of course as it is I probably already spend too much time at home and should go out more so making it even more inviting may not be smart…
Nevertheless, any other suggestions?
The Lovin’ Life team includes:
November 8, 2018
We all have to start somewhere – and doing it on a budget adds to the challenge. But, at the same time it draws your focus to doing little bits at a time and choosing what’s important and enjoying each new addition. If you had bucketloads of money you’d do it all in one hit and maybe miss some of the little pieces of joy you’ll be getting each time you add to your new Italian look.
November 9, 2018
True. If I had bucketloads of money I’d probably outsource stuff as well… whereas I’ll need to be more hands-on!
November 8, 2018
I love the tablecloth you brought back from Italy! Also that feature wall makes a big difference. All the colours POP on the darker colour and it seems to give a cosier feel. Sad that your plants karked it before you got to repot them. I think to buy fake plants that look real is a bit costly. There’s heaps of cheaper fake plants out there but they usually look fake. I really don’t know what’s out there though because I haven’t looked for a while though so you might be in luck! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
November 9, 2018
I thought about getting a couple of bright little bushells of red flowers (or similar) and sticking them with dirt in a pot on the little balconies. I can’t see them (cos of curtains) much from inside and they’d give a sense of colour from the outside. Of course it would have been better if the flowers I bought didn’t die. 🙁
November 8, 2018
Glad to know I’m not the only one with a terrible track record on potted plants!
November 9, 2018
I’m usually bad but I’ve got a half a dozen indoor plants which have now lasted years, which amazes me. I’m not so great with anything outside – even on the verandah as that requires me to open doors and go outside (even onto the verandah) to water them!
November 8, 2018
Tuscany captured my heart too when I was there in 2017. The thing that struck me was all the pretty potted flowers so I think you should get some of these. Also a little round cafe style table and two chairs.
November 9, 2018
I’ve currently got a massive timber outdoor table I kept from the old owner of the house. The chairs were getting worse for wear so I ditched them 6mths ago and haven’t replaced them yet. I love this terrazzo looking outdoor table at Early Settler but really can’t justify buying a new table. (When I need new chairs!)
November 8, 2018
I love that you made a start. The table cloth is a piece of art on the table. It draws your eye to it I bet and those little memories pop back. Plants are hard work. In summer even more so but the hardy ones should be OK – best to speak to your local garden centre or nursery. This is really fun as you make this house your home! Enjoy. Denyse
November 9, 2018
Yes, I’m certainly a house-proud thing most of the time… always with ideas of stuff I’d like to do. Of course things that seem urgent (2yrs ago I was going to replace all of the curtains asap) don’t get done cos of $ and you live with what you can. I guess I’ve been making iterative changes over that time though.
November 9, 2018
It’s really amazing how much your vacation has affected you and your life after you got back!! And that’s a good thing…sounds like it was more than you imagined in that respect!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
November 9, 2018
Oh yes, it was my first big holiday in a couple of decades and (other than a trip to see my bestie in NZ for a few days in late 2016) I haven’t even been ‘away’. A couple of conferences at hotels but no travel or stays elsewhere etc… I probably shouldn’t leave it as long next time!
November 12, 2018
How’d you go with the repotting? I love that you’re bringing your holiday home.
November 12, 2018
I haven’t repotted it yet as I realised I didn’t have enough potting mix. And I hate Bunnings so need to psych myself up for another visit. Either day or tomorrow I’m telling myself. In the meantime the lemon tree is sitting on the verandah getting used to its new home! 🙂