The Silver LiningMeet Jack – Four Leaf Wood Shop
Posted on April 12, 2016
Meet a local love of ours. Okay, when we say local, we mean local to the gorgeous Californian town of Ojai. Whilst researching our road trip route, Jinn fell hard for the vibe and creative spirit of the place which is also home to the insta-perfect store, Summer Camp, and the cooler than cool Ojai Rancho Inn. Subsequently discovering Jack’s work for Four Leaf Wood Shop made a visit to Ojai an absolute certainty.
Welcoming us into his home and studio, Jack, is an absolute dude. When we dropped by, his business was still in its infancy but his knack and affinity for woodwork was already apparent, the start of something big. He had recently escaped life in the fast lanes of Los Angeles for the slower pace of Ojai Valley and swapped a very different job for the creative and tactile work of a craftsman.
Jack’s work stands out from many and I think it’s because he approaches the object’s function with the eye of a fine artist or sculptor, creating very unique shapes whilst respecting the natural knots and lines of the natural wood. His pieces make the everyday work of cutting, scooping, stirring, tasting, a ritual and a pleasure.
See more of Jack’s masterpieces here. My personal favourite? His cake knives are surpassed by none in beauty, form and function – you’ll be baking cakes just so you can cut them.
Product photos by Jack Gerard.
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Artist Open House Fremantle
Posted on November 13, 2015
Boy oh boy, are we all in for a treat this weekend! Hot on the tails of the Open House Perth, Artist Open House Fremantle is on this Friday through to Sunday.
Seven Fremantle residences (all within walking distance of each other) have been filled with local art and beautifully styled into living, breathing galleries. This unique concept showcases art in the home, so we not only admire it but can better see how it could fit and enrich our own living spaces.
Exciting and new to AOHF is the Styled House, a collaboration with superstar stylist Jo Carmichael. Everything in this house from the art to the textiles to the furniture are for sale. We were lucky enough to be given the chance to have a sneaky preview look of this amazing location. As you can see from our photos, the place is just a dream, an absolutely feast for the eyes and unfastener of purse strings.
Well now you know what your plans this weekend are, start your day off at Ootong & Lincoln, not only serving up its usual tasty fare and coffee but also acting as the AOHF Headquarters this weekend! Be sure to head over to the Artist Open House Fremantle website to find out more details and download a map!
Artist Open House Fremantle / IG @artistopenhousefremantle / Facebook / Friday November 13th to Sunday November 15th
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Come again
Posted on May 13, 2015
Where has the time flown? A flurry of activity and a blink of the eye and May has descended upon us.
Today’s offering, some photos from an all too rare occurrence – a house party. Friends new and old, an endless supply of spanakopita, marshmallows over a fire pit, all gathered around in my most favourite place on planet Earth – our home. Ours is a place filled with so much love and living that inviting others in is almost a selfish pleasure. Those who come in their own individual ways add to the warmth and deep devotion I feel for every nook and daddy-long-leg filled cranny of our house and every scraggly bush in our backyard.
Do come again soon.
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Little Leaf Co
Posted on April 13, 2015
Of late, I’ve noticed myself walking into department stores or big chain stores and leaving empty handed. No matter how much I like the look of something, the feel of a garment, the colour of an item, there’s something missing. And the more I analyse it, the more I come to understand that what’s missing is a deeper connection to a place, the story behind the products – the feeling that what you’re buying meant something to its maker or curator and that they actually loved making it or selecting it before presenting it to you to take into your own life. Rows and rows of uniformly made objects blur into anonymity as we search for something more “special” that strikes a chord within us.
On entering Little Leaf Co, you are immediately welcomed into Tonia’s not-so-secret secret garden. She loves and adores the space and the plants and pots that inhabit it, you feel her pride, passion and perfectionism as soon as the place envelopes you.
Little Leaf Co sprang into life last December and very quickly caught our eye, drawing us like magpies to shiny whatnots. Having always been a gifted gardener, Tonia decided after working for 18 years with her husband in their still operating construction company to follow her heart and, of course, her green thumbs.
The space is just a dream. A high lofty ceiling with oodles of sunshine houses perfectly imperfect fiddle leaf figs, gnarly monsteras, and highly sought after zebra plants and succulents. It has already in its short life played host to the Perth Creatives’ Summer Table as well as a number of workshops, including handlettering with The Articulate and the art of shibori with Old Grey House.
You’ll find wonderful Angus & Celeste pots and planters to grace your newly purchased greenery (for you will leave with a new pet plant in tow, I guarantee it), and if you’re feeling extra fancy Tonia also has a range of beautiful wire plant stands from Ivy Muse and macrame plant hangers by Mac and More. Little Leaf Co is also one of the few exclusive stockists of Annie Sloan chalk paint should you be in the mood for giving a piece of furniture (or almost anything!) a new lease of life with a lick of this incredible matte paint.
For a new house plant that comes with personalised specialist advice and an extra serving of heart, come to Little Leaf Co! We absolutely adored chatting to Tonia, and our home and lives have been enriched by our meeting.
Little Leaf Co / Shop 4, 496 Marmion St Melville / Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm / IG @littleleafco / tonia@littleleafco.com.au
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Arrival Hall
Posted on March 18, 2015
Stare longingly at that Scandinavian homewares website that doesn’t ship to Australia no more – Arrival Hall is here.
With her previous experience in fashion (interning in New York City – hellz yeah!) and an eye honed by travel, Lisa has created and highly curated a space exuding that desirably minimalistic chic aesthetic we all want. Sleek marble pieces nestle and contrast perfectly next to matte home accessories in just-right neutral shades. Yearned for products from Danish labels such as Normann Copenhagen and MENU (Yeeeees!) are in fine company amongst soft felt laptop cases from Italy, a small clothing selection of separates from Korea, and a generous smattering of Australia-found goods too. Lisa’s beautiful and unwavering sense of style is tangible in this store that is clearly her passion project.
Something else that makes Arrival Hall unique is the fact that it is essentially an extension of Lisa and, her husband, Clem’s home, blending and flowing together with natural ease. Browse and enjoy the shop space on the ground floor, give Lexie the dog a friendly pat, then venture up the stairs to be welcomed into the stylish pair’s kitchen and dining area where Clem expertly makes delicious coffees at his Rocket espresso machine. Their warehouse conversion home extends further upwards another two floors and hides away their sleeping spaces and an adorable loft where I can imagine many a Kinfolk and Frankie magazine being read.
I was completely bowled over with admiration by Lisa and Clem’s can-do attitude and supreme talent with power tools when I found out that they made the entire fit out themselves. AND IT’S STUNNING. Can you tell that I’m slightly losing it in awe over here?
Pay a visit to Arrival Hall to find that elusive piece you’ve been looking for to spruce up your home. Or just come by to enjoy the light, space and smell of coffee. Or even just for doggie cuddling time. It’s all of the above for me.
Arrival Hall / 2 Saunders St East Perth / Tuesday to Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1:30pm-5:30pm / Instagram @arrival_hall / lisa@arrivalhall.com.au
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Paddington St – Open House Perth
Posted on December 10, 2014
Many of you may know that one day in the near (or more likely far) future we dream of renovating our own beloved California bungalow, so we’re always on the lookout for fresh new ideas of how to do it right. We’d love to do something that adds clean, light-filled and modern open spaces to our home which we adore but has some spaces that are admittedly pokey. So rather than stalking homes vicariously over Pinterest or Instagram, Open House Perth gave us the opportunity to walk through and experience a real life innovative renovation.
This home, by Mountford Architects, is a great example of a creative marriage of old and new. By adding a corridor to the side of the existing home, the space is opened up without having to bash and crash through old existing walls. We both also really love the way that the corridor not only is a functional component, but is also a personal gallery of sorts for the family that lives there.
The best part of this home? It could be yours! It is still for sale at present but chances are it won’t be for long.
Paddington St Residence, by Mountford Architects
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Sussex St – Open House Perth
Posted on November 18, 2014
The first destination we visited for Open House Perth was this amazingly well designed house by Mountford Architects. Located in a semi-industrial area of Maylands, this home maximises its space by utilising a simple, elegant design which allows cross ventilation and easy access to the garden. The widespread use of louvred windows allows light and breeze to permeate the house (and also form cool-looking rainbow reflections on the walls!). There is a single pitched roof over the home which causes hot air to rise to the top of the house, where it is vented through an open window, thereby cooling the house. In addition the house enhances its environmental credentials with solar panels and a grey water system for the garden (definitely something to think about for our place!).
The design of the garden worked in cohesion with the design of the house – a testament to the teamwork of the landscape gardener and architect. We both really liked the clean lines and the considered nature of this house, and the way that the productive garden was located so close. There were lots of good ideas to take away from this one!
Sussex St by Mountford Architects
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Home life
Posted on September 4, 2014
Wearing – Topshop dress (similar), Gorman cardigan, Muji socks, Apartamento magazine via Kate + Abel
An orange couch.
An orange cardigan.
An orange cat armrest.
What more do I need this day.
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Sandringham House
Posted on August 27, 2014
We came across this delightful house on Desire To Inspire the other day. Designed by Techné Architecture + Interior Design, it is a wonderful conversion of a double-fronted weatherboard house into an amazing and inviting space full of colour and energy. I love how the street frontage is subtle, with only a cheeky bright blue door and a small amount of metal cladding visible to hint at the impressive structure within. They have managed to add four extra bedrooms, an open plan living-dining area and a study, with heaps of life-bringing natural light. And to top it all off, the interior design and furniture is positively mouthwatering! (Excuse me whilst I rescue my laptop keyboard from my drool…)
Photography by Derek Swallwell
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Takeawei
Posted on May 26, 2014
We stumbled across a collection of these cute-as-pie ceramics during a visit to Mr Sparrow. Every single piece as adorable as the next, it’s an absolute miracle that I left the shop with just the polka dot wombat planter in my happy possession. Next in line? To continue along a theme, it’ll probably be the bigger version with the paint-splattered ears. Yes you. I’m comin’ for you.
Chela Edmunds is the talented person behind Takeawei who manages to inject so much personality into these ceramic works. Currently based in a studio in North Melbourne, you can find her online store here.
For us Perthians, Takeawei is exclusively stocked at Mr Sparrow in Subiaco. Get them before I do.
The Silver Lining 
