+ inspired by: Mandy Faith Photography

It's one of those days when I'm feeling the mid-week drag, probably also because I have to work tomorrow. Yes, your Thursdays are like my Mondays... So I've decided to look at some lovely images which will make me happy, and hopefully lift the mood a little.

I've been following Mandy Faith's Instagram for a couple of years now. Her images are sweet and simple, with a soft, vintage-retro feel; calm, pretty and quirky. I love how she creates such a story through ordinary, everyday objects and scenes.

Mandy is a creative, young Malaysian currently based in the UK. She shares her life snippets on her blog through beautiful images and some thoughtful musings - it's definitely a calming read for a gloomy Autumn morning like the one I'm having. 

These two images above strikes an urge in me to visit a new, foreign city, and to feel all excited discovering new shops, shopping hubs and secret laneways. There are days I enjoy the familiarity of my own city, while some days it would be nice to explore a whole different one. But life isn't like the Faraway Tree where you can step into a new world every time you leave the house! (*don't mind me, I'm rambling...)

Can't get enough? You can see more on the blog and follow her on Instagram. Mandy also has a shop on Society6 where you can purchase her works in the form of prints, canvases, even iPhone case and throw pillows. 

Enjoy! x. Shu

{All images by Mandy Faith Photography}

Lavish Cushions by Christina Lundsteen

Hello dear friends! Hope you've been well over the weekend and stepping into a new week with fresh enthusiasm! 

What did I tell you about the weather couple of weeks back? I am wearing fleece now, heater's at my feet, and even put on gloves when dropping hubby off at work this morning. Yup... Can't hide from the wintery chill any longer! Which is why today's post gave me a sense of cozy warmth - scroll down and you'll know what I mean!

I came across Christina Lundsteen's cushions collection via Line Klein, where she offered a sneak preview of the images she photographed for Christina's latest collection. Just the smooth and soft texture plus jewel-like colours alone are enough to make me want to dive in to a sea of these lovely cushions, and maybe just stay there for the whole of winter!

Christina created unique pieces of cushions and bedspreads in timeless design, using vintage and antique fabrics she sourced from across the world. She holds a vision of binding together authentic pieces of history with the modern design of the 21st century - that in itself is so beautiful, don't you think?

I was also really drawn to some of the styling and photography of her collections. These ones above, in particular - by photographer Mikkel Adsbøl - the cushions are showcased so beautifully in the bright and light backdrop.

When I was still working as an interior designer, it's been drilled into me that changing textile is the quickest and easiest way to refresh a room. I have probably mentioned this some time ago, but it is so familiar to me that I might have taken the knowledge for granted. So I thought I'd share it with you again, and also as a reminder to myself: Because we don't live in a showroom where we can change a whole new room every season, paint the wall every year, or buy a new sofa when we feel like it just to lend an air of freshness to the home, changing textiles like cushions and curtains are the quickest and most affordable way to update your room. And if you can select 2-3 sets of different styles that you've matched together, you'd be surprise how different every set can be, and the 'wow' effect your room takes on with every change too! So give it a try, and let me know how it goes, ya?

That's it from me for now. Thank you for dropping by, and I hope you've enjoyed the inspiration and little tip today! x. Shu

ps. As the above images were taken by different photographers, I've listed them down accordingly as follows, starting with the top image at the beginning of the post. 

{Images sourced via The Klein and Christina Lundsteen: 1 Line Klein | 2 Thomas Skyum | 3/4 Mikkel Adsbol | 5/6/7 via IN Magazine, styling by Kaul Production}

+ loving: Graphics by Paper Heart/ Nicole Thompson

We were at Ikea over the weekend. Hubby complained when I suggested we walk through whole store instead of taking the shortcuts, as he does it enough on work days. Funny enough, he ended up picking out more items for the house than I did!

I came across these prints at the pictures & frames department, and liked them very much. In fact, there were many other prints I liked very much too, but you might remember me mentioning that we are currently renting and it's a bit of a fuss to put new frames up on the wall.

Having said that, the framed print I have on the bookcase leaning against the wall is almost 3 years old, and I could probably look into changing the print, even if I can't put up a whole wall of them? Fabulous idea - time to print shop! I'll make sure to let you know when I pick out a new one.

Now... back to today's post - sorry, I do get side-tracked easily...

Aren't these prints quirky and adorable? They would look perfect in a cafe, or a cafe-style dining area, or along a hallway, or even a nursery!

These are the work of Nicole Thompson of Paper Heart. I made a note to look her up after our shopping trip, and also discovered Paper Heart's website and shop. Paper Heart is a North London based printmaking and design studio, and the products are designed and hand printed by Nicole herself. She has a thing for bicycles, typewriters, foxes, moustaches and Paris among other things, and her loves and passions are strongly apparent in her work and designs!

I love her simple lines and shapes, quirky and cheeky representations of words and typos, and general, intuitive composition of her works. Oh, and I love that blue typewriter present in some of her product photos too! A vintage typewriter is still high up there on my wishlist...

{All images by Nicole Thompson/ Paper Heart}

This London Man is too cute! See more of Nicole's work over at Paper Heart website and Etsy shop.

That's it from me today, have a beautiful day, my dearest friends! And thank you for dropping by! x. Shu

+ inspired by: Anna Kvarnstrom

Hello dear friends! I hope this post finds you well. 

We are having an unexpectedly warm autumn day here; I was stocking up on sweaters and boots, all geared up for the cold, but I managed to step out in t-shirt and sandals yesterday, which was honestly quite nice! I won't start questioning, and I'm definitely not complaining, but knowing the fickle nature of South Australia weather, we could be thrown straight into winter this time next week! Meanwhile, I'm celebrating by doing a big load of laundry, parade around the house in shorts, and share some lovely inspirations with you!

I stumbled across Anna Kvarnstrom's Concept by Anna via Hege in France, and got absolutely smitten over her beautiful images and perfect styling. Take a look, and you'll know what I mean!

Super love this gorgeous cozy corner above, and I have the same lamp too!

{Images by Anna Kvarnstrom | Concept by Anna}

Anna is an interior stylist and photographer AND a shop owner, and I've been scrolling through her blog yesterday afternoon and again this morning because I just can't get enough! Her images are light, simple, yet exquisitely elegant, and her sense of style is, in my opinion, impeccable! - casual, realistic and very tasteful. It really is very inspiring to look through the images she shared of the corners around her home.

I promise, when we get our own place, it's gonna have white walls and floors!

{Images by Anna Kvarnstrom}

Anna also has an online lifestyle store - Pure Love - and there you'll find great selection of high quality, lovingly crafted home wares, clothing and accessories. My Google translate wasn't working over at the shop's website, so I couldn't read up more about the concept. But that doesn't stop me from getting all excited over the products! And again, all the gorgeous product images which I'm sure were styled and photographed by Anna herself - a visual heaven in themselves! Below are a small sample of items you can expect to find at Pure Love.

{Images by Anna Kvarnstrom | Pure Love}

Hope you enjoyed today's inspiration as much as I did! See you back here again soon. x. Shu

West Elm @ Bondi

Last week must have been pretty exciting for design-home-wares lovers down at Bondi when Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Williams-Sonoma and West Elm opened their doors there. We were planning a year end trip to Melbourne but we just might have to change destination to Sydney now! Unless the Melbourne store opens before then, or they come to Adelaide next? *wishful thinking comes true sometimes*

{Image via West Elm Sydney Facebook Page}

Meanwhile... Here's a peek into their catalogue ~

I thought this Patchwork Dresser is pretty cool, with its different sized doors and drawers in various finishes. Makes a great statement for any room!

Love the bring, rich, warm hues here! I wouldn't mind giving dip-dye cushion covers a go... And this is very random, but I like that little detail of dotted 'sewn-on' line and loose thread at the edge of the brown paper label in the image above - I have a thing for dotted lines, this just reminded me of it. 

Well, if I ever get to visit the shops at Bondi, I'll make sure you know how crazy excited I got. Meanwhile, it's nice to know they ship 'everything everywhere' in Australia!

Have a lovely day ahead! x. Shu

{Images via West Elm Online Catalogue}