Kara Rosenlund's house in Australia

Photography by Kara Rosenlund

“Being an old 1890s weatherboard cottage, I wanted to stay true to the way of life and the authenticity of the original home; both through small sensitive renovations and also with decorating the house,” Kara says. “This style of ‘workers cottage’ was very popular in Queensland around the turn of the 20th century and still proves today to be such clever design in terms of energy efficiency. There is one main hallway with three bedrooms running off the thoroughfare to catch the cool breezes, high ceilings for the hot air to rise (it gets very hot in Queensland) and generous verandas on both the front and the back of the house for outdoor living – we never close our windows and have our doors open all year round. "

Source : Design Sponge

Not My Kitchen Reno

We interrupt our regularly scheduled series on my kitchen reno to announce that Chris and I received the "Best Sister and Brother-in-law" award for spending all of last weekend installing a backsplash in my sister's house. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, we spent the entire weekend working on someone else's kitchen.

As ironic as that sounds, it was actually kind of fun and very gratifying to see such dramatic results in such a short amount of time with relatively little expense.

Her home, which she shares with her husband and two sweet boys, is your basic builder grade house. She wanted an upgrade that would make the kitchen brighter and break up the silver-sage paint color that the builder used liberally throughout the house.

Oops, we jumped the gun before I could take any true "before" photos, but you get the picture: Borrrrrrrrring.

We started out by roughing up the walls with a sanding block (this part was so easy even a four year old can do it.)

Chris mixed up the mortar and we started putting up the sheets of 4x2 inch white glass tile (my sister bought them here). The sheets went up easily, but cutting the individual glass tiles around the outlets and light switches was really tricky. I used tile nippers and I'm sure there must be a better tool as I ended up with tiny glass cuts on my exposed arms and legs. Safety goggles and gloves are a must! 

The hardest part BY FAR was switching out all the off white outlets and light switch covers with white ones. Builders, why do you insist on using off white?????

We allowed the mortar to set and started grouting the next day. I picked out Delorian Gray colored grout. Already starting to look good! 

Chris and I were anxious to pack up and head home, so we didn't wait as long as the grout directions indicated before wiping off the haze from the tiles. The result in these "after" photos is that some grout lines are still darker than they will be once dry.

I love the way the white glass looks with the light flecks in the dark granite countertop.

I think the icing on the cake will be to switch out the light over the kitchen sink with a new pendant. Maybe during our next visit...

How does your garden grow?

Gardens have always beckoned me since I was a girl.  I love the colours, lushness, meandering paths and hidden surprises.  I like looking beyond  or through a  garden to the haphazard backdrops and surprising framings worthy of a painting.  Everyone who views a garden sees it in a slightly different way, just as everyone who reads a poem takes  a slightly different message from it.

Whenever I find a garden  that appeals to me, I always ask permission to photograph it.  Sometimes I keep the photos in my art file, and other times I  share them.  This  well textured garden in King's Cove, Bonavista Bay, NL, lovingly tended by Veronica and Kevin Mahoney was meant to be shared.

 Come along and visit Veronica and Kevin's garden through my eyes.

 Gardens need surprises at every turn. And depending on the vantage points the same spot should have a variety of looks and feels.

 I am definitely attracted to the partially hidden aspects of a garden that you catch by looking through structural elements.  In this case a sparse grove of aspen trees provides interesting framing for the bed beyond.  You can catch a glimpse of a cozy seating area.

 Moving to the left a little brings you to one of my favourite aspects of this garden. A bench nestled in the bank of tree trunks provides a shady spot to sit and look at the plantings beyond.

 A second seating area is hidden beyond a bed of shrubs and perennials.  The lamppost provides a strong vertical focus where almost everything else is the same height. Variety in heights is important for an interesting space.   While the garden has a well tended look it also  meanders  from the cultivated edges to wilder land behind it. This transition really works and makes the garden appear much larger than it actually is. 

 

 And here's the seating area you can just barely glimpse in the photo above.  I like the fact that the colour of this seating doesn't fight with the red bench beyond it.

 

Moving behind another bed and looking the opposite way reveals two more interesting features: a bird bath and an anchor.  At least our  truck blends into this shot.  I didn't have the heart to ask hubby to move it a second time. He's sitting in his favourite spot waiting patiently for me to finish shooting.

 

And how is this for a vantage point?  Even the church on the next property is a part of the garden!

 

Looking toward the house from the bench. Yes,  I love  that bench!

 

 An interesting plant hanger built by Kevin.  There's a second one by the step.

Because the house is on a high hill you have a great veiw of King's Cove harbour and several of the houses surrounding it.

I am such a sucker for looking up when I take shots.  This is a big reward.

 

 When you look up you are greeted by a stunningly refurbished house. The two patios provide interesting views of the garden.

Another bed of perennials creeps up the hill toward the back of the house to a third sitting area just outside the back door. Aren't the variety of stone walls interesting? Here's a closer look.....

 Following a stone path beyond will bring you to the fourth seating area at the top of a hill behind the house.  This provides a totally different feel and view of the whole area.

 

 You can look right out the bay as far as the eye can see.  The houses beside the property actually become part of the composition of the garden.  How great is it to have a yellow  building with  red trim next to your property!  It is such a strong focal point and  it adds additional colour when the blooms disappear. .

While heading down the path again, I was treated to a close up view of  numerous butterflies sailing around a false spirea. 

 

Thank you Veronica and Kevin for allowing us to visit your garden.  

5 garden planning tips  from this garden visit:

1. Consider  what lies beyond your garden and use it to advantage.  It might not be yours, but it can be part of your composition. 
2. Use meandering paths to connect different parts of your space, and use the same treatment for all of them: crushed stone, brick, slate etc. This continuity adds cohesiveness to the composition.
3. Always keep parts of your garden hidden from view and lead the visitor to them by using meandering paths and plantings. 
4. Have several seating areas to provide choice during different parts to the day or  to provide different viewing vantage points. 
5. Have a strong mix of flowering shrubs and perennials if you want to be a carefree gardener. 

Apartment in Milan

In a residential area of ​​Milan,  Simona, an architect, took possession of a beautiful apartment in an amazing period house. She tackled the restoration that lasted several years, and isn't completed yet. Windows and antique floor have been preserved, everything else 
 has been modified to create a more contemporary atmosphere. A large living space, three bedrooms and a mix of styles and eras have given this apartment a new feel. Lighting design, furniture and family always more vintage items.