Bathroom Renovation

Over the next few months I plan to update the bathroom. I still need to save up but in the meantime I have started sourcing materials, including these tiles from Art of Tiles.

The hexagon tiles are for the floor and the subway tiles are for the walls and I will use a grey grout. I still really like the blue subway tiles I posted earlier. I'm not sure they will look as good with grey grout though.

Palm leaves wallpaper

No doubt you have seen this Cole & Son 'Palm Leaves' wallpaper previously but I am enjoying it again and I'm on the hunt for two rolls!

Fashionably Late Friday: Lazy Sunday

Confusing post title isn't it? Sorry to be quiet this week (and late!). It's been a busy week but I'm going to spend today relaxing at the beach, eating fish and chips and maybe even some shopping. Who knows how the day will end up though? That's what I love about lazy Sundays.

Subway tiles

I went tile hunting over the weekend. I have been looking at updating the main bathroom and I love the look of subway tiles.

I will probably end up choosing white subway tiles but how tempting are these coloured ones?

Colour Burst: Paris circus

I adore this fashion shoot by Paul Schmidt for Jalouse June/July 2011 for a few reasons - it features pink haired model Charlotte Fee, it has a circus feel and you know how much I love anything circus related and also the colours are beautiful.

Stevie English Hair

I have taken my love of colour to a new level - my hair. The pink hair trend isn't a new one but it has taken me a while to find the courage. I have spent a good part of about 8 years growing out all shades of blonde but you only live once, right?

Three years + 1 month

Three. Blogging for three years? Wow.

One thing I have discovered during this time of writing is just how much of a passion this is and how lucky I am to be surrounded by so much inspiration. 2011 was a tricky year for me as it hasn't been easy juggling single motherhood, work, school, writing commitments and other projects but I've enjoyed it all.

During this last year:

• I held the first charity tea party at my home with friends and it is becoming an annual event now
• I started writing for Lustable
• I dressed up the study
• I hung artwork on the walls here, here, and here and with more on the way and I painted the kitchen door
• Robbie grew out of his cot and I shared with you the updates to him room
• My home was featured in adore home magazine, I was mentioned in home & decor magazine, asked to contribute for a beautiful book called Decorate, and ish and chi was even reviewed on the radio!
• I bought new dining chairs, kitchen stools, an ottoman coffee table and a new Lazybones quilt. LOVE.

And I still have lots more I want to do around the home. One day soon I hope to tackle the bathroom, the laundry (again) and I'm dreaming of an outdoor deck. I'll keep sharing my progress. If there is anything you would like to see more of on ish and chi, feel free to write to me in the comments below.

As always, thank you for your support this last year, your kind words and for being awesome!

A Dulux Colour Consultation + Giveaway!

{Sponsored by Nuffnang}

Paint colours can be one of the most difficult choices to make when renovating a home I have found. Take the colour white for example – there is a myriad of choices and it can get very confusing. Dulux offer a colour consultation service where a professional will come to your home to advise you on the best colours to use. I was lucky to have been offered a consultation just recently and if you continue reading, you can enter for your chance to win one!

Painting the entrance wall

I should have been working on assignments but instead I was motivated to paint the entrance wall in a deep grey blue colour - Dulux Western Myall. Being such a dark colour two coats was required however I can still see a couple of tiny spots where paint was missed. I might have to touch these up.

Fashionably Late Friday: The colour of fairy floss

I'll explain more soon. It's love.

Adore Home 1st Birthday Party

The new issue of Adore Home is out now and it is a New York themed. I have said this previously but I don't mind saying it again - it is so wonderful that Australia has such a beautiful online magazine and editorial director Loni Parker and her team have done a wonderful job.

Shop Tour: Visiting Black & Spiro

One of the main reasons I flew to Brisbane last week is for Adore Home's first birthday party bash. It was a lot of fun! The other reason was to visit a store I have long admired from afar - Black & Spiro.

More breeze blocks

I am still editing the photos I took on my iPhone from my little trip to Brisbane last week. Looking forward to sharing with you.

In the meantime, while researching Queensland architecture I came across Building the Ville - a blog of architecture in Townsville, Queensland. My favourite house is this one pictured.

I STILL love breeze blocks. Do you?

(Image credit Building the Ville)