Rouse Hill House & Farm

ROUSE HILL HOUSE & FARM RESIDENTIAL TOUR Sydney / Australia THERE IS NOTHING QUITE like a Sunday drive. Piling the family into the Mini, we headed to Rouse Hill House & Farm.  Robbie joined the kids tour through the farm and we ended the afternoon with a historical tour of Australia's oldest property owned by generations of a single family. Built in the early 1800's the colonial house was occupied by six generations of the Rouse and Terry families up until the late 1990's. The property covers many acres and is now open to the public as a museum with tours run by volunteers. EARN YOUR TUCKER Sydney Living Museums hold various family events at their historical properties throughout the year. We joined the Earn Your Tucker tour at Rouse Hill House. The tour involved grinding corn and wheat to feed the chickens, collecting eggs and churning butter. There was also an opportunity to feed the horses and for kids to ask questions from people who look after the livestock on the property and have spent much of their lives working on a farm. It was very hands-on with the kids enjoying taking turns carrying milk pails across the farm in the traditional way - chained to a carrying pole balanced across the back of the shoulders.	After we had completed our "chores" (the adults joined in too), we were all able to enjoy our tucker on the verandah, soaking in the beautiful view. TOUR OF THE HOUSE & BARNS Following lunch we booked a tour to visit the main house on the property and the barns. Our tour guide gave us a detailed explanation of the history of the family who owned the property and the changes to the property through the years. I personally enjoyed seeing the layers of additions to the property with each generation adding their own mark without erasing what had been created by those that lived there before them. There are visible extensions to the house, a roof added over the kitchen and laundry areas and even a random placement of a 1960's television set in one of the formal rooms. To preserve the house today, the rooms are kept in the dark so that the sunlight does not further deteriorate the wallpaper and fabrics. The rooms look dull and brown in colour having faded over time. Interestingly, there was a glass display of wallpaper remnants, curtain tiebacks, tassels and fabrics recovered from inside books, in cupboards and behind furniture which were hidden from the light and showcased the true vibrant colours - turquoise blues, lime greens, purple, orange and gold. "The range and intensity of colours available to the decorator increased dramatically in the second half of the 19th century as chemical aniline dyes were developed." - Text extract of sign inside Rouse Hill House There are layers of fabric on chairs dating back to 1860 which have been reupholstered a number of times preserving the original fabrics underneath the new layers. There are also original 1850's curtain rods with curtains made of fabrics from the 1950's. It is fascinating to see such an eclectic mix of eras in the one house. The barns also have a history to tell with the stables housing the family's prized racehorses. Over the generations, the family's wealth decreased and there was discussion about selling the property in the 1950's. Luckily for us, the property was never sold and now remains a public museum. Rouse Hill House & Farm 356 Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill, NSW 2155

Hotel Tour: Empress Zoe

Living Area with stone day beds, an antique Cappadocian fireplace and local Turkish textiles

I have so much to tell you, I could really bore you with it all - about how the tree was removed but left behind was so much damage it took days and a lot of effort to fix, and that I'm still piecing together Robert's new bedroom which I will share with you next week, and that I'm spending my days helping my sister with her new place and researching ideas and... never mind. I'm here today to share with you another hotel tour. It's been a while since I have posted a tour and if you like feel free to check out the archives too.

Located right in the heart of the tourist district in Istanbul is Empress Zoe, consisting of a number of townhouses that surround a peaceful courtyard. We arrived exhausted and carrying too much luggage with us so it was wonderful to check in and offered to have our luggage carried for us to our room up a tight winding staircase. Our townhouse was located just past the central courtyard and walking through the gardens it was easy to forget that we were located in the city.

 The entrance area with the winding staircase

 Clockwise: Villa Zoe courtyard suite bedroom // Entrance to private courtyard // Hamam style bathroom // Painting of Empress Zoe

The hotel is named after Empress Zoe (b 978 - d 1050) herself who was reputed to be a beautiful and well loved woman by the people of Constantinople. She ruled for many years with her husbands becoming emperors through marriage (there were three of them) and for a time she also jointly ruled with her sister. Her life story is documented in each hotel room which provides an interesting historical read. The hotel has been restored with care to preserve its past and there is an abundant use of local Turkish textiles and artwork throughout the spaces.

Rooftop terrace

Clockwise: The streets of Sultanahmet // Buffet breakfast // Blue Mosque // Resident cat at Empress Zoe

We stayed in the Villa Zoe courtyard suite which has a private courtyard, a living area with an antique Cappadocian fireplace and a hamam style bathroom made of marble! What worked really well for us is the separate kitchenette which we used to clean baby equipment and the private courtyard gave Robbie plenty of space to run around. The hotel is charming with resident cats accompanying you for breakfast and a small rooftop terrace with beautiful views over the river. I was most inspired by the textiles used in the hotel including hand-embroidered suzanis which were draped by the doorways and used as curtains.

Location
In the centre of Sultanahmet and all the major sites including the Blue Mosque and Topkaki palace which are only a short walk away. The hotel is near my personal favourite markets, the Arasta Bazaar. You will need to catch a taxi to visit the Grand Bazaar. There is a long street full of shops and restaurants right at the doorstep of the hotel which is handy as there is no room service available.

Who can stay here
The hotel caters for singles, couples and families. I don't recommend the hotel if mobility is an issue due to the winding staircase that you will need to walk up to access the rooms and courtyard.

Best bits
The service by the staff who were always happy to help us navigate the neighbourhood. And the breakfast! The buffet breakfast in the courtyard was an absolute favourite and to this day I still crave the large figs on offer.

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Please note: I was not sponsored to write this review. Photographs taken by me and used with permission by the hotel. Photograph 1 & 3 credit: Empress Zoe.

Palm Springs Street Tour

A few months have passed since we travelled to Palm Springs but it is still on my mind and influencing some projects I am working on at the moment. So today I am bringing you a walking tour of the streets of Palm Springs. The following houses are in the Las Palmas area which is in the region of the Kaufmann House that I sadly couldn't visit because it wasn't open to the public at the time (but there's always next time??).

Looking through the photographs I took of these houses brings back great memories for me and if you enjoy mid-century design you might like to see them too. Continue on for more mid-century goodness...

// This house is one of my favourites having recently been renovated back its former glory by the owners. Hoorah!

// The square bricks work beautifully with the pattern of the breeze block and square cut-outs. It's all in the details!

And how great are the large street numbers?

//  The 'Swiss Miss' (above), is the nickname given to these A-frame houses. The design was not originally embraced in Palm Springs because of its futuristic / tiki style appearance

// No tour of Palm Springs is complete without visiting the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway

Palm Springs feels as though you have walked back into time. It is highly concentrated with low-line 50s and 60s buildings that contrast with the tall desert mountains. It makes for magnificent views and there were design enthusiasts from around the world who visited for Modernism Week.

Sadly some of the homes (not shown here) have been renovated to remove the architectural detail that gives the buildings their character but there are many that have been preserved and it is these that make Palm Springs so special I think.

Some people have asked me what I thought of Modernism Week and so I thought I would put together a few tips if you are thinking of visiting:

• Reserve your tickets early because the best tours are sold out super fast!
• Some people who visited the Sinatra house came dressed in 50's style so if that's your thing then that's the place. You'll need to check if it is open when you visit.
• Palm Springs is small. We hired a car from Las Vegas and drove there. I would suggest hiring a car to explore the town.
• Las Palmas is where a lot of the celebrity homes are and there are informative walking tours that you can take (but book in advance). Most of the photos in this post are taken from the walking tour.
• If you are traveling with kids, check the Modernism Week website for whether there are kid-friendly events because some of them aren't (ahem, Martini party!)
• We stayed for 3 days and didn't get a chance to see it all so if you can stay longer I would suggest it. The Villagefest markets are on Thursday nights featuring arts, crafts and entertainment. Streets are closed off for the event so be sure to get a parking spot early.
• Visit Trina Turk. Trust me.
• The antique stores are to die for. I wanted to take every chair home and if I could, I might have!

The Aparttment

A new fashion + furniture concept store has opened in Sydney on George Street, near ivy and I popped in last night for their launch event. I had previously peeked inside from the window (it was closed at the time) and was looking forward to seeing more of The Aparttment.

I spotted furniture from Max Sparrow, a Cadrys rug, artwork, fern plants, other home accessories and a fashion collection that featured studs, leather and black + white.

House Tour: Frey House II

The more I write about Modernism Week and the homes I saw and visited, the more I realise just how much of an impact it has had on me. Albert Frey (1903 - 1998) is one of the most prolific modern architects who lived and worked in Palm Springs. Amongst many other buildings, he designed two private residences for himself one of which is Frey House II built in 1964. Neither are usually open to the public however Frey House II was opened for tours during Modernism Week and I was fortunate to see the house in person. Read on to see more...

Hotel Tour: The Ace Hotel & Swim Club

When we first arrived in Palm Springs I didn't know what to make of this small village. It was late and there wasn't much to see so we settled into the Ace Hotel, unpacked, explored the grounds and ate dinner and marshmallows by the communal fireplace. We met (somewhat drunk) locals staying at the hotel because their home was being renovated and chatted for a while. We listened to their stories and we talked about kangaroos, as you do.

House Tour: Frank Sinatra Twin Palms Estate

Never before have I been to a house tour that is buzzing and full of people. Design enthusiasts, industry professionals, photographers, fellow bloggers and Sinatra fans - it was a great crowd with some people dressed in retro outfits to get into the spirit of the era. It was fun to see!

It was also a challenge to photograph the estate with so many people around and I'm pleased to be able to share these with you. You don't won't to know the lengths I went to so that I can take these photos sans people in them!

Click the link below to see the complete house tour...

Fashion Friday: PS. I love you

Coat: BCBG Max Azria // Skirt: Gorman // Boots: I've owned these for a few years

Palm Springs was everything I imagined it to be. The low-line architecture against the tall desert mountains. The palm trees. Postcard perfect.

I have more to share from this resort city and its architecture but it's Friday and that means I show you photos of me wearing clothes and smiling.

Okay, this won't be solely a style post as I really want to show you where these photos were taken instead...

Museum Tour: Vegas Boneyard (a.k.a The Neon Museum)

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Vegas was to get a bit of a feel of 'old Vegas' and there was no better way than heading to The Neon Museum where the old Vegas signs go to die.

If you are a fan of typography or simply like signage then I think you might enjoy these images!

The scale of these pieces are amazing. We were given a history of where the signs used to live and how they ended up at the museum. We were also given tips on how to work out the age of the signs through the way they were constructed and the materials used.

I recommend the tour if you are in the area. I only wish I could have taken some of these signs home with me! They would look pretty amazing in an interior space.. or.. hey why not, on top of the roof of my house, ha!

Thank you to The Neon Museum for the permission to share the photographs that I took during the tour.

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This post is dedicated to my friend Emily Sephton.

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Hotel Tour: The Drake

Two nights in San Francisco really wasn't enough time to get properly acquainted with the city but it did give us an introduction into its fun and quirky side. We stayed at the Sir Francis Drake, known as "The Drake" but also known for the friendly Beefeaters who greet you at the door.

House Tour: Stahl House

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Stahl House and these are a few photographs taken on a tour of the property. I broke one of the lens of my camera just before arriving so I'm pretty happy to have some shots I can share. They were taken with my least favourite lens in the world and a lot of playing around with manual settings but you aren't here for that (rather uninteresting) story. You are here for the tour!

Let me start with the breeze blocks at the entrance. Why are you so sexy? Is it only me that adores them this much? I don't care how ridiculous this makes me sound.

More pictures after the jump...