Hamptons pool house in the heart of Sydney

Aussie devotees of Hamptons style will instantly recognise this gorgeous pool house. It was featured in Australian House and Garden magazine and, along with the main house, it can now be yours. The interior design is by Lynda Kerry, and gardens are the work of William Dangar, so you know it's something special...

I love it when a house I've admired in a magazine is listed for sale - there's nothing I like better than a virtual sticky beak (expect maybe a real one). And it's always interesting to see how a home styled for a magazine shoot can be completely transformed. For those who haven't seen the House and Garden feature, here's the link to the slideshow. Link here to the real estate listing while it lasts....

English Decor

You may be surprised to know

I mostly follow home decor blogs

Although I currently feel limited in what I can do in our rental house

I love looking at other homes with beautiful styling 

Although defined differently by each individual,

- to me -

this is classic English decor at the moment...

Grey + white

It is curious that one would paint walls grey

when it is often grey outside as well,

but the grey walls harmoniously coordinate with the sky

to create a calming feeling in a room

Warm Tuscan colors are rarely used here

and just seem out of place when I see them

Grey also creates a cozy feeling,

which the English will tell you comes with the rain

Strong graphic design elements prevent a room from looking too soft

Wood conveys coziness

as do warm blankets and throw pillows

Linen and natural fibers are often featured

along with vintage treasures,

which are affordable if buying outside London
(here)

Faux fur and leather are classic cozy elements,

and mismatched is common

I first saw a chair like this (below)

in Anthropologie in a display in London

with its original burlap showing,

looking so raw and unique

A few months later 

I went to an antique fair 

and saw many of these with 'sold' signs on them

Seeing they were a top seller,

many furniture dealers were frantically stripping their chairs and sofas on the spot, 

hoping they would have the lovely burlap underneath

Unable to resist, I brought one home too

As my son helped me bring it into the house

he asked if the straw inside was harboring any bugs

I'm happy to report it was vermin free :)

Here's a quirky, eclectic take on my idea of English design

Yummy yum yum!

Rays of sunshine, don't you think?

These rooms seem very unAmerican to me

Can you put your finger on why?

Images: House to Home 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

My brand new website - and the perils of perfectionism..

For the past year or so, I've been working on a new website for Driftwood Interiors. What I thought would be a fairly straightforward process (I knew how I wanted my site to look, how hard could it be?) was anything but. I had no idea of the work involved, the countless decisions to be made, or the sheer hard slog that goes into creating a site that works both visually and practically. Add the fact that I'm a terrible perfectionist and you get a never-ending cycle of not being 100% happy with at least something...

But enough is enough. I've decided to bite the bullet and let everyone know about my new website. There have been many, many changes since it (very quietly) went live, and there are still a few more to come. But here it is, the end result of all the blood, sweat, tears (and tantrums)..........my new Driftwood Interiors website and online store....

I'll be adding lots of new prints to the store over the next few days, and I'll also be offering a week of great discounts and deals to celebrate the launch. Here's a look at some of the brand new pieces I'll be adding - new ranges as well as new additions to my current lineup..

'Shibori Floral'

prints available in standard sizes (A4, A3, A2) as well as custom sizes

'Surge'
watercolour and ink

So that's just a taste of the new goodies to come. If you'd like to see more, why not head on over to the website and sign up for my newsletter? You'll be the first to know when new prints are added, and you'll also get some sweet rewards. 

Hope you like the new website, and I'd love to hear any feedback you may have. Anything to make sure it's perfect :)

And Autumn Arrives

With autumn
comes the familiar

rain, darkness, and chill

Fog in the fields

Warming soups

Fires in the fireplace
Chunky sweaters
Bulky blankets

Apples dropping

Pumpkins to be picked
Blackberry brambles picked over

A rain shower of acorns
started by a wind

Hedges wait for their annual autumn trimming
Leaves burn in backyards
Gardens receive a tidy-up, preparing for winter's respite

Families toting baskets
search for mushrooms to harvest in the forest

American football on the telly for us
A childhood game of 'conkers' for the English

Wellies, umbrellas, and scarves patiently wait near the front door

A quieter birdsong
yet louder ambient noise outside

I can feel Halloween & Bonfire Night just around the corner

All the while,
green green grass...

- photos by me -

About Town

Just a few images of

everyday life in England

to remind myself this is not 'everyday' in the States

Fishmonger and egg seller from the back of van

I'm not sure why this prompted a warning sign...

A great volunteer service provided to my neighbor last week

(the cat was found within a few days)

And with the jamming season in progress,

an honor system is in place for those who want to pick up a jar

Jam for sale

Hope you find the extraordinary in the ordinary this week

:)

- photos by me -

Observations Of England Through An American Lens

I have an ever-growing list of differences

between our two countries 

Perhaps you will find these interesting...

Custom Art by Off The Map Art

When an American refers to Washington,

they are typically referring to the state on the West Coat

In England, 'Washington' is the US capital,

which an American will simply call 'D.C.'

*

In England, a cat says 'miaow'

In the US, it is 'meow'

*

Homemade beans-on-toast is an English comfort food

whereas Americans lean toward a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup

These sandwiches to not occur in the other country

*

In the 1970s and 1980s 

Nestle sold Texan in the UK,

a popular nougat/toffee candy bar

with the slogan 'A man's gotta chew what a man's gotta chew'

Sold by A Quarter Of

*

It is not uncommon to hear

'Well, as the Americans say...'

followed by a saying I've never heard in my life

*

You can spot an American tourist in a crowd

by the T-Shirt stating where s/he's visited, 

a favorite sports team or university

*

In the UK, this is the pound symbol (currency): £
 This is the pound sign in the US (weight): #

It is also the grid used to pay 'tic-tac-toe',
also known as 'noughts & crosses' in England

*

Red countries drive on the right; blue on the  left
ChartsBin

In England, using a car blinker/indicator in a turn lane is obvious and redundant

(yet required in the US)

In the US, you can turn right at a red light (love!)

It appears the majority of gas tanks are fueled on the driver's side

This is a problem when there is one way traffic flow into a petrol station,

leaving only one side of gas pumps being used

(in the US, traffic flows in both directions at stations)

*

Although Brits may drink more alcohol than Americans,

the US has a bigger problem with drunk driving

Public transportation is more widespread in England

and people often arrange taxis before going out
-love!-

(interestingly, European wine growing countries drink in moderation)

via World Health Organization

* 

Why aren't these things universally standardized?

Size of a measuring cup (1 cup is different in the US vs UK)
Size of printer paper and envelopes

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Why so many different emergency phone numbers?
ChartsBin

Light bulb screw-in shapes

Shape of plugs

Electric voltage in sockets

Map of voltage differences worldwide (blue is the highest voltage)
wikipedia 

*

An expat new to the country recently pointed out
the different breaks in phone numbers in England

(123) 456-7890 in the US

020 1234 5678 in London

01234 567 890 outside London

or 01234 567890

*

There are some differences in slang and pronunciation in the US,

but considering how big the country is 

there are not as many variations as one might think

More fun comparisons via Business Insider

While North Americans are notorious for pronouncing 't's as 'd's

water -> wah der,

the English drop many letters, making me guess the silent letters

Cheltenham -> Chelt'num

Leicester -> Lester

The letter 't' may be dropped entirely by the English ( little -> li'l)

and 't' can take on the 'ch' sound such as 

Tutor -> Chutor

Tunes -> Chunes

And curiously still, when a word ends in a vowel followed by another vowel in the next word,

a mysterious 'r' appears

Pizza Express -> Pizzar Express

'Elocution lessons' were once a part of the curriculum for students in refined schools,

where children perfected their pronunciation, inflection, articulation, and accent 

I'm not sure if this is still taught regularly today? 

*

There seems to be a disturbing new trend on my side of England 

where restrooms in restaurants are co-ed

Each stall is contained but the sinks are shared

A co-ed restroom in a popular new restaurant

*

I have now embraced the difference between 

a wet rain 

and a dry rain 

(misty but you don't get wet)

In the UK, a 'mac' or mackintosh is a raincoat

'Wellies' are known as 'galoshes' in the US

I noticed there is no smell of 'the first rain'
I was accustomed to in the US
perhaps because the earth is never that dry here

The term for the scent of first rain is 'petrichor'
(thanks, Kate!)

Sticky tape by Belle & Boo

*

An elderly Englishman recently told me he loves America
because of our friendly people and entrepreneurial spirit

I love England for its gorgeousness and countrywide playground
(so much to do and see!)

*

My list of 'interestings & differences' is by no means complete,
but for now I will sign off

Wishing you a great day!

(an unsponsored post)

Fascinating World Of Ian Fleming

For our book club

we read Ian Fleming's 'Dr No' (1958)

I think we were all surprised by how good it was,

a bit dated 

yet entertaining

Although 'Dr No' was Fleming's seventh book,

it was his first novel to be turned into a film (1962)

- Fleming knew cinema was the way to make real money -

That signature James Bond theme has been used since 'Dr No'

with its surf style rock, popular in the early 1960s

A classic!

Ian Fleming, author of James Bond series
wikipedia

Ian Fleming was born with money and connections

In fact, Winston Churchill was a friend of his father's

Fleming's grandparents owned a high-end flat 

where the US Embassy in London now stands

(the irony in that - with all its spies!)

Ian Fleming was a bit like his James Bond's character -

a life filled with men's clubs, women, fancy cars, and a good time

He traveled in wealthy circles in Mayfair

Aston Martin, one of James Bond's famous cars
wikipedia

Unlike his father and brother, 

Ian did not go to the front lines of war

Instead, he was behind a desk 

in London's Naval Intelligence Office during WWII

Once the war was over,

Ian Fleming worked for The Times

with the agreement that he could take time off every winter for three months

In those months,

he stayed in his Jamaican home, 'Goldeneye', and produced one book every year

with the quest to write the best spy novel the world had ever seen

Ian Fleming's Jamaican home where he wrote annually
wikipedia

He had the idea that his main character should be a boring man 

that to whom extraordinary things happened

Trying to think of a boring name, 

Fleming looked at his bookshelf and saw the very plain name 

of American ornithologist, James Bond

(Fleming was an avid birdwatcher)

And so it came to be the most famous fictional spy name

 with the ornithologist's blessing

The real James Bond, an American ornithologist
wikipedia

To me, the James Bond series is a story of success and determination

as Ian Fleming had always wanted to write these great spy novels

But his wife and high-brow friends thought his books were in bad taste

and Fleming received harsh reviews from UK critics

Then Fleming got a lucky break after meeting President Kennedy on a trip to D.C.

The US President listed 'From Russia, With Love'

as one of his favorite books in Life Magazine after they met

With this introduction to the American audience, 

Fleming's films and books became successful in the US

and were well received

via Amazon

I can't think of any other film series with such longevity, 

with classic quotes and an easily identifiable theme song

that has woven itself into our culture today

Eon Productions has been making James Bond films for fifty-one years

with another film due within the next few years

Bond continues to be the longest running film series 

and second highest grossing film series after 'Harry Potter'

In fact, more men have walked on the moon

than have played James Bond in film

(only six in fifty years)

I grew up watching Roger Moore,

so to me, he will always be THE Bond

Do you have a favorite James Bond actor?

- on a random note but must mention, Fleming also wrote 'Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang'! -

More In Bond Series ::
Bond Girl For A Day Or Two (local activities)
Interview Of A Bond Girl

Source: Richard Walker from London Walks, Wikipedia