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Homes to Inspire | Stylist Aurélie Lécuyer

I recently discovered The Socialite Family and I'm now hooked. Featuring 'A sample of Smart & Cool Families', it reminds me a bit of The Selby, one of my longtime haunts that I mention on the blog from time to time. Similarly, it gives a peek into the homes of creative folk, with photos of the spaces they inhabit and interviews conducted in an informal, relaxed style. Founded by French journalist Constance Gennari, the blog was born out of her passion for interior design and fascination with contemporary families. Whether in Paris, New York or elsewhere in the world, Constance provides great inspiration and I highly recommend it as one to bookmark. 

It was here that I came across the French stylist Aurélie Lécuyer who lives with her young family in an 1830's converted Schoolhouse in the French countryside near Nantes. Their home, which to me has a very Scandi-style, mixes vintage furniture with Ikea finds, classic French pieces and pops of bright colour. From there I clicked over to Aurélie's blog Le Dans La, and was greeted with more wonderful images of her home which I then realised I had to share. 

Aurélie's effortless style is really calming and I could browse through the pages of her blog for hours. I love the relaxed, unpretentious feel of her home and the way she involves her gorgeous children in the styling. There are photos of them throwing handfuls of colourful confetti and riding their tricycles through a mock market pop-up store displaying Aurélie's homewares that she sells via her online shop Albert et Henriette. It certainly appears as though the kids imaginations are being wonderfully nurtured and that they are having a rich and creative upbringing due to their talented Mum and surroundings. It makes me dream of moving with my family to the French countryside for a year! And funnily enough that's exactly what The Socialite Family aims to do... to make us dream, and to inspire us to want to enter the world of these contemporary families. 

It was terribly hard to narrow down the photos, so I apologise for the overload. I could devote one post to Aurélie's kitchen styling alone, but here's a glimpse at the whole house...


Large windows make for bright and airy open spaces. There's a lovely mix of natural materials like wood and sheepskins to add warmth and texture.




The neutral interior is peppered with bright colour throughout. See what I mean about the kitchen and open shelves. Swoon!


The black wall adds depth and makes a striking backdrop for the picture wall. 



Nothing accentuates a home office like a great moodboard. 



The Pop Up shop and confetti throwing I mentioned earlier. Fun!


These kidsrooms are all about pared-back simplicity. So beautiful! 



The original concrete wall has been retained and provides a great place to lean artwork. The paper lanterns are a lovely touch.




Evidence of family (especially little boys) is found all throughout this gorgeous home. Love the gumboots and dinosaur! 


Since the the image above was taken for The Socialite Family, there's been a new addition, with the arrival of a gorgeous wee girl! Follow more of Aurélie's journey over here. 

All images via The Socialite Family and Le Dans La
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Interior Styling | Picture Shelves

I often refer to my love of picture walls. I wrote a post on them here, detailing ideas for different wall arrangements, and talked about my plans for creating one in the living room of our new build. As an alternative, a picture ledge or floating shelf can provide a great way of displaying art, prints, posters or photographs, and what I love about this option is you can easily move the pictures around to change things up or freshen your interior. Starting with the living room, here are some inspiring finds.  



As with picture walls, you can combine different sized artworks for an eyecatching display. Play around with a range of frames or stick to just one colour for a cohesive look.  


One of the features I love about using a floating shelf is that you can mix in other decorative elements such as vases, plants or any other little treasures or homewares that you fancy. Demonstrated above, I love the idea of mixing black and white prints with apothecary jars, personal knick knacks and design pieces. The Eames House Bird looks right at home, as does the Wooden Monkey designed Kay Bojesen hanging from the shelf! 



Two other great locations for installing a picture shelf are above the bed or your workspace desk...




I love seeing artwork displayed in kidsrooms, especially when it includes their own little masterpieces! Here are two gorgeous examples, one a nursery and the other a playroom. 



Installing a picture shelf would be a pretty easy DIY project. If you want to splurge, check out these stylish options at Bo Concept. For those on a budget, you can't go past the Ikea Ribba Picture Ledge. My friend Anu featured a fantastic round up of inspiring Scandi-style interiors with this ledge on her blog Decordots. Check it out here.

Images: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Interview | Claire Donaldson of One Lovely Day

When Claire Donaldson, the director of the Auckland-based event styling company One Lovely Day got in touch recently, she included a link to photos of her gorgeous home. Even though they were taken nearly four years ago for a feature in Your Home & Garden, I remembered the article right away. She had the most amazing glass balustrade around her deck which I referred back to when we did our house plans (sadly we decided against glass) and an unforgettable round table with stunning metal stools that I tried to source at the time (sadly they were no longer available). Since then Claire has launched her fabulous business, and knowing how much I love Claire's style I couldn't wait to feature her on the blog!

Claire's portfolio showcases a diverse range of events, from weddings and baby showers to product launches and birthday celebrations. With bucket loads of talent and creativity, Claire expertly turns her ideas into the most vibrant, memorable occasions possible. Each event is presented on her website with a beautiful photo series, telling a story of the day and making you feel like you'd been there, or at least you wish you had! It was hard to choose, but I picked out some of my favourites to share throughout the post and interview. 

A stunning Engagement Party held on the cliff edge at Castor Bay. Floating balloons - swoon! 

Claire also works with interiors, shop window styling and fit outs. One store that she often does work for and a favourite of mine is Superette. The Ponsonby boutique is looking more incredible than ever after the recent launch of Superette Space, a carefully curated selection of lifestyle products and homewares within the existing flagship store. I was super excited to learn that Claire assisted with the styling, and I'm thrilled to be able to show you these exclusive photos of the store. 


Gorgeous details at Superette Space.

As well as sharing some recent photos of her home which I've included at the end of the post, Claire very kindly agreed to being interviewed. Going far and beyond the call of duty she answered these questions via email yesterday with her three year old (who is sick with chicken pox) sitting on her lap!! I'm sure like me, many of you Mums will relate to this type of scenario, but even so I take my hat off to Claire. Her efforts are hugely appreciated! 

Tell us a bit about your background - how did you end up becoming an event stylist and when did you launch One Lovely Day?

I have always loved creating spaces, whether it's a room, a display, a house, a table setting, a garden, I just really enjoy turning the bland into fabulous. A few years back I decided that styling was what I really wanted to focus directly on, so I took myself off to study event management, and design. From there I started slowly doing the odd wedding, promo, display, party and basically from word of mouth I grew. Last year I decided it was time to actually launch my styling company and so One Lovely Day was born and I haven’t looked back. It's been such an amazing journey; I've had fun playing with venues, swinging from rafters, foraging for products and just constantly creating. I love it.


A vibrant Mexican-themed Celebration. Love these colours!  

You have an amazing portfolio of work. Have there been any events or projects you've worked on that you would consider favourites and if so, why?

Every event offers something different; my favourites are ones that challenge me, turning tired old venues into magical spaces for a night, working within the biggest or the tightest budgets to produce exactly what my client is after. I love it when my client has total trust in me and lets me surprise them. I love watching their faces when they see what’s been created. That's my reward.



An incredible Waiheke Island Wedding for which Claire made large agee jar chandeliers, filled with candles, ivy, orchids and fairy lights. 

You also do interiors and shop windows and fit outs. Can you tell us a bit about the recently launched Superette Space at the flagship store in Ponsonby?

My role for Superette was helping them create a way to display their gorgeous home pieces, while adding a quirky touch. I filled vintage trucks with logs, rocks that I covered in golden glitter and homemade sand bricks. An old ladder was bought and suspended from the ceiling from which products were hung, including stools and wire baskets, all mixed up with skyplanters and a bit of greenery. Plants and other little mini scenes with tiny trees, trucks and logs were created for other areas around the store. Maple trees were dotted around and covered in beautiful autumn leaves which continue to drop throughout the store. Magic.


More details from Superette Space, including Malple trees and products suspended from a ceiling-hung ladder. 

What inspires you in your work - other creatives, international events, magazines, websites etc?

I'm always being inspired. I'm terrible - even the hardware store can send me into a creative frenzy. I love interior magazines, they are my absolute downfall. I spend so much time and money on them. There is nothing nicer than flicking through the pages of a new magazine. I also spend hours online pouring over images featuring overseas weddings and events. I love taking bits and pieces from them and taking it to the next level. Plants inspire me, I love adding greenery and florals in everything I do. Nature has such a gorgeous way of creating a beautiful space, whether it's a hanging basket, potted herbs, a posy of flowers or even some moss and acorns. I just love incorporating it in my work. It always adds that special touch.

A Birthday Long Lunch, in delectable Italian Style. 

How is your business structured - have you employed other staff to ease the load?

I started out as a one woman whirl wind, but quickly realised you need a great team behind you. I still do most of it myself, all the briefs, creative ideas, client meetings, budgets, and so on. But for on-the-day set ups, I have staff that come and help with the pack in and out if needed, and I have a great resource of vendors who work with me to create the perfect space.

What are you working on right now? Do you have any exciting projects in the works?

It's funny, just as I'm about to wind up one exciting project, another one always comes along. I'm in the process of expanding One Lovely Day, so some really exciting ventures are brewing for our customers, in terms of hirage and our services. Watch this space - I'm really excited.

I’m also involved in some divine store refits, and filling a beautiful new build in Omaha with furniture for an overseas client. Weddings too are always on the go. It's amazing how many people enjoy a lovely candlelit mid winter wedding. Just beautiful x
How do you find juggling motherhood with running a business - any advice for others trying to achieve a work/life balance?

Having a supportive partner and family is a must for me. My husband takes over childcare duties in the afternoons and my parents are amazing. I don't think I would have even attempted it yet without them. My youngest starts school in just over a year, so I'm sure that will help the situation. Getting used to working well into the night is also a prerequisite, perfect for uninterrupted work!!


Fun, florals and splashes of colour were served alongside with lunch & beverages at this delightful Baby Shower.

How would you describe your personal style and how is this reflected in your own home?

I love the old with the new. I'm a sucker for old finds, so unfortunately my home which I once prided myself on being a good mix of both, is now quite lop sided! It is also used as the One Lovely Day storage area at the moment which doesn't help. I'm in the process of planning a beautiful office/meeting space and in turn building a storage unit, so I can unclutter my clutter… although many things are far too beautiful to pack away, so I will struggle!!




Claire Donaldson and her gorgeous Auckland home.

Images courtesy of One Lovely Day and Superette 
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Thread Design | Giveaway!

First featured on the blog late last year, I have a lot of love for the exclusive bedding label Thread Design. Showcasing their gorgeous products which are designed and manufactured here in NZ, I also gave you a sneak peek of their new range. If you missed it or are discovering Thread Design for the first time, take a look here. I'm sure you'll agree their latest collection is simply divine, which is why I was thrilled when Sarah approached me about a giveaway. To find out what's up for grabs, keep reading. All will be revealed at the end of the post!

Today I want to share with you some of the other components of Thread Design that make it such a well-loved local brand. In addition to their signature bedding and online store, they also have a beautiful retail store in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn. With so much to offer, including both their own line and other homeware brands, I decided to pop in last week and take some photos to share with you.


White walls and shelving and dark wood floors provide the perfect canvas for the gorgeous bedding, furniture and homewares. I love the trestle table designed by NZ furniture company Meluka.



Oh my goodness, these Velvet Buttoned Throws are to die for! Luxuriously soft, they feature velvet on one side and come in a range of gorgeous colours. The Sunshine Yellow looks amazing with the Pewter Chevron Duvet and take a look at the reverse side. I love the contrasting yellow buttons. 



This red themed corner of the store is so striking. The Petals & Pods bedlinen comes in vibrant Autumn colours and works beautifully with the Raspberry Velvet Throw. 


Designed by Timothy John, I couldn't wait to check out the Sidekick Stools in person and let me tell you, this is one stellar piece of furniture. With a solid ash hardwood top that can be finished in clear or black stain, and a powder coated steel base, they are incredibly sturdy, yet still very light. And I know this because I moved them around the store (a lot) trying to find the best spot for a photo! Also available as a Side Table, the base comes in white, black, blue and yellow. 




Housed within Thread Design and yet another fabulous drawcard is the flagship fashion store MANDYB. Designed by Mandy Barker and described as 'modern elegance with a sense of fun and femininity', I love the clean, classic designs. Made from exquisite materials such as silk, chiffon and wool, all the garments are proudly designed and manufactured in NZ. 


More goodies displayed here with pieces by Studio Ceramics and the Ashley & Co Home Fragrance range. 

The store is located at 274a Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland and has its own parking. We love that! You can also shop online. 

Now for the part you've all been waiting for...


To go in the draw to win a gorgeous pair of Thread Design Black & Natural Triangle Pillowcases, pop over to the Thread Design Facebook page, click 'Like' and do the same over at my page. Be sure to let me know you've done so in the comments below. For an extra entry share to Facebook or Twitter (tell me you've done that in the comments too, so that I know to count you twice). The winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Monday 27th May via the blog and The Design Chaser Facebook page. 

Open to New Zealand residents only.

Update: Giveaway now closed. Congratulations to the winner, Emma Kate Dyer!

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