It's Not Just Me Anymore!

The design-savvy crowd that you are I'm sure will make no sacrifices when it comes to your children. Consider opting for furniture that is tactile, colourful, nostalgic and fun. Tree bookcase by Design Artist; Early Rider bicycle by Strawberry Children's Toys; Eames Elephant by Vitra; Alphabet drawers by Kent and London; Mini Togo by Ligne Roset

I have been pondering about Valeria Lazareva's photos for sometime now. A few of my friends have had babies lately and I have watched them change over night. While I'm worrying about work, clothes, haircuts and not seeing my fiance or friends enough they are focused on one little being. 

It got me thinking how our view to our home changes when we have children. I believe what we buy for the home, how it is set up and the meaning of home all changes. Suddenly the home must become a place that needs to be set up where your child can grow, be safe, have stimulation and be a place they know they can always come too. Unlike my home which is set up for dinner parties, socialising, TV watching and listening to music. When purchasing products for the home it's no longer an Ikea impulse buy but pieces that reflect you and who you want your child to be. Whether it’s fashion, furniture or technology it's extensions of your own aesthetic preferences and keeping with your  home style.There are so many stylish options now for children. But I guess you need to make sure you have a balance between kid chic and a haven of fun. 

I would love to hear from you about how your idea of home has changed since you had kids. 

Drew-O-Rama In The House

All pictures by Drew over on his blog Drew-O-Rama and items to purchase at Kitsch Cafe

Girls and boys I think we should grab a little piece of Drew's life and put it into our own. I'm not talking about his fantastic style! I'm talking about reuse, repaint, reinterpret, revive, redeploy, or simply relish the things you have. As Ms Ilse Crawford says, "The idea that we can dispose of things easily weakens our links with the stuff we own. We need to commit to the objects that are partners in life - our tools and our treasures". Let 2010 be about revamping, reupholstering, rejiging. If you do offload, find a way to recycle or redistribute. Someone will love what you have tired of.

The Iconic House

For any lover of modern architecture this new book by Thames & Hudson The Iconic House is a must have.  

The Iconic House is an essential book on modern architecture featuring one hundred of the most significant houses of the past hundred years.  The images in the book are delicious and it's so nice to see updated pictures of buildings that haven't been shot for such a long time. Photographer, Richard Powers (Richard has a few shoots on the blog) and author Dominic Bradbury have been travelling the world for the last couple of years gaining access into buildings where most can't. For example I have been trying to get into The Eames house forever and Eames Demetrios has always had some excuse. Well guess what? It's in this book all shot by Richard. I'm so excited about this read.

GUSH GUSH Falling Waters is why I fell in love with architecture and design. This is a home so ahead of it's time.  Frank was connecting with nature and telling the world before the 40's the importance to do so. From the first stirrings of modernity in the early twentieth century to the present, the house we call home has served as a test bed of design experimentation, the place where architects have sought to create new forms and to offer new domestic lifestyles. Alvar Aalto, Buckminster Fuller, Rudolph Schindler, Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry, Eileen Gray, Charles and Ray Eames, Charles Gwathmey, Carlo Scarpa, Herzog & de Meuron: most great architects of the past hundred years have begun or catalyzed their careers with an iconic house.

Concise architect biographies and a list of key buildings accompany each house, while photographs and easy-to-read plans bring the words to life.

I want to live here in a sculptured house like this... How could you NOT do great things in life when you have an inspirational building oozing brilliance.

The glass house is another favourite home of mine. Perhaps some feel they are fish in a glass bowl when inside but for me the concept of blurring the outdoors with the inside begun here. 

Now I know I wouldn't normally tell you what to buy but this bit of reading needs to belong on your bookshelf. You should click here to own one.