Store bits and pieces

Here are some images of our new pieces in store.You can't see because of the reflection but I have got the most gorgeous chinese book ends in! They are sooo pretty. Love all the white temple jars in different texture, and my Joe Vinks table is perfect!

Here they are!! My new favourites!!
 

Sit back and relax on our gorgeous Pimms Chair with our stunning Gia Chandelier.

Going Green.

Simple Vignette. Loving my birds in store at the moment.

Our new chair and all our new pieces with lots of textures and natural elements. Great colours for Autumn.

 This looks much brighter in real life. The black and yellow look stunning together.

Style Icon Elizabeth Taylor

Very sad news today that one of Hollywood's greatest stars and legends has passed away. Elizabeth Taylor was a humanitarian, style icon, true movie star and had an insatiable passion for life. She could give the new generation of "stars" lesson's on how to do with in style!! Even when she was brawling with Richard Burton she did it with class. 

 One of my favourite movies Tennessee Williams Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Paul Newman...."Mendacity"

I have long searched for a peignoir that looks like this because of how gorgeous she looked in. Oh and Paul Newman wasn't too hard on the eyes either!!

The love of her life Richard Burton.

R.I.P Elizabeth Taylor

My Son Harry

My heart is breaking for my son Harry and for me and we had such a terrible time yesterday.  Harry has mild autism. It is mild but significant enough for people to notice he's somewhat "quirky".
Harry of course has been blissfully oblivious to any problem and has floated through life in a Fae fairy sort of way, while mummy has watched and hovered for 8 years wringing her hands and exhausting all avenues in any attempt to help my son.

Yesterday my lovely big boy asked me the questions I have been dreading since he was 2. He is 8 now and is getting more aware of his peers. .So we were snuggling on the couch when he asked me quietly "What's wrong with me mum? Why don't I get invited to birthday parties? Why don't I have friends? Crack!!! That was the sound of my heart breaking !!  In the past I never thought about telling him...It was always my problem and his dad's never something to burden him with, he doesn't grasp things like that anyway. But what if it made a difference? I thought. What if making him aware of his issues (being old enough now) he might be a little more self regulating and try and curb some of his not so socially acceptable nu isms.OK I thought I would give it a shot

I asked him lots of questions about his thoughts and why HE thought he was different eventually I told him quietly and slowly that he had ASD and of course he didn't understand, so we watched some tapes some parents of other little boys had posted on YouTube (yes everything goes on You Tube!!) that also had high functioning Autism. The little boys were just like him....Imaginative, serious, earnest, complex, bloody hard to have a conversation with and struggling to fit themselves into a world that isn't too comfortable for them. 

He DID NOT LIKE IT ONE BIT and got upset. Ran off screaming and slammed the door. I guess if I was him I would do the same.

It's not fair to put labels on kids....but sometimes you have to...the schools want the labels, the government want the labels and as parents you need the labels to get the support your child desperately needs, so you can access the Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Child Psychologist and extra Tutoring and Special Education Teachers. You have to label your child. But I didn't want Harry to think I labelled him. I just wanted him to understand that there was a reason for his uniqueness and that there were lots of little kids like him. Maybe I did it the wrong way? Maybe too early I don't know...All I know now is I feel like I've spoilt something for him. Ruined some serenity he had. So now I am sitting in the shop and am supposed to be writing about new furniture but can't as I'm feel too heavily burdened with mother guilt. Perhaps that is why I am blogging about this..... usually I don't talk about it let alone write about it on such a far reaching platform ...and probably many people that know me will be very surprised. It's not that I'm ashamed or embarrassed as there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. It's just so personal and painful and close to me that it does not occur to me (usually) to discuss it.  

There are many different areas in Harry's life that are challenging for him and therefore also for me, but I have (as mummy's do) hitched up my belt taken big breaths and just forged ahead.  But the thing is sometimes mummy's fall down, they need back up and support from people that have been where they are and can say "hang in there." I want to know How to get the parents at school to invite the Harry to parties? How to get the kids to understand when Harry has a meltdown that it's not his fault...that he just can't cope with all the stress and anxiety that he has to calm himself by hiding under bean bags!??!

 I KNOW he is loving, caring, happy and a beautiful boy but how can I shadow him everyday and say to people "look how marvelous my son is!! and you would know that too If you would only take time to find out!!" Talk about Helicopter parenting !!!!

Anyway if anyone has any words of wisdom for me or advise It would be greatly appreciated. Because Harry's teacher just called me to say she wants an interview and the nanny just quit after 2 days (this is my 5th in a year) and mummy has fallen down again!!

Harry

Us

Bring on Winter

I am a winter girl and just love bundling up in big coats and boots. Somehow it is much easier to look elegant and stylish when there isn't sweat dripping down your face.
Even though we are a season behind the rest of the world (and don't have that much of a winter to speak of) we still embrace it as much as someone south of the equator can!! With that in mind I came across these stunning images by photographer Jaques Dequeker he does the MOST amazing photographs.
So here are some absolutely to die for fashion to put us in the mood!!!

Love this one absolutely gorgeous!!

 My favourite
 This is such a fantastic image love it!!

I must say these images put my snow outfits to shame!
Melinda x

Sig Bergamin

I was knocked sideways when I saw Sig Bergamin's work on Stuart Membery's blog and then Anna from Anna Spiro featured it as well. I am seriously in love!!! All of it embodies what I love most in an interior space. Clean Canvas of white with stunning architectural features of Soaring Raked ceilings and  heaps of natural light streaming in, eclectic mix of interesting pieces (seemingly) gathered from all corners of the world, layers upon layer of textures and prints that just sing in glorious jewel colours and last but not least a gorgeous injection of natural elements:- Jute, cane, wood and palm trees, my ever present friend.


love the beaded chair and the ottomans....well love it all really!!

What is not to love. This is exactly the direction Lily G is heading!!! More authentic and relaxed, more of a  global look to reflect a global ethic. Have a happy weekend!!     

His apartment in NYC again gorgeous!!

Tribal inspirations

We just received all our beautiful beaded Tiffin boxes and cuffs from Ruby Star and are totally besotted.
The workmanship and detail is gorgeous.
We are injecting a wee bit of Tribal/Moroccan influence into the store and all my customers are sooo excited. We can't keep up with the demand. It is an aesthetic that quickly infuses an exotic and eclectic touch to your home without changing everything.    


Gorgeous Cuffs with Turquoise have just arrived.

Our Fabulous new boxes all beaded with shells.

 Speaking of gorgeous i found this on my new favourite Blog American Gypsy Living These divine pieces are very similar to chairs that we are able to source. They are the simply stunning and revered Bokja design and I am in love.

Love the deer in the room and all the pinks

Again my favourite at the moment pink and turquoise

 Beautiful pouffes coming in any day!!

Kathy Irelands bedroom is stunning

 Another Bokja piece which is beyond divine!!!

 Love this beaded Turquoise Chandelier

Want to be sitting here and look at that stunning Apothecary Urn in BLUE!!!!

Happy Home

We were thrilled to see our work in last months Woman's Weekly with the Gorgeous Nicole Kidman on the cover.  So it was with surprise and delight that this month's Woman's Weekly featured our friend Sharnels stunning home.  We are very fortunate to be in Brisbane surrounded by so many talented and generous women. The super talented and amazing Anna Spiro decorated Sharnel's house and I can tell you from first hand experience it looks even better in real life!!!  I met Anna for the first time the other week and she was engaging and lovely and very down to earth for someone that has had sooo much success.
Sharnel is a gorgeous lady with the most stunning home (and amazing party styling business) and we were delighted to see products that Sharnel had purchased from Lily G featured in the shoot, our Bungalow cushions, Pimm's chair, Christopher Farr cushions and of course The beautiful summery  Verandah House Bangalow furniture all looked stunning.  We have Verandah House's furniture pride of place in our front window and the response has been wonderful!  As a retailer I try and support local talented people (especially women) and will be (in the up coming weeks)  showcasing Verandah House amongst others in a "spotlight" feature in my blog.

I must say it makes me so happy to see houses in print again that have a bit of warmth and life to them. I for one am tired of seeing in our "major magazines" minimalistic flat packed homes with no heart or soul to them. A home should be multi layered and have depth like the people that live in them, not mono dimensional show places that have no personal imprint.  I know at Lily G both Natalee and I,  not only as Interior Designers, Decorator's and Stylists but also as consumers and avid magazine purchasers both   gravitate towards warmth, natural fibres and lovely light in a home. The cozy spaces that look lived in and loved, not slick and sanitary rooms which wouldn't be out of place in a science lab. Maybe a few of the big interior magazine's in Australia are overlooking one massive part of their demographic and are just focusing on couples without the burden of kids and all their encumbrances?!?! Just Saying.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. I'm off to my lovely friends place for a BBQ and a swim date with our son's.
Melinda x
ps remember our huge car park sale Saturday 5th March. You may well be able to pick yourself up a Pimm's chair at a lovely price.

Sharnel has our lovely Pimm's chair out on her back deck (the cushion is in Christopher Farr Fabric and is Divine!!!)  Just perfect for lazing with a book while watching the kids play in the pool.  This chair is full Rattan and sooo gorgeous with removable foot stool. So Raffles!!

Gorgeous Bungalow cushions all colours and styles available at Lily G as well as The Bangalow Furntiure which we have in white as well.

Here is our Bangolow chair which we have covered in this amazing outdoor fabric. We have sourced the most amazing outdoor fabrics which are leaps and bounds beyond the old canvas stripes that were available in the past.  Love the Trellis fabric contrast.

Top two photo's from Simon Kenny at Content Agency, 3rd photo from Me at Lily G!!

Vanilla Salon

As I wrote the other day, we have just completed a great job in The James St Precinct. Vanilla Salon is owned and run by Phil and Rodney and they are a hilarious couple with an amazing sense of style and flair.
The brief for the job was a total refit to give the salon a new and exciting look. I can tell you it was looking a little down at the heel and needed some TLC.  Phil and Rodney had a clear view of what they wanted....think Tom Ford Glamour, think gorgeous lighting, think divine accessories, think......Pink Chairs!??!!  The salon was equipped with Pink Chairs and it was too a big a cost to replace them so we had to work them into the project.  The boys also were very strict on budget so it was going to take a lot of initiative and inventiveness on our part.
Natalee was probably 2 weeks into the job working out tiles, paint colour etc when we got a call from Phil saying that it had to be finished in 1 week as Vogue Magazine were going to feature the salon in the magazine!!!

To say the stress levels were at maximum is an understatement!! We had carpenters, painters and tilers all there as quickly as possible and what was going to be a slow and steady job became the fastest turn around Lily G has ever done!! Seriously if it had been a TV show it would have been hysterical....How to flip that Salon sounds good!! Anyway it is all done and The Vogue shoot went brilliantly. Natalee worked her butt off and now we will just wait for The Vogue Magazine to come out so we can see it in print as we sip champagne while getting our hair done at Vanilla Salon!


BEFORE!!!

Big silver and Charcoal stripes had to go

Mismatched papers and no continuity

Storage space needed

Dark carpet and decor making everything oppressive

This was the overall feel of the salon; Dark, Cramped and dated decor

VOILA!!!!! New, Clean, Bright, Glamorous and fresh!!!!

We had beautiful panelling put on the walls to give the space character and mini acorn chandeliers were used alternating with modern globes.