This post is for a lovely blogger friend Mary. She lives 1,000's of miles from me and we've never met ... but we talk... well... email really. We assure each other to respond whenever... knowing full well life can get in the way... but somehow the exchange continues! It was she who pointed out to me I'd created a title in my email to her today where I started with the comment that I was swallowed up in the land of getting-my-house-in-order ...which I decided was the perfect title for this post! So thank Mary for picking up on the threads that matter frequently in our exchanges!
So much grace and friendship can be found across the miles...it often surprises me. I heard all those awful tales about internet connections for years so was very slow to get round to blogging! We all know things can and do go awry online... but I treasure the exchanges that have grown... the conviviality, the soulful depth, the playfulness, the poignant thoughts. Coming across wonderful people ... people I wish were round the corner or at least in the same country... is a tonic.
So about this getting my house in order... I mentioned painting a room the other day ... for my mother as a surprise. I was asked what colour I chose. Well ... its an old favourite of mine called 'donkey grey' from Porters Paints!
This is NOT my reno job below . I shall have to take photos this weekend... and dont expect anything like this photo shoot for Design Sponge featuring clever Melbournian Lyn Gardiner's cottage in the country. I googled donkey grey and her interior came up!
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| Lyn gardiner's cottage |
You might like to pop over to the website of this creative woman to see just what she gets up to!
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| the store at Albert Park in Melbourne |
Macaroon
Marjorie Duck in Natural
Mavis Monkey in Natural
Silk Road
Fredrick Elephant in Natural
Haloumi
Pumice
Bellbottoms
Mist
Rubble
Boardwalk in Coral Stone
Turtle Dove
Donkey Grey
Stoney in Stone
Marble
Taj Mahal
Icelandic Stone
Flax
Abstract in Concrete
Beechwood
Pebble Cream
Spotcheck in Tangerine Grey
Doe's Skin
Abstract in Straw
Fleece
Looking for Water in Shadow
Scratchy in Buff
Nullabor
Bowral Stone
Calico
Country Road
Himalaya
Elegance
Braidwood
Marigold in Neutral
Scratchy in Fog
Camel
Herd
Sandstone
Banksia in Gold
String
Stoney in Clay
Dusty Mule
Dandelion in Eclipse Grey
Manuka
Sphinx
Sable
Passionflower in Chintz Grey
Putty
Grey Pepper
Lyre Bird in Grey Green
Phantom
Husk
Pilbara
Pale Clay
Navarone
Teepee
Potter's Clay
Rosso
Fired Earth
Yulara
Milk Chocolate
Ziddi in Smoke
Ziddi in Stainless Steel
Drumbeat
Banksia in Silver
Mandalay
Winter in Silver and Black
Chai
Caesar
Old Stone Wall
Shell Grey
Blue Concrete
Swiss Brown
Banksia in Pewter
Pod
Camouflage in Soft Grey
Feline
Brazil Nut
Aubusson
Rawhide
Mudlark
Nut Brown
Wet Cement
Dragonfly in Grey Green
White Rhino
Bullrush
Silt
Shale
Malt
Dandelion in Cocoa
Hot Springs
Banksia in Charcoal
Furnace
Marigold in Ash Grey
Grigio
Passionflower in French Grey
Lead
Mineral
Praline
Rococco
Toy Soldier
Oxblood
Brown Ash
Stripes in Putty
Burrow
Turkish Coffee
Pheasant in Deep Chocolate
Peat
Well... Donkey grey is going to look very different from that example because 20 years ago I painted a blue on the walls and even though I did 2 coats of paint this time round I didn't undercoat in white first... I guess I trusted that I would like the colour I ended up with. Luckily I do.
I used to have donkey grey in my living room at my previous home ... so donkey grey and me go way back! Can I find a photo of that... let's see.
Oh yes... here's an early one below... about 2003. I was forever changing this room and the furniture. I wish I'd documented all that... when I think of it now I was quite bold and experimental. Being a proud home owner for the first time then I was very keen on playing with the spaces.
How times change!
This next one is after I had completely changed everything in the room except the paint... donkey grey never faded from popularity ... I was a big fan and loved how the colour shifted throughout the day! The door is into the studio so everything that was going on in the studio would get to live in the lounge room at some point. I loved that chance to live with the paintings over time. There were a few spots that made for great viewing from the sofa... and the chance to get into quiet reveries and gaze absent-mindedly on a work was most helpful to determine if it felt resolved ... how it worked etc.
I got to love this colour as opposed to white as a background.
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| looking into the studio |
well... its late... time to go. I shall get the camera out and try and capture a decent shot ...interiors are not my forte though. I've pulled my studio and bedroom apart in the last 24 hours... decided I was far too cramped so made some radical changes. My desire to paint has since rapidly increased. I suspected the room was not helping... I am astonished how much energy I've unleashed by getting serious about change as opposed to moaning about lack of space. My desk top computer is now in my bedroom at the bay window overlooking the back lawn and trees. There are 4 windows to gaze out of ...and tonight I've put together three blog posts. Its a lovely place to sit and ponder and write.
I fitted in a swim twice today and at 5pm made a quick trip to Ikea and picked up come specials. Its a place I tend to avoid except when I get in these radical moods of creating order. I don't purchase much but I sure like the brain exercise of imagining if I would like to go Swedish in my living spaces. Walking around that big store I start thinking how I can use what I have at home better... and for a small desk light with LED lighting ... yes! I found a goodie!
Well ... I do hope all your projects are going well... I'll back soon!
Sophie x
