Mister B's Profile

I would be so not interested in a blog that is all about "affordable" ie cheap furniture and accessories. Yuck!! Please don't cater just to the lowest common denominator. AT!! Just because some people can't afford an item does not mean it shouldn't be showcased. What's with the sense of entitlement with some people who feel it should only be on a blog if it's in their price range? Some people may be able to afford that same item, you know. Some people may never be able to afford it and so enjoy living vicariously via blogs. Holly Golightly couldn't afford to shop at Tiffany buy she could afford a coffee and croissant and to stand and enjoy the window displays. Same thing appplies here.

Design is about form and function, not about cheap. Some inexpensive pieces can be functional and beautiful, some ridiculously expensive name brand pieces can be hideously ugly too. A room full of very expensive furniture can be ugly, a room full of cheap "disposable" furniture most probably will be ugly. My favourite home tours on this blog are ones in which high end and low end pieces are mixed up in unexpected ways.

My personal preference is to buy fewer and better quality items. Locally made sofa using sustainably sourced timber (also gorgeous to look at and super comfy to lounge on) and ditto my dining table. Yes, they were more expensive than some options but they are excellent value for the quality, design, beauty and ethics of the furniture. As for living with them for the rest of my life, that is fine, I know my style and am not swayed by trends in furniture. Sure there is also room for second hand (old and obviously homemade) bookshelves and cute second hand vases from garage sales. Homesewn cushion covers and hand me down pieces from grandma, got those too!

Buy less, buy better. I agree it's important to be aware of the difference between "inexpensive" & "cheap" and the difference between "expensive" &"quality". Ultimately, those terms are not mutually exclusive, and the canny decorator knows this.

That mirror is too fabulous. Love it. Have to admit I laughed so hard at the Therapist's (sic) advice to pursue nothing but one's own happiness as nought else matters! Way to mess with a client's head and keep them coming back for more therapy . . . . . .

On the whole the contrast of the old with the new works but the combination of the Panton S chair with that desk just looks risible to me.

It's all very well to concern ourselves with what amenities there are and how we decorate, but no-one wants to be embarrased leaving the bathroom in a smelly state either! What about providing - in an easy to see position - the Aesop post-poo drops http://www.aesop.com/au/packs-and-gifts/home/post-poo-drops.html to leave the room smelling fresh afterwards. These or a natural room spray are the thinking hosts ally. (Actually, any bathroom products from Aesop are such an everyday luxury. They're from Australia like me!)

Hand towels on/by the sink are de rigueur too, I always leave a fresh one when guest are coming, but just casually in slight disarray to show it is ok to use it, the towel isn't there to look all perfect and untouchable.

This is so over the top I'm loving it and laughing at it at the same time. So "masculine" it's absolutely oozing camp. Ride em cowboy!

What about the amazing wallpaper looking so fantastic in the hallway - am I the only one who looked at that rather than the baby? Where is it from? The wallpaper I mean of course, not the baby.

Ugh the old upholstery was revolting! The new glossy black looks great. The new cushion fabric ties the black finish in with the new upholstery, but I wonder if the chairs would look as good without the cushions? I think the chairs would have looked really spectacular upholstered in the current cushion fabric and accented with a block colour picked up from the print.

With a cool dozen spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors in your posting, I sure wonder if you write the messages for the cards too! I also work for a florist in Australia, not one of the faceless giants, but a boutique establishment. We take care to present a beautifully handwritten card along with the flowers and we always strive for complete accuracy.

This highlights another point to consider when ordering flowers. If there are any unusual spellings or optional spellings, help your florist by letting them know - Vicky, Vikki, Vicki, or Vickie? Sound-alike words too, Nic or Mick? Jess or Jeff? If you're pedantic you can avoid seeing the all too common your/you're error by wording your message "you are so special".

I would also suggest to buy local when possible, not only do your flowers have less "flower miles", they are less likely to be contaminated with the incredibly toxic and quite possibly carcinogenic pesticides, insecticides and fungicides that make the exploited workers of Columbia so at risk of illness. http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/flowerbusiness/floralindustry/how-safe-are-our-flowers

Your locally grown flowers will also support local business and as they have been grown in the area, they will be fresher too! Smaller growers can also offer boutique florists more unusual specimens if you're looking for alternatives to the standard red rose option.

Are there really that few people who buy just what they need and no more? Surely not! And a collection of books is not clutter, it is called a library.

It's the practical things that also look good. The old duralex tumbler filled with fresh dill or basil in the kitchen, the interesting cloisonne jar found at a garage sale and now used as pen storage, the celadon plate piled with delicious summer peaches, candleholders that contain candles which actually get burnt! When objects of beauty serve a purpose other than just the decorative, that's what I feel is homey and add signs of life.