One of my favourite places in the whole world...

Well I'm back from my short break with my mum and the kids on Sydney's central coast. I feel so blessed to have this wonderful home in my family for us to share and enjoy. My parents and grandparents built this home almost 30 years ago and my grandparents lived there for 25yrs till their passing. Now it's used as a holiday house by my extended family.


My Pa was a "jack of all trades" and he made the tumbling water feature and planted the garden. Beautiful agapanthus and daisy's bloom in the spring. The plaque reads "grandpa's garden".

He also built all the timber work for the house including the pillars and crisscrossed balcony.


The interiors are very basic but comfortable and most of it is still as it was while my GP's resided.

^^This is bedroom 3

^^This is bedroom 4 or the nursery.

Sophie sitting on the bank of the lake sketching a duck.

This is the back of the house at sunset.

Sunset over the lake.

I HAD to mention, during our time away we got the chance to see Mamma Mia. It was BRILLIANT! I couldn't help dancing and singing in my chair like the dork I am lol. If you haven't seen it yet GO NOW! lol ;)

^^ My favourite scene

I ADORED the bohemian interiors of Villa Donna hehe. I have decided I am completely obsessed with aqua walls and shutters and they featured in abundance in this movie.

^^ Colin Firth = YUM! ;)

Another day was spent at the beach only 2mins away. The temperature was only around 20 degrees celcius but the sky was crystal clear, the sun was shining, the sand was clean and soft and the water was sparkling blue. I was wearing yoga pants and a hoody but the kids headed straight for the water - crazy kids!

^^The fortress

^^Emu Sophie

They insisted the water was warm, I wasn't convinced lol.

^^Aussie boy Will :)

For other posts and pics of my holiday home click here

http://villaanna.blogspot.com/2008/01/good-times.html

http://villaanna.blogspot.com/2008/01/lake-house.html

Anyways I'm happy to be back on deck and catch up on all my favourite blogs. I've missed you!

Time for a little R&R...

(painting by Jane Scott at Artscapes)

I just wanted to mention I'm heading up the coast with the family to our holiday home on the lake for a week. We are heading into the second week of the kids winter school break and although it's not the time of year to go swimming I still have plenty off activities planned including fishing, bike riding, kite flying and I'm busting to take my mum and daughter to see the movie 'Mamma Mia' :)

Of course it wont be all fun and games, I have plenty of assignments to work on but fortunately I enjoy them immensely.

Take care blogging pals and see you soon.

Anna xox

Ooh I have found an Aussie beauty...

Often I love to browse through the Aussie realestate site not necessarily looking to buy a new home but to sticky beek into other peoples homes - especially ones that I can't afford lol.

So many times I search and search and feel myself repeating "contemporary, contemporary, contemporary", but one area of my state of NSW never fails me with finding the traditional home I dream about. You've often heard me talk about the area of The Southern Highlands aka The Wingecarribbee Region. Founded 150 years ago by John Oxley a famous explorer of the early colony was granted 2400 acres from the Governor for his services.

This region is about 640 metres above sea level and is one of the last remaining traditional English areas of NSW with it's cottages and manors, an abundance of stone churches and beautiful English established gardens.

Living here you would have the best of both worlds. Only 1 1/2 hours from Sydney centre you have the convenience of jumping on the freeway or the train for a day on the harbour or you are far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the hectic city and can enjoy clean country air and perhaps even spot a star in the night sky - or a billion :)

ALOT of wealthy Sydney siders have their weekenders around this area but I'd personally love to live the Wingecarribbee lifestyle all year round.


This stunning home in Burradoo is a classic example of what I would buy or build if "serious coin" ever comes my way lol.

The listing states - “Chartwell” is a large and glamorous 3 / 4 bedroom character home, superbly renovated and designed in a casual ‘Ralph Lauren’ style, and sited on a generous 6,739m²• Within these grounds there is also a substantial 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom brick and tile guest house, every bit as chic as the main residence!• Tranquil established gardens and sweeping lawns in blue ribbon position opposite a golf course. Room for court & pool.• Perfect set up for extended families or a great weekender.• Genuine vendors offering these two stunning houses complete with designer furnishings if required.


An enchanting courtyard complete with pergola, climbing roses or bougainvillaea, terracotta pots and french doors is ever so important.

Look at that gorgeous oversized stone fireplace!

A stunning open plan kitchen/dining with plenty of natural surfaces such as stone counter tops, floorboards and exposed timber beams.

Another comfortable and spacious living area off the kitchen with another fireplace. It's gets extremely cold there hence the need for adequate heating.

LOVE the aqua painted door frames!

A beautiful spacious and neutral bedroom.

Perhaps the doorway into the guest quarters? I love the entry to a courtyard at the opposite end.

Another beautiful living area with another beautiful stone fireplace. Perhaps again in the guest quarters.

Dreamy arched french doors leading into another meals area.

And yet another living space/tv or kids playroom off the meals area.

I LOVE this boys room with the sweet wooden soldier and boat ornaments on the sidetable. My son has this exact bedding on his bed minus the dragonfly pillowcases.

Mastersuite with soaring ceilings!

And check out this - too die for - parents retreat/conservtory.

Incredible sprawling established gardens.

So what do you think? Do you love it as much as me? This home should be photographed for a magazine. I'd love to know who the designer was or if the owners built and decorated themselves.

More Aqua Love...

Lately I've been posting images depicting my love for aqua and duck egg. As most of you must well and truly know by now those hues of blue are my favourite colours in the WORLD!. Well after a few days away you can imagine my shock and surprise when I saw this heart stopping post on Joni's Cote de Texas blog about this - TOO DIE FOR - beach residence designed by the INCREDIBLY talented Babs Watkins. Yet another designer I hadn't discovered till now and am ever so grateful to Joni for introducing me to her work and this awe inspiring home.

I've seen so many amazing homes that have literally had me sighing out loud but as dramatic as this sounds I felt my heart skipping beats when I saw this one. I have only imagined a home with so many of my favourite elements all come together.

Those pastel blues throughout (especially on the floorboards!! Genius!!). Neutral textures such as stone and seagrass. Tufted furniture!! Painted french antiques. Iron beds! The beauty is endless.

Joni just keeps outdoing herself with these breathtaking posts time and time again. I curtsey to the queen of beautiful inspiration :)

To see many many more dreamy pics and detailed commentary of this home please please click here and ENJOY!!

Also loving this...

(country living)

Here is yet another dreamy picture I found on Dreamhouse during my daily inspiration browse around Blogland :)

Neutrals like oatmeal and brown with blues such as aqua and duck egg - ahhh the perfect marriage. Oh and lets not forget that ever important touch of pink ;)

A perfect party...

(photo by Christina Schmidhofer)

This heavenly image brought to you courtesy of Desire To Inspire is my perfect party setting right there.

My dream wedding reception would take place in a setting identical to this. Of course I would have a more pastel colour scheme and perhaps a few lily pads and floating candles in the pool for the evening. A table with the cake could feature at the other end of the pool.

*sighs* I could seriously get lost in this pic for days ;)

Loving this...

(liolik in France)

Just surfing around google and I found this beautiful image on a foreign blog. I posted a pic similar to this a few weeks back. I am so drawn to shutters painted in this light aqua colour. I love that the iron furniture is painted the same colour to match....lovely!

click image to enlarge.