Surf's up

Aloha from Hawaii! You may have noticed on Instagram that one half of this blogging duo is currently soaking up the sun on the north shore of Oahu. Here on the island, sipping from coconuts and basking under palm trees only begins each day after a somewhat gruelling but oh-so satisfying surfing lesson. Catching the waves (sorry, that's attempting to catch the waves) and living the surfer girl lifestyle got us thinking about how we'd incorporate surfboards into our own apartments - hey,
a girl can dream. And it turns out, there are some seriously stylish options. Displayed with flair, a board is your ride to a chilled yet chic space.

Image via Zoom Interiors

 Image via lifestylebohemia.blogspot.com

Image via Zoom Interiors

Image via Domaine Home

Image via sanakeefer.com

Not much of a surfer? Insignificant detail. Boards can function as so much more than just surfing apparatus. Like gates...

Image via FMB Photo/Getty Images

Or a kitchen bench...

Image via thedavyjoneslocker.net

And artwork...

Image via Serena & Lily

{shop the look}

These surfboards are a collaboration between Australian stylist Sibella Court and iconic
surf brand McTavish. They feature gorgeous graphics by local designers including
Shibori and Bethany Linz - shop them here.

One of our fashion favourites Alexander Wang recently teamed up with Aussie board
brand Haydenshapes to create these uber luxe marble-look boards. Find similar here.

A monochrome Chanel board. Enough said.

Friday find: Kip & Co

We don't know about you, but for us, the prospect of warmer days ahead brings an insatiable urge to shed our beds of heavy winter linens. So while it's only been a few months since we featured Kip & Co's last range of bedding, it seems only fitting to share their breezy new-season offering. Aptly titled One Fine Day, the collection speaks of sun-kissed summer mornings and balmy evenings, of lazy lie-ins and sweet daydreams, all the while enveloped in floaty layers of silk, soft chambray and good-enough-to-eat lolly hues. Scroll down and swoon.

'Daisy Chain' bed throw, $329.

'Bloomin Day' quilted bedspread, $279.

'Freckles' quilt cover, from $209.

'Silk Road' bed throw, $389.

Mister Zimi 'Diego/Sundancer' quilt cover, from $189.

Gorgeous mix-and-match prints and layers of loveliness aside, with a bed that looks this good, you may never want to leave it - don't say we didn't warn you. Shop the full collection online here, and keep up to date with the brand's whimsical and wonderful style @kipandco on Instagram.

Climb the ladder

Too many clothes, not enough wardrobe? Sure, it's a #firstworldproblem of the highest order, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't fix it - especially when there's a simple and stylish solution. In a compact bedroom you probably don't have room for a bulky chest of drawers, so our suggestion is this: simply prop a ladder up against the wall to support your wardrobe overflow. Equal parts functional and fabulous, a slimline metal or timber ladder lets you display the next day's outfit, keep bags, belts and necklaces in easy reach or simply show off your favourite threads.

 Our ladder-turned-open-wardrobe system.

The ladder is a decorating tool tailored for small spaces. We love the look in a bathroom to stow away towels, in the kitchen for pots, pans and tea towels (as per the below) or even in a living room as a contemporary alternative to the old-fashioned hat stand. Throw over your market bags, a hanging pot plant or two and a string of fairy lights to complete the look.

Image via curbly.

Image via Nathalie Aluf.

 Image via blog.jelanieshop.com.

Image via stylizimo.

Image via design sponge.

Bamboo ladders, $55 each, Eco Chic.

Shop the look with these rustic bamboo ladders from Eco Chic, available in black, white and natural.

Friday find: Ahoy Trader

When we were younger, the best parties involved experimenting with white substances, too much to drink and lashings of glitter. Before you get any ideas, let us clarify - it was the year 1995, the drinks were fizzy and the substance? Plaster of Paris. And the location? You guessed it - only the most exciting birthday destination ever, the Plaster Funhouse.

These extraordinary plaster crosses by acclaimed Byron Bay artist Jai Vasicek take us right back to parties spent painstakingly decorating plaster castles, butterflies and bunnies. Only Jai's creations are the kind people pay real money for - thoughtfully layered with paint, pattern and paper, embellished with shells and feathers and emblazoned with sea motifs, religious iconography and look-at-me prints, they're exotic, eclectic and completely one of a kind. Unsurprisingly, the same can't be said for our childhood collection of plaster unicorns splattered with paint and the odd splash of Fanta.

Jai's crosses, which come in three sizes, have become a must-have decorating item for stylists, art aficionados and anyone interested in brightening up a bare wall with something a little unusual. Here, they inject a vibrant dose of tribal-inspired texture and pattern into Hunt & Bow founder Alana Langan's incredible home, featured in Glitter Guide. Photos above by Annette O'Brien.

'Spot 2' medium cross, $150.

 'Pink Tribe 1' medium cross, $150.

 'Zebra' medium cross, $150.

Mini cross, $65.

Shop the crosses, as well as portholes, bunting flags and tiles, at the artist's store, Ahoy Trader. And lucky you - it looks like if you enter the code 'AHOYMATE' at checkout you'll get free shipping to celebrate the recent launch of their online store (limited time only). You can thank us later.

PS. We highly recommend checking out Jai Vasicek's instagram too: @jaivasicek.

Shop profile: Mr & Mrs Smith

It's known for its breathtaking stretch of sand, beachside bars and green smoothie toting locals, but Manly is quickly becoming something of a mecca for the homewares-hungry, too. Take Mr & Mrs Smith - tucked away in Rialto Square, just a block back from the beach (and three minutes from Ben & Jerry's, in case you're wondering), it's an Aladdin's cave of earthly delights, from men and women's fashion to furniture, textiles and trinkets.

Not your usual beachside homewares haunt, the vibe at Mr & Mrs Smith is edgy and bohemian - ornately carved timber-framed mirrors are casually propped up against inky charcoal walls, cowhides line the polished concrete floor and rustic pieces of furniture show off the latest cushion collections from a mix of international and local designers. And rest assured - racks of Scotch & Soda, Willow, Zimmermann and By Malene Birger, among others, will satisfy any clothing cravings. 

Some of our fave local designers can be found here, from Bonnie & Neil's colour-rich cushions to floral-print ceramics by Samantha Robinson. We also unearthed our top Parisian pick - whimsical designs by La Cerise Sur Le Gateau. 

La Cerise Sur Le Gateau cushion.

Samantha Robinson ceramics.

Bonnie & Neil floor cushion.

Find Mr & Mrs Smith at Shop 5, Rialto Square, 11-27 Wentworth St, Manly, NSW. You can stay up-to-date with sales and new products via their instagram @mrandmrssmithmanly.

Friday find: Design Twins

Have you ever stared wistfully at a Cara Delevingne lookalike clad in leather and biker boots, and wished that you could be a little more, um, rock chick? Well we have the answer, and it starts in your apartment. The Design Twins are an up-and-coming creative duo serving up homewares with a decidedly tough luxe look. Think raw concrete cups, plant pots dripping in copper and gold, and jewel-encrusted sculls - just what you need to bag yourself some edge.

Yes, concrete is everywhere at the moment. But handcrafted

and high shine, this unique collection certainly won't weigh you down.

'Nugget' frosted pots, $79 each.

'Shorty' round pots, $39.95 each.

'Harden Up' concrete cups, $19.95 each.

Topping our lust list are the brand's beautiful new marble-topped, gold-dipped
stools, also available with a gold top and black-dipped legs. Rock on.

Marble stools, $199 each.

All images via designtwins.com and @designtwins on Instagram.

Star quality

We've always loved dissecting red carpet fashion - the hits and the misses, the bland, the bold and the impossibly beautiful (Diane Kruger, we're looking at you). Recently, we've become equally enthralled by celebrity homes. A peek inside not only offers insight into the star's life and style, but inspires dreams of what you could do with your own place on a billion dollar budget. As such, this week we're showcasing spaces of the rich and famous* and revealing how to bring a touch of Hollywood into your home.
*Don't expect to see any ostentatious Kardashian glitz or or mega mansions here. We've picked chic, achievable interiors, with style ideas that will translate to teeny inner-city apartments.

1. Star: Jessica Alba (actress and founder of green living brand The Honest Company)
The home: Double-storey abode in Beverly Hills
The look: Mid-century modern meets earthy oasis

Star rating: A breath of fresh air. We give Jessica snaps for the mix of natural materials, vibrant textiles and abundant greenery. Can't you just picture her lounging on the deck in a flowing maxi, kale smoothie in hand?

Steal her style: Opt for rough-hewn textures like sisal and worn timber, and incorporate colour and pattern via soft furnishings.

Printed cushion in Red, Bohemian Living.

 'Oromaya' lamp, Arteriors.

'Kilon' natural side table, Citta Design.

                             

2. Star: Whitney Port (reality show alumni of The Hills and The City, and now umm......)

The home: Multi-level loft in Venice, California

The look: Bohemian chic

Star rating: Those of you who watched The Hills (don't be shy now) will remember Whitney's fashion sense was a little eclectic. Her interiors are equally creative and colour-drenched, with an impressive collection of artwork adding personality aplenty.

Steal her style: Forget about trying to make everything match - work pastels, brights and neutrals in equal parts, and swathe your walls in prints and paintings that speak to you.

Grand Drum side table in Yellow, Matt Blatt.

Linum linen table runner in Navy, French Dressing.

John Vogel chair, West Elm.

3. Star: Lea Michele (aka Rachel Berry of musical comedy Glee)

The home: Bungalow in West Hollywood

The look: Easy old-world elegance 

Star rating: Ok, so Lea Michele's performance on Glee may be a little divisive (superstar vs shut her up), but her home is a hands-down hit. We're loving the rustic-feminine fusion, and that dining room is to die for.

Steal her style: Invest in some antique-style furniture, then bring in contemporary accessories and masses of fresh flowers.

'Goulaine' armchair, West Elm.

'Hive' vase, West Elm.

'Rose' wire pendant, Zanui.