Presenting...THE Arbour

A few posts ago I mentioned the arbour or pergola my husband had designed which can be flat-packed and assembled elsewhere.
He was inspired by grand structures like these.

He put ours up in a day and put the finishing touches on it the next. This is how it looks, with some dramatic lighting thanks to the sunset. We predominantly want it as a carport/garage.

Excuse the number of pictures, but it's very photogenic.

At one stage my husband suggested painting it.....wait for it.....gloss red. I'm afraid that one didn't get past the keeper.

Although we are using ours as a garage, traditionally, they're more likely to be lawned underneath or paved and used as either a decorative garden structure, like so....

...or as an outdoor room.

By simply changing the colour and simplifying the detail, an arbour can fit into an Asian or tropical style garden, or be suited to a modern house. Genius, isn't it!

Our single garage sized arbour will set you back around $2,700. If you'd like to enquiry about your very own, made to fit your specific space, email me at madamrestora@hotmail.com
That's it! 

70 is the new 30

Would you believe we're still NQR (not quite right) around here. This germ is really causing some havoc, and to be honest, it's not funny anymore. I need everyone to assume their usual positions, at kindy, school and work, pronto!
Alas, it did not rain enough this weekend, and I could not conjure an excuse to not paint the fence. The first coat is done, and I'm pleased I toughed it out and got stuck in.

Whilst this is largely a photo of a fence, painted, all I can really focus on are the three windows in the background which are yet to have their hoods on.
Motherwell provides us with a neverending list of demands for both our time and money in equal measures. It's no wonder we refer to her as Motherf#@***r on our more trying days.
Now my attention is also focused on the tree that needs a garden around it's base....

....and this bit of footpath which can now be prettied up.

Our neighbour asked jokingly if we were painting the gates red, which has now resulted in a low-key grass roots support for this, which is gaining momentum as we speak.
I want to just paint them white so the pretty scrolls stand out against the gravel driveway. Also, considering our awnings are yellow and white striped, a red gate may make the house look like a child care centre.
Never mix your primary colours I say. I may well try and get a coat of white on them mid-week so it becomes a non-issue.

I bought this chair on Ebay, and picked it up on Saturday. The lady I bought it from, Wendy, reads my blog. What are the chances?

I've got quite a few pieces of wicker. My plan is to paint it all white and put it on the back L-shaped verandah. It's a classic look for a verandah, plus the light weight furniture is easy to rearrange depending on how many people are sitting out there and what we're doing.
I also want to put out a few plant stands with ferns. Here are a couple of photos I found for inspiration.

I don't want it to be too rustic. Rustic is difficult to do, and my arrangements usually just end up looking scrappy.
For my birthday, the beautiful EAP from over at Nostalgia and Now game me a peacock for the wall. I finally put it up in the bathroom.

I'm off to build a nest on the couch now and settle in to watch The Kennedy's on the ABC. I wonder if Jackie's little sister, Lee Radziwill has seen it? Lee is 78 this year and she's still a style icon. That deserves a standing ovation I think.

Between Lee Radziwill and the likes of Costanza Pascolato from Vogue Brazil, the bar is getting set ridiculously high for women everywhere.

Apparently, there will be no reprieve from extreme personal grooming, not even into old age.

This is Costanza below, she's in her early 70s.

70 is obviously the new 30!