Port-a-Bach

I spent a lot of my childhood building forts and cubbies and little homes, and I now watch my girls doing the same. The joy of having your own little space to decorate and hang out in is magical. Obviously I still find joy in decorating spaces, and I've never outgrown my fascination with small spaces. I absolutely loved the recent TV programme and book, George Clarke's Amazing Spaces - seeing people's creativity and how cleverly they transformed various tiny spaces into something... well, amazing!

George's own caravan transformation was my favourite. He took an old caravan similar to the one he'd spent his childhood in and turned it into the most incredible holiday home. The walls opened up and the side folded down into a deck. There are so many clever space-saving features in the interior too - I highly recommend the book.

After spending the last couple of weeks working at home with my three energetic girls also at home, I have been hankering for an office tucked quietly away at the bottom of the garden, or anywhere that allows me my own space. I've been dreaming of a cute little caravan, or a cool re-purposed shipping container, and on my internet travels I came across this super cool Port-a-Bach.

Designed and built by Wellington architecture and design company, Atelierworkshop, it's created from a shipping container, and folds up to a fully enclosed exterior steel shell, making it extremely secure. Unfold it to create a brilliant living space that comfortably sleeps two adults and two children.

Atalierworkshop's Port-a-Bach is not in production but they do accept commissions to design customised container building solutions. To find out more visit their website.

Maybe one day soon I'll get my own clever, tiny space at the bottom of the garden!

Gypsy | Sibella Court

I recently received my copy of Sibella Court's latest book, Gypsy, and, like all Sibella's books, it's a work of art. The cover is just divine, incorporating not only colour and pattern, but texture too - totally touchable and delicious!

In 'Gypsy' we join Sibella on her travels to Galapagos & Ecuador, Indochine, Turkey, Scotland, and Transylvania. She has an amazing way of seeing the world, not just with her eyes, but all her senses. She has developed her own range of soap based on the scents from some of the countries she's visited. But the main focus of this book is colour.

Sibella believes places reveal their identity through a colour palette, and in 'Gypsy' she has developed a palette for each country. Whether it's from the landscape, the architecture, the food... anything really. Her colour palette may be different to the one you would develop, but Sibella teaches you how to discover and create your own.

The photos throughout the book are absolutely stunning. Sibella takes her own while traveling, and her brother, Chris Court, photographs all the travel-inspired interiors that Sibella creates when she gets home.

By layering objects she's picked up on her travels, with products from shop owners, artists, and designers, Sibella recreates the look and feel of these beautiful locations. I'm always blown away at how clever she is at doing this. Her interiors are full of life and are so interesting, you want to know the stories behind them.

And that is the point... "Let your house be a place to tell stories. By surrounding yourself with objects and translations of your very own travel observations, you create a place full of your memories; a unique, authentic space that reflects your personality. It is the lives lived in a house that makes it a home".

Fotographie by Florence

At a recent Bibby + Brady styling evening I met the lovely and talented Florence Charvin of Fotographie by Florence. Originally from France, Florence lives here in Hawke's Bay with her Kiwi husband and three adorable children. She is a fantastic photographer, and when looking through her portfolio I was absolutely charmed by the beautiful vintage feel of a lot of her photos.

Her creative talent spills over into her own home as you can see in these delightful photos.

As well as beautiful portraits, Florence is also available for weddings, fashion, and commercial shoots. She has done a lot of work for Redcurrent, and has most recently worked with Redcurrent owner, Rebecca Kain, on her book Faded Glamour - Nostalgia Revisited. The book was a journey of Rebecca's that took her back in time to the lives of her grandmothers, their homes and their way of living. It was built on a belief that the best things improve with time, developing a patina that comes with human use and love.

Here is just a taste of Florence's photographs that you can find in the book. Don't you think this would make a great gift?! Why not put one aside for a Christmas present.

To see more, and to keep up to date with Florence's work, make sure you visit her blog.