Siobhan Donoghue

My client has requested help with their living room. They want to increase the room seating to 8 (currently 6), add book shelves as well as storage for the children's toys. It was also important to incorporate the flat screen TV.  

The space it is an elongated narrow space in an open plan home with few options to rearrange the furniture layout since the current pieces are, in a word, too large for the space.  (Instead of replacing all the furniture its best to work with what they have.) The unseen wall behind the sofa is a window wall so without making the space even narrower,  there is only one wall to add shelving to. However if the entire wall becomes shelving there would be no way to increase the seating.  In addition to increased seating and book storage there are two details missing to create a more complete space. 

1) Low level lighting

2) A rug to tie the space together and creates a defined area

The solution is to incorporate the bookcase with seating and then replace the coffee table with a trunk to provide hidden toy storage. By adding the table lights the space becomes more intimate and "cosy". The area rug ties it all together and creates a defined living room area. 

Today's illustration was inspired by a garden image I came across while writing an interior design review of a client's rental property. They have a huge garden which as yet they have not developed. Soooo many ideas.

Ok, there is a trend going on. Not sure how long its been simmering but chef movies are the latest thing (at least to me). Last week I came across Michel Bras' movie and today, via the wonderful Melbourne Broadsheet newspaper (or should I say newsblog), I encountered the Royal Mail's Dunkeld movie. 

Dan Hunter, who worked in Spain with Ferran Adria is head chef and narrates this little vimeo video about his suppliers and the produce they grow on the property while drawing the viewer into the kitchen as they delicately prepare the dishes.  Really very insightful and yet again reminds me of the amazing bounty found locally. 

A quick you tube search came up with this well loved chef video ...

Yesterdays watercolour was quiche :)

While the Melbourne Food and Wine festival is currently entertaining the locals,  I was browsing upcoming events and came across a local exhibit of Jeff Martin's work. Wow. So fun and in keeping with the current global trend but taking the next step and distorting our view to make their worlds seem twisted yet calm which we can all asume they are not. Currently on show at the Gould Galleries on Toorak Road. 

Michel Bras Movie

Jeff Martin's website has a link to a movie which follows Michel Bras while he visits Rodez market, prepared his signature dish Gargouillou and preparing a very fresh monkfish dish with olives.