With a name like that, whatever it is, you know you’re gonna love it.   Particularly if you’re a sucker for cane, colour and textiles like I am.   Just so you know – I bags the turquoise cane bed table below.

photographs by Derek Selwell, via The Design Files

photographs by Derek Selwell, via The Design Files

photographs by Derek Selwell, via The Design Files

photographs by Derek Selwell, via The Design Files

Read more about The Family Love Tree  at The Design Files, and to see more of the stunning collection visit The Family Love Tree website where you can shop at their online store.  What more could you possibly want?

Yes, I’m talking about Italy. It was wonderful, of course. Everything I thought it would be, and more… More exercise than I could ever have imagined, but I’ll tell you about that another time.

and I could look all day long.  Deep sigh…  (Anthropologie online)

and stylist extraordinaire.  I am so excited to see my friend Jane’s home featured today on The Design Files.  I know you’ll want to go there to have a look, but here’s a little preview.

photos by Peta Rudd, The Design Files

Isn’t it amazing?  It’s a home with colour, compassion, courage and heart. Just like Jane.

She also has the fashion boutique Pink Inc in Canberra, situated in the very hip Lonsdale Street, Braddon.  You should visit if you can.  Send her my love and tell her I hope to pop down soon.  You could also say hello here.

PS   I said I was over decorating, not over other people decorating…

This is Peggy, she makes me smile.

Are there any other colours, really?

I know you are going to love it.  I do.  She has a charming old Queenslander with a huge deck and wrap around verandas surrounded by lush gardens.

She even has a pink door, and she had hers first.  Well,  we do have similar tastes …

Come on in and I’ll show you around.  First, we come to Rose’s bedroom on the right.

It’s a lovely tranquil room which opens out onto a verandah.  You can catch a glimpse of the rainforest garden…

On the other side of the hall is stylish daughter Issy’s room…

It also opens out on to a verandah …

Down the hall is son Tom’s room …

and he’ s quite the decorator too.  Everytime I visit, he’s re-arranged.  He has a fine appreciation for things antique and collectible.

The living room …

Yes, we both have (very) similar paintings, and yellow labradors…

The kitchen and dining … LOVE the fridge!

My favourite spot on the verandah …

and the other …

A piece of paradise, in Rockhampton, Queensland.

and even if you don’t. Enjoy your weekend …

Camel Festival, Bikaner, Rajasthan 2004

I have felt a bit ordinary this week and have had to slow right down, take it easy, surrender to my bed a little more than usual. Yesterday as I was doing just that, settling into a meditative mood, I realised how much I was enjoying the view. So much so that I got quite excited and had to grab my camera (so much for meditating …). I don’t really expect everyone else to share my excitement, but you can humour me. The point is really about taking a moment to enjoy the spaces we work hard to create and the bits and pieces that make up home. So much time and energy goes into the ‘doing’ and sometimes we (I) forget or are too busy to just appreciate.

It’s been a wet and sluggish week (or two…) here at My Pink Door.   So  today I took matters in my own hands – and found my own sunshine – bursts of colour, light and prettiness throughout my house.  Cheered me up no end. 

And now I’m going to make Moroccan Harira Soup for dinner, have a glass or two of French Chardonnay, light the fire (really) and cozy up on the sofa to watch some West Wing with my loved ones.  (And no school lunches to make in the morning!) Could it get any better? 

Hope you too find sunshine – somewhere.  Have a great weekend …