New art in the house

This is Bingo, by Erk.

This is Sexy black hamburger, by Maya Hayuk.

And if you're wondering where the Hawaiian postcards went to, they're now in the bedroom.

Close-up: art hanging system

By popular demand, here are some close-up shots to show how our art hanging system works. Firstly, you remove the cap from one end of the track and slide in a hanger. Each of these hooks can hold up to ten kilograms.

Then you can adjust the hook to the required height by sliding it along the plastic tubing.

Finally, you hang your frame (or, in this case, skateboard) on the hook. The plastic tubing is quite long, so you can hide it behind by loosely securing it with a rubber band.

You can change the configuration at any time by sliding the hangers along the track or changing the height of the hook. This makes it very easy in our case to just add more skateboards to the wall!

David Bowie is here!

Today we (well, John) finally got around to picking up my Cease and Desist skateboard from the post office, featuring none other than Mr David Bowie. As soon as I got home from work, I promptly set about installing it on our new art hanging system.

Also, thanks to those who commented on my post about the hanging system. As requested, shortly I'll post some close-up shots to show everyone how it all works. 

Art hanging system

In my last post about skateboard art I mentioned that we were considering having an art hanging system installed in the living room. Well, the price turned out to be so affordable that we decided to have two walls done! We went with the original plan of the wall above the TV (where the boards were hanging), as well as the main wall that runs along the hall.

I think this system will work very well for us, as it allows us to change our display very easily. The skateboards are now hanging on the main wall (with the two new boards still to be hung), and our framed Blacklist Studio prints (which were previously on the floor leaning against the wall) are now above the TV. I'd still eventually like to hang my Kozyndan print on the main wall once it's framed, but I love that we now have the flexibility to change our minds about the configuration whenever we feel like it (rather than drilling permanent holes into the concrete walls).

What do you think?! We've only had it installed for a day, so it's still very new and exciting for me...

Real Living 2011 reader decorating contest

This year, for the second year in a row, I'm entering the Real Living reader decorating contest. I really don't think I'll have much of a chance against the many other great entries they'll have, but it's worth a shot. I don't even want the prizes. I just want to get my home in the magazine!

My entry for the living room will consist of around 20 photos. I think I might need to post a CD or USB! Here's a sneak peek of a few of them.

For more information about this year's contest, visit the Real Living website.

Ottoman sofa bed

The first part of the office 'upgrade' is complete with the arrival of our ottoman sofa bed this week. I was a bit nervous about purchasing a custom-made piece of furniture on eBay, but the experience with Sydney Lounge Specialist was wonderful. We weren't quite happy with the standard Wortley and Warwick fabrics offered by the store, so after two rounds of samples in the mail we settled on Wortley 'Hustle' fabric in Carbon colour.

The sofa was made in Sydney from sustainable Tasmanian pine, and includes a ten-year warranty on both the timber frame and the foam. We paid extra to get an inner-spring mattress instead of a standard foam one, and the trampoline base also includes timber slats for extra support, so our visitors should have no reason to complain.

I couldn't resist buying some new cushions to celebrate. These are all from Target, who really seem to have stepped up in the homewares department.

I'll add more photos in the coming weeks when the room is a little tidier!

Office plans

Our second bedroom serves as both an office/art studio for John, as well as a spare bedroom for guests. As both our families live outside of Brisbane, we need to have a bed available for visits, and the current solution of the futon sofa bed has long outstayed its welcome. Although I've managed to improve the look of the hideous mattress by hiding it inside a quilt cover, it's not the most comfortable option for sleeping.

After considering the options, including a double bed, sofa bed or new futon, we've decided that the best solution for us is an ottoman sofa bed with an innerspring mattress. That way, the sofa won't take up much room, but it can be converted into a comfortable double bed when needed. We're currently narrowing down fabric options from the Wortley and Warwick ranges, and are leaning towards a dark charcoal or grey. Originally I was planning on stripes or something with a little bit of visual interest, but the samples we have look to 'busy' against the carpet. I'll have to add interest with cushions instead!

The next step will be to remove the tiered desk in the corner for something a little more understated (like a simple white desk) so John has more room for his drafting table (which is currently squished in to the right of the desk).

Has anyone out there got a sofabed ottoman (or slept on one)? I'd love to hear your opinion of them.

Marimekko in its new home

My Marimekko purchases arrived during the week! Hooray!

My lovely tea cup currently resides on top of the cabinet in my dining room study nook. I am quite pleased with the little vignettes that I have created here.

Here's a peek at how the space is currently looking.

Our home... in Pop art

Yesterday I picked up my fancy new camera - an Olympus PEN EPL-1. It's a nice, happy medium between a compact point-and-shoot (which is what I had previously) and a full-blown DSLR (which I really have no need for). Amongst other advantages, it will no doubt make my blog photos 100 times better.

The camera has six built-in art filters, and due to the large amount of red in our home I've become a little obsessed with the Pop art feature. The following images were taken on a very gloomy, overcast day (which would have meant 'don't bother trying to take photos' in the past). I can't wait to see how photos look when the sun is out!

Our home in wide angle!

Our friends Enis and Natsumi came to visit for dinner a few weeks ago, having recently moved back to Brisbane from Japan. While they were here, Enis took some wide-angle shots of the living room. This really makes me want a new camera...

Images: Drone Bot