Modernism Week, Palm Springs

I was lucky enough to attend Modernism Week in February this year, and I had an absolute blast! Here’s a roundup of my favourite events/tours.

Photography Mark Zeidler

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MOROCCAN MODERN SHOWCASE HOME

Let’s kick things off with the Modernism Week Showcase Home. Each year there is a different showcase home, each decorated differently – this year’s was a gorgeous Moroccan Modern home designed by Thomboy Properties. This was by far, my favourite event at Modernism Week, if you only have the budget to do one event – this would be it. There is more of an emphasis on the interior design with the Showcase Homes and that of course, is my thang. I loved the Moroccan influence in the home, yet it was fun and playful in some of the rooms and a little bit luxe too – how good is that master bedroom pictured below – bedroom goals am I right?!

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MODERN GARDEN TOUR

So it would hardly be surprising that one of my favourite events was the Modern Garden Tour, I love outdoor spaces and it was a real thrill to take a peek behind some amazing Palm Springs homes and take a tour of their gardens. For the most part, each worked with the harsh desert climate, gravel/stone is a big feature, along with desert-dwelling plants like cacti. And of course, a pool is a definite necessity with the scorching heat. Here’s some shots of my favourite elements from some of the gardens. My mind is bubbling away with ideas, I so desperately want to buy a home and renovate it!

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Another highlight included the Modernism Week Signature Home Tour, which takes in five different homes – getting a look inside each was such a thrill! It’s a self-guided tour, so you’ll need your own car to get to each location. The Premier Double Decker Bus Tour is also a must if it’s your first time in Palm Springs and Modernism Week – a great way to gain some knowledge about some of Palm Springs’ best modernist architecture and get to know some of the great neighbourhoods too. Our tour guide was a lot of fun, I found it really enjoyable (minus the cold windy weather we had on that day – not ideal for an open-air bus tour ha)! If you’re keen to check out all of those insta-worthy colourful doors, book a ticket on the Palm Springs Door Tour. You’ll be given a map and you can choose to ride or drive it (you’ll need your own bike or vehicle to get around) – at the end of the tour you’ll receive a cocktail at The Saguaro Hotel, sounds like the perfect way to end a fabulous day.

Modernism Week takes place over two jam-packed weeks in February each year. Next year’s event is scheduled for 14-24 February - if you’re going to Palm Springs I highly recommend you check it out, even if you can only attend one or two events!

Palm Springs Door Tour

Palm Springs is not only a haven for mid-century architecture and the most beautiful homes on the planet, it’s also home to the most colourful doors! Here’s a tour of some of my favourites.

Photography Mark Zeidler

I swear, almost every second home had a coloured door – those Palm Springs folk know how to do colour, and they do it well. The majority of the homes pictured here are in the Indian Canyons’ neighbourhood, if you want to check these out in person you can drive around (that’s what we did) or ride around on a bike. Most hotels have complimentary bikes for guests to use. If you’re in Palm Springs in February, you could go on the self-guided Palm Springs Door Tour during Modernism Week, which includes a map of all the popular colourful doors and a cocktail at The Saguaro Hotel afterwards. You do need to provide your own method of transportation though.

Which door is your favourite? I have a hard time deciding between ‘that pink door’ pictured right at the top, and the black one above with the Moroccan arch at the front – talk about a dramatic front entrance. And that breeze block on the orange door above has captured my heart. Ah, no wonder Palm Springs is my happy place, can’t wait to go back one day!

RJL x ADAIRS WINTER 2018

Rebecca Judd has teamed up with Adairs to create the dreamiest bedding collection - here’s a look at the new range which launched today.

Not just a pretty face, Rebecca Judd is a talented TV presenter, model and lifestyle blogger with impeccable taste when it comes to all things interior-related. So obviously when she first started teaming up with Adairs, the collections were jaw-droppingly beautiful and this new Winter range is no exception. I love all of the blush and nude pink tones, but it’s the teal velvet Jardin quilt that has really stolen my heart (see below).

Says Rebecca of the new range: "While boho tassels and natural fabrics have been all the rage, I wanted to take it to the next level by adding a textural contemporary twist to my bedding design. ‘Como’ (pictured above) features abundant tassels in conjunction with lace strapping to give the bed a fashionable, modern, yet still very comfortable look. The different textures on this bed combined with two of my fave colours (blush pink and silver), make this bedding the stand out piece of the season."

Oh and today is a Linen Lovers Exclusive Event day meaning this new collection is automatically 40% off from midday today (March 14) until the end of the day Thursday (March 15). Shop RJL x Adairs new range by clicking here.

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Los Angeles Guide: Part 2

Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of LA? Escape to a coastal getaway in Santa Monica and Malibu. Here’s my guide on where to stay, eat and play.

What I like about LA, is that it offers many different types of holiday, depending on what you’re after. If you are looking for a more coastal escape, I can recommend a stay/visit in Santa Monica or Malibu. Malibu Farm is an iconic eatery offering a restaurant and a more casual cafe, on the Malibu Pier. It’s one of those must-visit places for tourists and I adored the barn-like exterior and cosy Scandi-inspired interior. The food is simple yet tasty, and the views over the Pacific ocean cannot be beat.

Another highlight of our trip was going on a Malibu Wine Safari. Now, wine and animals might seem to be a weird combination but it was so much fun! You get to explore the 1,000 acre Saddlerock Ranch and vineyard in Malibu, in a custom-built open-air Safari vehicle. You’ll make stops along the way to take in the scenery, taste six different wines, and get up close and personal with animals like zebras, camels, alpacas, bison, and even Stanley the Giraffe (who we got to feed on our tour – that’s my hand pictured below!). It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

We didn’t stay overnight in Malibu, but if I was to re-visit I’d love to stay at The Surfrider Malibu. The interiors are dreamy, with a definite laid-back coastal vibe, but not in a cliche kind of way (no anchor motifs in sight here!). And that rooftop deck reserved just for guests, looks like the ideal spot to drink a glass of wine or two and watch the sun go down.

If you’re looking to base yourself in Santa Monica, check-in to The Shore Hotel – a boutique hotel with a focus on eco-conscious practices. Situated right across the road from The Santa Monica Pier, and minutes within great shops and cafes, The Shore Hotel is the perfect place to base yourself. It’s also a 10 minute drive to Venice (shopping on Abbot Kinney Blvd is a must), and 30 minute drive to Malibu. The rooms whilst small, are comfortable, and ours had beach and pool views! Welcome drinks on arrival, and free cruiser bikes are just some of the perks.

During our stay in Santa Monica we stumbled across this cute cafe – Little Ruby. When we were checking the menu out, we noticed they sold vegemite on toast, and thought hey this must be an Australian cafe! Naturally we went in, because we were in search of Aussie-style coffee, and Little Ruby did not disappoint. We loved this place so much we ate here for almost every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner! Definitely include this place on your list if visiting Santa Monica.

Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to eat at The Butcher’s Daughter, but I so would have loved to. It’s located in Venice on Abbot Kinney Blvd, while you’re here explore the shops on this street – there’s so many great boutique stores (and it’s a very long street, just be prepared to allocate a few hours (and dollars) to spend here. I loved this part of Venice, it had a real sense of community here, and is much, much nicer than Venice Beach.

Los Angeles Guide: part 1

I’ve emerged from the jet lag haze, and have finally put together my guide to LA! This is part 1 of 2, looking at my stay in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

First stop in LA, was the iconic, and very posh Beverly Hills Hotel, this was my second stay here and it honestly never disappoints. Everything from the beautiful gardens through to the interiors, is immaculate. It’s the type of hotel that you almost don’t ever need to leave – there are four dining options on site, a beautiful pool area (complete with underwater music), a day spa, hairdresser, gym, and a cute gift shop. However if you do decide to venture out and explore the nearby areas, there’s a complimentary car to whisk you away like a movie star to your destination of choice (so long as it’s in a 3 mile radius of the hotel).

There’s no shortage of places to eat in Beverly Hills/West Hollywood – here’s a guide to where we ate. A great brunch spot is Hedley’s – this casual cafe with its retro-inspired interior (interior image via @rickbhatia), offers a calming retreat from the hustle and bustle of LA. Be sure to try their blueberry whole grain pancakes!

If you’re looking for Aussie-style coffee, thankfully there are lots of Australians opening up restaurants all across the US, one of those places is Paramount Coffee Project (PCP). The cool interior is thanks to Australian architect Alana Cooke. The narrow space complete with deep green tiles, and raw concrete breeze blocks, houses an equally inspired menu. The Avocado Toast (pictured below – photo via @misscathyyu) was one of the best I had on the whole trip. My partner also claimed the Paramount Breakfast (scrambled egg, hook’s aged cheddar, chili jam, worcestershire mayo, house english muffin) was the best breakkie of the trip for him. And that’s a huge compliment because he’s very particular about his breakfasts, afterall it’s the most important meal of the day, right. And the coffee is as close as you’ll get to the coffee back home, Aussies rejoice!

Eveleigh is another popular restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We dined out one night and were not disappointed (tip: apparently this place gets busy, so go early when no one is around, our food came out super quick). Try the Patatas Bravas (fried russet potatoes, thyme, rosemary, sea salt, chili pepper alioli), they must have been the crunchiest potatoes I’ve ever eaten, and absolutely mouth-watering. Give me a bowl of those any day of the week. The setting is so pretty too – think rustic barn-like oasis in the hubbub of Sunset Blvd.

We accidentally stumbled across The Hart and The Hunter (Palihotel’s onsite restaurant), while doing a spot of shopping along Melrose Ave. It is a delightful space with vintage-inspired interior and simple, nourishing food. We loved it so much we ate here for breakfast and lunch. I give a big two thumbs up to their Avocado Toast with smoked olive, red onion, capers, on seeded bread (yum!). And for a healthy, yet delicious lunch, try the Grains Salad with farro, crisp wild rice, honey quinoa, red onion, cucumber, mint, grapes, almonds, and ricotta salata. Those Californians sure know how to make a tasty salad. The lattes weren’t too bad either. Oh, and Palihotel could be a good place to stay – it’s a small boutique hotel with rooms appealing to a young hipster/designer crowd.

Next stop on my trip, The Kimpton Everly Hotel in West Hollywood. And wow, did it impress. It’s a brand new hotel with very contemporary interiors with cool artworks at every turn, in fact the space almost felt gallery-esque. I loved the very large, open-plan lobby/bar – there were so many different nooks throughout, seating for days, and there’s even a pool table to elevate the cool factor. Be sure to pop into the lobby bar each evening for wine hour (free wine for hotel guests – woohoo!).

The rooms are modern and understated – with the bathrooms being the design highlight. Oh and our room overlooked the Hollywood hills with a clear view to the Hollywood sign – very cool. This could possibly be the best hotel view of the entire trip.

We ate most meals on our stay here, at Jane Q, the onsite restaurant – not just because of its obvious convenience, but the menu was affordably priced, the food delicious and the interior, dreamy. Try the Forest Mushroom Pizza!

Creative types will come away from a stay at The Everly feeling inspired, and hey, that’s what a holiday should do right! For me, it was the lobby and the Skyline pool/outdoor space that really had my mind bubbling away with ideas. The photos on the website don’t do the rooftop area justice, it’s the type of hotel that simply must be visited in person to truly appreciate it.

The Fresh Edition Out Now!

The new edition of Adore Home Magazine is here – the Fresh edition – available to order now through the Adore online shop, and in newsagents from March 8.

Photography Claire McFerran, Gathering Light  /  Styling + Interior Andrea Pienaar, SIBA Interiors

This Fresh edition we feature fresh, clean, uncluttered and above all, functional spaces – without sacrificing style. Each of the four homes we’ve hand selected are light and airy, with plenty of heart. Judging from the reaction from our readers on Instagram, our front cover is a winner – I knew the minute I spotted Andrea Pienaar’s Perth home that I had to include her pink front door on the cover. And it seems most of you would agree! Andrea of SIBA Interiors, renovated her family’s character home with plenty of love and it shows in each of the rooms, including the exterior of the house.

Photography Annette O'Brien  /  Styling Alana Langan  /  Interior Michelle Hart, Bask Interiors

Looking for clean, contemporary style? You’ll adore our home tour decorated by Bask Interiors (pictured above), and designed by Claudia Stephenson (pictured below). Feeling like a Bali vacay? Our destination feature on Bali is a must-read, I’m now very tempted to book a trip myself. If your laundry is in need of a revamp, you’ll also want to check out our laundry feature with five tips to creating a hard-working, yet beautiful space. Some highlights from this issue pictured below! To purchase this issue online, click here.

Photography Hannah Blackmore  /  Styling + Interior Claudia Stephenson

Photography Greg Cox, Bureaux  /  Styling Jeanne Botes, Bureaux

Photography Bali Interiors

Laundry by Fisher & Paykel

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New Year Health Kick

If your New Year’s resolution is to get fit – we’ve got just the products to inspire your health journey. Hey, you might as well do it in style right?

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New Brisbane Store - Homes by ASF

Homes by Affordable Style Files in Singapore has a beautiful new sister-store in Rosalie, Brisbane. Co-owner Hong Henwood chats to us about this brand new retail space.

Photography Mark Zeidler

When did you open your Singapore store?
Sally (who now resides in Atlanta, USA) and I opened the Singapore branch about 18 months ago. It stemmed from having a need for beautiful products to decorate and style homes with in Singapore and then to also have them for ourselves! We had an amazing time building the shop to what it is today! We have an amazing team that helps create a nice vibe for our clients there.

What made you want to open a Brisbane store, and what do you love about its Paddington/Rosalie location?
I used to live in Toowong before moving overseas and it was where my husband and I used to go for meals etc, we love the small community vibes there and loved that it’s growing with different cafes, the movie theatre and more! I wanted to bring homewares and more importantly Australian designs and makers to this little pocket of Brisbane! Hopefully we get people coming to visit us in the village!

Tell us about the types of products you stock and what your store’s point of difference is.
We stock mainly Australian designed products! From Armadillo and Co rugs to gorgeous cushions from Walter G and Bonnie and Neil! We want people to love Australian designs as much as we do. We love these products and believe that our designers are some of the best in the industry.

What’s the feedback been like since opening?
Amazing! We’ve had people contact us and travelling from all over Brisbane to come visit! It’s been a real nice transition from Singapore to here!

Can customers in Australia also buy your range of products online?
Soon! At present we have the online store in Singapore but soon there will be an online store in Brisbane and QLD!

Visit Homes by Affordable Style Files at Rosalie Village, 6/151 Baroona Rd, Paddington