ALL THINGS FRENCH

Elements I love, last week had a launch and viewing party of their new French shipment that became available to the public last Thursday. It was exciting to go along and get an exclusive preview into all the treasures they have found while they were sourcing the pieces over in France. It has been a years worth of hard work and foresight but I have to say it has definitely paid off as the pieces they have in store are absolutely amazing. Think Gatsby era, think glamour, think Marie Antoinette inspired and all things really cool, retro and funky. If you are looking for a very individual and unique piece with a bit of history and culture behind it, you must head over to Elements I love in Surry Hills and get exploring and put your interiors thinking cap on.

It is so important as a designer to know what is one the market at all times because when you are working on several projects with different briefs the things you see around and know about pop into your mind as soon as you find the perfect brief for it. Having as many resources as possible and product knowledge is key when specifying, you know what will work where and who to get it from instantly.

Here are some behind the scenes shots from the evening last week, you can find a lot more about Elements I love here and by following them on Facebook & Instagram @elements_i_love.

All images taken by JDZ herself... sorry about the black doggy tag in the corner of the photos...my iphone skin is coming off. Time for a new one I think!

Have a great Wednesday,
JDZ x

ELEMENTS I LOVE

I may have tricked you with the title of this post because it is not about things I love particularly, it is merely about an amazingly cool little store I discovered today.

Something I really love about sourcing trips is, you often come across the complete unexpected find that really makes your day. I had my GPS all set for my journey to find MCM HOUSE, which by the way has some pretty great pieces too ( check them out here ) and as I was parking this little enchanted shop with unique pieces caught my attention. I thought to myself 'hmmm that looks like it should belong in Melbourne and I should really go in there but probably wont have time.' But can I tell you, I am so glad I did, even if I went over my 1/4 P parking limit.

It is a little store called Elements I Love and it is about to turn one!  ( first birthday party this weekend actually and yes I have my own personal invitation )

The store is actually a branch off from their warehouse that is 10 years old located in Sydney's inner west, with the shop front located in Surry Hills. It is a complete mix of old antique refurbished lights, doors that can be used as art pieces, mirrors, industrial style dining chairs, arm chairs, decorative pieces from all different eras and some awesome wall paper selections.

If you are ever looking for that great one off piece or even a retro light fitting then do yourself the favour and have a look in this store. Even if you are a homewares lover and just cant help yourself but buy little bits and pieces for your home then this is the place to go. If you are wanting to fuse old with new in your home or create a soft industrial look, then again, this is the place to go. They are always constantly updating the store with new finds, so I am very much looking forward to going back and checking out the warehouse.

By the way, you cannot take photos unless you have Instagram, tag and follow them. Just another reason to get Instagram I say. So make sure to follow me @jdz1 and @elements_i_love !

Here are a few of my own images which I tagged straight away when I got back to my desk.

JDZ x

FINDING TREASURE

I have never been antique shopping, but it is a real fun experience. There is so much to find and so many great pieces. What is really interesting is finding out about what era it is from and the history behind the piece. All day I could not stop wondering where certain things were found and who they originally belonged to. When looking for an antique piece it is really important to look for something that is still in good shape and is authentic. It is also important to think about the use of the piece and how you can accentuate it in the space you are going to use it in. You can also find pieces that can be restored and used for something else. For example you could use an old desk or console and turn it into a vanity for a bathroom, the options are endless.

Mixing old with new can be a really great way of adding layers to your home and style. Hopefully some of these awesome pieces I discovered today will be specified in this up coming project.

What is also great about antique or vintage pieces is that they bring their history with them and then become a great talking point.


Hope you all had a long weekend,

JDZ.