Funky first apartment

One of our friends, Leanne has just bought a new (but old) funky apartment in a 1970s unit block. A bunch of us went to her place for brunch yesterday to check it out.

We even had a friend who is living in the US join us via Skype - she did not miss the grand tour, thanks to the magic that is the laptop. Classic!

Vintage dresser used as an entertainment unit

The apartment has great bones and is quite spacious.It also has fabulous black polished concrete floors.

Leanne's decor is vintage inspired. She told us her lounge suite cost her the paltry sum of $40. It actually looks fantastic in her place.

 Our friend Sarah who lives in Portland Oregon is talking to us on the laptop.
Leanne is planning to rip out the sliding doors on the back wall and convert it into open bookshelves.

Kinder Surprises framed

Leanne is a creative soul and can turn Kinder Surprises into art. See?

Love the concept of trapped toys on the kitchen window sill.

But my absolutely favourite thing in Leanne's place is this little nook.

Eames DCM chairs and large world map

Don't you just love the large map sitting above her kitchen table and chairs? The map is a gift from Leanne's sister to improve her geography knowledge.

I think the chairs are Eames DCM which were manufactured under license in Australia by Descon in the 50s. Just don't quote me on that though.

Anyway, thanks Leanne for the tour and a fun morning out. Love your new home! 

House Fire

Most mornings, Jason curses the smoke alarm which pierces our ear drums when we make toast for breakfast.

The smoke alarm is highly sensitive, despite the fact our toast is barely browned. Jason threatens to rip it out and stamp on it. Thankfully, it is electrically wired into the kitchen ceiling or else it would've been tossed out for sure.

But we do know smoke alarms can save lives. At our last home, before the Sow's Ear, we heard our neighbour's smoke alarm in the middle of the night and smelt smoke. We called the fire brigade.

Our neighbour had fallen asleep (i.e drunken stupor) while making a late-night snack on the stove. His home had filled up with thick black smoke and his deep-fried chips were about to burst into flames. I have no doubt in my mind that his smoke alarm saved him from a fiery death.

I've told Jason to stop cursing our smoke alarm after the tragic house fire in Slacks Creek (read story here) in the early hours of yesterday morning. The fire took the lives of 11 people from the same family, eight of those family members were children. It is one of the worst fires in Queensland for over a decade.

Image from here

I read about the fire when it hit the news thinking how it was so tragic.

The tragedy became more poignant when we realised who the family was. Jason used to worked with and is good friends with relatives of the family - a very kind, loving Polynesian family who should never have to face something as tragic as this.

A foundation has been set up to help the family. If anyone would like to help, the details are below. Please pass on the information.

The Lale Foundation 

Rostron Carlyle Solicitors would like to invite people to forward donations to the Foundation to assist the families so greatly affected by the recent tragic house fire in Logan with expenses associated with the funerals of their loved ones.

WESTPAC
BSB: 034001
Account: 105467
Name: Lale Foundation

Painting insanity

Front of the house

Weekend conversation at the Sow's Ear:

 "It looks a bit overcast out there," I yawned while peering out the window on Sunday morning.

"Hm mm...that's no good...After brekky, I'll put on my painting clothes and I'll do the final coat of the front wall," said Jason.

"But it looks like it's going to rain," I looked at him oddly.

"Maybe I'll just paint under the eaves then," Jason suggested.

After a quick breakfast, Jason moved to the bedroom to change into his panting clothes. The house grew darker and the rain began to fall steadily outside.

"It's really raining now," I remarked a little too loudly to Jason, hoping he got the hint.

In other words: "Step away from those f%?#ing paint brushes. Move slowly. Have you completely lost your mind to even consider painting anything in this weather?"

"Yeah. Maybe I won't paint," he said.

Anyway, you'll be pleased to know the day was not a complete waste. The weather had cleared by lunch time. And guess what? Jason got changed into his painting clothes and painted.

Jason doing the moon walk on the trestles.
(You know he's Bad, he's Bad - You know it, you know)

Rainbow Lorikeet in our grevillea tree. 

Painting the façade and a house name

Today's a public holiday in Brisbane for the annual show (the Ekka as it is fondly referred to, which is short for Exhibition).

We didn't go to the Ekka though. We painted instead. Are you surprised? One day we will celebrate a public holiday without having to work on the Sow's Ear. I promise.

Earlier this morning, Jason painting the weatherboards while #2 Son looks on

With a nice new 15 litre tub of Dulux white exterior gloss, we made a start on the front façade. I had the honour of de-Tuscanifying the peach-coloured rendered walls. The walls are becoming white. Yes!

Gratuitous arse shot for Jason's hard-core fans. There is no dignity for this man and his buns made of steel!

Jason was in charge of balancing on the trestles to paint the weatherboards. It will take a long time for the front to be finished. We still haven't worked out how to reach the front gables, as there is no room to erect mobile scaffolding. The carport is in the way!

We could have achieved much more today but the weather was looking very gloomy and it is threatening rain. We called it quits by lunchtime, at least for the painting.

After a morning's work. It still needs a second coat of paint . Dark clouds are approaching.

Jason, being the busy bee that he is, started pressure cleaning the garden paths. There were quite a few paint drips to clean up. They disappeared with a high-pressure water Gerni. Like magic!

Garden path at the side of the Sow's Ear. This side is finished for now.

Anyway, the Sow's Ear may have to lose its moniker once she's completely painted.

I'm thinking she might need a house name...like VJ House or Jason's Noose or Shirtless Manor. Do you have any suggestions?

Mid Century Brisbane House Tour

My Go-Go dancing buddy, Yvette has a very cool mid century home located in Brisbane.

I asked her if I could take a few snaps of her home to show it off to you, my dear blog readers. Yvette and her husband are extremely house proud. They absolutely adore their home of nearly two years which was designed by Brisbane architect Donald Spencer in the 1960s.

My photos really do not show off the home in the best light - they didn't realise that I would be taking photos when I showed up at their doorstop on the weekend! I took some random shots from my iPhone.

I just love their front entrance with its brightest of orange doors.

Wide orange door, with Neutra house numbers and funky light fitting

The picture below is of their carport which is adjacent to their front entry. They have grand plans for a Palm Springs style cacti garden for the front yard.

Funky carport screen

Orange chair covers on white butterfly chairs in the courtyard. Yeah!

Rubber tree plant in a vintage American bullet planter. Notice the lovely Featherston in the background

Casala chair and table setting on the other side of the courtyard.

Don't they have a very groovy place with cool furniture? It is a work in progress for them and I hope to show you some more photos down the track.