As the founder of a blog whose slogan is, “for the stylish mother” it should come as no surprise that Georgie Abay’s home is extremely beautiful. The mastermind behind The Grace Tales, the ultimate online destination for multi-tasking mums, and an ex-fashion journo, she treats her interior decoration process in much the same way she does dressing herself.
“I’ve always been into investment dressing. I buy less but buy well. I am the same with interiors! That said, with two young children, you can’t be too precious about your home (or clothes). I use lots and lots of neutrals with a bit of print thrown in. I love floral prints and they are everywhere in my home. Seriously. Everywhere. From our Laura Jones painting to our Derek Henderson print to our Christopher Farr Cloth pillows – my poor husband!”
However, while those pops of colour and floral prints certainly jump out at you, for me it is actually her coffee table, with its zinc top and Mangowood timber base, that takes centre stage. “I bought it online from Sasson Home shortly after my first daughter was born. We needed something that was kid-friendly and the round shape and low height meant there were no sharp corners for banging heads on! Also the zinc top picks up the silver tones in our home really nicely.”
She’s forever changing what’s on her coffee table but “a vase filled with fresh flowers is always my favourite piece.” Georgie buys flowers weekly: “It’s my little indulgence and makes me happy.”
Also on display are beautiful fashion and interiors books, candles and little trinkets collected from her travels. “I travelled a lot in my 20s and have saved a few select pieces (I hate clutter so don’t hang on to a lot), such as this gorgeous wooden bowl from Guatemala and I love my piece of coral on top of my pile of books.”
Looking at Georgie’s layered display it’s easy to think styling a coffee table is much easier said than done. Yet that doesn’t have to be the case, rather if you have fun and keep it simple, Georgie believes it’s really not that hard… she promises! “Have fun with it — styling your coffee table is a great creative outlet! Keep it simple – there’s nothing worse than too much clutter. You should love every single item on your coffee table. If you don’t have time to style your coffee table properly, my three quick essentials are fresh flowers, a book and a candle.”
From humble beginnings designing Christmas cards, Dubai-based Australian artist, editor, and former PR girl, Georgia Macmillan has expanded her offering to include a range of 100 per cent linen cushions, throws and napkins – all in breezy blue and muted grey, digital prints.
“All the pieces feature my watercolour art which has been digitally printed on fabric,” says Georgia of the Georgia Macmillan Paints winter 2015/16 collection, which consists of six cushion designs, a large throw and napkins.
A news broadcast journalist by trade, Georgia moved into luxury PR in Sydney before making a family move to Dubai. Living in a new city and brand new to motherhood, she found herself picking up the paintbrushes and indulging her original passion – art.
“Last year, I released a range of Christmas cards, featuring my art, as a bit of a trial. They proved a hit in Dubai and all over the world so I have taken a big leap of faith to take my little painting business to the next level,” says Georgia.
Lifestyle editor at The Grace Tales too, this mummy is one busy lady.
Aha! I do believe when it comes to blankets, I have found something which fits (perhaps loosely) into the category of homewares, therefore I can blog about baby stuff sans guilt. Am I right?!
This baby of mine has more blankets than you can shake a stick at but they’re actually all getting used in rotation because let’s face it, in this weather, you can never be warm enough. It’s actually pretty hard keeping a baby warm in this weather. Our power bill is going to give me a heart attack this quarter, I just know it! So here are 10 of my favourite baby blankets; many of them Australian, half of which we already own and the other half Seb wouldn’t mind adding to his rather impressive collection.
This is our latest acquisition and current fave in the blanket department. Made of baby alpaca and pima cotton, this is double-sided and oversized so super warm. I may or may not have stolen it a few times for my lap on the couch. And we love everything foxy and/or navy in this house so this was always going to be a winner. You really have to see and feel this blanket — which comes in its own cloth bag — to appreciate its quality, which is extremely high. Rightly described as heirloom quality in my opinion, it would make a gorgeous gift for a new mum. They have other designs too.
I’m a fan of a neutral when it comes to most linen, even baby linen, but this one hits a very happy medium with its touches of pale blue and bright yellow. This one always gets comments. Its 100% Egyptian cotton makes it a nice light option which we often fold double in Sebastian’s bassinet or pram. The cotton holds the Okeo-tex® Standard 100, which guarantees the highest sustainable and ecological practices in textiles. I also love that this one’s made in Melbourne.
I’ve long been a fan of Kate & Kate’s grown up blankets, so no surprises I love the mini versions too! This is a simple design but it’s the details that count, like the lovely blanket stitching around the edges and the cloth bag it comes in. Another 100% cotton option, this one also gets used in Seb’s bassinet. It also happens to match his blue and grey pram (the Bugaboo Bee3 with bassinet) perfectly!
If you love an old fashioned crochet blanket, a la Princess Charlotte, you need this GatherKids option. We have the bassinet size in grey and love it. Because it’s smaller we often taken it out with his capsule or in his pram. I just love how this looks like it could have been passed down generations but is in fact brand new! It’s a beauty! These are made in New Zealand and individually knitted, pre-shrunk and tumble dried.
This is a great size for bassinet or pram and you can’t go wrong with grey and white, especially if you’re buying for a baby whose sex is as yet unknown. I love the navy version too and at $49 it’s great value. Cotton/acrylic blend.
How cool is this?! No wonder it’s currently sold out. In true Kip & Co style it’s totally out there but who said all baby blankets had to be pastel and pared back? I love the pom poms! In peach and red 100% merino wool, I’d say this is a unisex option. (We love the nap wraps they recently gifted us too).
Atelier/Child is the new luxury children’s knitwear label founded this year by ex Vogue Australia deputy editor and founder of The Grace Tales Georgie Abay and communications consultant Jessica Baird Walsh. This on trend blanket is made of a cashmere/wool blend.
There’s something wonderfully old school about this rocking horse design and I do love a neutral option. This Australian-designed, reversible cotton knit blanket is the perfect size for a pram or bassinet or perhaps just snuggling on the lounge! Little Bonbon also sell some lovely baby shawls, including this one which is rather reminiscent of Princess Charlotte’s!
Everyone RAVES about their oversized muslin wraps for swaddling, so it goes without saying aden + anais’ organic muslin blankets would be something pretty special. They promise to get softer with every wash. This 100% organic cotton four-layer blanket is the ultimate in breathability; warm in winter and cool in summer.
This on trend geometric is just one of the fun designs by Weegoamigo, available from The Little Linen Company (who also sell the Airwrap, the safer cot bumper alternative). A premium double-layered knit blend of 30% bamboo rayon and 70% cotton, this one’s nice and warm and comes gift boxed.
Disclosure: Blankets marked with an asterisk were kindly gifted to Sebastian with no promise of coverage.
Today’s coffee table belongs to Tash Sefton, one half of the hugely succesful Sydney fashion blog, TheyAllHateUs.
“Our house is full of books, of mainly fashion and interiors, that I have collected from all my travels,” says the full-time blogger. “I love piling them up on hand to read. I currently have a pile at the base of my coffee table.
“I always have the latest magazines from overseas – my fave Vanity Fair, Vogue Paris and British Vogue. And I love having my personal items around me. Here are a few Chanel bags. They make me happy! I always have fresh flowers and candles from my friend Kirsten (Walker) who makes Palm Beach Collection.”
Tash was formerly a buyer and head of womenswear for a leading Australian fashion retailer. More often pictured looking effortlessly stylish in her signature ripped denim, she says the coffee table is the central part of her living room, often piled with toys when her sons use it as a play station! “We also use it as a dining table — we love sitting on the floor around it. Oh, and it’s my husband foot stool when he watches the TV!” We love a multi-functional piece!
Her tips for styling a coffee table? “Change it daily.”
