Miss Haberdash interior challenge ....

So far, so naff. Well, that's what The Guardian UK inferred when word spread of the very latest BBC reality show, The Great Interior Design Challenge.

But judge for yourself, it's currently showing every Tuesday at 9.30pm on Foxtel's LifeStyle channel. If you're a lover of soft furnishings and paint charts press the record button, you'll be addicted. Better than The Block and more challenging than Changing Rooms, it's informative fun.

Miss Haberdash Christmas windows ....

I love a good window display but in keeping with my crafty credentials I love Anthropologie's the best.

For crafty creativity they beat all other retailers hands down, here are a few examples of Christmas past and present.

For a behind the scenes look follow this link Anthropologie: the making of our holiday windows.

Miss Haberdash shopaholic ....

If you're new to Melbourne and like to shop Gertrude Street has it all. Transformed from grunge to groovy it's a hipsters paradise.

Crafty shops have found a home and with Lark, Cottage Industry and Spacecraft in residence you're spoilt for choice. It's easy to make a half day of it stopping off at cafes like Birdman Eating or De Clieu. This is quintessential inner city Melbourne, go visit before it loses its cool.

Lark Store, Spacecraft, Dagmar Rousset, Cottage Industry

Miss Haberdash meltdown....

Two weeks into Melbourne's heatwave and Miss Haberdash is starting to melt.

A visit to Marimekko on Chapel Street briefly revived me until I looked at the prices - $46.00 for  coasters! Gorgeous ceramics, homewares and cute clothes in a riot of colour is just the tonic, as long as you're window shopping.

https://www.marimekko.com/

Miss Haberdash and the Great Gatsby....

It's hard not to be impressed with the new Deco Rug Collection from Catherine Martin. Highly decorative patterns drawn from  the art deco aesthetic are made into luxerious hand tufted rugs.

They also star in hubby, Baz Luhrmann's next feature film The Great Gatsby. Now, if only I had the inheritance with palatial mansion or penthouse suite to go with them.

http://www.catherinemartin.com

Her range of wallpapers is just as elegant. As you'd expect the styling of these images is fabulous.

http://www.catherinemartin.com

Miss Haberdash eclectic....

I loved these images so much, I bought the magazine. Bullseye real living, the feature on Debi Treloar's fantastic home had me in a swoon.

My very own bathroom has much in common with Debi's, from the colour palette to the ephemera.  But that's where it ends because all this sweet girly stuff can seriously impact on a relationship, if you know what I mean! 

real living July 2012

Miss Haberdash weaving....

Margo Selby is a weaver, and featured on the BBC series Mastercrafts, shown last year on the ABC. As an expert in the field she tutored a group of novices who learnt that patience is just as important as creativity when it comes to learning a new skill.

This weekend while perusing the The Sunday Age magazine I saw a wonderful throw and cushion cover, not credited, but I'm sure it's a Margo Selby design. I spent far too long selecting these images from her website which features a diverse range of vibrant textiles, wallpapers and accessories.

Miss Haberdash furniture....

New kitchen chairs anyone? I definitely don't need them, mine are perfectly fine if a bit wobbly. But, once again I've been seduced by the latest crop of interior design mags. Chairs with retro stylings, eco credentials and a lot of quirk, it's all very tempting.

Leslie Oschmann (above) re upholsters with old paintings to make furniture and accessories. Nice idea.

Now these look oh so familiar, designed by Paola Navone for Eumenes but first seen in 2007 on the catwalks of Paris for Louis Vuitton! I have the picture to prove it, you may recognise them as those laundry bags from the $2 shop.

http://www.eumenes.it/en/designers/paola-navone

www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/S2007RTW-LVUITTON

For the eco enthusiast and lovers of shabby chic these chairs by H-Poem are made from pieces of  wood salvaged from Korea and the Philippines simple but lovely.

://h-poem.com/about.html

Miss Haberdash pixel perfect ....

My interest was piqued when I bought a new duvet/ doona cover from KAS in the post christmas sale. I was thrilled, the cross stitch/ mosaic design was so Miss Haberdash.

Which led me to Cristian Zuzunaga a Spanish designer and RCA graduate.

www.zuzunaga.com/Fire.html

Digital technology has revolutionized the textile industry. His design studio Zuzunaga collaborates with artists and designers across all fields to deliver fresh, bold and innovative work that puts a smile on your face.

www.zuzunaga.com/Giant-Flow.html

'Fire' pattern for Kvadrat pillowcases by Cristian Zuzunaga

Miss Haberdash at home....

I've been a fan of Inside Out  since the beginning, I bought the first edition. This month they feature Scholten & Baijings a cool Dutch design duo. They mix fluorescent and pastel colours with abstract patterns, I love it.

Miss Haberdash celebrates....

This weekend was all about the food.

MoVida Aqui on Friday night was a special birthday treat, fabulous.

Then on Saturday morning the crush at Preston market was fun. It's a culture mash with every food group represented. To revive we had Greek coffee and baklava at Melissa in Thornbury.

Finally Yum Cha at Gold Leaf in Preston, it's tucked down the back of an arcade but once inside it's a riot of red and gold the revolving chandeliers are really something.

Miss Haberdash hardware....

Mystery objects come in all shapes and sizes at Guy Mathews's shop in Fitzroy.

Origin unknown, its fun to guess. Each room is home to an eclectic mix of vintage industrial furniture. I've mixed the collage up with some local graffiti.

Miss Haberdash is no shopaholic....

But, it's hard to resist a good fabric shop, even Spotlight will do. The Fabric Store on Brunswick Street was new to me, endless bolts of fabric in bright colours, it makes my day.

No surprise, I collect fabric of all persuasions, teatowels, saris, and handkerchiefs. I don't discriminate, here are a few treasures.

Rajasthan, bedspread

Bangladesh, sari

Miss Haberdash goes latino....

Sonido! is a fantastic cafe on Gertrude Street (http://sonido.com.au/).
It's fabulous, the walls are covered with art and kitsch memorabilia and the soundtrack is cool. I was totally smitten, here's why.

A few doors down you'll find Love & Madness a riot of colour (http://www.amorylocura.com/).I like the mirrors but they also sell architectural antiques, furnishings and collectables.

Miss Haberdash collects....

Crockery, it's been an addiction since I first had pocket money to spend. Here are a few photos of my kitchenalia.

The picture in this image is by Victorian artist Alan Bates, I've added his blog to my browse selections.