Monday, August 13, 2012

Beach House Decor is so much Fun with Instagram



Well I've finally walked through the instagram door and the convenience with which I can shot Beach Home Decor and post it to social media quickly, is on the up and up.  It was all about the phone you see.  I didn't have a smart phone until last month and at this stage, you can't play unless you have one.  Instagram was recently acquired by Face Book, which meant the app was freed up for use on all smartphones, not just the Apple iphone.  Being able to use it on an android phone, which is more affordable and just as good, made it more attractive and it was time for me to jump in.   And what fun I've been having.  It's so easy to whip this baby out and shoot some of the gorgeous coastal home decor stores we have up here on Sydney's Northern Beaches


The first 6 shots were taken at Alfresco Emporium in Colloroy and Beach Dwellers, a trip to this store is a day out in itself.  They have just opened up a huge space to the rear of the store, previously used as storage. It is called Alfresco Emporium Backstage and I lost myself in here for about an hour.  I just love to wonder past all the beautiful statement pieces, fondling them as I go. I melted into a huge and comfy lounge suite for some time and just sucked it all up.  This is house porn in the extreme peeps.  If Mr Beach House didn't work and sail most weekends and I didn't have kiddo raising duties, this would be the kind of place I would love to work.  I would be the most over qualified shop assistant on the planet, but basically, I would pay even them to get to be in here all day.


The pieces on show are big, real big and I don't have another inch of room at the Beach House to put another stick of anything really,  but this is my 'somewhere over the rainbow' place,  where dreams are made and there is hope they will come true some day.


It is reassuring I still feel so good about red white and blue, as I just think it is so smart.  I've got it all over the Beach House.  It was there even before it was cool in home decor,  As it's now mainstream it's probably time to move on, but that's not really the way I operate.  Rule number one in decorating..... If you love it and are happy to live with it.....it works, end of story!!!!!


That's a decorating strategy, which can make your home uniquely beautiful.


So more on a trip to Alfreso being a day out. We had a leisurely lunch in the cafe


Sniffed all the blooms and perused the gourmet food section.  We have a little girls birthday party at the Beach House this week and I fully intend trying my hand at cake pops, so I bought some cake pop sticks.  Alfresco is the only place I've seen them in Australia so far.  So after settling in here for the afternoon, it was time to go back to the Beach House for a dose of reality.


But not before a little detour via Newport Beach to Manyara Home, which has just moved into larger digs in an effort to hold all their beautifully exotic pieces.  This is where I got my wrought iron chandelier, which has now been installed and is no longer a table centre piece on my dining table. I'll be bringing you a story on that real soon.



And then that truly eclectic cavern, that is Les Interieurs
Edit:  Les Interiuers has now moved to Paddington


We really are spoilt for choice up here on the beaches for gorgeous homewares stores.

Oh and later that night my phone, complete with instagram app and I, attended a fantastic party with a come as your favourite rockstar theme.  And I have to say I am so thankful that social media technology was not available when I was partying hard in my 20s.

Carnaby Street Does Curl Curl
I instagramed like a kid with a new toy at the party and wrote this on my personal Face Book page the next morning:

Can't believe I'm going to 50th birthday parties these days

"A thousand apologies for all the instagram action last night. Clearly I don't get out much. I'm just so thankful this technology wasn't around when I was 20. I can only imagine how many career opportunities I would have ruined by just being me!!!!"

Partying with the Cavemen

Peter Garrett and Mick Jaggar


My friends wrote back, and the general consensus was  "Glad you had fun and  that they so need to get onto Instagram"  Here's what I wrote in reply:
Yes doing it all now with the benefit of maturity or at least a greater dose of it, is much better. It sure was a great party. In the old days I used to hand platters of food around as an excuse to introduce myself to people. Now it seems I just have to take photos of them and we get talking that way. I love the 21st century.

Instagram I heart you.  And if you would like to follow me for more decor shots  (I promise I don't go to parties very often) you can find me over at instagram on @desireempire and I'd love to follow you back too.

Have a wonderful week!!!
Today I am linked up here



16 comments :

  1. I am buying a new phone soon- mine has lasted over 5 years- unheard of I am told, so I may be instagraming along side you! Love the shops- wish we had something like that here- or maybe it is better for my bank account that we don't!

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  2. Hello Carolyn, I'm staying in a beautiful brand new hotel in Airlie Beach. The decor is so like being in a boat house. I love the floor boards a mix of blond and dark wood made to look like a boathouse. I havn't visited any of those gorgeous stores. when the weather gets warmer in Sydney I'll drive on up and visit them.

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  3. I love a good homewares store Carolyn and there's not too many around me. I used to love the larger nurseries that had the lot; cafe, homewares, plants. Because of the water restrictions brought in a few years ago, buying plants isn't as popular as it was a few years ago. It was a nice way to spend a day. Interesting your read about the smart phone. I'm in exactly the same boat and have just been trying to find out the best one. I think I miss out on a few good photo opportunites not having a camera with me at all times. I'll get around to it this week. (Do you mind me asking which phone you got?)

    Anne xx

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    1. It is the latest HTC android. good phone and I am on a Voda phone $49/month plan which seems to give me enough downloads and calls included.

      Carolyn

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  4. Cool pictures!

    I am on instagram, although I don't have a smart phone :) - I have an ipad, and so I could get the app. I can't take pictures with my ipad, but I can give regular pictures the "instagram" look by opening them up in my ipad. I haven't really played with it too much, though - I have so many other distractions as it is!

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    1. Yes that's right you can instagram on Ipad but I just don't find it as convenient. And I know what you mean about destractions

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  5. they look like great shops and the party looks fun!
    i'm looking forward to having instagram again. i used to use an itouch for it but unfortunately it has been lost :(
    x

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  6. Love all those decor shops...I would love to see some of them here on the West Coast.
    Have a great week.

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  7. Wonderful shops! Great photos of the shops! Wish I were there shopping!

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  8. You are absolutely right! It could only be classified as beautiful beach home decore. Absolutely beautiful!

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  9. Hiya! Oh I am a huge Instagram fan too, it's a lot of fun. Thanks so much for your kind comment on my blog yesterday, it was really appreciated :)
    Cas x

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  10. I just found your lovely blog via stylish settings, i love the photo's of Alfresco Emporium, I use their online shop as I'm in Brisbane, but it's lovely to see the actual store for real so thanks for sharing the photographs. If you are still making the cake pops google the tim tam cake pop recipe, they are delicious, and real easy to make, I made them for my daughters birthday (for the first time!) and they came out well - here's a pic from my facebook page...hope this helps, Jo.
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=300610190014777&set=a.300609126681550.70687.127653530643778&type=1&theater

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  11. What a great place to shop! Thank you for sharing at Potpourri Friday at 2805! Rock on!

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  12. It’s refreshing to see people posting pictures like these on Instagram instead of the usual subjects like food or grandiose vacations. The home decor photos you took at Les Interieurs are wonderful, by the way. The kinds of home accessories they sell are my thing.

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