{ an indian affair }

India is one of the oldest civilisations in the world.

Throughout its history it has been invaded multiple times,

from the Greeks, the Moguls, the Portugese, the British and even the French...

These invasions brought many influences to a country

that was already so culturally diverse. Today this richness in culture and traditions

evokes a celebration of life that has translated into their illustrious

architecture, furniture, textiles and ceramics...

India celebrates its people, languages, multiple faiths

and festivals through their incredible attention to detail and love of colour...

Cable Knit Coziness!

As the weather cools down there's nothing better than

snuggling up on the couch with a knitted blanket.

Our prediction for blanket trends this season is the cable knit!

Cable knitting usually produces a fabric that is less flexible and more dense than typical knitting which means it'll keep you nice and warm during the colder months!

We are seriously obsessed with cable knit throws and we think - the more the better.

Get a bunch of different patterned cable knit blankets and

stack them up on a chair or couch for a beautifully textured cozy feel.

Keep your eyes peeled for some beautiful knitted blankets

coming soon to Sky Parlour.

Rope Decor

Rope was originally made from hemp.

It was recognized early on for the toughness and durability of its fibres,

which could be picked apart and woven into a variety of useful materials.

Rope was still made from natural fibers until the 1950's when synthetic materials started being used. Today commonly used fibers for making rope include, manila, hemp, linen, cotton, coir, jute, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, Kevlar and polyester. Although thousands of years has passed since rope making was first created, how we make and use ropes today stays virtually unchanged except for the materials and technology we use.

We love the versatility of rope especially in interiors.

It can be used for a nautical vibe, french country setting,

industrial look and even in the children's room!

We think it adds a nice textured accent in any environment...

:: vintage industrial love ::

One of the most popular interior decorating trends

of the moment is Mid 20th century vintage industrial furniture.

They make great fixtures and create stylish yet functional

gathering spaces throughout your home. Vintage industrial furniture

has so much more character than regular furniture, especially pieces that

use bits from old machinery - check out the bike chain stool with the

pedal base and perforated kitchen bins.

A few industrial piece are plenty; a metal pendant light alone has the ability

to change the look of an entire room. There is something so fascinating about

a piece of furniture that has lived a life of its own before it finds a place

in your home. Industrial chic with its classic historic feel creates a

homely space with a rugged and edgy vibe.

Sky Parlour in Shakuhachi Paddington Store

Yesterday we had a fun little afternoon with

the all of the girls (and guy) at

Shakuhachi in Paddington!

They said they needed a bit of Mexican love in the store...

and of course, we had plenty of Mexican love to give!

Our things are only in there for a short amount of time

so if you like anything you see pop in and purchase it!

Sky Parlour Gran's Stool in granny squares $220

Sky Parlour Desert Navajo Rug $350

Sky Parlour Set of 4 Aztec tiles $80

Sky Parlour Rustic Candle Chandelier $120

Sky Parlour Gran's stool in granny squares $220

Sky Parlour Gran's stool in Afghan $220

All images are copyright Sky Parlour and Shakuhachi

These photos may not be reproduced without permission

{ mismatched bowls }

At the moment we are loving collecting lots

of colourful ceramics to brighten up our kitchen -

we've decided that our favourite pieces to collect are bowls!

Due to their small size bowls are the

perfect piece to mix 'n match!

By collecting different patterned bowls

it will bring colour to your cupboard and your

dinner placement!

Just make sure that the mixed 'n matched pieces

work nicely together by having some sort of consistency-

Whether it be their shape or their predominant colour,

the pieces should have some sort of

relevance to one and another to achieve

the perfect cute and quirky look!

Free Love Friday ☮

|| old door charm ||

A door is defined as an architectural partition

or entrance point used to separate or enclose an area.

We however believe a door is much more than just a divide between

two spaces. It is the first thing you cross as you enter a person's home and

therefore it should evoke a sense of curiosity and create an interest

to discover what lies on the other side.

We are madly in love with rustic, weathered vintage doors,

new doors just don't have the same character and charm. It's one of our

favourite styling ideas... where something with real history can add

beauty and offer a functional purpose too.

You can create a vintage bedhead, turn it into a mirror,

add hooks and use it to hang your scarves off... if you find one nice enough

you can just lean it up against a wall or behind your couch.

A great idea that we can't wait to try ourselves is using a vintage door

to create a rustic table top. We love the idea of the hanging door dining table... <3

So if you want to inject some character into your home,

there's no feature piece like an old door!

{ a visit to my home }

Since we're always preaching about different

things we like in homes we thought it

only fair that we let you into our own homes :)

Here's a little sneak peak at my

art deco 1920's home in Sydney's east...

I would describe my style as a mish mash

of eclectic / rustic / aztec / vintage...

I like collecting bits and bobs from flea markets

and vintage stores - however I am also a sucker for

anything hand painted or hand made.

I love bright fabrics, hand painted plates,

hand made timber furniture, mexican woven rugs and

embroidered cushions...

My favourite part of my home is my

new mexican rug (soon to be selling at skyparlour.com.au)

and my backyard/outdoor setting :)

-Karina xx

[ cute + clever : toy storage tips ]

It can be tricky decorating your home and finding cute and effective ways

to store your things, add some kids and their toys to the mix and now you have a

serious problem! We dedicate today's post to young mum's whose home's

have been overrun by their children!

The key is to create a storage area that isn't hidden away in a

cupboard and is easily accessible. Basically a storage solution that is

designed to be seen...

There are so many cute toy box ideas out there to steal...

try a vintage trunk/suitcase or a retro filing cabinet,

these are perfect if you don't like kiddie decor

and prefer grown-up furniture with a childlike feel.

You can use crates, wooden boxes, wall mounted shelves, jute baskets,

ladder shelves, a vintage wheelbarrow... the options are endless

you just need to choose one that works with your style.

We love the mobile toy box...

use old wooden crates or even plain wooden boxes from ikea,

paint them, add some castors and join them together loosely with rope.

A cute idea is to use chalkboard paint and just like that you have yourself a

mobile craft station too!

Another great tip is to label everything... this makes it easy for your

kids to put their things away themselves.