Just What Is A Fibro Shack?

I often get asked by readers from the USA what a fibro beach shack is and today there was another query.

Fibro cottages date back to the 1920s and are the iconic Aussie Beach Shack. We bought our first beach fibro back in 1998 and got hooked on their quaint, retro holiday vibe and have been buying and doing them up ever since.

They have become very trendy with creative types from the city and where we live there is a kind of unofficial contest to see who does the best fibro makeover.

Some are done in a retro kitsch way, others in a more sophisticated "designer" way.

Some of them have great names like:

The Big Kahuna

On The Beach

The Fibro Majestic (after a famous old hotel called the Hydro Majestic)

Life's A Beach

Gidget Goes to Culburra

Summercloud

The Riverboat Queen

Duz Us

More Fibro

My husband, who is sometimes jokingly called "the fibro architect", sent me these photos (at botom) of typical fibros before the makeover. These ones which date from the 1950s-60s with the butterfly roofs are one of the most sought-after designs.

The gorgeous pink fibro called "Gidget", is one he is working on at he moment for clients Claire and Richard. They have done a great job decorating Gidget with a fun retro theme.

The blue one with the orange door is an ugly duckling makeover challenge we could not resist.

The fourth fibro, called 'Life's A Beach", was one of the first to be decorated in an over-the-top, retro style by Chris Lewis.

Fibros On The Inside

By request, here are some interiors from Life's A Beach and Gidget, both the creation of my friend Christine Lewis. They now have new owners who love them and are taking them to the next level.

Thanks to Simon Kenny for the great photos.

Gazebos

My outdoor gazebo finally fell down in a strong wind recently. It is the middle of winter here but I figure now is the time to start planning for its replacement. Here are some lovely examples of what is possible. Should I go all white and light or rustic and floral?

Paris By Design

I was talking to a friend about some inspiring people I have worked with and thought I'd share this story with you.

Nikki Parker, who owns this glorious apartment in the Place des Vosges in Paris, is an old colleague and friend. We worked together a few years back on mostly "fashionable branding" projects at the agency she and her then partner Paul owned. I guess you could say that back in those days she was a real Carrie Bradshaw kind of girl (maybe I was Miranda?) and always had great clothes, lots of energy and a really positive attitude to what life had on offer.

It was no great surprise last year, then, when I opened the Catherine Martin issue of Vogue Living to find her apartment in Paris, decorated by none other than French design legend Jacques Grange. I couldn't believe how over-the-top and fabulous it was - all silk drapes and upholstered walls, chandeliers and antiques.

The history behind this is that Nikki began her working life in the Ralph Lauren Paris store, (working the floor alongside none other than a young Kate Betts who went on to be editor of US Harpers Bazaar) and thus began a life-long love affair with the city of lights and all things French and stylish!

Often we look at these other-worldly magazine spreads and they seem more like a fairy tale than real life. Yes, I can drool over that bed with the silk canopy, but I am much more inspired by the fact she has managed to dream of this and pull it off. The message here is that anything is possible if you have a passion. Nikki never really hesitated in reaching out for her dreams, despite some quite difficult life challenges and setbacks.

But it would just be like Nik to pick up the phone and call Jacques Grange on the spur of the moment and talk him into doing her apartment. I wonder what's next on her wish list... and on yours?

BTW you can rent this apartment for short stays in Paris. It's in the Marais district!

http://www.parisforrent.com/paris-apartment-rentals/vosges-royal/

Questions from the Mum Bloggers

Allison at Pink Fibro has challenged her favourite "Mum" bloggers to answer these questions... so we can gain some insight into the women behind the blogs. Do I count even though I'm more of a design blogger? Apologies to my readers who want more cushion posts. Here goes...

Did you have a Birth Plan? How did that work out for you?

I had a sort of birth plan that involved major pain relief (an epidural) that went west when someone else had an emergency cesarean and distracted my anesthetist for a number of hours. I was induced but had to wallow around in a spa bath for what seemed like an eternity. My husband had to pretend he was checking on the doctor about every 5 minutes.

Did you, at any stage, attempt Gina Ford’s Contented Baby regimen?

Never. Still don't. The mothers in my inner-city Mothers Group who did turned into stressed out control freaks. I'm a big believer in CHILL - a calm mother in tune with her baby lets her instincts save the day.

What is your favourite form of exercise?

Walking. I love to look at the scenery and other people's houses. I think less about the pain and repetition when I'm thinking about paint colours and what roses I'm going to order this winter.

What was the best first date you ever went on?

It would have to be the one with my husband as that's the last one I had! It involved a foot massage under a cafe table and talking until the sun came up.

Dark, Milk, or White Chocolate?

Dark chocolate, but love them all, have to confess. That reminds me - I had better go for a walk.

Domino Lives On

Colour and groovy chairs do it every time in a kitchen, no matter how small.
These surfaces used to be beige - bring on the stripe and gloss paint!
This is a tiny NYC apartment packed with design attitude and personality.
I have to agree with Miles Redd that animal print is practically a neutral.

Great news that Conde Nast have incorporated some of the best stories and design tips from the defunct Domino Magazine in the Brides.com website.

Just type Domino into the search box on the Brides site and all the stories come up!

Here is a taste - Miles Redd's "decorating with impact" tips, the kitchen makeover (top) and how to decorate a really small apartment (third pic).

Thanks Crystal for the tip.