Cup, coast or country

With today beginning a huge week of spring racing carnival in Melbourne, most people are amongst it having a punt at Flemington in hats and frocks or using the long weekend to escape to the calm of the coast or country. At Portobello home Richmond store, we're following suit and fleeing to Balnarring Beach. We will be trading at our Balnarring shop on Sunday and Monday, closed cup day. Richmond store will be closed Sunday through to Tuesday, reopen as per usual on Wednesday, Good luck with the GG's and enjoy the long weekend.

Racehorses training on Balnarring Beach at dusk, I wander if one of these beauties are winners this year.

Our Portobello Home

One of the most frequently asked questions we get at Portobello Home is "what 'look' do you call this?" and i often don't really know what to say. I feel like its simply a tightly, thoughtfully, carefully curated collection of pieces we believe to be classic, versatile, functional and beautiful. I guess the collection is also really a lifestyle collection, we hope that our pieces can make their way in to homes in many a way, shape, style or form. Our own lifestyles, inspiration, icons and style whether it be from the moment, the past or historical, all inspire the way we design, source and merchandise our collection. Uncomplicated, liveable, versatile and eye catching, we believe our collection to be unique and authentic, weather they be our exclusive items or mainstay classics. Not a day goes by that we don't gush over pieces we've seen a hundred times or gasped with excitement when we unpack our new (and old) arrivals. Ive put together a 'Portobello mood board' of such to give you a small idea as to where we draw our inspiration from.

Images via: Pinterest, Mark D Sikes, India Hicks, House & Garden, Verandah magazine & a couple that have been on the ipad camera roll for so long i cant remember where ive found them.

Blue & White.

With the very recent news that fashion icon Oscar De La Renta passed away, My instagram, Pinterst and favourite blogs were inundated with the most beautiful images of his incredible designs and brilliantly decorated homes. Oscar showcased his collection of blue and white porcalien so beautifully, functionally and uniquely. It generated a conversation at Portobello Home about just how useful it is as a decoration element. Classic, timeless, functional and colourful. Blue and white added to a space en mass, as a singular feature or to create interest and colour to a landscaping idea, will never ever date, As Mr De La Renta has quite perfectly proven. Ive pulled together some of our favourite rooms, vignettes in our showrooms or images that have always been a go to for inspiration.

An image of a room from one of Oscar De La Renta's homes in a House and Garden decorating book in 1970. I love how he has used the drum stools to hold the lamps. Timeless perfecton

A vignette in our Richmond showroom last year showcasing a n eclectic selection of pieces from our collection.

Our antique birdcage displaying coral, shells and our ceramics perfectly.

A beautiful example of blue and white as a centrepiece in formal dining.

A favourite image of our Richmond showroom recently.

Interest and texture to the mix with glass objects, antiqued mirror and sea shells

A fresh container arrival at our warehouse. Always very exciting and nerve racking.

Not only is this tiny kitchen a great argument for why you should paint your ceiling a dark colour, I also love the display of treasured blue and white mixed back with rattan peices. Perfect combination.

I love the simplicity of this urn used to hold greenery. Perfect.

From one of my favourite Verandah magazine issues. Drum stools are the perfect decoration element for outdoor spaces and so versatile.

Oscar proving the functionality of the drum stool. Bravo Mr De La Renta you were an exceptional talent.

The perfect bedside companion. Pink flowers, no matter the room no matter the type, always work.

Perfectly poolside. An affordable and spectacular landscaping addition.

All of the pieces pictured in our showrooms are available at both Richmond and Balnarring showrooms. Otherwise please contact us with any queries you may have.

Highly anticipated, Buttoned and beautiful

Our greatly anticipated order of leather furniture has finally arrived and we couldn't be more thrilled with the results. We have our usual collection, three & four seater chesterfields, buttoned ottomans, wing backs and our St Louis Chair. The St Louis exclusively in tan leather and the rest of the collection in the three colours, Black, VIntage brown and THE most divine tan we've seen to date. The tan is by far our most popular and most gasped over colour, but this most recent delivery is just another notch higher than usual. Its hard to describe but the colour is just so perfect, So warm, luxe and just perfection really. Ive put together a little gallery of our leather pieces in different ways we've merchandised them in the shop. Ill also follow up with a bit of a inspiration board of just how versatile and classic a chesterfield can be, in a hugely diverse range of spaces. Oh and we have added the black William wing back to the collection this time, we hope you love it as much as we do.

New to the collection, The William wingback in Black.

Our black 3 seater sofa

The brown 4 seater in our Balnarring store.

Tan 4 seater sofa and vintage brown ottoman

Tan 4 seater and tan ottoman

Vintage brown 3 seater

William wingback in vintage brown, Wall in our engineered timber range, Colour Rock Oak

Tan 4 seater in detail.Superb.

Also, Please be aware that some of these photos are from Instagram so the colours will vary from image to image.  Please feel free to email us with any enquiries you may have portobellohomeho@gmail.com or visit us at one of our showrooms.

255 Swan St Richmond, Vic 0449 872 634

& 1/9 Russel St Balnarring, Vic 0402 133 447

Soft Spot

We've recently added to our cushion collection at both our shops! Spring pinks and pale dusty blue in paisley and coral motifs, delicate, light and fresh to compliment the current blooms and greenery that's blossoming this time of year. We've also got some more indigo prints and a handful of bespoke indigo cotton and indian cotton cushions we've had made to different sizes perfect for your favourite arm chair or for your bed. Cushions are an easy, affordable way to update a space. Plus they are a great investment as they are easy to reshuffle and reuse in any room of your home. Below you'll see our new cushions in our balnarring store and a little but of cushion decorating inspiration.

Images via Elle decor, Pinterest and portobello home.