I loved looking at the January/February issue of Real Living magazine yesterday (thanks, Amanda!) because it’s summer down under so naturally the issue reflects that — so happy and bright! All the yummy outdoor settings, beach houses, and umbrellas (they refer to them as brellys, so cute!) made me instantly feel warm and ready to collect shells on the beach. Given that it was 1 degree here yesterday, I have to live through the pages of this magazine for another few months! Have you heard of Real Living? It was voted Australia’s best home & food magazine for good reason — it’s gorgeous with attainable rooms that you can actually imagine affording and/or living in yourself. Here’s a glimpse of the issue I’m enjoying right now, the first one is my favorite because I want the blouse ($35 from Tree of Life) and that curtain made out from vintage handkerchiefs.

And this image below is from last year but I can’t resist posting it because the turquoise and the food is just so enticing!

Psst: Their Editor in Chief Deborah Bibby authors a blog with behind-the-scenes footage of shoots — love it!

Have a great long weekend (U.S. Holiday on Monday 19th) — I’ll see you here on Tuesday, January 20th!

(images from real living australia)

Tags: real living magazine

32 Responses to “Enjoy Your Weekend!”

1 hoganfe handmade handbag originals commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 3:50 am

I adore all the lamps!
mary

hoganfe handmade handbag originalss last blog post: 1st New Listing For 2009! Hoganfe Etsy Boho Hippie Street Chic Bag
2 jo commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 4:30 am

I love this mag. I’m an aussie living far from home and seeing these pics has me wishing for some sunny weather…. sigh…
love your blog.
ps. it’s brolly not brelly. sorry to be a nit-picker!!
3 Jacqueline commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 5:26 am

I read Real Living magazine too. Love it! I’m loving that curtain made out from vintage handkerchiefs too. Stay warm and have a great weekend!

Jacquelines last blog post: I believe….
4 Chelsea-Ann commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 7:43 am

Ooh Yeah, I love the Interiors in Real Living.
I’m an Aussie, I’ts really hot here at the moment.
If it wasn’t for Air-con I don’t know what I’d do.
5 feli commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 9:19 am

I subscribe to the magazine and this month’s issue is by far the most beautifully styled one ever.

We called it Brolleys here in Western Australia. :*)

felis last blog post: Red Doors…
6 Melissa de la Fuente commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 9:30 am

Oh wow! I quite simple adore these images and sure wish I could get a copy of that issue! So wonderful and sure makes me long for summer! I love that top too, thanks for the link! :)
xo
Melis
7 Sara LeeAnn commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 11:49 am

Why on earth have I never seen Real Living before? Shame on me! The photography and staging are jaw-dropping – just perfection! Snow, snow GO AWAY! This post made me looooong for spring. Happy weekend!

Sara LeeAnns last blog post: Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake Muffins
8 Desiree Fawn commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 2:03 pm

I really think I’m going to try & make a curtain like that one.
It’s incredibly lovely.

Desiree Fawns last blog post: love you more than blank.
9 Malene commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Gorgeous colours…food looks yummy!

Malenes last blog post: Danish Design
10 pequeñuelilla commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

hi, we really love your blog, It’s inspiring.

waiting for more posts.
(sorry for our very bad english)
11 Lexy commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 5:19 pm

Real Living is my go-to magazine when I force myself to take a break from my drawing! I won a subsciption to it when it first came out, and have been addicted ever since. I especially love that they write about handmade items/artists/etsy, when so few magazines bother with that.

My mum thinks I should buy that crib, though I’m not planning on having kids for years!! And oh, those grey walls. If you’ve been by my blog you’ll know how I love grey.

Hoping for big summer storm here today (please!) to cool things down! Then I’ll really need the brolley! We Aussies are so lazy. There’s so many words that we can’t be bothered pronouncing properly ;)

Lexys last blog post: The Gallery
12 Amy commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Oh wow! I’ve never heard of that magazine, but I’ll be looking for it next time I’m in a big bookstore. I love the pages you featured here. It’s so cold here and those summery days seem so far away–thanks for letting me dream of them!

Amys last blog post: this week’s wants
13 sewbettie commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

wow! that magazine is absolutely beautiful. i wish i were in australia and not freezing cold australia.

sewbetties last blog post: Avant-Garde Gingham Fabric – $9.00
14 Jacqui commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

Hi Holly,
I love this magazine too. I am lucky to have a great friend in Australia who sends it to me but recently I decided to subscribe (I nearly die when I see how much she paid for postage). I found that since it’s Aussie dollars (or in my case I went through the New Zealand site) it is not as expensive as you’d expect – about US$70.00 for eleven issues.
Check it out here: https://www.magshop.com.au/Real_Living.htm?CID=279

I cannot wait for my first issue to arrive!!

Thanks Holly, gorgeous post as always. I get your updates in my email and ALL of them are so clickable.

Jacqui, in Japan

Jacquis last blog post: Card Case – Bon Voyage Bear
15 lisa @ the red thread commented:
January 17th, 2009 at 10:39 pm

Add me to the ‘fans of real living’ group! It is a lovely mag, full of good ideas.

lisa @ the red threads last blog post: Give Away Reminder
16 belinda commented:
January 18th, 2009 at 5:35 am

oh hooray – always lovely to hear nice comments about our mag! I’m sorry it’s not more readily available outside of Australia, but it is possible to get an international subscription. Or you can get your dose from our site’s sneak peek or the pages we post on our blogs. x

belindas last blog post: ice treat #1: rocket ice blocks
17 Sarah ~ a beach cottage commented:
January 18th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

g’day, I’m in Australia and love it, has some fab ideas and a lot of it is attainable and not totally out of my budget, so refreshing not to see $800 a metre fabric on every styled page…you know what is great too that I am collecting back issues from op-shops for 50cents, I get a whole big long read on the deck for a few cents a minute haha!

Sarah

Sarah ~ a beach cottages last blog post: Kitchen Foofying at the Cottage
18 Lauren commented:
January 18th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

I lived in New Zealand for a couple of years, and we got the magazine at work. My boss and I would fight over it everytime it came in. Now that I’m back in Chicago, I miss it so much, I go online, but it’s just not the same. I may have to treat myself and get a subscription! Thanks for the images, they’re great!
19 ah Teo commented:
January 18th, 2009 at 11:33 pm

i love that folksy top. when i clicked on their catalogue link, it does not seem to work. anyway, this mag sure looks inspiring. i love the cover page of it. looks so summery! the images that u posted all looks great.

ah Teos last blog post: Curry Rice at Yoshoku
20 Amanda commented:
January 19th, 2009 at 12:09 am

Yay! It arrived. Enjoy. xx

Amandas last blog post: The world
21 Renovation Therapy commented:
January 19th, 2009 at 12:37 am

that bird lamp!!! love. love. love.
22 belinda commented:
January 19th, 2009 at 5:31 am

ooops, I forgot to change the quote mark font thing… try this link now for the sneak peek. Next issue is out on Monday. x

belindas last blog post: this week, why don’t you…
23 monica lee commented:
January 19th, 2009 at 9:29 am

Sob! Sunny, bright, warm. Usually it makes me happy but since I am up to my thighs in snow in New England with no end in site! All these beautiful photos make me want to hop a snowplow straight to the airport and head to Australia!!
24 Johanna commented:
January 19th, 2009 at 10:18 am

Those pics put me in the mood for spring… If I can get over the snow that’s supposed to fall today!

Johannas last blog post: The End of An Era
25 Breanne commented:
January 19th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Just visit us here in sunny Arizona, then you can get closer to the feel of summer in the middle of January. :)

I love taking peeks at your blog. Your creativity is overflowing – I don’t know how you do it! Each post is idea inspiring, I don’t even know where to start sometimes.

I am in the beginnings of a design oriented blog; but need to figure out many of the graphic tricks and smooth layout formats that you do.

Anyway, thanks for always sharing!

Breannes last blog post: Architect for Hire
26 Debbie commented:
January 19th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

i love that floor lamp!!! is it driftwood,painted white wood or something else? love

Debbies last blog post: A Patriotic Celebration -daily painting,cupcake
27 petallica commented:
January 20th, 2009 at 4:47 am

Can anyone tell me the brands that make the fantastic crib in the nursery and the sideboard? Unfortunately I can’t read it in the pics.

Thanks!!
28 Kelly @ Color Sizzle commented:
January 20th, 2009 at 11:34 am

Love the yellow accents!
29 ROOM design studio commented:
January 21st, 2009 at 8:22 am

Oh yes I love this magazine very much.. I already blogged about this a week ago or so .. pretty!!

ROOM design studios last blog post: Once Upon a Room ..
30 April commented:
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm

I would also love to know who makes that crib! (Or is it called a cot in Australia?)
31 April commented:
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Ok, I did some digging (should have done that before I posted!) and the crib/cot is called the “Leander”, and is a Danish design from Leanderform. It doesn’t appear to be for sale anywhere in the U.S. though!
32 belinda commented:
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:52 pm

Yes April we call them cots! It is the Leander and is pretty popular; I’m surprised it’s not for sale in the states. Usually it’s the other way around! And Petallica, the sideboard is called the Scandi Buffet and is from MRD Home. Not sure if it’s imported or locally made though. PS: March issue is out Monday and I posted some pages this morning. x

belindas last blog post: sneak peek: real living march issue

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