It's springtime in Australia -- flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and sweet color abounds! Did you know that blogger and interior designer Anna Spiro from Absolutely Beautiful Things and Black & Spiro recently launched an online shop? Oh yes, she has and the concept is super original. She calls it the Absolutely Beautiful Things store where you "Shop This Look", but I call it a brilliant Shop By Numbers retail experience that I predict is a growing trend for websites everywhere. It takes the guesswork out and puts the fun back in online shopping because frankly, online shopping needs a boost because the same ole same ole experience of buying stuff online can be so vanilla and I'd like to see more shops adding content or features to their site that an in-store experience just can't give.

(Above: Anna breaks down each item in her styled room, making it a breeze to get the look! She clearly loves pink!)

I've seen this shop by numbers approach only a few times online so it still feels like a very fresh approach to selling and I love how you can build a room easily through the overall approach of breaking down all of the items and more or less saying, "Hey, you like it, here you go - now you can buy it." It takes the complication out of what can often be very complicated - shopping for decorative items online. It's also easier to find products in a photo that you like when you can just click on the item and instantly link to where it's listed on the site.

And for those of you who aren't familiar with this Australian design maven, check out these beautiful images from her home and shop. Swoooooon!

Love this, Anna - way to go!

(images: elouise van riet-gray)