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Ginger Jar Blue, Blue Mountains National Park (2026)

24/12/2020

Merry Christmas! We are away from home this year at beautiful Lake Maquarie but that doesn't mean I've pared down the tablescape. Christmas lunch is my favourite meal of the year and should be celebrated in style. Prawns, salads and turkey urkey on the BBQ plus an excess of champagne and Nanny's Christmas pudding which my Mum makes for us every year. I hope you all have a wonderful day and the happiest of happy New Year's. X Fiona

25/03/2020

FANTASY INTERIORS AROUND THE WORLD
Ciao Amici! Welcome to Part 3! In Italy!
I adore spaces that ooze elegance and history combined with style and whimsy! This Milan apartment has it in spades.
Hero lighting in the Living & Dining areas plus the feature wall to end all feature walls share star billing here.
The living space comprises a cavernous domed ceiling in a raw finish with luxe gold and teal fittings, fixtures and furnishing but it’s the cloud-like light installation that takes my breath away. It’s like the designer wanted serene and spectacular all at once; the dreamy feeling of watching clouds scud across the sky while being grounded in these squishy daybed loungers. Just sublime
I love the sharp shock from the living to the dining space. It’s like walking from the village piazza into a medieval cathedral. The purgatorial red with the pipe organ lighting and the commanding artwork evoke ecclesiastical grandeur.
The gorgeous hallway is rock ‘n ‘roll glam while the minimal kitchen is in total opposition to the dining space. With its glowing “Halo” pendants and light, white palette it seems the kitchen and dining spaces represent salvation and redemption respectively.
The jewel box of a bathroom makes me smile with its gem cut bath and basins combined with the daring mineral wall. The mirror and accessories are so glamorous yet so much fun!
Don’t know where we’re going tomorrow but it’s better than quarantine!
X Fiona

24/03/2020

Well Hello Everyone. We are distant physically but together digitally!
Installment 2 of FANTASY INTERIORS AROUND THE WORLD for your edification.
I have travelled (but barely) from Paris to the gorgeous countryside where this lavish French Villa exudes style and luxury.
I will say straight off the bat, my favourite element in these spaces is the artwork. I adore a fractured fairytale and the image of Marie Antoinette defaced by a splat of luxe gold is right up my alley; obliterated by her own wealth, yes?
My favourite piece is the image of King Louis decked out in rapper bling. Can you see he also has a Louis Vuitton holdall? It’s a cheeky wink in a space that is so carefully curated.
Another shot of punk is delivered via the reflective surfaces. Yes, there’s a totally covetable mirrored baby grand, sumptuous marble furnishings & fittings and all that glam gold yet the mirrored wall in the bedroom is warped and the dividing wall in the living space has an acetone burn. It’s these details that prevent this space from taking itself too seriously. Elegance with a twist!
The lighting in this villa is amazing. The pieces themselves are to die for but have you noticed how the designer has paired every grouping of parallel lines with a circle? On the mantlepiece, on and behind the coffee table, in the dining room and in the bedroom – it’s brilliant!
There’s just so much to appreciate here – the detail is stunning, but this space also looks cosy and relaxing. Bloody stylish French people being chic all the time! *grumble grumble* If you have the means to look at this space on a PC rather than you’re phone it’s worth it!
###xx Fiona

23/03/2020

Hello Everyone.
We’re all feeling wobbly but I’m here for you! My remedy for banishing the Corona blues is a bit of escapism. A break from the news, the conjecture and the toilet paper deficit. I hereby present FANTASY INTERIORS AROUND THE WORLD *fanfare*
Our first stop is this breathtaking Paris apartment. Adjectives fail me when it comes to this space! The chandeliers, the art, the sophistication and glamour of the colour palette! The drama of the double height ceiling paired with the intimacy and comfort of the seating. Then there’s the perfect pairing of period and contemporary and do I even have to rhapsodize over the view? The piano accordion is playing Non, Je ne Regrette Rien, I’ve a glass of Pol Roger in hand and I’m on that sofa gazing over the rooftops of Paris *wipes drool*
As I seem to have gone from not-enough-hours-in-the-day to what-will-I-do-with-myself-today in the space of a week, I think some design voyeurism is the ticket. Stay tuned for more over the top commentary, more gorgeousness and more drool (just at my end – you don’t have to)
Sending much love to you all,
Fiona

12/02/2020

GETTING IN TOUCH
Apologies to anyone who has tried to email me or contact me by PM. The storms have knocked our internet around over the last four days. I can be reached on my mobile 0400 311 531 and maybe in the next five minutes as I inexplicably have a connection now!
Cheers,
Fiona

05/02/2020

What Can I Find for You?
The 2020 Trade Fair is fast approaching which means I am creating lists and tables ready to hunt out unique and exciting new items to fit my clients taste, needs and budget. Product Sourcing is a valuable design service many people utilise to save time, money and occasionally, their sanity. Let me set the scene:
You’ve been trawling through the home centre with reluctant partner and/or children in tow. The atmosphere of discontent is palpable and rising. You still haven’t found a dining table in the style or price range you desire. The bickering/whining/hostilities commence. You look at each other and say, “should we just get the one from the last shop?” And you do. And you’re paying $2000 for something you don’t love.
Here’s another one. You’ve found a bookcase/table/sideboard that you like but when it’s sitting in your home it doesn’t create the same impact it had in the showroom. You realize the piece, while attractive, was made fabulous by the carefully curated and styled items on its surface or shelves. You loved the rustic industrial theme of the vignette, but you don’t know how to recreate the scene for your space. It’s where a designer comes in!
Hiring a designer to product source is as simple as describing your needs, budget and preferred style. This could be a big item: dining table, armoire etc. or a small item: lighting, art, flooring etc. I usually find three examples of each item a client requires to fulfill their brief. You choose, I order, it’s delivered, done. Send me an email or call me on 0400 311 531 to discuss what I might find for you at the 2020 trade show.
X Fiona

03/02/2020

GINGER JAR BLUE 2020
Hello Everyone!
I’d like to wish you all a warm welcome to Ginger Jar Blue 2020. The year will be starting with a bang as the Sydney Trade Fairs kick-off at the end of this month. I will be checking out all the latest and greatest design offerings, buying for current clients and product sourcing for those of you in the market for a particular item(s) to make your space sing. I’ll be posting information about product sourcing this week so look out for details on how I can help you find that special piece for your home. For info call me on 0400 311 531, email [email protected] or PM here.
I’ll also be posting about bespoke furniture and how it can transform your home because it’s never too early to start thinking about seasonal transformation!
The last couple of months have been exceptionally hard particularly for those who have lost a home. If you are wondering how you can help, aside from supporting our exceptional emergency and rescue services, please allow me to suggest supporting local business. Having your home under constant threat is hard enough without the added stress of wondering how your business will survive. Areas like the Blue Mountains that rely on tourism are suffering greatly and the knock-on effect is terrible. An hour or so in the car is a small price to pay for rallying around communities who continue to be affected by the fires long after they have been put out. Fantastic shopping, gorgeous cafes, fabulous tours and exciting experiences all need your help! You’ll have a brilliant time AND your halo will be extra shiny!
X Fiona

13/11/2019

New Stories
I know a lot of us have been, once again, facing the possibility of losing our homes as bushfire ravages so much of our country. Yesterday we packed a bag each, made sure we had the dog carrier ready and went over our bushfire plan. Then Richard asked me what I wanted to pack from the house. Hmmmm…..
I adore my home and the things in it. It’s our castle that sustains us through life’s dramas, holds our most joyous occasions and gives us a sanctuary to relax, create, learn, unplug, develop, discover and simply be who we are. Everything I’ve chosen in my home is part of a world that I’ve created to envelop my family. Whether it’s functional, decorative, or just something that spoke to me, it’s there because I felt it was part of our story. I would be absolutely devastated if we lost our story.
So what did I pack from the house? Nothing. If we lost this house and all the things in it I cherish, we’d start again like so many people have had to do. It would be devastating, difficult, frustrating and overwhelming but forward we’d go. I’ve seen a lot of you do it with so much good humour, fortitude and grace.
Everyone please stay safe now and through the hot weather to come. The most important part of any story are the characters in it.
Lots of Love
Fiona

22/10/2019

Ginger Jar Blue Interior Design for 2020
First a monumental thank you to everyone who follows Ginger Jar Blue, likes, shares, reads and comments on my posts and passes on recommendations. It’s sincerely appreciated and you are all fabulous humans!
I just wanted to let everyone know that bookings for 2019 are now closed. I put 110% into any project I work on, big or small, and if I cannot allocate enough time to do my best work, I have to turn it down.
Appologies to anyone who has contacted me for pre-Christmas work. I value your custom and hope you can wait until the new year when I can turn all my attention to making your home be the most wonderful place for you to live!
Of course bookings for 2020 can be made by calling me on 0400 311 531, emailing me at [email protected] or sending a PM here.
Many Thanks,
Fiona

22/10/2019

Tablescaping
When I’m not absorbed with all matter’s décor, I’m indulging my (healthy! nothing to see here) obsession with gorgeous tablescapes. Anyone can set the table but putting together a tablescape is an art in itself.
I’m not referring to a Downtown Abbey-esque setting that adheres to formal rules or simply laying out matching napkins and tablecloth – nothing wrong with that! – but a composition of elements that create a beautiful little world where family and friends can escape care and enjoy the simple joy of food, drink and good company.
Your tablescape may include cut greenery from the backyard or a spectacular florist’s arrangement, to-die-for hand embroidered table linens or an inexpensive swathe of cheesecloth, a dazzling array of crystal or, oh you get it! It can be humble or heroic or an intriguing mix of both. What matters is the design or, to put it bluntly using one of my favourite Blackadder quotes: It’s not what you’ve got, it’s where you stick it. True of all situations, no?
Before you set off to create an oasis of table loveliness this weekend, my primary piece of advice is to first decide how you are going to serve the meal. I spent one Easter morning slowly building a fairy tale world of bunnies and butterflies gambolling happily in an Enid Blyton inspired enchanted wood which my family duly oohed and aahed over. Unfortunately, this magical habitat was rudely dissembled when we realised that the huge platters of food I’d prepared couldn’t fit on the table. If you’re going big, then prepare a buffet on the kitchen island, sideboard or console and let guests serve themselves.
I love a table filled with platters of food for its aesthetic and practical benefits so when I want to go all out, yet leave room for food and drink, I go up! The illuminations above your dining area are prime decorating real estate. Florists wire, ribbon and fishing line are all your friends here.
Finally, we all love candles but use them judiciously. If your guests are going to cauterize their forearm every time they reach for the salad or take a slug of vino your placement needs rethinking. Now eat, drink and be merry!
x Fiona

10/09/2019

Spring Optimism
Well, if you read last weeks post you will be aware the Seasonal Post Curse kicked into gear causing a low-grade hurricane. Midday temp on Saturday in Leura? 4 degrees. Wind chill factor minus a gazillion. I’m just sayin’…
But don’t despair because the sunny days are coming. However you think of Spring – a fresh start, rebirth and renewal, beginning of the diet – it uplifts our spirits because it imparts optimism. It’s not just the welcome cheerfulness of a warm day, it’s positivity, possibility and growth. In fact a study by the University of Michigan linked spending 30 minutes or more in sunny Spring weather to higher mood and better memory. The same study found that Spring weather isn’t just a mood booster, it can change the way people think. Researchers found that enjoying Spring weather broadened participants minds leaving them open to new information and creative thoughts.
So your mission this weekend is to take some time to enjoy the weather, open your mind to new thoughts and creativeness and then call me for an interior consult to put said fresh thinking to work!
### Fiona
call Fiona at Ginger Jar Blue on 0400 311 531, email at [email protected] or PM here.

04/09/2019

Scared to Say Spring
Hello Everyone
In the two years I have been writing for Ginger Jar Blue on Facebook I have noticed a recurring phenomenon. You may be aware of it too. I’m calling it the Seasonal Post Curse.
If I write about Autumnal decorating, vibrant foliage and spicy warm colours, an uncharacteristic stretch of hot weather will occur. If I welcome Summer with open arms, endorsing outdoor living and rhapsodizing over vivid new fabric, a freak bout of chilly weather will sweep the country.
Now I am faced with the fourth beautiful Spring day in a row and I’m too scared to put pen to paper because of the curse!
But it’s so hard. There’s fabric, there’s furniture, there’s fantastic lighting and there are the most heavenly paint palettes that fill me with pure joy. I will exercise caution and resist but in the meantime, I am bursting with enthusiasm for all the gorgeous ways you can improve your home this Spring.
X Fiona
Oh and photos don’t count, right?

Ginger Jar Blue

24/12/2020

25/03/2020

24/03/2020

23/03/2020

12/02/2020

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13/11/2019

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