Flip Flop Friday

Relax, the weekends almost upon us and it's time to celebrate...

What a cool local.

This bar is awesome, rustic, relaxed - perfect for some Caribbean liming.

Tropical home bar - easy breezy beautiful.

These are such a good party idea and stylish too, from Alfresco Emporium.

Good ole Martha always inventive.

These tropical leaf coasters certainly do the trick for me.

Tommy Bahama muddler - perfect for cocktail hour.

A rendition of the quintessential tropical colonial home bar by David Flint Wood/India Hicks.

A Tommy Bahama cocktail recipe, delicious.

Cheers all to a great weekend.

Happy Island Styling.

Sydney's latest Darling

Welcome to Sydney Australia's latest 5 star luxe hotel, The Darling.

Boasting views of the Harbour & the Blue Mountains.

Style here is refined with a strong Japanese influence

and is lovingly detailed.

With suites named Adored, Jewel etc. who

wouldn't feel special staying here?

Everything is taken care of so all you need to do

is relax.

The Darling is about senses, and these elements

are well considered through its luxe decor.

According to this ad the pool is delicately scented

with white tea & eucalyptus - how absolutely Divine.

Happy Island Styling.

All images courtesy of The Darling hotel.

Great Design Renaissance Dawn

I have always been intrigued by the Art Deco style.

A backlash to the Great Depression of the 1930's. It's engineered style of straight lined geometry, high contrasted colours and flamboyant luxe materials puts it into a category of an uber style classic.

What I find fascinating at present during all the GFC's, the worldwide recessions that nobody wants to admit and the shifting power bases, is the underlying trend for stylish sustainability that's just as beautiful as the Art Deco years - but much more level headed.

I'm predicting a Renaissance of sorts whereby our design focus will again be highlighted by stylishly beautiful objects but this time with an eco-conscience twist, that uniquely makes them more attainable - thanks in part to the shift in mindset of up-cycling, re-cycling and cool crafting.

So today, I'm going back to the source with Giorgio Armani. He too loves Art Deco and has been inspired to design his own collection in homage to this great style.

Beautiful and striking cabinet.

Orange is the perfect pick me up colour.



Hollywood luxury, whereby craftsmanship

stood out and was valued above mass reproduction.

I love textiles. These are so beautiful, opulent

in texture yet restrained in colour.

This is the new take on Art Deco design that is

really starting to emerge. Shapes that are largely square

but have been softened by the rounding of edges.

It's a perfect balance of yin & yang.

More eco inspired art deco shapes.

Minimalism is a refinement, a purism that pairs

back excess and yet retains all beauty.

Gorgeous.

(all images courtesy of Giorgio Armani)

Happy Island Styling.

The Best Tropical Island Wedding Inspiration

Tropical island weddings are something very special.

Usually set in breathtaking places across the world, these glamorous affairs on beautiful islands just scream wedding paradise bliss.

Be inspired by these beautiful images and awesome ideas - even if you're not getting married.

A beautiful reception setting.

I love this idea, a cocktail of your choice in a real coconut vessel -

can't get much more tropical than that.

A simple ceremony in a beautiful waterfront location,

 private, intimate and exclusive.

I love this idea, not just for weddings, a destination map in your shoes

is the perfect travel accessory.

How simple, but gorgeous. Young green coconuts, palm leaves

and white flowers form the aisle.

A tropical aisle in the sand.

This is a beautiful island reception setting.

I really like this palm leaf arbour.

What a gorgeous bouquet, love the colour and the flower choice.

Another beautiful bouquet.

I love the fresh greens with the crisp white and natural raffia

elements of this reception table setting.

I love these so much, I've actually bought some - so cute and unusual.

Beautiful Beach Weddings

Of course.

A night time wedding, interesting idea, looks stunning.

A fresh tropical island wedding ceremony setting.

How cute, wedding bands in the sand.

How lovely, simple yet elegant Ginger flowers

in water with candles - love the dash of pink.

A lovely coral cake topper, much classier than

the Mr & Mrs traditional toppers.

Beautiful Beach Weddings

An old palm frond makes a wonderful natural boat

for a table centre piece.

A tropical inspired ring bearers cushion.

Pacific Weddings Magazine

A majestic wedding cake - this is so awesome.

Pacific Weddings Magazine

Rest of images Pinterest.

Happy Island Styling.

Island Cocktail Hour

recipes Tommy Bahama

Cheers to Island Styling.