Beyond the standard gallery wall.

Photo by: Jeremy Greive 2013

check out my latest round-up of creative ways to dress up a gallery wall in your home for JB Est 1979, HERE.

Take Your Bed Outside!

Photo by: Fiona Galbraith

before you head out for the long weekend my friends of the North, check out my post for JB Est 1979 and see more of this beautiful outdoor bed project, HERE. Happy Long Weekend; wish I was there!!!

Search For A Stylist contest.

well, the cat is out of the bag- I was announced last week as the WINNER of Inside Out magazine & The Home's Search For A Stylist contest!!!!  Lucky me!!  As the winner I get a job as Head Stylist at The Home, to style a real cover of Inside Out and $1000 dollars to spend at The Home, which I intend to entirely put towards french linen!!! I was very unsure when I first heard about this whole thing (I think it was shock...), but I made it through my first week of work and it was w o n d e r f u l. such a lovely team and so many creative ideas being pitched and produced on a constant basis- I am over the moon, truly. I will be sure to share some of my favourite projects on here with you all; stay tuned.

*above is the winning mock-up cover photo I styled, shot by: Guy Bailey, whom it was an absolute pleasure to work with.


pinch me.

Egg basket as a light pendant.

Photo by: Fiona Galbraith Production, Project & Styling by: Nicole Valentine Don

a new little project is up for JB Est 1979; find out more about how easy this pendant was to 'make' and install, HERE.

DIY: wire cacti garden.

Photos by: Fiona Galbraith

check out my latest DIY project for JB Est 1979 and find out everything you need to know to make your own wire cactus creation, HERE.

inspired by: Henri Matisse.

via Justina Blakeney Photo by: Fiona Galbraith

on my recent trip to Europe, I went to the Matisse museum in Nice, France with this first image in mind. I knew this great artist's studio housed a gigantic philodendron because I had admired this black and white version on pinterest. it feels almost as if I willed one to still be there went I went to his now studio turned museum- honestly, I got shivers, it was almost eerie. when I got home, I was inspired to show off my green goddess (which I once thought of as large...but not really by comparison!) in this post for JB Est 1979. it just goes to show how easy it is to be inspired by your travels and then incorporate something from that trip into your own home. 

search for a stylist: the making of video.

it is the last week to vote (pour moi, s'il vous plaît) in the Search for a Stylist contest if you haven't already. also, please head to my Facebook page to check out a little 30 second clip from the day.

wardrobe makeover.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith  Production, Project & Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

check out the full before & after reveal for JB Est 1979 and how you can get the same results for your home, HERE.

my house in YEN magazine.

@little_nicki_ on instagram

very exciting news!! my house is in the latest issue of YEN magazine (out today in Australia). i had all the rooms in my house ready to go for its close up- then Mr Jason Grant swept his keen stylist's eye over the space and made last minute adjustments to make the shots picture perfect for Lauren Bamford and her superb camera skills. i keep looking at it in awe, thinking 'i wish i could live in these pages'...then i remember...i DO! lucky me to have this A+ team help me show off the home that i love so much!

be sure to get your copy this month- the whole issue is a beauty!

#searchforastylist

behind the scenes from The Home

if you haven't had the chance, please head over to www.searchforastylist.com.au to vote for my cover of Inside Out magazine- you can just make up an address if you're not from Australia (that's what i would do...).  *voting closes the 23rd of July, 2014  
you can also follow along on my Facebook page if you're not already -  thank you for your support!

SEARCH FOR A STYLIST contest!

i am lucky enough to be a part of the Inside Out magazine SEARCH FOR A STYLIST contest, featuring all products from The Home (click through for a peek behind the scenes). we were given a very open brief to put together a vignette showcasing our style for a mock-up of an Inside Out cover; i obviously chose a very tight option- the intimate shots are my favourite. i also made some little cutie cacti out of wire and wool especially for the shoot- what do you think? please click through or search www.searchforastylist.com.au and VOTE FOR ME! i could win a full time job and the chance to style a real cover (as much as i love freelance, i just got back from Europe and a full time gig sounds really good right about now...). thanks so much for your support!!! i will be sure to keep you posted and remind you to vote if you haven't- voting closes June 23rd, 2014.

put a crown on it. 14.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith  Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

this is the final crown in the seasonal floral crown series as winter has gone and come again to the Southern hemisphere. i chose a bird's nest for autumn and have just realised that this is the first crown i have not actually made myself (a little bird did). lack of planning on my part or perhaps i am naturally evolving into a new conceptual crown series? this beauty just happens to be one of my absolute favourites of the year-long series. please let me know in the comments which is yours - i would LOVE to know! thank you all for following along xo

put a crown on it. 13.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith  Crown & Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

it is autumn in the southern hemisphere and i made this maple crown to round out the seasonal floral crown series. photographer Fiona Galbraith spent a very rainy Sydney afternoon with me and helped capture that little bit of magic that you can feel in the crisp fall air.

Little Nicki does Easter for Freedom!!

here is my final Easter inspired table setting for Freedom Australia- this one has the most DIY aspects to it and was SO much fun to be a part of. please let me know what you think or if you have a favourite (??). and here is the last supper, if you will:

easter inspiration.

you might be getting tired of seeing me in bunny ears, but here are some table settings i did for Freedom Australia. are you as eggcited as i am for Easter??!

all images by: Latessa Photography

Little Nicki does Easter for Freedom!!

my second little video from my day doing some Easter styling with Freedom Australia - please have a look! this one is all about decorating one piece of furniture (the Newham console), three different ways.  stay tuned for one last eggspirational video to follow; then i hope you can tell me which is your favourite x

Little Nicki does Easter for Freedom!!

how eggciting! my first Easter inspiration video for Freedom Australia. share it around and stay tuned for more. hippity hoppity xo

a very merry backyard christmas.

being from Canada, but living in Australia, i have experienced a few christmases down under. it is always a bit strange and never quite feels like christmas at all. since i am home in the great white north these holidays, i thought i would embrace what it means to have this traditionally north american holiday in the sunshine. photographer Fiona Galbraith and i wanted to create a sort of daggy backyard christmas and not use too many custom holiday motifs (except tinsel). the result is a colourful, haphazard, outdoor setting amidst the ever-present aussie hills hoist. merry christmas and happy holidays to all, no matter where you are celebrating. enjoy your time with family and friends- that's what it's all about!! the transcontinental affair will be back after a short break. peace and love xoxo

Photography: Fiona Galbraith Styling by: Nicole Valentine Don

be merry.

it's time to deck the halls! my living room is looking only a little festive this year. since i won't be here for christmas, i wanted to do my mantle up in a non-traditional way, using colours you wouldn't necessarily associate with this time of year. can you dig the pink and black (and gold, oh my)?!

Photography: Fiona Galbraith Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

put a crown on it. 8.

the last in the spring flower crown series is a more outrageous take on the cherry blossom headpiece. these photos turned out as my absolute favourites and the shoot proved to be the most fun as well. you wouldn't believe how ridiculous you look and feel in the middle of a public park with branches stuck on your head as antlers; giddiness ensued. i'm so pleased they ended up as ethereal and magical as they did, considering how unromantic they seemed at the time.

Photography: Fiona Galbraith Crown & Styling: Nicole Valentine Don

This outtake is probably my fave of all the flower crowns, it really captures what a lovely time we were having taking magical little moments from our imaginations and bringing them to life; the joy of creating. See our floral crowns for winter, here.