Creatively supercharged stylist Megan Morton (above) has done it again. She describes her new book 'Things I Love' as "215 pages of sheer magical unicorn status" and we have to agree it's pretty special. Filled with beautiful homes, practical tips and even some tear-out postcards to give (or frame), it's a lovely voyage through her creative world. We have a copy to give away - details on how to enter are at the bottom of this post. Today, Megan writes for us about 5 of the things she loves... 

'Props are a stylist's best friend'
Lets get this party started with a stylist's main currency: props. Mondays are usually dedicated to sourcing, buying, rearranging, and brokering props. To be totally transparent, I initially created props rooms because my husband threatened me to "get rid of it all from the house. or else!" The Propery is a small but kind of magical unicorn space in my studio at 2/85 Dunning Ave Rosebery.  I visit many props houses here and overseas. I wish I could make mine more orderly, but to be honest, that's the trick to prop styling – to look high and low because sometimes the gold isn't right in front of you. Red is a great colour to prop from. It's everywhere, and a magical highlight in any shot.



'Making a house a home'
A very beautiful unseen transaction is made when someone entrusts you to work on their home. Based on a gentlewoman's handshake and tear sheet transaction, I try to make a home so wonderful, so beautiful, and so much more than ever could be imagined. People agree to pay for costs with crossed fingers and trust - it's lot to ask from strangers. This is the beautiful part. The most fascinating part of my job is getting to know people, which is what keeps me working on homes and not just magazine shoots. Frankly, it's easier to produce results with little reliance on physiological attributes, yet it's so much more instantly satisfying. I've worked on a matchbox size apartment to a home worth over ten million dollars. (The students of my property styling class have seen this beauty. Lucky them!) No matter the budget, the process always starts the same way. Instead of burying my head in tear sheets, Pinterest, and blogs, I go the other way and go cold. I wander the shops pretending never to have been there before. Having fresh eyes makes me look not just at the things that are instantly attractive to me, but it makes me look for options that are suitable for the family I am working for. And this is why I love so many things from various genres and eras and stores - because I have higher exposure than others.  And this, for me, is one of the reasons that I make a good stylist. It's easy to deliver what you like, but to deliver for others it is both a privilege and a challenge. This is a mantel on wheels that we use to style up a vignette at any time of the day! Neutral props of assorted value and provenance play so nicely together.



'Books over blogs'
Books are my total passion. I built my last bedroom based on the concept of a library behind the bed head. I have recently reset my office with a new book system, and it makes me want to go there super early and stay super late. I find the same comfort in pages of books in other people's homes in the same way my accountant finds peace in an Excel spread sheet.  What I love is that books are beautiful evidence of what can work - that often defy the usual rules of decorating and styling. Styling is a reaction to beauty. That is all. It is both a noun and a verb. I love styling so much that even if it weren't my livelihood I would do it regardless with the same vigour. I am always banging on to anyone who will listen about the books I love, and that proves beyond insightful to me. In today's world of super quick imagery and cut and pasted content, books are more vital than ever. We are forever making new lists and photocopying titles for people.  While I hold my first book, 'HomeLove', dear, I love its bigger newer sister 'Things I Love' to death. It's out today and I am signing ordered copies and adding in super cute wrapping! Here is where you can buy them.



'Styling Sustenance'
While I don't cook well at all, the theatre of eating and entertaining is one of the joys of my week. In Sydney, a lot of the time, our concern is light fittings or the designer, as we are so damned good at creating incredible spaces. A little like in my styling practice, I like to eat high, low and everything in between. Pineapple crushies at Miss Chu are a firm favourite for my work friends and family. I had a great birthday lunch on the street here. Who can resist Chu's whippet quick turn around fresh noodles?



'All good things are French'
Of course this is a silly, unproven statement, and yet, I sometimes believe it to be 100% true. Can I share with you a delicious trip I took last month with Sophie Thé (who is my styling assistant and food blogger) and Michelle Schoeps Organic? We are now receiving a lot of the things we purchased from the holiday (umm, I mean work trip). We're all going gooey and having an end of the week reminisce about the incredible trip, the booty, and the food - Michelle's blog documents it plate by plate! We used balloons to find each other in the flea markets in northern France.



To win a copy of 'Things I Love', leave a comment here on the blog before 5pm (AEDT) Wednesday 31st October 2012. As usual, you must be a member of Temple & Webster to enter.

UPDATED: Congratulations to Anne Cooper, who held up a metaphorical balloon - you're the winner! I'll email you directly to arrange delivery. - Victoria