“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Archive for May 2009
Happy World Interiors Day
Today is IFI World Interiors Day with the 2009 theme being “Interiors that Last”. To celebrate, I thought I would give you a short tour of some of the homes on which I have had the pleasure of working. These homes are all in Sydney, Australia and together with the individual home owners, I have assisted to create their harmonious environment.
Family Lounge Room
Home Theatre
Dining Room
Master Bedroom
Bathroom
Kitchen
Thank you for joining me on this tour and have a happy World Interiors Day.
The scheme of things
As an Interior Decorator, nothing gets me more excited than setting off on a mission to put a scheme together for a client. Today I headed off to the fabric houses armed with a piece of carpet and a swatch of paint colour. My task was to find fabrics that would be suitable for curtains and soft furnishings for the master bedroom. What fun. I love looking at fabrics and dreaming up all sorts of different combinations and ways the textures and colours could be applied. I’m now ready to visit my clients again and see which pieces catch their imagination. Stay tuned!
Colour and texture
Mirror, mirror on the wall
who’s the fairest of them all?
Boy Mirror from Lightly
Girl Mirror from Lightly
I would think any of these mirrors would add a sense of fun and intrigue to any room. I have always loved the children but can’t resist the chook. I’m a bit of a chook fanatic so hanging this at my kitchen door appeals. These are all from Lightly.
Chicken Mirror
I can also see the humour in having a few mice around the kitchen bin.
Mouse Mirror from Lightly
But this really takes the cake. A mirror, a lamp and a shelf all in one. Perfect for an entry or hall where you often need all three. Design For Use also has a floor version.
Three in one - mirror, shelf and lamp
Hidden Colour
Hidden colour under the shoe
I recently attended an event where paint company Dulux released their colour forecasts for 2009-2010. One of the palettes expected to be big in the next 12 months was “Intrigue”. This palette is a huge step away from the boring beige 90′s and will bring splashes of colour back into the home. But our homes are not turning into a three ringed circus, it will be more of a subtle colour injection, a secret concealed colour. This palette has been inspired by fashion such as the Louboutin shoes which has colour on the sole.
Hidden colour on the catwalk
This hidden colour is also seen in clothing where the garmet has bright, colourful lining.
We will now see this style of colour in our homes. Already there are amazing lamps with secret exciting colour concealed on the inside.
This concept made me think of Sydney based architect Scott Weston. Scott is known for his innovative use of colour and has won numerous awards including the Design Institue of Australia’s Best Use Of Colour and a Dululx Colour Award. I love the way Scott tends to “hide” colour in his interiors so that on first glance, it is just another piece of furniture but open it up and you are knocked out with by the unexpected and strong use of colour.
Custom made joinery
Exciting Colour on the inside of the cabinet
Fantastic blue felt lined drawers
Perfection
Perfect Camelia
One of the first flowers from our favourite Camelia bush has just emerged. In our 80 year old Sydney garden there are more than 30 camelia plants but this is the one I love the most. The symmetry and delicacy really appeals and the neatness of the petal formation is not lost on this Virgo. We did think we were going to lose it in our planned home renovations but a bit of tweaking and (fingers crossed) it will live on for another decade or three.
Glamorous Interiors
Dramatic drapery not just for windows
We all need a little glamour in our lives from time to time and recently I discovered the new book from Metropolitan Homes – Glamour: Making it Modern. The book states that modern luxury is not about money but about attitude. I would have to agree. These images show very glamorous interiors that just have something that make them say “Wow”. It’s the thinking outside the square and not making everything uniform that creates a truly amazing space.
Add glamour where least expected
Nothing is more glamorous than a chandelier - especially in the bathroom
Pieces from around the world evoke exoticism
Be fearless with colour
Glamour beckons intimacy
What Mothers want……
Don't know if much reading would get done in this timeless classic
It’s Mother’s Day today and we have just returned from lunch. We were up at 6.30am to get ready for the Mother’s Day Classic through the Sydney Botanical Gardens. Unfortunately it was wet but it didn’t deter the 10000+ crowd who were walking or running in support of Breast Cancer. We completed our 4km walk and then headed home to change before going to lunch. I would now like a quiet corner to read my book or the paper (or maybe catch a few zzzz’s) and recharge for the week ahead. I think any of these places would be just perfect not just for today but for any day I need some “Me” time.
Somewhere to sit and read
Book Nook - sleeping or reading?
Lunch Anyone?
Would you like to stay for lunch?
It’s a beautiful day in Sydney today and I went and looked through a house that was For Sale. The outdoor dining area was just gorgeous and one I would love in my own home. On a day like today, I could see my family and friends whiling away the afternoon at this table. With a sink, dishwasher, barbeque and wine fridge within arms reach what more could you ask for? I think what appeals most is that it is a “Man’s” kitchen. What a great place to spend Mother’s Day tomorrow? Dream on.
Beautiful Benchtops
Fun Lovin' Free Spirit Caesarstone
Today I was shown the new Caesarstone colours. I love this benchtop surface for its durability and look. The new colours include Organic White and Buttermilk which are a textured almost stone-like look, Whisper – a soft grey, Urban and Walnut which are variations of browns and Black Rocks which is an almost black textured look. They have also included Free Spirit which has a multitude of chunks and chips of shells and amethyst. It oozes fun and is aptly named, don’t you think?
Stunning Rose Quartz Concetto
But I fell in love with the Concetto which is their luxury surface. I have never seen images of it beforeand would love to see it in the flesh. It is handmade from individually cut semi-precious stones. Also in a range of colours, it has many applications. Backlit for a splash back or undercounter finish would be absolutely stunning. It comes with a hefty price tag but worth dreaming about.
