“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Archive for January 2010
You’ve Got Mail
A number of clients have asked me lately to advise on placement of the computer.
These days most families have a computer….or two and most of the family use it……or them. From online shopping, paying household bills, children’s homework, researching the ideal household pet and running home businesses, the computer and a suitable workplace is one of the top priorities for most families.
The problem comes when we want ready access to the computer yet we don’t want it to dominate the living the space or be “pinging” away letting everyone know “you’ve got mail.”
This is probably the most popular image on the internet of a compact, yet stylish office.
Image via Kelly Green
It has everything required to undertake household officework. The idea that the door can be closed when someone is not actually working on the computer is a great bonus.
This is another take on the same theme.
Armoire via freshhome.com
The beauty of this one is that you can take it with you when you move houses.
Home Office Made Easy supply this unit which is practical though not as stylish as the above two.
Desk In A Cupboard
The kitchen is an ideal spot for a laptop. I keep all my recipes on the computer and having it right there in the kitchen would save paper and energy. I always find that things come to me as I’m peeling the vegetables and I down tools and rush off to send an email or look something up on the ‘net.
Image from Australian House and Garden
Image by Lucy Interior Design
Image from lindyweaver.com
Either way you look at it, the computer is here to stay and having it close at hand where everyone can use it makes alot of sense.
Ensuite Dilemma
I am starting to think about the finishing touches for our own home renovation. It’s been 3 years in the making and about 7 years in the dreaming.
As soon as we bought this place, we knew we wanted to change it and add our own stamp. The house, as they say, had loads of potential.
Real Estate Flyer
We tweaked rooms that won’t be affected and then left others that will.
Master Bedroom
This is a photo of our master bedroom. Whilst living in Hong Kong for 3 years, we purchased a number of Chinese antiques and the master bedroom has a definite Asian Influence.
Lamps from Wah Tung, Hong Kong
My dilemma is what to do in the future ensuite? Should I carry the Asian theme through or should I leave it and give it the hotel look?
Hotel Style Bathroom - stone tiles and neutral colours
I really like the images below and could do something similar but my husband is worried that once you take our furniture out of the bedroom, the next person will be left with an Asian bathroom.
I figure that by the time I’m ready to leave this place the bathroom will need re-doing anyway so why shouldn’t I have it my way. After all, it will just be the vanity.
What do you think?
Australian Style
Tomorrow is Australia Day. On 26 January 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet of eleven convict ships from Great Britain and the first governor of New South Wales, arrived at Sydney Cove. The raising of the Union Jack there symbolised British occupation of the eastern half of the continent claimed by Captain James Cook on 22 August in 1770.
Each year on this day we celebrate all things Australian – meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars – to name a few. Being a Public Holiday, there are numerous events across the country. The back yard barbies get fired up and the beaches are packed.
So I thought I would take a look at what constitutes Australian Style. The Australian Financial Review compiled a quick snapshot of Australia this weekend and the following statistics were interesting.
90% of us live within an hour of the coast
65% of us own our own home
60% of us live in the five biggest cities
There are 22.1 million of us, growing at a rate of one new person every 1 minute and 11 seconds. That’s 443,000 per year of which 285,000 are immigrants and 158,000 are natural increases. Our overseas born population are made up of 4.3% from the UK, 2% from NZ, 1% from China, 1% from Italy and 0.8% Vietnam.
Image via studentservicesdirect.com.au
I picked up my copy of Australian Style which was first published in 1991 and subsequently reprinted a few times. The dust jacket sums up our style. “Australia is a kaleidoscope of parodoxes, a western democracy at the edge of Asia, an English penal colony that became a multicultural land of opportunity, a place where birds laugh and mammals lay eggs and everything familiar is somehow altered, suddenly unique.”
Australian Style
That about sums it up really, we do not have an Australian Style as such, but rather many different styles. We take influences from all corners of the globe as we travel the world. Tuscan inspired homes sit beside Californian Bungalows and modern apartments. Our geographic location has displaced us from our western heritage and we have been forced to adapt and develop our own style.
We are surrounded by colour. Lorikeets, beach, desert and rainforest all reflect the intense vibrant colours of our country. Our strong light, not seen anywhere else, is clear and hard. Our colour choices for homes and fashion are, therefore, bold.
Rainbow Lorikeet
Daintree Forest via theodora.com.au
Uluru via australiaadventures.com.au
There are however, some iconic Australian Styles in homes.
In Queensland, the timber homes were built on stumps or stilts with wide lattice enclosed verandahs. The stilts were to deter snakes and protect the home from floods. The lattice verandahs became semi-open bedrooms on hot summer nights.
A Classic Queenslander
Further south, Federation style homes and Californian Bungalows were being built during the first half of the 20th Century. These solid, double brick homes are still in demand today and are being extended to accommodate our current lifestyle.
Australian Federation Home
Californian Bungalow
After all, Australian Style is all about our lifestyle – relaxed and outdoors. The lines between inside and out have been blurred. Wide verandahs and courtyards have been translated to Jamie Durie’s Outdoor Room philosophy giving us more space to enjoy the great Australian climate. This Melbourne courtyard is a prime example.
Happy Australia Day for tomorrow!
How does your garden grow?
For those of you that don’t know, I’m a bit of an instant gratification girl. Therefore this business of colour and design really suits me as within a relatively short time I can suggest and implement a change and hey presto, it’s done! However, I do get alot of satisfaction from watching a garden take shape and that is never instant.
Behind this wall is our secret garden and over the past seven years it has been transformed. This photo was taken from Google Maps Street View.
We bought this house back in late 2002 and this is what the front garden looked like.
The centre of the garden had a huge Liquid Amber Tree in it and naturally nothing would grow underneath. Just before the house went on the market, I would say, a load of chip bark was spread underneath the tree. There was no path from the driveway or the front gate leading to the front door.
So after about six months, we mapped out a path using the garden hose and started digging. The base of the house, like most 80+ year old houses in this part of Sydney, has sandstone footings so it was decided we would use sandstone pavers for the path.
We then had some defined garden beds and planted underneath the tree with agapanthus and four strelitzias. The garden already has about 30 mature camelias and many clivia plants dotted around. We employed a landscape gardener to draw up some plans for the rest of the area and recommend some plants.
The garden seat we had made whilst we were living in the Solomon Islands, was given a paved spot against the front fence where we could take tea (yeah right!) and watch the garden grow.
The same principles for decorating on the inside apply in the garden and we changed textures for the winding narrow path off to the right, using loose pebbles. We had an electrician install some garden lights, one of which was a sunken spot light that would light up the foliage of the Liquid Amber at night.
A couple of years ago, we had the most bizarre storm on a Sunday afternoon which left our suburb looking as if we’d had snow. Something that NEVER happens in sub-tropical Sydney. It probably set the plant growth back a bit.
About a year later, we had another set back. One morning after a wild storm, we found half of the Liquid Amber lying across the plants. An aborist informed us that “these trees do that”. We figured we were lucky it had fallen between the house and the fence not damaging a thing except the struggling plants underneath. Council approved and we removed the tree.
This Christmas the agapanthus were out in mass and the garden certainly looked a picture.
The garden seat is well and truly protected now and I can usually find my daughter sitting there when I can’t find her anywhere else.
This was the scene from my dining room window. Isn’t it pretty?
Some things are worth waiting for…like this my 100th post!
The 80′s are Back.
During the school holidays, under the pretence of entertaining the kids, I visited the Powerhouse Museum. The main reason for my visit was to relive the 80′s and visit the museum’s exhbition.
It was all there – Kylie, Boy George and Michael.
Boy George Memorabilia
There was plenty of memorabilia from performances at Worker’s Clubs and Pubs when concert tickets were 1/10th of what they are today.
The wall covered with LP (remember those) sleeves was great fun. “I had that”, “I remember that one”, “That was my favourite” could be heard as you passed.
How many of these did you have?
The examples of technology were interesting too. A Sony Walkman, sit down Pac-Man and Donkey Kong machines and the ghetto blaster. Antiques really!
My 6yr old nephew intrigued with Pac-man.
There was a great display of the fashion of the day and I’m pleased to say my favourite ballgown of the time was featured. The blurb said is was “the most sort after evening gown of the 80′s”. Knew I was a trendsetter (or follower). This dress by Studibaker Hawk was probably the first “wearable art” on the market. I loved my dress and dragged it out for almost a decade at various balls and dinner dances I attended in three different countries.
My Studibaker Hawk Dress. Look at the orange carpet. We all look very '80's.
There were also the ubiquitous neon coloured lycra leggins and head bands and the huge shoulder pads made famous in tele-series like Dynasty. And who can forget the outrageous knitted jumpers by designer Jenny Kee? These have been seen lately worn by Kath and Kel at Fountain Gate.
80's fashion
Home decor didn’t escape either. I was really a girl of the 80′s, as the bedroom they had on display was the spare room in my first house only in a different colourway. The Ken Done bedspread was a feature in four of my houses. The bright colours were so fresh.
Ken Done Doona Cover on display
It’s a great exhibition. Daily until January 26th, the kids (big and small) can learn some Zombie moves from Thriller. There are daily workshops on drama, art and music inspired by the 80′s as well as making gadgets a-la Inspector Gadget style. There’s also a photo scavenger hunt with great tributes to the 80′s like “phoning home”, “walk like an Egyptian”, “doing the Locomotion”, breaking down the wall, wrestling with a crocodile, cracking the Rubik’s cube and trying to find the hidden Smurf. Does that bring back memories or what?
Last year Millie, over at The Laurel Hedge wrote a post on the 80′s. It was a fun look back at what was really a very tragic decade of fashion and design. My CD collection is full of ’80′s music but fortunately my wardrobe and decor has moved on. Check out Millie’s post and then have a look at the exhibition if you are in Sydney.
Sale Away
Everyone loves a bargain so I thought you may be interested to know of the two following sales.
via nydailynews.com
Fabric wholesaler Roylston House is having a sale of their discontinued ranges at their warehouse in Hornsby, Sydney. Great drapery and upholstery fabrics will be available from as little as $7 per metre. Sale begins 10am Monday 18 January and will be operating until fabrics sold out. 10am – 3pm daily at 1/23 Leighton Place, Hornsby.
The other event you may be interested in, is the Designer Rugs Floorstock Sale. They are taking 10 – 50% off selected items in their Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne Showrooms.
So start the new year with some new colour and design for your home.
Together We Can Help
I’m sure, like me, you have been shocked and saddened at the extensive devastation in Haiti.
Haiti via The UK Telegraph
Design Doyenne, Charlotte Moss has sent out a call to the design industry to pitch in and help.
Your small donation to one of the many aid organisations which are working in the country, can make a difference.
A-M has provided links to a number of Aussie organisations which would love your support.
Click over to her site and jump online now to make a donation.
Tablecloth
This time of year here in Australia, life seems to go at a slower pace. The kids are on extended school holidays and many of the adults take leave at this time too. Long, summer days are filled with relaxing at the beach or around a pool and sharing a meal outdoors. I have been noticing this table in a few places lately and it caught my eye again as I was catching up on my magazine reading.
Tablecloth Table
I love how the table looks like it is already dressed with a runner or cloth. No wonder it’s called “Tablecloth”. The vibrant colour choices are a great idea too adding some fun to your outdoor space.
Available Colours
You can have a more detailed look here.
It’s Complicated
This is the new movie which is written and directed by Nancy Meyers. She was the one behind “Something’s Gotta Give” starring Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton and that beautiful Hamptons house that set the decorating world alight with requests for Hampton style furnishings.
This movie stars one of my favourite actors – Meryl Streep and is definitely worth watching. I haven’t laughed so much for such a long time. The “Skype” scene is absolutely hilarious and the rest of the movie is peppered with lots of comical scenes and quips.
Dining with Friends
Nancy Meyers is well known for her detailed sets showing beautiful decor in the houses she films. Did you see “The Holiday”, “Parent Trap” or “Father of The Bride”? “It’s Complicated” is no different.
The Spanish ranch style home in Santa Barbara is furnished with a comfortable mix of antiques and modern furniture. Most of this movie is filmed inside the house and the interiors are cream with touches of orange. (This colour scheme was deliberately chosen to enhance Streep’s Peaches and Cream complexion.)
Meyers was heavily influenced by Belgian style, which is so popular in America at the moment, and that was the starting point for the interiors. The oversized, comfortable slipcovered furniture shown in the living room reflects the Belgian look, as does the large x-motif coffee table with its slate top and the long timber console table with two lamps.
The Living Room
The kitchen plays an important role in the movie as the character played by Meryl Streep is a mum of three grown-up children, who all return home for some of Mum’s cooking. She runs a bakery downtown and in her youth, spent a year learning to cook in France.
The kitchen has many industrial/commercial style elements which suit the character of the owner, but it is tempered to give a more homey feel. It is a fabulous kitchen with a big centre island. There is a double oven, sink, and open shelving. Underneath, is a linen skirt instead of cabinet doors. The large, oval dining room table looks like just the spot to entertain family and friends.
The Kitchen
Belgian Style interiors haven’t really caught on here in Australia yet but this movie might create some interest in this style. To find similar pieces used in this movie for your own home, you may like to look at Tokens of Living or The Country Trader.
There’s a very cute little print of an antique french chair, on the wall of the bathroom at the daughter’s house, which is available online here.
The Bedroom
Make sure you pop over to visit Joni at Cote De Texas to read her wonderful post on Nancy Meyers and the movie sets she works on.
Cote De Texas by Joni Webb
I wonder if in five years time, clients will be wanting the “It’s Complicated” look? Let me know what you think.
Happy New Year
Can I say that on the 11th January? I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year and 2010 is a wonderful year for us all.
Awaken The Spirit via www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/2009
I’ve had a lovely break from work and my blog since Christmas Eve. I did manage to read the backlog of magazines that had been collecting dust on my coffee table. The only problem is that I had no sooner finished when the next months’ issues started to arrive. Oh well, reading magazines is one of the perks of the job!
December and January Magazines awaiting reading
I also finally got around to properly filing all the brochures, booklets and samples I had collected at various Trade Fairs I had visited throughout the year. Do you realise how much “stuff” we decorators need to store? Paint swatches and fandecks from all the paint companies, tile samples, carpet samples, samples of Caesarstone and Corian, furniture catalogues, fabric samples and oodles of brochures on all manner of house related products. It takes a lot of room. I needed to purchase another cabinet and a filing cabinet so my storage room now has some order. Being a Virgo this is something that delights me.
All Sorted
Brochures, carpet samples and other bits and pieces
Fabric Samples
I’ve also been having fun in the kitchen. I love to cook or rather, I used to. In a previous life I even gave cooking classes! However, since being a mother, running a house as well as my Interior Decorating and Colour Consulting business there has been little time for cooking. I’ve tended to stick to the same tried and tested, 9 year old friendly recipes, week in, week out. But this past few weeks has allowed me to try out some new ones and the 9 year old has decided we should have a couple of them more often. Amazing!
Not this one but something like it - Satay Chicken Flan
So sometimes its good to holiday at home. As Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home.”
from Flickr via Mommylolly's Photostream
Let the year begin. I’m ready.
