“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Archive for June 2010
Techno Colour
Did you know I LOVE technology?
Let me rephrase that. I think technology is amazing……when it’s working. I have no idea how to fix things when they go terribly wrong but I do get blown away by all the wonderful things we have at our fingertips these days.
via Wout.'s photostream on Flickr
Like the iPhone. I LOVE my iPhone. I’ve had a PDA for years but the iPhone does so much more.
via Anam Cara photostream on Flickr
And now they are bringing out fantastic apps to use, like the new Dulux MyColour application. How handy will this be? If you are out and about and see something of which you really like the colour, take a snap with your phone and then let the MyColour app tell you which Dulux paint colour it is. You can download it from iTunes.
Dulux MyColour App
Resene have one too which works pretty much the same way. Resene ColourMatch lets you either take a photo and match the colours or choose from the colour spectrum to find the closest colour.
Resene MyColour App
Now, I do not think these apps will solve all your colour dilemmas and you need to remember that it’s still a digital copy of the colour and may vary from the real paint on the wall, but it will come in handy when you see something you like and think it may be the start of a great colour scheme.
Beautiful flowers from Merci Bouquet
Don’t forget, a Colour Consultant will bring A5 or A4 colour swatches so you can see the colour in a larger piece than that on your phone. They will also be able to advise you if this colour will work with existing items in your home and they will advise you on how light will affect your chosen colour. So make sure you still consult an expert.
Colour Consultant
But start snapping away and get together a library of inspirational colours that someday may end up on the walls of your home.
If you would like assistance in putting together the perfect colour scheme for your home, contact us to arrange an appointment.
Do Your Duty
I seem to have been noticing a sudden influx of Copper, lately.
London Bobby via Flickr
No not that one, the metal one.
via Axolotl
It seems weird to me that for the past eight years or so, we’ve been putting shades of brown on our walls, sofas and floors yet all of our metals have been stainless steel. Think refrigerators, range hoods, dishwashers etc.
via House and Garden Photographer Phillip Castelton
Now we are moving into a grey era and the metals turn to Copper.
I have lived with a copper range hood for the past seven years. I vowed and declared the day I moved in, that that range hood HAD to go. Alas, my new kitchen is still coming and now I’m wondering if I should be keeping the range hood and working the kitchen around it.
My kitchen range hood
These are some of the copper items I’ve spied of late.
Tom Dixon's Copper Shades
Boyd Copper Side Table
Bandhini Copper Coin Cushion
What do you think, is it a fad or is Copper here to stay?
Wall colours selected by Inside Out Colour & Design
We can help you create a harmonious environment in your home, whether you like copper or steel. Contact us to arrange an appointment.
Lime Fresh
If you were in Australia this past weekend, you probably had three days off instead of two. It was just lovely to have that extra day. I managed to spend it in the kitchen which is something I love to do but these days rarely get the pleasure.
Our lime tree is laden with fruit at the moment, so I decided to make lime butter. It’s just like lemon butter only replace the lemons with limes. I keep it in the fridge and use it in tart shells with a dollop of Double Cream. Simply irresistible!
Lime Tree
It got me to thinking about lime interiors. I don’t think I’ve decorated a house or a room using lime. Green, yes but not the zingy freshness of lime.
via Coastal Living
I would like to use it in small doses as a pop for other colours. But there are some brave people out there that have used it in bolder forms.
Living Room
Child's Bedroom via Australian House and Garden
The walls in this girl’s room are painted in Dulux Refreshed and Dulux Frog Prince.
Kitchen via Australian House and Garden
Architect Andrew Vorrasi from Studio Nine in South Australia designed this house making a feature of the lime green island bench and splashback.
If you would like a touch of lime in your home, contact us for a virtual or in person consultation.
I See Red
Today is Go Red for Women Day to draw attention to the Heart Foundation’s fight against heart disease in women. What a good day to talk about Red!
Red Paint
I have used red in my own home in both the casual and formal living areas. The casual area because it is dominated by a large artwork by Sydney artist Karen Benton, which my husband bought.
Karen Benton Painting - The Journey
The formal area has red accessories because we have a number of Asian furniture pieces from our time living in Hong Kong and we fell in love with a Jim Thompson silk that HAD to be in the scheme.
Touches of red from Jim Thompson
I love reading Leatrice Eiseman’s book, Color For Your Every Mood. Here is an extract from her chapter on red.
Red Sofas
“Throughout history, red has signalled excitement, dynamism, danger and sex. It elicits the strongest of emotions in every culture: love and the pulsating heart; anarchy and the waving war banner; Satan and the martyred saint. It is the colour of life and the colour of evil, the colour of danger and colour of excitement.
Red Dining Room
People don’t just like red – they love it. People whose favourite colour is red have a zest for life, they are, quite literally “movers and shakers.” They need to be well informed, involved. Because of its psychological associations with fire, heat, blood and danger, red is impossible to ignore and so is the person who prefers this most exciting colour. They are passionate in their pursuits, ardent and extroverted. Red lovers are achievers, intense, impulsive, competitive, energetic, daring and aggressive. They are exciting optimistic, animated people, leaders who like to be the centre of attention. Red people can also be restless and driven. Routine drives them crazy. They crave new things and new experiences. Because they are assertive, they can be opinionated and overbearing as well. They can be moody, bossy and fickly in the pursuit of new challenges. But what would the world be without these exciting people?”
Red Bedroom by Inside Out Colour and Design
Red can be used in so many rooms. It stimulates the appetite so is a good choice for restaurants and therefore works well in the kitchen and the dining room. It’s great for a library, family room, lounge room and even in a bedroom, especially if the red wall is behind the bed and you are not waking up staring at a red wall!
Red Feature Wall via Dulux.com
Enjoy some red in your life but also take check of your risk to heart disease by following these steps.
Red Living Room via HGTV
If you would like to add a touch of red to your home interiors, contact us for an appointment.
Clever Storage
I don’t think we can ever have enough storage in our homes. I know, we all have too much stuff but some of it’s good, or important or has sentimental value and we shouldn’t just toss it away because we can’t find somewhere to keep it.
Messy House via Paintermommy.com
I love finding clever storage solutions for my clients and I keep a file of things I come across in magazines. I thought I’d share them with you. I don’t have credits on many of these as I’ve ripped them out of magazines long before I started blogging.
Often under stairs can be left as “dead” space, but these clever ideas are worth considering.
via bhg.com
Sorry, I haven't kept the Source.
Another one from pre-blogging days
How clever to have CD and DVD storage in the walls of the stairs via Home Beautiful
Moving into the bedroom, one always needs plenty of storage.
Ties - equivalent to women's shoes. Makes an eye catching display and he doesn't have to look too hard
Died and gone to heaven
Then there’s the kitchen!
Nice and spicy
My ultimate pantry
Unsightly dish cloths handy yet away
And after all that storing, somewhere to relax and read your magazines which are close at hand.
Window Seat with drawers instead of a lift up lid
I Digress
I thought I’d share with you the three wonderful speakers I listened to last week at a MicroBiz Masters Exposed Workshop.
It was MicroBiz Week aimed at those of us with small businesses employing less than 5 people. I love hearing how other business owners have grown their businesses and hopefully I will grab some pearls of wisdom I can use in my business.
The three speakers were very inspirational and entertaining.
First up were the two ladies who have a jewellery and homewares business called Polli.
Clock by Polli
The second was the owner of Baby Buds who has grown her business from her home (with baby on hip) to now operating out of her own space with eighteen staff.
Baby Bouquet from Baby Buds
The third was the very humorous brains behind Litter Kwitter who spoke on taking your product offshore.
The cleverest cat in town
I don’t think I’m ready for offshore, but I did like his product.
Now, back to colour and design!
Fade To Grey
Well the weather has been terrible here in Sydney for the past week and a bit. Grey, grey and more grey and I think there’s more forecast for the weekend.
Rain on the pane
I was recently reviewing notes I made on my first ever Colour Course and one of the questions was “What colour do you like least of all?” I had written grey because it made me think of shorts worn by school boys.
School Boy Shorts
Interestingly enough, when I was in my final term of my Colour Diploma Course, some three and half years later, grey was one of the colours I predicted was going to make a comeback. (That was back in 2005!) But that grey was more luxurious; a platinum sort of grey.
3 Diamond Platinum Ring via jeweleryexpert.com
Grey has certainly made a comeback and is seen in all sorts of places. From cars, to fashion to decor. I like it best paired with a zingy accent colour like lime green, purple or red to take away the boringness. (new word I have invented)
Grey by Greg Natale
Here in Sydney we seem to like the warm greys, yet further north where the sun is brighter and the weather is warmer, cool greys prevail.
Warm grey colour scheme
Whatever grey you like, we’ll be seeing plenty of it for the next few days.
Bedroom by Nathalie Vingot Mei via Apartment Therapy
If you’re in Sydney and looking for somewhere to go on a grey and dismal day, head over to La Maison tomorrow to their Mid Year Sale. You might even pick up some grey pieces for your home.
Chair from La Maison
Or head over to Randwick Racecourse for a little retail therapy at Magnolia Square. You will find some amazing and unique items sure to brighten your day.
Magnolia Square
If you would like assistance creating your harmonious environment whether it be cool grey or warm grey or some other colour, contact us for online rates or call for an appointment.
GP & J Baker
Elliott Clarke Sydney Showroom
I have been out and about today looking at the new range of fabrics from GP & J Baker that have just arrived at the Elliott Clarke showroom. They put on a little morning tea just for the occasion.
The chocolate caramel slice was delicious!
To say that these new fabrics are exquisite would be an understatement. Beautiful embroideries inspired by the charming domestic embroidery of the 18th Century but given a contemporary edge with gorgeous colour combinations.
Oleander Fabric by GP & J Baker
I fell in love with Tulip Tree Linen in the colourway of oranges and soft mauves.
Tulip Tree Linen by GP & J Baker
Baker have also released a revamped range called Baker Lifestyle. This was formerly the Parkertex range but I think Baker Lifestyle sounds much better. Look at this beautiful patchwork fabric. Fabulous for a beach house or a boys room.
Beachcomber Weaves by Baker Lifestyle
GP and J Baker has been producing textiles for over 125 years with the most popular designs showing English garden flowers. These designs have now been recreated with embroidery on fabrics such as linen and silk and even wallpaper.
Giant Peony by GP & J Baker
One such wallpaper is Voysey Leaf which has been adapted from the original design by C F A Voysey called “Hedgerow” and was originally printed in 1906.
Voysey Leaf Wallpaper by GP & J Baker
If you would like assistance to create your harmonious environment with the use of fabrics and wallpaper, contact me by email for on-line rates or call to make an appointment.
