“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Cushions
Emerging Trend?
Have you noticed a profusion of African inspired decor lately?
Bold patterns and colours give that African feel
I know, it’s always been around but of late there seems to be a bit more of it and in all sorts of items. I don’t think we’re heading down the path of decorating a complete room in African style but more touches here and there. What do you think?
All the elements that make up African Style decor
Perhaps it’s our climate and love of the outdoors that resonates so well with the African Safari Style which is then translated into our decor. There’s also a big push back to handmade items which any ethnic culture has valued for years. And African style is more simplistic which balances our love of technology and helps create a soothing, relaxing space.
African Style Corner
Much of the strength of African Style emerges through texture. Natural fibres of Jute, sisal and seagrass are used for flooring while banana fibre and papyrus are used in woven baskets.
African Woven Basket
Rapee have recently released a range of cushions in bright colours and rich textures which would give an African lift to your room.
African Inspired cushions and throws from Rapee
Lighting is warm and golden, utilizing rustic iron candelabra and wall sconces. Table lamps incorporate palm or pineapple motifs in their bases, whilst unique shades made from feathers or quills convey the safari ambiance.
Lamp Base with Pineapple Detail
Furniture features rich timbers with stylised accents or folding furniture which would be used on Safari.
Campaign Desk
These gorgeous pieces are based on the campaign furniture used on Safari and are available from one of our suppliers here in Australia.
African Campaign Chest that doubles as a bar
Comfort is foremost in an African decor, with an overall effect of effortless luxury, a sense of adventure, but always relaxed and in harmony with nature.
Brightly Coloured Juju Hats
If African Style would suit your home, you may be interested in reading Safari Style by Natasha Burns or contact us for assistance sourcing your items.
Florence is coming to a store near you
I’m a HUGE fan of the fabrics and wallpapers of Florence Broadhurst.
I read the book on this amazing woman about 8 years ago and was fascinated by her life. She was a Queenslander and had the ability to turn her hand at whatever career she chose while travelling the world. One year she was a singer and dancer in China and the next she was a French clothier in London. And all this was back in the ’30′s and 40′s when women didn’t do things like that. She was so ahead of her time! And then she met an untimely death when she was murdered in her studio at Paddington in Sydney. The murder remains unsolved.
When she returned to Australia she set up shop and created hand printed wallpapers. These wallpapers and their patterns are still popular today. Her artworks have been recreated as rugs, clothing, homewares and fabrics.
And in June this year, you will be able to add those very same patterns to your home in soft furnishings. Australian home textile label, Rapee will release The Broadhurst Collection which will be available in five stories and a number of colourways.
These exceptional designs will be printed on premium fabrics using various techniques including: 100% silk jacquards, embroideries on 100% cottons, foil prints on 100% linens and prints on cotton linen blends. The palette extends to bolts of blue; tranquil sea foam, denim and periwinkle; as well as punchy coral and flamingo fuchsia. The collection also welcomes shades of yellow and high-wattage metallic which will help to create richness and playful elegance while putting a fresh spin on timeless designs.
The Florence Broadhurst collection will be sold initially through department stores and boutique homeware retailers, and will arrive in store from June 2013. Prices start from $99 for embroideries, through to $120 for 100% silk scatter cushions.
I can’t wait!
If you would like assistance adding a touch of Florence to your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Not the Rough End
Pineapple cushions at Sentosa Designs
Last week I visited one of my suppliers, Sentosa Designs.
Sentosa Designs furniture featuring pineapples
They specialise in colonial style furniture as well as a range of campaign furniture.
Campaign style drinks cabinet
I noticed the profusion of pineapples in their styling so started to hunt around and see what else I could find.
Pineapple Lamp
The pineapple is associated with welcoming and in my mind also says SUMMER!
Wooden Pineapples
I went in search of other pineapple inspired home decor and found cushions, lamps and even ice cube trays.
Pineapple Ice Trays
What do you think? Could you add some pineapple decor to your home?
Pineapple Wall Hooks
If you would like assistance choosing accessories for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Bandhini
At last week’s Reed Gift Fair, soft furnishing company, Bandhini released their Spring Collection. I didn’t make it to the fair so jumped at the opportunity to check out the new range at their Sydney showing at Boyd Blue.
Tai Shaffler, designer of Bandhini showed me around her new collection which was beautifully displayed in Boyd Blue’s Sydney showroom. Boyd Blue is an agent to a number of suppliers and their “Trade Only” showroom is always a delight to visit.
I couldn’t believe how well the new Bandhini collection complements the Designer Boys‘ artwork. Or is that the Designer Boys’ artwork complements the Bandhini range? Either way, they looked fabulous together and I had to ask if they had collaborated.
Tai said no and she remembered watching the boys on The Block thinking that they would love her stuff. She explained that when the did finally meet at a trade fair, the boys pretty much took everything on display. Definitely on the same wave length, still now!
Bandhini’s products are all made from natural fibres and vat dyes. Embellishments are attached by hand in the traditional style and inspiration comes from culture and nature.
You can see the exquisite detail in the Mother of Pearl Lumber cushion.
Shells, buttons, pearls, tufts, coins, sequins, felt flowers, tassels and even a horse bit are all sewn on to the covers to give a textural look and feel to any bed or sofa. With so many colours and patterns there’s something for everyone.
You can purchase Bandhini cushions and other soft furnishings through Inside Out Colour and Design. Contact us with your preferences.
Towels, Sheets and Cushions
It’s that time of the year again when KAS Australia hold their Warehouse Sale.
I love KAS for their fun and colourful designs at great prices. And when they are on Sale, I love them even more. It’s the perfect time to find some new soft furnishings for Spring.
Sale time at KAS Australia
If you can’t get to the warehouse in Sydney, then you can shop online and still take advantage of the sale.
Have a great weekend shopping up a storm.
If you would like assistance finding soft furnishings and other decor for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Birds of a Feather
Set of three standing bird ornaments
As an Interior Decorator, it is our responsibility to keep up to date with the latest trends and products available on the market. One of the ways to keep updated is to visit Trade Fairs from time to time. Last week there were three being held simultaneously in Sydney.
Bird on a soapdish
It was an exhausting week visiting each of the gift and homewares fairs and after the visits the brochures and flyers that I’ve collected need to be filed and bookmarked for future reference.
Birds on a clock
It’s also good to sit back afterwards and think about the shows on a whole and look for trends in decor and homewares.
Birds on the top of a tiered cake stand
One of the trends I noticed was the Bird Trend. There seemed to birds everywhere on all sorts of decorator pieces for the home.
Birds on a scatter cushion
Eighteen months ago it was the Bird Cage Trend. So I guess it only follows that now everyone has a cage, they now the birds to go with the cages.
Bird on a paperweight
Or is it all the interest in Twitter?
Antique looking wallhook
If you would like to add some birds to your home decor, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
When Three is Not A Crowd
I was in a store yesterday and a lady was buying a number of ceramic balls to place on a tray in her entry. She was looking at two balls and I overheard the shop assistant say, “it has to be three”.
Yes, I thought, it has to be three or five or seven, never two or four or six.
Flower arrangement with three focal flowers
You see, odd numbers of items appear to be thrown together rather than arranged. Our eyes try to split even numbers into smaller groups but that can’t be done with odd numbers.
Margaret Olley's Artichokes via ANG Art Consulting
The asymmetrical arrangement of odd numbers will add visual interest to an area or collection and help create visual flow. Objects that appear in threes or fives are more appealing, memorable and effective than even number groupings.
We Three Kings photograph by Emily J Photography
Odd numbers also give dimension as we can create a front, middle and back and this creates a sense of balance.
3 cushions on a bed by Inside Out Colour and Design
We find odd numbers pleasing to the eye as well as being more intriguing.
Cushions on a sofa by Inside Out Colour and Design
If you would like assistance in making your home more intriguing, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
PS. And look, it’s my 300th post on the 30th of November. Freud would have alot to say about that!
Grab yourself a bargain
It seems everyone is having a sale. This is great as it means we can get our Christmas shopping done early and avoid the crowds. Now what would you like to buy?
Paper products?
Corban and Blair
Bed Linen?
KAS Australia
Throws and cushions?
Emma Jay
Fabric remanants so you can get crafty?
Signature Prints
Intersting and Quirky homewares?
Styletto
Go forth and grab yourself a bargain. Some of them are online so you don’t even have to leave home!
If you would like assistance with colour or design for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Fashion Colours for Spring
I managed to take some time out last week and have a stroll around my local shopping centre checking out the new season fashions. I love the change of seasons and seeing the new colours gracing the shop windows and soon to be our wardrobes and then of course our home decor.
Many of the shops were featuring the classic black and white stripes.
Jessica Stripe Dress from Queenspark
Black and white has been gracing our lives for the longest time. It looks very modern yet can be at home in any decor. And no matter what decorator colour you add, your room is going to look fabulous.
via Decorpad
Coloured jeans are also this season’s “must haves”. Watermelon, Steel and Desert are the colours of one particular fashion store.
Sportscraft Coloured Jeans
Those colours sound a bit better than red, blue and brown, don’t they? But watermelon is softer than red and much easier to live with as decor pieces in the home.
Jonathan Adler via Elle Decor
Steel is like a washed out navy and is ideal for a more relaxed room. You could even paint a wall or two in steel rather than the stronger navy blue.
Steel Blue Dining Room
We’ve all been through the browns over the past decade or so. Many of our houses (and wardrobes) still have remnants of chocolate, latte, cappuccino and mocha so Desert is a way to add depth without having to start all over again. It can be teamed with a wide variety of colours too!
Bianca Bed Linen from KAS Australia
And then I saw this stunning colour combination.
via Kookai
The zing of the orange is balanced beautifully with the depth of the cranberry.
Orange and Cranberry for Warwick Fabrics
So what colours are you wearing or decorating with this Spring?
If you would like assistance choosing the right colours for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Mixing it up
Don’t you just love the new seasons and all the exciting new colours that come with it?
It can certainly have challenges though. Like how do you mix a pair of brown boots that you bought new last winter with this year’s predominently grey clothing?
The same thing can happen in your home. You want to rush out and buy up the latest cushions and throws but will they go with your chocolate brown sofa?
This was the topic of my article in the latest edition of St Ives Village Life.
You can read my suggestions here by going to the June 2011 article.
If you would like assistance mixing the latest trends with your existing decor, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
