“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Interiors
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.
Australian Italian Furniture
The new carver to match existing dining chairs
I recently attended the launch of the new collection from Casa Mia. I have been specifying Casa Mia products for years and love their elegant shapes.
The bedside chest of drawers has lots of matching pieces
It is a family owned business and has been operating for over 30 years. The furniture is imported from Italy in it’s raw state and then stained and upholstered in the factory here in Sydney. Originally the furniture was classic but in recent times there has been a shift to a more contemporary look.
A modern twist on this classic shape
With loads of colour options including custom colours and numerous choices in handles and other decorative elements, there is a piece of furniture for everyone.
Detailed Upholstery
The furniture is on display in Paddington and the showroom was looking sensational for the launch.
Blue and white furniture, ceramics and fabrics
Even the dog was excited!
Happy Dog
If you would like new furniture for your home, contact us and we will source the perfect items for you.
Building a new bathroom
We have been back in our renovated Californian Bungalow now for 4 months. And as we still chip away at our “To Do List”, I am excited to finally reveal the main bathroom.
We bought our house 10 years ago and inherited a second bathroom with the house. It was a very small tiny bathroom with no room to move. It had a toilet, washbasin and shower.
As it was in the fibro extension that had been added to the house in the ’70′s, (yes that meant asbestos and care and cost to remove it) it was going to be removed completely and a new and improved bathroom would be added.
The new bathroom was built on the same footprint as the old guest bedroom. You have no idea how many times I paced out that room and tried to imagine myself in a bathroom.
Would it be big enough? The guest bedroom wasn’t that spacious with no built-ins and just enough room to move around the queen bed. It only had one bedside due to space being at a premium. Oh dear, was I doing the right thing or should I make it bigger?
After many months of demolition, excavation and rebuilding, the bathroom was starting to take shape. We had crimped a bit of extra floor space by building a bay window and sitting the bath in that.
I opted for opaque glass in the windows as although the window looks out to a private garden, it’s still reassuring to know that there is no chance of anyone peering in. Also the bay window was at right angles which makes it very tricky to add window coverings unless it’s shutters. I must admit I was a bit disappointed when they first went in. I was not listening to the advice I give my interior design clients, that is – wait until everything is finished and then you will see that it all works together.
I had spent months agonising over floor tiles, wall tiles, paint colours and feature tiles. It’s really hard doing your own place when you have been exposed to so much and your head is full of possiblities.
So, once again, I tried to take the advice I dish out. What feeling would you like when you use the room? That was easy, I wanted it to be a bright space with loads of light yet I wanted to feel calm and relaxed when I was there. A touch of luxury and femininity seeing my daughter would be the main occupant and I might sneak in there occasionally for a bath.(Must get around to doing that!) That set me on the right path and I was able to make the selections relatively easily.
I’m so happy with the end result.
The feature tiles add a touch of glamour while the white wall tiles and bay window makes the room very light. And surprise, surprise, when everything was in place the windows look just perfect.
If you would like assistance with bathroom design or sourcing fixtures and fittings, contact me for an online or in-person consultation.
Re-Love Project
Well I’ve finally finished giving some love to my 1980′s pine television cabinet.
After sanding, staining, top coating and a little bit of upholstering, the item is complete.
As an Interior Decorator working mostly with families, my plan was to create a piece that would suit a family home. Storage is always a sought after commodity with a growing family, so a piece of furniture that could be used as storage, look good and also be used as a seat would be a great asset.
This little piece would be equally at home in a child’s bedroom, family room or entry.
Now it’s your turn to help the Salvos Stores. As from 9 May, you can bid on this piece and the other pieces of furniture that are being Re-loved by designers across the country.
Check out the pieces here and keep an eye out for the opening of the bidding.
A big thank you to Feast Watson for inviting me to participate in this project.
If you would like assistance sourcing storage furniture for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Vignette Magic
Last week, with great excitement, I attended a Vignette Magic workshop with the queen of vignettes, Kara Rosenlund. Kara and her gorgeous husband, Timothy O were visiting Sydney from their home town (mine too) of Brisbane. ( I discovered Kara went to school just up the hill from my Queensland workers cottage!)
One of Kara’s vignettes
Kara is Australia’s modern day Gypsy. She travels around with her caravan, Frankie, collecting and selling her vintage and one off finds.
Frankie the caravan
The workshop was held at Megan Morton’s “the school” which is a fabulous white space at Rosebery. There were so many exciting elements to the night that had me all a quiver.
“the school” at Rosebery
Megan met course participants with Iced Tea Vodka Sodas which gave us time to mix and mingle, check out the interior of the famous Frankie and browse Kara and Timothy’s current collection. We were then ushered into the school and set eyes on our pre-workshop feast.
Frankie open for business
A scrumptious table of hand-churned butter, cheese, figs, honey on the comb, bread, dukka, hand made yoghurt and marinated olives was beckoning us.
Scrumptious buffet table
But before we could tuck in, it was the perfect photo opportunity for all the instagrammers in the room. We had time to fill our plates and then take our seats for the main attraction.
Megan brought in a ladder to get a bird’s eye shot of the buffet table
It was magical watching Kara select items from her table of “bits and bobs” and place them on the mantle.
The table of wares to be used in the vignette
She’d add, take away, move and rotate the carefully chosen pieces until the story was complete. And her vignettes do tell a story. As a spectator, you are drawn into the scene and want to find out more.
Kara adding and subtracting
Kara had lots of little tricks that she generously passed on. Tricks like scrunching up paper to sit in a vessel so the item you place inside sits up and can be seen. And leaving crummage. Little bits of floatsam such as petals under flowers and fallen leaves under foliage. It helps to connect the viewer with the vignette.
A close up of the finished vignette
It was then time to create a vignette, watch on or go back to graze at the buffet table. I enjoyed watching the other participants create and then Kara waving her magic wand over them, twisting an item to the left instead of the right, popping something up on a stack of books, or adding some vital crummage. It was a very inspiring evening.
One of the students’ vignettes
Before the trio took to the road again, Kara left us with her golden rules of vignettes. I hope she comes back soon.
Top 5 Points
If you would like assistance styling areas in your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Dynamic Room Design Workshop
Are you struggling to finish off a room in your home? Perhaps you’ve recently moved in and don’t know what to do. Or your children are now a little older and want something more grown up in their bedroom.
Girl’s Bedroom by Inside Out Colour and Design
These are often the scenarios that my clients face and either they don’t have the time or the interest to do it themselves so engage me to assist.
Formal Living Room by Inside Out Colour and Design
But there are many people who do want to do it themselves, who, like me LOVE shopping but don’t know where to go or how to successfully pull a room together.
Living Room Inspired by The Beach by Inside Out Colour and Design
There is help at hand! On Thursday 16 May, I am presenting my Dynamic Room Design workshop at the CALDesign Creative Studio in Killara.
Master bedroom by Inside Out Colour and Design
I’d love to see you there and help with a room in your house. It will be a fun day with lots of knowledge shared and you’ll come away with a step by step guide so you can finish that room on your own.
Living and Dining Room by Inside Out Colour and Design
Pop over and register your interest and take a look at the other workshops going on as well as their beautiful portfolio. But hurry as there’s only room for 12.
However, if you would prefer to engage me to assist with your home, contact me for an online or in-person consultation.
Re-loving
Do you remember I featured this little TV cabinet on my blog a month or so ago? I’m re-loving it as part of the Feast Watson Re-love Project.
TV Cabinet Before
The first step was to remove the doors, broken back panel and castors and then give it a good sand. Now I’m not a big DIYer so took some advice from the expert (aka my husband). I tried the electric sander but didn’t seem to get very far. It was a bit big to get into the shelves and didn’t seem to be hard enough.
Orbital Sander
So out came the little iron sander and all that horrible orange varnish from the 80′s turned to dust.
Smaller Iron Sander
Next was mixing up the liming solution. The beauty with the liming solution is you can create custom colours by adding a little or alot of the Proof Tint.
Feast Watson Liming Solution and Proof Tint
I wanted a gender neutral colour so used a little of the black and alot of the yellow to create a fresh, happy colour.
Custom Mixed Liming Solution
A brush and a rag were used next. I applied the solution with the brush and then wiped it off with a rag. The longer you leave the colour on the item the more intense it is.
Solution Applied
Now I just need to give it a top coat, add an upholstered seat and a couple of legs and she’s ready.
Solution wiped off
Don’t forget you can check out the other items in the project on the website. And in just over a month you can join the auction fun and grab yourself one of these restored pieces and help raise funds for Salvos Stores.
Have you renovated a piece of furniture before?
Grout should not be ignored
Renovating a bathroom or kitchen? Chosen all your tiles? What a releif, you can now sit back and let the tiler do his thing. Wrong!
Once you’ve chosen your tiles the next thing you need to choose is the colour of the grout. Don’t leave it to the tiler as you will probably end up with white or grey. The grout needs to support the tiles not detract from them. No-one wants to make a feature of the grout! Unless you’re really making a statement like this image below.
When we renovated I had definite ideas about how the tiles would look once grouted. The large format tiles in the bathroom were rectified which means they have square edges. I wanted the walls to look seamless and the rectified tiles can be placed close together so choosing a white grout assisted with the overall look.
In the ensuite, we used natural stone tiles on the walls and floor so I chose a cream grout there to match the filling in the travertine.
The black marble mosaic splashback in the powder room needed a dark grout as anything lighter would make the space look too busy. I already had a wallpaper above the splashback and that was the main feature of the room. The splashback needed to enhance the wallpaper and save it from water splashes but didn’t need to be a feature in itself.
The kitchen was tricky. I was using white subway tiles. The kitchen has a nod to French provincial style without the fuss so I wanted the tiles to stand out but I didn’t want the industrial look like the kitchen below.
White grout would’ve blended with the tiles and dark grout would give that industrial look, sort of like a butcher’s shop. So I selected a pale grey grout. The cabinetry is grey and the bench top is also a grey – Stone Italiana KSoul. The grey grout sets off the whole kitchen perfectly.
So don’t think once you’ve chosen your tiles your decisions are over. Think about the overall look you’d like, take some time and choose the colour of your grout wisely. Like everything else, the options are endless but will make a big difference to your finished home.
All images can be found on my Pinterest boards.
If you would like assistance choosing tiles and grout for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Do you have the X factor?
I keep on seeing it over and over again – the X factor for interiors.
Bathroom Vanity detailing
Bedroom stools
X factor is a variable that could have most significant outcome, a special talent or quality or something unexplainable that adds value.
Double XX on the back of the chairs
X-collection chairs
You can add some X factor to your home by incorporating the X shape in your furniture or cabinetry.
Jonathan Adler X Bench
Kitchen cabinetry detailing
It’s a strong statement, that little X. Two lines intersecting in perfect symmetry adding strength and detail to an otherwise very ordinary item.
Formal dining table with the X factor
Kitchen barstools
All images can be found on my Pinterest boards.
If you would like assistance adding the X Factor to your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation or send us your furniture sourcing requests.
How to make a space your own
At the recent Decoration and Design trade event held here in Sydney, I was fortunate to attend Abigail Ahern‘s seminar, Decorating With Style.
As Abigail started speaking, I could immediately relate and agree with her design ethos. She explained that a good interior should have glamour, ecclectism and wit. That’s the way I design interiors for my clients. I love a bit of glamour but then most of my clients have families and they actually have to live in the home, so some ecclectism is great with found and collected pieces thrown into the mix. And of course, no interior, unless it’s Buckingham Palace perhaps, should be without a smattering of wit. It’s what gives a room personality.
She had two main rules which are good for those attempting to decorate their own homes – 1) Make it personal and 2) ditch rules, trends and forecasts. If you try to follow trends or submit to forecasts then you’ll never really be happy in your space because as soon as you get it all decked out, bang a new trend comes along and your place looks soooo yesterday! Whereas if you fill your home with things you love, be it colours, furniture, fabrics or homewares, you will always feel comfortable and so will your guests.
Abigail’s advice for working with small rooms was great too. Small rooms will always be small rooms just like dark rooms will always be dark rooms. Get over it and embrace it. Work with what you have and don’t try to make it something it will never be.
Abigail launched her new book here in Sydney. It’s not yet released overseas but you can put your name down at Amazon for one of the first copies.
If you would like assistance creating a home in which you and your family will feel comfortable, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
