“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Living Rooms
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.
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.
All Rugged Up
Although in the Southern Hemisphere we are heading in to our warmer months, there’s nothing like a floor rug to inject colour and pattern into your living space.
Poppies by Sanderson
They add warmth (both literally and physically), they define a space, provide sound dampening qualities and can hide imperfect flooring.
St Ives Rug in Teal
There are so many patterns and colours to choose from. All over patterns are great for under timber coffee tables while centre patterns work best under a glass coffee table or in an open space so the pattern can be admired.
Midsummer Rose Rug
I’m thrilled that the Sanderson range of rugs are now available here in Australia. They certainly have some great patterns and colours from which to choose. They are made from 100% wool and are inspired by the Sanderson fabric range and are certainly affordable ranging from $700 to $1400 depending on the size.
Dandelion Rug in Taupe/Claret
If you would like assistance choosing rugs and other decorator pieces for 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.
Room Reveal
Remember this post where my clients and I were trying to imagine what the room would look like with the new furniture and if we should get both chairs recovered?
Using towels to get a feel for the furniture layout
Well all the furniture has been delivered today and I am happy to report my clients are over the moon with their space.
New and recovered “old” furniture in place
They have downsized from the family home to a brand new three bedroom apartment. The main room has two living areas – one formal around a fireplace – and one casual. It was the casual area we have been working on as the clients purchased the formal area furniture that was placed in the apartment for display purposes.
Formal lounge area
So the furniture and look of the formal area set the tone for the rest of the room. The clients loved their old lounge chairs and after looking at new chairs decided to get their favourites recovered, again. Today they showed me photos of the same chairs over the past 30 years with different covers. It reminded me of my own lounge suite.
Those green chairs are now the stripey ones above
We had the ottoman custom made. It had to serve three purposes.
Custom made ottoman
- - a coffee table (we need to add a tray to provide a sturdy surface and protection)
- - extra seating for the grandkids
- - a footstool
So careful consideration was given to it’s height so it could be used for all three purposes. Not at the same time, of course!
Ottoman and “old” chair
Now we just need to add cushions and the room is complete.
New sofa waiting for some cushions
If you would like assistance finding furniture for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
All Blues Go Together
I love this room designed Mabley Handler by for the Hamptons Designer Showhouse.
via Pinterest
I’ve always liked blue and been a firm believer of the adage that all blues go together.
I’m not so sure it works for all colours though. Apparently all greens also go together, but I’m not so sure I could use olive and lime in the one scheme.
Dulux Greens
What do you think, could you be just as comfortable immersed in a green room as a blue room?
via Pinterest
If you would like assistance choosing the right colours for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Unusual Combination
Unusual Combination
I spotted this image over on Pinterest and was mesmerised by it.
The hot pink sofa sucks you right in straight away but on second glance I was enthralled by the eclectic collection of furniture and accessories in this room.
The elegant chandelier, the cow skin rug, the classic style sofas and armchair all upholstered in different fabrics, the abstract artwork, an emboidered cushion, ostrich leg side table and the shrink wrapped fabric on the tufted ottoman all sit together in perfect harmony.
Not many would be game to throw so many different styles together in one period style room but somehow it all works.
Do you like it or would you not spend much time in this room?
If you would like assistance creating a living room that epitomises your lifestyle, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Hot Mustard
I hope you had a nice weekend.
My daughter wanted to go clothes shopping on Saturday which is usually traumatic. What goes around comes around I guess.
Let's go shopping!
Anyway, she knew exactly what she wanted so after looking in three shops, we went back and made our purchase. I always love the beginning of a new season seeing all the new colours that our out in fashion. Winter never really excites with the profusion of black, brown and grey and the odd smattering of red or purple. But this year looks like it will be a colourful winter.
Winter Blacks and Greys with a smattering of red
Many of the stores had loads of colourful pieces but the combination that caught my eye was Mustard and Dark Green. Mustard isn’t a colour I wear nor use in my decorating but teamed with the dark green it creates a scene.
Green Top and Mustard Cardigan
Whilst I was flicking through Pinterest last night, I saw this image. I couldn’t believe how similar the looks were.
Green Sofa with Mustartd Feature Wall
I wonder if we’ll see more of it around with the London Olympics looming on the horizon.
Australian Cap
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
Have a great week!
If you would like assistance choosing the colours for your interiors, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Love Rules
With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, it’s time to look at a few items for your Love Shack.
Heart Shaped Truffles
When looking to inject some romance into your interior, go no further than the colour Pink. Red is for passion but pink is for romance. Because of its soft, cosy and romantic nature, pink is perfect for the bedroom. It makes the skin glow and what better place to make use of those flattering reflections?
Pink Bedroom
Putting some romance into your home can also be achieved by pairing things together. In the bathroom, if you have the space, instal twin basins in the vanity. This allows for two people to use the bathroom at the same time and also makes sure your toothpaste doesn’t get mixed up with your partner’s shaving cream!
Twin Vanity
A double shower is another luxury that can be installed if space permits. This is a great time to use different shower heads in each shower so you have the choice of a rain shower or a standard shower.
Double Shower
You could always add a little two seater sofa into the lounge room. This little piece from Jardan would suit any decor.
Loveseat by Jardan
Or you could recover an existing chair in heart fabric.
Heart fabric covered chair
Matching His and Hers sunlounges around the pool or on the patio make a great place to sit and relax and read the Sunday papers.
His and Hers Sunlounges
So once you’ve redecorated to create your cosy little shack, don’t forget to fill the table with candles and flowers and indulge in a romantic dinner for two.
Dinner for Two
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Click on images to be taken to their source.
If you would like assistance creating your Love Shack, 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!
