via superstock.com

However, I think many people are confusing today’s wallpaper with the papers that were most probably in their childhood homes. Those patterns were very busy in strong colours and the paper was difficult to both instal and remove. And the trend was to have just as much pattern on the soft furnishings and flooring as there was on the walls and curtains. No wonder we all had to have a Bex and a good lie down!

via decodir.com

Todays papers are much more elegant in their colour and design and are used in moderation.

A wall behind a bed that has been wallpapered looks fabulous.

Interior by Inside Out Colour and Design

Wallpaper under glass in the kitchen splashback creates interest and texture.

via Inside Out Magazine

Adventurous homeowners can even wallpaper the ceiling.

via cocokelleyblogspot.com

By using the wallpaper in moderation, it’s not that onerous a task to change it when required.

Wallpaper in the smallest room of the house via Pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com

So have I convinced you? Do you like today’s wallpapers or have you been scarred for life by the wallpapers of the 60′s and 70′s?

If you would like assistance choosing wallpaper for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.

Related posts:

1. What do you think?
2. I See Red
3. Beautiful Bathrooms

Sixhands Textiles for Peter Alexander

Textile design studio Sixhands, who are Alecia Jensen, Brianna Pike and Anna Harves, started their friendship at University where they were studying fashion and textile design. After working independently, the girls joined forces in 2006 to create Sixhands which has been providing textiles to Australian fashion designers.

Sixhands textiles for Flamingo Sands

When the girls moved into their own studio, they went about decorating it to make it a welcoming space for themselves and their fashion clients. This sparked a passion for interiors and a new arm of the business was created.

Interiors from Sixhands

The team at Sixhands like to apply something new to something old and create something truly unique. On display at the Conversation, was an old lounge chair (think there’s one in our family somewhere) covered in bright floral fabric as well as a 70′s lamp base with a new brightly patterned shade.

Old lamp base with new shade in Sixhands fabric

But fabric is not their only medium. You can also have a Sixhands rug for your floor, or wallpaper for the wall, or maybe a surfboard for your car?

Sixhands designed surfboard for Misfit

The possibilities are endless and the girls admit they think without limitations. If a homeowner is not confident to have that much pattern and colour on the walls with wallpaper, then there’s the option of using the fabric for cushions or a rug that can be moved or changed.

Stepping Stone Rug from The Rug Collection designed by Sixhands

I think big things are ahead for this talented trio. They admitted, almost tongue-in-cheek, that they aspire to be the Australian version of Missoni Home. I have no doubt they will soon be a household name.

The faces behind Sixhands

Oh, and I won a lucky door prize too. A bottle of red and 12 months subscription to Habitus. No excuses now! Thanks Habitus for a great night.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and if you’re in Sydney, don’t forget the Young Blood Designers Market is on as part of Sydney Design Festival.

If you would like to add some colour and pattern to your home, or are interested in Sixhands products, contact us to discuss our design and sourcing services.

Related posts:

1. Furniture, Decoration and Kathryn Ireland
2. Mixing Old and New
3. Rug Up at Government House

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.

Related posts:

1. Everything new is old again
2. Discontinued Fabrics
3. Affordable Fabrics

However, as this week draws to a close, I thought I’d point out that two of “my” houses are currently on the market.

It’s interesting to see how the real estate agents and stylists change things around to suit a prospective buyer. I like making a house into a home for my clients and their families, whereas it’s a different story when the For Sale sign is up.

This is the photo I took of the formal lounge room when we’d finished the job.

Formal Lounge on completion

And this is the real estate photo.

Real Estate View. Click on image for more photos

In this house, what was the formal lounge room has now been altered to accomodate another bedroom. We didn’t get back to take a photo of all our work before the For Sale sign went up.

Client's formal lounge before we started

Real Estate agents have converted the lounge room to a bedroom. Click on image for more photos.

I have it on good authority that the more bedrooms a house can have, the better!

Family room and kitchen prior to our work

Family Room and Kitchen with new colour scheme

So if you’re looking for some action this weekend, why not have a look at these properties.

Alternatively you might like to grab a bargain at one of the warehouse sales this weekend.

Florence Broadhurst Stocktake Sale

or in Melbourne

Emma Jay Factory Sale

Whatever you get up to this weekend, I hope you enjoy yourself and stay dry and warm.

Related posts:

1. I See Red
2. Liven Up Your Living Room
3. Console Dilemma

Winter hit with a vengeance here in Sydney yesterday. Coldest May morning in three years. I think winter is the time everyone turns their thoughts to the inside of their homes. We certainly spend more time there.

I came across this new wallpaper by Zoffany and couldn’t resist posting a photo.

Zoffany Mosaic Wallpaper

Do you like it? It’s called Mosaic and up close it looks like little bits of paper all stuck on top of each other. It gives a beautiful shimmer effect especially in this stripe.

Wallpaper is making a comeback and it’s nothing like the stuff I grew up with. I love it all.

Zoffany Nureyev Wallpaper

Would you like some wallpaper in your home? Inside Out Colour and Design can make it happen. Email us for online rates or call 0401440088 if you are Sydney based.

Related posts:

1. What do you think of wallpaper?
2. Red, Orange, Green and Bholu
3. Crowning Glory

Not that I was complaining. I was off to the Cafe in the Royal Botanic Gardens for the launch of Porters Paints new wallpapers which have been designed by the very clever Jodie Fried.

Jodie is the designer behind Bholu, pronounced boll-loooo. The name has it’s origin in India and means a term of endearment and affection towards a small child or is descriptive of naive and free artistic expression.

Tweet Dreams Wallpaper

Bholu products are designed in Australia and are brought to life by artisans in India. Proceeds of many of the pieces sold are put back into the Indian communities giving them independence and opportunity.

Frederick Elephant p Moo Night Wallpaper Frieze

Since 2007, Bholu, along with Architect Without Frontiers have built 10 Bholu schools and now have more then 250 children in school, receiving education, hygiene, nutrition and love.

Mavis Monkey and family is my favourite

Many of the wallpaper designs have been inspired by artworks by the children in India and would look gorgeous in a nursery or young child’s room. The bright colours and fun images are a refreshing change for childrens’ decor.

Porter’s Paints will be donating a percentage of sales of this collection to the “Bholu Anganwadi Project” which rebuilds preschools for slum children in under privileged communities in India.

Porters Paints and Bholu wallpaper and accessories are available from Inside Out Colour and Design.

Related posts:

1. Purple, Orange and Green
2. Green Shoes and Buttoned Seats – Saturday in Design
3. Pink and Orange and Blue and Green

It was very exciting to be in the audience of Kathryn Ireland’s seminar. She is such a down to earth woman. Kathryn showed us some images of homes she has decorated and designed in the States and her own home in France. Kathryn’s style is very eclectic and combines English Manor (she was born in the UK) and French Farmhouse (her holiday home) with bohemian style.

Kathryn Ireland

Her philosophy is that rooms should look lived in and should look thrown together when in fact they have been carefully planned. You can easily see that Kathryn enjoys travelling (who doesn’t) and her inspiration is drawn from many corners of the globe. Morrocan tiles, Indian bed and French 1940′s furniture all sit harmoniously in the same room.

Similarly Kathryn loves colour and her rooms are a kaliedoscope of colours. She admits that if she was to show her clients the swatches of all the colours she was going to put in their room, they would have her committed!

Dining Room by Kathryn Ireland

An extremely busy lady, Kathryn also has a furniture line, fabric range and wallpaper range. The wallpapers and fabrics can be sourced through Inside Out Colour and Design. Her book, “Creating A Home” is available at our Amazon Store as well as some other highly recommended books on Colour and Design.

Fabrics by Kathryn Ireland

The Fair itself was broken into two main parts. There was the Decoration and Design area that mainly concentrated on small furniture and decorator items and then there was the Furniture section where many furniture importers were showing their ranges to the large retailers.

Naturally, I concentrated my time on the Decoration and Design area. I was looking for a coffee table for one client and came across this beauty.I like a shelf or drawer on a coffee table that can hold magazines and remotes and leave the top free for, well, coffee.

Antique Oak Coffee Table

I was also looking for a feature light for another client and thought this might fit the bill.

Migo Pendant from Hermon and Hermon

The exhibitor that I had not come across before, which had some great items, was d-Bodhi which combines contemporary and classical designs in a sustainable and affordable way. This is my favourite from their current range. Maybe it’s the soft shape of the legs on the raw looking timber that appeals.

Lucy Dining Table

It is “Fair Season”! Later this month Sydney will host three Homewares and Gift Fairs all at the same time, which makes for a busy and exhausting week. Then in April, Designex will be held here in Sydney. It’s a great way to be inspired and keep up with what’s new on the market.

via Getty Images

I’m hoping for a quiet weekend and wishing you one too.

Related posts:

1. Furniture, Ceramics and Honeysuckle
2. Colour, Furniture and Coffee
3. Designer Black

Warehouse 625

Bathe and Hansgrohe were showcasing their tap and bathroomware, Ilve had their ovens and cooktops, Interstudio had brightly coloured stools, Ontera Modular Carpets were reusing and recylcing carpet, Porters Paints had wallpaper by Catherine Martin, Classique had beautiful outdoor furniture, Studio Bagno had stunning bathroomware and Warwick Fabrics had their new collections on display. But the piece de la resistance had to be that amazing installation hanging from the ceiling over the stairwell. All those green shoes. How clever.

Green Shoes

Back in the bus and up the hill to Gelosa who were also hosting Brisbane firm Comax. I love these Lola chairs and the many takes they have on them.

Lola Sister Chair by Comax

Lola Brother Chair by Comax

Lola High Backed Chair by Comax

Laminex were also there. Hasn’t laminate come along way? Beautiful colours and fantastic decorative patterns for any situation.

Laminates in all colours and patterns

And then we jumped a taxi and headed down to Darlinghurst to visit Mico and Stylecraft. The installation at Stylecraft was amazing. It was called “Binding The Senses” and was made of ring binders all interlocked together.

Ring Binder Installation at Stylecraft

One more stop for the day, one last taxi ride, one last look around. “Hooray” say the feet. “Thank Goodness” says the head.

Related posts:

1. Saturday in Design 2011
2. Ke-zu and Chairbiz at Saturday in Design
3. Saturday In Design

Jewelled Crown Cake by The Ladygloom

It’s a long weekend in most parts of Australia with today being a public holiday for the Queen’s Birthday. It’s always nice to have an extra day off and spend time with firends and family. I thought I would share with you some right royal images I have found to make your interior fit for a Queen.

Cushion by French Country

Regal Wallpaper from Cucci Interiors

Timber Gift Tags from Venucci

Regal Purple - the colour of kings

Royal Dog

Happy Birthday Your Majesty.

Related posts:

1. Happy World Interiors Day
2. Red, Orange, Green and Bholu
3. Sixhands

Wallpaper Next provides so many options for interior decorating with 80 new images and include stunning, huge single-motif designs along with wall sized designs, drawings and text panels created by Eijffinger’s own design studio.

These images really get the imagination racing and provide limitless possibilities for any room. These are some of my favourites.

Bridge over troubled waters perhaps

I have to love this one, it's my corporate colours!!!!

Turn it down

Breakfast time can feel like this

Take time to smell the roses

Anywhere but here

Related posts:

1. Furniture, Decoration and Kathryn Ireland