Ikea Bedroom

I’m not a frequent visitor to Ikea as the stores, which get bigger and bigger every couple of years, are not usually that close to me geographically. But I was keen to visit the new store in Tempe to check out the size of the shop and to see what’s new.

Ikea Entertainment Unit

When I lived in Hong Kong, Ikea was a staple destination for setting up house. The store was located in Causeway Bay and as most of the residences in Hong Kong were small, one had to be really clever about storage which is something Ikea do really well. Also, most expats were in Hong Kong for a two or three year initial contract, so Ikea products were selected as they were relatively cheap and it wouldn’t matter if they didn’t last more than five years.

Ikea Kitchen with Mirrored Splashback

My recent trip to Ikea, confirmed that this is pretty much still the case. They do great looking items at good prices but I find the quality is just not there. If you’re looking for something that will last for many years, like my sofa, then Ikea is not the most ideal retailer for you.

Ikea Wall Unit

However, I do like the way they set up the rooms so you can see all the components and it’s a great place to visit if you are looking for ideas. It’s also great for kids furniture if you are wanting something to tie you over until they get to the next stage and require (deserve) something a little more sturdy.

Ikea Bunk Bed

And then of course there’s all those decorator pieces at the end of the Ikea stores. Tea Lights, glass vases, photo frames, plates, trays and glassware are all well priced and can add a touch of colour to your home.

Ikea Desk and Stationery Folders

Like all furniture, I think it looks best when mixed with items from different places to give a personal look to your interior decor rather than buying everything from the one place.

Ikea Iron Bed

Enjoy your week.

If you would like assistance creating a unique family home with a mixture of furniture and decor pieces, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.

Related posts:

1. Showroom Shopping
2. Build A Room From Scratch
3. Green Shoes and Buttoned Seats – Saturday in Design

Million Dollar Decorators

Martyn spoke at the Australian International Furniture Fair in Sydney and his talk was called Creating A Superstar Interior. Martyn told us about the many superstars he had worked with and created amazing interiors for them. He had lots of good images to accompany his talk.

Los Angeles Home of David Furnish and Sir Elton John

His list of superstars included Cher, Cheryl Tiegs, Sir Elton John, Ellen Pompeo, Kid Rock, Tamara Mellon and the Osbornes.

Bullard & Pompeo via Zimbio.com

But I was pleased to hear that Martyn prefers to fill his interior spaces with the personality of his clients so the home is truly a reflection of them and not him. I can’t understand how anyone would want to live in a home that was designed without them in mind. I guess that’s why I love working with clients and making comfortable family homes rather than presale styling where the personality of the home is banished. Or doing cookie cutter interiors that you see in every magazine and they all look the same.

Property Styling

Mind you, I wouldn’t mind working with some of the budgets Martyn has the pleasure of being given. $50,000 for a dining room table? If anyone would like me to source one for them, let me know, I’d be happy to help. Martyn appeared on The Morning Show yesterday and was asked what “normal” people can do to create the million dollar look with a much smaller wallet.

Click to watch The Morning Show

The one thing I thought was impressed at was his use of unusual items. In one home he had used a window frame from a bank building as a fireplace and another he had carved panels made into wardrobe doors. It’s those unusual things that help create a unique space. You can see these magnificent interiors in his new book, Live, Love and Decorate.

Interior by Martyn Lawrence Bullard

The Furniture Fair was OK. I did love the OB Collection stand. It was so colourful with hot pink sofas, yellow drum stools and blue ceramics. The exhibition centre had the air conditioning set at single digits, I’m sure and we were pleased to see everything and head out into the rain and slightly warmer weather.

OB Collection Stand at the Furniture Fair

I hope this wet weather disappears before the weekend hits. It’s really been a miserable summer this year. But whatever you’re doing this weekend, I hope you enjoy it.

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

Related posts:

1. Stylish Interiors
2. Happy World Interiors Day
3. Happy Wednesday

Just dropping in to wish you a happy Wednesday and a pinch and a punch. February already!

via funnydogsite.com

I’m off to the Australian International Furniture Fair today. I’m looking for some sofas for clients and occasional tables which can always be a bit tricky.

Selection of Sofas and Occasional pieces

Decoration and Design is incorporated into the Trade shows these days and I do find myself spending more time in there looking at all the pretties rather than strolling the aisles looking at beds and wall units.

Beds on dispaly via demotix.com

And then of course, I’m going with my partners in crime and no doubt will bump into others I know, both vendors and viewers. So the social aspect of the day is well worth the outing.

Elegant Dining Room via Pinterest

I’m booked in for the seminar with Martyn Lawrence Bullard and it’s always great to hear designers of note speak about their work and career. I enjoyed listening to the interview the girls from The Skirted Roundtable did with Martyn so I’m super excited about hearing him live.

Mexican Retreat via Pinterest

I have my swag of business cards, paper, pen and camera (mind you, there’s usually loudspeaker announcements warning us that photography is banned) and I’m ready for a great day.

Morrocan Bedroom via Pinterest

Enjoy your day whatever you’re doing.

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

Related posts:

1. Happy World Interiors Day
2. Happy Halloween
3. Happy New Year

via www.abc.net.au

This list was compiled by Andrew Winter and delivered at Grand Designs Live held at Darling Harbour, Sydney in October 2011.

Andrew Winter

Firstly, Why do you want to sell?  And, Are you prepared to meet the market?

Growing Family

That’s the market right now? What if it took a while to sell or the sale price you were offered or worse still, accepted, was disappointing? How will that affect your future plans?

via www.travel.ninemsn.com.au

Are you ready for the complete upheaval and inconvenience of selling a home? Will the whole family be able to convert your home into a display home in a minute when the agent calls to say they have a prospective buyer?

Display Home

So now that you have truthfully answered those questions and are ready to forge ahead whatever may happen,  give your home a very good spring clean.

Time to Spring Clean EVERYTHING

Complete any essential repairs and have them done properly. If you can’t do them then it will pay to bring in an expert who will not only do them probably better than you but also in half the time. Declutter and tidy the whole house. Remember, buyers are nosy and cupboards will be opened!

Lane Cove Home For Sale

Check out the competition. Visit the homes in your area, which are similar in size and location to research presentation and price. It’s always good to know what you’re up against.

Townhouse For Sale in Balmain

Wherever you can, get the right help and advice from professionals.

Family Home For Sale in Roseville

Don’t get carried away and don’t over capitalize. Just before you’re selling is not the time to start renovating with a view to profit. If you’ve managed to live in the house as a family then someone else will too. And if they decide to stay, then they will alter the home to suit their family and lifestyle. Makeovers not full renovations are the key at this time.

Federation Home For Sale in Turramurra

Have a good look around. Go outside and stand across the road. Be critical and look for anything that may prevent a prospective buyer even getting out of the car. Tidy the garden, the footpath and the front of the house too.

Renovated home For Sale in Mosman, NSW

There are benefits of using an agent to sell your home and one of the most beneficial is to have a third party to help you through the process. They are not emotionally involved with the house and this may be helpful when it comes to negotiating.

Unit For Sale in Gordon NSW

Recognize the issues of the home and adapt to the current market. Keep on checking on the competition and keep on adapting.

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

Related posts:

1. Home is where….
2. There’s No Place Like Home
3. There’s No Place Like Home

Paint Colours

More times that not I immediately say “White” as I’m definitely a white ceiling girl. And now I’ll explain my reasons and the exceptions, because as you know there are always exceptions to every rule.

Colour and Interiors by Inside Out Colour and Design

A white ceiling will give context to the other colours you have chosen for the walls.

White walls, white floor, white furniture

This is especially important when the wall colours are neutrals or off whites. The walls will just look white unless there is a whiter white adjacent to it.

Same room with a white ceiling, suddenly the walls have depth

White ceilings also assist in bouncing light around the room. If your room is dark or doesn’t receive much natural light, a white ceiling will help to lighten the room.

Our bathroom ceiling in half strength of wall colour

I have seen many times, in recently bought houses, the same colour on the walls as on the ceilings. This is an easy way to paint as there’s no cutting in and it probably saves money and time for the previous owner. The problem with this look is that the ceiling tends to look dirty. Even if the ceilings are painted a half strength of the wall colour the ceiling will still look dirty.

Our dining room where we've painted the ceiling white

The only time I would take the wall colour up onto the ceiling is if the ceiling is raked and the lines between walls and ceiling are blurred.

Colours and interiors by Inside Out Colour and Design

The angles seem to disappear and the room appears bigger as everything is the one colour. That is of course assuming that the colour is a light neutral colour.

via www.decotrends.blogspot.com

The room above does not have any mouldings between the walls and the ceiling so it has made sense to carry the wall colour above the picture rail onto the ceiling. It would be much easier to paint and as the colour is lighter than the wall colour it works.

via www.houzz.com

The ceilings need to be quite high if you do wish to paint the ceiling a colour. A darker colour on the ceiling will make the ceiling advance and appear to come down on top of you so it really needs to be in a room where the ceiling is at least 2.9m high.

via www.peacockfeatherevents.blogspot.com

It can look very effective in rooms where you look at the ceiling – like the bedroom or in a room that needs some drama like an entry or a dining room.

via www.lightroomtools.com

So what do you prefer? Coloured or white ceilings?

Katie Ridder via Simplified Bee. The gloss on the ceiling helps bounce the light around

If you would like assistance with choosing colours for the interior of your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.

Related posts:

1. Which white is right?
2. Who’s Afraid Of Big Bad Colour?
3. White Hot

Simple drum shade

The electrician has been in this week so our attention has moved to light placement and fittings.

Two lights work beautifully in this dining nook by Windsor Smith

Most of the area will have downlights installed but the dining table deserves a feature light. In a wide open space, it’s always good to define the areas. The kitchen will be a galley style, so a bench will separate it from the rest of the area. Placement of the sofa will define the living area and a large light fixture will define the dining area.

Oversized Ikea Maskros Light

An oversized light fitting creates drama in a dining room. When the table is set ready for a meal, the crockery, cutlery and napery add interest to the room but when the table is not in use, it’s usually the light fitting that becomes the focal point.

via Sherrill Canet Interiors

The light fitting in an open plan dining room doesn’t need to be the sole source of light so it’s not necessary to swamp the room with maximum wattage. Often times, the table will be decorated with candles and there will be lamps on in the adjacent living room and a light on in the kitchen.

Nelson Bubble Light hung low over the dining room table

My advice in choosing a dining room light fitting is to choose more for aesthetics than pracitcalities – form over function!

Gorgeous lantern light

You can find these images and more on my Dining Room Pinterest Board.

Dining Room Pendant with adjacent kitchen downlights

If you require assistance with choosing light fittings for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.

Related posts:

1. Statement Dining
2. An Eclectic Room
3. Dining Out

Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon fabric available from Inside Out Colour and Design

Today marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon which is the most auspicious sign in the Chinese zodiac.

Interiors by Inside Out Colour and Design

I remember when we were living in Hong Kong and I was pregnant with my daughter, all the local Hong Kong Chinese would tell me how lucky I was to be having a dragon and that she was going to be very strong. Naturally they would’ve liked it better if she’d been a he, but I was happy no matter what.

Asian Decor items available from Inside Out Colour and Design

The dragon represents success and happiness, so let’s hope 2012 is a good year for us all.

Interiors by Inside Out Colour and Design

There’s lots of dragons to check out in Sydney over the next few weeks – Komodo Dragons, Dragons in Artefacts, the Blue Dragon and Musical Dragons.

Antique Huang Huali Folding Chair and Framed Antique Bound Feet Shoes

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

Related posts:

1. It’s a Brand New Year
2. Happy New Year
3. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Like all things, there are just so many choices and it really depends on the homeowner as to what they like and what function the rooms will have.

However, I do have a couple of guidelines that make choosing a little easier.

Roller Blinds have been around for years. You can choose your own fabric and have it bonded onto a backing fabric to create a roller blind. That way you can match your décor and personalize the blind.

Bonded Roller Blinds by Inside Out Colour and Design

Ready-made roller blinds can be purchased from hardware stores and fabric stores like Lincraft or Spotlight. These are usually plain white or off white. The blind mechanism is at the top and when the blind is up you still see the mechanism but get left with a thin roll. They are usually spring loaded so no need for cords or chains. You will need a base bar or a ring pull to raise the blind.

Ready Made roller blinds

I usually recommend a roller blind for a kitchen, bathroom or laundry. They are cost effective, so if you are wanting a covering but don’t want to spend a lot of money, roller blinds could be the answer. If you are using a decorative fabric, make sure the roller is made with a reverse roll so when raised the fabric shows into the room.

Roller Blind with Reverse Roll

Sunscreen roller blinds have become popular lately. This fabric is a PVC or fiberglass coated mesh and allows the light in but still provides thermal qualities as well as the ability to reduce glare. It gives privacy and is a very streamlined look. My preferred area for installing sunscreen roller blinds is in the family living areas as usually these rooms are open to the outdoor living areas and as much light as possible is required.

Sunscreen Roller Blinds by Inside Out Colour and Design

For children’s bedrooms, I usually recommend roman blinds. They sit in the window reveal or just on the outside of the architrave so do not fall to the floor which is ideal if a bed or other furniture sits under the window.

Roman Blinds via Pottery Barn Kids

Any fabric can be made into a roman blind which means the blind will add a splash of colour or texture to the room. Blockout lining can be added to create maximum light control however light will still enter down the sides of the blind between the blind and the architrave.

Roman Blinds by Inside Out Colour and Design

They usually have a side cord that wraps around a cleat (gold or silver), which is screwed into the architrave or onto the wall. Australia safety standards dictate the cleat must be at least 150cm above the ground so the cord does not become a hazard to children.

Roman Blind Cleat

Curtains provide the best insulation as well as the best light control capabilities when blockout lining is added. The styles are endless but the most important aspect is to not be stingy with the amount of fabric used.It will make a big difference to the way the curtain hangs and looks.

Curtains just "kissing" the floor by Inside Out Colour and Design

Consider the style of heading of the curtain as well as the length. Personally, I prefer curtains that hang to the floor as short curtains don’t look right. If there is furniture in the way, then usually I would recommend a blind rather than a curtain but of course all rules are meant to be broken.

Interiors by Sherrill Canet

Curtains that puddle can harbour dust and bugs as well as become tripping hazards for pets and children. My preference is curtains that “kiss” the floor i.e. they sit just above the floor. Curtains are a more formal look so suit formal lounge rooms, dining rooms and master bedrooms.

Puddling via Country Living

Shutters are a smart, streamlined, option which are custom made to suit the window. They can be painted in any colour, however most companies provide a standard range of colours with custom colours incurring a surcharge. Where possible we try and choose a colour from the standard range to help control costs.

Shutters by Inside Out Colour and Design

Shutters can make a room look clinical especially if there are limited soft surfaces in the room so soften the look with fabric sofas, rugs or carpet and textured cushions.

Interior Decor by Inside Out Colour and Design

Each panel is usually split horizontally so if privacy is an issue, the bottom section can be closed while the top section can be tilted to allow light and air to enter the room. Shutters are a good option if occupants have allergies.

Coddington Design via VT Interiors

There are many other alternatives but these are the ones I usually have clients requesting.

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

Don’t forget, all these images and more can be found on my Pinterest boards.

Jennifer

Related posts:

1. Window Seats
2. Headlines
3. There’s a new kid in town

Fae Rentoul says, “Badly hung artwork, often hung too high. It is well worth spending what is often a small amount of money to get a professional to hang any artwork.”

Artwork hung too high

Paintings, when hung as a single piece of artwork, should be placed at a height so the average person looks straight into the middle of the piece. Naturally if you are hanging more than one artwork, such as a pair underneath each other or a photo wall, then the centre of the overall size of the combined pieces should be at head height.

Suzie Beirne says, “A complete lack of attention to balance, proportion and lighting. If you don’t know what you are doing, even with the tiniest budget, ask a professional for one good session to guide you on your way. I can’t count the number of times I have been asked to try to fix expensive mistakes that cannot be returned. Men are particularly stubborn when it comes to this – women seem to understand that you don’t fill your own teeth, cut your own hair or make your own clothes unless you are skilled – so why decorate your own home without professional guidance. The time to ask for help is before you buy, not after – it’s often too late. How can this problem be addressed? Not many people are prepared to throw away new furniture and start again but it has been done, believe me.”

Out of proportion

It’s true, so many people try to fit their old furniture into their new house, or set about making changes and then realize it doesn’t fit or they have made a drastic mistake with their choices and then call in the professionals. It pays to engage a decorator as early as possible and formulate some sort of plan so you can then move forward at your leisure.

Helen Glover said the mistake she sees the most is, “Bad bathroom tiles! Generally by the time people are choosing the bathroom tiles, they are over the process and are often under pressure from the builder to “just pick one”. Eeek – this can be a 15 year decision and one that can plague you every morning when you brush your teeth. Don’t rush this one, get professional help if you need to but don’t tick the box until you feel comfortable with your choices – remember that trends will change over the life of the bathroom as will you and your family, so go for neutrals or something that really matches the home you live in so that as it ages, it ages gracefully.”

So many choices

NEVER feel pressured by your builder. Don’t get yourself in that position in the first place by making sure you choose everything in advance. Too often I have seen clients leave it until the last minute and then the item they have their hearts set on is out of stock or won’t be available in time. Somehow, nothing matches up to our first preference and we have to make do.

Tonie Robertson said, “The most common decorating mistake I see is not knowing when to stop. People get an idea, which can be a good one, and then want to use it everywhere, so the initial idea is no longer special. Keep it simple, if it looks good then leave it.”

Too much pattern

I laughed at this one. Sometimes it is very hard to stop, but keep on telling yourself – less is more!

And Deborah Atkins went in to bat for us all. “Not using an interior designer! Good interior designers will actually save you money by avoiding costly mistakes that can easily be made by the inexperienced.”

Call in a professional

Hear Hear!

If you would like to avoid making costly mistakes, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.

Related posts:

1. Top Three Tips on Decorating for Pet Owners

Our Christmas was a quiet affair this year, but that didn’t stop me decking out the house in colours of fuschia, turquoise and silver.

I alter the colour theme each year and decided on fresh, bright colours rather than the traditional red and green.

I found myself collecting Mercury Glass candle-holders of varying sizes and grouped them all together on a glass platter on the centre of my coffee table. They did look very effective when they were lit of an evening.

When I ordered my Turkey, I was half expecting to be feeding 9 people for Christmas, however through one reason or another I only ended up with 4! So I have spent the last couple of weeks trying every Turkey leftover recipe I could find and substituting cooked turkey meat in the myriad of recipes I have for cooked chicken meat.

We have had some delicious meals. But my favourite would have to be the Vietnamese Turkey Salad, which was just delicious. I’ve even frozen some turkey meat so we can have it again later in the season.

I’ve finally found the time to get busy on Pinterest. Have you succumbed to this new craze? It’s a bit addictive but oh so convenient to have all your favourite images in the one location. Check it out!

Well back to work for me this week. I’m offering a special to all my subscribers of a 15% discount on Colour Consulting services booked during the month of January. So if this is the year for a new colour scheme for the inside or outside (or both!) of your home, make a booking and take advantage of the discount.

Related posts:

1. The Year of The Dragon
2. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
3. Happy New Year