“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Posts Tagged ‘Soft Furnishings’
New fabric collection from Mokum
Mokum has just released an exquisite new fabric collection inspired by the East.
East by Mokum
The challenge was to create a harmonious collection, balancing beauty and function.
My favourite pattern from this fabric collection would have to be the Water Lily. And it looks stunning in the colour Lagoon.
Water Lily fabric in Lagoon
They seem to have captured that simple and peaceful aspect of Asian art and design. There are fabrics suitable for window coverings and upholstery in beautiful colours.
Kabuki fabric by Mokum on chairs and Nami on windows
If you would like to enhance your home with new fabrics, 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.
Console Dilemma
TGIF! It’s been a big week again with lots of things happening on all different levels. I am looking forward to the weekend, which unfortunatley goes all too quickly.
I thought I’d show you the finishing touches I have recently added to a room makeover.
You remember this one, Country to Hamptons.
Orange checks before
We painted the walls, reupholstered the sofas, purchased new coffee and side table, had new cushions made and bought new lamps.
Revamped Lounge Room
The clients had a console table on the wall behind one of the sofas and we now needed to “dress” the table.
Console Table Before
I was inpsired by this image from Taylor Howes and loved the symmetry of the two lamps and two tall ginger jars. Fortuantely, my clients did too.
Decor by Taylor Howes
I set about sourcing the jars and lamps, but wasn’t really happy with anything I could find. Many of the ginger jars were very Asian, with dragons or the longevity character on them.
Chinese Ginger Jar
The lamps weren’t right either.
I then started thinking that we would end up with four lamps in a confined area and the lounge may end up looking like a lamp showroom! I love lamps, but……
We had used this wonderful fabric for cushions on the sofa, so that led me to thinking about coral. Then instead of lamps, maybe we could use candlesticks?
Coral Trellis Fabric in Porcelain
And I found these wonderful, modern ginger jars from OB Collection.
Bamboo Ginger Jars
So that was it, I had all my pieces. Now I needed to work out how to display them. Fortunately I have a console table too, so I set about mocking up a couple of alternatives.
Option 1
I had a large and a small ginger jar but felt the height was wrong for the two of them to sit together.
Option 2
So back to the original symmetrical look.
My clients loved it and I was able to use a couple of their favourite books to prop up the bowl of coral and shells.
Completed Console Table
You too can create this look, as I have a piece of the Coral Trellis fabric for sale in The Store Room as well as the two smaller ginger jars that I didn’t end up using.
Have a fabulous weekend.
If you would like assistance sourcing items for your home, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Seriously Beautiful Fabrics
Last week I viewed the newly released 2011 Lizzo Collection of fabrics. Did I tell you I LOVE fabrics? I can’t sew to save myself – never had the patience – but there are seriously beautiful fabrics on the market. And the best part about my job, is I get to see them and play with them and find the perfect one for my clients’ homes.
Maharaja
LIZZO is a Spanish brand of fabrics that was started in 2001. LIZZO produces avant-garde textiles inspired by history and the artistic movements that have signalled change. It then reinterprets them to the modern world.
Botanical
This current collection includes beautiful geometric and graphic prints aptly titled Bauhaus.
Bauhaus
It also reflects our multicultural world with Maharaja.
Maharaja
A reinterpretation of retro and vintage with Paisley.
Paisley
And nature with the beautiful sheer curtain fabrics that make up the Forest collection.
Forest
If you would like assistance finding the perfect fabric for your curtain or upholstery requirements, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Top Three Tips on Decorating for Pet Owners
I trust you had an enjoyable weekend. Sunday was perfect weather here in Sydney and we joined the thousands of other pet lovers who took part in this year’s RSPCA Million Paws Walk. It was so much fun seeing so many of the dogs (and their owners) dressed for the occasion!
via Million Paws Website
So today I thought I’d give you my top 3 concerns when decorating with pets in mind and some suggestions to overcome them.
- Flooring – all animals have accidents from time to time so steer away from shag pile rugs or light coloured carpet. When accidents happen, treat stains straight away.
Oops
- Window Coverings – If you have curtains, then I would not recommend you have them “puddling”. That is when they sit in a little puddle on the floor. Your pets will LOVE sitting on this soft spot and could cause damage to the fabric.
Curtains Puddling
There is also the risk of pulling the entire curtains and rod down if they are getting frisky and playing with them. Try to have your curtains “kissing” the floor instead where they sit about 1cm above floor level. Silk and sheer curtain fabrics can be magnets to cats and will rip very easily with sharp claws climbing on it. Choose a flat cotton instead.
via funnycatsnao.blogspot.com
- Upholstery – Fabric choice is paramount here if your pets are allowed on the furniture. Darker colours are better to hide any marks although if you have an animal that sheds then perhaps it would be easier to choose a fabric the same colour as the pet. Leather can be wiped clean and macrosuede is also strong and stain resistant. Upholstery can be treated too, to repel stains. So if you want to keep the furniture in tip top condition, I would recommend treating before you allow the pets in.
via VisualPhotos.com
I don’t believe a home is a home without a pet, so sometimes you just have to embrace the pitfalls and as Interior Designer, Kathryn Ireland says, put them down to “the patina of life”.
Pablo and Coco
Alternatively, put your white shag rug and silk curtains in a room that’s a “no go zone” for your beloved pet.
via Phoenixcarpetcleaner.com
If you would like assistance in decorating your home to suit your pets, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Moody Blues
Since seeing the cover image on the May issue of Home Beautiful, I’ve been itching to paint a room navy.
I’ve always preferred Navy to Black in my wardrobe and get very excited when the winter clothes start appearing in the stores and there is navy amongst them.
Treena Textured Cardigan from Sportscraft
I think painting the walls a dark colour is a great way to cosy up your decor. The bedroom on the cover of Home Beautiful looks so inviting as does this room from Aura.
Bedlinen from Aura available through Inside Out Colour and Design
Some of the navy blues that would work on the walls in your home include:-
Madison by Resene
Biscay by Resene
Blue Velvet by Dulux
Academic Blue by Dulux
Just remember if you are going to paint your walls a dark colour then most of the furnishings need to be light to balance it up.
Diane Bergeron has chosen off white sofas and window coverings to complement the navy walls.
One of my other favourite combinations is Navy and Taupe and this fabric would look fantastic on a sofa in a navy room.
Zahra from Mokum Textiles
Perhaps if all this navy talk has you hankering for a touch of blue in your home, but you don’t want to go overboard, you might like these beautiful Ginger Jars available from The Store Room.
Blue Ginger Jars from The Store Room
If you would like assistance in creating a cosy and welcoming interior for your home, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
For Sale
I do hope you had an enjoyable long, long weekend. I took the opportunity to clean out my store room and found a number of styling items I have purchased in the past but never used. I’ve decided to offer them to you. So if you are looking for a new piece to add to your decor, have a look at The Store Room.
Email me if you are interested in anything and I will calculate postage for you. And don’t forget to pop back every now and then as I put up more items.
Enjoy your very short week.
Before and After
Another week rolls around. I thought I’d start the week with a before and after I’ve recently completed.
Completed Bedroom
My client wanted a fresh look to her bedroom and replace the bedhead and side tables she’d had for many years.
Before
We had new a new linen doona cover custom made as well as padded headboard and matching valance.
After
The buttercup yellow toile cushions were already in the room with co-ordinating roman blinds so that set our colour palette.
Yellow Toile Cushion
Black bedside tables and antique brass lamps were added along with a yellow and linen coloured bed runner to pull the whole scheme together.
Bedside Tables from La Maison
My client is very happy with her new look bedroom, as is her husband, who is pleased that it’s not too feminine!
After
If you would like assistance with your master bedroom, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
What’s new?
Last week I was invited to see the new fabric collections at TWO of the showrooms, here in Sydney.
The first was at Crowson who have released a range of new fabrics from a number of houses they have in their collection. Waverley had some great colours and patterns but the one that caught my eye, was the Equinox collection by Crowson.
Equinox Collection by Crowson
I love the fun, colourful combination of hot pink and lime green.
Equinox
The other collection was the new embroidery range from Holland and Sherry.
Designed to add a highlight to soft furnishings and drapery, the embroidered border collection is truly exquisite.
Embroidery from Holland and Skerry
Limited only by your imagination, you get to choose from the range of fine base cloths such as silk, linen, cashmere or wool and design your own pattern from embroidery or applique or choose from the many templates available.
If you would like to add an exquisite or playful air to your home, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Styling 101
As you know I spent Friday in Bangalow at Shannon Fricke‘s first ever Styling 101 workshop.
It was such a treat to be back with a group of like minded women for a day, as well as learn from such an Interiors Expert as Shannon.
We learnt about the ins and out of being a stylist and how the image you are trying to capture must say something to the viewer. I’d never really thought about that before!
We also learnt about catching the image in a frame and deciding on the frame size prior to starting. It doesn’t always have to be a “big” picture.
We had some practical, hands on time too. Our brief was to create a concept for Country Style magazine with the theme of Spring. Cutting up Shannon’s magazines and rifling through her fabric boxes, we each created an inspiration board that would convey the story behind the image we would style for the photo shoot.
Then Shannon threw open the cupboards in The Little Cottage and everything else besides was up for grabs as we all worked to create a vignette of our own.
My idea for the Spring photo shoot was to take a bed onto a covered verandah of a country cottage and dress the bed in fresh, pastel coloured bedlinen. There would be bunches of wildflowers and Australian natives in vases on the bedside table and chooks and domestic animals roaming around.
So when it came to styling my vignette, I narrowed that image down to a bedside table and used flowers and soft pastel vases and cushions to illustrate my idea.
It was great walking around and seeing the other ladies ideas and listening to their thoughts behind them.
Shannon also gave some ideas on how the different scenes worked and what would happen on a real styling photo shoot to hide things like cars in the background or photoshopping ugly elements out of the final photographs.
Thanks Shannon, for a fun and informative day and thanks to Nicky and Charlotte for their assistance and the delectable lunch.
If you would like assistance with colour and design for your home, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
All photos by me.
