Making Life Beautiful

I really love the style of Art Deco, so you can imagine the excitement, when visiting a potential client recently, who wanted the rooms to be in Art Deco Style…pictures will follow in the next few weeks.

The Art Deco design movement (1925 – 1939) was an elegant, functional and modern design style which celebrated a time of innovation, decoration and decadence. Art Deco appealed to many, people who liked cocktails, the Charleston, streamlined cars and chromium- plated electric toasters.

Art Deco style first came into prominence at the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925. Art Deco motifs came to be especially favoured for both the exteriors and interiors of distinctively twentieth-century building types such as the cinema and the skyscraper. Art Deco celebrated the aspects of the machine age and used vivid decorative elements. Straight lines, often three in parrallel, were used horizontally, vertically and diagonally in conjunction with geometric curves. Low-relief sculpture was popular, it was heavily stylised and tended to be symbolic of speed, power, industry or progress.

Deco design is characterized by the use of mathematical geometric shapes, symmetry and repetition, with the use of machine technology including materials such as glass, aluminium and stainless steel. Deco influences are found in architecture, interior design, industrial design, graphic art, painting, film and fashion.

In the 1930’s the cinema and the milk bar each drew heavily on the style and did much to make it popular. Eye-catching materials and finishes were preferred, such as chromium- plated steel, plywood faced with exotic veneers, and coloured opaque glass (Vitrolite and Carrara glass).

 Art Deco is a beautiful style, and there are several ways to create that look.  For example, for Art Deco furniture, mirrors and lamps, scour the trading post, ebay and second hand shops and antique shops.   You can readily source replica Art Deco Lamps and lighting fittings as well as Art Deco style cornices and skirting boards.  So, if Art Deco is for you, then happy hunting and have fun creating your 1920’s space.

One of the key items for your interior decoration projects is the use of a rug.  Rugs are great as they can completely change the look and feel of a room.  You can use a rug to add colour, define an area, soften sound, provide insulation, be the focal point or a piece of art on the wall.

One of the first things to consider is where you want to place your rug, as this will determine the size for your rug.  For example, if the rug is to be used as an area rug in the lounge then it is advisable to leave a space of approximately 1 metre between the edge of the rug and wall. 

If the rug is being used under a dining table, then add approximately 1250mm to the dimensions of the table, so when chairs are pulled out for seating, they remain on the rug.

Colour affects the mood, so when it comes to selecting the colour and design of the rug, think about the look and feel you want to achieve.   Are you the vibrant fun-loving type? Or do you want a zen-like room with simple clean lines? Red, orange and black with abstract designs can be a good rug for a party person and for rooms that complement the colours. While black and white are neutral colours that can blend in any set of furniture.

If you are redecorating an active room, choose the vibrant and excited colours. Active rooms are those that have a lot of action like kitchen, living room and dining areas. If you are redesigning a more relaxed room, like the bathroom and bedrooms, choose the more casual, relaxing and serene colours.

If your floor is very light, you might want to put in a darker shade of area rug. On the other hand, if your floor is too dark, adding a cream coloured shag rug or zebra rug will right away turn your room into one with sophistication and elegance.

Should you go for area rugs that are monochromatic or multi-coloured? The answer will depend on your style.  If your room is designed as modern and rich with complementary colours, the modern multi-coloured area rug will tie in all the colours in the room. Be careful though because having too many colours in one room can make it look gaudy.

If you are using rugs to separate different sections of a large room, you can choose different rugs with either same colours or same shapes. Having area rugs with different designs will define the different areas. But since they are sharing the same large rooms, it is important to note that they should have some shapes or colours that tie them up together.

One way to make your room feel richer and whether you prefer it to be warmer or cooler; is by choosing the right texture for your area rugs.

Wool area rugs are a great choice for several reasons, they usually last longer and provide great insulation.  Shag rugs are fancier and provide some hip and yet sexy sophistication to ones room. Shag rug is one alternative that is becoming very popular because while it also provides many options as far as color, shapes and sizes, the texture truly attracts the eyes into it and invites guests to leave the shoes to feel the shag rug. Natural area rugs like sisal rugs, bamboo or jute provide simple, airy, cool feel for the feet and come in different colours.

Contemporary rugs and Modern area rugs are usually either bursting in colours or are in limited colours eg stark white or elegant black. Contemporary area rugs usually have geometric patterns, and are abstract art by themselves.  Traditional rugs include Persian, Oriental, Indian and Tibetan carpets that have fine details that will give your room a classic elegance without being overpowering.

Animal or zebra print rugs can be very versatile. These types of area rugs can go well with modern furnishings such as glass and chrome; and go well with wood and brass. Whether you have a contemporary home or a rustic cabin, zebra rug, leopard rug or a tiger rug can very well fit into your home design.

Whatever your budget is, the mood that you want to experience or the style of your living space that you want to project, an area rug will be one of the most important purchases that you will ever make for your home. Small as it may seem, it will serve a decor that will liven up your room for many, many years, if you know how to choose the right one for your home.

photographs courtesy of www.designerrugs.com.au

With the busy lives we lead, our bedroom is not only where we sleep, but our sanctuary.  It is here, that you can close the door to the world and feel relaxed and peaceful. 

There are oodles of decorating styles for bedrooms, from the natural look with minimalist accessories to the sumptuous and glamorous.  Whatever style you choose, here are some things to consider.

You still need to be able to walk round your room, so before purchasing or changing your furniture, have a good look at your space and, if necessary, map out where the furniture will go.  You can often get carried away with purchasing a new bedroom setting, only to find that you haven’t got quite enough space for all the component parts eg the dresser, lowboy etc.

Personally I favour using a bedhead, it anchors the wall on which the head of the bed is positioned.  If you bed doesn’t have a bedhead, you can easily purchase one or make one to suit your space.   Again, the options are only limited by your imagination and budget.  You can use padded bedheads in leather or beautiful fabric, bamboo or textured natural finishes or a sleek contemporary look using some of the great laminates.

If your room is large enough, then do consider putting a small side table and an armchair in the room.  Personally I think this adds a touch of elegance and relaxation to the ambience of the room.  If you have an old chair, then consider having it reupholstered in a beautiful fabric, and tie this in with your linen and curtains. 

Whilst a lot of people use blinds on the window, I also like to soften the room by using drapery, which can be used in conjunction with blinds.  The style of the drapery reinforces the style of your room eg swags and tails for a formal/traditional look or tab tops or grommet tops for a more contemporary look.  In addition the fabric selected also impacts on the style of the room, for example using sheers or soft hanging material as opposed to heavier and bulkier fabric.

Lighting is often forgotton about in the bedroom.  You need to assess your room for the amount of natural light it receives (as this will impact on the colour you choose) as well as the artifical light required for ambience lighting and task lighting.   Don’t forget that if your are using the dresser in the evening, then you’ll be needing light, often dressers are placed by windows for natural light, however come night time you need artifical light.  If you have downlights in the room, then using dimmer switches is a great way to change the lighting effect.  Lights either side of the bed for reading could be lamps or pendant lights.  (Obviously if your installing pendant lights, then you can’t change the position of the bed.) 

The dressing of the bed with the linen, throws and cushions is where you can really create an impact.  Mix and match sizes of cushions, fabric designs and textures.  This will add depth to the room and will reinforce the style and feeling you want your room to be.

Layering of flooring is popular and adds warmth to the bedroom.  For example if you have carpet as the floor covering, then layer rugs over the top of this.

The final thing is please keep your bedroom clutter free, if this is your space where you can relax and feel at peace then having a clutter free room is only going to add to the end result.  So make a conscious effort to remove old magazines, beverage cups, or whatever else is lying around causing clutter…

Yours, dreamily, chief inspiration officer – Sharon

Creating a focal point in a room can be achieved in many ways, including furniture.

I came across this industrial furniture, which I think is fantastic.  Depending upon your style and taste, it may not be for you, but I often like to add a sense of interest and quirkiness to a room, not always playing by the ‘interior rules’.  To add interest to a room or a focal point you can incorporate a piece of furniture.  This could be a console table at the end of a hallway, lounge chairs to a bedroom or something that is special to you.  By doing this you are not only created the focal point but also adding your own personality and character to your space.

You are really only limited by your imagination and budget.   So, if you’re looking to change your room around or starting from scratch, do consider, at the beginning, what furniture you would like to include and more to the point why?

Yours ‘industrially’ chief inspiration officer…Sharon

Many home owners are now looking to see what they can do incorporate environmentally friendly ideas and  ’green up’ their space.  This could include making small changes such as changing a few purchasing habits to incorporating green initiatives when building a new home or office.  What you get is mostly a healthier lifestyle and loads of economical savings, what the surroundings get is sustainability and respect, so it’s a win-win situation.

If you’re not building a property at the moment, what you do have management over is the interior design and style of your living space.  You may feel overwhelmed by the large amount of info readily available on green interior design, so here is a list of 7 uncomplicated points you are able to do to make your home greener.

1.  Start by making use of certified non-toxic glues, paints, finishes, cleaners and polishers.  Besides being eco friendly they aid in keeping your place less toxic.

2.  When looking to replace your carpet or linoleum floor, look at wood or bamboo.  Bamboo is an excellent material due to that fact it is cost effective and it is a tremendously fast growing plant.    Materials that are sourced from specifically grown plantations to meet these needs are a great option.

3.  Make sure you update your electric devices with newer, energy efficient and stylish equipment.  You can also replace your old light bulbs with compact fluoros or LED and reduce your carbon footprint.  We’ve just been through this at home, by replacing the old fridges with newer ones (hate to say it but one fridge was 26yrs old and still going strong).

4.  Make sure your rooms have controllable ventilation so the air gets renewed constantly.  Ceiling fans are a great, and a great alternative to switching on the airconditioner on those days when you ask yourself, do I really need the aircon on?

5.  Check if your windows and doors are insulated.   There are a myriad of options from using window treatments such as curtains to putting on the insultation strips around the edges of the doors etc.

6.  When looking at new furniture, don’t go passed recycled furniture.  Materials like metal and glass, unlike paper, retain their high quality even when recycled, so they’re a great option.

7.  If you are purchasing wood furniture, try to make sure that it was created from wood that was cut locally as this will save significant amounts of energy, which would be spent in transferring it from a remote location.

What you have to keep in mind is that most of the gains from green interiors are long term.  However, as they say, every journey starts with a step.

Your ‘environmentally friendly’ chief inspiration officer.

Sharon

Often the thoughts of using wallpaper bring back dim and distant memories of old fashioned rooms adorned with not so beautiful wallpaper, with the heavy traditional styles to the florals and chintzs. 

Well, over the past few years, there has been a revolution in wallpaper, and there are some fantastic designs and patterns on the market.  Recently at the DesignX show in Syndey, I saw a new range of wallpaper from Eurowalls, which looked like sandstone and slate.  This wallpaper is simply stunning for feature walls and can go around corners and curved edges. 

Using beautiful designs of wallpaper in bedrooms, lounges, studies and hallways is a great option to create a feature wall that comes to life and adds that unique ‘wow’ factor to your space.  You can choose from pastels, geometric patterns, textured or plain papers or strong vibrant colours.   Wallpaper makes a great alternative to paint finishes for a feature wall.  You could always add paneling to half of the wall and wallpaper above it.   Another idea is to cover the back section of an old bookshelf, so when you see the books, behind them is the wallpaper.  For a co-ordinated look, team up the wallpaper design and colours with fabric.  Then use the fabric for cushions, curtains, throws or even have an old favourite chair recovered.  It gives you so many options to mix and match, blend or contrast colours and textures in your room.  Also, you can throw in to the mix a combination of florals with checks or plaids…..you are only limited by your imagination.

Some of the truly gorgeous wallpapers can be on the expensive side, but, if you’re only doing a feature wall or a particular area, then it might not break the budget.  There are oodles of videos on YouTube on how to hang wallpaper, so spend some time and check them out so you get great a great looking result from your efforts.

Also, if you confused on how to put colours together, then sign up for my monthly  newsletter ‘Inside Interiors’ (on the right hand side of this page) and you’ll receive my ebook on Designing with Colour absolutely free.  By the way, the newsletter I put together has hints and tips on interior decorating and includes a selection of things I come across in my world of interior decorating, from funky furniture to classic fabrics and amazing new technology in fixtures and fittings.

good luck in finding that perfect wallpaper for your space.

Sharon

chief inspiration officer……

One of the spaces in a house that I find has often been ‘missed out’ when owners are discussing and considering decorating projects is the hallway.  When you think about it, the hallway or entrance to your home really sets the scene when friends, family and visitors arrive at your place.   In addition the hallway can throw up some interesting decorating challenges as it is often a ‘dumping ground’ for family members when they arrive home, and, depending upon the layout of the house, the physical space you have to work with can in itself present challenges. 

Below are a few pointers for your hallway decoration and I’ve included a few pictures I found on http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=174&g2_page=2  which hopefully will give you inspiration to decorate your hallway and set the scene for your place – Making Life Beautiful, one space at a time.

1.  Look at the space layout you have to work with, sounds basic I know, but hallways come in numerous shapes and sizes, then select a theme for your decoration, that is how you want the space to look and feel.   This could be elegant, monochrome colour scheme, funky or country look and feel.  Long narrow hallways will dictate the selection of the accessories and furniture, where as larger areas will allow greater scope for larger pieces.

2.  Look at the light, both natural light and artificial light in the hallway.  You can add interest by using a stunning pendant light or chandelier as a focal point, this type of lighting works wonderfully well if you have a lobby type entrance or a stairs leading off the hall.  Wall sconces or downlights are great to provide lighting in a long narrow hallway.  If you have artwork on the walls then consider accent lighting to make this a focal point. 

3. Consider the functionality of the hallway, if you have lots of family coming and going, often it becomes a dumping ground for bags, shoes, coats, hats, keys etc etc.  By selecting furniture and accessories that allow storage of these items, for example consoles with tables, or a place for shoes, then hopefully you won’t be continually nagging family members to ‘put things away’.  By look ing at the space available, you may have the ability to incorporate functional features such as as a fitted bookcase underneath the stairwell, giving you additional storage space to your home.

4.  For smaller hallways, you can’t go past using a light colour scheme, this creates the perception of space and pushes the walls out.  Light colours have a higher light reflectance value which means that a greater percentage of light that enters the space (natural and artifical) is reflected off the walls which obviously adds to the brightness of the hallway.

5.  Also, look at using a mirror in the hallway.  Decorative mirrors are fantastic accessories as they will reflect and disperse light throughout the space.  When looking for a mirror, do take into consideration scale.  A small mirror, on its own, on a large wall is not going to look particuarly good when compared to a large mirror.  However, you could combine a small mirror with wall hangings, for example photos, metal wall hangings etc.  A large mirrors is usually a good choice, especially if it is the only decoration on a particular wall.

6.  The use of accent colours really ties the space together, and adds a splash of colour to the hallway.  Accessories in your chosen accent colour could include picture frames, glass vases or bowls and furniture such as a chair or hat stand.

7.  If you have the space then create a focal point through the use or artwork, lighting, furniture or a quirky item.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be large item but an item of interest.

Here are a few pictures www.LivingEtc.com  which hopefully will add inspiration to your hallway decoration project.

Using wall decals are a fantastic way to dress up any room, whether it is the office, the kitchen, bedroom or whatever, they’ll be something out there that is ‘just right’.  The great thing about using this type of decoration is that it is removeable, so if you get tired of it in the future, or what to move it to another room, or to another house, it’s easy. 

This type of wall decoration is brilliant for those renting, as quite often it is difficult to ‘put your own stamp’ on the decor of the place you’re renting.  Especially if you have a landlord that won’t let you paint, or you don’t plan staying in one particular place for long – you just take them with you.

You can make a statement in the room using wall decals by using them as a focal point, to add interest to a wall or bring a completely different and querky dimension into the room.   Wall decals are also great for enhancing a particular style and theme to a room for example an Art Deco style, motivational wording for the office or reception and fairies or princesses for a girl’s bedroom.

With so many different styles and types of wall decals available, the problem may be chosing which one(s)……..

One area of a businesses physical presence, that is often not the best it could be, is the reception area.  Hard to imagine that this doesn’t get the focus and attention to detail as it deserves, as it is your window to the world.  This is the first area that your customers, visitors, partners, prospects and employees see when visiting your premises – and you don’t want to ruin the first opportunity you get to impress and portray a professional image that reflects the ethos of your business.

In this post, I’m covering 4 key elements to the overall design of the space, as opposed to the interior decoration of that space - that will follow.  Whilst reception areas within offices differ dramatically, there are some principles for the reception office design that are consistent for most schemes.

1.  It is important that security and reception staff have visual sight of the space, even when a travel route for staff doesn’t take them to the main Reception area.  Also, don’t forget that this visual control should also extend to visitors whilst they are waiting.  Ideally, the Receptionist and visitor can both maintain contact in the event of a prolonged waiting time.

2. Once a visitor is in the waiting area, then don’t forget the directional control i.e. how the visitor or new staff member is directed once through Reception.  For example, many buildings do not have the lifts in plain view, or internal lobbies may not direct people, assuming that once they’re in the building, then they’ll know where to go.

3.  Most businesses use the Reception area to display their name, brand or logo.  They also reflect the standards within the business such as the style of furniture, layout out and the colour schemes used.  In addition, corporate publications, newspapers and TV news is generally used to enhance their image.  Once these initial elements are in place, it is essential that they are well maintained.  If  TV’s are installed, then they better be working and on a channel that is in alignment with your businesses culture.  Similarly, any printed material, such as brochures, price lists, industry magazines and newspapers should always be current.  The principle here is, avoid putting anything into a reception area that won’t be kept up to date and well maintained.

4.  Reception furniture is designed with several good reasons in mind.  Soft seating shouldn’t be that soft, it should be comfortable yet firm enough to assist people to get up quickly, and avoid getting saggy or tatty from constant use.    Durability in the reception areas is very important.  Generally the reception desk, storage and seating is specified to a high standard so that they don’t deteriorate rapidly.  Consideration to corners that stand up tot he hoover, surfaces that don’t chip or lift, and durable fabrics are all standard practicalites.      Equally important is that everything is serviceable, light fittings must be easy to clean and easy to change the globes.  Corners can easily be knocked, so thought should be given to design them in a way that is either protected from traffic or constructed to withstand a knock.

So, if you are planning a remodelling of your reception area, or if you are locating your business premises, I hope that some of these principles are of use to you.  Once the intial draft of the design is in place, the interior decoration needs to be planned at the same time, so you end up with a practical, functional yet stylish and beautiful reception area to welcome your visitors.

One of the great joys of the work I do, is creating spaces that people truly enjoy.  I’m just about to start on a project which entails remodelling the main living areas of the home.  This includes a new floor throughout the majority of the house,  a new kitchen, colour scheme, furniture and window treatments.

I do spend a lot of time talking to the client at the outset to really understand the feel, look and style they are wanting to create.   Admitedly, not every one has an idea at the beginning, and look to me for inspiration, which is fine.  Anyway, back to this project, the client was thinking of remodelling as the colour scheme is a little dated as is the kitchen.  The project has now come to the forefront on the envitable ‘list of things to do’ because their current floor tiles have started to lift.   When I visited the home last week I was amazed to see how the tiles had risen up over a large area.  It was almost as though you had pushed the walls in, which resulted in the tiles being squeezed and raised in a ridge approximately 3 -5 cms above the ground. 

I found some beautiful new floor tiles from the local tile shop, as soon as I saw the tile I knew that would be the basis on which to build the client’s new decor.   Also, amazingly, the price of the tiles easily fit within the client’s budget and I know they will look magical in their home.  When I showed the client, his face lit up and the comment was WOW….  The floor tile has sat proudly on the kitchen bench top for the past week, with every member of the house getting excited about the new look and feel the home will have.

So, next week I’m meeting the kitchen cabinet maker and tiler on site to start the quoting and budgeting process.  From there its off to the fabric shop to hunt down beautiful fabric for window treatments and getting to work on creating the whole new design.   Just seeing the client’s face and hearing the comments when they saw the tile was awesome, that truly gives me satisfaction in the work I do, creating spaces that people love, and fulfulling my passion of making life beautiful – one space at a time.