Categories
Furniture Homewares Interiors Addict

Winnings brings Spence & Lyda into home shopping destination

Winning Group has acquired leading furniture, lighting and textiles retailer, Spence & Lyda with a view to establishing a new lifestyle and luxury destination for the home called Winnings, incorporating their existing brands Winning Appliances and Rogerseller.

John Winning, CEO of Winning Group, says: “We are delighted to welcome Spence & Lyda and their team to the Winning Group. Spence & Lyda, led by Fiona Lyda has an incredible reputation for offering the world’s best and emerging brands at the cutting edge of design, including furniture, lighting, homewares and soft furnishings. We are excited to offer Spence & Lyda’s range to more Australians and have it integrated into Winnings, which will be the ultimate lifestyle and luxury shopping experience for the home. 

Spence & Lyda

“For over a century, we have helped Australians to create their dream kitchens. Our customers have always told us they wished shopping for their whole renovation was as easy and enjoyable as shopping for appliances with us. We’ve listened and are delighted to now be able to offer our customers a leading, delightful and hassle free shopping experience to fit out their entire dream home. At Winnings, customers will be able to shop their favourite and exclusive brands from Winning Appliances, Rogerseller and Spence & Lyda all under one roof, at our newly renovated Redfern showroom to open later this year. Our flagship Redfern showroom will be the first of many Winnings lifestyle and luxury destination stores for the home, where we will continue on our mission to provide the best shopping experience in the world.”

Rogerseller

Fiona says: “By joining the Winning Group, we are now more than ever before, set for extraordinary things, particularly in the next 12 months with an exciting series of events being run as part of Melbourne Design Week this month and being part of Winnings in Redfern later this year.”

Winning Appliances

Established in 1906, Winning Group is a family-owned, Australian company incorporating five business entities: Appliances Online, Winning Appliances, Rogerseller, Home Clearance and Winning Services.

For more on Winnings

Categories
Furniture Homewares Living Room Reno Products Shopping

New BIG W homewares to elevate your home on a budget

BIG W’s new line of homewares, Sunrise Valley, will give your home an Insta-worthy update for autumn without breaking the bank.

Introducing autumnal tones and patterns, the range has landed in store and online in time for the cooler months ahead. Gary Chen, senior designer for home at BIG W, said they wanted to focus on small changes that will have a big impact. Taking inspiration from Scandinavia, you’ll find stylish yet practical items featuring deeper colours, tactile fabrics and big floral prints. Bag yourself a trend-inspired piece for under $10!

Our picks:

Home Trading Co Arch Storage Box – Pink, $65

A cute plush ottoman with storage for your kid’s playroom or the living area. Chic and functional, featuring a subtle rainbow design on the lid.

House & Home Large Ceramic Round Vase – Indie Cottage, $12

The gorgeous colour shouts autumn and this larger vase will look great with or without flowers/foliage.

House & Home Pinsonic Quilt Cover Set – Rolling Plains, $39-to-49

This gorgeous earthy toned set features a geometric quilted design that will subtly add texture to your room. Once again, the still on-trend rainbow motif is still there but pared back.

House & Home Sunrise Valley Boucle Cushion – Mellow Pink, $16

A great way to add a pop of colour to your home and introduce the season’s must-have textile.

House & Home Sunrise Valley 12-Piece Dinner Set – Sheer Pink, $39

The dining set features four bowls, four side plates and four dinner plates and also comes in grey.

Smoke Gray (left) & Sheer Pink (right)

For more BIG W 

Categories
Bedrooms Homewares Interiors Addict

Only 12% of Aussies are getting a good night’s sleep

If you feel like you’ve been missing out on sleep more and more lately, you’re not the only Aussie going through it. According to a recent survey by Freedom Furniture for World Sleep Day (today) only 12% of people could say they had a great night’s sleep. So, what can we do to help the rest of us?

In today’s ever-alert world, over half of the 1,000 people surveyed said stress and worry were major reasons for losing sleep. Surprisingly, those aged 45-to-54 are especially concerned. All of us have had to live through more than two years of constant Covid updates and it shows, with 40% reporting it had a negative impact on their sleep.

Of course, there’s the more common classics to this phenomenon too. 27% complained about noise, 20% informed of illness or injury, and 20% noted that they used an uncomfortable pillow or bed. One thing we can do to remedy this then, is select a good quality mattress. Lloyd Craske, head of sleep at Freedom, shares some key factors to getting the right mattress:

  • A mattress with a quality spring system is vital to bringing back the skip in your step. Pocket springs can reduce motion transfer, meaning you won’t keep waking up because of your partner or pet anymore.
  • Remember that the top of the support system are the comfort layers. Too soft will have you in the sunken place and too hard will have you tossing and turning towards a stiff lower back. Avoid this by opting for foams, memory foams or latex.
  • Lastly, consider the very top layers of the mattress. Made with natural fibres they can create a healthier sleep environment for a comfier night’s sleep.

Freedom has launched a new mattress range handcrafted in Australia and inspired by its landscapes. They have Warwick fabric on the sides and a matching base. Available in three feels: firm, medium and plush, they do what mattresses should by conforming to your body and providing pressure relief. They also have hundreds of individual pocket springs for all night support and natural fibres on top for better breathability.

Other key findings from the research include:

  • Retirees/over-65s reported the best quality sleep while those aged 45-to-54 and those performing home duties reported the worst.
  • 73% of 18-to-24 year olds reported that worry and stress was a reason for their poor night’s sleep, compared to 33% of over-65s.  
  • 1 in 5 people take over an hour to get to sleep.
  • 30% of respondents included taking a bath or shower in their bedtime routine.
  • 47% have a hard mattress.
  • Australians have an average of 1.69 pillows per person.

For more on Freedom’s new mattresses

Categories
Bathrooms Design Interiors Addict Kitchens RENO ADDICT Styling

Wattyl & Caesarstone make perfect pairings easy

Wattyl and Caesarstone have collaborated once again to help take the guesswork and mystery out of choosing a successful colour/finishes scheme when planning a new kitchen, bathroom or living space. Launched in 2019, the concept has been used by literally thousands of consumers when planning renovations and new builds.

Wattyl’s Confetti Shower and Tipi, Caesarstone Calacatta Maximus and Polytec Ligurian

In this latest, Perfect Pairings 3, eight palettes have been created by professional designers and colour experts, illustrating how the latest Caesarstone surfaces, Wattyl paints and Polytec cabinetry can be beautifully paired to create a particular look or ambience. 

For the first time, three of the palettes focus on outdoor settings, showcasing Caesarstone’s new collection of UV and water-resistant outdoor quartz surfaces alongside Wattyl’s latest colour offerings in its Solagard exterior paint.

Wattyl’s After and Earth Child, Caesarstone Midday and Polytec Prime Oak and Empire Oak

Reflecting current design and colour trends, the pairings incorporate everything from raw neutrals and a splendid sun-kissed amber to more saturated lush greens and a calming Mediterranean blue.

Wattyl’s Winter Mushroom, Gretna and Smoked Jade, Caesarstone Arabetto and Polytec Plantation Ash and Verdelho

The aim of Perfect Pairings 3 is to provide an informative and inspirational guide to the many homeowners looking to update their interiors with confidence and flair.  

For more on the Wattyl/Caesarstone Perfect Pairings

Categories
DIY Expert Tips Interiors Addict RENO ADDICT

How to pick the right paint colour: expert tips

To ensure your next project is easy and avoids wasting money on making bad colour choices (we’ve all been there!), the experts at British Paints share their guide to selecting the right shade.

Lean into your lighting

First, figure out which way the room you wish to paint is facing. This is crucial in understanding the natural lighting of the space and colours that can accentuate it.

In Australia, north-facing rooms tend to receive more natural sunlight. These rooms are well suited to cool colours like grey, blue, or green. If you go for white paints, stick to cool undertones, which will give you a crisp, modern look.


South-facing rooms, on the other hand, can be underlit. They will be well suited to warm colours like yellow, peach, pink and red. Adding warmth and cosy vibes while compensating for the lack of natural light. If you opt for a shade of white here, go for an option with a warm undertone.

Highlight your existing home

Remember to consider how the paint colour will work with existing elements in your home like the floorings, curtains, and furniture. Especially, as these can be pricey, difficult things to alter. Go for a wall colour that matches what’s already there. This can be a wonderful opportunity to hero a statement piece of furniture too. Whether it’s a beautiful velvet couch, bold piece of artwork or vintage desk.

If you’re feeling stuck and confused, neutral shades, like beige and taupe, are the most versatile. They make an excellent canvas for any style and don’t go out of style. It’s a smart choice for your existing home or if you are looking to sell in the future.

Get inspired by the unexpected

Inspiration can be found anywhere! “Bring the outside in” is a popular adage for colour schemes. Try looking outdoors and conceptualizing your local area within. Choosing colours such as Green Life or Blue Forge will foster a welcoming atmosphere for you to relax and unwind.

Alternatively, if you have a favourite piece of artwork on your wall or item of clothing in your wardrobe, look within for inspo. A fun colour idea is never far. Whether you decide to go bold with a shade like Red Alert or look on the bright side with a tone like Happy Home, you’ll appreciate the new hues daily.

A handy tool

If you’re then unsure of which exact colour to commit to, British Paints has also launched a free, online Colour Wall Assistant. Apps like this make settling on a specific choice much easier. It even suggests on-trend colour options to choose from!

Get sampling

Most of all, there is no such thing as too many sample pots. Once you have a few faves, pick up three or four different sample pots to test out in your space. Instead of painting directly onto the wall, paint a piece of white A4 paper and adhere to the preferred wall with blu-tack. Make sure to observe the colours at different times throughout the day so you can see how they appear in various lighting. Only when satisfied, start small on a feature wall or door. This gives you the freedom to see if you still like it or need to change course.

For more on British Paints

Categories
Interiors Addict Recipes

Foodie Friday: Pea, avocado, feta and mint salad

Today’s fresh recipe is from Bettina Jenkins, national culinary manager at Winning Appliances. This salad will keep your meal prep plan from going stale.

Pea, avocado, feta and mint salad

Delicious, fresh and healthy. Here is a beautiful, easy recipe that will make eating well a pleasure!

  • Fisher & Paykel Combi-Steam Built-In Oven
  • 500 g packet of frozen peas 
  • 150 g sugar snap peas
  • 2/3 cup shredded mint
  • 1 avocado (cubed)
  • 100 g crumbled feta
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
  • 1 grated rind of lemon
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • Mint (to serve)
  1. Place peas and sugar snap peas into a small perforated steam oven tray. Cook with oven set to 100°C for 5 mins or until just tender. Alternatively, you can steam them the old fashioned way if you don't have a steam oven!

  2. Drain under cold water and pat dry with paper before placing peas into a serving bowl with mint, avocado and feta.

  3. Pour over combined oil, rind, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Mix gently, sprinkle with mint and serve immediately.

This recipe can be prepared a few hours in advance! Store in the fridge, covered with plastic film and simply pour over the dressing just before serving.

entrée, Salad
avocado, healthy, quick meal, salad
Categories
Architecture Design House Tours Interiors Addict

The new house sale whose profits go to charity

Once again, brands and tradies have donated all the labour, land and materials for Henley and Villawood’s annual Good Friday Appeal house, and whoever buys this gorgeous new build will have the bonus feel good factor of knowing the proceeds go to The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Now open for inspection, the spectacular Vogue 34 by Henley (on land donated by Villawood) goes to auction with no reserve on 15 April 2022.

Comprising of five living areas, four spacious bedrooms, and an impressive master suite, the 34 sqm home comes fully furnished and can be a wonderful forever home with Henley’s 50-year structural guarantee.

Master bedroom with ensuite

Beautifully constructed on a 448mblock over eight months, the house includes a separate theatre, study and leisure areas.

Study room
One of five living areas with soft furnishings and decorative pieces

Its gourmet kitchen showcases a glass splashback with feature window, Caesarstone benchtops, rear bench pot drawers, SMEG appliances, and even an expansive butler’s pantry.

A special addition to the full landscape package is the uniquely designed mini soccer pitch with goal.

“We’ve selected a prime site at our Redstone community in Sunbury, in the middle of Melbourne’s burgeoning north and western growth precincts. It’s close to our amazing Club Rathdowne, a sophisticated town centre, extensive parks and open space and it offers a great lifestyle,” says Rory Costelloe, executive director of Villawood Properties.

This year’s Charity House Auction represents Henley’s achievement of three decades building and donating homes, building the 43rd charity home for the Good Friday Appeal to date. It is the 13th year of Villawood generously donating land.

The house is open for inspection every Saturday and Sunday (11-to-12) and Wednesdays (6-to-7pm), at 12 Sacred Drive.

For more information.