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Interiors Addict

Loveshack by eb&ive

We had a dream of creating our own brand and 10 years later, here we are!” says Nicky Morgan, owner of eb&ive and the new homewares line under it, LOVESHACK.

loveshack nicky_press2

While starting a label is a dream many might have, Nicky and her friend Jules Mckie-Walker actually did it.

loveshack basket

While it’s just Nicky in the business these days, Jules having become a full-time mum, creating the brand was a joint effort between friends and was a “natural progression,” says Nicky. Having shared a love of all things fashion and homewares since they were young, and ending up in the fashion industry in sales and marketing roles, the desire to express their own style only grew. It was 2008 when they made it happen – beginning with a small handmade jewellery collection. A few years later, the label expanded into handbags, clutches, shoes, fashion and small leather goods and really took off. They haven’t looked back since, with LOVESHACK being the most recent addition.

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Art

Adelaide’s hotel and art gallery in one

If there’s a project that brings art and interiors together perfectly, the Minima Art Rooms is it. In the Hotel Minima, North Adelaide, large-scale murals and installations cover the walls of all 46 rooms.

KateGagliardi01

Curated by Matthew Stuckey of Be Friendly, the work of 43 emerging artists from across Adelaide and Australia really is a “moment-in-time snapshot of South Australia’s emerging artist scene.” One of Matt’s biggest projects so far and as far as he knows the biggest of its kind in Australia, the project is unique; it has literally turned a hotel into one huge work of art.

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It’s not your standard hotel interior by any means, and far from the minimal look the hotel had previously, so how did the project come about?

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Interiors Addict

Dulux Colour Awards 2014 are open for entries

Exciting news for all architects, designers and students… The 2014 Dulux Colour Awards are open! This means it’s time again to explore the way colour complements structural form in the most inventive ways.

Last year's Atherton Gardens HUB Development project, by McCabe Architects and Bird de la Coeur Architects
Last year’s Atherton Gardens HUB Development project, by McCabe Architects and Bird de la Coeur Architects

As they have done for 28 years, the Awards celebrate the design excellence of Australian and New Zealand professionals, and showcase the crucial role colour has in creating a space. While every year the Dulux team urge entries to push the boundaries on “how colour is not only used, but how it’s perceived,” as put by Dulux colour & communications manager Andrea Lucenca-Orr, this year they’re still anticipating a high level of creativity. “We’re looking forward to seeing architects, designers and specifiers taking it that one step further with their innovative and inspiring application of colour,” she adds. 

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Interiors Addict

Recyled timber picture frames with heart

It’s a pretty simple thing,” says Ryan Melder, “we make products from materials that are destined for landfill – anyone can do it, it’s just about having the motivation make it possible.” This is the humble nature of the Melder family and, in fact, the whole story around their recycled furniture and homewares business, Mulbury.

mulbury frame 1

After years in the building industry, Gerry Melder became disillusioned by it – he’d been let down by too many contractors and had seen far too much beautiful timber go to landfill. Having always considered the environment, Gerry saw a way to make a positive out of this negative situation; turning to what he knew – “woodwork, design and construction” – he took the material destined for the dumpster and made it the source of his next venture. Thus, “Mulbury was born.”

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Interiors Addict

Brett Mickan, from set design to interior design

Though he loves to “create beautiful spaces in all capacities,” — theatre, film, landscape and yachts among them — it is interiors that designer Brett Mickan has settled on, and Sydney where he’s chosen to do so.

brett mickan kitchen

With a background in theatre and film design, and after 10 years in the States, Brett returned to Australia and established Brett Mickan Interior Design. Here, he fulfils an “intense love for all things design” and creates the “worlds” he so loved making on stage, “for people to actually live in.”

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Interiors Addict

Studio Bonnie sisters tell stories in their textiles

Sisters-in-law Aura Parker and Marena Von Behr teamed up to create Studio Bonnie. Passionate about colour, design and beautiful fabrics, they create whimsical textile designs of intricate detail with a sense of storytelling.

studio bonnie grey

While Marena studied interior design and Aura studied multimedia and web design, textiles is Studio Bonnie’s forte. For Marena, “going from selecting fabrics, to designing fabrics seemed a logical progression” and their shared love of drawing is where they really come together.

It was a love of “all things creative” that initially made the two click as well. Soon after meeting through Marena’s brother, Aura and Marena exhibited together, took a liking to each other’s work and pretty quickly decided to band together.

studio bonnie 2

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Interiors Addict

One off homewares, from India and Melbourne by Shakiraaz

From one backyard studio in Melbourne – and a few in India – come the beautiful textiles that make up homewares brand, Shakiraaz. The collection of rich and colourful handprinted, painted and woven pieces are a combination of owner Shakira Lima’s designs and others by creatives she finds during trips back home to India

shakira

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Both her parents were artists and her mother’s “sense of mixing old and new, sketching and painting” started her love for homewares early on. Even while studying a genetics degree, Shakira’s artistic inclination stuck, leading her to study textile design. “I’ve always gravitated towards art, design and beautiful things,” she says.

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Furniture

Saving timber from old cattle yards and wharves and giving it a new life as furniture

Just like its name, Rabbit Trap Timber is unique. It’s a family run furniture business that produces handcrafted pieces from individually chosen, recycled materials; no table, stool or bench is quite the same.

Rabbit Trap Timber trestle

Initially inspired by “a few pieces of timber full of rusty nails” – and a heap of character – Rabbit Trap Timber is now a full-time job for Justine Taylor and her husband Rabs in the NSW Southern Highlands. “I love it,” Justine says.

Rabbit Trap Timber share platter

Central to their business is a commitment to the environment. The pair source material from old cattle yards, wharves and demolished warehouses, turning it into furniture that will “last another lifetime.” Offcuts become share platters, chopping boards and pilgrim stools, and the sawdust even goes to local farmers.

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Interiors Addict

Homewares Trend: Geometric Gems

One of the easiest ways to inject some geometric love into your home is with a cushion. In a Designer Home has just the answer with its Elvis Matinee cushion by Steph and Gaia. Bold yellow on fresh white, what a combo!

IDH Elvis Matinee Small

$90, In a Designer Home

These black and white ceramic coasters have a classic graphic pattern. Great to complete the look for you fanatics, and perfect if you’re a little timid and just want a touch of geo in your home.

ceramic coasters bpp

$38, Brown Paper Packages

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Interiors Addict

Rae finds bliss following her passion for interiors

After 20 years working for Victoria police, Rae Hewitt finally decided to follow her passion for “all things beautiful” and open luxury guest accommodation and an online homewares store.

Bright Bliss bedroom

Perched in the hills of Bright, North East Victoria, the architecturally designed and interiors-focussed guesthouses Bright Bliss and Next To Bliss, are the result of a “leap of faith” and a longterm love of interiors.

Bright Bliss

Rae and husband Jason opened Bright Bliss in December 2011. After an overwhelming amount of positive feedback they decided to design and build Next to Bliss next door. We never dreamed we would build two guesthouses when we started,” Rae says.

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Interiors Addict

Valentines gifts for your home

It’s Valentine’s Day next week and, love it or hate it, single or taken, you can always use it as an excuse to treat your home to a little love inspired decor…

The Family Love Tree have found a perfect way to bring the Victorian iron bedhead into the 21st century. They’ve painted it fuchsia. The hot pink rattan and wood peacock bedhead is sure to make you (and your love) feel like a king and queen. $459 for queen size.

family love tree peacock bedhead

Create some atmosphere with M2Matiz’s love inspired art piece. Appropriately named Burning Love, the luMierebox is romantic with a touch of industrial. It’s backlit so the graffiti-look heart shines through the red, wax-polished plywood. $230 from Down That Little Lane.

Heart Lumiere Box M2Matiz