Categories
Competitions Styling

Launch your floristry career with this money can’t buy prize

Budding florists listen up… there’s a blooming beautiful (I know, I went there!) future awaiting you.

bay 10 florist prize

Introducing Project Rosie, a money can’t buy prize that will see one talented florist receive mentoring, financial assistance and free rent for nine months at Bay 9, an incredible heritage warehouse office space located under the iconic Harbour Bridge at Lavender Bay.

As with all good things, this amazing launch pad comes with some conditions. If you want the space and the chance to be part of a community of like-minded creative entrepreneurs, you have to show Bay 9 in words and pictures your creative and business plan. And promise to keep the herb garden alive at Bay Ten Espresso, the super cool cafe that’s right next door!

bay 10 florist

Entrants will be whittled down to a short list of six who’ll be given $200 each to refine their business plan. There’ll be a chance to pitch your proposal before the winner is selected on 18 March 2016, ready for an early 2016 start-up. There’s a low-interest $10,000 loan available to get the business up and running and to buy stock, plus free mentoring and assistance with getting the business plan right.

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Bay 9 is a funky as anything concept for start-up and up-start businesses who want a flexible creative space in a cool environment with the bonus of seriously good coffee at Bay 10 Espresso next door. Bay 9 host Mark Davidson, knows a thing or two about start-ups and he wants to give a leg-up to a florist with creativity and entrepreneurial flair. Why? Because he believes in the Hindu idea that every day should begin with immersion in something of beauty. And because he believes that talent needs to be supported.

“What we’re doing at Bay 9 is all about providing a place where people with good ideas can make them happen,” says Mark. “We’re signing up tenants at the moment and what they all have in common is a dream that can become real given the right environment and encouragement. This is the coolest work address this side of the Harbour Bridge and possibly the other side too and would be an amazing place for a florist to launch their career and business.”

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For florists who think they’ve got what it takes to put their petal to the metal this is the stuff you need to know. Bay 9 on Middlemiss St, Lavender Bay, is located in one of the heritage listed warehouses under the Harbour Bridge. It will be occupied by start-up and entrepreneurial businesses who want flexible, creative space in an address that is iconic and memorable. It is walking distance to Milsons Point and North Sydney train station and 1,500 cyclists ride past each day with foot traffic of 300 and growing. There are 300,000 people working in North Sydney making it the fourth largest CBD in the country and there is a resident population of 25,000. That’s potential for a whole bunch of flowers needed to say thank you, sorry, I love you and have a happy day.

Expression of interests need to be in by 19 February 2016. The shortlist will be notified on 25 February and invited to a Pitch Day on 14 March. Winner will be notified on 18 March.

To be in with a chance send an expression of interest, which you can find here.

Categories
Competitions Kids Rooms Styling

Incy Interiors and Tutu Du Monde’s magical pop-up + win a tutu

Appealing to homewares and fashion enthusiasts alike, this Christmas season the magic of Incy Interiors and Tutu Du Monde will come together for a one-of-a-kind pop-up shop.

tutu de monde incy interiors

Launching this Saturday at Incy Interiors’ Chatswood Chase store, both mothers and daughters will be wowed by Tutu Du Monde’s The Wonder Hour collection, whilst sipping on French Moet champagne and enjoying the sweet delights of LADURÉE macaroons (respectively!) in a visually spectacular setting. What’s more, face-painters will add a little more glitter to those gorgeous faces.

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Styled by Leonie Barker, the Incy Interiors shop will come to life with fairy lights, garlands, lavender and all things festive. A beautiful accompaniment to The Wonder Hour collection, which features garments available from sizes infant to tween, and a dazzling selection of accessories. Silvery beads will be splashed across ruffled bodices, crystals will peep from fabrics and jewel-bright hues and ethereal pastels will adorn the collection.

tutu du monde

Open until Christmas Eve, the launch party runs from 12-to-3pm. But better yet (and what can be better than free champagne and macarons?!), we are giving away a Very Merry Tutu Dress (above) and a Crowning Glory Feather Headband, so your little girl can feel like a princess just in time for the festive season. For you chance to win, all you have to do is fill out the form below by 5pm Sydney time on Monday 23 November 2015.

For more information.

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Categories
Competitions Expert Tips Furniture Styling

Embrace eclectic style and win a $1,499 Dare Gallery sofa

Looking to update your interior but feeling uninspired? Are the more popular design themes like coastal, contemporary and country not your style? Well if so, don’t be afraid to create your own unique look and adopt an eclectic approach. It’s popular with interior designers and it’s easy enough for you to try at home, I promise!

Maddox 2 Seat - Lifestyle

“The key is to choose pieces that you love, that reflect your own personality and that you will enjoy living with,” explains Marie Lynders, visual designer at Dare Gallery. “Start your eclectic journey with a standout centrepiece such as a sofa or dining table and use this to create your story.”

However, understandably, getting those standout pieces doesn’t come cheap, so that’s where we come in. Thanks to Dare Gallery, we are offering one very lucky reader a Maddox 2-seater sofa, worth $1,499!

Maddox 2 Seat - Ebony

Part of Dare Gallery’s latest range, which features a blend of designer-inspired furniture from retro style pieces through to modern industrial and sleek contemporary styles, the Maddox has a neat solid oak timber frame, sleek arms and legs and button-in upholstery. Available in two colours, you can pick from almond upholstery with a cocoa frame or dark grey upholstery with an ebony frame.

So now you have your centrepiece sorted (if you’re fortunate enough to win that is!) it’s time to continue styling: “Don’t be afraid to mix and match styles; this can really add an exciting edge to your eclectic interior,” says Marie. “Playful use of colour can work really well when creating your individualised interior, as can the use of different materials, such as wood and metal, to add character to your home.”

Maddox 2 Seat

The final step? “Add a smatter of pretty ornaments and accessories to add a final flourish. Choose items to accentuate your look and that won’t over-clutter.”

When it comes to styling your home with an eclectic look, it’s all about being creative and reflecting your unique personality. But of course winning a gorgeous sofa would help! For your chance to get your hands on the Maddox, all you have to do is fill out the form below by 5pm Sydney time on Monday 16 November 2015.

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Categories
Competitions Designers

The winners of the 2015 Intergrain Timber Vision Awards

From an imaginative children’s playground and waterfront library to a tiny cabin perched atop rugged Victorian cliffs, the winners of the sixth annual Intergrain Timber Vision Awards are creative, diverse and visionary.

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The Library at The Dock

Faced with 124 exceptional entries, a panel of esteemed judges chose winners across five categories including: commercial interior, commercial exterior, residential interior, residential exterior, and this year’s new category – public space. Each winner received a $2,000 cash prize and Intergrain product to the value of $3,000.

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The Library at The Dock

The overall winner (and also taking home the commercial interior award) was Clare Design for The Library at The Dock. Located in Melbourne, the project was celebrated by the judges for utilising timber to its fullest, from surface to structure. The result is a quality public building that is “both timeless and modern”.

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Lagoon House

Another standout was the residential interior award, which was won by Taylor and Hinds Architects for Tasmania’s Lagoon House. The judges commented on the “ability of the design to gently bring the inside out” and were impressed by a use of timber that is “so solid and delicate, simple and beautiful.”

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Jubilee Playground

The public space award won by Sue Barnsley Design for Jubilee Playground is also worthy of mention. Situated in Sydney’s Glebe, the use of timber is not only educational, but “stylistic, free and with a sense of adventure”, such as the handcrafted, pod-like cubby house hidden within a fig tree.

For more information visit Intergrain’s website.

Categories
Competitions Homewares Interviews Styling

The winner of our photoshoot competition shares the results

A couple of months ago we ran arguably my favourite competition to date. Giving away a product/brand photo shoot, one lucky winner got their products professionally styled and photographed by stylist Hayley Jenkin from Wholehearted Studio and photographer Josette Van Zutphen.

Interiors Addict Product Shoot Giveaway 3
Anyone in the interiors or homewares industry will know what a massive difference professional shots can make. It’s not an over exaggeration to say they can make or break your business. In a world that relies heavily on online exposure, if your photos don’t do your products justice, people won’t buy from you. It’s as simple as that!

Interiors Addict Product Shoot Giveaway

But if you’re still not convinced, and are umming and ahhing about getting professional photos taken, our lucky winner, Penelope Hill from Into The Fold, will persuade you otherwise. “Get them done! Honestly they are the best investment a business can make. I run Into The Fold primarily through Instagram which is a visual medium — I cannot stress enough the importance of clear, well styled imagery to enhance the look of your website, lookbook and/or social media.”

Interiors Addict Product Shoot Giveaway 1

Selling durable and functional cushions, for both inside and out, Penelope had a clear style in mind when it came to the shoot. “I definitely had a style that I wanted — minimal with lots of greenery! Hayley set up a Pinterest board for our photo shoot prior to the day so we could both pin ideas on how we wanted the look to come together, which made things really easy on the day.”

Interiors Addict Product Shoot Giveaway
Penny

Roadtripping to the Sunshine Coast (where Hayley and Josette are based) from Northern NSW, Penelope took her new collection and some of her signature cow hide floor cushions. Using the photos on her website and Instagram, they have already had a great response from her customers and followers. “The photos have given my website a facelift! I have updated everything on my site and they have made such a massive difference to the look and feel of my brand. It is excellent.”

Interiors Addict Product Shoot Giveaway 1

Photography by Josette Van Zutphen | Styling by Hayley Jenkin 
All cushions by Into the Fold, neon light by What She Said Co, chair by Byron Bay Hanging Chairs, stool, pot and rug by Raw Furniture and art by Jess LeClerc.
Categories
Competitions Furniture

Win an Annie Sloan prize pack to makeover a piece of furniture

Now I know I’m not the only one that constantly collects (or perhaps the better word is hoards) secondhand pieces of furniture. I buy them with these grand plans; think metallic spray paint, matt door handles and hey if I’m feeling crazy, a little sawing! But nine times out of ten, they stay in a corner of the garage collecting dust.

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Image source: Annie Sloan

Well not anymore. For anyone like me (who lacks the willpower, time or funds), now is your chance to change! We are giving away three Annie Sloan prize packs valued at over $200 each. Containing one litre of Chalk Paint (you can choose from 32 hues), 500ml of Soft Wax, one small pure bristle brush and one small wax brush, it is the perfect kit to help you transform an existing piece of tired furniture.

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Project by Agnieszka Krawczyk
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Project by Agnieszka Krawczyk

What’s even better is the pack contains products that are super easy to use. The Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan, which I have used myself and can attest is challenge-free, offers a velvety matt finish and can be applied to almost any surface without any priming or sanding. Hallelujah! Bang on trend, you can use it pretty much anywhere: on walls, floors, wood, concrete, metal, matt plastic, earthenware, brick and stone — inside or out. You can even use it to paint upholstery and dye fabric!

annie sloan
Shibori cushions by Abigail and Ryan Bell

Drying fast, so you can add a second coat quickly, it can be thinned with water and used as a wash or used as an impasto (thickly) by leaving the lid off overnight. Once done, you can also add Annie Sloan Soft Wax for a subtle sheen, protection and durability.

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Image source: Anne Sloan

For your chance to get your hands on an Annie Sloan prize pack, all you have to do is fill out the form below by 5pm Sydney time on Friday 23 October 2015. The best three responses will get a prize pack and will have their finished piece shared on Interiors Addict. So no pressure!

For more information.

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Categories
Competitions Furniture Outdoor & Exteriors

Win a $2000 designer outdoor setting from Huset

Sponsored by Huset

Could the weather be any more perfect to start thinking about outdoor entertaining and enjoying your deck, balcony or yard? If you’ve been considering your next outdoor purchase, hold fire, because we’re giving you the chance to win one and not just any one, but a $2,000 Velletri table and two chairs from our friends at Huset! You can even choose your finishes so that it perfectly complements your home.

outdoor-furniture

The winner can choose between black and white for the table frame and chair colour and glass, HPL or solid oak for the tabletop. With a sculptural, contemporary look, first-rate construction and premium, easy care materials, the Velletri setting is the pinnacle of style, ease of care and comfort.  Designed by Glid Studio for Huset, its powder coated galvanised iron wipes down in seconds, offers non-skid, non-marking pads on it sleigh base and offers rust and UV-resistance.

290-Archer-proof

Based in Cheltenham, VIC, Huset only sell original furniture designs and offer a comprehensive collection of European made furniture and home accessories created for the discerning customer. Every piece is handcrafted by artisan furniture builders to very strict quality standards.

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WIN

For your chance to win, please complete the form below by midnight Sydney time on Thursday 22 October 2015 and tell us why this fabulous table and chairs would make your summer and which finish options you’d choose. One winner will receive a 92cm Velletri outdoor table and two chairs in their choice of finishes as detailed above (view the options on their website), worth more than $2,000. The judge’s decision is final and no cash alternative will be offered. Open to Australian residents only.

Shop online at Huset.

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Categories
Competitions Styling

The winner of October 7 Vignettes with The Vignette Room

The winner of this month’s competition is Anne, aka @_fridays_child. I think we were all amazed when we realised that she had a baby on day 1 of 7 Vignettes and what can we say? It obviously inspired her to some up with some beautiful pictures!

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Our judge, Jennifer Brown from The Vignette Room in Sydney’s Paddington, said: “Wow, what an amazing week, thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of 7 Vignettes. It’s such a fun competition and we had an absolute blast creating our images and seeing all the beautiful ideas people came up with!

“We were absolutely blown away (as I’m sure everyone was) to discover Anne had a baby on the first day of the competition and still managed to create such a beautiful collection of images.

“Each image creatively reflected the day’s theme with Anne’s own individual flavour, all whilst building part of a cohesive overall story for the week.”

Anne wins a $500 voucher for The Vignette Room. And you lucky lovelies can take 10% off your online orders using the code 7vignettes until midnight on Wednesday 14 October. Shop online.

Thanks so much to The Vignette Room for their generous sponsorship and fantastic themes! We loved partnering with you and we think your shop is gorgeous!

If you’re still in the vignette-creating mood, why not have a go at our competition to win a shopping trip with yours truly and $1000 to spend at Castle Towers? Find out more.

Categories
Art Competitions Homewares Kids Rooms

The Tree of Gratitude: What are you grateful for today?

Like many parents, Ephie Bokas couldn’t help but notice the blatant lack of gratitude in her house. Growing increasingly frustrated by the conversations centred on “What more?” or “What else?” and the petty arguments over TV shows and the size of dessert portions (with no acknowledgement of the fact that there was a television or a dessert to begin with!), Ephie decided to do something about it.

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Researching the science of gratitude, she implemented a gratitude practice in her own home. Starting as a rather dubious craft project it eventuated as the Tree of Gratitude: part artwork, part project and part mechanism for well-being. “The tree itself is based on an original artwork illustrated by Melbourne artist Ingrid Wilson and has been transposed onto adhesive fabric that can be easily applied to any smooth wall. It comes with pencils, sticky leaves and a booklet containing 300 prompts to encourage and facilitate a daily gratitude practice.”

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The first product under her label Wallitude, the Tree of Gratitude helps its user complete a 21-day gratitude practice. “There is some evidence to suggest that it takes 21 days to form a habit and having researched extensively the many benefits of gratitude, I think it’s a habit worth cultivating. The idea is that on opening your Tree of Gratitude kit, each participant receives their own bale of 25 leaves (we’ve allowed a few extra leaves in each) and each day, for 21 days, you write or draw three things that you were grateful for that day. At the conclusion of the 21 days, you may just develop a habit of looking for the good in each day and will enjoy the many health benefits that come from doing so.”

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Perfect for children and adults alike (it’s been used in homes, schools and workplaces) Ephie’s family have already proved its success. “I admit that at first my sons resisted the idea, but by day three my six year-old was reminding me to complete it and by day seven I overheard him tell my three year-old to ‘Just be grateful,’ and he meant it! Within weeks I noticed a fundamental shift in attitudes, in their levels of awareness and in their willingness to convey their own gratitude often without any prompting. It was an extraordinary thing to experience!”

Easy, fun, functional and beautiful, the Tree of Gratitude retails for $89. Shop online.

In support of Mental Health Week this week, we are offering one lucky reader a Tree of Gratitude. To enter, complete the form below by 5pm Sydney time on Monday 12 October 2015.

Categories
Competitions

Win a $1000 gift voucher and home styling session with Jen at Castle Towers

Sponsored by Castle Towers

In the mood to give your home a Spring restyle? I’m so excited to have teamed up with Sydney shopping centre Castle Towers to give you the chance to go on a $1000 half-day homewares shopping and styling session with yours truly! There’s nothing I love more than helping other people spend their money (even better if they won it!) and getting them excited about buying things to make their home feel a bit more special.

It’s in celebration of their newly launched spring/summer campaign Age of Style, which is encouraging women of all ages to celebrate their personal sense of style, whether that’s through their wardrobe or the way they dress their home.

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Castle Towers is a leading shopping, fashion and entertainment destination in Sydney’s North West (and I should know because I live just down the road in Beecroft!), with more than 300 stores providing an eclectic mix of fashion, homewares and accessories, including many unique to the centre.

It’s a great destination for unique homewares in particular. Stores include Ahina, Maison de Lux and Laura Ashley. There are also plenty of high street favourites like Bed Bath N’ Table, Country Road (who doesn’t love their homewares?!), Adairs and Sheridan, as well as your budget homewares destinations like Typo and Kmart.

castle towers interiors addict

Spring is a great time to refresh your home for the warmer months with a good declutter and a change up of your accessories to something perhaps lighter and brighter; think new cushions, a change of rug and more seasonal decor items. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

WIN

How to enter Upload a photo to Instagram with your portrayal of one of the five key spring/summer 2015 trends (Age of Monochrome, Metallics Come of Age, Age of Florals, New Age of 70s or Age of Denim) by midnight Sydney time on 15 October 2015. Tag Castle Towers and Interiors Addict and use the hashtag #AgeOfStyle

The prize The entry judged the best by me will win a $1000 Castle Towers gift card (to be redeemed at select interiors and homewares retailers in the centre) and a four-hour shopping and styling advice session with me, to be taken before 5 December 2015.

Click here for full terms and conditions | More info about the competition on the Castle Towers website.

Categories
Competitions House Tours

Get the look from new Nancy Meyers film, The Intern

When you think about classic, all-American interior design, chances are you think of the utterly dreamy interiors from films such as It’s Complicated (that kitchen!) or Something’s Gotta Give (that Hamptons house!) or perhaps you (like me) love the quintessentially English cottage from The Holiday. Those films were the work of filmmaker Nancy Meyers, who has garnered at least as many fans for her lovably flawed characters as her legendary room sets.

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[contextly_sidebar id=”dH9T6apLy4FexCLo8dRk3PDDx0jA9CEZ”]Her latest work, The Intern, hits cinemas this week, and at first glance it’s clear the interiors are going to live up to fans’ expectations. Protagonist Jules (played by Anne Hathaway) runs an online fashion start-up and her young, energetic style is reflected in both her converted-factory office and her Brooklyn brownstone home, which she shares with her young family.

Even though the New York interiors in this film are worlds apart from the breezy Hamptons beach house in Something’s Gotta Give or the LA mansion and English cottage in The Holiday, they all share something special. So exactly how do you sum up this Nancy Meyers look? Well, it’s the same kind of layered, casual, glamorous-yet-effortless aesthetic which has made Pottery Barn a household name in the US and beyond. And now you too can achieve the look in your home thanks to Pottery Barn and its family of brands here in Australia: Pottery Barn Kids, Williams-Sonoma and west elm.

Jules’s Brooklyn Brownstone Kitchen

The Intern, Jules' house, Brooklyn NY (Warner Bros.)
The Intern, Jules’ house, Brooklyn NY (Warner Bros.)

KITCHEN_THE INTERN[2]

KIDS’ FURNITURE: Carolina Table & Chairs 

OPEN SHELVING Reclaimed Wood Shelving + Modern Brackets 

KITCHEN STOOLS Adjustable Industrial Stool 

Jules’s Brooklyn Brownstone Bedroom

THE INTERN

BEDROOM_THEINTERN[1]

MINI SOFA: Tudor Mini Upholstered Sofa 

RUG Souk Wool Rug 

BASKETS: Beachcomber Baskets 

The converted factory office of Jules’s company, About The Fit

THE INTERN

OFFICE_THEINTERN[1]

MEETING TABLE: Braxton Fixed Dining Table 

OFFICE STORAGE: Bedford File Cabinets 

DESKS: Parsons Desk 

The Intern, starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, is in cinemas on 1 October. For a chance of winning one of 10 double-passes to the film, complete the entry form below by 5pm Sydney time this Friday 2 October 2015.

—All images from the film are © 2015 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Categories
Competitions Homewares

October 7 Vignettes with The Vignette Room

I’m delighted to announce that the next round of 7 Vignettes, starting a week today (yes, already!), is being sponsored by the very aptly named Sydney (and online) store, The Vignette Room! They’ve chosen some fantastic themes which I think you’re going to love!

Oct 7 Vignettes The Vignette Room

The Vignette Room (featured on the blog here) have generously donated a $500 voucher for the overall winner and seven daily theme prizes of $100. Jennifer Brown, the daughter half of the mother/daughter duo behind this beautiful shop, says: “We love that 7 Vignettes is always such a visual treat and that it allows people to showcase their creativity. We love watching it unfold every month and seeing how people’s personalities come out in the vignettes they create. We especially love how there are so many wildly different interpretations of the themes and that it’s such an individual expression of what the themes mean to them.”

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Jennifer Brown and Tracey Kennedy outside The Vignette Room

The Vignette Room truly is a visual feast and we thoroughly recommend a visit if you’re in Sydney. It’s a great example of why it’s still great to shop in bricks and mortar stores and meet the people curating their wares.

The ladies recently had this ‘manifesto’ hand painted onto the shop wall

Jennifer adds: “We first played along in December last year when Domayne sponsored and we had the most amazingly fun couple of days creating our visual interpretations of the themes. We’re so excited to sponsor 7 Vignettes so we can give people a little bit of an insight into who we are as a mother/daughter team and as an interior lifestyle store and what makes us tick through our themes. Plus, then we have an excuse to play along again and spend all day on Instagram and chalk it up to ‘working’!”

We like her style!

The fun starts on 1 October on Instagram. All details of how to play here or ask any questions in the comments below. Enjoy!

The Vignette Room is at 42 Gurner Street, Paddington, NSW 2021.

 

Categories
Bedrooms Competitions Homewares

Refresh your bedroom for Spring by winning luxe linen!

Sponsored by Linen & Moore

Everyday luxury for the home is the philosophy and promise behind Melbourne-based homewares company, Linen & Moore. Known for their timeless soft furnishings, they’ve recently added a pure linen range to their covetable collections. While crisp linen is certainly a classic choice, it’s definitely a popular trend of the moment.

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Made from 100 percent French linen, the Mondo range offers versatility for dressing the bedroom with its neutral to soft palette (White, Natural, Charcoal, Seafoam, Artichoke and Smoke Grey).

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It meets the criteria for a broad range of aesthetics, whether it be understated luxe, classic contemporary or country chic. The fine texture and softness of the washed linen ensures a look of relaxed sophistication, provides the ultimate sleeping comfort and is the perfect base for layering the bed to create your personal style.

Mondo is available in duvet cover and sheet sets in king and queen. European, standard and king standard pillowcases are sold separately.

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With 14 years’ experience producing textiles for a discerning clientele (home owners, stylists, decorators and interior designers), Linen & Moore have curated the ultimate collection for any and all types of interior schemes. From sumptuous cushions in velvets in a broad colour palette to diverse digital prints in classic-to-fun designs and embroideries, to their eclectic offering of throws, expressed in beautiful knits and hand-woven textiles, there really is something for everyone.

It’s all about layering as the designs move from solids to contemporary geometrics and ethnic styles, designed to be truly trans-seasonal.

Shop online.

COMPETITION

Win a Mondo duvet cover set to refresh your home this Spring! To enter, simply follow Linen & Moore on Instagram and regram any photo of the Mondo Linen from their feed. Let them know your favourite colour of Mondo Linen in the caption. Be sure to use the hashtag #mondolinen and tag @linenandmoore so they can see your entry. Competition ends on Friday 2 October 2015, when a winner will be chosen randomly. Duvet cover set includes one duvet cover and two standard pillowcases in the colour and size of the winner’s choice. Open to Australian residents only.

Categories
Competitions Designers

Darren James wins top kitchen design award second year running

Queensland-based designer Darren James took out the top prize at the recent Annual KBDi (Kitchen Bathroom Designers Institute) Designer Awards, for the second year running.

20150520_DSC3551Darren’s Panorama project

Initially winning the ‘Designer – Medium Kitchens QLD’ award, Darren returned to the stage later in the evening to accept the esteemed title of KBDi Australian Certified Designer of the Year 2015. A celebration of Australia’s best kitchen and bathroom designers, Darren will be packing his bags for the celebrated design fair, Milan’s Salone del Mobile (including EuroCucina), as part of the win.

“We are really starting to see designers push the boundaries when it comes to kitchen and bathroom design here in Australia. More and more interior designers are recognising the very focused skill set kitchen and bathroom design requires and we are seeing more studios offering this as a specialised service,” says Darren.

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Using only the best craftspeople, Darren has a refined eye for functional yet beautiful spaces. With a career that began in timber joinery for luxury boats, Darren quickly moved to kitchen and bathroom design – his intelligent and beautiful design solutions were easily transferrable. Initially self-taught, Darren has since completed formal design studies.

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Presenting two projects, as part of the competition, the refined simplicity of the Panorama project saw the clients’ design brief satisfied with aplomb. Their pokey kitchen was transformed into an open-plan, light-filled room with oak timber cladding and white gloss detail – the 1.75 metre utility cupboard takes centre stage. “The utility cupboard is perfectly concealed via an automatic lift mechanism that was imported form the USA. It ensures a large span opening and allows the door to be pocketed away and completely seamless when closed,” says Darren.

Almost diametrically opposed in terms of design, the Hollywood Regency project saw a major renovation of a classic Queenslander, with the kitchen as the focal point of the home.

20150505_DSC1558Darren’s Hollywood Regency project

“The home was in need of a major update. The interior layout of a traditional Queenslander typically lacks the easy, free flowing open spaces that our modern lifestyle craves,” says Darren who employed a contemporary, monochromatic colour scheme. “A rich palette of materials and finishes were carefully selected to ensure the kitchen exudes sophistication, confidence and luxury,” says Darren.

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Interiors by Darren James

 

Categories
Competitions Designers Homewares

Win Greg Natale cushions plus his book The Tailored Interior

He’s a busy man that Greg Natale, currently in the States for the US launches of his book, The Tailored Interior. A couple of weeks ago, I attended the launch of his cushion range in collaboration with One Duck Two and I’m delighted to announce we have a $250 voucher for one lucky reader to spend on their own collection, as well as a copy of the book.

The cushions are beautiful quality and I’m sure they’re going to be super popular. He’s already working on his next range too!

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For your chance to win, simply answer the question: how many cushions would Greg put on a three-seater sofa? Complete the form below by midnight Sydney time on Monday 21 September 2015. Hint: the answer can be found in this article!

Greg Natale
Greg Natale

The cushions are available now from national retailers including David Jones, Domo and Domayne.

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Categories
Competitions

Shop and raise money for charity without paying an extra cent

Sponsored by pink.org.au

It’s almost too good to be true, but it’s not. What if I were to tell you that you could shop online at major retailers where you’d usually make purchases anyway and in doing so, without it costing you a cent, a donation is made to life-changing breast cancer research? You can. And it gets better. You’ll also benefit from special deals and cashback on your purchases. Amazing!

This week, I’ve been checking out pink.org.au for myself and not only have I had my usual retail therapy fix, I’ve been raising money for a charity close to my heart (my aunt has breast cancer a few years ago and is happily now in the clear after treatment), the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). Talk about a win-win situation!

First, I hit up Marks & Spencer (12% cashback), the iconic department store in my motherland, England, that ships to Australia. It’s one of my favourite places to buy baby clothes for Sebastian and they have a most excellent range of dungarees (or overalls as you call them here!).

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Cute Marks & Spencer outfit for Sebastian

Still thinking like a mum (what happened to buying clothes for myself online?!) I headed to Appliances Online (up to 1.6% cashback), where I often shop too, and bought a food processor, because we are fast approaching the time for introducing solid food (can’t wait for that mess…).

Don’t worry though, this interiors addict wanted to know what was on offer in the home category and I wasn’t disappointed. I bought a nice white waffle quilt cover for our spare bed (a classic!) from Adairs (7.2% cashback). Incidentally, they also have their own NCBF range, so if you buy that via pink.org.au, you’re helping the charity not once but twice!

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Adairs linen for the spare bedroom
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Bluebellgray Eric cushion from Amara Living

Then I spent far too long browsing the amazing range at Amara (up to 8% cashback), another UK-based site who ship here (free shipping on orders over $200 too), and sell luxury homewares. I didn’t previously know they shipped internationally so that was a great discovery. My haul included salt and pepper shakers, a gold stapler for my home office desk and an odds and ends trinket dish, all by Kate Spade New York. Divine! I also couldn’t resist a stunning Bluebellgray Eric cushion.

Kate Spade tray from Amara Living

Before my purchases even arrived, I started getting emails about my cashback, letting me know how much had been credited to my Pink account. It really is brilliant! And all the more incentive to head back to the site to shop again and help raise more money.

It’s not just shopping you can do on pink.org.au though, you can also order takeout. We always use Menulog anyway, so from now on we’ll be using Menulog via Pink (2.4% cashback), knowing a bit of cash is going to charity too. Why wouldn’t you, frankly? Some of the other online stores we often frequent which we’ll now be browsing via pink.org.au are The Iconic, Bonds, Asos and Virgin Australia.

It’s very simple to use pink.org.au. Once you sign up, you simply access the various stores via the Pink site and complete the transaction as normal.

It doesn’t cost you anything and it’s quick and easy to sign up. Join for free now!

WIN $200

If you’d like the chance to win $200 to spend online at pink.org.au, simply sign up (it’s free) then complete the form below by midnight on Sunday 27 September 2015.

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Categories
Competitions Styling

Winner of September 7 Vignettes + 10% off at Life Interiors

Well, our little Instagram contest certainly has its groove back! This last week has seen some truly stunning and clever entries. I’m delighted to announce this month’s winner, chosen by our sponsor Life Interiors, as @cassieeeesmith. Congratulations!

vignettes spetember winner

Nicole Arvela, showroom and creative manager for Life Interiors, said: “After much deliberation I chose hers. I thought that every picture was so beautifully composed and I just LOVED her series as a whole!”

Theme: mint
Theme: mint

Cassie wins a $500 Life Interiors voucher (please contact us with your address and telephone number to claim your prize).

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Theme: natural

10% off everything at Life Interiors for the next week!

Our brilliant second time sponsors Life Interiors are offering you all 10% off everything until midnight on Wednesday 16 September 2015 using the promo code INTERIORSADDICT10OFF online or mentioning this offer in person.

Shop online.

If you won one of the daily themes and have yet to contact us, please do as soon as possible to claim your $100 vouchers!

Categories
Bedrooms Competitions Designers Travel

From Milano and Palermo, with love…

Sponsored by Nespresso

Is anywhere more known for its coffee than Italy? Probably not! Having visited Milan, Venice, Tuscany and Rome last year, I can tell you it’s all true what they say! From city to city, Italians enjoy their coffee in different ways and with different traditions, but like the English do tea, they all take their hot beverages just as seriously!

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In 2013, Nespresso celebrated this diversity through the cities of Naples and Trieste, with two unique and contrasting coffees. This month, they continue to pay homage to the rich heritage of Italy’s coffee culture with two new Limited Edition ristrettos, inspired by the emblematic cities of Milan and Palermo.

Last year, I visited Milan for the famous Salone del Mobile furniture fair and with so many huge halls to traipse around, a regular caffeine fix was high on my agenda! Remember though, no messing around with your coffee when you’re in Italy, Il Culto del Caffè is a serious business and you don’t want to get laughed out of the cafe! No cappuccinos or other milky coffees after breakfast, in many places expect to drink standing up, and as any purist knows, no flavoured syrups or any of that nonsense. Oh no, not in Italia!

Here in Australia, we’re lucky to benefit from the knowledge of our many Italian immigrants, whether it’s around coffee, fashion, style or food. I thought it would be fun to look at how you might take inspiration from Milan and Palermo in your interiors.

MILANO

Milan is Italy’s city of finance, business and fashion. Some would say it’s the global capital of fashion! My Milan-inspired interior would super sleek and high end but relaxed enough to be fashionable. Think elegant lines and great bones like timber floors, panelled walls and tall windows. It’s grand like the huge Milan Cathedral and the stunning Galleria shopping arcade and impressive like a da Vinci painting! But a little undone like a young, off duty supermodel!

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Image via Fanuli Furniture. Click through for details

Tribute to Milano (Intensity 9) is Nespresso’s interpretation of the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city of Milan, where coffee is enjoyed at a fast pace, whilst standing at the bar. Inspired by the perfect balance of elegance and intensity at the architecturally impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Tribute to Milano is also a perfect equilibrium of elegance and intensity. A highly aromatic ristretto, Tribute to Milano transports you to a traditional gelateria in the heart of Milan with its fine fruity aromas and sweet cereal notes.

PALERMO

For all Milan’s sophistication and gloss, Sicily’s Palermo is altogether more relaxed and sunny, but just as bustling. My Palermo interior would be casual and colourful to reflect the city’s richness of culture, music and food. This interior is perfectly imperfect and a little rough around the edges. Raw materials and natural light feature heavily in this look. Furniture is mismatched in a charming way.

Image via Air Bnb. Click through for details.
Image via Air Bnb. Click through for details.

Nespresso’s Tribute to Palermo (Intensity 11) is inspired by the relaxed and social coffee culture in Palermo and pays homage to the Sicilians’ love of a strong coffee. It is a powerful, intense and full-bodied ristretto with a silky texture reminiscent of a leisurely afternoon in the sun. Nespresso’s coffee experts were also inspired by the vibrancy of the Sicilian outdoor markets, alive with colourful spices, fresh produce and flowers so the cacao aromas and spicy peppery notes evoke an experience in amongst the locals at the market.

Image via booking.com. Click through for details
Image via booking.com. Click through for details

COMPETITION

To celebrate the launches, we’re running a competition over on Instagram. To enter, you’ll need to style and take a photo of your own tribute to Milan or Palermo and hashtag it either #tributetomilano or #tributetopalermo and tag us and @nespresso.

One winner will receive the new Nespresso Pixie Clips machine and a 10-sleeve Limited Edition Italian Inspired Assortment Pack, with additional accessories. Enter by midnight on 30 September 2015.

Order Nespresso online.